"No, Luna!" Casey said with panic. "Jim can't see me like this!" Her expression was fearful.
"He's going to know, Casey." Luna hesitated as if she wanted to say more, and thought better of it. "None of this is your fault. He's not going to blame you."
Casey began to cry quietly. "They raped me, Luna, all six of them. Sometimes two at once!" she sobbed. "They were animals."
"They're dead, honey. All of them. And all you need to worry about is healing and getting better. Okay?" Casey didn't respond.
The sound of motorcycles in the distance revealed that Jim and the others were coming. Three minutes later he was rushing into the house, his eyes wild as he zeroed in on where we were. Their club doctor, Melvin, and two others were with him.
"Fuck." He rushed over. Luna moved out of his way so he could get close to Casey. "Babe." He grabbed her hand, his gaze moving over her covered form.
Were those tears in his eyes? Shit. I took Luna by the hand and pulled her gently away. I didn't want Luna to see a brother lose it. We were tough fucks but not without emotions when it mattered.
Moody moved away, too, going to the first body and crouching down. I knew that he was making sure they were dead. Their cuts would be removed and later burned. I took Luna outside to my bike. "I want to clean those open wounds, honey." Without warning I picked her up and placed her on the seat, her gasp drawing my eyes to her lips. Fuck, I wanted to kiss that pretty mouth, but the dried blood at the corner revealed that she'd been hurt. There was a bruise on her cheek, too, and further down against her throat. I clenched my teeth until my jaw hurt. She should have been protected.
"I hate Jim," she said, surprising me. "I hate them all for not protecting Casey. This all could have been avoided."
She didn't know what she was talking about. Right now she was speaking from the heart, saying what she truly believed, because she was hurt and wanting to place blame. Yeah, they'd fucked up, but not because they hadn't cared. I couldn't let her disrespect my brothers or the club.
"Wrong." It was possible that my objection had come out a little too strongly. Her eyes rounded, as if she couldn't believe that I didn't agree with her. I needed to explain before the fire reflected in her eyes exploded into something else. "They were coming back for her, for both of you. Jim didn't realize that Casey wasn't at the compound until shit settled down. His brothers knew how he felt about her."
"How could they, he hadn't claimed her."
I grinned that she understood what that meant, digging through my saddlebag for my first aid kit. "I have a feeling that he's claimed her now." The look of anguish on Jim's face had spoken volumes. He was going to care for Casey. It was clear that he loved her.
"Too late."
Her bitter words caused my head to snap up, capturing her eyes. I managed to stop myself from snapping something back, because that was how she felt, and she was allowed to feel that way. I'd been ready to blame the whole fucking club for not protecting the girls, but I, more than anyone, understood MC dynamics. There were rules for a reason. Jim had fucked up by not claiming Casey early on, and he would have to live with that mistake for the rest of his life. But I had a feeling that he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her, too.
If she'd have him after this.
I pulled out my kit and set it on Luna's lap.
"Why did you come back?" she asked.
I opened the kit and rummaged through it in search of some kind of antiseptic. I found a tiny tube of Aloe vera gel, grabbed that, and finally some Neosporin. "Reaper called, said he could use my help." As soon as the words were out, I realized that that probably wasn't what she wanted to hear. I grabbed a bottle of water and the last of the gauze.
"Oh."
Avoiding her eyes, I walked around my bike until I was on the other side of her. "This is going to hurt like hell." I carefully lifted my shirt away from her body and bunched it up around her shoulders. Shit. Every time I saw her back I wanted to do damage to something. I uncapped the bottled water and doused her open wounds, gently dabbing at them to clean off the dried blood. Luna hissed, jerking away. "Sorry, baby."
"It's okay," she murmured in a low, defeated tone.
Was she upset because I hadn't returned for her? Fuck. I would have, eventually. I knew that for a fact. I hadn't been able to get her off my mind. I'd just had to prove something to myself, that I didn't need her. Casual. Right. So why did I want to fuck her again so much? Even now my dick was turning hard, just being near her. I'd fucked other women more than once, but I'd never experienced the same intense, relentless hunger for any particular woman that I had for her.
"Do what you have to do so I can go home."
I applied a generous amount of antiseptic cream to the wounds. This time Luna just flinched before accepting my touch. "You have to know there's no going home for you." I treated the welts with the Aloe vera gel, hearing her soft sigh of relief.
"Why not? I need to tend to Samson."
"Samson?" I frowned, moving back around to face her.
She nodded, saying sadly, "They . . . they shot him."
Fuck!
"He was trying to protect us."
A heavy breath escaped me as I replaced the items back into the kit and snapped it shut. "Is he dead?" I met the sorrow in her eyes.
"I don't know. He didn't get up after he was shot, but I don't want Casey returning home to find her dog just lying there."
"Neither one of you will be going home for a while. It's too dangerous. These aren't the only Destroyers out there, and once the rest of them find out what happened here they will retaliate." I let the words sink in. "You'll be staying at the Wreckers' compound until lockdown is over. I'll take care of Samson."
