Shade

by Jamie Begley

  “What are you doing?”

  “Taking a picture so when I want another one and you need convincing, I can show you.”

  “I won’t need convincing.” She smiled softly, staring back at him with love shining in her violet eyes.

  Shade took the baby, dressing him as Lily finished her makeup and brushed her hair. When he was finished, he buckled him into the carrier which would slide into the base already in Lily's car.

  “Ready?” he asked, holding the door open with the carrier in his hand.

  Lily picked up the bright blue diaper bag with a big picture of Elmo on the side.

  “Did Sex Piston pick the ugliest one she could find?”

  “That’s not nice,” Lily reproved him. “I think it’s cute.”

  “I’m not carrying it, ever,” Shade warned her. “Get another one.”

  “No, it would hurt her feelings.”

  The ugly thing is going to disappear, Shade determined as they went out.

  “It’s beautiful outside.”

  Shade smiled as he walked her to the car and placed the car seat inside.

  When John started to cry, Shade expertly slid his paci in his waiting mouth.

  “You’re giving him that too much. He would have stopped when I started the car. You’re making him a paci baby.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that, is there, my man?” Shade bent down, kissing his son’s soft cheek before closing the door and turning to his wife. “You need me to follow you to work and pack him in for you?”

  “No,” Lily said exasperatedly. “I can manage. I’ll take him into the store, and then Rachel can watch him when I go back to the car to get his bag. Satisfied? I carried enough that I can leave it there and bring it home once a week to refill.”

  “Good. I won’t have that little fucker staring at me all the time,” Shade said, glaring balefully at Elmo as Lily placed the bag in the backseat before getting in behind the wheel.

  Shade bent down, kissing her mouth. “Drive careful.”

  “I will. I’ll see you tonight. Evie and King want to keep him tonight. I think they’re worried about the Friday parties corrupting him.” she teased.

  “Angel, if my son takes after me, then the Friday parties are going to be the least of our worries.” Shade stood.

  “If our son takes after you, he’ll be fine. I can’t think of a better man I would want him to be like.”

  Shade had to look away from Lily to blink several times before saying gruffly, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Now I have to get to work. I’m late.”

  Shade laughed, shutting the car door. “Later.”

  Lily waved as she pulled out onto the road to town while Shade stood still, staring until the car was out of sight.

  “Ready?” Viper asked, coming out of the factory followed by the rest of The Last Riders.

  “Yes.”

  * * *

  The brothers formed their circle in the clearing as the brothers from Ohio who had asked to attend out of respect for Razer pulled into the hidden area. The original members waited as they walked the mile to the clearing.

  Shade stared at the harsh expression on Razer’s face. His friend had waited patiently for this day to avenge his wife.

  When the brothers from Ohio took their places, Cash untied the man who had been bound to a tree. Cash jerked him forward mercilessly, pushing him into the circle before removing his blindfold and untying his hands, uncaring about the scream of pain coming from his infected hand. Viper had refused to give him any relief other than making sure he wouldn’t die of blood poisoning before they could kill him.

  Saul Cornett stared defiantly, arrogantly believing God was going to save him.

  Viper took a step forward. “Saul Cornett, you have been found guilty of crimes against The Last Riders, and your judgment is death.” Viper’s cold voice was loud enough for all the brothers to hear.

  “Razer and Shade, he tried to kill your wives. Razer, he tried to kill you. I determined Razer has the right to go first, but Shade holds Razer’s IOU, and he’s using it to go first.” Viper stared at Shade in disapproval.

  Shade kept his face impassive as Viper stepped back so he could take his place in the circle. Shade ignored Razer’s angry glare as he stepped forward, staring into Saul’s eyes.

  Raising his fist, he smashed it into Saul’s face. The old man then held his face as blood gushed from his broken nose.

  “That’s for Lily. I wanted you to feel that before Razer killed you, because there’s not going to be anything left of you when it’s my turn.” Shade stepped back into the circle.

