Nicky's Fire

by Nancy Fornataro

  "Try me," he said, in a low voice, "just try walking out that door. See what happens."

  Raising her eyebrows, she said, "You'd keep me here against my will?"

  He sniffed, and backed up. "Don't worry. You'd enjoy it."

  But just then, the phone rang. He cursed, let her go, and answered it, still watching her warily all the while.

  His features relaxed, and she wondered who it was, as he talked for a few minutes.

  "That was Max," he said, as he hung up. He seemed calmer now, but continued staring at her. "He wants us to come up there."

  She gave him a disgusted look. "Oh, joy. Chinese take-out and naked in the Jacuzzi. I can't wait," she said sarcastically.

  "Stop bitching," he snapped, as his hand came up to his temple again, "and you drive. My head hurts."

  "Then you shouldn't go," she said firmly.

  With eyes like steel barbs, and a tight voice, he said, "Get in the car. I'll drive."

  She was afraid of him then, as she saw his hands clenched in tight fists and his mouth in a firm line.

  "Suit yourself," she relented, finally, as she grabbed her coat and wallet.

  But, in the car, he seemed almost apologetic. "Listen," he said, as he glanced over at her, "you don't really want to leave, do you?"

  She was silent, as she stared out the window. Yes, she wanted to leave, and very badly, too. But not without Nick. They could go somewhere, and forget all of this.

  He sighed deeply. "If it's last night...well, I just...that won't happen again. I love you, Chloe." His voice broke, and he clutched the steering wheel hard.

  "I know," she said softly. "I love you too, Nick."

  But she wondered where that love would take her, how deeply into Nick's world she'd have to venture, and what kind of sacrifices she'd have to make for this man beside her.

  Looking over at him, watching his handsome profile in the dim light, she knew she'd try her best. She'd be strong, and hard, as hard as any man. And in the end, he'd thank her. If not right away, then later, when he knew who he was.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tessie gushed over them both, as she greeted Chloe and Nick at the door. And Chloe's nose wrinkled when she smelled the sicky-sweet odor of pot, as they entered the kitchen and saw Max in his favorite spot, rolling joints.

  "Now, woman of mine, how about that drink?" Nick said dryly, as he sprawled in a chair. She was about to refuse him again, but something about the tilt of his head, the twinkle in his eyes, reminded her of the old Nick. So, she relented.

  "Whatever," Chloe muttered, rolling her eyes at Tessie. She poured a shot from an open bottle of whiskey on the counter, then handed it to him. "Who was your slave last year?" she said disgustedly, as she stood by his side.

  Max looked at her sharply, as Nick chuckled. Then the man sat back in his seat and stared at her. Not a friendly look on his face either, Chloe thought.

  "You let her talk to you like that?" he said finally. "Tess knows better. You better take a lesson from her, Chloe."

  Nick's arm came around Chloe's waist. "She's just kidding."

  Max studied Chloe with unwavering eyes, and she returned the stare.

  "Right, baby?" Nick prodded, as he pulled her closer.

  She hated this. At this moment, Chloe hated all of it. The whole thing. The macho crap, the drug dealing, the bikers, and even the D.E.A.. But, she loved Nick, so her lips moved slowly, and she said, "Right."

  A smirk appeared on Max's face, as if he could sense her discomfiture.

  She pulled away from Nick, and poured herself a drink. As Tessie chatted with the men, Chloe wandered out on the patio, sat on a wrought iron chair, and stared into the pool. A few minutes later, as she sat lost in thought, she felt a hand move on her shoulder.

  "Have a little hassle with Nick?" Max asked, as his hand began moving and massaging. She shuddered, almost involuntarily.

  Then, jerking her shoulder away, she replied irritably, "None of your business." She hated the man, and tried to keep it from showing. Why was he bothering her? Especially when her thoughts had been of Mexico, and the first time she'd made love to Nick.

  He dragged up a chair, and sat very close to her, with his knee brushing her thigh.

  "You're a little spitfire, aren't you?" he said softly, then chuckling to himself.

  This man made her skin crawl. The tone of his voice was sickening, soft, and sickening, with a strong, sexual undercurrent. "So what if I am?" she said tightly, still not looking at him.

