She started to form a question and stumbled over it, unable to string a sentence together.
I didn’t look up. “Just spit it out, Nikki. I’m not going to bite you.”
The sound of her clearing her throat had me grinning at the counter my plate sat on. It was adorable. It had been a long time since a woman had been nervous in my presence, and I found it rather refreshing.
“Is Jesse going to see last night as some sort of statement?”
I set down my fork and met her stare. “Yes.”
She threw her hands in the air. “That’s it?” Her exasperated expression amused me, but I waited for her to calm down. “One word. That’s all you’re going to give me? This is my life, too, you know?” Damn, she was fucking hot when she was fired up. She hadn’t bothered to put on a bra when she’d gotten out of the shower, and her breasts were as animated as her arms…or at least my eyes tracked her taut nipples with fervent interest.
I gave up on breakfast. There was no possibility of eating until Nikki relaxed, and that wasn’t going to happen until she felt safe. I couldn’t give her that reassurance without hearing from Chase or Jesse. So, I tried to give her enough to let her know she wasn’t alone, without telling her just how strong a message I’d actually sent. “It was a bold move. And likely the reason I haven’t heard from anyone. Jesse will decide how to handle it. Then he’ll call…or have someone call.”
“So, we just wait?” Her panicked cry was like a sucker punch to the gut.
I wanted to offer comfort, but there wasn’t anything I could say to help. I was confident in the choice I’d made…well, as confident as anyone could be when dealing with the Union and a sexy stranger. I needed her to trust me, yet she didn’t know me.
“I’ve got it covered, Nikki.” I’d planned to let it go at that, but when her deep-blue eyes brimmed with tears, I gave her more. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I promise.”
And that was something I never did.
8
Nikki
The weight in those two words held more significance than they should. People around here didn’t make promises, primarily because they couldn’t keep them. Street life left little hope, and everyone I’d known since birth was proof of that. Hard work, dedication…it didn’t matter. Those born here tended to die here—victims of the street, the neighborhood, and the life.
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” I refused to make eye contact with Ryker when I made that statement. I didn’t want to doubt him, but I knew better than to depend on anyone other than myself.
He reached out and tilted my chin with his fingers. “As long as you’re with me, they won’t hurt you.”
“And when I’m not?” Thinking about that notion made my stomach turn. “I can’t be with you twenty-four-seven, Ryker. I have to dance tonight.” I also had to figure out how to cover the bruising on my cheek so it didn’t affect my tips.
He laughed. It was sinister versus funny. “You’re not dancing.”
“I am.”
“You’re not.”
In a bold move, I took his hand in mine and squeezed. “I can’t leave Ma to fend for herself. She fucked up. I get that. But I made a commitment, too, and regardless of whether she holds up her end of the bargain, I intend to maintain mine.”
His broody browns were haunting. At times they appeared innocent; today they were frightening.
“I don’t have a clue if they hurt her last night. I need to check on her and get my stuff for the club.”
Ryker withdrew his hand and settled them on his hips. If he’d had pants on, I imagined he would have stuffed his hands into his pockets, but his basketball shorts offered nowhere for them to hide. I’d been awake for no less than twenty minutes, and somehow, I’d managed to miss the art show before me. Yet, when he moved, his tattoos came to life, as did his well-defined muscles. His pecs bulged, and the lines in his arms became more defined. When his abs tensed, my core lit with heat. The fabric swayed against his legs, and a perfectly defined outline of the head of his dick drew my line of vision to his crotch. If I’d had on any panties, they would have been soaked. I’d never been drawn to bad boys or tough exteriors, but I could easily succumb to this man. Or just stare at him for hours. It wasn’t possible to take in every picture on his skin, much less memorize every detail. I’d need days, weeks, to ever hope of being able to remember him once he was gone.
And he would be gone.
The growl came from deep within his chest, initially sounding like his stomach rumbled. “No way in hell you’re going home.”
