by Ashley Lane
“Who the fuck is this?” I demand.
“Tell Oakley I’m coming for her. Daddy says it’s time to come home.”
“You fucking think about touching her and you’re dead, you hear me?”
The fucker laughs. “Oh, I highly doubt that, Mr. Black.”
He hangs up without another word and in the next instant, I’m on my bike, the wind rushing past me.
When I pull up outside Jax’s apartment, I take off my helmet and call Priest.
“Yeah.” he answers.
“I need you to meet me. Tonight.”
Teagan cries in the background and Priest shushes her. “Everything okay?”
No. Not even close. My non-answer is enough.
“I’ll meet you at Corrupt tomorrow, usual time.”
Though not completely erased, some of my tension ebbs. “Thanks, man. See you then.”
I unhook my overnight bag from the back of my bike and push my phone into my pocket. When I look up, Jax is walking toward me, a frown on his face. His arms lock around me and I breathe in the scent of his cologne and press my lips against his neck.
“Missed you,” I murmur.
“What’s going on, Madd?” he steps back a little and examines my face. “Something happened.” It’s not a question.
“The guy who’s after Oakley called me when I was at the clubhouse. He said in no uncertain terms he was coming after her.” I scrub my free hand over my face. “He knew my name, my phone number. He knows I own Corrupt, and that Oakley works there… He’s already fuckin’ here.”
“So basically, she doesn’t leave our sight.”
I nod in agreement. “I called Priest. He’s meeting us at Corrupt tomorrow night.”
“Everything okay?” Oakley’s sweet voice comes from behind us.
Jax smiles before he turns around. “Yeah, it’s great.”
I pull her into my arms and hug her before I press a kiss to her lips. When we make it through the front door, Oakley turns to face me. She tugs on my jacket. “You look good in leather,” she purrs.
Jax gives my ass a hard slap. “I agree.”
I shriek like a fucking girl, causing Oakley to laugh at my expense.
Narrowing my eyes, I glare at Oakley in mock annoyance and she gives me a toothy grin. Jax and I share a look, and as though she knows what’s about to happen, Oakley squeals and bolts out of the kitchen. I chase after her, Jax hot on my heels.
Stopping in the hall, I listen for the sound of her breathing, but she gives herself away when I spot the shadow under the bathroom door. Jax lifts his finger to his lips, gesturing for me to be quiet as he stalks toward the door. When he pulls it open, Oakley raises her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry!” She laughs. “It’s not my fault you totally sounded like a girl.”
My mouth gapes, and before she can react, I grab her and pull her over my shoulder and turn toward our bedroom. She squeaks when my palm connects against the sweet swell of her ass before I dump her on the bed, causing her to bounce a few times.
I straddle her hips and Jax grabs her arms and holds them above her head while I tickle her. Her screams and pleas for mercy go unheard as she writhes beneath me, her gorgeous body twisting and turning in an attempt to free herself. “Not fair, not fair,” she shouts.
“Aww, baby, what’s not fair?” I ask.
“I’m outnumbered,” she pouts.
Jax sits back and pulls her into his lap, his chest to her back. I sit in front of them, watching her expression change as Jax kisses trail closer to her ear. “You want us to get another woman? Even things up?” he taunts. Oh, he’s playing fucking dirty.
Jealousy mixed with possession flares in Oakley’s eyes, and damn if it’s not the sexiest fucking thing I’ve seen. “I will literally cut a bitch.” She crosses her arms, and I laugh.
She’s still scowling when Jax’s hand makes its way down her pants, but as soon as his fingers find her pussy and he dips inside her heat, she comes completely undone.
Kneeling, I hook my fingers over the hem of her pants and pull them off in one swift movement. “We’ve got ten minutes before we need to leave for work,” I tell her. Then I look at Jax. “Wanna bet how many times we can make her come before then?”
Oakley’s gasp turns into a whimper as I strip off her underwear.
“And I believe you owe me a blow job…” I add, and Oakley grins.
Jax’s gaze is predatory and focused solely on Oakley as he crawls around and lowers his hips between her spread legs. His cock sinks into her slick pussy and he gets to work.