"What if I don't want to go to the compound?"
I was surprised at the defiance in her tone. "You got somewhere else to go where you'll be safe?" I could read the truth in her eyes before she said the words.
"Not really. But why should I matter? I'm no one to the club."
I released a harsh breath, trying to hold on to my anger. Now was not the time for her to give me grief. Too much was at stake, and I didn't want to have to worry about her. I needed to keep my mind clear to be of any help to Reaper.
I clamped my hands down onto her knees and yanked her legs apart. She sucked in a sweet breath, the pupils in her eyes dilating as I stepped between them. "You're going to the compound with Casey." I couldn't bring myself to single her out, making it appear that this was personal, that I wanted her protected, even though I did. Christ. This was fucked up!
What was more fucked up was what I was feeling with my dick up close and personal with her pussy. She was hot as a furnace between her legs, and my dick wanted back in her sweet heat. I was a sick fuck for thinking those thoughts after what she had just gone through. It could have been her on that fucking pool table.
"Jace?"
I continued to stare silently at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Will you kiss me?" Her eyes darted away with a shyness that I recognized. "I just want to feel something good right now."
Gladly. I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and lowered my head to give her what she wanted. The instant my mouth touched the softness of hers I groaned at the pleasure that shot through me, as devastating as any bullet. She moaned softly and opened her mouth for my tongue, compelling me to forget all about my intention to be gentle and tender with her. They were two emotions that I wasn't comfortable with anyway. As soon as I felt her total surrender I ravished her mouth, grinding my mouth against hers, thrusting my tongue in a dance that she'd started.
It was a kiss like no other.
Hungry.
Satisfying.
Consuming.
She tasted like a strange mixture of warm sunshine and rain, and I drank the arousal from her mouth like a greedy bastard. My dick punched hard behind my zipper, making Luna aware of how much I wanted her. I growled when she wrapped her arms around my neck and c
rushed herself against me, giving her all in a moment of madness.
I understood her need to feel something good. I'd been there before, too many damned times. And I was going to make her feel good, as long as she let me.
Chapter 18
Luna
Someone cleared their throat, and I reluctantly pulled away from Jace. The moment he'd put his mouth on mine I'd forgotten where we were. His kiss had been so hot and intensely satisfying. I wanted more--more kissing, more of everything from him. It hadn't taken much to set me on fire, proof of his effect on me wetting my underwear. But when I glanced over to where the noise had come from and saw his friend, reality came back to me like a slap in the face.
Reality and everything that had happened to me and Casey.
I was ashamed.
Jace turned his head, remaining nestled against my sex. "Yeah, brother?"
"Reaper's sending a truck to take her out of here."
"She's not going to the hospital?" I rushed out in disbelief.
The man shook his head. "Doesn't want to go to the hospital. The doc sewed her up, gave her the morning after pill, and took samples to check for disease. The bleeding has stopped. Says as long as she takes it easy, the next few days she'll heal up fine."
Sewed her up? Oh my God! I felt sick. I'd seen the blood coming from her rectum area. I tried to push Jace away, but he was like a concrete statue. "Jace." I heard the panic in my voice, and he must have recognized it for what it was, because he stepped back and pulled me off the seat of his bike.
I stumbled away into some nearby bushes. I was going to throw up, and then I was, barfing loudly. I knew that Casey's body may heal up fine in a few days, but how long would it take her mind to heal? How long would it take her to get over this nightmare?
"The cleaners will be here in ten minutes," I heard his friend say.
"They all dead?" Jace questioned.
I didn't hear any response from his friend, but assumed that they were when he did say, "Their cuts and identification are being removed right now."
"Yeah, Reaper will want those," Jace remarked. "Listen, I want you to take Luna with you to the compound. I've got to see to Casey's dog‒"
I jumped into the open. "No! I want to go with you." I locked my gaze onto the hard look in Jace's eyes.
He opened his mouth and I knew that he was going to protest. "Too fucking dangerous," he said firmly.
"I need to get some clothes for Casey and me anyway," I pointed out.
"I can grab you both some clothes," he countered, not giving in. I pressed my lips. "Here, use this to rinse your mouth out with." He held the water bottle out to me.
"Thank you." I took it gratefully. I turned my back to them again and rinsed my mouth out several times before taking a swallow. "Jace!" I squealed when I suddenly found myself being lifted into his arms and taken over to one of the bikes.
"Much as I don't want you on another brother's bike, you're going to the compound with Moody." He set me down on the leather seat. "I trust Moody to get you there and look out for you until I can get there."
"But‒"
"Christ, baby, just do as I ask." Irritation was evident in his tone.
Well, too bad. "You're not asking."
He growled. "You're going with Moody."
"But‒"
"Casey needs you."
