“Embarrass you? You were practically fucking him in front of everyone!”
“It’s not fucking. It’s called the Bachata.”
“I give zero fucks what it’s called! This is your supposed girls’ night?”
“He wasn’t supposed to be here. He just showed up. Like someone else, I see.”
I step back and let out a frustrated growl. “Jesus Christ, Raven! It’s bad enough I had to watch all those fuckers in there staring at you, but he had his hands all over you!”
She crosses her arms under her breasts, her chest heaving in anger.
“So what? I’m not your girlfriend.”
“Fuck what you think. You’re mine.”
“Fuck you! You come with your promises of dating but you don’t want a commitment. You say I run hot and cold, but at least I know what I want.”
“I know what I want.”
“Yeah. As you so eloquently put it, you want to fuck me.”
They’re my words, but hearing them thrown back at me pisses me the fuck off. “Shut the fuck up. If this was just about pussy, I’d be long gone. You wanna talk about commitment? Why don’t we talk about how you’re stringing that poor kid along? How committed are you to him?”
She opens her mouth to say something but closes it quickly. I take the opportunity to continue.
“And what about me? Am I supposed to sit back and watch you run around with the boy? You’re asking me for something you don’t seem willing to give. Maybe you’re just like Lonnie after all.”
Why the fuck did I say that? Shit. She stands frozen to the spot, staring at me in open-mouthed shock and disbelief.
I step toward her and she plants her palms on my chest, pushing me away. I take another step and she pummels my chest with her little fists.
“You motherfucker!”
“Raven, stop!”
I grab her wrists and we engage in a battle of death stares. She pulls away and then surprises the hell out of me when she grabs my shirt and drags me toward her, pressing her lips to mine. I force her against the wall and fucking own her lips. I have never kissed a woman like this before. It’s as if I’m pouring out all my rage and frustration, focusing all my energy into this one act. She claws at me like she’s unsure what to do with her hands. One second she’s grabbing my shirt, the next it’s my face, and then my hair.
She parts her lips, letting me in, and then I own her tongue, too. She moans, writhing against me. I taste every sweet inch of her mouth, grabbing her ass and pulling her to me. Squeezing her firm cheeks, I lift her off the ground. She wraps her legs around my hips and I push into the wall, pressing my dick against her pussy. I slide my hands under her top and up her back, desperate to feel her skin. She quivers, whimpering loudly. All the while, we’re going at each other’s lips like some ravenous creatures. She breaks the kiss, trying to catch her breath, and I sink my teeth into her neck.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
“Gage….”
“No one else, Raven. No one touches you but me.”
“Raven?”
I turn my head to see who the soft, shaky voice came from. Raven gasps, unhooks her legs from around me, and shrieks in horror, “Chris!”
***Raven***
Fuck, fuck, fuck! The shattered look on his face grabs my heart in a chokehold. He looks like he’s about to be sick. I can’t blame him. I can’t even imagine what’s going through his mind right now. He just shakes his head and walks away.
“Chris, wait!” I untangle myself from Gage and chase him down, but he ignores me. I grab his hand and he turns to me in a rage.
“I asked you about him and you lied!”
“You asked me if we’re having sex. We’re not.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“We’ve kissed. That’s it.”
“That’s it?” he mocks me. “Oh, that’s fine then.”
“I know you’re angry, but please—”
“I love you. Do you understand that?”
The tears that were forming in my eyes spill over and race down my cheeks.
“You had something going with him before we started dating, didn’t you?”
“We kissed.”
“What is he? Some kind of pedophile?”
“He didn’t know my age.”
“Aah, now I get it. With your birthday coming up, he’s sniffing around you again.”
“Chris, I swear I didn’t want… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Well, you have. And for what? Some guy who’s just going to fuck you and then toss you out like garbage.” He practically spits the words at me.
“I get your anger, but there’s no need to be mean.”
“Well, what are you going to do?”
“I… I don’t know.” I honestly don’t.
“Great. You know what? Have fun with the biker trash.”
“Chris….”
“Oh, by the way, ask him about Janet Presley.”
He walks away and this time I let him leave. What have I done? My knees buckle, but I’m caught before I hit the ground.
“It’s okay, doll. I got you.”
He picks me up and I bury my face in his neck as I bawl my eyes out. When he sets me down, I open my eyes and see I’m in the passenger seat of his car. “Where are we going?”
“I’m getting you out of here.”
“But Chrissy—”
“I’ll have the boys take care of her.”
He buckles my seat belt, closes the door, and then slides in next to me. I stare out my window, feeling absolutely numb. I’m the scum of the Earth. Worse than that. I’m the scum on the bottom of the shoe of the scum of the Earth. I should have told him instead of him finding out this way. I watch the scenery change as Gage drives, not knowing where we’re going and not caring. He takes my hand and gives it a light squeeze.
“You’ll be okay, babe. I’m here.”
I turn to look at him and remember Chris’ last words. “Who’s Janet Presley?”
His jaw clenches and I see the anger in his eyes before he looks away. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Who is she?”
“Just some chick. She’s not important.”
