by Simone Elise
I was smoking a joint around the back of the garage when I heard a clearing of a voice.
My head snapped up, hoping it wasn’t my brother as he always frowned upon me smoking on my own.
“You sure a girl like you should be smoking that?” It wasn’t his deep dark voice that scared me. Nor was it the tattoos that ran up his arms, across his fingers and up his neck— showing loyalty to something I would never understand. What scared me was Kace’s eyes. Wasn’t the shade, they were a vivid blue, captivating and alluring. However that wasn’t the case tonight. Instead they looked hollow, like he had lost the piece that was keeping him alive.
I wondered for a minute if he had learnt my lesson regarding loving, that when you do it, you give a part of yourself to that person. For them to destroy or love back—however in this day and age how many people do you know love each other back?
After all, every woman has a lion inside ready to rip a man’s heart to shreds. Just like every man has a beast within him, ready to unleash on the woman that dares says I love you to them.
I don’t run like I should. Instead I extend my joint to him. He looked at it and then me before taking it.
“Do I wanna know what has a girl like you smoking a joint?” he says and I pick up on his tone this time. Like he is frustrated and needs someone to take it out on. Perhaps that was why he was on our side of the practice course. He came looking for a fight with Gabe. Little did Kace know that Gabe took after Kace’s woman moments ago.
“A girl like me?” I say and he looked back at me, like my words had captivated him. “You keep saying that, but I have no idea what you mean by it.” I add.
He looked me in the eyes, and again I see hollowness. “A pretty, perfect Henderson.” He spits the words out and still has my joint between his fingers, looking at it, he then looked at me. “Who dealt you this?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes it fucking does.” He throws my freshly lit joint on the ground, stomping on it. “Because if it was one of my dealers, I’ll fucking cut your supplier.”
“Because I’m a pretty, perfect, Henderson?” I quote his words and turn to face him fully, pushing myself away from the garage wall. “Kace.” I say his name and his eyes snap to mine. “Grow the fuck up.” I then go to walk around him, only for him to grab my arm.
“What did you say to me?”
“Grow. The. Fuck. Up.” I speak each word singerly and loud. I pulled my arm from his grasp. “God you would think no one has said that no to you before.”
“No one has.” And why did his eyes just darken and it wasn’t with rage? His eyes drop to my lips. “Do you know how many times your brother has kissed my fiancé?”
I frown. “So? Have a word with Gabe not me.” Just saying Gabe’s name, sends rage across his face.
He gripped my hips, and backed me back against the garage wall. His eyes still on my lips.
I know where this is going and I need to be the one to remind him of what is happening. “What about your fiancé Kace?” I said, and his eyes darted off my lips and on to my eyes. “You thinking of Olivia right now? Because she sure as hell won’t take too kindly to you kissing me.”
Emotions and I can’t explain them, spread across his face before he dips his head, his eyes still locked on mine. “I don’t know whether I want to hurt him or her right now.”
“How about neither?” I say and push on his chest, to get him to back away but he doesn’t. Instead he stands to his full height, dominating over my five foot nothing.
“You saying you don’t want me to kiss you?” He tilted his head to the side and I don’t think there was one woman, who didn’t want Kace Striking to kiss them after locking eyes on him. He was that type of man, he just lured you in. Perhaps it was the fact he stood for everything you wanted but couldn’t have or the fact you could never tame him.
I don’t know but my hesitation gives him an answer and his lips are rough against mine but it is the type of roughness you want. He is firm, demanding, hard and every part of me loved it. My hand went to his hair, and the moan that escapes my lips I’m not proud of.
Then he pulls back a smirk on his face. “Think I got my answer.”
“To?” I say breathless.
“If you are worth the trouble that comes with you.”
I blinked not understanding and he gives me a wink before walking off.
Leaving me breathless, speechless and really damn confused.
A pair of fingers clicked in front of my eyes and I come back to the moment. “What Gabe?” I pretend like I’m with the moment when I’m not. My mind was elsewhere. It was on fucking Kace Striking. My mind continued to go back to the night Kace kissed me.
“What’s with you?” Gabe looks at me like an alien has taken over my body. “You are always switched on with the car, but right now you aren’t listening.”
He runs a hand over his blond hair and I can’t help but think he was right. I’ve been distracted lately. I’ve been doing most things on autopilot.
I inhaled and came back to the moment. “Okay. What were you saying?”
Gabe being Gabe, pointed a finger at me, shaking his head. “Who is he?” he asked the question that sends my expression to the floor. Oh my god, was I that transparent! When Gabe gets an idea in his head, it takes everything for him to shake it. Usually in fact, he doesn’t drop it until he gets to the bottom of it.
“Cough up a name little sister.” He adds.
I can’t even form words. I just stare at him—speechless.
“No one.” I finally splutter out and he looked at me like he knew I was lying. “Have you seen me anywhere but here?” I add and Gabe frowns.
And then his expressions drop. “No I haven’t.” he looked me dead in the eyes. “Which is a fucking problem now you mention it.”
I frown.
“Has Kace been near you?”
