Dear Diamond

by Walls, Stephie

  “I promise, I’ll get you out of this.”

  I pushed away and wiped my cheeks with the backs of my hand. “What about Ma?”

  “That’s up to Jesse. My concern is you.” Something in the way he looked at me, or possibly the tone of his voice, held a sentiment that was far closer than either of us should be. He said it as though we’d been together for years, and we weren’t together at all.

  It made me believe in a fairy tale when happily ever after was as rare as a unicorn. I had a better chance of finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow than escaping Dacon, Illinois at this point. “I don’t want him to hurt her, Ryker. She’s still my mom.”

  She hadn’t been Mother of the Year, but she’d tried. Until the last year, she’d worked hard to give me everything she could and made sure I never went without. Ma had encouraged me to keep my head down and work my ass off. She had been the one to make sure I understood what getting involved with a gang member would mean for my life. Yet, she was the one who fell prey, and now I had to figure out how to save her…or let her go.

  Ryker tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and then ran his hand from the crown of my head down my locks in the middle of my back. His grip tightened on the small of my back, but he didn’t pull me toward him. “There’s nothing we can do about any of it until I talk to Jesse. Stressing about the situation won’t change it. You need to eat, and we both need to get some sleep.” The smooth baritone could have rocked me to sleep had I been laying down. Instead, I nodded.

  We ate in silence, and then Ryker cleaned up while I showered. The apartment was dark when I exited the bathroom, and I assumed he was already in bed. The sheets were cool and whisked away the tension of the night when I slid under the blanket.

  Ryker’s breaths were even like he’d already fallen asleep, but when I turned my back to him, his arm snaked under my neck, and the other draped across my hip. Before I could question him, our bodies were flush. Every inch of his sculpted form lined up with mine, and while he didn’t try anything, his erection rested firmly between my butt cheeks. He nuzzled his nose into my neck and hair and whispered, “Goodnight.”

  I covered his hand on my hip with my own and laced my fingers through the other, holding his forearm to my chest. Currently, everything in my life was shit, but this…this was good. My eyelids became heavy, and I drifted off with a fortress around me.

  11

  Ryker

  When I woke, Nikki sat in bed next to me. Her legs were crossed as she stared out the window; although, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what she looked at. The only things visible from my bedroom were other buildings and the parking lot. I squeezed her knee and stroked her thigh. “Morning.”

  Her soft gaze shifted to me, and a smile rose on her lips. It wasn’t full blown, but I’d take what I could get given the circumstances. “Hey,” she cooed. The raspiness that had accompanied her early morning tone yesterday wasn’t present today, and I assumed she’d been awake for a while.

  My hand moved up her leg and rested on the swell of her ass. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Are we stuck here until you hear from Jesse or Chase?”

  It was easy to tell their silence unnerved her. Truth be told, it bothered the hell out of me as well. But I also knew this was part of the game. I might be like family to the Silvanos, but this was business, and I’d riled up a hornets’ nest. Actually, I’d knocked the damn thing down and swatted at the swarm. I probably should have handled things differently, but hindsight was twenty-twenty. Now, I had to deal with the shitstorm I’d stirred up and hope I didn’t get stung.

  I didn’t admit that I’d sent multiple unanswered texts to both Jesse and Chase. It wouldn’t do anything other than frighten Nikki. “Nope.” My response came off more casual than the situation warranted. “Come on. Sundays are spent with Tricia and Dwight.” I tossed the covers back and swung my legs over the edge of the mattress. The cool air assaulted my bare skin, waking me better than coffee would have.

  “Who are Tricia and Dwight?” She peered up at me with navy irises through dark lashes. Her eyes reduced me to mush, especially when she had to tilt her chin to see me. Somehow, she became delicate, and I had an overwhelming urge to haul her ass to me and protect her—I did neither.

  Nikki tracked me around the room as I moved to the dresser. I swear, I heard a sigh of disappointment as I covered my chest with a T-shirt. Still facing the wall, I smirked, pleased I had an effect on her yet unwilling to let her see how happy it made me.

