by Erin Trejo
“You’re dead,” Lia’s voice is low and shaking. I lower my gun, stuffing it back into the back of my jeans.
“Good news, brother. Room si-“ Crow’s words are cut off as he rounds the corner and sees her standing there in shock. “Oh, look. You found her,” He chuckles. No one moves. Lia and I stand in a silent standoff. She watches me like I’m a ghost and I can’t help but stand here in awe of her. I want to move. I want to go to her but what the fuck do I say? Now that she’s standing in front of me, I have no idea what to say to her. Hey, sorry we had to fake my death? Sorry I sent you away? What the fuck do I say?
Chapter 36
“I’m gonna go call Hawk and get the boys over here,” Crow says from somewhere behind me. I don’t say shit. I stand here like a bitch, just taking her in.
“How are you here? I saw you die, Draven,” Lia says, her eyes filling with tears. Tears that I put there. Again! Fuck!
“There’s a lot happenin’ right now. You need to be inside,” I tell her, my voice catching in my throat. Lia still doesn’t move as the tears slip down her cheeks. She’s killing me. Piece by piece she is ripping my heart to pieces.
“You were dead. I was there. I saw you,” She says once more. Her whole body begins to tremble. My heart hurts. It’s an ache that I’ve never experienced before. I take a step toward her when her hand comes up, halting me.
“You can’t be here. I saw you die! The Doctor said you were dead!” She screams. I never thought about what I would say to her. I never thought about how she might react to seeing me alive.
“There’s a lot that I need to explain to you, Lia but we need to get you inside where it’s safe,” I tell her, stepping closer. The closer I get, the more she shakes. The more she shakes the harder it is for me to breathe. My chest feels like it wants to explode. When Lia’s body trembles to the point she can’t move, I reach for her, pulling her into my arms.
“It’s ok. I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you,” I whisper in her ear. She cries harder, her hands wrapping up in my shirt. Her body shakes so violently that I want to lose my mind. I want to calm her but I feel like I’m making it worse.
“You were dead,” She cries over and over again. Her tears wet my shirt as cries into my chest.
“I know. I hated that it had to be that way. Fuck, Lia. I’m so sorry,” I whisper against her. I lift her body in my arms and carry her toward the door.
“What room?” I growl at Crow as he follows behind me.
“Six ten,” He says. We walk in the back door and head straight up the elevator. As soon as we get to the room, Crow knocks. The door opens slightly as Monica peeks out the side.
“What the hell?” She says as Crow grins.
“Let us in,” I say with a harsh tone. Monica moves and opens the door allowing us to come inside. I ignore the stares she’s giving me as I walk with Lia over to the chair. I sit down with her still in my arms when Monica asks, “What the hell is going on?” I look at Crow, too lost in the sobs coming from my girl to even care about Monica.
“Let’s just jump right to it. Your brother isn’t dead. He’s alive and well. At least for the moment. As soon as we get our hands on him, he’ll be dead. For real this time.” Lia pulls away from me, her eyes coming to mine. She’s lost and I hate it. I nod once seeing the question in her eyes. She needs to know that he’s really alive.
“You can’t kill him,” She says quickly climbing out of my lap. “He’s our family,” She snaps.
“He’s not who you think he is. He’s the one that’s been after you,” I tell her. She shakes her head rapidly, wiping her eyes.
“No. If he’s alive he wouldn’t hurt us. He was probably just trying to find us,” She says quickly, wrapping her arms around herself. I stand from the chair and place my hands on my hips, “You wanna know what he’s been doin’? He’s been workin’ his way into my fuckin’ club! He’s been hidin’ under my fuckin’ nose this whole time. Ratt is just what we called him! A fuckin’ rat! And you. You were a fuckin’ informant! You played right into his hand!” I growl as I watch her face pale. I don’t mean to take this out on her. I truly don’t but the more she denies it the more I want to choke her.
“You’re a liar! I don’t trust a word you say! You were dead. Explain that shit, Draven!” Lia snaps before turning to face Monica. She looks as lost as her sister right now.
