Blaze
We pull off a distance from a cluster of run-down apartment buildings. It seems pretty much abandoned, but I doubt that’s the case at all. I’m sure these fuckers have eyes everywhere unless they’re too stupid to believe they’re untouchable. With the cartel, though, there’s really no telling.
Exterminator taps his ear, telling us all to use the comm system he handed out when we parked. We’re not supposed to spread too far away from each other, but it’s better safe than sorry to have a good way to communicate with each other. Nightmare leads the way, strapped down like he’s on a mission to shoot everything in sight. This is payback for him, even though the incident isn’t related to his last trip down south. To him, every ride here is a chance to get a little bit of himself back.
I follow along, doing whatever they tell me to. I’m no one’s bitch, but Ex heads up the Nomads, Ares is prez to his charter, and Nightmare is closer to both of them than I am. We have enough chiefs on this ride, I’ll just stick behind them and do what they need me to. They’ll be too focused on what’s ahead. Someone has to watch our back, and I’m that guy.
Exterminator’s gruff tone comes through my earpiece. “Heat signature’s picking up five bodies inside. There should be more, but I’m not seeing them.”
“I can scout ahead,” Nightmare begins to say when I hear something coming from the left.
“Something’s over here, nine o’clock,” I reply, and Ares steps to my side.
“The fuck?” he mutters.
Ex growls, “Blaze, east; Ares, south; Night north.” He orders, and I continue to stare in the direction of the noise. We collectively hold our breath, all peering in our specific directions. “Stay alert.”
He doesn’t need to say it; we’re already strung so tightly we may pull a damn muscle.
“Meow” comes from the direction of the noise and sweat breaks across my brow. “Meow,” is repeated, and we exhale with relief.
“Fucking cat,” I mutter as the building beside us explodes and crumbles of debris rain everywhere.
“Fuck!” Ex curses as we fall to the ground. “Too fucking close, Spider! Chill out with the fuckin’ drone,” he hisses into his comm as gunfire rings out. “You were supposed to hit the other building, motherfucker.”
I click off my safety, quickly glancing at my gun, and then prepare to shoot. It’s been a while since I killed someone; the club’s been drama-free for a bit. A scummy looking fucker comes running out using a whore as a shield. Without hesitation, I shoot through her, taking them both out. She may appear to be a shield, but you never know who’s an enemy, and I’m not taking any chances.
“One,” I count into the mic.
The other building explodes, making us all jolt.
Spider’s voice comes through. “Five.”
“Fucker,” I retort.
“All right, ladies,” Ares rumbles. “That leaves four.”
“They’re mine,” Nightmare hisses. I roll my eyes. He’s tripping if he thinks I’m not shooting what I see.
“You better shoot fast,” I say, and he casts a deathly glower. I blow him a kiss, knowing it’ll irritate him more.
Ex growls. “You’re acting like some spoiled brats. Just shoot them so we can get the fuck out of here. And Spider, pay attention to the other groups. We’ve got this.”
With a huff at his chastising, I scan my area. “I’m not seeing anything. You sure somebody else is here, and Spider didn’t take them all out?”
“They’re here, all right, hiding out like little bitches,” he growls in return.
I’d be a little more convinced if I had a heat signature reader like he does. Exterminator chin-lifts to my right. I’m sick of the suspense, so I make my way, low crawling in the direction he noted. I come upon a half wall and quickly pop my head up, expecting to be shot at, but to my surprise, there’s no rat-tat-tat of ammunition flying. This time I raise up a bit slower and peer around, looking for whatever he’s picking up. I don’t see shit.
Ex stares crazily and points off to my left a bit.
I glance that way, but there’s still nothing. I shrug, casting him a look that tells him he’s lost his fucking mind.
He returns my regard with an angry point directed toward the ground.
I haven’t the slightest fucking clue what he means, so I hop over the wall completely, and as I land, there’s a motherfucker waiting for me on the opposite side on the ground. It all happens so quickly. I don’t have a chance to process much of anything; I just react. I think the dude’s just as shocked to see me land beside him. He lunges, grabbing for me.