  “My parents.”

  She giggled. “How old are you? And you still go home for weekly visits to Mom and Dad?”

  I narrowed my eyes playfully. “Every Sunday. You’ll understand why after you’ve eaten lunch there.”

  Her laughter quieted, and I had to stop myself from bursting out when I saw her expression. She appeared more terrified of my parents than she had dealing with Sam and his crew…and they had guns. “I’m not going.” If she could have dug her heels into the bed, she would have; instead, she crossed her arms and shook her head fervently.

  I moved to the closet to get a pair of jeans. “You’re sure as hell not staying here.”

  “Fine, I’ll go home.”

  “You’re not going anywhere without me. I’ve explained this, but if you need to hear it again, let me know, and I’ll dish it out.”

  She angled her body my direction and watched me like a hawk when I dropped my shorts and kicked them into the laundry basket. Nikki didn’t miss a beat as I drew the pants up my legs, and she studied the zipper as I pulled and then secured the button. “What the hell are you going to tell your parents? That you picked up a random chick at a strip club, and I’ve become your project?” She shook her head persistently. “No way. Not happening.”

  I plopped onto the bed next to her and fell to my side. With my head propped in my hand, I used the other to drag her down next to me. “They won’t ask. My parents are good people. Just poor, working class.” In a daring move, I leaned up and popped a kiss on her temple. “They’ll love you. Come on. Get dressed.”

  “Ryker…” She whined my name. Any other chick would have gotten the boot for that move alone, but when Nikki did it, I found it cute, endearing. She also hadn’t done it much, so there was the chance it just hadn’t annoyed the fuck out of me yet.

  “Nikki…” I mimicked. It would have been so easy to grab her by the waist and tug her body on top of mine. There was no question about whether or not I could force her to see things my way in that position. But I didn’t need to play dirty with women. Hell, I’d never had to even consider how I treated them. Nikki was an anomaly in more ways than one, but the fact that she didn’t throw herself at me either meant she was immune to me or scared. It wasn’t the first; I’d seen how she reacted when I got close to her. But the other didn’t ring true one-hundred percent of the time, either. I couldn’t get a read on her, but I was confident my mom would. “I’m not leaving you alone. Plus, getting out of here will be a good diversion.”

  Her navy blues turned to a stormy grey, and it was evident she wasn’t pleased with my decision. And when the muscles in her jaw tensed, it was obvious she’d chosen not to fight. She planted her palm in the middle of my stomach and pushed her weight into me to get up. I chuckled at her display of defiance, which got me an evil glare in return. “Fine. But you can’t make me be happy about it.”

  I didn’t worry about her disposition. If she weren’t alive, her mood wouldn’t matter. Plus, Tricia Davis could talk the piss and vinegar out of even the most ornery. Nikki was no match, regardless of what a badass she believed herself to be.

  She sauntered across the room to her bag and proceeded to make a show out of changing. If she planned to drive me insane, she was well on her way to accomplishing that goal. I didn’t know what I’d expected to see when she let her sleep shorts fall to the ground—a thong maybe, or something lacy. Nikki had on cotton boy shorts that accentuated her firm ass and taun
ted me from a distance. My dick twitched under the denim, and I adjusted myself to keep from pitching a tent she’d see the moment she turned around.

  It didn’t take her long to shimmy into a pair of snug, denim leggings, but I nearly shot my load when she lifted the hem of her shirt. Every bit of skin she exposed was milky and flawless. My lips ached to kiss her curves and stroke her back. Her spine appeared decadent, and all I could focus on was tasting it as I licked my way from the dimples above her butt to the base of her neck where I’d dig my teeth into her shoulder. I could hear her soft moan in my mind as she leaned into me, my hand drifting down her hip bones and under the cotton to tease her clit.

  I shot off the bed like a man out of a cannon and headed toward the living room.

