by KB Winters
“I figured he would be, but I just needed to get away.” I wouldn’t apologize for that, not even to Talon. I listened with a sickness I couldn’t name in my stomach as she told me about Roddick. “Is he okay?”
She shrugged. “Mick says he will be, but tensions are high in town, and they’re talking war.”
“Looks like my timing is spot on, as usual. Great.” I stood and hugged Talon, letting her squeeze me tight because I knew she worried about me. “I probably have a lot of stuff waiting for me at home, so I’d better get going. Gotta make that money.”
“Come back tomorrow for dinner,” she ordered in that tone that told me that arguing would be pointless, so I waved and started the engine. I stopped at the store and picked up a few things before stopping at the club.
“Hey, Roddick, how are you?” He looked like shit, pale with red-rimmed eyes.
“I’ve been better, kid. What are you doing here?”
“Talon told me you were hurt, so I came to bring you a few things.” I unloaded the box of his favorite snacks and the tablet he kept hidden behind the bar. “Might make recovery less boring.”
He laughed and looked at everything. “Thanks, Minx.” He tore open a box of Suzy-Q’s and bit into one of the chocolatey cakes with a loud moan. “I’m sure Talon told you what’s been going on, so you know why I’m going to have the prospects man the bar this week?”
It was clear I was no longer needed, and that was just fine with me. These guys had become like a weird, horny family to me, but they weren’t the first family I lost. If I was smart—and I liked to think I was—they’d be my last. “Fine. I need to go so, feel better.”
“Minx wait—”
“It’s fine, I get it. Take care of yourself,” I told him and rushed from the room, through the club and back to my car. I knew what had to be done now, and it made me glad I’d picked up a few bags of groceries for myself. I spent the next few days holed up at the cottage, sewing and studying, studying and sewing. In between I would eat and sleep while music played constantly. I was always busy and it was always loud, just how I wanted it.
By day three my mind began to wander to Cash, wondering if he was okay or how pissed off he was. But I knew the truth was he’d already given up on me like everyone else had, only this time I couldn’t blame him. I pushed and pushed and in the end, he realized what I’d always known—I just wasn’t worth the effort.
Keeping weird hours and an impossible workload had taken its toll, and I fell asleep in the middle of the fourth day of confinement. I woke up to someone pounding on the door with the strength of ten men and instantly I went on alert, running to check the surveillance before pulling the door open. “Yes?”
He looked at me, green eyes furious yet relieved, and pushed his way inside, slamming and locking the door behind him. I wasn’t worried because I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but still I took a step back. “Don’t run away from me.”
“I didn’t run—”
He cut me off. “You did. You fucking did.” He toed off his boots and pulled me into the living room where he wrapped me in his arms. “You told me about your past, freaked out, and ran.”
Okay, now he was pissing me off. “So what if I did, Cash? I’m not your responsibility just because we had sex a few times.”
“I refuse to even respond to that bullshit, Minx. Lie to yourself, sweetheart, but don’t ever fucking lie to me.” His voice was low and daunting as he brushed a whisper-soft kiss against my lips, so achingly tender I felt my eyes begin to sting.
“What are you doing here?”
“As soon as I found out you were back in town I came to check on you. Though it would have been nice to get a call or a text. Maybe a smoke signal.” He leaned in and kissed me again and this time it was all hungry and frantic, demanding and desperate. I couldn’t resist his kisses if I wanted to, and I didn’t want to. I missed him, and I told him so with my mouth. My tongue. “I’m glad you’re okay, Minx, but goddammit I want to paddle your ass for making me worry so long.”
I rolled my eyes up at him and smiled. “Promises, promises.”
He tossed me over his shoulder and carried me to the bedroom where he tossed me on the bed and kept his promise. “I told you, Minx, I’m a man of my word.
I was starting to see that.
***
Willingly sharing my body with someone was an act of trust and intimacy that scared the hell out of me. I just wish I’d realized it before now—before another earth-shattering night spent with Cash’s big body wrapped around mine. The man was a master lover, using his entire body to bring mine to unspeakable heights. And he made the most delicious noises when I explored his big, strong body. I woke up and turned to him, and only one word came to mind. More. I wanted—no I needed—more of this man. My body buzzed with need like I just couldn’t get enough of him, and that scared the shit out of me.