  “I give Razer my turn!” Shade yelled.

  Razer stared back in surprise before his eyes narrowed on Saul. Stepping forward, hatred blazed from his face as he spat on Saul.

  “I’ve seen the marks on my wife’s body. You made her stand on fucking nails when she was just a little kid, you sadistic bastard. Is that why you stayed overseas, because they let you beat the crap out of their kids? Times were changing too fast for you here, with the sheriff watching every move, weren’t they?”

  Saul’s eyes went to Knox who stood in the circle, wearing his uniform.

  “I bet you thought the new sheriff would let you slide back in, but you had to take your time to accomplish that, and Brooke gave you the perfect opportunity. Tell her Shade said hi when you see her in Hell!” Razer held his hand out to Viper who handed him a large stick. Shade saw that nails had been hammered at one end until the points came out the other side.

  Razer walked behind Saul, swinging the stick at him like a baseball bat, striking him on the back. Saul fell to the ground, crying out and begging for mercy, but Razer ignored him, swinging the bat over and over until his back was covered in blood.

  “I need a doctor!” Saul screamed. “Help!”

  “You need a fucking doctor after you convinced a woman to die in agony instead of taking a pain pill? Where was your compassion, you fucking asshole? Get his damn shoes off!” Razer yelled.

  Shade stepped forward, pulling the man’s tennis shoes and socks off before stepping back.

  Razer brought the stick down on his feet repeatedly, only stopping when they were a bloody mess and Saul was unconscious.

  “Throw some water on him,” Viper ordered.

  Knox stepped forward, tossing a bucket of ice-cold water on him. He came to, crying as Razer stepped back in the circle, his eyes still blazing with hatred.

  Viper stepped forward. “He passed out, so it’s someone else’s turn. Shade, you gave yours to Razer; it’s my turn now. I hate the bastard, and as much as I want my turn, I’m giving it to you, Razer.” Viper stepped back in the circle.

  Razer stepped out of line, going to Rider’s truck and taking out a box. He carried it back inside the circle and took off the duct tape before he kicked the box over, spilling the contents onto the ground.

  “Shit!”

  “Fuck!”

  Several more obscenities followed as the brothers took several paces backward, widening the circle as two rattlers slid out of the box.

  Saul began screaming when their tails started shaking. He swatted at them as one struck his arm and the other struck his face several times.

  When one would have slithered away, Cash stepped forward with a metal pole, slipping a noose over its head. Using a boot, he placed it back in the box before grappling the other one then placing it back inside the box, as well. He then packed it back to the truck.

  Shade watched as Cash carefully taped the box closed again then saw Rider’s worried gaze. The brother didn’t want those mean fuckers getting loose on the ride home.

  “Aren’t you going to pray to be healed?” Razer snarled. “You didn’t give a shit when you let your own daughter be bit every fucking year. You didn’t take her to the doctor once when she was a kid. She didn’t even have medical records until she was pregnant!” Razer squatted down next to him, watching the poison take effect. “You’re g
oing to die knowing the pain you put Beth through.”

  Saul’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as Razer stepped back in line.

  Viper stared down at Saul mercilessly. “Train.”

  Train stepped forward. “Razer can have my turn.”

  “Mine, too,” Lucky called out.

  “He can have mine,” Knox said.

  “Damn, you all are taking all the fun out of it. He can have mine,” Rider complained.

  Razer left the circle, going a few feet away to pour gasoline onto the wood which had been placed at the bottom of a large pit. Taking out his lighter, he took off his do-rag, setting it on fire then throwing it into the wood. Flames soared from the pit.

  Razer walked back to Saul, picking him up from under the shoulders then dragging him toward the pit and dropping him at the edge. Reaching down, he felt for a pulse.

  “I’m going to give you the last prayer you’re ever going to hear.” Razer looked up at the bright blue sky. “I pray to God there’s enough left in you to feel this, you son of a bitch!” With that, Razer kicked him over the edge and into the fire.

