by Kay Maree
Shit.
Hitting redial.
“VP,” I grunt out as I straddle my bike but before I can start her up the rumble stops and the fucker is nowhere to be seen.
“About fucking time brother.”
“Fuck,” I grunt looking towards the glass doors of the Dental practice and back to where that fuck went contemplating what to do.
“One of the Talon MC fucks was watching the building Alexis works in.”
“Are you sure?” he spits out.
“Fuck VP. I’m 99% sure and I'm sure the fucker was here by himself in our territory.”
“Fuck,” he spits out drawing in a deep breath. I try to work out why the fuck he would be here.
“Get Alexis and head back here we need to work out what the fuck is going on.”
The way he says it sounds like I am missing something.
“What the fuck happened?” I growl.
“Harlow went home to grab some stuff but her place had been tossed, so she is staying at the clubhouse.”
“Drake I’m sure--” Harlow's muffled voice comes over the line but Mercy shuts her down before she can finish what she’s saying.
“Enough Lemon Drop your cute ass is staying where the fuck I can protect it,” his voice has an edge and I can hear the venom lying just under the surface coming off each word. “Fine,” she grumbles.
“Fuck me with this headstrong woman,” he spits out making me chuckle when I hear her spout off at him again before a door slams.
“Shut the fuck up,” he grunts into the phone at me pissed I'm laughing at him. “Listen, get Alexis here, we need a game plan Prez has called church for this arvo so do what you gotta do to get her here.”
“On it,” I get out before he hangs up. Running a rough hand through my hair I wonder how the fuck to get her to stay at the clubhouse. Before she even walked through the door yesterday she lost it and it fucking killed me to see it happen. I need to know what the fuck happened to her as much as I tried to get it out of Harlow this morning, she wouldn’t budge telling me it was Alexis's story to tell. But she did say it was bad and that if I wasn’t prepared to stand up and be the man she needed then I should just walk away now and leave her the hell alone because she doesn’t need some guy fucking with her head for a quick lay. That pissed me right the fuck off and if Mercy hadn’t walked into the room followed by Prez I would have fucking wiped the kitchen table clean off in my anger.
“Harlow you need to understand that I don’t give two fucks about her past. Mine ain’t that fucking pretty either,” I spat the words at her.
“Easy Razor,” Mercy grunted.
“No, fuck this Alexis is fucking mine, and I don’t give two fucks whether her friends agree or not,” I was beyond talking to at that moment who the fuck was she to judge me?
“Woah that is not what I meant,” Harlow held up her hands as if to try and calm me down, but I was pissed.
“All I meant was Alexis will analyze every situation before making a decision, and she will try to push you away before you even get the chance to get close to her. Her past is black, and she thinks her soul is just the same shade but that woman is the strongest person I have ever known. She has fought hard to get where she is but still, she will look at herself like her soul is shattered and that everything she touches will shatter just as bad. You need to give her time and show her you are there and that you will not hurt her,” my anger dissipated at her words as a single tear rolled down her cheek. This was going to be the hardest fight of my life to get this girl to fall for me. But fuck if she wasn’t worth it. I will crush whatever plagues her and show her just how fucking perfect she looks in my eyes. With that settled in my head, I apologized and headed out to find my girl. But right fucking now as I sit and stare at her workplace, I worry how the fuck I'm gonna get her to come with me back to the clubhouse.
“Shit.”
Swinging my leg back over my bike I head towards the glass door again, pushing through I make it two steps before a familiar face is smiling at me.
“Razor, how are you?”
“Patty I forgot this is where you worked.” Patty is the old lady of my club brother Gunner and she is as quick as a whip. Smiling I lean against the pristine white desk.
“So, what has you coming in here?” she asks looking at the schedule in front of her.
“Not here for a dentist, I'm here for a dental assistant,” my mouth pulls into a wicked smirk making her chuckle as one of her perfect eyebrows raise in question.
“Come on boy, spit it out. I’m getting older by the minute,” she laughs shaking her head making me chuckle. Just as I opened my mouth to reply a loud crash rings out followed by someone yelling.
“Well, shit,” Patty mumbles pushing up from the desk.
“What the hell is wrong with you today, how the hell is carrying a tray so bloody hard?” a nasal voice shouts out.
“Now everything has to be sterilized all over again, my office now,” that voice says again.
“I’ll be back in a minute love,” Patty says as she heads through frosted glass doors that I assume leads to the exam rooms. Looking around the waiting room I notice two women looking towards the frosted doors with concerned looks. One of the women is pregnant as she begins running a hand up and down a young girl’s back as a young boy goes over and grabs a book from the shelves. When the women notice me staring at them, I wait for the disgusted look to cross their faces when they see my cut but I’m surprised when they both smile at me then go back to the kids as the young boy comes back with a book in his hand.
“How about we read a story, Evie?”
"Oh that is very thoughtful of you little man," the dark-haired woman says sitting him on her lap just as the front door opens and two men in suits stroll into the waiting room. I smile recognizing one of them as he bends down and whispers something to the dark-haired woman as the small boy jumps off his mother's lap, stands taller before lowering his head to the other man.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt Evie," he wipes under his nose as he sniffs.