Yesterday morning after he kissed me until I was on the verge of begging him to stay, I gave him my number. A way to get in touch with me when he was worried or wanted to come by. Now that he knew why it was a big deal, I knew he’d call even if it was to tell me he was on my doorstep waiting.
I smiled as I thought about how grumpy he got when he was worried because an alpha like him didn’t do vulnerability. It was nice to have someone in my life who seemed to give a damn about me, but it would take some time to get used to. Probably a long time.
Or maybe I was fooling myself, thinking I could have anything that resembled normal after what I’d been through. A guy like Cash would probably want someone with less baggage, less damage. Eventually the nightmares, my hang ups about security and visitors, all of it would grow tiresome. He’d get sick of it just when I was getting used to having him around, and then he would leave. I sighed. Why did the thought of losing him make my heart feel hollow with a dull ache? I didn’t like that shit. Not at all.
I couldn’t get used to this, I had to back away.
No more sleepovers.
No more sex.
No more Cash.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! “No. More. Cash!” I said out loud just to get it through my thick skull.
Yet when he called later that afternoon, I answered halfway through the second ring. Weak, that’s what I was. Fucking weak. “Yeah?”
“What do you want for dinner?”
“I’m already cooking so if you want, you can stop by.” He went silent because apparently, I surprised him as much as I’d surprised myself.
“I’ll be there in ten. Wear something sexy,” he chuckled and disconnected the call.
“Fucking weak, that’s what you are.” I told myself that at least three times before I put the chicken, potatoes, and vegetables in the oven to roast. And though I wouldn’t change my clothes—a girl had to have some pride, after all—the cook time would allow for one more taste of that sweet man.
Fifteen minutes later a knock sounded and I went to the door, ready to give him crap for being late. I paused a fraction of a second before turning the knob as a weird sensation skittered down my spine. But it was too late. I groaned. “What are you doing here, Wagman? And how the fuck do you even know where I live?
“Why, sweetheart, Minxy baby, I came for you,” he said with that smarmy smile that made my stomach turn. “Ain’t you happy to see me?”
I didn’t get the chance to answer because a meaty fist flew at my face too fast to move, and then shit went black.
Chapter Eight
Cash
Minx’s invitation surprised the hell out of me, but I wasn’t one to ask why she had a change of heart. I grabbed a bottle of tequila and her favorite pistachio ice cream and made my way to the small cottage. I climbed the stairs with a smile already splitting my face, ready to kiss the hell out of her, but that all quickly faded away as I caught the door partially open. And was that…blood on the floor?
I pushed it open and called out for her. “Minx, you in here?” I already knew the answer, but I went in and checked all
the rooms to make sure she wasn’t hurt in there somewhere. She wasn’t. I pulled out my phone knowing I would need the help of CAOS to get her back. “Mick, get to Minx’s ASAP. Her door was open, and there’s blood on the floor.” I hung up without waiting for a reply.
I went back to the guest bedroom and pulled open the sliding doors that held the surveillance system of the property, going through the footage since I last spoke to her. Already a sick feeling settled in my gut. Wagman knocked and she answered the door far too quickly to have checked first, so I knew she thought it was me, and that was confirmed at the confused expression on her face at her visitor. They spoke briefly and then that motherfucker punched her, right in the face. He caught her before she hit the ground, making sure he felt up her titties as he did.
“What’s up?”
I looked up at Mick feeling more helpless than I had since leaving the Navy. “Wagman. That sorry motherfucker has Minx.” I raked my hands through my hair and paced the room while Mick viewed the video. Hang on, baby, I’m coming, I promised her.
“Let’s ride, Cash!” Mick ordered, breaking my frantic state, and I followed him out, making sure to close and lock her door. Full of rage and unable to concentrate, I didn’t even know what the fuck to do first. Where would he have taken her? That’s what I needed to know so I could save Minx and then fucking annihilate Wagman.