“What happened to her?”
“Nothing. She moved away a couple years ago.”
“Was she your girlfriend?”
“What? Hell no.”
I watch him grip the wheel tightly. She means something to him. I’m not sure what, but I’m not in the frame of mind to figure it out. I have my own shit to deal with.
“Fuck.” he says, glancing in the rear-view mirror.
“What is it?”
“Two bikes behind us. Been there for a while.”
“So?”
“So? What bikers you know ride along diligently through traffic?”
He has a point.
“You think they’re following us?”
“Let’s see.”
He accelerates and I watch in the mirror on my side as the bikes speed up, too. Then they pull out from behind us.
“I think they’re going to pass us,” I tell him.
“Shit!”
One of them pulls up next to Gage’s window.
“What is he doing?” I exclaim in a panic.
I look around frantically for the other rider and almost swallow my tongue as I stare through my window and down the barrel of a gun.
Oh. Shit.
Continues in Tempted…
Tempt (verb)
– To cause someone to do or want to do something even though it may be wrong, bad, or unwise
– To entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain
Synonyms – persuade, convince, coax
PROLOGUE
***Gage***
Where we left off in Forbidden...
Damn. I don’t really like the kid but he looked genuinely hurt when he found me and Raven together. Am I a sick fuck because I’m relieved that he knows now? Th
e only thing is, we’re dealing with a double-edged sword. Raven’s devastated because she’s done the one thing she’s been trying to avoid all this time—hurt the boy. I can’t stand to see her like this.
“You’ll be okay, babe. I’m here,” I tell her as I gently squeeze her hand.
She turns to me, eyes brimming with tears, and it crushes me.
“Who’s Janet Presley?” she asks.
The fuck? How does she know Janet? “Where did you hear that name?”
“Who is she?”
Who is she? Nobody. Just a woman who almost ruined my fucking life. “Just some chick. She’s not important.”
I check the rear-view mirror and spot two sport bikes riding alongside each other. I move closer to the shoulder to allow them to pass but they stay behind me.
“What happened to her?” Raven’s voice brings me back to the conversation.
“Nothing. She moved away a couple of years ago.”
“Was she your girlfriend?”
Girlfriend? “What? Hell no.”
Just talking about her is getting me fucked up. She’s a part of the reason I don’t do girlfriends. Too much fucking drama. I check the mirror again as I turn a corner and notice that the bikers follow. Are these fuckers tailing me? I slow down, they do, too. I take another turn, not on my route, and they do the same.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
“What is it?”
“Two bikes behind us. Been there for a while.”
“So?”
“So? What bikers you know ride along diligently through traffic?” I ask her.
“You think they’re following us?”
“Let’s see.”
I press on the gas and keep my eyes on the mirror. They pull out from behind us but I notice one of them reaching behind him. I’ve done that too many times to not recognize what he’s doing.
“I think they’re going to pass us,” Raven says.
No, they’re not. One of them pulls up to my window, keeping pace with us. “Shit!”
“What is he doing?” Raven asks in a panic.
The other fucker points a gun at her window and I kick my ass into gear. Coming after me is one thing. Putting Raven in danger? That’s a whole fucking avalanche of hurt for the suicidal motherfucker who attempts it.
CHAPTER 1
***Gage***
It’s funny the things that go through your mind in dangerous situations. Some people say their lives flash before their eyes. Some think about their regrets, things they haven’t done. Some get scared shitless and don’t know what to do. Others say they think about their loved ones. Me? I thrive on danger and feel that much more powerful when I come out on top. I’m always ten steps ahead, weaving my way out before my opponent even realizes what’s going on. Tonight is different. Tonight, all I can think about is the scared girl next to me, no regard whatsoever for myself. Tonight, she’s the only thing on my mind. I need to keep her safe, by any means necessary.
“Get down!” I shout.
I swerve right, bumping the rider on Raven’s side of the car. She unbuckles her seat belt and drops down to the floor, covering her head with her hands. Before I can get the guy on my side, he fires a shot. It hits my window, the sound echoing through the car. Thank God for bullet-proof windows. I floor the gas pedal, trying to put some distance between us. Raven peeks up at me, fear in her exquisite eyes.
“You’re gonna be fine,” I assure her. “Do you trust me?”
She nods just as a bullet hits the passenger-side window. The horn blares from a truck coming in the opposite direction, and the rider on the right falls back and pulls in behind us. The one on the left fires another shot, hitting my rear view mirror. Think, Gage, think. What would you do if she wasn’t with you? I’d take the fuckers down.
I need to get off the main road. I move over onto the shoulder and pass a few cars, but the bikers follow right behind. If I don’t do something quickly, a lot of people will get hurt. An access road comes into view, so I head in that direction. A couple more shots hit the rear windshield. I glance down at Raven, cowering on the floor. I need to end this now.
I hit a hard right, take a few side streets, and get a good lead on them. I know they won’t give up, though. I press the button I have hidden under my seat and the secret compartment on the dash opens.
“Whoa,” Raven says, eyes wide in wonder.
