“Whatever suits you. Any friend of Clutch’s is a friend of mine.”
“Good job, boys,” Data murmured to them softly. “Give it a couple more rounds then start urgin’ the locals out.”
“This is really gonna work,” Trucker said to himself.
“Maybe. It’s not over yet.” Data kept his eyes on the screens, watching Redding for any indication the man smelled a trap. So far, so good. He either didn’t suspect anything or was damned good at hiding it.
Three beers later and Pops started giving more and more whiskey to Levi. The man had loosened up and was now playing pool with Clutch. The prospect was good at his roll, winning one or two games before letting Levi beat him in several. There had been a couple hundred dollars on the table, and Levi was elated to have won.
“I haven’t had this much fun in years,” he confessed to Clutch. “Gonna haveta go bar hoppin’ more often.” His words were starting to slur, but he was still walking straight. It took three more beers and several more shots of whisky to remedy that, but it was definitely working. Which was when Pops brought out the moonshine.
“Here.” Clutch handed Levi a shot of the clear liquid. “Peach moonshine, courtesy of the best moonshiner in Appalachia.”
And so it went. Trucker watched in silence well into the night. The wind howled and everyone left the bar but the Bones crew and Levi Redding. The man who’d nearly killed Helen got drunker and drunker until he could barely stand. Still, they gave him more to drink. Clutch played his part better than anyone could have hoped, being the guy’s best friend, all the while getting him closer and closer to the time the man would simply be unable to move. When he couldn’t hold the glass himself, someone helped him. He drank willingly, never once trying to reject the glass held to his lips.
Finally, when he lost the ability to swallow and the liquid simply dribbled from his mouth down his chin, it was time to take him home. Clutch and Cain took on that responsibility. The snow was in full force now, blowing and drifting everywhere. By the time they got him back to the little farmhouse, the temperature was beginning to plunge, and the wind was simply roaring. Levi hadn’t moved a muscle.
They were careful as they took Levi in the house. Stripping off his coat, they laid him on the floor. They made up the couch to look like he’d started there but had stumbled out of bed -- possibly to go to the bathroom -- and simply passed out on the floor. There was a mostly empty bottle of Woodford Reserve and a glass beside him just out of reach. Cain opened the door, and the wait was on.
They took shifts, two at a time. They all dressed in arctic gear so, while it wasn’t the warmest environment imaginable, they were at least semi-comfortable. While one pair sat vigil in the house with Redding, the other four were holed up in the RV, watching the house. More than once Redding stirred. When he did, someone would give him a glass of whisky to warm him up. He always took it eagerly, even when he began shivering uncontrollably.
As the temperature dropped, Redding became more and more distressed, but couldn’t quite rouse himself. Whenever he managed, a glass of whisky was shoved into his hand or to his lips. Once he stopped shivering, it was only a matter of time.
“Keep a close watch on him.” Mama had entered Data’s command center and helped herself to a mic and headphones. “You have to make sure he’s dead before you leave. We don’t need no surprises.”
Another hour, and the man wasn’t moving at all. His skin had gone waxy pale, and his lips had a bluish tinge to them. Clutch was on watch with Cain. Levi hadn’t moved in some time. Hadn’t reached for his glass or even mumbled drunkenly.
“You got a mirror handy?” Mama asked softly.
“You told me to have one, didn’t you?” Cain pulled a small pocket mirror from his cargo pants and held it up to Redding’s lips and nose. No steam appeared on the surface. No breath to fog the mirror. “He’s officially out,” Cain reported.
“Good,” Data said. “I confirmed via the good Mr. Redding’s email that he has this cabin rented for the rest of the month. Everything is paid in full, and there are instructions to not disturb. Fortunately, that seems to be the arrangement he had in place already.”
“We’ve got a camera in place,” Cain said. “You’ll have twenty-four/seven monitoring for up to sixty days, Data. Twice what you need.”
“Why not just let it go?” Clutch asked, clearly not understanding why they were going to so much trouble.
“Good question,” Trucker agreed. “Why, indeed?”