Mick put a hand to my chest to stop my pacing on the street. “Dante called. He saw Wagman in a truck headed inside a building near the docks. Owned by Lazarus,” he added ominously.
I nodded. “Weapons. I only have my nine and a blade, you?”
Mick grinned. “I got Big Mama”—he smacked his hip affectionately where his .45 was— “a .38, plus a blade.”
I nodded with a wry grin. “That’s all?” He shrugged and stole the keys from my hand before hopping into the passenger seat. “Let’s stop at my place first.”
“She’ll be fine, Cash. Wagman just wants to fuck with you for putting his shit on blast to Lazarus.”
I didn’t believe him, but I nodded because all we could do now was plan and hope like hell that she was okay. When we got to the house, we packed enough firepower to fuck up a small army and then we got back on the road. “Let’s go get the girl and fuck some shit up.”
Mick nodded as he slid his phone in his pocket. “Just talked to Roddick, and Lazarus’ men will meet us at the gate. We’ll pick up a few guys on our way to the docks.”
I stepped on the gas not needing to be told twice.
Hang on, baby.
***
Minx
When I came to, I had no idea where the fuck I was. It was dark, quiet and smelled like the ocean. The last thing I remembered was Wagman throwing a mean jab straight to my face, which explained the throbbing in my right cheek and the swelling in my eye. I began to panic because this was all too familiar. No, not again. I couldn’t go through that again. I would die fighting, but I hoped and prayed Cash would prove to be my hero and swoop in and save me, even though I knew he didn’t have the slightest clue of where I was. For now, I was on my own.
My wrists and ankles were shackled, a long straight metal pole keeping them separated. The kind of contraption I remembered all too fucking well.
Breathe. I needed to focus on my breathing. I didn’t know where I was or who was nearby, and I didn’t need to alert anyone that I was awake. I heard a distinct thump-drag, thump-drag, and I closed my eyes to get a better listen. Thump-drag, thump-drag. It was the walk of an injured person.
The lights flickered on and I blinked a few times to get my eyes to adjust, and I saw him. Rocky. I also saw my surroundings, an empty warehouse with a few boxes stacked against the wall. Probably drugs. “Good, you’re awake. I would have hated for you to sleep through our first fuck.” He stroked his cock slowly, licking his lips as his beady little gaze raked over my body.
I stayed silent because I’d learned its power by the time I was fifteen. The men who wanted to hurt me got off on hearing me scream, seeing that fear in my eyes. Take that away from them and I gained the upper hand.
“Nothing to say, Minxy? You spread it for old Magnus, spread it for CJ. Now you’re gonna spread it all for me.”
Bile rose in my throat at the sight of him, greasy and sweating, obviously an infection from that disgusting wound on his shoulder. Still, I kept my expression neutral, my gaze blank.
Rocky did the thump-drag, thump-drag thing again to move closer, this time so he could touch me. “First, I’m gonna fuck that pretty little mouth, deep down your throat, sweetheart, until you fucking choke on my cock. Let’s just say”—his finger gently brushed up the inside of my thigh— “that I’m gonna wreck all of you. That Boy Scout CJ probably won’t even want you when I’m done. If there’s anything left.”
Fear. I should’ve felt fear but I didn’t. I didn’t feel anything. Numb and cold. My body was shutting down. Again. It was how I’d survived all those years, but this time wasn’t like that. This time I would fight. I would either be free or dead when this was done. I was prepared for either.
“Still got nothing to say, bitch? Don’t worry, I’ll have you screaming real soon.” He leaned in, and I almost puked at the combination of his infected wound and body odor. He grabbed my tits and squeezed hard, but I stayed quiet. “Fuck yeah. You got a great set of tits, bitch. You ever been titty fucked? I bet you have.” He sneered but I kept my gaze on him, prepared for any sudden moves.
I gave him my best bored out of my mind look. “Nothing worse than being fondled by a decaying corpse I suppose.”
He grinned before a greasy hand slammed down on my left cheek. “Fucking whore!”