On reflex, I put my gun to the middle of his forehead and fire. Blood sprays all over the place, including my face. He collapses, lifeless, and no longer a silent threat.
Taking a breath, a smile overtakes my face that I didn’t die. I quietly grumble into the comm. “Two.”
Night’s dejected voice comments, “Fuck you.”
“You’ll get one, lil buddy, don’t worry,” I reply sarcastically, knowing it’ll chafe his ass.
I sit in place, catching my breath when gunshots ring out behind me. I don’t want to chance my head getting blown off by looking over the wall, but I have to, in case my brothers need me.
Ares and Ex are crouched on the ground gawking at Nightmare. He’s standing in the open, releasing bullet after bullet, looking more like some kind of angry Italian mobster in a shoot-out.
“The fuck’s he shooting at?” I ask, flabbergasted, and they both reply with a confused shrug.
Ares mutters, “Ex nodded over that way, and Night went a little loose.”
“Jesus,” I murmur as a grimy cartel thug goes running. I guess he was the one hiding that Ex had been attempting to point out.
Nightmare roars and charges after him. He takes aim and fires, and the dude falls like a sack of potatoes. Night got him square in the back of the head.
Ares grumbles, “Sorriest bunch of cartel fuck faces I’ve ever seen.” We easily agree.
Out of nowhere, two thugs rush Nightmare, catching him off guard and taking him to the ground. The big brute hits the floor, swinging.
“Should we assist or let ‘em sort it out?” I ask, not sure if Night would beat our asses next for trying to help a brother out.
There’s a shrilling cry of pain as Nightmare snaps one of the guy's bones like a toothpick. Ex shakes his head. “Nah, he’s got it.”
Spider comes over the earpiece. “I’m not seeing anyone else in the area. I think you guys cleared it, aside from whoever Nightmare is making squeal like a starving pig.”
Ares gets to his feet. “Don’t know if I should be offended or not, didn’t even get a hit in.” He sounds like a kid who lost out on the ice cream truck. While I’m over here, dirty and covered in someone else’s blood.
Two shots garner our attention as Nightmare’s back to standing and sinks the bullets in one of the guys on the ground. “We need this one to question?” he asks, not even winded from the scuffle.
Ex shakes his head. “Nah, we’re just cleaning house at this cell. The few important guys should be at another location if they’re here at all.”
Night lets two more shots fly free into the sobbing mess of a man curled at his feet.
“Let’s get the fuck outta here. I need a shower.” I huff.
“Three,” Nightmare retorts, and I send him a look that says, ‘fuck off.’
“Agreed, let’s ride,” Exterminator confirms, and we make our way back to the bikes.
This job went exactly the way I like them to. I got a little dirty but didn’t get a scratch on me. Now, I can finally get back to Amelia and figure out what the fuck to do with her. Thank God she hasn’t the faintest clue of what a “job” entails; the bitch would fall out if she did.
***
“Brother.” Viking gestures for me to enter his office. He’s bruised up, took a bullet to the shoulder. Thankfully, that was all he brought back from our little road trip down south.
“‘Sup, man?” I ask, chin-lifting to Princess. She’s perched on his lap like a protective chihuahua. She about lost her shit, seeing Vike hurt. She’s been glued to him since we arrived home.
“P took care of our principal problem while we were gone.”
“That so?” My brow raises. I haven’t even seen Amelia yet. We got back and had to patch the brothers up, along with drink a few beers. I know Princess would’ve looked out for Amelia, so I’m taking a bit of time to decompress before speaking with her. “Want to clue me in?”
He nods and gestures for me to come closer. He turns the open laptop around so I can see the screen. There’s a video paused. I glance at them both. His expression’s blank, but Princess’s is serious. It looks like she’s prepared for a fight, and I haven’t the slightest idea why that’d be unless she hurt the woman in my room.
“The fuck is this?” I grow weary, worry clouding my mind over Amelia Stone.
“Hit play,” he orders.