  Her laughter echoed down the hallway after me, torturing me with unobtainable ecstasy. No question, Nikki knew I wanted her, and she was fucking with me since she didn’t get her way. “Where are you going?” Her words were broken by giggles.

  She appeared a few minutes later, the picture of perfection. The girl knew how to work a room, and she did just that as she rocked her hips from side to side coming near me. With each step she took closer to the recliner I sat in, I lost a little more of my resolve. If she weren’t careful, I’d throw her ass over my shoulder, take her back to my room, tear her clothes off, and show her just how funny her seduction could be. And she would not only love every fucking minute of it, she would beg for more.

  I refused to entertain the idea. “You ready?”

  “Awe. Don’t be mad. I was just playing with you.”

  “Someday that’s going to get you in trouble with a man who takes advantage of your flirting.” My face was tense and my tone harsh.

  Her expression dropped, as did her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I was just having a little fun.” And her tone wrecked me.

  “Jesus. Don’t do that.” I stood and pulled her to my chest in a tight hug.

  She tilted her head and smiled brightly. I’d been suckered, again. This girl pushed every button I had, the good and the bad. Right now, she was toying with the one that would get her spanked. I shook my head and took her hand.

  Nikki walked toward my Harley while I locked the door. When she picked up the helmet she’d been wearing, she glanced back.

  “No bike today.”

  She appeared surprised and set down the helmet. “Are we walking?” Confusion was cute on her.

  “SUV.” I pointed toward the black Tahoe two spaces over. “My mom can’t stand to see me on a motorcycle. Plus, I’d hate to mess up your hair before you got there.” I winked, and she scoffed.

  Nikki met me on the sidewalk, and I led her to the passenger door. “If you have an SUV, why do you always ride the motorcycle?”

  “Chicks dig it.” I closed her inside and then rounded the front.

  When I got in, she said, “You’re insufferable.”

  “You’ve mentioned that once or twice.”

  The remainder of the ride was uneventful and quiet. Nikki didn’t say a word, not even to mouth the lyrics on the radio or try to talk me out of forcing her to go with me. If she had noticed the detour I took back to our neighborhood, she didn’t mention it. I had hoped to catch Chase at home, but when we went by his house, the driveway was empty. There was no telling where his ass had been for the last few days, but it was unlike him not to return my calls or texts.

  I found a parking place close to my parents’ building, which wasn’t far from Nikki’s. It wouldn’t surprise me if she asked to check on her mom before the day was over, but I wouldn’t offer. I didn’t want her anywhere near that stain, and I wished I could wash her clean of it altogether. She deserved better, although most young people around here did.

  Nikki’s chest rose when she took a deep breath, pushing her breasts forward. Her seatbelt still held her firmly in place, and I’d never been jealous of nylon, but in that moment, I absolutely was. That strap got to hold her in all the areas I craved.

  “Ready?” she asked as she pulled on the handle to open the door.

  Her hair blew in the wind, creating a frame around her jaw. The cold air pinkened the tip of her nose and gave her cheeks a rosy hue. She was stunning, and I began to wonder if introducing her to my parents would be a mistake. This was the kind of chick my mom would fall in love with. She would be thinking about weddings and grandbabies before lunch hit the table. I was in deep shit.

  I stopped myself from taking her hand when I met her on the sidewalk and didn’t allow my arm to slip around her shoulders to shield her from the weather. My mom didn’t need to witness displays of affection that weren’t backed by a committed relationship. I would never hear the end of it. I loved my mother, but her need to marry me off so she was certain I was properly taken care of wasn’t warranted. I’d done just fine on my own…I mean, despite that whole prison thing.

  Nikki followed me—silently I might add—to my parents’ door. After knocking, I heard my mom shout for us to come in. The door wasn’t locked—an issue I’d address when Nikki wasn’t within earshot—but as soon as I crossed the threshold, my mother came toward me with open arms. Her eyes shot over my shoulder to the beauty behind me, and even as she embraced me, I knew she’d set her sights on Nikki.