I crossed my arms and realized my breasts were unsupported and my nipples were fully erect. I rolled my eyes when he laughed. “I am. It isn’t open for discussion, and neither is my going to Swank tonight.”
His jaw ticced, and I wondered how long it would take him to explode. I secretly hoped he got mad enough to drag me over to the recliner, bend me over his knee, and spank some sense into me. Sadly, that didn’t happen. “You understand you’re taking your life into your own hands?”
“Then I guess you better get on board and take me yourself…you know, so you can prevent my untimely death.” It wasn’t a joke, and I shouldn’t make it one. Fear was easier to tolerate with a dose of humor slathered on top of it.
He finally conceded, at least to part of my demand. “I’ll take you to check on your mom. I’m not budging on the club.”
“I don’t recall asking for permission.” I spoke with far greater determination and gumption than I actually felt. “Truth be told, I didn’t ask you to get involved in any of this to begin with.”
Ryker flinched, and I instantly regretted my tone and words. “Fine. If that’s the game you want to play. I’ll take you by your apartment, and I’ll accompany you to Swank.”
“And I can dance? Without interference?”
He took a breath so deep his chest swelled, and I wondered if it would burst. Then he let out the air through his nose, and I still wasn’t confident that he’d given up the fight. “You’re not leaving my sight. That isn’t up for negotiation.”
“How am I supposed to perform then?”
“The same way you did last night. You just won’t be going into the back without me at your side. And you won’t take the floor.”
I hadn’t taken the floor yet, but I wanted to see just how far I could push him before he gave up. “You and I both know that the floor and VIP are where the money is. I need out of this obligation as fast as possible, which means I have to make as much as possible.” For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I argued this point. I didn’t want any of those creeps touching me, and the only way to ensure that was not to go near them. On stage, I was relatively safe; off stage, all bets were off. “The number of nights I have to spend under the lights doubles if all I do is the three songs Jesse requires.”
Again, his chest jumped, and I wanted nothing more than to keep pissing him off just to see the vulgar display of alpha neurosis before me. “Then I’ll buy your time.”
That I hadn’t expected. “You realize it’s two-hundred dollars an hour for a private room?”
“And your life isn’t worth that?”
To a guy who didn’t know me, it shouldn’t be. “Are we just going to hang out back there and chit-chat? We don’t seem to be so great at getting along, much less idle gossip.”
He graced me with a smirk that lit a fire in my soul. Jesus Christ, if it were possible to conceive from a glance, I’d be impregnated with Ryker’s baby. His smiles were few and far between, and most of those that I had gotten hadn’t been full-blown. They’d been half grins with a side of sex and a double shot of lust. “Oh no. If I’m buying your time, I want the fantasy treatment.”
I nearly choked on my own saliva when I attempted to swallow past that statement. “You want me to dance…for you?”
The fluorescent light overhead hit his irises and caused his eyes to twinkle with animation and mischief. “No, on me.”
&nb
sp; Fuck me. “Topless?” There was no way.
“That’s what happens in VIP, right? Lap dances? G-strings, sans bra?” He taunted me, knowingly.
I refused to crack. If Ryker wanted me to straddle his lap, grind on his cock, and shake my tits in his face, all while he couldn’t touch and have to pay me for it, so be it. “Yep.” I raised my brow and tilted my head to the side. “It’s going to be an expensive night, Ryker.”
He popped a piece of bacon into his mouth. “Not nearly as costly as it will be for you.” Then he winked, and I was certain I’d just walked the plank and jumped into shark-infested waters. Ryker would devour me, and I was helpless to stop him.
* * *
“Nikki, move your ass if you want to have any hope of stopping by your place before you have to be at Swank,” he barked from the other side of the bathroom door.
I wasn’t sure what he expected. I was limited in what I could do here, yet he didn’t want me to spend any time at my apartment or at the club. I didn’t have any makeup, which presented a real problem since my cheek was a rainbow of blues and greens. Hell, I didn’t even have a hairdryer. Putting on the clothes I’d left Swank in repulsed me, but Ryker had pointed out that riding a Harley in boxers and a T-shirt without panties would probably attract attention I didn’t want. I didn’t bother considering the safety aspect of it all or the fact that it was cold outside.
