by Jordan Marie
“Got some stuff going on with Dani later, that’s about it,” I shrug. “Hey Irish? What days am I working this week? I haven’t seen the new schedule,” I ask him, putting even butter on my toast, because I’m not sure you could ever have enough.
“Uh Nic, Dragon said you aren’t working at the club anymore.”
I stop putting my butter on halfway through and look up at Irish.
“He what?” I growl.
“Hey, take it up with the Boss. All I know is what he told me and he said that under no circumstances is his woman schlepping drinks to a bunch of drunk, horny bastards.”
I finish buttering my toast. I’m kind of pissed, but I can’t help snorting at the way Irish said it. Plus, Dragon had apparently called me his woman. There was no way I can be mad after that. I take a bite of the toast and vow to plan my attack with Dragon later.
“What time will Dragon and the men be back?” I ask, pushing my eggs around my plate.
“Probably late girl. Crush and him went to the prison to see Dancer and then had some other things to do.”
I nod, finishing up my toast and deciding my eyes were much bigger than my stomach.
“Okay boys I’m out of here, I need to go check on my girl and pack up some more clothes.”
“I thought Dragon wanted you to stay here because of the lock down?” Nailer asks.
“He wouldn’t want you to just leave Nic. Nailer is right,” Irish adds.
“I’m just going to the house. That’s a twenty-minute drive at the most. I have to get some more clothes and shit and Dani called. I won’t be gone long.”
“Take Nailer with you. I’d go myself but the bar is expecting a delivery soon,” Irish said.
I looked at Nailer, with a shake of my head.
“I’ll probably bore you silly, so if you don’t want to go…”
“I’m ready when you are.”
“Whatever then, let’s hit the road. See ya later Irish.”
“Later, Nic.”
“Okay, Nailer. I’ve seen Dragon mad, so I know how he got his name. Irish is pretty self-explanatory and even Crusher or Bull. Should I just assume Nailer means you are a horn dog?” I ask from the passenger seat of the club’s SUV. Nailer insisted we take this black Chevy Tahoe, as opposed to my Mercedes. He mumbled something about his Tahoe being manlier. Men are so silly!
“Well I’m a man and I think we’re all pretty much pussy chasers.”
“Well... some chase dicks,” I respond, philosophically.
“Okay, well I don’t though, but even so, I used to work construction, so hence the nickname.”
“Well dang Nailer, that’s kind of a boring story,” I say with a grin.
“Would it help if I told you Bull got his name because he was hung like one?” He jokes turning into the driveway of the house Dani and I rented.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to know that kind of information about Bull. Oh my God, I’ll never be able to look at the man again now.”
Nailer laughs as we get out of the SUV. I’d dreaded being in a car with someone I didn’t know, but Nailer makes me laugh. So far I have to say, with the exception of the bitch that I had to put in her place, I like all of Dragon’s family.
Dani’s car is in the driveway, so at least I won’t have to wait around for her. I open the door and walk in still laughing with Nailer and because of that, I’m completely unprepared for what happens next.
The smallest guy Dani left with the other night comes out from behind the door and used the butt of his gun to hit Nailer on the head. Nailer goes down with a horrible thud. I scream and immediately the man wraps his beefy looking hand around my mouth and drags me further inside.
I try biting him, but he holds my head so tight, I can’t move enough to get away from him. I know there’s fear in my eyes, you can’t really help it in this situation, but I’m still pissed as hell at myself for allowing it. I look over at Dani and she doesn’t appear alarmed. There’s something in her eyes, I’m not sure what it is exactly, but she starts walking towards me.
“Calm down Nic. It’s not what you think. Tiny and me are trying to save you. Girl, you just don’t know what that man you are with has done.”
I elbow the idiot holding me. Dani nods at him and he lets me go.
“Are you crazy?” I immediately go down on the floor to check on Nailer. He’s breathing, but he’s definitely out cold with a knot the size of Texas on the back of his head.
“Nic, I had to get you away from that club. You don’t know what they’re doing!” Dani says, reaching down to pull me away. I stubbornly refuse to let her.