  “Mom, this is Nikki. Nikki, this is my mom, Tricia.”

  Once again, Nikki had transformed. There wasn’t a hard edge to her, and the smile reached her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you.” Her words were smooth like butter.

  My mom wasn’t going to let her get by with a handshake. She brought Nikki in for the same hug I’d received. “I had no idea Ryker was bringing company.” Her voice sang with elation.

  “I didn’t mean to intrude.” Nikki suddenly became shy and insecure.

  Mom waved her off. “Nonsense. I’m thrilled.” She locked arms with Nikki, and together, the two walked past me. “He never introduces us to his friends. I hope you like roast beef.” My mom never missed a beat or an opportunity to welcome anyone into her home. She didn’t have much, but she’d give anyone in need the shirt off her back or offer them a seat at her table.

  Nikki craned her neck over her shoulder, and her eyes went wide. She responded to my mom while staring at me. “I haven’t had a good home-cooked meal in ages, and I love roast.”

  Yep, she was a goner. Mom had Nikki’s number, and now, I’d get to sit in the living room with my dad and watch TV. He’d be engrossed in some football game, but I didn’t come here for sports. It was the only time I got with my parents, and I didn’t miss it. When I had been in prison, they’d come to see me every Sunday without fail, and as soon as I got out, I started showing up here.

  Dad glanced toward the kitchen to make sure he wouldn’t be overheard. When he was confident they were out of earshot, he leaned over the side of his recliner to where I sat on the couch and said, “She’s a looker, but son, she’s young.” He nearly fell out of the chair, trying to keep the conversation between us.

  I smiled and shook my head. “She’s nineteen, Dad, and yes, she’s stunning.” My lids drooped when I watched her laugh with my mom across the apartment, and I could only imagine the dopey grin I sported or the glazed look in my eyes.

  Throughout lunch, Nikki and my mom never stopped talking. My dad gave me that knowing glance more than once, and I just rolled my eyes. She might be perfect, and my parents might love her, but she wasn’t mine. Nevertheless, Nikki appeared as reluctant to leave as my mom was to let us go. When I finally pried them from each other’s grasp and got Nikki into the car, it was past dinnertime, and we should have just stayed. But groceries didn’t appear in the fridge and clothes didn’t wash themselves.

  * * *

  The room was pitch black when Nikki crawled under the covers. Not even the moon crept through the slats in the closed blinds. There was a storm coming, and the wind howled around the perimeter of the building. I’d always loved the sounds of violent rain and the forces of nature reminding the world that they controlled us, not the othe
r way around. Nikki, however, did not appear to find the same comfort in the deluge that I did.

  At first, I thought she might be cold after just getting out of the shower. She hadn’t dried her hair, and I didn’t keep my apartment all that warm—more like a meat locker—but even after a few minutes under the blankets, she still trembled like a leaf.

  Closing the distance between us, I brushed my fingers against hers. She nearly came undone when she flinched. I quickly retreated and propped myself up. Without any light, it was difficult to make out her facial features much less her expression, but I didn’t miss the way she jerked with hiccupping sobs.

  “What’s wrong, Nikki?” The concern in my voice was foreign, even to me.

  I couldn’t see more than her outline, but it wasn’t hard to discern the shake of her head. Still, she didn’t speak, and her entire body vibrated in what I could only assume was fear. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, turned on the flashlight, and pointed it toward the floor. It provided light that wasn’t blinding and enabled us to see each other. Although, I quickly figured out she didn’t want to be seen. Nikki buried her face into a pillow to hide.

  The sides of this woman appeared infinite—a surprise around every corner. In some ways, she was like a chameleon adapting to her surroundings, and others, she was nothing more than a frightened child afraid of things that went bump in the night. There were parts of her that were stronger than steel and some as delicate as a snowflake. Every bit of her light contradicted aspects of her dark. Where the yin and yang should have evened her out, it only added complexity to her never-ending puzzle that didn’t quite fit together.