By the time I emerged, Ryker paced the bare floor in the living room. His nerves were starting to get the best of me. He had enough anxiety for both of us.
“I really need you to calm down. You asked me to trust you, told me you’d protect me, and your fidgeting isn’t making that easy to do.”
His biceps tensed under the pull of his cotton shirt. It was snug in all the right places. The thought of getting on his bike, wrapping my arms around him, and pressing my front to his back had me all kinds of worked up. This shit with Jesse needed to be resolved before I dragged Ryker into a bedroom—his or mine, I didn’t care which—and forced him to have his way with me. I might die in a hail of gang gunfire in the process, but it would be one hell of a way to go and worth every bullet I took.
“Are you going to stand there gawking or walk out the door?” That light in his eyes glittered again, and it dawned on me I’d been caught…staring. Again.
“Shut up.” That was profound. And an admission of guilt.
He slapped my ass as I strolled by. Had it been anyone else, I would have turned around and elbowed them, but the sting of Ryker’s hand only left me wishing for more. Space was the only thing that would ease this desirous ache, and that was about to be eliminated. Add in the vibrations of the bike… Lord, help me.
The sun shined brightly once we stepped outside, and it almost offered enough warmth to ward off the nip in the air. If I could stand and bask in it, it probably would, but I had to get on the back of a motorcycle where the wind would lick at my skin, and a chill would root itself in my bones.
I followed Ryker to his Harley. I didn’t know when he’d brought another helmet outside, but here one sat next to the one I’d worn last night. Like a gentleman, he helped me put on mine before he messed with his. And once I’d taken the seat behind him, he settled his hand on my calf as he backed out. I’d been with the man less than twenty-four hours, yet all of this seemed as natural as if I’d known him my entire life.
When he started the ignition and eased into the parking lot, my fingers rested at his sides. As we gained speed, the natural weight of gravity pulled me with the flow of the bike. Ryker kept a hand on me at all times once he’d stop switching gears. It was possessive and protective and perfect…if he’d been mine. But he wasn’t. Not even close. Neither of us even knew the other’s last name.
I leaned forward, hoping he could hear me. “Wilson,” I yelled through the wind and into his ear.
He tilted his head to the side and back a tad, so I repeated myself. “Huh?” Ryker slowed down, so the rustling of air wasn’t quite so loud.
“Wilson. My last name is Wilson.” It was an odd introduction, but everything about this scenario was odd.
Ryker lifted his head in acknowledgment. “Davis.” Ryker Davis. It suited him.
“Is Ryker your real name?” I shouted. Now wasn’t the time to have a get-to-know-you conversation, but somehow, the back of this bike felt safer than anywhere I’d been in recent months.
He nodded, although he didn’t attempt to offer any further explanation.
We rode in silence the rest of the way, and when he got near my apartment complex, he slowed to allow me to point in the direction he needed to go. I didn’t miss the people who stopped on the sidewalks or the heads that turned to track our whereabouts. I couldn’t believe anyone recognized me, which meant, they recognized Ryker. And that scared the hell out of me. Just because we couldn’t see Union 21 rats didn’t mean they weren’t in a position to spot us. Intel of our whereabouts would spread like an infestation, and that didn’t bode well if Jesse hadn’t gotten Ryker’s message. A chill ran up my spine, but it wasn’t the temperature outside that caused me to shake.
He made a parking space where none existed and got off the motorcycle. I watched as he sauntered across the yard in front of the building—not that there was any grass—and took off his helmet as he went. Carefully, I dismounted, removed my helmet, and hung it on the handlebars the way he’d done the night before. Seconds later, he squatted before a little boy who couldn’t have been more than three or four. They both turned toward me, and Ryker pointed my direction. The child’s face lit up with excitement, and then a woman, whom I assumed to be the kid’s mom waltzed over. Ryker evidently knew her, even though I didn’t—and she had come from my building.