  Shade stepped up to him, placing his arm around the brother’s shoulders. Razer’s chest was heaving with unspent rage.

  “Go home to your wife and kids,” Shade stated over Saul’s screams. “I’ll take care of this.”

  Razer nodded, turning to leave, but then he spun back. “You used all your IOUs to get them to give me their turns, didn’t you?”

  Shade remained silent, staring back at his friend who had stood by him through the years while he had denied to himself that Razer was as close to him as any blood brother.

  “Thanks, Shade,” Razer said huskily.

  “Anytime, brother.”

  Chapter 95

  Lily was dressed in a robe, brushing her hair, when he entered the bedroom later that night.

  He was tired as fuck. He had stayed to cover the hole with five other brothers and then had to drive to the Porters to argue with Greer for extra weed for the night’s party. The brothers from Ohio had cost him an hour of his time as well as an argument with Greer.

  The angry Porter had made out like a bandit for his weed, claiming it was meant for another buyer. Shade had to give him more money to get him to give him the order, and then the stubborn asshole hadn’t wanted to give it up until Shade had threatened to find another supplier. He would make sure not to smoke any until Greer was over his anger. He didn’t trust him. He had probably pissed on it when he was growing the plant.

  “You look tired tonight,” Lily said, putting her arms around his neck then taking a hasty step backward.

  “I’m taking a shower now,” Shade apologized, taking off his shirt.

  “Want me to join you?” Lily smiled.

  “No,” Shade said, unintentionally abrupt. He was so horny he would fuck her before they could have the talk he was determined they would have.

  “Oh.” Lily looked down at her feet then up into his face. “Are you afraid I’m going to have another break if you make love to me the way you want?”

  Shade stared at her in horror that she believed that. “Of course not,” he denied. “Let me shower, and then we can talk. I had planned to have this conversation with you tonight.”

  “You did?” Lily’s eyes filled with hurt.

  “Yes. Lily, you’re misunderstanding me. Just give me a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  Shade hesitated yet knew he reeked. He needed the shower.

  He showered, washing his hair and body twice to get the smell of gasoline off. Then he spared the extra minutes to shave.

  He opened the door, ready to talk, only to find the bedroom empty. Frustrated, he dressed.

  His wife had probably run to Beth’s house to complain to her sister that she wasn’t getting any. Shade laughed to himself as he put on his boots.

  Going to the bedroom door, he opened it then walked down the hallway. The Friday party had taken over the upstairs and had gradually overtaken the downstairs, too. He had shut his bedroom door, but he would be lucky if no one was inside fucking by the time he was able to get Lily to leave Beth’s.

  The pole in the workout area was surrounded by a large group of brothers. Shade took the first step upstairs, casually looking over to see which woman was drawing all the attention. He nearly fell up the steps when he saw Lily swinging from the pole.

  He turned, watching as his wife hooked a leg around it, falling backward and giving the brothers a view of her tits which nearly fell out of the tiny, red leather top she was wearing. It was tied in a bow between her breasts.

  She raised herself with only the strength of her thigh muscles, and Shade saw Lily was wearing a pair of matching red booty shorts which showed the bottom curve of her ass.

  She turned, using her arms to lift her up the pole, her thighs clenching it as she climbed toward the ceiling.

  “Holy fuck!” Lucky said, coming down the steps, his mouth hanging open.

  When Shade glared at him, starting to go up the steps, Lucky took one look at him and ran off, running upstairs and slamming the door behind him.

  Shade went to the music, turning it off. The men turned, about to yell, only to see Shade’s furious face.

  “Get out, now.”

  The brothers left, going up the steps as they threw him envious looks.

  “Doesn’t the brother know we’re about sharing?” one brother from Ohio complained.

  “Why don’t you go remind him?” Rider suggested as they went up the steps.