“Have you lost your freaking mind?”
“Nic!”
“Dani! How in the fuck do you know anything is going on? You’ve spent what? A couple nights with this asshole and decide everything he’s telling you is the fucking truth?”
“He had pictures Nic. You should see what Dragon did to his own man! Here! Look at them! You can’t stay with him Nic! He'll hurt you!”
I hear the panic in her voice, so I try to count to ten and calm my temper. Then, I take the camera she’s pushing at me. I click the review button on the back and scan through the photos captured on the little screen.
Okay. I’m pretty sure I would have preferred to stay in the dark.
My stomach knots up at what I see. Dragon is torturing some man lying in a ...bathtub? The man is badly beaten. There’s one picture where it appears that Dragon was cutting off the other man’s fingers… maybe? It’s hard to tell and the picture has obviously been taken through a window—at a good distance away.
“Why do you have these pictures?” I ask Dani, and the man I remember Skull called Tiny the other night. He has a smug look on his face.
I don’t like him.
That thought rings clear over a myriad of emotions hammering through me at the moment. Dani looks at me like I have three heads.
“That’s all you have to say? Did you see what he was doing to that poor man?”
Good question, I guess. I mean I do see it, but I have also seen pictures at the club of the girl that had been beaten. I knew this was the club business Dragon had been handling. If this man was the one who had done that to the girl, and if he had also been one of Dragon’s men like Dani insinuated, it didn’t excuse Dragon’s actions, I suppose, but it sure as hell put a different light on the situation.
“I’m not discussing Dragon’s business with you Dani, I’m asking why the fuck these pictures were taken in the first place?”
“Tiny is in charge of following Dragon and his crew when they are in Skull’s city to make sure they don’t do shit. Shit like this! Nic, you can’t be so far gone over Dragon that you don’t see exactly how wrong this is? Jesus!”
I act like I’m going through the pictures, but instead eject the memory card out the side and slide it into my pants pocket. Maybe I am a fool, but I believe in Dragon and I’m not about to leave anything that might be used against him.
“Get the fuck out of my house,” I yell when I finish, turning the camera off. I toss it around the room in hopes of breaking it, just in case pictures are also saved to it.
“Not going to happen bitch,” Tiny smugly says. It’s then I notice the look on his face. Yeah, thinking I just don’t like him was understating—like a lot.
“What do you want from me?” I ask, with a disgusted snarl, trying to figure out how in the hell to get out of this mess.
“To play with you sweet cheeks, maybe I’ll do you and your girl at the same time. Dani here likes to party. The more the merrier, right baby?”
God he makes my stomach turn. I watch Dani’s face as it goes white. Dani has some amazing qualities, but when it comes to men, she’s worse than me. The thought of letting this man anywhere near me makes me gag.
“You touch me and Dragon will feed you your dick and balls on a silver platter.”
“Think you’re overestimating your appeal puta. Dragon’s known for liking lots
of pussy, you’re just the flavor of the day. You’re not my type so much, but I’ll fuck your ass while you’re eating out your girl. Now enough of this shit. Strip before I decide your fat ass is more trouble than it’s worth.”
“Tiny baby stop it, you’re going to scare Nic. Besides, I told you I don’t party with other women,” Dani said. I could tell she’s trying to distract him so I can get away, the panicked look in her eyes, when she shot me a pleading glance, told me so. I can’t leave her and Nailer here alone though. I move my body so I’m blocking Nailer’s torso, then use my hand to see if he has any kind of weapon on him I can use.
I might have thrown up in my mouth a little when Dani actually kisses the creep, Tiny. Ugh, I would have to gargle twenty times a day for the rest of my life. Still, when she hikes her leg up on his hip and starts taking his shirt off, I figure I might have a shot of getting us out of this fucked up mess, if Nailer just has something I can use.
Eureka! A knife! Though, I would have much rather had a gun. Dragon should really talk to his men about carrying weapons at all times. I mean seriously, what kind of bad ass protector doesn’t carry a freaking gun?
