by Rose, Lila
She’d always deserved better, she really did, but seeing her after so long had my resolve melting. Emotions rose and memories bombarded me. I’d promised her many years ago when we parted it wouldn’t be forever. I was there to make good on my promise. Despite the years away from each other, I knew she was the only woman for me.
Could I have a chance at winning the private investigator, a woman who toed the line, over? My life, my past, my people, were dirty in the worst way.
Women sold their bodies for me. They had sex for me.
As the French would say, I was a souteneur, a protector of the women who worked for me. Others would just call me a pimp.
I was other things as well… but I had no idea if Violet would open her eyes and see what else, to see I was more.
Time would tell.
I had an in with Zara, and I would take it if it meant being in Violet’s life one way or another.
It was after I’d fired and taught a lesson to my fucking pathetic hired help that I stood back in the library staring out the window, with my bourbon in hand, when my door burst open. I didn’t turn, already expecting him.
“Talon,” I called.
“Travis. You fuckin’ wanna tell me what the fuck happened.” He didn’t ask; he never would. It was always a demand, much like the way I was with my people.
Turning, I leaned back against the window and took in Talon standing near the chair his lady had occupied not too many hours ago. A couple of his men were at his back. “I’m sure your sweet woman told you all about it.”
“When you came to me, telling me your business won’t touch my streets, I let you move to Ballarat. Move into my territory. Do not make me fuckin’ regret it.”
“You have my word no harm will come to you and yours from my hands or my people.”
“Already fuckin’ happened, Travis, and it doesn’t sit well with me.”
I sipped my drink and moved forward. “The men who touched your woman have been taken care of.”
“They breathin’?”
“Barely.”
“Good.” He uncrossed his arms from his chest and gripped the back of the chair in front of him. “Know your history. Know who you were to my sister. Don’t think, since seein’ her tonight, that history will repeat itself.”
“Now, Talon—”
“Don’t fuck with me and mine, Travis. If you heed my warnin’, then there won’t be a problem.”
I nodded once. Knowing it wasn’t the time to fight for what I wanted with his sister yet, not until I won her over. Maybe even Zara, since she could put a good word in for me with her man. It could just save my life.
Talon said no more. Instead, he turned and moved out of the room with his men following. After pulling out my chair, I sat down and moved the mouse enough to bring my sleeping computer to life. The screen showed what I already wanted.
My daughter sleeping peacefully in her room two stories above me. I touched the screen, over her cheek. Izzy was such a sweet, innocent girl. Still so unaware of how life could tear you to pieces. I could only hope life for her, when she grew, would be gentle. She was like how I was when I was a child. Eyes closed to the world until my parents died in a train accident and my life changed into something cruel.
I made my life better because I didn’t want anyone I loved to suffer like I had.
So I would try my best to make sure my daughter had a life where she didn’t need to feel fear of anything. As long as she stayed away from her poisonous mother.
When my phone rang, I scowled down at it. It was after midnight. All my employees knew not to disturb me this late unless it was important, which was why I picked it up without glancing to the caller ID.
“Yeah?”
“Devin here. Just intercepted a call Violet Marcus got and thought you should know. Zara Alexander, her secretary, was kidnapped—”
“I know, that was—”
“No. Heard about that from Link, this just happened. A guy named Julian rang Violet on the way to the compound to inform Talon about what went down with Zara. Her ex, David Goodwill, got to her.”
“Fuck.” I stood, pulling out a gun from my drawer, holstering it under my jacket. “Keep me posted,” I ordered and strode to the door, pocketing my phone. If they thought it was weird I was turning up in the middle of a crisis, I would come clean about how I knew. Until then, since Zara meant something to Violet, I would offer my assistance in any way.
I wouldn’t be too far behind Talon. Link had arrived at the house to watch Izzy, just as I was getting to the front door.
The drive took me less time than I thought it would. As I pulled into the Hawks compound car park, it was just behind Violet. The man, Warden, got out of her car. She must have picked him up in case she needed more help before heading straight to her brother. Then I saw her glowering at me as she climbed out. I parked, got out, and strode her way.