“Cool, huh?” I grab one of the unregistered Glocks I keep in there and drop it in my lap, along with an extra magazine. “Look, we can’t outrun them, so I need to get rid of them. Just stay down, and I’ll get us out of here.”
“Fuck that. You got an extra one?”
She climbs back into her seat and grabs the other Glock out of the dash. Shock turns into pride as she looks over at me, a fire burning in her eyes.
“Okay. Let’s do this,” I say, more to myself than her.
There’s an open field up ahead, so I race toward it, turn in, and face the road. I turn the high beams on so the fuckers can see us, then put my window down. She does the same.
“On my cue, start firing. There are extra mags in there.”
The bikers stop at the edge of the field, and I rev the engine. Come on, motherfuckers. They sit there, just waiting and watching. I rev the engine again and they take off toward us. I shift into gear and press the gas.
“Now, babe!”
They fire a shit-storm of bullets which hit the windshield and the grill. Raven fires at the guy on her side, taking him down after four shots. I wait until the other is close enough and fire one into his chest. He flies backwards, flopping to the ground. I need to make sure they’re dead. I stop the car and turn to her, taking her hand. She’s breathing heavily, but she doesn’t seem scared anymore. She stares into my eyes, waiting. Waiting for me to tell her our next move. She trusts me to get us out of this shit, and I will. “Get into the driver’s seat and lock the doors. Anything happens to me, you drive away. Got it?”
“What? I’m not leaving you!”
Fuck me. Each day that passes, she looks more and more like the perfect woman. I crush my lips to hers then pull back reluctantly. “Just do as I say,” I command while grabbing my flashlight from the glove compartment.
I hop out and listen for the click of the locks. The moment I hear it, I move slowly toward the biker I shot, listening to the two shitheads groaning. Make that one; one of them goes quiet. I find the one I shot, but he’s done for. I put another bullet in him anyway before I head to the opposite side and find the other fucker. Damn. All Raven’s shots connected—one in the stomach and three in the chest. The girl is good. I crouch down and remove his helmet. He coughs, blood dripping out of his mouth. “Who sent you?”
“F… fuck… you.”
“Fuck me? Nah. Fuck you, motherfucker.” I put a bullet in his neck and watch as the life drains from his eyes. “Fucker.”
I head back to the car and Raven jumps out and into my arms. Fuck, she feels good. I hold her to me tightly, thanking God she’s safe. I don’t know what I would have done if she’d been hurt. Or worse.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You good?” I ask as I toss the flashlight onto the back seat.
She nods, her head bouncing up and down emphatically. I need to get her out of here. I pull out my phone and dial Razor.
“Prez,” he answers.
“I need clean-up… and a ride. Bring the trailer, too.”
“Got it. Where?”
“I don’t have a fucking clue. Have Tek track the Mustang.”
“Got it.”
“And clear out the clubhouse. Members only.” I hang up and look down at the girl still clutching me tightly. “You never stop surprising me.”
She gazes up at me, and I brush a kiss on her lips. How many women would have done what she did? Not a lot of men would have stepped up like that. I lean against the car and just hold her, stroking her hair as I stare up at the night sky. Her words play on a loop in my mind.
I’m not leaving you. And I don’t believe she would have, either. I think she would have gone down with me if it had come to that. Shit. This is exactly why I don’t keep women around, why I keep a revolving door on my bedroom. Any woman of mine would be an easy target. Is that what I’m doing to Raven? Am I turning her into a target? I know I’m a selfish son of a bitch, but I want her too much to let her go. I’ll keep her safe. If I have to become her personal bodyguard then so be it. If anyone wants to get to her, they have to go through me.
The guys arrive half an hour later. They roll my bike out of the trailer and load up the bodies and their bikes. Razor walks over to me, jerking his head toward the Mustang.
“What happened?”
“Later, Razor. Church when we get back.”
He nods and heads back to help the others. I lightly squeeze Raven’s shoulders, and she peeks up at me. “Come on, doll.”
She releases me, and I grab my hoodie from the back seat. Standing before her, I place it around her shoulders and she sticks her arms in. I zip it up and lift the hood over her head. While Motor loads the Mustang into the trailer, I help Raven onto my bike. She instinctively slides forward and wraps her arms around me when I climb on. She clings to me for the entire ride, her tight grip never faltering. Fuck if I don’t like the feeling.
We roll into the compound, and I park in the garage. While helping her off, I notice she’s shaking. “Babe? You okay?”
She doesn’t answer. She’s staring at my chest, but I get the feeling she’s not seeing me. Fuck. She must be in shock or something. I pick her up and hurry inside, praying she’ll be okay. E rushes toward me.
“What happened?” he asks in a panic.
“I think she’s in shock.”
His eyes widen, and he exclaims, “She was with you?”
“Could you just take a look at her?” I really don’t need his shit right now.
“I’ll get my bag.”
I take her to my room and lay her on the bed gently. She stares up at the ceiling, hardly blinking. I enclose her trembling fingers in mine.
RAGE: President & First Lady Of The Death Dealers MC Page 14