Releasing a sigh, I do as he’s instructed. Female moans immediately fill the office, and I meet his stare again, confused. He nods to the computer, and I flick my gaze low, watching the screen. It’s far out, the camera moving closer, slowly, so only sound comes through at first. I begin to notice something extremely familiar; it takes a second for it to register, though. As the images come into focus, it looks more and more like my room here in the clubhouse.
“Just relax and feel,” Princess’s voice comes over the video, then more breathy moans follow.
“Jesus,” I mutter. “P?” I ask, wondering if it really is her that I’m hearing.
“Keep watching,” she replies. I glance to my brother again, not wanting him to fucking shoot my ass if I see his ol’ lady fucking someone. I’ve seen them together many times, but this shit is in my own room.
“It’s all good,” he grumbles, and my eyes move to the laptop again.
The video’s a bit wobbly as whoever’s behind it walks past my bed. There’s the rope extending through the room I’d installed before I left and random shit thrown about. The moaning and shower spray gets louder as the person recording approaches my bathroom. They stop at the doorway, and then the video zooms in.
My mouth drops open.
Princess and Amelia are both naked in the shower, but she doesn’t look like the stuck-up principal I’ve grown used to. This woman has her head thrown back, her face twisted with bliss. Princess fingers her while kissing over her breasts then moves lower. When she leans into the apex of her thighs, my eyes shoot to P’s.
“The fuck?” I growl. “And why isn’t she tied up? She could’ve escaped with all of us gone.”
She shakes her head. “B had my back.”
“Bethany was the one recording?”
Princess nods, and I glower at her ol’ man. This shit is pretty fucked as I knew absolutely nothing about it. “I don’t have to tell you to check your ol’ lady,” I begin, and Viking shakes his head.
“She had my permission,” he admits, and my mouth falls open again, caught off guard.
“The fuck, Vike?”
He shrugs, wincing at the movement in his wounded shoulder. “Something had to be done with her; she’s been here for a week already.”
“It was motherfuckin’ club business. We voted that I’d handle it.”
Princess speaks up, although it’s not her place when we’re discussing club business. “Blaze, please just hear me out.”
My brow’s so high, it’s got to be in my hairline at this point. I’m fucking pissed at her. I trusted her. If she were anyone else, I’d grab her and toss her outside on her ass, but Viking wouldn’t stand for it. Besides, she’s like a goddamn sister…I think that’s why this bothers me so much in the first place.
She continues by saying, “You like her.”
I start to argue, but she holds up her hand. I shoot a testy glance at Vike before meeting her eyes again.
“You do. You’re being patient with her and coming to me for advice.”
I glare. “Yeah, in fucking confidence!”
Viking interrupts. “Nothing’s fucking confidential when it comes to my woman and my club.”
I respond with a furious growl. My hands rake in my hair, clawing at my scalp. This is bullshit.
Princess’s soft voice carries on. “You needed my help. You just didn’t know how you needed it. I have a video now to hold as collateral. She can’t mess with the Oath Keepers anymore, or we’ll make it public, and she’ll tank her career. You told me you didn’t want to hurt her…well, now you won’t have to.”
“Bullshit! This will ruin her; I may as well slit her fucking throat.”
Viking shrugs. “If that’s what you think, but my Cinderella came up with a solution to our problems. I told her to do it so we could be done with this fucking woman. We have what we need, so now you can do what you want with the bitch. Fuck her, muzzle her, shoot her…I don’t care. Problem solved in my book.”
“And why do I need to do jack shit anymore? I had a job to do, or at least I thought so. I’m guessing you’ll have all the ol’ ladies take care of our shit now?”
He growls glaring. “Be careful what the fuck comes out your mouth next. And if they can take care of something that doesn’t put them in any kind of danger, then fuckin’ right, I’ll let ‘em handle it.”
“Argh!” I explode, beyond furious. “Keep your woman out of my shit!” I yell.
“I didn’t put her there. You did, motherfucker!” he roars back, and his words hit home. He’s right, I’m the one who asked if I could seek her out. I never asked her to do this exactly, but I asked for her help. I never would’ve been okay with the video, and she should’ve talked it over with me…but Viking’s right. That fact pisses me the fuck off, too.