I palm the knife and hide it behind my back. I’m trying to come up with a plan as I watch Dani practically mouth raping Tiny. Ugh, I’m suddenly glad I didn’t eat anything more than toast.
The only thing I can come up with kind of sucks. Stab yuck-man, preferably in the balls for his comment about doing me and Dani, then running with my girl and getting the heck out of
Dodge. The problem with this sucky ass plan is that it leaves Nailer unprotected. I hate it, but I figured he’ll be running after me and Dani. Actually, I’m hoping I leave him in bad enough shape he can’t do anything—ever again. Yeah, it’s a sucky ass plan for sure.
Tiny pushes Dani away finally, but I can tell from the look in his eyes that it’s only so I can join in. I have no idea where Bad Nicole has gone lately, but if I could find her, I’d totally let her take over and stab this bastard between the eyes.
“Come on over here, puta. Let me see what you got.”
I push the knife down the back of my pants hanging the handle on the rim of my jeans. I send up a silent prayer that I don’t cut myself—or that the knife doesn’t fall and cut my sixty-dollar lingerie set I’m wearing. My luck it will and then fall to the floor where it leaves me, fucked, and sadly that’s also in the literal sense.
Ewww, I don’t want him after having Dragon.
Well there’s Bad Nicole now, but why does she sound so panicked and afraid in my head?
Oh yeah, because I am terrified! I walk over a few steps, all while shooting Dani a I’m-going-to-kill-you-later look. I almost feel guilty when I see the tears in her eyes.
Dani is a beautiful person, but she doesn’t really think before she leaps. Me? I normally
overthink, but I’m not seeing that as a negative at the moment.
“Take off your shirt. I want to see the merchandise,” Tiny orders.
God! I don’t want to, but I need him to think I’m going to go along with this plan until I get close enough to do some damage. Please God, let me do some damage. I paste on what I hope is a scared little girl look upon my face. It’s rather easy. There’s not a lot of acting required, I’m pretty damn scared. I lift my pink camouflage thermal shirt off and over my head throwing it on the floor. I love that shirt and it’s uber warm, but I vow that if I survive this, I’m never wearing that damn shirt again.
“Oh yeah look at those luscious tits. I’m definitely going to bury my cock in those fuckers. I think you’re starting to grow on me puta.”
I want to kill him.
“I’ve never done anything like this...”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“That’s okay puta, lucky for you I have.”
I get closer to him and I feel Dani step back. I’m trying to shore up my courage and keep my hands from shaking. I’m only going to get one shot at this.
“Should I take my bra off?” I ask and thank the lucky stars above I wore a bra that clasps in the back today.
“Oh yeah, show old Tiny what you got for him,” he growls, making me want to vomit, but hey he asked right?
Deep breath...one...two...
My hand goes back as if to unhook my bra, but instead I move it down to grasp the knife.
Three....
I tighten my hand up around the knife, praying it was as big and sharp as it seems. In my panic I think of three places to stab. Balls are way too low and would take too long. Plus, I might miss. Eye, I could hit it but he might have time to block it and he is sure to be a lot stronger than I am.
So, I go for the gut. It’s closer, I can reach it easier and he has less time to fight off the attack. I scream as I stab him. I’m not sure screaming helps, but it makes me feel better. The knife slices in and it takes some force, but I manage to get it in deep. Blood spews forth and the sight of it spilling around my hand and out of the wound is horrible. I want to hold onto the knife, but my hand is so slick I can’t. As the bastard falls back against the couch, cussing and calling me names that would make a sailor blush, I yell at Dani to run. We take off with Tiny cursing us, in the background. I don’t look back. I read somewhere that looking back is wrong—bad wrong. Besides that, in all of the scary movies, the silly bitches that look back always get their throats slashed.
We run towards the SUV that Nailer and I rode in. Fuck! No fucking keys!
“Tiny has mine!” Dani yells out, panicking big time now, but I’m right there with her.