“Let’s go.” Lia moves, grabbing Monica by the arm and dragging her toward the door. Crow steps in front of it, not letting them leave.
“Crow, get the fuck out of my way,” She snaps at him. I smile. I can’t help it. I like when she gets feisty. It’s sexy as fuck.
“Hey Crow. Why don’t you and Monica go have a talk in the lobby,” I tell him, my teeth grinding painfully together.
“Fuck you! I’m not staying in this room with you, Draven,” Lia says, turning to face me now. I smirk and nod. Oh, yes she is. I tip my head to Crow. He moves in, grabbing Monica and heading out the door. As soon as it closes, Lia turns and tries to follow. Too bad I’m faster. Pinning her between the door and my body, my dick hardens. I know it’s bad timing and all that shit but I can’t stop the way she affects me.
“Why are you so afraid to be in a room with me?” I ask her, my lips so close to her ear. Fuck, I want this woman in ways I shouldn’t.
“You’re dead,” She says softly. I place my hands on her hips, pulling her body against mine.
“Does that feel dead?”
“You were, Draven. I don’t understand this.”
“Do you want me dead?” I ask getting annoyed with her attitude. I get it. I really do but fuck, I’m right here breathing the same air as her.
“Of course not! Do you know how bad that hurt seeing you like that? Hearing the beeps…just stop,” She cries. I spin her to face me. I need to see her face. I need to see that she is feeling the same things for me that I feel for her. I reach a hand up and cup her cheek, guiding her face up so I can see into her eyes.
“You were scared?” I ask her. She shakes her head, confusing me a little more.
“I was devastated. I’ve never had anyone care about me. I know you did, Draven. I feel things when I’m with you. You’re right. I was an informant and the more I got to know you, the more I knew I couldn’t do that. I didn’t give them anything. I swear. If you’re here to kill me, I promise I didn’t say anything and neither did Monica,” She pleads. Is that what she thinks? That I’d kill her?
“The only thing I came here for was to protect you. I should have stayed away but I couldn’t. I’m so fuckin’ sorry that things had to happen the way they did. I wish it could have been different,” I tell her. Her eyes stay on mine, heat racing through my veins.
Chapter 37
We stand here, our breathes mingling. She doesn’t know what to say to me and frankly, I don’t know what to say to her. I messed up. That’s no surprise.
“Why would he do this to us?” She asks, finally taking a breath.
“He had help. The cops you were workin’ for were in on it. They were gonna kill you and take the money. You were supposed to report back to them.” Lia shakes her head slowly before looking down, “He was never dead. I thought my brother was dead.” I lift her face back up so she’s looking at me again.
“He played you. He played all of us, Lia. Don’t let that shit hurt you, not anymore!” I snap. Lia looks at me and says, “You played me too. Why? How did you die yet you’re still here?”
“Long story, darlin’. They injected me with shit, made my heart stop. Thank fuck they brought my ass back.” Before I can say anything further, Lia climbs up my body. Her lips press into mine, her kiss heated. She kisses me like she may never see me again and I have to say, I fucking love it. I walk us backward, my hands cupping her ass. My legs hit the bed and I fall back with Lia on top of me. Her body grinds against mine. The heat inside of me almost explodes.
“I need you,” She says when she finally pulls her lips from mine. I raise my hands, locking them
behind my head as I watch her.
“Take me.”
Lia’s eyes blaze with fire. She climbs off me quickly, making short work of her clothes. I watch her naked body climb around the bed, yanking and tugging at my clothes. Once she has me stripped, she climbs back up, straddling me. She reaches back, grabbing my dick in her hand. Just the feel of her touching me causes my heart to pick up. Lia strokes me up and down so fucking deliciously. I close my eyes and let the feel of her seep into me. I can feel her position me where she wants me but when she slides down my length, my eyes snap open.
“Fuck!” I grunt. Lia moves her hips slowly at first. My body jerks and tenses beneath her. Her hands come to my chest, her nails scrapping down my skin. The burn is welcome. Hell, anything that has to do with Lia is welcome.