I storm out, heading for the bar and as much whiskey as I can guzzle. I need to think, damn it. I can’t believe this; I can still hear the moaning in my mind and see that shower image. It was hot as fuck. I don’t know what I’m angrier over—the video or the fact that Princess was able to get Amelia to look like that, and I wasn’t.
Chapter 17
The stool beside me moves, a big body filling the empty space. I’d know him anywhere; we’ve been around each other for far too long. He grunts, but I ignore it.
“What now?” he eventually mutters.
“You knew what Princess and Bethany were up to?” I ask, already aware of the answer.
He grunts again, in admission.
“You watch ‘em?” The thought spikes a fiery bout of jealousy through my veins.
Torch shakes his head. “Nope. I stood outside your door in case the bitch made a run for it.”
“You’d have killed her,” I state, knowing him better than most.
He sighs. “Probably. Fuck, I don’t know. Depends on if she’d have fought me.”
I nod. “She would’ve. She’s a feisty bitch.”
He taps the bar top, gesturing for a drink. “I figure that’s why she’s got you so twisted up. Bitch is a nutcase.”
Releasing a breath, my shoulders drop. “Fuck if I know, man. At this point, I don’t have the faintest idea of what to do with her.”
“Maybe it’s time you fucked her.”
“In the past, I’d have agreed with you, but now, I’m not so sure. Maybe she likes women” I rationalize, and he snorts.
“You two eye fucked each other from the first time you saw one another. Doubt she likes pussy that much.” He shrugs, and I finally look over.
“You know, Torch, I think you may be right.”
“I’m always right,” he grumbles.
I ignore it and throw back the liquor that’d been placed in front of me. Princess has already got the leverage we need, so I don’t have to worry about hurting Amelia anymore. I suppose that’s true unless she gets brave and opens her mouth regardless of the video.
“You’re too worried about what the fuck she thinks, I can see it all over you. Vike put you in charge to
get this handled cause you don’t give two fucks what anyone has to say. Now you’ve gone and let her weasel her way under your skin. You’re upset about Princess, but I think you’re damn lucky Bethany hasn’t taken it into her own hands. That’s her kid the principal’s fuckin’ with. I know damn well B wouldn’t have gone with a sex tape; she’d have carved a chunk out of her.”
I release a tense breath and agree with him. You know Bethany has to be crazy to be Nightmare’s ol’ lady. That dude is fucked in the head. I was close to him in Mexico when he went apeshit for revenge. Thank fuck we weren’t storming a compound or anything; the fucker may not have made it back with his diva antics. Knowing Bethany, if we ever return without her ol’ man, she’ll poke holes in all of us.
“I swear these bitches around here are fuckin’ nuts,” I comment, and he murmurs his approval.
Could that be why she intrigues me so much? Her mouthy little ass with her nose stuck so far up in the air that it’s amazing she doesn’t have a kink in her neck…I find it sexy and a challenge. I want to bend her to fit me and to make her want me. I don’t know why the fuck I care so much to make it happen, either.
“The ol’ ladies took care of the shit work. You’re not the bad guy anymore.”
With a huff, I chuckle and argue. “I’ll always be the bad guy in her eyes.”
He tosses back his drink and meets my irritated stare. “Yeah, but do you fucking care? Stop giving a fuck and take what you want.”
That gets me to shut up. He has a point. I don’t give a flying fuck if she thinks I’m a bad guy; I am one, after all. I give a shit that she knows I won’t hurt her, that I’m the one who can protect her and care for her.
Fuck…did I really just think of the words “care for her?” Jesus Christ.
“She even aware you’re back yet?”
I shake my head.
He mutters, “Pussy.”
“Fuck off. I never see you with a woman.”
“You know Flame. Why the fuck would I want to chance getting tangled up with another psycho bitch? One in my life is all I’ll ever need.”
“She’s locked up, brother.”
“I know. I check that shit all the time just to make sure.”
Heathen: Oath Keepers MC Page 15