***
OAKLEY
“And the usual for you, Tom?” I ask after I’ve taken the order from his best friend Ross, and Ross’ girlfriend, Maya.
“Thanks, Oakley. How are you, by the way... after—” He stops and I suppress my groan. Word of the incident at mermaid night has spread far and wide. Though from what I’ve heard, the incident which was more of a small blip has grown through the grapevine. Word now is a fellow co-worker was overcome with jealousy and tried to purposely set me on fire. Jesus Christ. I swear, these men gossip worse than a bunch of women.
“I’m great,” I assure him. “I’ll be back shortly with your orders.” I turn to the next table, but I stop in my tracks when I hear “Do you know what happened to her face?” comes from Maya.
“I don’t know and it’s none of my goddamn business,” Tom sounds angry.
“I was only asking, Tom, no need to get defensive,” she says, and the hint of embarrassment in her tone makes me feel a little sorry for her. I don’t blame her for wondering, if I came across someone with scars like mine, I would be curious too.
I continue collecting dinner orders, all the while savoring the delicious ache in my pussy. By the end of our ten minutes, my men had managed to wring three orgasms from my body. Smiling, I make my way back to the bar to relay the orders I’d taken to the kitchen staff.
“Well hey there, pretty girl. What’s got you smiling like the Cheshire cat?” Shelly asks, as if she doesn’t know.
“Nothing.” I smile wider.
“I think our girl is one satisfied pussy,” Tasha jokes as she walks by with a tray filled with fries and beer.
My face flames and I cover it with my hands. Grinning, Shelly pulls my hands away and holds them tightly between hers. “I’m really happy for you, Oak.” Sincerity pours off her in waves.
“Me too,” I admit.
“Oakley,” Rhys calls from the bar.
I pop a quick kiss on Shells cheek and wait while Rhys places the drinks on my tray. “You look good tonight. Happier,” Rhys says.
Well damn. That’s my second compliment in as many minutes. It wasn’t like I was a miserable hag before. Still, I thank Rhys and carry my tray, setting down drinks as I pass by the tables.
“Excuse me,” a soft voice calls. Maya, the woman at Tom’s table, waves her hand at me.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
“The guys are over playing pool and they left me here all alone. What’s your most expensive cocktail?” Her eyes light up.
I laugh a little. “Sneaky... We have the Corrupt, it’s a mixture of sweet and sour plus a little something extra—a highly guarded secret by our bartender. That one’s thirty-five dollars. Or we have Heaven’s Seven, a mixture of seven top shelf liquors. It’s fifty-two dollars.”
A bright smile crosses her face. “I think I’ll take one of each.”
I glance at Tom and Ross who are oblivious to Maya all dressed up and sitting alone. While I know she’s only with Ross, I still have a wave of sisterhood sympathy for her.
“Great, I’ll put that order in now.”
As I’m about to turn, Maya’s hand touches my scarred wrist. I look down at it and she pulls her hand back. “Please, wait… I wanted to apologize for earlier—I was out of line. And sometimes the filter between my brain and my mouth malfunctions.” Her lips pull in a rueful grimace. “I’m studying to be a dermatologist and I was just so fas
cinated by your scars… to me they’re beautiful but I do recognize that whatever happened must have caused you great pain. Please don’t hold it against me.”
I cover her hand where it still holds my wrist. Other than Jax and Maddox, I can’t remember the last time anyone called my scars beautiful. “Thank you,” I say, giving her hand a soft squeeze.
“Everything okay here?”
I jump, startled by the deep voice tinged with menace, and spin around to find Angel with an almost-glare pinned on Maya. When she sees him, she steps back, hands raised in defense. “I’m sorry, I was just...”
“We were just talking about my scars,” I tell him through a smile. “Maya is studying to be a dermatologist and was fascinated by them.”
Maya nods in agreement. “They’re beautiful.”
His eyes are warm, and he leans down to press his lips against mine in a less than appropriate kiss for the workplace. “Got some paperwork to organize a meeting. Call up if you need me,” he says, and I nod before he walks away, leaving me speechless.
Maya is staring at me, her jaw hanging wide. “Girl. You have got to tell me where I can get one of those,” she says, and we both fall into a fit of giggles.
