by Caitlyn Dare
“Something up?” Cruz asks, his expression falling.
“Yeah, one of Donny’s guys is outside…”
“Shit, man. What will you do?”
“Don’t really have a choice, do I?” Ace glances to me and then back to Cruz, the two of them locked in silent conversation.
“Ace, what is it?” I ask.
“We need to go,” he says coolly.
“Back to the Bay?” I reply, unsure whether I’m relieved or disappointed.
He barely looks at me as the words fall from his lips. “Yeah, but I need to make a stop first.”
Chapter Eleven
Ace
Killian is waiting for us outside the studio. “Boss man wants to see you,” he says.
“I’m kind of indisposed right now.” I flick my head to Remi, who stands quietly at my side.
“Not my problem, Jagger. You know the deal. Boss man calls, you come running.”
Anger skates up my spine. But he’s right, resisting will only start something I can’t finish—not with Remi here.
“Come on,” I say to her, ignoring Donny’s goon. “We need to make a stop and then I’ll take you home, okay?”
She gives me a tight nod. Yeah, I don’t like it either, Princess.
I throw my leg over the bike, and Remi quickly follows, getting herself comfortable behind me. Her thighs clamp around my hips as she shuffles closer, pressing her soft breasts against my back. Snaking her arms around my sides, her hands land on my stomach, and I somehow manage to catch the growl that threatens to crawl up my throat.
She feels too fucking good, and now I know how she sounds when she’s falling apart, I’m desperate to do it again.
The way Cruz looked at her inside his studio… I wanted to rip his fucking eyes out of his head for even talking to her. She deserves better than to have the likes of him eye-fucking her.
Hell, she deserves a lot better than me right now, but like fuck am I about to stop whatever this is.
I suck in a breath. I really don’t want to take her where I need to go next, but Donny’s been on my ass for days to do a drop for him, and the fucker knows I’m here.
Seems he wasn’t lying when he says he has eyes everywhere.
Donny runs the Height’s most exclusive club—and by exclusive I mean you need to own a gun and be able to hold your own to be allowed inside. The shit that goes down in that place doesn’t even need mentioning.
His offices are on the top floor with a club below and a dungeon beneath that. I’ve heard the stories about that place, but I haven’t ventured down there. I’d rather not know, if I’m honest.
Everything about Donny is illegal and corrupt, so while I might do the odd drop for him, that’s as far as it’ll go.
We have an understanding. He keeps me employed to support my brothers, and I stay on the sidelines of his business. I don’t want to be someone’s fucking runner, someone’s pussy. If I end up staying on this path I’ve set for myself, I want to be the guy calling the shots. Not the one taking orders like a little bitch. I’ve made no secret of that fact. It’s just one of the reasons he’s happy for me not to dive too deep into his business.
“What the hell is this place?” Remi asks when I pull up outside the black building.
It’s surrounded by fencing with vicious barbed wire on the top that’s been known to take a limb or two in the past. There are a couple of guys hanging around whose eyes bore into us as we pull up.
Anyone with an ounce of fear does not belong here.
“You need to come with me,” I demand once we’re both off the bike.
She looks around and purses her lips as if she’s going to argue, but when she notices the guys staring right at her, she moves herself into my side.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I walk her over to the back entrance. I press my finger down on the buzzer before the click alerts me that someone’s listening on the other side.
“It’s Jag,” I bark seconds before the door opens, revealing a dark corridor and staircase beyond.
“What is this place?” Remi asks hesitantly as we begin climbing.
“Nowhere you ever need to come again.”
“Riiight.”
We’re buzzed through the next set of doors, and, as expected, we’re met by two of Donny’s henchmen.
“Smith. Black.” I nod at each of them and they do the same to me before their eyes land on the girl hiding behind me.
I understand why. These guys aren’t exactly welcoming with their guns on display and constant scowls on their faces.
“I need to see the boss. Can you…?” I gesture to Remi.
“Like she’s our own flesh and blood.” Smith winks at me.
I’d trust these two with my life, I know they’ll keep her safe. But the look on her face tells me she’s anything but in agreement.
“No, no. I can just come with you.”
“No,” I bark a little too forcefully. “You shouldn’t even be here. Do not move. Do not do anything. I will be back in a few minutes.”
She wants to argue, that much is obvious as I back away from her. She looks tiny next to Donny’s guys, and I get this urge to wrap her in my arms and never let go. It’s weird as fuck.
Needing to break our connection, I spin on my heels and continue down to Donny’s office. I knock three times and enter when he says to do so.
“Ah look, if it isn’t the Bay’s newest resident alive and well, and willing to come back for the right price.”
“What do you want, Don?”
He throws a bag down on his desk, followed by a scrap of paper with a familiar scrawled address on it.
“Take this,” he points at the bag, “to that address. The usual stands. No questions asked, and don’t look any further than your payment sitting on the top.”
“You got it. When does delivery need to happen?”
“Thirty minutes ago.”
I think of Remi, who’s hopefully still waiting outside for me. I shouldn’t have brought her here. I really shouldn’t take her to the drop. There could be anything inside that bag, and the last thing I need is to get her tangled up with Donny’s dealings.