“Because,” Mama supplied, “just because the man seems to be dead, he can still be revived. You did this very rapidly. By doing so, you could have possibly put the brain into a hibernation-like state. If he’s found by the right paramedic with the right medical control, they’ll bring him to the hospital and attempt to revive him with warm fluids and such. It’s even possible they could revive him, if they find him quick enough, and he could be perfectly fine. We want to make sure the bastard is good and dead. Completely frozen, as it were.”
“So we leave him here.” Cain stood. They’d positioned him out of direct line of sight from the door. Even if the door was open, no one could see him unless they came looking for him. Given the remoteness of the cabin and his arrangement with the owner, the chances of that were slim to none.
“Hopefully, all we’ll need is a couple of days. If he makes it through this cold snap with no one finding him, his fate should be sealed. I just like to give it a little extra time. Decay or wild animals would definitely help the situation.”
“Or if he freezes solid.” Trucker muttered.
“Or if he freezes solid.” Mama’s conformation was all Cain needed.
“OK, everyone. Wrap it up. Cover our tracks and let’s get the hell out of here.”
Chapter Eight
One month later…
“Redding’s been found,” Cain whispered to Trucker. “Disemboweled and his face half-eaten.”
“Coyotes?”
“Looks that way.”
“What’re the cops saying?” This was the day Trucker had both anticipated and dreaded. If they’d done their job right, this would all go away quietly. If not, they were going to have to do some serious working of the system.
Cain shrugged. “Drunk. Passed out at the wrong time. So far, everything is pointing to a tragic accident.”
“You think she’s safe?” No matter what, Trucker absolutely would not take a chance with Helen’s life. If there were more people involved in this, he wanted them hunted down and disposed of sooner rather than later.
“Data has scoured every place he knows. There seem to be several people looking for Redding but no one is taking over his clients. Until today, the consensus was that he’d skipped town with the money.” Cain clapped Trucker on the shoulder. “I think the danger to her’s past.”
“Which leaves El Diablo. We lettin’ him off the hook?”
“Absolutely not.” Cain answered the question without hesitation. “It’s time that man was dealt with. He’s hanging over us like a specter. Every time I think he’s forgotten about us, he rears his ugly head.”
“He’s not going to let his daughter go. As long as she’s with us, El Diablo will always be around, and it’s not like she and Sword are going anywhere.”
“No. So we’ve got to figure out what to do about him. Now.”
“I hear you, brother.”
“Now, go let your woman know the news. It’s time she gives the little princess a name.”
Trucker grinned. “Agreed.”
He took the stairs two at a time. It was naptime for the princess, and he wanted to seduce her mother. Mama had given her the OK for sex, and Trucker was anxious to coax Helen into his bed. Once he did that, she’d start really thinking of them as a permanent couple.
As he opened the door to their suite, Trucker knew something was off. Not wrong, necessarily, but… different. He shut and locked the door, taking his time looking around the large room. A light splash came from the
bathroom, and he followed the sound.
“I thought you’d never get here,” Helen purred.
She relaxed in the big garden tub. The lights were dimmed, and aromatherapy candles were lit at various spots in the bathroom. Bubbles surrounded her as she lay letting the jets massage her body. The water churned with their efforts, and the bubbles lazily fizzed over her skin. All that rich auburn hair was piled on top of her head to keep it out of the water. The long line of her neck beckoned him to kiss and lick. Before he realized it, Trucker had taken a couple of steps forward.
“Holy fuck,” he managed. He’d certainly seen her naked. Hell, she’d blown him in the shower more than once since that first time. But this… this was something different.
“I heard the news about Levi,” Helen said softly. “Does everything seem to be going the way you wanted?”
He nodded. “Looks that way. As far as anyone is saying, Levi died of exposure related to alcohol intoxication. Data is keeping his ears open, but it looks like he and his partner were the only two in this particular scheme. If anyone else shows up or if the cops decide to take a closer look at the timeline leading up to Redding’s death, we’ll deal with it.”