An hour later, I finish my last break of the night before closing. A familiar pair of arms wrap around me from behind and I settle into Angel’s chest.
“Missed you,” he says into my hair.
I laugh. “We work at the same place, it’s kinda hard to miss me.”
He shakes his head and presses a kiss against my hair. “Any time you’re not in my arms, I’m missing you.”
“Alright love birds, some of us only have our hand to go home to,” Rhys gripes under his breath. Angel chuckles at his expense. “I’ve got some paperwork to finish up and you, beautiful, are going to go over there with Rhys and he’s going to teach you how to work behind the bar.”
My stomach drops. “Um, no.”
“Sweetheart.” Angel smiles. “Everyone here loves you. All the regulars know who you are, Oakley. You’ve become a staple at Corrupt. They want to see you back here, not just bringing their food and hiding inside the kitchen until it’s ready.”
Well shit. I wasn’t aware he knew I was hiding in there. “I can’t.” I shake my head adamantly.
“You can,” He takes my hand and leads me to where Rhys is cleaning up for closing.
“Alright girlfriend,” he says, giving me a wink. “You ready to learn how to pull a beer?”
Angel nudges me forward and I take a reluctant step and grumble under my breath. “I’d rather be pulling something else.”
Rhys snorts and Angel bursts out laughing and grabs me around the waist before planting a sweeping kiss across my lips. “You’re so fuckin’ adorable when you pout.”
“So does that mean we can go?”
With a soft smack on my ass, he nods toward the bar. “I don’t think so, princess. Go on, show me what you can do.”
I spend the next hour learning about the different types of beers, wines, and spirits Corrupt imports from overseas, as well as the local brews that make the bar so popular. Pulling a beer was fun, but after failing at it a dozen times and ending up with a line of glasses that contained more froth than beer, Rhys suggested cocktails might be more my thing.
And he wasn’t wrong. Mixing, shaking, and stirring the colored cocktails was like playing scientist. Splashes of lemon and lime, a spoonful of sugar syrup, dashes of bitters—I never realized so much work went on behind the bar. I also made a note to get me my own lab coat with my name embroidered in pink. Hey, if I’m going to play a scientist, I may as well look the part too.
As Rhys prepares to leave, he opens the till and counts the money, then heads off to find Angel while I continue cleaning every surface until the entire area is sparkling. Rhys stops by and says goodbye before he heads out the front door, meeting Jax who’s just walking in. I grin at him, waving my hand like an idiot. He chuckles and makes his way to the bar before taking a seat.
I pull out a bar napkin and coaster and place them down in front of him. “Hey there good lookin’, can I interest you in a drink?”
His gaze runs over me leaving a heated wake in its path. “You might… depends what’s on the menu.”
“Hmm…” I turn, giving him my back so I can browse the neon menu hanging on the wall. I squeal when Jax wraps his arms around me and hauls me over the bar before settling me on the worn wood in front of him. Seated between my spread legs, he runs his hands up and down my jean covered thighs. “No need to go searchin’, darlin’. Seems I have a taste for something not on the menu.”
I lean forward and press my lips against his, greedily swallowing his groan. Time stands still as we continue to make out, only stopping when a throat clears. We manage to pull apart and turn to find Angel staring at us with equal parts amusement and lust.
“Think we can continue this at home?”
I nod rapidly, nearly falling from the bar with the force of it. Jax stands and pulls his keys from his pocket. “I’m gonna pull the truck round back. Lock it behind me,” he tells me. After I lock the front door behind him, I turn and survey the club doing one last walk through when I spot a table at the back of the room that hasn’t been cleared off. Damn! I walk over, wondering who forgot their last table of the night. It wouldn’t be Shelly, she’s OCD about everything. Living with her opened up my eyes to just how frustrating that can be.
“Maddox!” Jax’s shout comes from the back door before he jogs in, a slightly alarmed look on his handsome face.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Where’d Madd go?”
“I’m here,” he says, coming out of the bathroom.
“Need you outside.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
Jax shoves his hand through his hair and glances at me before looking back to Angel. “The tires on the truck have been slashed.”