“Can I—”
“Take your bitch back to the Bay first?” he asks, proving that he really does know what’s going on. “No. No you fucking can’t. Either take her or dump her, I don’t give a fuck. But this needs delivering now, or you’re fucking done here.”
Anger stirs within me, making my fists curl in my need to make him forget everything about Remi. He has no right knowing she exists or what she looks like. I might be reckless, but I’m not fucking stupid enough to start something with Donny fucking Lopez. Not unless I wanted to dig my own grave first.
“Fine. But this had better be worth my while.”
“When isn’t it?”
Grabbing the bag, I pull it from the desk and turn back to the door.
“I’ll call you,” Donny says before I reach for the handle.
“I’m sure you will,” I mutter before disappearing and allowing the door to slam behind me.
“Let’s go,” I bark at Remi long before I get to her.
She startles at my booming voice but soon jumps into place behind me as I stride past her bodyguards and down the stairs without so much as a thank you.
After throwing Donny’s bag over my shoulder so it rests over my front, we silently climb back onto the bike. I’m not sure if Remi’s too terrified to ask or if she just knows that I won’t give her any answers. Either way, I’m glad she’s keeping it zipped.
She really doesn’t need to know any details of what we’re about to do.
I try my best not to know any details, which is why I always follow orders and never look inside the bag after taking my fee.
Gunning the engine, we speed out from the parking lot, leaving a cloud of dust and gravel behind us. Having her wrapped around me helps dissipate the anger that this whole situation has kickstarted within me.
When
I suggested she spend the day with me, I was not expecting to make her my fucking accomplice. Seems Donny had other ideas.
The drive to the other side of town is quick, and before long we’re pulling up in another questionable parking lot. Thankfully, there’s no one loitering in this one.
“I need you to stay here.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” She looks around, her eyes wide with fear. “I’m not staying out here alone.”
“And I’m not taking you in there.” I nod my head over to the black door I need to go through. This isn’t my first time here, so I know I’ll be in and out.
Her hands land on her lips and her lips purse.
Fuck. I really want to kiss that defiance out of her.
“You really need to do as you’re fucking told.”
“Do I?”
Reaching behind me, I pull my gun from the waistband of my pants. “Take this and shoot any motherfucker who comes near you.”
She lifts her hands away and stares down at it like I’m handing her some maimed animal.
“It’s a fucking gun, not a grenade, Princess. Take it.”
“No.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Lifting her shirt, I pull her waistband away from her body and shove my gun inside.
“Ace,” she squeals. But I’m already halfway to the door.
“Just stay put. I’ll be two minutes, max.”
She mutters something, but I’m too far away to make out what it is. It’s probably a good thing.
I unzip the bag the second I’m in the building, pull the cash from the top, and shove it in my pocket. A guy who looks familiar greets me at the next door and takes the bag without saying a word. Just how I like it.
In less than a minute, I’m jogging back to where I left Remi. She’s standing in the exact same spot with a scowl.
“You might want to wipe that look off your face,” I say when I get to her.
“Oh yeah. Why’s that?”
“Because it makes me want to fuck you over the side of my bike.”
Her lips part and form an O.
I chuckle at her shock as I lift her shirt once again and retrieve my gun.
“Y-you take that thing to school?” she asks in utter disbelief.
“Nah, usually I take my knife. Just depends on how I feel.”
“Fucking hell,” she mutters, spinning away from me and running her hands through her hair. “Please tell me that bag wasn’t full of drugs.”
I shrug. “I’ve no idea. Maybe.”
“Maybe? You don’t know what you’re carrying?”
“It’s not my job to ask questions, Princess. You hungry?”
“Just like that?”
“Just like what?”
“You forget about what you just did—what you just delivered—and think about food.”
“I know this is all new to you, Princess. But you’re forgetting something.”
“Oh yeah. Care to enlighten me?”
“This is my life. This is how I make my money. This is what I do. Don’t like it, then you know what to do.” I say the words, but I’m pretty sure she knows just as well as I do that I’ll never let her walk away from me. Not until I get what I need from her.
Her mouth opens and closes like a goldfish.
“So, food. Shall we?”
Without giving her a chance to argue, I climb on to my bike and wait for her to join me. She mutters something under her breath, but I allow her to vent before she eventually climbs on and wraps her arms around me.
I take off, but I’m not ready to leave my home yet. I drive to the nicest end of town. I mean, it’s still a shithole, especially compared to anything she’s used to, but I’m confident my gun won’t need to come out here, put it that way.
“Pizza?” I ask over my shoulder after killing the engine.
“Sure.” I’m fascinated as she pulls the helmet from her head like a pro. I watch as her long curls settle around her shoulders.
She’s really fucking beautiful.
As I hold my hand out, she slips hers into it and together we walk toward the pizza place in which I’ve spent hours of my life.
I’m greeted like a long lost family member when we step inside Lucio’s.
“Is there anyone in this town who doesn’t know you?” Remi whispers as we’re shown to my usual table.
