by Anne Malcom
There was silence as they pulled away. “Still might start a war,” Bull muttered finally.
“Good,” Gage cut in. “I’ve been itching to try out my new piece.” He smiled, rubbing his gun thoughtfully, the sick fuck.
Bull’s body tightened. “War with the Tuckers means bloody. They do not fight fair, and they’ll target anyone connected to us. That’s not fuckin’ happening,” he growled.
Asher raised a brow at his normally silent brother. He was usually on Gage’s wavelength about a fight. He relished it. Shit he’d been through, sometimes Asher thought killing was the only thing that kept the fucker breathing. But he was different. Human, now that Mia had chased away the demons that used to define him. Fucker damned near cheerful ever since he married her.
“Bull’s right,” he agreed. “The Tuckers are crazy fucks, arguably crazier than you,” he told Gage. “But that shit, shooting that stupid fuck, I’m doubtful it’ll start anything. They may be crazy, but they’re not stupid. Word’s gotten around about Dylan Tucker. He’s a pain in even that crazy family’s ass. They won’t start anything with us over a flesh wound….” he paused, his fists tightening, “especially when they find out it’s a result of the bashing of two our woman.”
Bull leaned forward. “How will they find that out? That fuck’s not likely to tell the truth.”
Lucky grinned. “I’ll set about educating the right people so word gets back to them,” he volunteered.
Asher nodded. “Good. We’ll be on alert, just in case. Let Cade know. But I’m doubtful it’ll turn into anything more…” he paused, “and if it does, we’ll burn their entire fucked up empire to the ground.”
“You’re quiet,” Asher observed, stroking the hair from my face.
“I’m always quiet,” I returned from my position against his chest.
“Not with me.” He jostled me so my face tilted to meet his.
“We haven’t been together long enough for you to make generalizations about how am I am not with you,” I replied with a slight bite to my voice.
His eyebrows rose. “We’ve been together long enough for me to know when shit is swirling in that head.”
We were in bed. We hadn’t made love, we had barely spoken. The afternoon had been taken up with dealing with the bleeding man in our living room, with the battered Bex, and with some very angry bikers.
“Why do you guys have all the fun without us?” Gage whined when Asher had opened the door to him, a man I didn’t recognize with a ‘Prospect’ patch and Bull.
The joking atmosphere had quickly dissipated when three sets of eyes focused on me. On the patched up cut on my forehead, which I’d done myself after convincing Asher we didn’t need his doc. My nursing training had me able to patch up Bex and myself. Manly rage saturated the air when their eyes moved to Bex, on the sofa beside me, her bruises worsening with every hour.
“Please tell me we’re dumping a body,” Gage spit out, his eyes moving to the prone Dylan.
A groan emitting from his body answered the question.
He grinned. “So you did save some for me,” he rubbed his hands together, “much obliged.” His face had turned cold, and the glint in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine. He was not the man who’d been joking with me at the club days earlier, the man who’d been playing with Belle. This was a killer.
“This one’s catch and release brother,” Lucky informed him, putting a hand on his chest when he tried to advance further.
Gage scowled at him. “Come again?”
Lucky sighed. “It’s not my first choice either, but the women in the building voted against us.”
Gage’s scowl deepened. “Since when do women get to dictate how we dole out justice?”
“Since women got the vote, I’m sure even alpha bikers have noticed a little thing called feminism,” Bex interrupted from her perch on the sofa.
His hard gaze settled in on her face, I watched him visibly flinch at the state of it. His scowl deepened.
“Men who do that,” he nodded to her face, “need to meet the reaper. Preferably slowly,” he gritted out.
Bull stepped forward, surprising me by speaking, “Can’t say I don’t agree with you, brother, but be mindful of our audience.” His eyes touched mine. “These women have been through enough shit. They don’t want to become accessories to murder, I say we oblige them. Cade will also appreciate us not risking the club with this fucker,” he continued in a rational voice.
Gage glowered at him. “What the fuck ever,” he ground out finally, stepping back.
