Slay (Storm MC #4)

by Nina Levine

  “Oh god,” she said, her eyes wide. “I’m so sorry, baby, no wonder you were upset last night.”

  I rested my hands on the edge of the kitchen counter, curled my fingers under the edge of it and squeezed hard. I tried to squeeze the agony out of me. It was fucking torture, and after living with it for years, I just wanted it gone. I craved silence in my mind.

  I pushed off from the counter. “Fuck!” I yelled into the silence of the night. My body screamed at me, and the anger coursing through me took over. I turned and punched the wall behind me. And then I doubled over, my arms going around my body. I clawed at myself as the emotions tangled together in one big mess.

  I can’t do this any longer.

  I’m going insane.

  And then Layla turned me back around to face her, and wrapped me in her arms. She held tight and didn’t let me go. My arms went around her, and I clung to her.

  “Shhh, it’s okay to let it out. Don’t fight it anymore. Holding onto it is hurting you more.”

  I took her words in and tried to process them, but after years of fighting this, I knew no other way.

  “It’s not your fault, Donovan,” she whispered in my ear.

  I stilled and tightened my hold on her, but remained silent.

  “We all say and do shit in life we wish we could take back. But what people choose to do with that stuff is up to them. We can’t control their actions, and we sure as shit can’t foresee the future. We also can’t control what other people are going to do to the people we love. You didn’t cause those men to do what they did to Ashley. That’s on them, not you. Baby, you’ve spent long enough beating yourself up for this. It’s time to forgive yourself for whatever you think you’ve done wrong. It’s time to move out of the shadows of the past and start living your life again.”

  I buried my head in her neck and let her words wash over me. She held me close and ran her fingers through my hair. Her touch felt so good. After years of denying myself the chance to find love again, Layla’s caresses moved through me, reaching deep into my soul. I had no idea how to even begin to forgive myself, but I figured letting her in was a good place to start.

  Lifting my head, I looked into her eyes and said, “Thank you.”

  Her smile shone light over me. “Always,” she whispered.

  Always.

  I needed her skin.

  Needed to hold her.

  I grabbed her hand and led her to my bedroom.

  She let me strip her, and once we were both naked, I took her face in my hands and slowly kissed her. When I ended the kiss, I murmured, “I need you in my arms, baby.”

  “I know,” she said, and crawled onto the bed.

  I followed her and settled her in my arms. She placed her hand on my chest and traced the skin there. Her body was pressed against mine, our arms and legs entwined, and I wanted nothing more than what she’d already given me.

  Tonight, I just needed to hold her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Layla

  “Annie!” I called up the stairs.

  No reply.

  “Shit,” I muttered under my breath. We were going to be late if she didn’t hurry up.

  “I’m coming,” she yelled out, and I blew out a breath.

  Thank fuck.

  A couple of minutes later, she joined me downstairs and I smiled at her choice of outfit. “You look beautiful,” I said, meaning every word I’d said. Annie was a stunning woman, but with the confidence of a child, she didn’t see it.

  A blush spread across her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  I smiled and reached for her hand so I could join our arms together to walk out to the car. “Okay, chick, let’s get you to your new job.”

  She walked with me, and I felt her body tense. “I’m so nervous,” she admitted.

  “I know you are, but Donovan will be there the whole time, and he’ll make sure you’re okay.”

  Just thinking about him caused my heart to dance. It’d been three days since he’d cracked and opened up to me. Three days since he’d finally let me all the way in.

  “I can’t believe he offered me this job,” Annie cut into my thoughts.

  I stopped her and turned so we were facing each other. “He offered you this job because he knows you’re capable of it, Annie. You have so much to offer the world and yet you hide yourself away. I really wish you could see you the way I see you.”

  Donovan had asked me about Annie and when he’d suggested she go to work for him in administration, I’d been stunned. I wanted to keep her close to me, so I could keep an eye on her and make sure she was okay, but he suggested she needed to spread her wings a little more and learn to be more independent rather than relying on me so much.