I stood still, waiting for instructions. Then, I almost smacked myself, wondering what the hell I waited on. I lived here. This was my complex. We were here so I could get clothes and check on Ma. I couldn’t do that from the curb. Nervously, I ran my fingers through my hair and attempted to untangle it as I walked. I didn’t stop to speak to Ryker or his acquaintance, and when I passed, he joined me.
“Friend of yours?” I questioned.
He took long strides to keep up with my fast pace. “It pays to know people.”
Jealousy hit like a ton of bricks. “Old girlfriend?”
“Envious?” he quipped.
“Hardly,” I scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself. Remember, you chased me—not the other way around.” Although, if I were honest, I was rather giddy about that now…even with the green-eyed monster staring me down.
“Just to keep you safe.”
“Keep telling yourself that, but according to you, you had no idea I was in danger.”
“You were dancing at Swank. Every girl on that stage is in some form of danger.”
I stopped at the bottom of the metal stairs between the buildings. “Do you rescue every damsel in distress?” The frigid, Illinois wind kicked up and moaned through the breezeway. I fought to tame my locks as they flew around my face.
He shook his head, but the playfulness I’d expected to see in his eyes was missing. “Don’t fool yourself. This is serious, and no, I don’t bother with any of them. I hate that place for the very reason you were on its stage.” Ryker jerked his head to indicate I should keep moving, effectively closing down the conversation. “I went to high school with her and her boyfriend. Their little boy is a sweet kid. I asked him to watch the bike.”
There wasn’t a need for him to explain, yet it settled a nervous piece of me I hadn’t expected. “Oh.” I managed to hide my sheepish grin with my back to the man following me.
When we reached the top of the stairs, Ryker grabbed my elbow. There wasn’t any force behind it, although it got my attention. “Gina’s a good girl and a good mom. She’ll call me if anyone pokes around while we’re up here, but that’s where it ends.”
I nodded. He didn’t owe me anything—certainly not an explanation.
“You really should get to know your neigh
bors, Nikki. There are a bunch of women hiding in these apartments just trying to survive. You might make some friends.”
My apartment was only a couple steps away. I reached into my pocket for my key, and then I stuck it into the deadbolt. “I’ve done my best to keep my head down. I don’t think everyone is trouble. I just don’t know who’s safe.” But there was no need for the key. The moment I tried to turn the lock, the door crawled open with a loud creak, and destruction lay in my path. “Holy shit…”
Ryker jumped in front of me, pushing me to his back. “I take it you keep a bit neater house?”
Peering around his shoulder, it was safe to say, everything we owned now sat on the floor. Furniture was overturned, drawers emptied, dishes broken. There wasn’t a single thing I could see that hadn’t been touched. “That, and we keep the door locked.” I glanced around to the other apartments, not that I expected to find anything suspicious because everything was suspicious around here.
He took a step over the threshold. “I’d ask if you have any enemies, but I’m fairly certain your mother does even if you don’t.”
I followed behind him as he continued inside. We didn’t have much, so there wasn’t much lost, but I’d bet if I opened the cabinet there wouldn’t be a single plate that remained whole, and we’d only have cups because they’re all plastic anyhow. I couldn’t even bring myself to be sad. I didn’t feel violated. This type of thing was expected around here when someone crossed the gang, and that’s what my mother had done. Then I had compounded the problem by not going with Sam.
“This is about last night.” My shoulders sank, wondering how I’d ever dig us out of this grave, yet it wasn’t fear that ate at my insides. It was defeat.
Ryker shook his head and turned toward me. When he did, his dark bangs fell over his eyes, shielding them from view. “This isn’t Jesse’s style. I’m not saying it wasn’t related to the club, but this is messy. Jesse’s messages are much clearer and far more threatening. Someone was here looking for something.”
Dear Diamond Page 8