“Nah. Anyone who is anyone knows who Ace Jagger is.”
“Whoa, your ego really knows no bounds, does it?”
“Nope. Two of the usual, please,” I ask Lucio before he runs off to place our order.
“I can order for myself, you know,” she seethes, sitting back in her seat and looking around the place.
“I’m aware, but I wouldn’t want you ordering anything but the best this place has to offer.”
“And what if I don’t like it?”
“Not possible.”
“Really? What if you’ve just ordered me meat and I’m a vegetarian.”
“You’re not.”
She narrows her eyes at me in frustration. “What if I’m allergic to something?”
“Are you?”
“Well… no, but that’s not the point.”
“So what is the point, Princess?”
“I have my own mind, and I appreciate being able to use it.”
“You can choose dessert,” I smirk. “How’s that?”
“Fine. I hope you're allergic to chocolate and ice cream.”
I can’t help but laugh at her as she crosses her arms over her chest and pouts. “Please don’t sulk. It makes you look like the cheer bitches from school.”
“You noticed them, huh?”
“Hard not to when they constantly want to get on my dick.”
“Why am I not surprised.” Remi rolls her eyes.
“That Michaela’s hot, though,” I tease. “I might let her wandering hands go a little farther next time.”
Her face goes bright red in the blink of an eye. “She’s a slut.”
“Oh, I’m fully aware of that, Princess. What I don’t know is what her beef with you is.”
“She stole my life,” she mutters, avoiding my gaze.
“How so?”
She blows out a long breath and is silent for so long that I don’t think she’s going to open up. “She’s… my stepsister.”
“Oh?”
“My dad hooked up with her mom. They’ve got the perfect life while Mom and I got left behind. You still want to fuck her?”
“I never said I wanted to fuck her.”
“Silly me, you just want her to feel you up.”
The thought of her even touching me turns my stomach, but I don’t allow Remi to see that.
I’ve got a game plan here, and anyone I can use to get me the result I need, I will—whether that be Remi, her best friend, or her worst enemy.
I will find out the truth about my life.
Chapter Twelve
Remi
I’m grinning ear to ear when we leave the pizza place. Ace is intimidating as hell, but feed him pizza and beer and he’s actually a pretty fun date.
Not that that’s what this was. I doubt Ace is the kind of guy who dates. But still, it was nice. And he picked up the check, which was a bonus, although after our little trip around his old neighborhood, I really don’t want to think about what he does to make money.
We almost reach his bike when my cell vibrates. “Oh, shit,” I say, scanning the message from my mom.
“Problem?” Ace asks.
“We’ve been busted.” I show him my mom’s demand for us to return to the house at once.
“I’d better get the princess home, then.” He stares down at me, the air growing thick around us.
“What?” I grow self-conscious under his intense scrutiny.
“I want to kiss you so fucking bad right now.”
“But?” I swallow, heat flashing through me. Ace just ate a huge pizza and he still looks ravenous.
A knowing smirk tugs at his m
outh. “It wouldn’t be a good idea, not here. Come on.” He motions toward his bike.
I try to ignore the dejection pulsing through me, but it’s right there, coiled around my heart.
Ace tries to help with my helmet, but I snatch it off him. “I can do it myself.”
“Whoa, what’s gotten into you?”
“Nothing,” I bite. “We should probably go.” My mom and James are going to be pissed.
Ace rests his butt on the seat of the bike, folding his arms over his chest. “I’m not moving until you tell me what’s wrong.” I’m relieved the helmet shields most of my face, because I know my expression is probably betraying me right now. “Spit it out, Princess. I’m waiting.”
“Ugh,” I release a frustrated breath. “Fine. I can’t figure out why you brought me here is all.”
His brows furrow. “You didn’t have fun today?”
“I... that’s not what I mean,” I sigh. “Do you have a girlfriend here? Is Kelsey—“
Laughter crinkles the corners of his eyes. “You think me and Kelsey... fuck, no. She’s no one to me. But you’ve seen what I do, the kind of people I hang out with. It probably wasn’t the smartest move bringing you here.”
“I see.”
“Listen, I want nothing more than to kiss you. To strip you bare on my bike, bury my face in your sweet pussy and eat you out.” Lust floods me, making my knees weak. “You drive me in-fucking-sane, Princess.”
“Oh,” I breathe.
“Yeah, oh. Now get on the fucking bike before James calls the cops on me for endangering his precious Remi.” He throws his leg over the bike and grabs the handlebars.
It’s a strange thing to say, but I don’t question it as I slide on behind him, tucking myself into his back.
“Ready?”
I nod, and Ace revs the engine. Before I can say another word, Sterling Heights is disappearing behind us in a rush of warm air and exhilaration.
All too quickly the landscape changes to the familiar postcard perfect scenery of Sterling Bay, but Ace surprises me by pulling off at a rest area before we hit town. “Off,” he orders, and I slide off the bike, wondering what the hell he’s playing at. Roughly grabbing me, he tugs me around to him and shifts his body to the back of the seat. Then he gently pulls the helmet off my head.