Third off and most importantly, I had Annie to worry about – and my dreams. Those were big enough on their own without me throwing a new guy into the picture. I couldn’t afford any major distractions. With working every second that I wasn’t with Annie, I needed to keep my head in the game.
Val’s voice echoed loudly in my head. “Your dusty old hoo-ha should be a priority, before you forget how to use it.”
I fought back the oncoming smile. Maybe she had a point, but I did too.
“WHAT THE HELL?”
“I DON’T FUCKING KNOW- COME ON!”
Hearing yells, I raced to the door and ripped it open.
16
Chance
I yanked open the bathroom door.
Several Twisted Souls charged down the hallway, their faces wild.
I grabbed one. “What’s going on?”
“Someone was shot!” he said, ripping himself away to race after the others.
Fuck.
That was when I noticed the open door and, across the hallway from me, Connie’s sheet-white face.
I raced to her, grabbed her arm. “We’re getting Annie and bringing her here. Got it?”
She nodded and we rushed out.
The compound was chaos with people yelling and running every which way.
“Connie!” someone yelled.
It was her Mom, with a tear-clenched faced Annie by the hand. We hurried over and Connie grabbed Annie and pressed her to her tight. Smoothing her hair and peering close in her face, she said, “We’re just going to go with the nice man to a safe room, ok?”
“It’s scary, Mommy.”
“I know, but we just have to be brave right now, ok?”
“We don’t have time for this,” her Mom snapped. “Let’s go now!”
We raced back to the room. I herded them in first, then stood in the doorway for a few seconds, knowing what I had to do and hating it all the same.
I’d have to leave them alone, but it was for their own good. I’d be little good protecting them if I didn’t know what was going on.
“You lock this door behind me and stay here until I find out what’s going on,” I told Connie and her Mom. “You don’t open this door for anyone. You hear crazy shit, you start moving furniture in front of it. Understood?”
They looked at me, the two terrified mothers clasping at the mute child with the quivering lower lip. There was no time for a nicer tone. They needed to get how serious this was. Life and death serious.
“Understood,” Connie said out of thin lips.
I’d turned away when she added, “And Chance?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
Our eyes met. Even as hopped up on adrenaline as I was, it still amazed me how variable those blue eyes of hers were. Right now, they were wide with fear, tensed with determination.
I turned away. “I’m not making promises I can’t keep.”
And then I left.
Back in the compound, it wasn’t hard to see where the main Twisted Souls had ended up meeting. One corner of the compound was motionless, a huddle of men trying and failing to keep their voices down.
“We can’t just take this!” Abe roared, as his girlfriend, whose name was still unknown to me, clung to him.
“We’re not,” Charlie said simply, his small form trembling with rage. “We’re going to hit them where it hurts.”
“Hold up,” I butt in. Now was not the time for me to be ‘knowing my place’ by staying shut the fuck up. Especially if the Twisted Souls were about to do something epically stupid. “What happened?”
The guys glanced my way, grumbled, then Charlie said, “They shot Hunter. He may die.”
“Who’s Hunter?” I asked.
Harry’s nose quirked, and he rubbed at his bloodshot eyes. “Forgot, you didn’t know... Don’t know much.”
I said nothing.
The unspoken question was obvious. Are you going to fucking tell me then?
Larry was the one who finally spoke. “Hunter’s the vice president of the Twisted Souls. We keep it on the down-low for his own safety and… other reasons.”
“Like Hunter has a big fat mouth and can never turn down a fight,” Charlie supplied.
“Hey now,” someone said warningly.
“You better watch it,” another voice grumbled mutinously. “He’s hurt, man.”
Charlie crossed his stubby arms across his chest. “Doesn’t make it not true.”
“So what happened?” I asked.
“What happened is we all got roped into some stupid bike battle against the Kings while coming here.” Charlie shook his head bitterly. “Would’ve won too if the assholes hadn’t cheated – chucked a lit lighter at Hunter’s bike. Made him crash and knocked him right out just as one of ‘em shot him too, he fell on the road, got badly cut up, bruised. Nobody knows if he’ll wake up at all.”
“See?” Abe snarled. “It’s what I said! We gotta get payback. Hit these fuckers where it hurts.”
“And how are you suggesting we do that?” Charlie’s voice was supremely tired. “Don’t get me wrong, I want to butcher these assholes as much as anyone.”
“Easy.” Abe’s voice got eerily calm, his dark boar eyes still. “They’re camped out in Mallet Hotel, everyone knows that. Ain’t nobody there but them. We just get ourselves some gasoline, some matches and give them a nice fiery taste of their own medicine.”
Grumbles of agreement, even Bonzo’s unmistakable rumble – “Kill. Them. All”.
My hands balled into angry fists.
No.
But before I could say anything, Harry suggested, “And if that’s too much work, there’s always Black Betty.”
“But she’s your pride and joy!” Gary protested, his Santa beard waggling as he shook his head.
“She’s damn near fifty years old.” Harry raised his chin firmly. “And would be damn proud to die for the cause of killing a few of those Devil King bastards.”
That the following murmurs were of assent were clear.