My face throbbed, but I stayed silent. Not a gasp or a scream. I just absorbed the hit and stared at him like the little bitch he was.
“A tough girl, eh?” His fist landed hard in my stomach, knocking the breath out of me, but still, I said nothing. Another fist landed in the same spot, and the next three hit my ribs until I was pretty sure one of them cracked. “We’ll see how tough you are before the day is over.” His gaze was filled with hatred, rage. Then he balled up his fist and slammed it against my face two more times.
I was silent. Defiantly so.
“Don’t think you’re gonna be a quiet little mouse, because I’ll make sure you ain’t.” He backhanded me and squeezed my tits again. His anger rose at my silence, and I saw the moment something changed in his eyes—they went dark and deadly intense. My shackles were released, the bar tossed aside, and he pushed me down on the moldy sofa with a leering smile. He climbed between my legs, rubbing his denim-clad cock against me. He tried to kiss me, but I turned my head which earned me another smack.
I held my breath as he rubbed against me while he removed my wrist shackles, moving my hips against him to keep him distracted.
“Oh yeah, you dirty little slut. You fucking like it,” he grunted and pressed harder against me, licking my ear.
I let out the breath I was holding, and the scent of sickness swamped me. This was the perfect opportunity I realized, the scent so strong my eyes began to water. My hips moved faster against his, keeping him lost in lust while I found the source of the stench and dug my thumb good and deep into his shoulder, fighting back a gag as puss and blood oozed from the wound.
“You fucking bitch! I will fucking kill you!” He shouted and leaned back so he loomed over me, his fists coming down on my chest and face and stomach again. I was powerless to stop from this position so I covered my head as best I could, clenching my jaw through the blows. “I was just gonna fuck you good and hard but now, now I’m gonna make you hurt. Bleed.” He backhanded me and stood back, picking up one of the straight bar shackles.
I braced myself for another hit—or worse. It wouldn’t be the first time or the worst that’s ever happened to me. Rocky was right about that. Only nothing happened. Nothing. Except his cry of pain followed by a scuffle and then the sound of more fists pounding flesh. I couldn’t open my eyes, I was to
o shaken and too damn scared to see what was about to happen to me.
“Where is she, you piece of shit?” The voice was angry, no—full of rage. And it was a familiar voice.
“Cash?” Maybe I was hallucinating because there was no way he was actually here. For me. A hand wrapped around my arms and pulled them from my face. I stared up into dark brown eyes surrounded by smooth, youthful brown skin.
“Estás bien?”
I nodded. “Si.” I proved myself a liar as I tried to sit up and cried out in pain.
“Minx!” Cash was at my side moments later, lifting me gently while Mick held Rocky pinned against the wall by the throat. At least a dozen Hispanic men mixed in with CAOS members. “Did that fucker touch you?”
“Mostly with his fists.” I tried for a smile, but Cash’s worried face told me I failed, plus the cough that shook my body and pulled a cry from me.
“Let’s go!” I looked up and noticed a familiar head of red hair had barked that order. Mick. Everyone began moving to do as their leader had said.
“Wait.” The man who’d checked on me spoke, his voice deep and heavily accented. His men aimed their guns toward CAOS.
“What the fuck, man?” Mick frowned, his own gun aimed right at the shorter man whose vest named him a Mexican Devil.
“You go and take the girl. Lazarus wants to deal with this one himself. He says to tell you ‘the problem will be solved’.”
Cash and Mick communicated silently and having reached some agreement, they made their way to the door with me hanging on to Cash for dear life. The rest of the CAOS rescue team walked behind us, completely on alert for more trouble. “Good fucking riddance,” Cash muttered and shook his head as his hands gently caressed my back.
Rocky cursed, “You fucking bitch, I’ll kill you and your pretty little boyfriend. Fuck you all, pussies!” His venom faded as we moved closer to the waiting vehicles being guarded by the new prospects.
“You okay, Minx?” Mick’s hand fell on my shoulder, his green eyes taking in what I was sure were bruises, busted lips, and judging by my vision, at least one eye was swollen shut.