I gasp at the same time Maddox growls “The fuck?”
Panic curls in my chest, but I hide it by turning to pick up the jugs and glasses left on the table. Stay calm. Stay calm.
Jax and Angel both look at me strangely.
“What? Tell me what’s going on,” I demand.
“Nothing...” Angel says. “Just stay put. Both doors will be locked, wait for us up in the office.”
“Why can’t I—”
“No,” they say in unison. “It’s freezing out, Oakley, you’ll be fine, baby,” Jax adds. He rubs my arms and kisses my forehead.
Sighing, I nod and leave the jug and glasses in the sink behind the bar before I head upstairs to twiddle my thumbs like a damsel in distress. Ugh. Boring. For a few minutes, I live like a child and spin around on Angel’s desk chair, not stopping until I’m dizzy and positive I’m about to throw up.
When I hear footsteps coming up the stairs, I breathe a sigh of relief and jump to my feet. Opening the office door, I smile bright. “Took you long—” My words get caught in my throat when I find Malcolm standing in front of me, a long, coiled length of rope in one hand. I open my mouth to call for the guys, but Malcolm is fast.
“Gotcha now, Scarface.” He holds his hand hard over my mouth and I struggle to free myself. His other arm is tight around my chest and arms, so I kick back and try to stomp on his feet, but to no avail. He drags me out of the office and toward another doorway—the storeroom. Goddamn it, Oakley, fight!
Dragging me backwards, Malcolm kicks my feet out from under me and nudges the door open with his foot. When he’s got me inside, he lets go long enough for me to lunge for the door. But his fist twists my hair around until it’s pulling painfully on my scalp and he drags me to the floor, straddling me with his thick thighs.
“Get off me,” I scream, earning me a short, sharp slap to the face. “No! Get off me!” I refuse to give up and continue fighting, punching, and scratching at his face and arms.
A harder slap lands on my cheek and my head spins and my vision turns fuzzy at the edges. When I can s
ee clearly, Malcolm is tying my ankles with the ropes. Nononono—not ropes, anything but ropes.
I wriggle, thrash and try to scream, but that’s when I notice the cloth in my mouth. He gagged me. Grunting and groaning I reach out with my arms to hit my fists against anything. I need to make more noise. Angel and Jax... where are you?
Malcolm laughs and pulls a small pocket knife from his jacket pocket. He presses it to my throat. “Now, Scarface, you’re gonna shut your fuckin’ mouth or I’m gonna go outside and gut your faggot boyfriends.”
OH MY GOD. I clench my teeth and nod. No way in hell will I let him hurt my men. I’ve gone through worse, and I can make it through whatever Malcolm dishes out.
Knife still at my throat, Malcolm leans close to my face. “I met him, you know, the one who scarred you. Paid me fifty k to take you to him.”
I shake my head, pleading with my eyes.
“What’s that? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you.” Using another length of rope, Malcolm ties my wrists together. He’s distracted when his phone buzzes, and he pulls it from his pocket, glaring at the screen. “What?” he shouts. “Yeah, I fuckin’ told you I’d get her, and I did. I’ll be there in an hour.”
Once again, my pleading is useless, but I thrash and flail anyway, anything to stop him leaving with me. “Don’t fuckin’ move,” he growls.
A sharp, excruciating pain pierces my side, and it’s not until Malcolm lifts his hand that I see the blood covering his small knife. “Next time it’ll be more than a cut, fuckin’ cunt,” his words send my heart racing.
He’s going to kill me. With my remaining strength, I kick out my legs and arch my back, flipping my body and wiggling away from him. When he swings a punch, I shift my head, turning it to the side and letting his closed fist hit the hard floor. He roars as pain shoots up his arm before rage fills his eyes and everything changes... horribly.
Malcolm’s fists rain down on my face until my vision clouds with red and the light in the room fades away.
***
JAX
I sprint back to the door and pull it open to let Oakley know we’re waiting for a ride. “Oakley, sweetheart,” I call. There’s no answer, so I jog up the stairs to get her. She’s probably fallen asleep on the couch in Angel’s office. But when I reach the top step, the office door is wide open.