by A. J. Macey
Adversary
Book 2 of The Aces Series
A.J. Macey
Blurb:
Damsel in distress? Not anymore.
Hey b*tches, me again- Kiera, a.k.a The Cat. You remember those f*cking bastards over in the Alloy Kings MC?
No? Well, let me give you a little recap.
I was going about, minding my own damned business, when the bastards decided to hit The Aces MC—my newest allies—where it hurt the most. Some sh*t went down, and now here we are facing a long, hard battle. Yes, that innuendo was totally intended. Anyway! With my four sexy as f*ck men at my back, we not only have the other motorcycle gang to deal with but now my past and all the hell that comes with it has decided to come to play. Fun, right? Wrong. We’re officially starting our move against two of my most hated enemies and their merry mob of minions. Can we stick together long enough to handle three major players, or will we crumble under the pressure?
But I’m not the thief who became famous at 15 years old and survived the mob’s hell in my past just to lay down and let us fall apart when the going gets tough.
Our adversaries won’t know what hit them.
I’m The Cat, and soon enough, they’ll learn that I’m not alone.
Warning:
The Aces Series is a WhyChoose/Reverse Harem trilogy featuring MFMMM meaning the female main character doesn't have to choose between her love interests. Please note, future books will contain M/M contact.
This book contains references involving PTSD, sexual assault recollections, abuse, and other themes that some readers may find triggering.
Contents
Adversary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Enemy
Chapter 1
Acknowledgments
Also by A.J. Macey
About the Author
Copyright 2019 by A.J. Macey
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover: Jodielocks Designs
Editing: Ms. Correct-All’s Editing and Proofing Services
Formatting: Inked Imagination Author Services
Dedicated to:
My daughter, Evelyn Rose.
Go for your dreams.
Adversary
Book 2 of The Aces Series
By A.J. Macey
Chapter 1
May 11th
Saturday Midday
Kiera
Three days. It had been three days since the Alloy Kings and fucking Jace Corden stormed The Aces compound. Three days that I felt like I had been ran over by a semi-truck and wanted nothing more than to get my hands on those bastards so I could shove them out the back of a moving Humvee and see how they felt.
They definitely won’t feel like a badass if I tied their hands behind their backs beforehand and they landed on their fucking faces, that’s for sure.
Familiar scents surrounded me, the pleasant burn of the liquor I sipped flowing through my chest. Cheryl’s permed curls flounced as she restocked the bar in preparation for the Aces’ usual Friday night party. The glass shelves looked half empty as she started to line up more bottles from the box at her feet. Chase was off fluttering about with the guys doing who knows what while I had been parked here at the bar. They had demanded I take the last couple days off to rest and recover, especially after nearly passing out from a wave of pain that had washed over me when I’d accidentally bumped my bruised leg on the edge of something during my initial inspection of the compound’s security. As much as I hated to admit they were right, I was feeling a bit better.
A few minutes after finishing my glass, Garrett’s clenched jaw appeared at the bar next to me. He sank onto the stool immediately to my right before nearly chugging the entire glass that Cheryl set down in front of him. I scanned my asshole stepbrother’s face. Okay, so he isn’t completely an asshole, but I’d never admit that to him. There was a tightness around his mouth and deep purple smudges under his emerald eyes. The stress of everything that had happened last week was finally taking its toll on him. It was rare to see him worn down, and I’d be surprised if no one else noticed it.
“What?” he snarked, narrowing his eyes on me. “Why are you staring at me like that, Kitten?” My heart squeezed at the nickname, but on the outside, I just rolled my eyes.
“You look like shit,” I chastised. “I’m not the only one who should have taken an easy day. You can’t run on empty forever.” He grumbled into the glass, taking another sip. I sighed, knowing that everything that had happened was only the beginning. While I was hyped and, to be honest, relieved we were about to start the first step against Frankie, a pinprick of worry wormed its way into my chest. This is why I don’t like getting close to people, too many chances to get hurt. I turned toward Garrett, my fingers brushing his jean covered thigh as I waited for him to look at me.
“I’m serious, Garrett. This is going to get bad; you know Frankie and his mob of minions as well as I do.” I swallowed the uncomfortable lump that had formed in my throat. Stupid emotions. “I can’t stand by and watch anything happen to you,” I whispered. His brow arched in surprise, knowing me well enough to know I didn’t talk about this kind of shit. We didn’t talk for a few tense moments, his eyes darting around my face as if memorizing every nuance despite half my face being covered in mottled, ugly as fuck blue and purple bruises.
“Kitten,” he rasped out, thick with emotion, his callused thumb tracing the side of my neck. “You would completely, utterly, and brutally destroy anyone who came after me or one of the others. You don’t let anyone fuck with what’s yours, remember?” He smirked, my stomach squeezing at his sweet sentiment, while his words strengthened my resolve.