  “I love you, Layla. I know I don’t tell you that very much, but you’ve done so much for me. And I know, I annoy you with my lack of confidence, but I’m trying to change.”

  Her words almost broke my heart. “That means the world to me, but do it for you, not for me. It’s time for you to make yourself happy, Annie, rather than always trying to make everyone else happy.”

  Her psychologist had spoken to her about her need to please everyone at our last session. Annie always insisted on me attending the appointments with her, and I’d actually gotten a lot out of them. I’d gained a better understanding of where her behaviour stemmed from.

  “I know,” she whispered. “And I am working on it, I promise.”

  I squeezed her hand. “Good.”

  We drove to Donovan’s warehouse in silence. I sensed Annie’s nervousness and fought my instinct to try to take it away for her. She had to learn to cope with it herself. God, being a real mother must be so damn hard; fighting that need to make it all better for your child would do my head in.

  One of Donovan’s men met us at the door and took us up to him. When we arrived at his office, he was on the phone and had his back to us as he stared out the window. I let my gaze roam over his body. He wore his signature jeans, black t-shirt and heavy boots. As he spoke, he waved his hand in the air and I watched his arm and back muscles flex while he did that.

  Oh god.

  He’d left my bed at seven this morning after fucking me for an hour, and I needed him again.

  He turned and caught me checking him out. Grinning at me, he ended his call and walked to where I was. He reached for me and pulled me close so he could press a kiss to my lips. “Fuck, I need you again,” he growled in my ear.

  “God, baby, don’t say that to me when you can’t do anything about it,” I complained, pulling away from him.

  He let me go, but I suspected it would have been a different story if Annie hadn’t been in the room. Turning, he gave her a smile. “You all ready?” he asked. I loved the way he was with her; soft and caring. It was like he knew she needed that rather than the harshness the rest of the world showed her.

  Nodding, she said softly, “Yes.”

  He turned his attention back to me for a moment. “Stay here, okay? I’ve got something to tell you when I come back.” His voice was gravelly, and I figured he didn’t have something to tell me as much as he had something to give me.

  I raised my brows at him. “Where else would I go, baby?” I asked, sweetly, in the way I knew drove him wild.

  Desire flashed in his eyes, and he gave me a quick shake of his head before leading Annie out of the office.

  I waited for him on the couch in his office. He’d worn me out the last few nights with his marathon sex sessions, and my body craved sleep. I curled up on the couch and rested my head on the arm. Donovan woke me with a gentle kiss. My eyes flew open to find him crouched down in front of me, a smile on his face.

  “Tired?” he asked, as he ran his hand over my waist.

  “Yeah, someone keeps me up all hours.”

  He lifted his brows in that sexy way of his. “I bet he’s worth it, though. Bet he knows what he’s doing.”

  “I’m still not sure. I think he needs some more time to prove hi
mself.”

  His hand gripped me hard around the waist, and he stole a rough kiss. “He’d be happy to work on that now.”

  Yes.

  I pulled his face back to mine and kissed him again. When I ended it, I asked, “Did you really have something to tell me?”

  “Yeah. I’ve found someone to replace Damian if you’re still looking.”

  “Absolutely. Who is it?”

  “My father’s wife.”

  Confused, I asked, “What?” Surely, I couldn’t have heard that right.

  “Marcus’s wife, Sharon, is looking for a job, and I think she’d fit right in at your place; besides, she’s had plenty of experience working a bar and dealing with assholes. She came to see me a little while ago, and we’ve been in touch since. I think she’s finally thinking about leaving him, and I’m encouraging her in that.”

  My man amazed me. “Do you have any idea how fucking wonderful you are, Donovan?”

  He scowled. “No, I’m not. I’m just trying to help a woman who has no fucking idea how to help herself.”