The men moved away from him, giving him the opening he needed to advance on Dylan’s body. His motorcycle boots connected with Dylan’s crotch savagely, and he cried out, curling into himself.
No one said anything, Lucky raised a brow.
Gage shrugged. “We can’t kill him. No one said anything about making him a eunuch.”
Lucky chuckled slightly, and even Bull grinned.
You’d think at that moment I would have been focused on the fact I had multiple bikers and a man bleeding from a gunshot wound in my small living room. Instead, my attention was on Bull. On the way his attractive mouth was turned up. How his eyes seemed clearer, not haunted by those demons I recognized years ago. This amazed me and gave me hope.
“Flower, how about you take Bex, both of you pack a bag.” Asher’s voice tickled my ear and his hands tightened on my hips.
“Pack a bag?” I repeated, confused.
Asher turned me so I faced him. “Yeah, you’re coming to the clubhouse until we can ensure it’s safe to come back here.” He frowned at my front door. “We’ll get you a decent security system,” he added.
I really wanted to argue with this. With him commanding me to leave my apartment, however shabby it was, it was where I felt comfortable. The mere prospect of leaving what little sanctuary my apartment offered me had my chest feeling heavy. But there was a man bleeding in my living room. A man that had attacked Bex. So my anxiety would take a backseat for safety, for her safety.
“Okay,” I replied quietly.
Asher jerked in surprised, as did Bex, they were both obviously expecting an argument.
“Okay?” Bex repeated shrilly before anyone else could speak.
“Bex….” I tried to calm her before she got on a full rant. That failed.
She pushed off the sofa, grimacing slightly in pain. She pointed at Lucky, who advanced as if to steady her.
“Don’t even think about doing the whole protective alpha shit. I’m fine,” she ground out.
“Your face and ribs speak a different story, sweetheart,” Lucky clipped.
She glared at him. “Does this biker clubhouse have mystical healing powers? Can it make all of my injuries disappear along with all of my problems?” She didn’t wait for a response from anyone. “I know you all like to gather up the poor helpless females to help ascertain your position as bad ass bikers, but I’m not going for that shit,” she declared.
I chewed my lip. Bex was serious and stubborn. Someone would have to drag her bodily from this place and by looking at Lucky’s tight face that could be a possibility. If she wasn’t going anywhere, neither was I. I felt a slight relief at this fact. Bex threw the hissy fit I couldn’t.
“Fuck,” Asher muttered under his breath, obviously recognizing the look on Bex’s face.
“You are going,” Lucky gritted out.
Bex glared. “Care to make me?” she asked sweetly.
“Oh, I care to make you, sweetheart,” he replied with menace in his tone. Menace that didn’t belong there.
“Shit, if they want to stay, let them fuckin’ stay,” Gage cut in, playing peacemaker, as if he hadn’t just argued murder moments ago. “No fucker is stupid enough to cause trouble with our bikes outside.”
Lucky’s murderous gaze settled on him. I didn’t have the opportunity to watch the stare off.
Asher’s hand moved to my neck, directing my gaze to his. “I guess I can’t convince y
ou to come to the club?” he asked sounding defeated.
I shook my head slowly. “If Bex is staying, I’m staying,” I replied quietly.
Asher shut his eyes for a split second and then nodded. “How about you go and hang out in your room, we’ll sort this.” He nodded to Dylan’s body.
I gave Bex a look, one that told her to listen to Asher. She rolled her eyes and walked gently toward my room. She paused and turned. Her face had lost its bravado, its fury. She looked small and vulnerable.
“Thanks…” she half whispered to the room, her eyes dancing over the men and settling on Lucky, “for arriving when you did. I don’t doubt Lily’s ability to pull the trigger if she had to…” she paused, “but I’m glad she didn’t have to.” Without waiting for a response, she turned to disappear into my room. Lucky’s eyes focused on the closed door, his brows furrowed.
Asher’s hand touched my forehead lightly. “You sure you’re okay, Lily?” he asked with concern.