He’s right. You’re not some bitch who will let anyone walk over you, I told myself.
His smirk grew to a tiny smile. “There’s my feisty Kiera.”
“You two are so cute!” Chase’s cheerful exclamation came from the other side of the empty bar before he practically skipped over to us. “Hi, Kittycat.” He hummed the greeting happily before kissing my undamaged cheek. Clapping Garrett on the shoulder, he angled slightly to face Brooks and Nate as they made their way to us trailed by Stone.
“Hey, Baby.” Brooks gave me a playboy smile before grabbing his waiting glass of liquor from the bar, his muscled torso warming my back. I found myself unconsciously leaning into him, his tanned arm wrapping around my shoulders to hold me against him fully. “We’re actually going to be heading out for a quick ride here shortly,” Brooks informed me. My brow furrowed, suspicion growing at the way the guys were glancing at everything but me.
“Where are you going?” I questioned, my words littered with mistrust.
“Just to a drop,” Nate explained. His bushy beard twitched ever so slightly like it always did when he was hiding something.
“What are you doing at said drop?” I pulled away from Brooks, giving everyone a raised brow, but no one answered. Irritation sparked within my veins, thrumming in time to my heart rate. “You’re moving against the Alloy Kings, aren’t you? Without me,” I snapped. Nate at least had the courtesy to grimace at their slight
.
“You’re too injured to go jack one of their shipments,” Stone added, his quiet words matching mine in irritation, but I didn’t let it go.
“I’m a thief,” I growled, “that’s my entire career. You want someone who knows the best way to steal a shipment so you guys don’t end up shot or worse?” I shot them each an expectant look, but Chase was the only one who was nodding in agreement. “That’s literally what I do best. I can fucking handle being on a bike for a ride and getting into wherever they’re keeping their shit. It’s just some bruises, not like I fucking lost my leg or anything.”
“It’s not safe,” Garrett barked harshly.
Glaring at him, I shifted to standing before pushing through the blockade they had created around me. Anger slowly started to grow into rage as that always present flame of fury in my chest flared. If they won’t let me go with, I’ll fucking do it myself.
“Wait,” Brooks called out. I whirled back around to face them, and he sighed, rubbing his eyes in resignation as Garrett and Stone glared at him. “She’s right.” Brooks was met with immediate opposition and loud complaints from his fellow officers.
“Can you handle it?” Nate asked. I nodded sharply, too hot-tempered to say anything without it turning into yelling. “I agree then, there’s no reason to not have her come if she can do it.”
“Of course I can do it,” I snapped. “I’m the fucking Cat. No injuries have ever stopped me from doing a job before, and they won’t now. I’m going on this ride.”
“Such a brat,” Stone muttered, mainly to himself. Garrett glanced around at everyone, his and Stone’s disagreement clear, but Brooks had put his foot down, and they weren’t going to fight with their president in front of everyone.
“She’s going, so you two suck it up,” Brooks ground out. “Besides, I don’t think any of us could stop her from coming with us regardless.”
I smirked. That’s very true. Chase was clapping excitedly, his steel eyes lit with the upcoming task.
“I get to go too. Right, Kittycat? Please,” he pleaded in a soft whine, before pouting his luscious bottom lip. I nodded, unable to stop my smile from spreading. “Yay!” He did a little victory dance, making Nate and Brooks chuckle. Stone sighed as Garrett rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide his minute smile at my assassin’s antics.
After a quick run through from Brooks on where we were headed and what their and Chase’s contacts said we should find, we were on the road traveling North. The practically abandoned warehouse was surrounded by a worn-down neighborhood and janky looking houses with boarded up windows. We came to a stop approximately a mile away from the warehouse until I could get a read on the situation. There were a few teenagers watching us with curious but wary expressions in one of the yards. Perfect. Hopping off my bike, I went over to them.
“Hey,” I called, and their suspicious gazes moved from the other guys to me. “You know anything about that warehouse?” I tilted my head in the direction of the large metal building.
“What you gonna give us for our answers?” The boy who looked about 17 or 18 sized me up, his arm going out to stop one of his two friends from talking. I smirked, my hand dipping into my pocket to remove a large wad of hundred-dollar bills. Their shocked expressions made me chuckle on the inside. While the several thousand dollars in my hand wasn’t much to me, it could mean the world to them, and I wasn’t going to pry for information without paying them for it. Remember, people, I don’t give away shit for free and neither should you.
“I’ll give you another five grand if I find out your information is solid,” I bargained. The head one nodded, closing the distance between us and reaching out, but I yanked the money away, giving him my best glare. “I’ll throw another wad if you keep what we talked about here, as well as my friends and me, quiet. If I find out you snitched,” I said as I shrugged, “I’m sure you know how the phrase goes.”