“Come on, Lia. Fuck me like you missed me,” I growl. Her eyes lock with mine, her hips moving faster. Her body takes all I have to give as she rides me hard. The faster she moves, the harder it is for me to hold myself together. I move my hand, reach forward and slide my finger over her clit. Lia moans and throws her head back. The harder I press on her little bundle, the tighter she gets around me. When I can feel her body burning with the need to come, I raise my hips. Bucking into her as she slams against me, we both come. I fill her with everything I have to give.
“Lia! Shit!” I grunt as I let her take everything from me. She already has my body and in this moment, she is taking my heart.
“Draven.” My name leaves her lips a breathless whisper. I reach for her, pulling her down on top of me. Her head rests on my chest as we both catch our breathes. I run my hand up and down her back, content to have her back in my arms. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed her being close to me. The warmth of her. The tingling feeling I get when she touches me. All of it.
“I’m sorry, Lia,” I say softly. Lia turns her head, pressing kisses to my chest.
“I get it. You were protecting me. I just can’t believe that he’s my brother. It hurts,” She says softly. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like. I know me and my mom don’t get along but she’s still around. James is the best brother anyone could ask for. My phone rings in the pocket of my jeans. Lia climbs off me and grabs it, tossing it to me with a smile. She kneels back down as I answer.
“Hey.”
“We got a hit on Ratt. His name is Reynold Harper. Heading out toward the Ramus Inn.” Shit!
“James, that’s where I am right now.”
“He has a few cops with him, Draven. I’m on my way.” The line goes dead before I can protest.
“You kept this?” I run my hand through my hair and look over at Lia holding the note she left me.
“Yeah. You’re mine Lia. I want all those little pieces of you,” I tell her, climbing out of the bed. I reach down and grab my boxers and jeans, tugging them back on. “We gotta move. He’s on his way.” I grab my shirt and pass Lia hers. I pull my boots and cut back on as I watch Lia put her clothes on. She’s so damn perfect. Everything about her is perfect.
“I’m not running from him,” She says. I cock my head to the side and watch her.
“You don’t think so?” I say. Lia shakes her head and pulls her hair up on top of her head. Her neck screams for me to kiss it, to bite it but I focus on the task at hand.
“You think I’m gonna let him hurt you anymore than he already has?” I ask her with a smirk.
“I mean it, Draven. This will never end if I run.”
Goddamn it! She is right.
Chapter 38
New plans come into play. The guys made it before Ratt did. We’re all hanging around the back of the damn hotel with what ammo we have on us. I don’t like this idea at all. I don’t like knowing that Lia could be in harm’s way.
“James is on his way,” I tell Hawk. He nods but keeps his eyes on the parking lot.
“We may need him,” He grumbles.
“When they show, you stay the fuck back here. Do you got me?” I ask Lia. She sticks her tongue out at me making me smile. There’s my girl. I wrap my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her closer to me. I press a hard kiss to her lips and when I pull back, I tell her, “I love you woman. You are stubborn as fuck and drive me insane but I fuckin’ love you.” Her eyes widen before she smiles.
“I think I love you too.”
“We got bikes!” Smokey roars. I release my hold on her and give her a wink before pulling my gun.
“Stay,” I tell Lia once more. I move to the side of the building watching the bikes pull in with a van at the back. Ratt’s at the front of the little pack. There’s only four other guys with him. I hold up my hand to show the guys with signals how many are out there. I wait. I wait until the bikes are off before I step around the side.
“Welcome home, honey,” I say with a smirk. Ratt looks up at me, not too happy to see me.
“Nice to see you alive,” He says. I laugh a little.
“I know. Bein’ dead wasn’t all that fun. I was a little upset about all the hype of it.” His eyes stay on mine much the same as mine do his.
“You know what I want. Let’s just make this easier on everyone. Hand her over, I walk,” Ratt says as if the deal was already made.
“I have a problem with that,” I say scratching my head with the barrel of my gun, “I kinda wanted to keep her.” Ratt’s eyes never leave mine but a slow smirk crosses his face.
“I had a feelin’ you were dippin’ in my big sister. Did you go after the other one too? You know she isn’t really family, right?” Ratt says as if that means shit to me.