  "You're lucky you're not my old lady. I'd beat the crap out of you if you ever talked that way to me."

  A chill went down her spine at the evil the man exuded, but the fear didn't show in her carefully composed features. Slowly, she replied, "I guess that's one way to get respect." She pitied Tessie then, and wondered if it really mattered to the woman that her husband was so brutal. The woman didn't seem afraid of him.

  But his silence told her she'd crossed the line. And she cursed inwardly at her stupidity. She...they needed this man. He had to show them the Mexico connection. She would have to be nice to him, or at least civil. Temporarily.

  Casually, she added, "But I'm sure you never have those problems with Tess. She seems like a good woman."

  The lie must have been a convincing one, she realized, as she heard him chuckle. Leaning forward with his elbows resting on his thighs, he said softly, "So are you, Chloe. I've seen the way you take care of Nick. You're good in the kitchen, and you must be good in the sack, because I haven't heard any complaints yet. How are you in the sack, Chloe? Mmmm?"

  The silky tone of his voice made her want to lash out at him, and run away. Far away, to call Ellen, so she could escape from this hell; this awful hell that Nick had, unwillingly, become a part of.

  Then, with relief, she heard Nick's deep voice behind her. "You're right, Max. She is a good woman." He brought a chair and sat on the other side of Chloe, saying, "Listen, Max, come over tomorrow. I need you to help me with my bike. Oh, and for your information, Chloe's good in bed. Not that it's any of your business."

  Max nodded, and Chloe finally looked over at him. And his face was hard and brittle, as he stared back at her. Why, Chloe thought, he's jealous! Jealous of me and Nick!

  But then, her eyes narrowed and a smile played on her lips as she thought of him being led away in handcuffs by D.E.A. agents. She'd want to see it. She'd want to be there for that. It would make it all worthwhile to see the expression on his face.

  "So," he said softly, "we goin' in the Jacuzzi?"

  Chloe didn't want to. She didn't want this man to see her naked again. Not after the things he'd said, and how he'd looked just now. But she also didn't want to antagonize him. And, she'd already been in the thing once. It would raise his suspicions if she refused. The smile grew wider on her face, as she replied, "Of course."

  And, as she and Nick moved over to the Jacuzzi, she realized that whatever happened, Nick would protect her anyway. It didn't matter. She loved him. And she couldn't run away now. He needed her.

  Looking at Nick, with her back to Max, she shucked off her t-shirt, and held it over one shoulder.

  Her unwavering eyes held his gaze, and he murmured, "Don't be doin' that, babe."

  "What?" she said innocently. A seductive smile curved on her lips, as she began unbuttoning her jeans.

  He took his shirt off and set it slowly on a chair. She watched his heavy muscles gleam in the soft light, as his gaze found hers again. "You know what." His eyes were heavy-lidded as they appraised her, and she saw desire, hot desire buried in their depths.

  Hearing Max climb in the water, she raised her eyebrows at Nick, and ran one finger around the waistband of her pants.

  "Shit," he muttered, "now I have to go cool off. I'll be right back." And, to her dismay, he left for the kitchen, leaving her alone with Max. She swore to herself, and took as long as possible slipping out of her jeans and underwear. She hadn't expected Nick to do this.

  "Where's T
essie?" she said, over her shoulder. She was nervous now, but with Tessie here, he wouldn't try anything.

  "Marisa was having trouble with the baby. She'll be right out," Max replied. "You gettin' in, or what?"

  "Sure," she said.

  But, turning to face him, and as she walked casually down the steps into the hot, bubbling water, she saw the same, raw emotion in Max's eyes she'd seen in Nick's moments ago. Sexual tension lurked in this man; in the tilt of his head, the slow smile spreading across his face, the angle of his body.

  Lounging on the opposite side of the Jacuzzi, as far away as possible from the man, she tried to slip down, so her breasts were covered. But the water was well-lit, and she saw his gaze traveling over her, down to her breasts, then lower.

  "Why don't you come over here?" he said. "I won't bite."

  She smiled slightly. "That's not what Tess tells me."