“Bad idea,” I said.
Every head whipped my way.
“Yeah, I know I’m a new nobody.” I could read the looks on their faces easily enough. “But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong about this. Trying a retaliation attack now is too risky. It’ll be exactly what they expect.”
Open-mouthed squinty-eyed looks swung my way. My words weren’t landing one bit.
“Plus, there’s the compound to protect,” I said. “If everyone goes off all halfcocked, who’s here to protect the women and kids?”
“Chance is right,” Hayes said from beyond the group. “You’re all idiots.”
The tension jumping in me paused at the sight of him.
He looked half mad, with his red-bearded chin pulled into his neck like some scandalized turkey that couldn’t believe what it was seeing.
When he finally opened his mouth to speak, the whole group had quieted the fuck down.
Hayes’ voice was an accusatory whisper. “Who are here, other than our own idiot selves?”
Bonzo’s tree stump of an arm flew up. “Kids and their mamas.”
Hayes nodded. “And can they fight for themselves?”
A brief image flitted in my mind – Annie wielding two Hello kitty knives in a pink assassin’s outfit.
“NO!” the boys chorused.
Hayes jumped on the spot, his voice a sudden roar. “THEN WHY, IN THE HELL, WOULD ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SUGGEST LEAVING THEM, UNGUARDED TO THEIR OWN DEVICES? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR GODDAMN MINDS?”
Silence.
Hayes paced around, gesticulating like a madman. “Leave the women and children all unprotected so the Devil Kings can get them too, get our compound. Brilliant.”
He raked his hand through his hair and sighed as he gestured my way. “At least I have one man with a modicum of sense. Now, stop being a bunch of kamikaze Zorros and let’s figure out what to do. In the next few hours, I better not hear any more of th
is senseless bullshit or you’ll be in charge of cleaning the toilet Big Bonzo plugged.”
Everyone groaned, while Big Bonzo laughed that same mad laugh.
17
Connie
“The stronger he becomes, the more we are all in danger…”
I glared at the TV.
Why don’t you shut the hell up, Princess Celestia?
But My Little Pony droned on regardless.
I snuck a look at Annie, but she was as enthralled by the white pretty pony with the shimmering pretty blue-purple hair majestic as ever.
Mom caught my eye and gave me a resigned look that clearly said –At least it’s better than before.
She had a point. An hour or so earlier, Annie had been running in restless circles around the room, Jamjam clutched to her collarbone, chanting, “I miss Nadia! I want cookies! I miss Nadia! I want cookies!”
At least now, I could partially zone out from the ponies’ overly sweet voices. It wasn’t like we had any idea what was happening outside. Although since no one was shouting or running around anymore it had to mean that things weren’t completely dismal?
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Who is it?” I asked, heading towards the door.
“The King,” my brother said.
“Uncle Hayes!” Annie exclaimed, although she didn’t peel her gaze off the TV.
That was cartoons for you, children’s heroin.
I unlocked the door, peeking out the crack. “Everything ok?”
Hayes’ mouth was a thin line. “Yes and no.”
Mom’s was an identical one. “That doesn’t sound very promising.”
I opened up the door and Hayes walked in. He ruffled Annie’s hair, then turned to me. “You got your iPad and headphones for the little tyke?”
My stomach contracted.
I got his meaning well enough. Whatever he had to say, it was neither good nor fit for Annie’s ears.
I nodded, beelining over to the luggage. My iPad – a Christmas gift from Mom I still didn’t quite see the use for – was something I had actually remembered to pack. Probably because Mother herself had explicitly reminded me to bring it in her warning voice.
Once we got Annie set up on the bed with the iPad, some dancing kitten game, and headphones, Hayes gestured me and Mom into the closet.
I sneezed, seeing dust billow ahead of me as I cast a dark look around our surroundings. “This private enough for you? Annie doesn’t have supersonic hearing as far as I know.”
Hayes peered out the closet door, then shut it and looked around circumspectly. “Yeah, this’ll do.”
And then he told us what had been going on the last hour.
“That’s awful,” I said, when he told us about Hunter’s injuries.
Hunter was a hairy goof and a bigmouth, but he was a good guy – had even thrown a surprise engagement party for Ace and me back in the day.
“But what’s going to happen next?” I asked.
I knew the Twisted Souls- they got mad and stayed mad until they got even.
“Nothing stupid, I can assure you of that at least.” Hayes bobbed his head firmly. “Chance made sure of that before I arrived. Can you believe they were all actually considering racing over there right now and striking back at the Devil Kings!”
Mom shook her grey head, sighed. “The boys were never known for their measured decisions.”
“Mother.” Hayes was scowling.
Hayes let out a breath through his teeth. “Anyway, the important thing is that the danger has passed for now. I’ve got more than enough pissed off guards posted at every entrance. If so much as a pigeon gets too close to the compound, he will rue the ever-loving day he cracked out of his egg.”
“Pigeons beware.” I smirked, although my relief was genuine. Getting out of this stuffy room would be good for all of us.
