by Joanna Blake
I picked up the phone and called Connor again.
Connor
“Jesus Christ.”
The body hung in the air, suspended from the normally busy bridge. Of course, now it was empty, other than every cop and federal agent in the county. The man was hanging there, strung up by the neck.
He swayed in the breeze like some sot of gruesome pinata.
After being burned, and then dragged, the body was almost unrecognizable. But the ride wasn’t. I knew instantly who it was.
The bike that was crashed on the ground nearby was one hundred percent Dante.
Holy shit. Dante was really dead. The fucking bastard was worm food.
My phone beeped and I saw that Mason was calling me again. I sighed and rubbed my face. I decided I better take this.
Considering the man was going to be my de facto father-in-law I had to try and make nice. Or something-in-law. Anyway, we were about to be related.
So I answered.
“Hello.”
“He’s dead. He’s fucking dead. You can bring her home now.”
I didn’t bother asking him who he was talking about, or how he knew. I leaned against my car and closed my eyes.
“News travels fast.”
“You got confirmation?”
“I’m looking at it.”
“Great. Bring her home.”
“That’s not going to happen, Mase.”
“What the fuck man, you said you were protecting her!”
“What if the Raisers think you had something to do with it?”
He laughed and I knew without a doubt he knew who had killed Dante. I wondered if he’d been dead when they strung him up. I kind of doubted it.
Dante had pissed on a lot of boots over the years. The body looked worked over. Oh yeah, he had suffered.
A lot by the looks of it.
“Not an issue. Bring. Her. Home.”
“No.”
“You doing something you shouldn’t?”
I sighed and rubbed my eyes.
“I’m keeping her.”
Total silence.
“The fuck you are! What the hell did you do, you cock sucker?”
Well Mason, I chained her up, fucked her six ways from Sunday and came down her throat. How’s that for starters?
But I didn’t say that. I wanted to live the rest of my life not looking over my damn shoulder. Mason wouldn’t just kill me. I stared up at the body. He’d ‘Dante’ me.
“She’s mine now. My responsibility. You can stop it with the mother hen act.”
“No. She’s my responsibility. And you are a dead man!”
“I’m marrying her Mase.”
“What?”
His voice came out as a low growl. I wished I could see his face at the moment. On second thought- maybe not a brilliant idea.
“You heard me.”
“Did she agree to that?”
I laughed. This was ridiculous. But… well, damn. She hadn’t exactly said yes now, had she?
“More or less.”
“You get her fanny over here, or on the phone, today. Or else.”
I nodded. The man deserved to see her. But I had to make sure he didn’t try and keep her.
“I’ll bring her by with the pets.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Then I hung up and stared at the body gently swaying in the breeze. I had a fuck ton of work to do. And now I was even further from catching Danny’s killer. Because if it was Dante, he’d never face trial.
But I was getting married. And my girl was safe.
I was the only person working the grisly crime scene that day with a shit eating grin on his face.
Cassandra
“You look beautiful.”
Connor kissed my neck as I stared in the bathroom window. I had picked out a few of the fancier things in the bags Conn had brought me. I was wearing a dark gray turtleneck dress made out of a soft, thick knit. It hugged my curves and brought out my eyes.
That’s what Conn said anyway.
I tugged the skirt down to my knees, wondering if it was too much.
I was so nervous about seeing Mase. Now that things were different, I knew he might not approve of my relationship with Connor.
Conn was taking me home.
Except… this was my new home. Wasn’t it?
“I do?”
He nodded, his hands sliding over me. “Yes. I wish we had more time so I could show you how beautiful.” I laughed and turned in his arms to kiss him.
He growled and bit my lip, pushing me up against the wall. His fingers slid up under my skirt and he moaned.
“Did you forget your panties you naughty girl?”
I smiled.
“I thought I’d give you something to think about while we were out.”
“Fuck… trust me, I don’t need any help being distracted.”
He pressed his cock against me to prove his point. I felt my skin get hot and cold just from the feel of him. Well, I guess he didn’t need any distractions after all.
“I’ll wear some if you want.”
“Yeah, I do want. But first-“
He rubbed my pussy lips and stared at me as I gasped in pleasure. He circled my clit a few times and I moaned.
“What are you-“
“I’m getting you wet. If I’m going to suffer, then you are too.” He grinned, pulling his finger away and slowly licking it clean. “Besides, I want those panties back after.”
My jaw dropped.
“You want me to get them- messy?”
He nodded slowly.
“I want them with me all day tomorrow.”
I moaned as he winked and walked into the bedroom to get me a pair of panties. These were bright blue and soft cotton. I knew I was going to drip all over them.
I shimmied into my panties as Connor watched. He licked his lips and smiled. Then he took my hand and led me downstairs.
I stood on the porch with Besos and the cat case as Connor pulled the car up. He looked nice in a button down and jeans.