  "Tess has a big mouth," he replied irritably, realizing his wife had divulged details about their love life.

  "Anyway, she wouldn't like it if she came out and I was cozy with you."

  He shrugged. "She'd just cozy up to Nick. She's always wanted him anyway."

  Chloe's heart began to pound wildly, as she glanced quickly towards the house, then back at Max.

  His face was bland. "What do you think they're doing in there?" he asked softly.

  She frowned, and wondered the same thing. Where was Nick? What was taking him so long? Jealousy clutched at her. The real Nick wouldn't go near Tessie. But the man he'd become, would he? She tried to keep her face in placid lines, but sweat broke out on her forehead, and she felt a flush crawling up her face. "Can't you turn this thing down?" she snapped.

  He grinned, and moved next to her, reaching for the controls. She groaned inwardly at her stupidity. Again, as the controls were located directly behind her. He sat back, next to her now, and she felt his thigh brush against her own, as his hand and arm rested on the ledge behind her.

  Trying not to be obvious, she fiddled with her hair, and inched away slightly.

  "Are you afraid of me, Chloe?" he said in a silky voice.

  The Jacuzzi lights made the knife-scars on his face more prominent, and she thought he looked like a gargoyle. Yes, something deep inside her was afraid. Not of the knife-scars, not of the drugs he put on the streets, but of Max, the man he was, and what he could do to her. That scared her.

  "I'm not afraid of anything," she replied angrily, realizing she'd like to strangle Nick for leaving her alone with this man. Where was he? Max had planted doubts in her mind, and she glanced back at the house again uneasily.

  Laughing softly, Max replied, "That's good, Chloe. That's real good. Yeah, I guess you aren't afraid. I like that in a woman. Guts."

  To her relief, Nick returned to the patio. He avoided her eyes, as she slid over to look up at him. Removing his pants, he stepped across to join them.

  As he walked in the water, her eyes raked over the wide, muscular planes of his chest, his bulging arms with their tattoos, then dropped down to observe his firm thighs and hard buttocks. Desire began in her, and her covetous look wasn't lost on Max, who now snorted derisively.

  Nick moved next to her, and she wrapped her arms around his waist possessively. Relief flooded over her in great waves, as she gazed up at his chiseled face.

  She heard Max say, "We're going back to Mexico in a week, after the Red Rock ride. You guys comin' again?"

  Nick's expression was blank, then he replied quickly, "Sure." But Chloe was ecstatic. Mexico! She was ready. More than ready.

  "We'll visit the factory this time," Max added.

  Pulling her gaze from Nick's troubled face, Chloe looked at Max. "Can I go?"

  "To Mexico? Yeah, we always take the women. Right, Nick?"

  "No, I mean to the factory," she added quickly.

  His look was quizzical, as Tessie walked out nude, and joined them. "Why would you want to go to the factory?" he asked.

  She thought, because I want to see you arrested, and behind bars. I want to see you in prison, where you belong. "Just curious," she replied casually, "I've never seen one before."

  Tessie pouted, as she moved next to Max, and she looked like a sullen child. "I've never seen it either. I never see anything, I'm just trapped at home. I'm either changing shitty diapers, or running around after Bobby. Even in Mexico," she complained, "you never take me with you."

  His look was scornful, as he stared at Tessie. "Quit bitching, Tess. You've got it good, compared to some people. You never wanted to see the factory before. You're only interested because Chloe's interested. And besides that, this baby was your idea. I never wanted him, it's your thing. You've got to live with it."

  She leaned back with a sulky expression on her face.

  "Why don't we all go?" Chloe suggested, as her hand moved along Nick's thigh. She felt him tense, and her lips twitched.

  Max frowned. "I don't want Tess to know too much. That way, if anything ever happens, she can say she doesn't know about it."

  "But she does," Chloe countered, "she knows already." Too late for Tess, she thought. Why are you trying to protect her? You go down, and she goes with you. Then, she realized that in spite of all his trappings and wealth, Max was not very bright. Thankfully, for her.

  "I'll think about it," he sighed, "I got a lot to do down there this time. More than the pickup. I'll think about it."