The next few minutes were us breaking the news to Annie, convincing her that yes, Princess Celestia and the others would still be here when she came back, and that no, she didn’t have a choice whether to come with us.
By the time we got Annie to the play area, where most of the other kids were already doing some odd dance that was the latest thing, I needed some coffee. Or beer. Or both.
Nothing like agonizing over whether you and everyone you loved would all get killed, then whether you’d be forced into My Little Pony insanity to get the stress hormones bubbling.
“You ok?”
Beside me on the chairs at the edge of the play area, my Mom’s eagle-eyed gaze was more observant than compassionate. She knew as well as I did that if I was distracted and antsy then I wouldn’t be much good here.
“Not really,” I admitted.
“Take a break.” Mom smiled. “Go grab a coffee and something to eat.”
“You sure?” I said.
Mom was already pulling out her Tom Clancy book. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got Tom to keep me company.”
“You mean” – I peered at the cover – “Jack Ryan.”
Mom waved me away with a chuckle. “Stop stalling. Now shoo.”
That was all the encouragement I needed. I beat it over to the kitchen, drawn by the aroma of dark roast.
I was halfway through my coffee, tapping my feet and practically twitching on the plastic chair when it hit me. This wasn’t what I needed.
I peered around the room for Val’s peroxide blonde head, but only found Walter’s grey approaching one.
“Val?” I asked.
He smiled ruefully. “Passed right out. Think it was too many marshmallows.”
I just laughed. “That sounds like Val.”
As he left, he gave me a wave, and so did someone else. Loretta, hand in hand with her beloved Kevin. As they passed by, her neon orange lips mouthed: Isn’t he a DREAM?
My head bobbed automatically. Although my thoughts were far, far away – in a different continent. One with muscles and dark tangle of hair and eyes that saw right through me.
A real dream.
Fuck.
Heat swelled through me at the same time the realization did. Chance.
That was who I needed.
My mouth twisted and I shook my head.
If only I could shake the thoughts away. That, more than coffee, more than attraction even, when he’d been in my room and put his hand on my arm, I’d felt reassurance.
He was exactly what I needed right now. Right now, I felt jumpy and scattered.
I kept my ass parked on my plastic chair and sipped my coffee, drumming my fingers on my upper thigh.
Don’t. Don’t think about him. Don’t move.
But already I was on my feet, headed to his room. I’d seen no sign of him in the main area. And even if he wasn’t in his room, I needed to walk. To move.
Stewing in thoughts like that, an urge I couldn’t escape, it wouldn’t end well.
I knocked once and the door opened.
Our eyes caught and I was rooted to the floor. He had a way of looking at me like he already knew what I had to say. Like he already liked it.
His eyes were the brown of my tea when I added honey to it but there was nothing sweet in the look he was giving me now.
“You okay?”
I found my voice, found a nod too. “I’m okay.”
He smiled and seemed genuinely relieved.
“Thank you,” I added, daring to look at him now. “For stopping the guys from doing anything stupid.”
“I didn’t stop them from anything.” Chance shrugged as if uncomfortable with the praise. “Just put off them jumping into a dumb decision until your brother showed up. If he hadn’t come in when he did, they would’ve laughed me out of there.”
“But still, you didn’t have to do that. Thanks.”
I went on tiptoes to kiss his cheek and he turned his face.
Our lips met and I could instantly hear my blood pounding in my ears.
Lip to lip, we held there. I didn’t even breathe. Couldn’t.<
br />
His hand went to the back of my head and guided me into a deeper kiss.
Pure impulse took over and his hands wandered from my shoulders to my hips as his tongue parted my lips and plunged into my mouth. It felt like we’d done this a thousand times; like our bodies already knew each other.
All of me was sparking with sensation and I was wet already.
My hands were at his hard wall of a chest, bracing myself, slowing him, I didn’t know.
All my body knew was him.
His hands were at my hips, massaging. His tongue was leading mine in a frantic dance and his pelvis was pressing against mine, pushing me into the wall.
My body was swirling with want and need for more.
My legs went around him and I ground my pelvis into him harder.
His hands went around to squeeze my ass as carried me over to the bed but then he pulled away, scowling.
“What?” I asked.
He spoke as though the words were being wrenched out of him. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted…”
I leaned forward, my lips at his ear. “Oh, yes I do.”
In a flash, his lips crashed down on mine and his large body was over mine, pinning me down to the bed below us, his hard length pressed against my belly. His fingers reached for my pussy and I arched into his hand.
My hands went to his cock over his pants and undid the zipper. He worked out the rest.
My eyes rolled back as he quickly worked my pants down my legs and filled me with his fingers.
“Holy fuck you’re wet.”
My legs were trembling.
“Ready for me I see,” Chance growled.
And then he removed his fingers from me and thrust his cock deep inside and everything else disappeared.
“Yes,” I gasped as I wrapped my legs around him, urging him deeper.
Chance plunged himself into me again, his words strained. “That’s my girl.”
Chance fucked me hard and fast and mercilessly. We were all raw emotion and primitive animal instinct.
It was exactly what I needed.
Our bodies slapped together and the sound of it filled the room until.
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