The man basically looked like a model for ‘Studs R Us.’
I sighed and rubbed my legs together. He’d made me so horny upstairs… now I was going to have to wait all night until we were alone again.
He pulled the car up close and stared at me. The hunger in his gorgeous blue green eyes made me weak in the knees. He was as annoyed as I was that we had to wait.
Probably more.
He growled and kissed me hard, letting his hands roam under my skirt to check my panties.
Definitely more.
Well, they always said that misery loves company. So does extreme horniness apparently.
I helped him load the pets into the car. Con lifted the cats and I took Besos. Once everyone was inside he turned to me, checking my seatbelt, and caressing my nipples in the process. I moaned as a fresh wave of lust ran through me.
He smiled at me smugly and turned the ignition.
“Safety first.”
I gave him a look, remembering his aversion to wearing condoms with me. “Ha, ha.” But I was smiling the whole way to Mason’s.
Connor
“You can let go of her now.”
Mason smirked at me as he squeezed Casey so hard I was afraid he might hurt her. She hugged him back, her eyes a little misty.
I sighed, knowing my jealousy was irrational.
Still, I didn’t like seeing someone else pawing my woman dammit!
“Okay now. Enough.”
Casey giggled as Mason set her down.
“How the hell did you get so grown up, little girl?”
She shrugged and looked at me.
“I don’t know.”
Mason glared at me.
“You have some serious explaining to do, DeWitt.”
He leaned over the pot of stew he was making and gave it a stir. It smelled fucking delicious. The man had a way with spices.
He grabbed a beer, not
offering me one. I followed him into the living room. Casey brought me a cold one a minute later. I pulled her onto my lap and kissed her.
But just for a second. Because she was being lifted up and away from me.
“Hell no! Not on my watch! Hands off the goods!”
Mason had Casey’s arm in a grip. She was smiling but I was worried he might bruise her. He was big and strong as an ox.
“Don’t manhandle my future bride, Mason.”
“I don’t see a fucking ring on her finger. And I don’t recall being asked for permission either!”
Casey rolled her eyes at us.
“I’m going to get myself a beer.”
Mason let go of Casey as she slipped into the kitchen. I sat where I was. I knew if I stood up, Mase was going to take a swing at me.
I didn’t want to have to beat the hell out of the guy who’d saved my woman from being a teenage runaway. Not to mention, he’d probably beat the hell out of me right back.
We were pretty well-matched, in terms of size and orneriness.
Not that I minded getting my hands dirty, or bloodied up for a good cause. I was itching for a fight. I had been ever since Danny died. But I didn’t want to hurt Mason.
I owed the man.
“I’m not asking for your blessing. But I’d like it.” I cleared my throat. “I think Casey would like it.”
He stared at me.
“Is this about getting your dick wet, DeWitt? Because if you toss her aside I will come and rip out your tonsils.”
“Wow Mason, tonsils? That’s so specific.” We both looked to see Casey standing in the doorway, drinking her beer. “You are lucky, Conn. He threatened to skin the last guy who asked me out.”
“Do not get drunk-”
“Don’t drink that too fast-”
Mason looked at me and we both realized how ridiculous we were. There was almost a camaraderie between us in that moment. But I was distracted by what she’d just said.
“Who the hell asked you out?”
Casey shook her head and set her beer down.
“I’m taking Besos for a walk. Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.”
I was on my feet in an instant.
“A walk? By yourself?”
“It’s fine. Dante’s gone. I’m safe now. You told me yourself.”
Mason cleared his throat.
“Actually, Cain wants to see you, Casey. He’s coming by.”
I stared at him, my jaw ticking. Cain was the head of the Untouchables. Though some people treated Mason like he was a leader, he wasn’t active in the gang. Cain was.
And the guy was fucking intense. Not as crazy as Dante or his second in command Shane. Cain was nowhere near as out of control. In fact, the man seemed to specialize in control.
The man ran his crew with military precision. He was cold and calculating. And he never, ever got caught.
Dante had been scary because he was a wild card.
Cain was scary because he was… not.
We both looked towards the door as we heard half a dozen roaring bikes pull up outside.
Fucking perfect.
Cassandra
I stared straight ahead, stopping now and then while Besos stopped to sniff something on the ground. I was doing my best not to be intimidated by the hulking, silent man beside me.
Not that I wasn’t used to big men. Mason was a big guy. Connor was too. They were giants really.
But Cain was something else altogether.
He was big, but also quiet. Silent really. He saw everything that happened around him but he rarely said a word.
The head of Mason’s former gang had never once said anything to me. All the times he’d been in The Jar, someone else had ordered for him. He was feared and worshipped by the bikers around here.
Not just the Untouchables either. Everyone.
And now he was escorting me around the block while my scruffy little dog peed on trashcans. Still not talking.
It was pretty much the weirdest ten minutes of my life.