Oh. My. God. How could he connect the two? “No.” I said quickly and pretend like Kace hadn’t consumed my thoughts lately. “Why would he?”
“Good.” Gabe looked at me firmly. “He’s bad news Ivory.”
I couldn’t stop my eyes from narrowing on him. “Like you, you mean?”
“No.” His hand covers mine on the table. “Him and I are nothing alike.”
I scoff. “Thrill seekers, check. Both have a crush on the same woman. Check. Both like tattoos. Check.” I listed the things on my fingers, and Gabe’s eyes narrowed on me as I went on.
“He broke up with Olivia.”
“I think she broke up with him.”
His eyes sharpened on me. “How would you know a thing about it?”
I was quick to swipe my hand out from under his and grab my water bottle.
“Ivory. I want you to stay away from him.”
“I haven’t gone near him!”
“He’s after you.”
I laughed, full on laughed and looked Gabe in the eyes. “Why would he be interested in me?” I wasn’t a race track model, like he was surrounded by. I wasn’t the girl to captivate the newly prowling bad boy.
“Because he wants to hurt me.” Gabe says oh so simply. “And I won’t let him hurt you in the process.”
I just shake my head, trying to drop subject but Gabe’s eyes and attitude tells me he is serious. He really thinks Kace wants me, just to hurt him. But what he doesn’t know is Kace isn’t interested in me at all— he had opportunities to talk to me, he hadn’t.
So that told me, he wasn’t interested. And I don’t know why that bothered me so much.
4
Gabe
I was leaning against my sports car, which I bought out of the winning of my last title win. The sun was beaming down, when I pulled my sunglasses down. The summer was a hot one, so it called for tank tops and shorts.
I was at the gas station near the country race track, that we as well as others had garages set up around. It was good to practice your driving even if it didn’t come close to the feel of a real track.
A muscle car pulled up at the other pump and I rolled my eyes. Typical American Muscle. Then I saw the driver get out and I hated it that bit more—glaring at Kace through my sunglasses. I had heard rumours on the track that he had an interest in my little sister. Even heard rumours that he asked one of my pit crew for her number. Which the pit crew reassured me, no one had shared Ivory’s number.
“Nice car.” Kace said and gave me a drop-dead look. “For a pussy.” And he began filling his fucking monster of a car up. I turned back around, keeping my back to him. “How’s your sister?”
I cringed but don’t let it show. “How’s ya misses?” I cock a look over my shoulder. “Oh, wait she was fine this morning.”
Kace glared at me.
“Yeah Olivia was telling me you were no good in bed. Makes me wonder.” And I hang up the pump walking towards him. “Sounds like my sister is dodging a bullet by not ending up with you. I’m a mean brother but knowing my sister would have a forever sad sex life. Well I ain’t that mean.”
He continued to glare at me, not biting.
I then lift my index finger up, and then make it flop to the side. “Can’t you get it up Kace?”
He let go of the pump, pushing his sunglasses up. “You wanna keep breathing Henderson, you better keep walking.”
“Is the big bad biker warning me?”
“I’ve got too much respect for your sister to kill you.” He smirks when my expression drops. “Yeah I think a lot of your sister. Do you know what hypersexual disorder is Gabe?” I glare at him. “Ask your sister, she understands my needs.”
“Fucking stop with the jokes.”
“Not joking. After all Ivory’s birthmark is extremely cute, isn't it.” He winked at me and I wanted to fucking punch him.
“You’ve seen my sister naked.” I stated it, forming fists at my side. “You’re a dead man.”
He laughed in my face, and went back to filling his car up. “Nah mate too much to live for. Like your sister’s tight pussy. How are my leftovers treating you?”
I stormed past him heading in and paying for the gas. I was half expecting Kace and his criminal record to do a drive off. But he was still there, standing, grinning, when I walked back out.
“Tell Ivory, I’ll call her tonight. She understands my needs.”
I open the door and slam it shut, taking some of my frustration out, but it was nothing. Ivory was about to know my full rage.
IVORY
“I want it done in ten seconds.” I state clearly.
“But twelve is industry standard.” The new pit crew worker said.
“And I want you aiming for ten.” I repeat myself and not nicely.
The sports car ripping up dirt heading towards us at an abnormal speed, scored my attention, as well as others. Only Gabe would make a show at his own garage. I walk away from the pit crew and head towards the flying car. Why was he even here at the track, when he was meant to be practicing at the dirt track where we had our set up. He was meant to be having a day off.
Then came to a halt and he climbed out, a dirty expression on his face.
“You and I. Now.” He stormed past me heading inside the garage, people coming out as soon as they lay eyes on him.
I had no idea what had him so upset as I walked and he slammed the roller door shut behind me. Okay something was wrong.
“You fucking him?” he roared at me. I was stunned, frozen I had no idea what he was on about.
“Who?” I finally say when he doesn’t stop glaring at me for a second.
“Kace! Who the fuck else!”
“No.”
He locked eyes with me. “Don’t fucking lie to me Ivory. You know our relationship is above that.” He was looking at me like I was lying!
“I’m not lying!” Now I was the furious one. “Who do you think you are to come here demanding to know about my sex life!”