She stretched before standing. The scent of rose and lavender wafted from the water as she stood. Trucker couldn’t help moving closer to inhale, wondering if her skin smelled the same.
“I know you will.” Helen flashed him a grateful smile. “I can’t remember if I said it before I was so nervous, but thank you. For everything. For saving my life and the life of my daughter. For taking me in and treating me like family and changing dirty diapers in the middle of the night.” She stepped out of the tub, snagging a towel to wipe over her body as she walked toward him. Her hips swayed gently with every step. When she was close enough to touch him, Helen dropped the towel and laid her palm flat on his chest. Trucker felt it like a brand. “I know I have no right to stake any kind of claim on you, Trucker. But I want to.” Helen looked up into his eyes. Her own eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Trucker couldn’t breathe. He’d halfway expected her to cut ties with him after they killed Redding, but she’d stayed. She was here. With him. Asking to stay.
“What are you sayin’, baby? And be careful. I will hold you to anything you fuckin’ say.”
She gave him a small smile. “I’m saying I’d like to give us a chance at a life together. That is, if you want to.” When he opened his mouth to answer, she stopped him with fingers to his lips. “Before you say anything, you need to understand I’m talking about being faithful to each other. I have no idea how you bikers treat relationships, but I can’t tolerate cheating.”
Trucker chuckled. “Honey, that’s the last thing you’ve got to worry about. Worry about me smothering you with protection. Two girls to take care of could drive a man crazy.” He dipped his head to catch her lips with hers. “You take me on, baby, I’m all yours.”
“Good.” Helen gave him a dazzling smile. “Because I want you, Trucker. You’re the man for me.”
He picked her up, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her neck. For long moments, he just held her damp, naked body against his as tightly as he could. It always felt right when she was in his arms, but now more than ever. She was giving herself to him, and Trucker intended to hang on to her with both hands.
Somehow, he managed to get her dried before taking her to bed. Once he got into the thing with her, he didn’t intend to leave it for several hours. Which brought up a pressing question.
“Where’s the baby?”
“Mama,” she breathed as she threaded her fingers through his hair and forced him to press his mouth back to hers. She was just as aggressive as he was, though she surrendered when he pushed. Helen seemed to know just what to do to drive him crazy. Just when he thought he was getting himself under control, she’d do something interesting with her tongue or squeeze his ass so that her nails dug in through his clothes, and Trucker was lost once again.
“Good. Gonna fuck you all Goddamned night, woman.”
“Not if I fuck you first.”
His chuckle was more than a little strained as he pressed her down into the mattress. Blanketing her body with his, Trucker relished the exquisite touch of her soft, soft skin against his. There was no way to control the thrust of his hips as he ground his cock against her through his jeans.
Helen clawed until she got his shirt off, then fumbled with the button to his jeans. She was growing increasingly frantic. So was he.
“Get my Goddamned pants down!” His voice was a growl, but his hands shook where one gripped her hip. The other held his weight off her so she could free his cock.
“Need you inside me,” she whimpered. “Please, Trucker!”
“Fuck!”
Trucker couldn’t think past the next few seconds. All that mattered was getting his cock in her and finding oblivion for both of them. When the tip made contact with her pussy, Trucker couldn’t contain his groan of pleasure.
“So fuckin’ hot,” he bit out. “Scorchin’ fuckin’ hot!”
“Trucker!” Helen gripped his hips, digging her hails into his ass and urging him forward. She was so small beneath him, around the head of his cock. So much smaller than him. But she was perfect. Made for him.
“Don’t let me hurt you, baby. Please, God, don’t let me hurt you.”
“You won’t,” she whispered. “Just get inside me. Please.”
Giving himself the OK, Trucker sank into Helen’s wet little pussy. They both cried out. Helen wrapped her legs around him, digging her heels in, urging him to move faster. Ever faster.
“Fuck, baby! Fuck!”
“Trucker!”
He slammed into her, holding himself still as deep as he could go. He yelled out to the ceiling as he tried to keep himself in check.
“Why’d you stop?” Her question was breathless and pleading. “I need you to fuck me hard!”