A handful of the Untouchables were loitering in front of Mase’s house while Cain and I took our little stroll. As we rounded the last corner he paused in his step.
When he stopped, I stopped.
He didn’t look at me. And I didn’t look at him.
“You didn’t talk.”
“No.”
“And you won’t.”
“No.”
He made a gruff sound of approval and strode the last ten feet to his bike. Without a word they all followed suit and tore off into the night. Connor and Mason came outside and looked at me.
I shrugged, holding up the plastic deli bag.
“He didn’t feel like going.”
Mason laughed and Connor ran his hands through his hair. He ran out to the sidewalk and pulled me into his arms.
“You alright?”
“Yeah. He didn’t really say much.”
“Mason said he was just making it known that he was cool with you.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Mason said you were one of them now. Officially. That Cain’s visit was a sign of respect.”
I shrugged.
“I guess?”
He looked at me, swallowing hard.
“Case- I don’t want you to be one of them.”
I shrugged his arm off my shoulder. I was furious. After all of this- after everything- he was going to throw that superior good guy/bad guy crap in my face?
“If you aren’t cool with who I am, or where I came from, then just say it.”
“No- no, I didn’t mean that. It’s just- one of these guys. One of them-“ He exhaled and stared at me. His eyes were full of raw pain. “One of them killed my partner.”
I reached out for him, touching his chest.
“It was one of the Untouchables?”
“I don’t think so. We were investigating the Raisers. But-”
I broke away. That was bullshit. He was looking down on me and Mase!
“But nothing. You can’t lump all these guys in together. That’s- well, it’s wrong to judge people that way. Look at Mason and Dante. Do you think they are the same?”
“No. But I think they’ve both killed people.”
Now it was my turn to look shocked.
“Mase- what?”
Conn shook his head.
“It’s not my story to tell. But yeah. I think most of these guys are killers or capable of it. He’s nothing like Dante. He’s a good guy for the most part. But that doesn’t change that we aren’t on the same side.”
He stared at me, his jaw ticking. I slumped, feeling suddenly tired.
“I just- I think I want to go inside now.”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead and nodded.
“Yeah. We can talk about this later- at home.”
Connor
“What do you mean she’s not coming home with me?”
“This is her home. And until I see the two of you standing at the alter in front of a Goddamn preacher, that aint’ gonna change.”
“Casey! Get back in here!”
What the hell was happening? Why was she doing this? I shouted again but she didn’t answer.
Casey had gone in the back and hadn’t come out again. I tried to barge past Mason but he stopped me.
“Let me talk to her dammit!”
He just shook his head.
“You pissed her off dude. Or something. She needs time.”
He smirked at me.
“And I expect a ring and marriage license before you get your filthy paws on her again.”
I moaned staring past him to the dark hallway. I had pissed her off when I talked about Mase. Dammit! I had plans for her tonight.
And tomorrow morning.
And all weekend.
And the rest of our damn lives!
She was mine, dammit!
“I fucking knew I should have just let you talk on the phone.”
He chuckled.
“Thanks for bringing the pets by. You took good care of them.”
“Of course I did. Jesus!”
He walked me to the door as I dragged my feet, staring down the hallway. I kept hoping she’d peek her head out. Wave at me.
Come home with me.
At least give me those damn panties! I moaned, realizing how wet they must be from all the teasing I’d done… the soft blue cotton must be dark and sweet with her juices by now. I’d gotten her all riled up so we could suffer together.
Well, now I was the one in pain and there was no end in sight.
I was in a daze of confusion as Mason pushed me out the door and started to shut it.
“Wait-”
“Yeah?”
“I need to fucking talk to her!”
“She’s got her phone back now, no thanks to you. She’ll call you.”
Cassandra
I curled on my bed, fighting back tears. Connor said he wanted to be with me, but he wasn’t okay with who I was. Who my people were.
And that wasn’t the worst of it. The worst was what he hadn’t said. He’d never said the three little words that would have made this okay.
He’d never said ‘I love you.’ Maybe he didn’t love me. I pressed my hands over my face as the tears fell.
I loved him, dammit!
Maybe this was all a mistake.
Had he tricked me without meaning to? Made me love him because I was confusing sex and love? I’d never been with anyone before. Never had much of a crush, other than on movie and television stars.
Not since grade school.
I was so stupid. He wanted someone else. Someone who wasn’t a runaway who worked in a biker bar. I felt like my heart was ripping open as I realized that I wasn’t that girl.
He wanted Cassandra Elliot.
The bright-eyed, straight A student who loved turning cartwheels in the backyard. I’d loved dancing more than anything, dreaming of making it a career.
That girl would have grown up. Gone to the prom. Had a boyfriend or two. Gone off to college.
That was a girl his mother would have been happy to meet. Not a scraggly waitress in a biker bar who didn’t even have a real name anymore.