“We have to hit the hills. We’ll circle around and come back out on the main road by Dragon’s compound!”
“Nic! You know what the hills are like, it’s impossible to follow a back road!”
“Just do it Dani! Jesus! We don’t have time to debate it.”
We take off running towards the hills. I just pray we can get away and find safety, before Tiny finds us. While we’re running, I hear the front screen door open and I know that’s not good. Shit.
18
Nicole
Okay, in hindsight, my plan to hit the hills was not a very good one. Dani and I have been running or a good hour. I’m not sure how long it could take a person to walk fifteen miles but I’m pretty sure we’ve done it. We’re currently sitting on a log trying to catch our breath.
When we first started, I thought I heard Tiny chasing after us, but it’s been silent since. I’m praying the fucker had died from his stab wound, but I’m not that hopeful. It seems my luck is not that great.
I’m freezing. Dani didn’t have a jacket and while she offered me her shirt, I figured I had more meat on my bones and could withstand the cold longer. I’m starting to think that was a fucked up idea. I’m so cold and tired at this point that I’m numb.
“Shit, Nic, I’m sorry. It’s just Dragon was so crazy the other night with Skull and then I saw those photos. I was worried about you! You have to understand...”
Dani’s been crying and I totally understand what she’s saying. Dani has a history that very few know about. But, I can’t lie and say I’m not pissed too.
“It’s okay Dani, let’s just concentrate on getting out of this mess,” I mutter, getting up to continue walking, leaving her to follow me.
“You’re mad,” she says, as we start trudging through the briars and trees.
“You shouldn’t have tried to set me up. You didn’t even know that man! You put both of us in danger without thinking!”
“He hasn’t been like that before today. I swear it, Nic.”
“Oh wow, so he was like great for a whole freaking day or two and just turned psycho, nutty, crazy the last fucking hour?” I bite back.
Okay, I might be a little more upset than I first estimated.
“That’s not fair! You haven’t known Dragon that long either, and it’s clear he’s a little unhinged. Didn’t you pay attention to those photos?”
“I did, but what I know that you don’t Dani, is that Dragon
is good to me and he’s a good man. There are things going on at his club. I don’t understand it all and we haven’t talked about it, but I know there was a woman raped and beaten. I know she’s in bad shape and it was Dragon’s own man that did it. So, Dragon made sure the man couldn’t hurt another woman. I trust Dragon enough to believe that whatever he did, there’s a reason!”
“It still doesn’t make it right!” Dani argued.
“I heard the boys talking Dani. The victim was a sweet and innocent woman that they all thought a lot of. She was beaten unconscious and raped! I don’t care what you think is right. If that had been you, I would have wanted Dragon to get revenge too!”
That causes Dani to think for a minute. I can see it on her face. I knew it would. What I wasn’t counting on is the stubbornness that comes across her face. She won’t allow doubts to set in at this point. She’s convinced Dragon is the bad guy—even after the scene at the house.
“You’re freaking whacked. You’re so wrapped up in Dragon you can’t see he’s not a good guy! You do not need to be mixed up in this shit Nic.”
“What is your problem?” I yell, turning on her, just as a briar swipes me across the face, cutting my cheek. Which is just another in a long line of mistakes I’m making. I should be letting her ass lead so she’d hit the briars first. She at least has a long sleeved shirt on!
“I’ll tell you what my problem is! You were supposed to sleep with him and have some fun! Not just agree to move into his clubhouse and become his personal bitch! You have no idea what you’re getting into with a man like him! Men like him can destroy you, Nic!”
It hits me then what is really wrong with Dani. I should have guessed it earlier but it just didn’t click into place. I take a deep breath, my anger leaving me.
“Dani, Dragon isn’t Michael.”
“Michael didn’t seem like Michael in the beginning either, Nic. Even you have to admit that. Hell, you liked him!”
“I did and you’re right. I know Michael fucked you up in a big way. I get that Dani, but you’re reacting in all the wrong ways here. You have got to quit letting the past control your future. Michael is gone. You got away.”