“I heard what happened. I’ve come to offer my help.”
She studied me for a moment, then nodded, and all three of us ran into the compound.
“What’s going on?” Violet asked, stopping beside her brother.
“In short, I was betrayed by two of my brothers. Zara and the kids have been taken to David.”
“Fuck,” Warden whispered.
“Christ, no,” Vi uttered.
“What can we do?” I asked. Talon’s upper lip raised at me. He didn’t want me there, but he would suck it up and do anything for his family. It would be what I would do.
When Talon didn’t say anything, his expression dropped to nothing but the pain he was feeling inside, his second in command came forward and ordered, “Violet, you stay here with Deanna and man the phones. Travis, see if you can find out where David is situated right now through your sources. Warden, you’ll go with Blue. Once I call him into the hospital, you’ll need to talk to Pick. Talon….”
Talon grinned. It wasn’t a fucking nice one. “We’re going to talk to Rocko.”
I moved to the side and called Link. “Yeah?” he answered.
“Need everything on David Goodwill. Put all men onto it. He’s in Victoria somewhere, and we have to find the fucker.”
“On it,” Link responded before hanging up.
I pocketed my phone and pulled Violet aside. She stared up at me, waiting. I didn’t have a fucking clue what I wanted to say, but I’d overheard she, along with Deanna, argued to go with Talon instead of being left back. It could lead to dangerous situations.
“Violet—”
“Save it, I don’t—”
I gripped her arms, pulled her close, and slammed my lips down onto hers. She froze, but I was determined. After a beat, and when I ran my tongue over her lips, she finally melted into me.
Just like she used to.
Even when pissed at me.
It was as if she couldn’t resist my mouth, my taste.
Breaking the kiss, I ordered, “You’d better stay safe so we can talk and repeat that.”
For a moment, her eyes warmed and she nodded. Then it was as if a switch was turned on and she shook her head. Eyes clearing, narrowing.
“You need to stay away from me, Travis, if you want to keep your balls intact.”
Grinning, I watched as she stormed out of the room following Talon.
At least she was thinking about my balls.
It was a start.
Taking out my phone again, I walked from the compound and headed for my car. I had a few of my own calls to make. Someone had better come through for me, or they’d be out of my business in the future.
I wasn’t the biggest pimp in Victoria for no reason. I had many clients owing me favours, and some of them were about to be called in.
Chapter Four
Violet
Fuck Travis and his lips. The feel of them on me was seared into my brain. Why did the dickhead have to kiss me like he was worried about me? Hell, maybe he was, but he had no right to.
I sat at my computer fuming about it and the f
act we were running out of leads to find Zara. Rocko, the Venom MC president, gave us addresses and number plates of the guys who were helping Vic, Talon’s dead, betraying brothers. The ones who were delivering Zara to David. The other betraying brother, Pick, had redeemed himself in one way by saving Zara’s brother and his partner from Vic’s gun by getting shot himself. I knew he would pay by my brother’s hands, though, and he’d deserve it.
I hated seeing Talon in pain. It gutted me to see my brother on the verge of losing it. Just from the way he fought to find them showed me the man he’d become—a good man, one who found the perfect woman for him. Anyone could see he loved Zara and the kids with his life. He couldn’t and wouldn’t live without them. I was proud, once again, to call him my brother.
We had to get them all back. For Talon, for the Hawks, and for even me.
I wanted more time with my nephew, Cody, Talon’s son, who I hardly knew. I wanted to see Zara giving Talon a hard time. I just wanted more time with everyone I loved.
“Anything?” Talon asked, desperation in his tone.
“Talon, I’m not that frigging fast, give me a minute,” I answered. “I’ll send Chuck to their houses, but I doubt they’re there. They would have taken them to David straight away so they could be paid,” I explained and then picked up my phone.
I kept Chuck on the line while he drove to the houses. “Nothing, Vi,” he said with a sigh. “They ain’t at either house.”