  The brother snapped his mouth closed, the others following behind him.

  “Rider, shut the door!” Shade yelled up behind the brother who was lingering at the top of the stairs.

  He waited until he heard the door slam before he turned the music back on then walked back to stand next to the pole.

  “You can finish your performance now,” Shade told Lily who was holding onto the pole at the top.

  “I’m not in the mood anymore,” she snapped. “The only ones who would have appreciated it are gone.”

  “Angel, I appreciated watching your ass climb that pole, believe me. What I don’t appreciate is that the brothers from Ohio saw it, too.”

  “So, you wouldn’t have minded if it had been the men here?”

  “I would have minded, but they would have been smart enough not to watch.”

  “Rider watched,” Lily taunted.

  “He doesn’t count—he can’t help himself,” Shade said. “If you’re not going to continue, why don’t you come down?” Shade asked conversationally.

  “Because you’re mad at me,” Lily explained.

  “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Come down, now,” Shade said through gritted teeth. “Or I’m coming up to get you.”

  Lily loosened her thighs, sliding down the pole.

  “Are those the shoes I bought you last year?”

  “Yes.”

  Shade stared down at the gold high-heeled shoes which had cost almost as much as a bar of gold.

  “You need to buy another pair,” Shade told her, his eyes going over her taut body. “Go to the bedroom.”

  Lily sidled past him, walking through the basement and down the hallway. Shade followed behind her, his eyes never leaving her ass.

  His wife had a perfect ass. He had to admit it was one of the reasons he had fallen in love with her, right after he had seen her eyes. It was her ass which had sealed the deal, though.

  Shade closed the door, leaning back against it with his arms crossed in front of his chest, watching as his wife shifted nervously from foot to foot.

  “Would you like to go to your safe spot?” Shade asked.

  “No.”

  “Do you remember your safe word?”

  “Blueberries.”

  “Good. By the way, before I forget, where did you get that outfit?”

  “Vida bought it for me. It came in the mail last
week.”

  “She the one who showed you those new stripper moves?”

  Lily reluctantly nodded.

  “You have me debating whether we should join them for vacation this year. You’ll have to earn that privilege.”

  “Fuck you,” Lily snapped. Then horror filled her eyes as she slapped a hand over her mouth.

  Shade guessed it was okay to use the curse word when playing around, but not in anger. He shook his head. Trying to figure Lily out would give him a headache, and he had another ache to take care of first.

  “We’ll deal with your disrespect later. By the way, that’s number twenty-four.”

  “Twenty-four?” Lily questioned.

  “Twenty-four times you have disrespected me since you found out you were pregnant. It’s time I brought your punishments up to date, which I will rectify after we’re done talking.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about, is there?” Lily said, turning her face away from him. “You think I’m too emotionally unstable to talk to or have sex with. Even when you did have sex with me, you went easy on me because you were afraid I couldn’t handle it, didn’t you?”

  “Yes and no.” Shade raised his hand. “Never having experienced a Dom/sub relationship, I wanted to find out how you would deal with one. I didn’t want to throw you in the deep end if you couldn’t deal with the lifestyle. I wanted to find the parts you liked and give that to you, and then we could go further slowly.”

  “What if I didn’t like any of it?”

  “Then I would have stopped.”

  “You can’t stop being who you are for me.” Lily’s anger had her flushing. Her hands went to her hips. “You do that all the time. Why do you work at the factory? Bliss said you hate it; do you?”

  “Yes,” Shade admitted truthfully.

  “Then why are you doing it?”

  “Because when I asked Viper for the job the summer you wanted to work there, that was the deal. I couldn’t toss it away when I was done with it unless I found someone to replace me who does it just as well.”

  “Then find someone,” Lily said with frustration.

  “Who? Name me one Last Rider who can do it as well as I can. I’m not bragging; I’m actually good at it. It’s hard and time-consuming, and you have to deal with the brothers and women who would rather be in bed than filling orders.”