  They were all silent for a minute, and Chloe wondered what he could be thinking about. Nick's arm came around her shoulder.

  "So," Chloe said, "the ride's coming up in a few days. What do you guys do up there at Red Rock?" She realized her mistake, as the words left her mouth. Max would assume she'd been on tons of rides as, supposedly, she and Nick had been in a bike club for years. "Each club is different," she added quickly.

  But, to her relief, Max didn't seem to notice her slip. Yes, this man was stupid, and it would benefit her in the end. He said, "You'll love it up there. At first, it doesn't look like much. But then, when you get further in there, you find these pools. You can swim. Plus, the usual. Sandy brings Limpy's truck loaded with beer."

  "Sounds like fun." Chloe tried to sound enthusiastic. Then she looked up at Nick. His face still wore a frown, and he seemed deep in thought.

  She told him, "Honey, this Jacuzzi is making me tired. Can we go home?"

  He smiled down at her. "Sure."

  When they were in the car, riding past other luxurious houses on the hillside, down the curving road to town, she said quietly, "Please don't leave me alone with Max again, Nick."

  He glanced at her curiously. "Why not? He's one of my best friends. I trust him."

  "Because he wants me, and I don't trust him."

  He chuckled. "Baby, everyone wants you. Why, did he try something?"

  "No," she said slowly, "but he will eventually. I can see it in his face."

  "Well, let me know if he ever does. You're mine. No one else can touch you. Ever."

  She smiled at him. "By the way, what were you doing in the house all that time?"

  "Trying to get rid of my hard-on, what do you think I was doing? Jesus, every time I look at you, I get hard."

  She laughed, relieved he hadn't been with Tess. Then she grew serious again. "Nick, do you remember the last time we went to Mexico?"

  "No," he replied quietly, "did we have a good time?"

  She observed him tenderly. "Yeah. We did. It was a wonderful experience." She paused, before asking him, "Do you remember what Max makes in the factory?"

  Nick frowned. "No, not really."

  "He makes that new 'Crash' drug down there."

  He still looked blank, and shifted in the car's seat, uneasily.

  "Nick, we haven't really talked about this."

  "About 'Crash?'"

  "No. About how much you remember."

  He was silent for a minute, and he blinked quickly. "Not much."

  "All right, what do you remember?"

  Pulling the car over to
the side of the road, he turned off the engine and sat. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against the seat-back. A car whizzed by, and its headlights made patterns against the bushes, as it continued down the road. Then, silence returned.

  Chloe looked out over the ocean and the twinkling city lights below them, until he was ready to speak.

  "As far as I can tell," he began slowly, "I was born in the Mid-West. My parents are dead. I remember a few details about my childhood, and for some reason, I remember a childhood friend. His name was Dennis Daley. We used to call him D.D.," he paused, "or Double D. I can see his face so plainly in my mind."

  "What else?" she asked hopefully.

  Running a hand through his hair, he sighed. "That's about it, baby, that's about it. I remembered the club guys, though, Tiny and Max. For some reason, I remember them." Pausing again, he said softly, "I didn't recognize you, Chloe. I didn't even know my old lady. Tiny had to tell me your name, for Christ sake."

  Her lips compressed, and disappointment shook her. "We need to see that doctor again, Nick." He had to remember! Somehow, she needed to get him some help.

  "I'm not seeing any Goddamn doctor, Chloe!" he said heatedly.

  "Why not? It can't hurt."

  "I hate hospitals and doctors!" He opened the car window and breathed deeply.

  "Why, Nick?"

  He held his head. "I don't know! I just do, that's all!" As he dropped his hands, the eyes that now raked over her were dark, glittering and haunted. "Leave me alone, Chloe," he said, in a low voice.

  "Nick," she said urgently, "you have to try. Try to remember who you are, and what you're doing here."

  His look was wary now, and suspicious. "What are you talking about?"

  She wanted to tell him. But what if he didn't believe her? Looking out over the city again, she said softly, "It will come back to you."

  "Why don't you tell me, and cut the crap, Chloe?" His voice had an edge of desperation, and it tore at her heart.