“Deal,” he agreed readily, his voice gravelly. I handed over the cash and listened, memorizing every detail that the three teenagers relayed. I told him we’d be back in a while, and if they weren’t out here, then where to find the money I’d stash for him and his friends.
When I headed back to the guys, they were all watching me with a variety of facial expressions. Chase’s was filled with adoration, his eyes melting me from the inside. Stone looked at me like he’d never seen me before while Garrett’s gaze darted between the kids and me, probably worried they would try to rob me or some other type of shit. Nate gave me a thumbs up, and finally, Brooks appeared surprised.
“What was that?” the MC President questioned quietly. He didn’t sound mad, just confused. Flashing him a smug smile, I pulled out my face guard and other gear.
“Best way to know the area,” I explained, my hat going over my hair before securing my face guard, “is to ask the locals. He told me every little thing about that place.” Finishing up securing my bag to my leg, I started warming up my stiff muscles to jog all the way to the building. “I’m going to go scout; I’ll send you a message when it’s all clear.”
“You’re not going in there alone,” Garrett argued. Rolling my eyes, I checked my Glock before responding.
“If I don’t send a signal in twenty minutes, come in after me guns blazing or whatever it is you motorcycle gangs do,” I teased, unable to hold back my chuckle. Without waiting for further banter or protests, I took off.
Brooks
We waited, some more impatient than others, after Kiera had darted around the worn-down houses toward the building. We were too far for me to get a good look at any details around the building where she was headed. Garrett was the most impatient while Nate and Chase were the most lax. Stone was as still as his namesake, but the small twitches in his muscles betrayed the anxiety he must have been feeling. I tried to focus on anything else, but mostly I found my attention glued to the building as I flipped my phone over and over in my hand in an attempt to calm my nerves. We were nearing the twenty minute mark, when our phones buzzed, the screen flashing Kiera’s ‘all clear’ code. Relief flooded me as we rode to the door of the building. Kiera was waiting, the door propped open, with her leaning against the door frame. Her face guard was pulled down and bunched around her neck as she smirked at us.
“You’re going to want to see this.” Her mossy green eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and excitement. Approaching cautiously, I entered the building first, and when I spied what she was talking about, my jaw dropped.
Weapons.
Lots and lots of weapons.
“I thought it was just supposed to be a drug drop.” Nate sounded as astonished as I felt. Chase knelt and held up a crate for us to see.
“Still a drug drop,” he mumbled, too distracted by the crates of weapons to give us any more information than that. Nate shook himself out of his stupor and left the open space to pull the SUV closer to load up the Alloy Kings’ merchandise.
“Were there no guards?” Garrett was glancing around, eyes narrowed when he didn’t see any. Kiera chuckled, hitching her thumb over her shoulder toward a door.
“They’re in there knocked out,” she admitted smugly. “There were only two out here and one at the back.” Garrett opened his mouth to snap, but she cut him off. “Don’t even fucking lecture me right now. We got the goods, and now we can head back.” He ground his teeth but didn’t argue.
We spent the next ten minutes quickly loading up the SUV to leave our rival MC with nothing but The Cat’s signature white card. Kiera dropped the other two wads of cash she’d promised the kids of the neighborhood, with another tiny threat that if they told anyone about us she’d be back. The atmosphere around us as we headed back to the compound was supercharged, the thrill of winning a battle without any damage pumping us up.
The score between them and us was now tied.
May 12th
Sunday Afternoon
Kiera
The sun was shining, and a light breeze blew through the open sliding doors as I
poured myself a drink. I had spent the last several hours lying in the sun like a cat soaking up the heat and Vitamin D on one of the lounge chairs, and now I was parched. The boys were sitting around watching something on the TV that I wasn’t paying attention to, my focus on relaxing after our score last night. Brooks and Stone had just gotten back from the compound only a few minutes earlier after stashing the weapons we snatched from the Alloy Kings until we could take it to my vaults at one of my stash holders, a.k.a. The Bank. The ringing of the doorbell instantly put me on edge, and when I checked the front door camera on my cell, it wasn’t anyone I recognized.
“Who is it, Kittycat?” Chase’s question was curious, and while it still held its cheerful note, it was laced with hesitation.
“Hide in the security room,” I commanded, my next words cutting Garrett off. “You can watch everything from there, but I don’t know who it is, and I don’t want to give anyone any information.” He wanted to argue, I could see it in his green irises, but Stone practically dragged him into the main floor security room that was behind a hidden panel in the wall. Making sure there wasn’t anything to give away anyone else was here, I silenced my worries and answered the door.