I nodded quickly, not liking the fact all of the men were standing, looking at me.
He kissed me lightly on the mouth. “Go see to your friend. She may like to think she’s tough as nails, but I doubt she’s as okay as she’s acting,” he murmured, surprising me with his perception.
I stared at him for a long moment before I stepped out of his embrace.
“Can I get anyone a drink? Beer? Before you commence....” I trailed off, my gaze darting to where Dylan was situated.
There was a short course of clipped nos.
“I’ll take that beer,” Lucky replied, his eyes now focused on the situation at hand.
All the men gave him a look.
He held out his hands. “What? She offered.”
Asher shook his head at him. “We’re fine, babe,” he reassured me.
“Okay, well, just let me know,” I replied quietly. “Thank you,” I said a bit louder, echoing Bex’s sentiment. “I know this hasn’t got anything to do with you, and I appreciate you doing it anyway,” I blurted quickly.
Asher frowned at me.
“You’re family, Lily. Someone hurts you, they hurt us. We don’t stand for that. Appreciate the sentiment, sweetheart, but it’s unnecessary,” Gage said softly. “Plus, it was gearing up to being another boring Wednesday, I do love a good body disposal.” He winked at me.
Despite the situation, I smiled shyly. “Thanks all the same,” I repeated firmly.
I turned to go to my room, Asher still frowning at me.
I didn’t focus on what the reason for that could be, nor ponder how he could still look hot as anything with furrowed brows. I had a friend to look after.
“I’m thinking,” I said finally.
“About today,” Asher clarified.
“Yes. About your friend shooting someone, and both of you being prepared to kill that someone. No talk of calling the proper authorities was even entertained,” I answered.
Asher sighed and sat up, taking me with him. “You may not have been an Old Lady for three years, but you’ve been connected to the club. You know the way we live our life, our distaste for law enforcement,” he said slowly.
I looked into his clear eyes. “Yeah, I guess it’s different being on the sidelines and having to argue with your boyfriend over not killing someone.” I never thought I’d utter a sentence like that in my life. “It’s a lot to deal with. I’m already trying to pick myself up, this is something that has me in danger of falling down,” I whispered, the truth of my words slicing through my soul. I was still trying to figure out who I was after my mom’s death. Trying to understand whether being a nurse was what I wanted, if being who I used to be was what I wanted. If I did decide being a nurse was what I wanted, I had to study. Hard. I had to work harder to be able to survive. One of my scholarships had been dropped which meant I would need to pick up more shifts. My life would already be crazy. I didn’t need shootings in my living room. I didn’t need Asher consuming me.
His whole body tightened at my words. “I’m here to make sure you don’t fall, babe. That shit, it wasn’t exactly our fault,” he ventured carefully, and rightly so.
I leaned back. “The man getting shot by your brother was not your fault?” I repeated.
“He put his hands on you. Almost killed your best friend. What the fuck did you expect me to do?” he bit out.
“Call the police instead of discussing the dumping of his body?” I suggested.
Asher’s face was granite. “Shit that Tucker’s connected to, means half the police are in his pocket,” he said.
It was my turn to freeze. “What do you mean, shit that he’s connected to?” I repeated. “And how do you know Dylan’s last name?”
Asher seemed to contemplate something before speaking. “Everyone knows the Tucker family, babe. They’re crazy sons of bitches with a lot of money and a heap of power. Crazy plus power plus money means dangerous. Dangerous as fuck to be exact,” he clipped. “His family is into everything. Prostitution, drugs, arms. You name the pie, their fingers are in it.
“Dylan’s rich?” I asked in disbelief “He never even chipped in for groceries when he was here, regardless of the fact he ate everything in sight,” I complained. “What a ... dick,” I said finally.
Asher raised his brows in amusement. “I’d say dick is a kind word to call him, though you’re focusing on the wrong details, babe. He’s dangerous. His family is off the charts crazy.” His face turned serious. “The fact he’s been in your presence, in your house without you knowing who he is, what he is,” he grimaced, “fuck babe.” He ran his hand over his mouth.