“Thought you weren’t fucking him.” He arched his eyebrows at me, like he had caught me slipping up on facts.
“I haven’t fucked Kace. But FYI Gabe, that is zero of your business.” And I turn to leave. Only for him to step in my path. “Gabe. You’ve managed to piss me off. You happy?”
“He has seen you naked.” Gabe said a fact which was impossible and then looked at me like it physically pained him. “He knows about your birthmark.”
I rolled my eyes. “Elle posted a picture of us with our bikinis on over the weekend. I’m guessing he has seen the billionaire goddess known as my twin sisters Instagram feed.” Though the thought of Kace stalking my sister’s Instagram feed, sort of freaked me out. “You happy now?” I asked, and I was really pissed off with him.
He sighed, and I see him calming down but I was getting more worked up. I then couldn’t stop myself shoving him on the chest. “For the record my sex life is zero of your business.”
He caught my wrist. “It is when you are sleeping with men like him.”
I snatch my wrist from his grasp. “You need to realize Gabe that one day, I will risk my heart on a man and you can’t protect me forever.”
“You told me you would never give away a piece of yourself to a man?” He repeats back a fact to me and I just look at him dryly.
“You are risking yours by trusting Olivia. You don’t see me stamping and throwing a tantrum.”
His mouth drops open.
“You really think I didn’t know?” I scoffed. “You keep your side of the table tonight, cause this,” I gestured between him and I. “ain’t over till you apologize.”
Family fucking dinners. Fucking doing my head in. I remained silent through the normal conversation. Said yes and fine, when prompted. Now I remained silent. Gabe kept shooting me a look, as if waiting for me to make conversation with him, but I hadn’t.
Mom commented on Gabe and I being quiet.
I didn’t even bother saying anything.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out. Seeing an unknown number.
Did I upset your big bro?
I read the message again, frowning and finally type back, who is this.
Then my eyes widened when I read one word over and over. That word being—Ace.
How did fucking Kace ‘Ace’ Striking get my number? I look up seeing Gabe staring at the beer in front of him, not on his phone. Both hands on the table. Well that proved it wasn’t him messaging me, testing me, didn’t it?
I frowned. But then typed back.
If this is Kace, prove it?
I see the bubbles pop up and then a message.
I’ve already had you moaning.
My eyes widened. It is Kace!
The phone vibrates in my hand and I glance back down, seeing the words;
And it’s Ace darling.
I scoffed, causing my mom to stare at me for a second and then I look back down at the screen. Typing the words;
To me you are Kace.
The phone vibrates back in my hand.
Come to the track.
I frown, knowing my brother would not accept me meeting Kace and if we were seen together, Gabe would kill me. Then again, I wanted to be more like Gabe and he lived for risky behaviour. What was riskier than meeting a biker at a track—where no one was going to be?
I arrived at the practice track and instead of turning into the Gabe’s garage I kept driving, and made it around the bend. My heart was drumming to an unknown beat and adrenaline was throbbing through my body, as I saw his garage door up—pulling to the side. I hesitated getting out. What the hell am I thinking?
Then I see movement out of the corner of my eye and I look up, my eyes landing on Kace Striking. He didn’t have a top on, his tattoos, mainly the one that went over his stomach, the words – King’s Deceivers proudly tattooed in an arch way, across his abs. His raven hair was clipped, like he had run the shaver over it, and shortened it on purpose. He had his lip piercing in, and I noticed from here, the satisfaction in his eyes.
I cracked open the door, and walked towa
rds him. It was as if his eyes were pulling me to him.
As I get closer, my eyes run over the rest of his tattoos. Mainly the ‘Brotherhood before laws’ tattooed around his upper chest piece. I again feel this need to run—like he is trouble and is going to hurt me.
I glanced behind him, seeing his engine on the motor stand.
“Something wrong with the car?” I asked, and he glanced back it.
“Upgrading to another curb.”
“This late in the competition?” I frown, looking at him with disbelief.
“What scared, it will give me an edge?”
I looked at him, and shake my head. “Need a hand?”
“Not having the competition working on my car.” He tilted his head. “But the real question is, why are you offering?”
I shrugged to be honest with myself the words came out, and I think it was out of habit of always taking over the build of Gabe’s cars.
His eyes ran down over me, and then lock back with my eyes for a minute then he turned and headed back to the engine block.
I had no idea how to make conversation with him. So I didn’t and I couldn’t help but notice how normal it felt and the air wasn’t awkward. I handed him the tools as he worked on the engine block.
We worked for a good few hours on the block. Not more then a few words exchanged. The only thing we did do was share a few joints between lifting the motor in and then lifting it back out, to make adjustments. The time ticked to one am and I knew I should be heading home, and Kace was obviously calling it a night, by packing up his tools.
I noticed his eyes would drop to my cleavage every time I bend over to help all night. I supposed he was a man.
Finally I was sitting on his work bench, watching him back up the spanners, when he lifted the case up and walked towards me, putting it on the bench next to me.
“I should head home.” I said, breaking our silent vow of not saying more then two words to each other.