  I smiled and kissed him. “And that’s what makes you wonderful. Now, shut up and fuck me.”

  He didn’t have to be told twice.

  ***

  The next day, Sharon Cole walked into my bar, and I knew Donovan had been right. She was going to be a valuable addition to my team. I spent a couple of hours talking her through how we ran the place, and when I had to step out the back to take a call, I wasn’t the slightest bit concerned she could handle the bar by herself.

  Jess arrived at work later that afternoon, and we headed outside so I could catch her up on things while she had a smoke. “How’s Sharon doing?” she asked.

  “I think she’s going to work out.”

  “Thank fuck, I was worried when Damian said he was leaving. Just when we had a good thing going with the three of us.”

  “I hear ya, babe.”

  “And how did Annie do on her first day yesterday?”

  “She didn’t say a lot, but she went back today without any complaints so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. Donovan said she didn’t have any problems that he knows of.”

  Her eyes lit up at the sound of his name. Jess had a tiny crush on my man. “Bitch, how the hell did you get so lucky finding a guy like him?”

  “I’ve been through my share of shit, don’t you worry.”

  She narrowed her eyes on me. “Mmm, one day you’ll have to tell me about that.” She stubbed out her cigarette and we headed back inside.

  Sharon was deep in conversation with a woman at the bar while another woman stood listening. They all appeared to know each other, and when I took a closer look, I wondered if she was Sharon’s daughter because I could see the similarities in them. Which meant she was possibly Donovan’s half sister.

  I made my way to the bar, and Sharon smiled at me. “Layla, this is my daughter, Madison,” she said. Then she indicated to the other woman and introduced us. “And this is Velvet.”

  Madison gave me a huge smile. “Hi Layla, I’ve been dying to meet you.”

  “Really?” She was nothing like I’d imagined. I’d figured the daughter of a biker president would possibly be a nasty bitch, so her friendliness surprised the hell out of me.

  “Of course. The woman who tamed my brother . . . but he’s been so damn secretive.”

  I laughed. “Tame Donovan? I don’t think any woman could do that.”

  “You call him Donovan . . . I love that,” she murmured.

  Velvet joined in the conversation. “I don’t think I even knew what his real name was.”

  Before I could say anything, Madison said, “I’m having a BBQ next weekend. I’d love for you and Blade to come.”

  “I’d love to, but I have to work.”

  “I’ll work for you, Layla, if you want to go,” Sharon offered.

  I frowned. “Won’t you be at the BBQ?”

  “I don’t mind not going so you and Blade can go.”

  Madison didn’t hide her excitement. “Fantastic! Not this Sunday, but the next at five o’clock. I’ll see you then.”

  They said their goodbyes and left. I looked at Sharon. “Is Madison always that excited?”

  She grinned. “When it comes to Blade, yes. Those two have a special bond I can’t even begin to understand. I think it’s perhaps because she gave him her love without any conditions when they finally met, and that wasn’t something he’d ever had before.”

  It sounded like it could be true. Donovan craved love and acceptance after his shitty childhood. I just hoped he would continue to let us all in.

  Chapter Twenty

  Blade

  I listened to Merrick go on about the issues we had with the Hurley bid, but my mind kept drifting to Layla and thoughts of fucking her this morning. It had been nearly two weeks since the night I’d shared my shit with her, and she’d been nothing but fucking amazing since.

  “Blade, are you listening?” Merrick cut into my thoughts.

  “Yeah. Tell me where we are with the union.”

  “Whatever Onyx said to Phil worked because the union negotiations are almost finished and didn’t hurt us too much. Phil obviously talked to his buddies there.”

  I snorted at his choice of words. Phil Deacon didn’t ‘talk’ to anyone, he used force.

  “Thank fuck,” I muttered.

  “I’ve still got Ben watching him, though. I don’t trust him not to fuck with us again.”

  I raised my brows. “Surely not. I would have thought, after our last encounter, he’d realise that’s not a good idea.”