“Well, I don’t exactly run in those type of crowds, I just thought he was your regular run-of-the-mill douchebag,” I explained, not liking that yet again I was a clueless naïve girl needing to be saved.
Asher’s face softened, as he stroked my cheek. “Of course, you didn’t know, babe, I didn’t expect you to….” he paused, “Bex would have. It’s not a secret, and she does run with those type of crowds, Lily. As much as you wouldn’t like to admit it,” he added, seeing me open my mouth to argue, “she should’ve been smarter,” he said tightly.
I leaned back. “So you’re saying it’s her own fault that she got beaten up?” I asked in a quiet voice.
“Shit no, flower, of course not. The blame for that lies firmly on Tucker’s shoulders. Any man that does that shit is no man…” he paused again, “but she should’ve known the danger in getting involved with a man like him.”
My anger was tamped down slightly. “Bex doesn’t exactly live a cautious life. You don’t know what she’s had to go through,” I defended my friend.
Asher gazed at me. “No, babe, I don’t. Everyone has their own demons. I know that. I don’t presume to know hers. But when her demons cause my woman to get involved…” he stroked my face … “to get hurt, it gets to me, flower. I don’t want you to face any more demons, your own or anyone else’s. I’d slay dragons for you, babe,” he murmured quietly.
I stared at him, a cocktail of emotion swirling in my belly. How do you respond when someone says that to you?
“You scare me,” I said finally.
Asher didn’t betray any emotion at my strange response, nor did he say anything.
“Saying things that like, it terrifies me,” I confessed. “Having you come in with your brothers, talking about bodies and killings like it’s a plan to go bowling, that scares me, too,” I whispered. “I feel afraid all the time. Afraid to be with you. Be without you. A girl that’s always afraid, that’s broken, isn’t ever going to be strong enough for that life. For your life,” I told him. “Bex was wrong before. I wasn’t going to do it. Shoot him. Even if it meant he hurt us, killed me even, I wouldn’t have had the strength to pull that trigger,” I choked out, feeling ashamed.
Asher moved me so I was straddling him, his hands grasping my hips tightly.
“You’re strong enough, flower,” he told me with certainty. “When someone breaks, they heal, twice as strong as be
fore. You were strong before, babe, you’re stronger now. You’re strong because you’re gentle when most people would be rough. You stand when most people would fall. Strength comes in different forms,” his hand crept up my hip, “and you would’ve done it. As much as it pains me to say, you don’t have enough sense of self-preservation. You might not have done it for yourself, but you would’ve done it for your friend. I know that, because you’d do anything for the people you love,” he said with pride in his husky voice. “If I could have dreamt up my perfect Old Lady, she wouldn’t have been as good as you,” he murmured. “And that’s what you are. It might scare you, I’m man enough to admit it scares the shit out of me. When the world hands you something you treasure more than anything else you’ve ever had, all you can think of is the agony of losing it.” His hand moved to the waistband of my panties.
I sucked in a breath.
“But the feel of it, of you, in my hands is enough to make me forget that fear,” he murmured, his finger moving to caress my bare skin.
My body moved against him, tingles of pleasure radiating to my fingertips.
His eyes blazed with desire as his finger plunged into me. “You want this?” he rasped.
I let out a little moan and started to move with him. “Yes,” I whispered.
He sat up, grasping my neck with his free hand. “Then that’s all that matters,” he declared, flipping us so I was on my back.
I barely registered the change in positions, his finger continuing to move inside me.
“Top off,” he commanded.
I quickly complied, wrenching my tee off. The moment I’d tossed the fabric to the floor, Asher’s mouth fastened on my nipple. My hands drove into his hair and I arched my back slightly, moaning as his teeth grazed my sensitive peak. The cold air bit my bare skin as Asher’s mouth left my breast to travel downward.
“You’re going to come in my mouth, Lily,” he instructed, pulling his finger out of me.
I writhed in frustration at the loss, but my fingers grasped the sheets in expectation from Asher’s words.