“Shit,” I whispered.
Talon, with the phone to his ear, called out, “Violet, how we doing?”
“Zip. I’ve got Chuck on the line. There’s no one at their houses. Their cars are in their frigging drives. I’ve got nothing else to go on.” Panic showed in my voice. “I’m sorry.”
“Jesus Christ,” Talon whispered. Torment flashed in and out of his eyes. He said into the phone, “No. Fuck, brother. We have to find them—” I stood as Talon tensed, listening. “Blue?” he snarled. “Brother,” he demanded. His shoulders sagged, his eyes closed, I got close. “Text me the address. I’ll meet you there.” He hung up and told us, “Travis got a location. Let’s go.”
Travis had come through.
That was… nice. But, nope, I wouldn’t think about that.
“Talon, wait,” I called when a thought crossed my mind.
“What, woman? I gotta get my family.”
“You and Griz need my guns. If the bullets are traced, I’m covered for being a PI. You’re not.”
My brother closed his eyes. He knew I was protecting him. He felt it deep, but he had to know when it came to matters of family, I would always have his back. Ignoring Deanna and Griz, I opened my gun safe under my desk, got out three, and walked over to Talon. Handing one to Griz, then to Talon, I slipped the other into the back of my jeans.
Talon caught my gaze. “There could be a lotta people goin’ down today, Vi. You ready for this?”
“Fuck yeah.” I smiled. We’d get Zara and the kids back. Talon would continue living a happy life with a woman he did deserve, and I would gain back my brother and his family.
“Let’s move then.” Talon grinned back at me.
We met the other Hawks members. Once we were out of the car, Blue asked, “What’s the plan?”
Talon sucked in a breath. “We need to be fast, get in and get out. The warehouse is a block away at the end of a dead-end street. Not much goes on in these parts, so there shouldn’t be any witnesses we’d need to buy off.” Talon stopped; fury crossed his features, and I was sure I still knew my brother enough to know he’d be thinking he was wasting his time explaining when all he wanted to do was get in there and out with his family.
Stepping up, I rested my hand on his arm. He glanced down at me. “We go in on foot from here. We don’t want them knowing we’re coming.” I glanced over Blue’s shoulder to see Warden pull in. I smiled. “Good, just in time.” Warden climbed out and went to the back of the car, opening the trunk. I’d asked him to make a stop for me. “Everyone needs to swap out their weapons for one of ours,” I shouted to the brothers.
“Shit, Vi,” Talon groaned, emotions rode his voice. “How the fuck are you going to explain firing off twenty or so guns to the cops?”
I shrugged. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.” He shook his head. I shifted closer. “Do you think Zara would want her man in jail after just saving her?” I asked. She wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t want to actually see my brother in jail after he’d cleaned his life and the lives of his members up. This was different. It was for family, and the only people who would be harmed were ones who shouldn’t exist anyway. “No. Do it for her, Talon.” He eyed me, searching for something. He must have found it because he nodded.
Tears welled, but I blinked them away, and thankfully, Barbie, Zara’s best friend and my arch nemesis, piped up with, “Do I get a fuckin’ gun now?”
“No,” Griz answered with a growl to his tone. “You stick with me, princess.”
Even though the woman annoyed the fuck out of me, she had balls; I would give her that. I’d also try to get along with her for Zara. If only she didn’t piss me off.
When Talon called, “Right, let’s roll out,” I stopped them once more. He groaned. “What?”
“Send Warden in there first, he’ll get any cameras there are offline.”
Talon looked to my employee with doubt in his eyes. Yes, Warden was on the tall and huge side, but he was stealthy. No one detected him before he wanted them to know he was there. Talon nodded, then paced as we waited. Warden came back, tipped his chin and said, “Coast’s clear.” Talon spread his brothers out around the warehouse. I stayed at his side, along with Griz and Deanna.
We made our way to the front door, surprisingly not running into anyone. Reminded me of Travis’s house. A moment later, Blue ran around the corner and informed us his team had taken out five men. Talon replied with a chin lift and walked up to the front door. It was locked. Talon stepped back, no doubt ready to kick it in, when Deanna moved up and knocked on the door. We all stared at her.