"It's okay buddy, I know it was an accident," he pats him on the shoulder before picking the young girl up and hugging her to him and that's when I see the tissue she's holding against her mouth with a little bit of blood on it.
"Are you okay Princess?" his Italian accent is thick as he rubs her back, she nods into his chest.
"Razor," Nico says getting my attention making the other man turn and look at me with sharp green eyes. He must be Dominic Grasso the head of their family.
"Nico" I lift my chin.
"What brings you here?" he asks making his way towards me with his hand out.
"Come to get my woman," I shake his hand.
"Boss's daughter fell and hit her mouth when they were playing-" a high-pitched scream followed by another crash has the hairs on my arms standing to attention. I'm through the frosted glass doors racing towards the sound before Nico can finish his sentence. Coming up short when I see Patty banging against a white door at the end of the corridor.
“Open this goddamn door, you asshole,” she growls out.
"Step back," I spit lifting my foot and with one kick the door flies open cracking against the wall.
"Motherfucker," I growl out. Alexis is pinned to the wall by a balding man but my girl ain't a wilting flower she takes the opportunity from my distraction and throws a right hook into the piece of shits face.
"I said no," she growls between clenched teeth before bringing her knee up into the piece of shits nuts.
Fuck that was the hottest thing I have ever seen.
Peeling the moaning piece of shit off the ground by the collar of his shirt I bring him to eye level.
"Touch my woman again and I will break your fucking legs," bringing my head back I headbutt the fucker knocking him out cold, dropping him like the piece of shit he is. He hits the floor with a thud as a pissy groan comes out. My eyes swing towards Alexis, m
y breathing is heavy as I take her in from head to toe, making sure she is okay my nose flares seeing the red mark across her cheek looking back to the piece of shit I kick him harder in the guts.
"Piece of shit."
"Are you alright sweetie?" Patty asks wrapping her arm around her shoulders.
"I don't know," she murmurs as she wipes a tear from her cheek and her eyes lock with mine stealing the breath from my lungs. The vulnerability shining clear as day in those dual-colored eyes of hers and all I want to do is hold her.
“What a fucking cazzo (dick)" comes a thick accent from behind me.
"Nico, help Razor with this pezzo di merda (piece of shit), call Sergio to come get my girls and your family, call Doc and get him to the house to check my girl over. We have work to do," that thick accent takes a hard edge and fuck if I'm scared of any bastard but that doesn't mean I can't feel the power coming off him in waves. Snapping my attention back to my girl I open my arms wanting to hold her.
We stand staring at each other and I can see the fight in her eyes, before her whole body seems to relax and before I can blink, she is wrapped around me making my heart do some funny shit in my chest. Leaning down I breathe in her wild berry scent, placing a kiss on the crown of her head feeling her melt into my arms even more.
"Let's get you out of here Gorgeous," I gruff out as Nico lifts his chin as he picks the piece of shit up off the floor, throwing him over his shoulder as he weighs nothing. Patty clears her throat and my eyes snap to her soft ones, she's smiling and nods as if in approval.
"Alexis is finished for the day," I grunt curling her into my side
"I think that's a great idea," Patty nods following Nico out of the office, turning we watch her go and I notice Dominic standing just outside the doorway.
"Thanks," I grunt lifting my chin.
"Si," he nods. "You know where we will be once you make sure your woman is okay," he nods, turning he heads back down the hallway.
Knowing full well he will take that piece of shit to Antonio's playroom at the warehouse along the docks. Before I worry about dealing with that prick, I want to get my girl safely back to the clubhouse.
"Gorgeous," I breathe out when we are alone waiting for her to lift her face to mine.
"I can't believe you did that."
"Did what?" I'm confused to what she means, a far-away look floats through her hypnotizing eyes.
"Stand up for me," she chokes out swallowing repeatedly.
"Gorgeous, you don't get it yet, but you will. I will be your mother fucking shield from all the shit in this world, daring any bastard to try and get to you. I will gladly take any torture from the Devil himself if it means no-one lays a fucking finger on you ever again. I don't know what happened in your past Gorgeous. But the past has no place here. So instead of wasting your breath and energy on counting the days, make every second, minute, hour fucking count and know no matter what I'll be walking beside you for every bloody moment."
Wide eyes stare into mine, that cute pouty mouth pops open and I can't resist anymore. I slam my mouth down on hers. She freezes in place as her hands land on my chest and I wait for her to push me away and slap me across the face but after a moment her lips mold to mine as her body begins to melt into my embrace. Sliding my tongue along hers I suck down the small whimper that slides up her throat never tasting anything sweeter in my life. Her fingers tangle into my hair at the back of my neck as a groan of my own vibrates through me. Ripping my mouth away from hers our breathing has picked up speed. Her eyelashes flutter open and I see the surprise and desire swimming in those dual depths making my cock hard as steel as it pushes against my zipper. A small moan passes her lips as she moves against me.