I sigh and say, “Yeah. Funny thing about family. You don’t always have to be blood, ya know? Wait. You wouldn’t know. You aren’t shit to me. You betrayed the whole concept of family,” I growl.
“I was never family. You made sure of that. They all always questioned my loyalty! You know what is family though?” Ratt flips his hand through the air. The guy driving the van hops out, moving to the back. I watch cautiously. My gun is still in hand ready to fire at a moment’s notice. I’m ready for anything but when the guy walks back around the van with a bleeding James at his side, I freeze. I wasn’t ready for that. Not my brother. Goddamn it!
“You’re makin’ the biggest mistake of your life motherfucker,” I warn Ratt. No one touches my brother.
“How about that trade we talked about?” Ratt says with a smirk. I look at James, trying to gauge how bad he is when he says, “Tell him to fuck himself, Draven.” James chuckles before the asshole with him slams his fist into his stomach. I want to react. I want to slit someone’s throat but they have the fucking advantage now.
“Give me Lia and Monica and you can have your little piggy brother,” Ratt thunders. My eyes jerk from Ratt to James and back again.
“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath. Ratt laughs like he’s won when all eyes shift. I turn my head to see what the hell they are all looking at.
“Lia,” Her name slips from my lips as she walks stoically with her head held high. Monica is nowhere in sight and the guys are staying back just like planned.
“Let him go. He doesn’t have anything to do with this and neither does Monica,” Lia says. She keeps her head up, her eyes focused. That’s my girl. Don’t let him see you weak, baby. We got this.
“True. Monica was just a bitch that was in my way from day one. She never knew when to walk away. Now get the fuck over here,” Ratt snaps. Lia jolts a little before taking another step. Instinct kicks in. I move quickly, grabbing her around the waist, yanking her body back against mine. I bring the gun to her head and hold it there with a smile.
“Don’t fuckin’ move,” I tell her softly through gritted teeth.
“Seems we have a situation here,” I tell Ratt. “I have somethin’ you need, you have somethin’ I want. What’s it gonna be Ratt? I could blow her ass all over this parkin’ lot. I could watch your money wash down the fuckin’ drain with one little slip of my finger,” I warn him. He keeps his eyes on mine. He’s reading me, gauging
me. Would I do it? I can almost hear the question in his eyes. I can taste it on the tip of my tongue.
“You wouldn’t. You want her. You said so,” Ratt says so sure of himself.
“I want her, yeah. For the same reasons as you. Who wouldn’t want the money that comes with such a sweet pair of tits?” I ask dragging the gun down and slapping at her tit with it. Lia gasps only loud enough for me to hear it. Look at that. I have a little freak on my hands with this one. I’ll remember that for later.
“Even trade. Her for your brother!” Ratt explodes. I didn’t think the little fucker had it in him. He’s weak and we all know it.
“Fine. Release him,” I lean down pressing my lips to Lia’s ear. “Walk slowly. Count to three and hit the fuckin’ ground,” I kiss the side of her head roughly and shove her forward as if I don’t give a shit about her. She does as she was told. It’s as though time stands still. The noise around us has gone silent. There is nothing more than the sounds of my own breathing. James walks toward me, his eyes narrowed. He knows I have a plan. I can see it in his eyes.
Chapter 39
When time stands still too many thoughts race through your mind. Will it end the way you want it to? Will something more happen? Are we really prepared for it? I can’t answer any of them because right now I’m holding my breath and praying that the guys come out in time. I’m praying that Lia drops in the next couple of seconds like she was told to do. I’m praying that James has the sense to follow her down. Nothing is left to chance. It’s a perfectly planned action. The only problem is it is all planned in my head. No one else knows the outcome. I can feel it though. All through my body, I can feel it.
I watch Ratt as he watches Lia. Mistake number one. When Lia drops, I fire. James follows suit as if he could read my mind. I rush forward to block Lia with my body. Shots sound from behind me telling me the guys came out from their hiding places. I grab Lia as I stand, pulling her behind me quickly as I keep firing. I glance to my left and see James has gotten himself out of the line of fire. I move us quickly, backing up toward the building when the shots stop.