  “You were too soft on him. You know he’s a fucking loose cannon.”

  I scowled at him. “We’ll see.”

  Shaking his head, he muttered something I didn’t quite catch.

  Ignoring him, I asked, “Have you heard anything on the street about Ricky and what he’s up to with regards to Storm?”

  “No. Scott hasn’t kept you updated?”

  I stood. “No, I haven’t spoken to him for over a week. It’s about time I set up a meet with him. I want an update on Ricky and also on Blue.”

  “Today, yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  I grabbed my keys and phone and walked towards the door. “I won’t be back in today,” I said.

  He grinned. “Fucking pussy-whipped.”

  I headed out into the fresh air, my thoughts drifting back to Layla.

  Her back arched, head thrown back, hair splayed across the bed.

  Her hands gripping the sheet as she screamed out my name.

  Her eyes as they focused on mine after her orgasm.

  He’s right.

  I’m fucking pussy-whipped.

  I forced her out of my mind and called Scott.

  “Blade,” he answered.

  “We need to meet and go over where we’re at.”

  “Today?”

  “Yeah. Can you guys do it now?”

  “Pretty sure we can both make it. I’ll let you know if there are any problems. Usual place?”

  “Good. I’ll see you then,” I said and hung up.

  It was time to move this fucking plan along. And it looked like Ricky Grecian just might be the key to make that happen.

  ***

  I arrived at the meeting place an hour later. It was a hidden picnic area in a national park far away from Storm’s clubhouse, and it was the place we met when the three of us needed to talk without having any prying eyes or ears on us. I watched as they walked towards me, thinking the day we put this plan into motion was a turning point in my relationship with Scott. Griff had come up with the plan so he could get closer to Marcus and find out insider information that would help Scott boot Marcus out.

  “Scott, VP,” I greeted them with a chin lift.

  Scott chuckled because he knew how much Griff hated it when I called him that.

  “Fuck off,” Griff muttered.

  I smirked. “Griff, it’s too fucking easy to shit you.”


  “Yeah, well, you’d be the same if you had a mind full of shit and people in your fucking ear all the time about bullshit club business.” He looked at Scott. “I don’t know how the fuck you managed to do this job and not lose your shit.”

  “Which is why we need to move this along,” I said. “The sooner we get rid of Marcus, the sooner you can restore some order in the club.”

  “We still haven’t located Blue,” Scott said.

  “I think it’s time we gave up on that,” I suggested. “We can use Ricky instead.”

  Griff furrowed his brows. “How so?”

  “We need to flush him out, make him show his hand where Storm is concerned. He wants you guys to back off his territory, and if you push him, he’ll come for you.”

  They contemplated it, and then Scott said, “So, he fucks with us which will hurt Marcus and cause his supporters to think twice, yeah?”

  “Yeah, you just need to make them doubt him so that once he’s gone, they’re more receptive to you stepping into his shoes. Up until now, he’s had too much support for that to have much impact but there’s so much disorder in the club now, I think this has a shot at working.”

  Griff nodded. “I like it.”

  “You know Ricky well, Blade, so what do you suggest is the best way to piss him off?” Scott asked.

  “Contact him and tell him you have no intention of stepping away, and then flood his territory straight away.” I looked at Griff. “It will be up to you to get that timing right with Marcus and to get him to flood it more than whatever he has planned.

  Griff nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.”

  “And what’s his reaction likely to be?” Scott inquired.

  This was the part of the plan they wouldn’t like. “Ricky’s unpredictable, which is his strength. Leroy taught us that. He’ll likely come for you at the clubhouse, try and take as many of you out at once as he can. Bring you to your knees that way. So you’ll need to up your security there. I can give you manpower, but the tricky thing will be trying to explain that to Marcus.”

  “Okay, so we work that out, and then I’m assuming we’ll need to also take Ricky out at the same time as we deal with Marcus, yeah?”