"You are my Sin Gorgeous and no matter how shattered you think your soul is I'll prove to you that you are my perfection."
I sound like a fucking pussy right now and I may as well cut off my balls and just hand them over. But fuck if I would ever let her think she isn't worth more than what she thinks. If it takes me a fucking lifetime to make her believe my words, I’ll spend every waking moment doing just that. I'm a ruthless fucker and I won't stop till I get what I want and I want her, her flaws, her darkness the whole fucking package.
Tears ghost down her cheeks as a small smile graced her lips, swiping the rough pad of my thumb under her left eye I catch a tear before it has a chance to fall and rub into her soft cheek before leaning down and letting my lips rest against her forehead.
"Your tears are breaking my fucking heart Gorgeous."
“Get me out of here please.”
“Anything you want,” breathing in her scent one last time, I reach down and lock her fingers through mine and head out the door.
CHAPTER NINE
Alexis
Nix explained that he needed to take me back to the clubhouse and my stomach swam with mixed emotions. I knew I needed a moment to gather myself before I had another major panic attack between that weasel piece of crap Mr. Lithgow and the fact that I had to head to a place where I completely lost it yesterday had my head clouded all over again. So, I begged for him to bring me home explaining I wanted to grab my things but now that we are here, my head is swimming with something completely different. Having this man in my space makes my already small apartment even smaller. It sits above an old laundromat in Mayfield and makes me feel like I live in a shoebox. Stepping through the front door with him at my back I was worried about what he thought and felt completely overwhelmed.
“It’s not much,” I breathed out as I waved my arm around the small living area with the small kitchenette on one side and the other side had my King single bed butted up against the wall with one bedside table. All my worldly possessions are odds and ends and didn’t match as they are from the Salvo’s. Embarrassment flushed through me and I ducked my head so I wouldn’t have to see his reaction. The heat of his body brushes past me and I suck in a deep breath as his intoxicating scent lingers around me out of the corner of my eye. I watch as he headed towards the picture window with that smooth swagger, he walks with purpose and authority making my mouth dry all over again. Lifting my head slightly I admire the old window, it’s probably the only thing I like about the place because on a clear night I can open it up and sit on the old tin roof awning and watch the stars dance across the sky.
“It’s perfect,” he whispers turning to face me and I scrunch up my nose as I let my eyes take in the room making him chuckle and I can’t help the vibration that runs through from the deep sound.
“Gorgeous none of this matters,” he waves his hand around the room. “You’ve seen where I live and this place is much bigger,” he says in explanation.
“At least your furniture matches,” I mumble in defense making him outright laugh now.
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” I grumble placing my bag down on my tallboy that sits just inside the door.
“Fuck the furniture babe, I could burn my furniture tomorrow and move your stuff in and it still wouldn’t matter,” he takes up the space between us and cups my face in his warm rough hands.
“None of this matters if you ain’t in the picture babe,” grazing his lips across my forehead making me feel things I shouldn’t.
“You have to stop saying things like that, you don’t know me and and and --” I stop talking waving my hands around my face making him take a few steps back and I take a moment to try and breathe without him in my space but it’s impossible. The man literally scrambles my brain cells and that scent is enough to drive me to the brink of losing my goddamn mind.
“It's hard for me to express sometimes what I feel. Would you mind if I played some music that I think may help to describe how I feel right now?" I whisper, worried this big-ass biker will just laugh at me. Holding my breath, I fidget with my fingers behind my back. Those eyes that seem to see straight through my defenses lock with mine.
"Always," the rumble of his voice races through me making my heart pick
up speed, releasing a breath I move slowly towards the CD player on my bedside table finding the song I cried myself to sleep with last night I hit play. Worried about the way he will look at me I keep my head down, my back turned to him as I focus on the CD player as 'Let You Love Me by Rita Ora' begins to blast through the tiny speakers, my nails dig into my palms as I squeeze my hands together as a million scenarios play out through my head of what could happen next. This man just keeps surprising me and everything I think he is going to do or say he doesn't, instead he does the complete opposite making my head spin. The truth lining everything he says to me has hope blooming through me, but I am so worried about holding onto it just in case it vanishes in a puff of smoke and then what would be left of me? I want to trust him, I want to believe every word that spills from that gruff voice but is it a risk I am willing to take? The breath leaves me as the heat of his hands grip me around the waist, his beard brushes against my neck and before I can register what the hell is happening his spinning me around and our bodies are moving slowly to the music. My eyes connect with his as he cups the side of my face gently with one hand and I can't help leaning into his touch, the roughness of his hand sends warmth through my whole body making me crave the scent of leather and wild even more.
"What are you doing to me?" I murmur as my eyes flutter shut when he pulls me closer into his warmth. My hands slide down the smooth leather of his cut before wrapping around his waist. His lips brush across my forehead, his heated minty breath washes over my face. Opening my eyes, my teeth sink into my bottom lip running his thumb across the plump flesh my teeth let go and before I can stop myself my words come out on a breathy whisper as if I'm scared of my own voice.