Seconds later, the front door opened. A guy in a biker vest with a Vicious club patch stood in it. He went to grab a two-way until Deanna punched him in the face. It was times like that I could actually like the woman.
We left Blue to deal with him and walked into the house. Silently, we took the stairs when we heard a gunshot sound in the distance. My heart cracked to allow the panic through.
“Shit, shit,” Deanna chanted.
We stopped at the end of a hallway. Talon signalled us to stay quiet as he moved to the first door. It revealed nothing. Griz, at the second, showed one of Rocko’s, the Vicious president, men. Griz took care of him with one hit. I went to the next door. Nothing.
This shit started to piss me off. Though, it was better than letting the fear take control. Talon tried the fourth door. It was locked, so I stepped up, took out my lock picking kit, and kneeled on the floor. Within seconds, it clicked open. I moved out of the way, so Talon could open the door; he stepped in with his gun raised.
Noises touched my ears, leading my eyes to the corner of the room where I saw four bodies huddled together. Talon saw it as well. Then we heard, “Dad?”
Cody. Dear God, it was Cody.
“Told ya he’d come,” Cody said to the other people.
“Talon,” Maya, Zara’s little girl, cried as she ran at my brother. He locked his body as she hit against him. He swung her up and hugged her close, gesturing to Cody to come to him.
“Richard? Nancy?” Deanna asked.
The older couple stood. The man stepped forward more into the light from the hallway. “Why, hey there, Deanna girl.”
“Oh my God.” Deanna gasped.
Richard? Nancy? My brain clicked where I’d heard those names. Zara’s parents. They were alive.
“My, my, it’s so good to see you, Deanna, and in the flesh instead of Skype,” Nancy said, stepping around Richard. She looked just like her daughter, only older. My chest e
xpanded, filling with joy for Zara. Nancy went on, causing Deanna and me to laugh, “And you’re just a hot piece of eye candy.”
Turning towards the door, I raised my gun, but the footsteps I heard were only Griz’s. In his arms, he carried a teen girl. “Found her in a room. She’s unconscious but alive.” He lay her on a bed.
“Have you seen Zara?” Talon asked her parents.
“Oh my. No wonder my girl couldn’t resist you with a voice like that,” Nancy commented. Talon’s mouth dropped a little before he snapped it shut; I could tell he wanted to yell but refrained.
“Nance, focus. We saw her earlier, but that was a few hours ago. We don’t know where she is,” Richard told him.
Another gunshot sounded, and it wasn’t far from where we were.
“Fuck,” Talon clipped. He put Maya on her feet. “Stay here with your grandparents. Deanna, you gotta stay here with the girl in case she’s gonna be trouble.” It was a smart move, giving her something to do so she wouldn’t rant and rave about being left behind.
“Sure, boss,” she replied, taking out a taser.
Talon spoke to Richard, Maya, and Cody before we left the room, just as another gunshot sounded. We bolted for the door at the end. Talon kicked it in and entered. I was hot on his tail, only to freeze for a second.
Blood.
So much blood surrounded Zara on the couch.
“Who the hell are you?” David asked.
Ignoring him, knowing my brother and Griz had him, I went for Zara. Kneeling beside her, I didn’t know if I should touch her. Still, I pressed my fingers against her neck.
“Tell me she’s breathing,” Talon demanded.
Zara’s eyes fluttered. “H-honey?” She started coughing. I ran my hands over her, my jaw clenching tighter and tighter. My stomach dipped in dread.
“Christ, Talon. We have to get her outta here. She’s got three gunshot wounds and she’s been beaten.”
“You’re not taking her,” David yelled.
“Back the fuck up,” Talon roared. “You bloodied my woman, you beat her, raped her, and fuckin’ shot her. Fuck!” A shot fired behind me. Right away I knew it wasn’t Talon getting shot because he wouldn’t cry out like a piece of weak shit.