“I intend to fuck the shit outta you, baby. But I’m not rushing this.”
“We’ve got all fucking night!” she wailed. “Don’t stop now!”
“Goddamnit, Helen!”
There was no help for it. Trucker started fucking her again, this time in earnest. Being inside her body was a paradise like no other, the pleasure so intense he lost his mind.
Wrapping his arms tightly around her, Trucker pulled her to him with every thrust. Helen clung to him, their bodies growing damp with sweat.
“Come on my cock, baby,” he urged, growling in her ear. “Do it. Milk my come from me.”
“TRUCKER!” She screamed his name, arching her back and writhing as she came. He held her as she writhed in his arms, only letting himself go when the spasms started lessening around his dick. When he came inside her, he did so with a deafening bellow.
It was long moments before either of them could speak. Trucker stayed buried inside her, lying on top of her and savoring the feel of her in his arms. He’d held her many times over the weeks she’d been with him. But not like this. Not with his dick buried to the balls inside her, his come leaking from her tight pussy.
Finally, because he didn’t want to crush her, Trucker rolled them to their sides. Helen still clung to him, kissing and sucking his neck and chest as she lay there. He nuzzled her head, kissing her hair and nosing his way through the thick mass where it had come loose during their lovemaking until he found her temple with his lips.
“I don’t want to move,” he confessed, “but I need to clean us up.” Reluctantly, he extracted himself from her body. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
He gave himself a once-over in the bathroom before bringing a warm washcloth to clean Helen. She’d turned over on her back and stretched languidly. She’d spread her legs and bent them at the knees, opening herself to him. As he cleaned her, Trucker was mesmerized at the sight of her trimmed pussy. Dark auburn curls a couple shades darker than her hair beckoned him. Her pussy lips were swollen and red with his use of her, so he kne
w he had to be careful, but he wanted another taste of her. Before he thought about it much, he dipped his head and found her clit with his tongue.
“Oh! Ohhh…” He’d caught her off guard with that little trick, but, honestly, he wasn’t letting a little thing like his own come get in the way of what he wanted. Besides, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Might as well get it over with.
“Gonna make you come again before we rest,” he murmured around her clit. “Then gonna fuck you again. You good with that?”
“Oh, yeah! I’m definitely good with that.” She chuckled. It sounded a little strained, but she didn’t try to push him away or close her legs. If anything, she opened herself up even more. “Feels so fucking good!”
Trucker continued to lick and flick her clit, sucking the little bud between his lips and tugging until she was once again squirming beneath him. “That’s it, baby. You gonna come for me?”
“I’m so close,” she gasped. “So fucking close!”
Trucker inserted two thick fingers inside her, pumping her little cunt like he was fucking her. Again, she cried out, but he was careful not to push her over the edge. Not yet. “Wanted this too fuckin’ long,” he muttered. “You at my mercy, beggin’ me for release.”
“Please! Oh, God! Please!”
He removed his fingers from her only to swipe his hand through her pussy, wetting his fingers with her honey before sinking them back inside her. Carefully, watching her reaction even as he continued to tongue her clit, he slipped his little finger between her cheeks and past the rim of her ass. Instantly, Helen raised herself on her elbows, gasping in surprise. Trucker continued to work both her holes with slow, steady strokes
“How’s that, my wicked little girl?”
“Oh, you’re a bad boy,” she purred. “Fuck!”
“Oh, I’m gonna fuck you all right. Gonna fuck your mouth, your pussy, and, when I get you ready, I’m gonna fuck this sweet little ass. Then I’m never letting you go. You’ll be mine for as long as we both live.”
With those promises, Trucker eased another finger into her ass, stretching her just a little. Helen screamed, bearing down on him as her orgasm washed over her with alarming intensity. Trucker watched as her whole body blushed right before his eyes. The veins stood out at her temples as she screamed her pleasure. Never had he seen a woman have such a powerful orgasm. Never had he felt anything remotely close to the tight vise her body had on his fingers. In that moment, he’d have given anything to have his cock in her ass. She’d probably squeeze the life right out of him.
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