Damn. He was right. I suddenly felt deflated. I glanced at his friend, Moody, who'd been watching the exchange quietly. It was hard to gauge what he was thinking because his expression was indifferent and hard, as if carved in stone. His eyes were cold, so dark that I wondered if they were black. He was a tad larger than Jace, his hair clipped military style. The man was downright scary.
I must have taken too long to respond because a finger beneath my chin turned my face back to Jace. "Go with Moody. Take care of Casey, get cleaned up, and get something to eat. By that time I'll be back. Yeah?"
I nodded reluctantly. He leaned in and gave me a brief kiss, and then looked at Moody.
I got nervous when Moody began to walk my way. "Do I need to get off?" I asked, thinking that I may need to in order for him to get on the bike.
"You're okay," was his brisk reply. He easily mounted the monstrous bike, starting it up quickly, and then we were off. I was thankful for the backrest because the momentum of his take off forced me back into it. It also caused a stab of pain to shoot through my body, and I straightened away from the backrest. Was he aware that I had an injury?
"Hold on to me!" Moody shouted over the roar of his bike.
I gratefully wrapped my arms around him. On the way out to the main road we passed a white van, and then we were back on Route 9 heading toward the compound. The compound. I wasn't sure what to expect when we got there, but when I thought about it David Koresh came to mind. I'd watched a documentary about him once for a school project. All I could picture was a large building that housed masses of people.
During the ride my thoughts drifted back to Casey. She was going to need help. She had support from Jim and me, and I was sure from others in the club as well, but she was going to need more. When she'd told me about her step-father I hadn't gotten the impression that she'd sought any kind of professional help. She'd run, and now she was hiding. What had happened to her at the hands of the Destroyers was going to require help from an expert that knew how to heal trauma of the mind.
Thinking about what they'd done to her, I fought back tears. I'd help her in any way that I could.
It wasn’t long before Moody was turning off onto another private road, according to the signs that we passed that warned,”Keep out. Private Property.” I hadn't been too far off in my thinking about what the compound would look like. As we came up on it I could see that the entire place was fenced in, complete with razor wire along the top. It reminded me of a prison, especially when I saw the men manning the gate. The main building was a huge, two story structure, and there were several smaller positioned around it. Vehicles, as well as bikes, were parked in the front.
We didn't stop at the gate as I'd thought we'd have to. The bikers guarding it obviously recognized Moody and pulled the gate open so we could ride right on though. He parked, turned off his bike, and then offered me a hand to get off. I had to admit that I was a little nervous. I knew most of these people, but the whole situation seemed dangerous and surreal. I followed quietly behind Moody as we walked toward the door, and then into the main building.
"Luna!" I heard someone yell as soon as we’d walked inside. When I glanced in the direction that the voice had come from I saw Rosa and Marie rushing my way, their expressions wrought with worry and concern. "Oh, my God, honey. Reaper told us what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm okay."
"Where's Casey?" Marie wanted to know.
"They're bringing her back in a truck." I glanced at Moody, who hadn't moved from my side. "She's not good."
"Hey, big guy, we've got her," Marie said, addressing him pointedly. He grunted and walked off in the direction of the bar, her gaze following him for a bit. She waited until he was out of earshot before saying, "Wow…scary."
"How hurt is she?" Rosa asked quietly.
I glanced around. There were people everywhere, and not just bikers. Some were watching us, but most were caught up in their own situations. Women were herding children into another room. From where I stood, I could see a large TV with a kid's show on. Some women were in clusters, and the women that I knew were club women were separated into their own private group. You could spot them easily from their lack of attire, though I had to admit that they were in more now than I'd seen them wear at the camp ground clubhouse.
"Come on." Marie grasped my hand. "Let's go somewhere quiet."
She led me through the main room and down a long hallway that was lined with doors. We passed a double set of doors that had their club name and logo on it, public restrooms, and an opened door that, when I peered inside, looked like a cafeteria. One door was marked “private,” and there
was a light above it that was blinking red. Finally, Marie opened one of the doors, and I found myself in a small apartment.
The décor was nothing like the outside of the room, which had been dark and dimly lit, and reeked of smoke and booze. "I feel like we just entered another dimension."
Marie laughed. "You did. This is my and Reaper's world." She directed me to a chair, while she and Rose sat down on the couch. "Honey, we're so sorry this happened to you and Casey."
"It wasn't your fault." The words hadn't come easily, because the truth was that deep down I did hold the Wreckers responsible. At least one of them, anyway.
"Is Casey going to be okay?" Rosa questioned in a concerned tone.
I released a breath. "In time, I think she will be. The doctor said she needs to take it easy the next few days, that she should heal fine. It's her mind I'm worried about. They did--" I paused, not sure of how much I should say. Maybe Casey wanted to keep what they'd done to her private. But then I reminded myself that Rosa and Marie were our friends, and they were concerned about her. "They did horrible things to her."
Rosa nodded sadly. "We can guess‒"
"Bastards!" Marie hissed, cutting her off. "The Destroyers live up to their name."
I could only nod.
"Jim went out looking for you both as soon as he found out what happened." Rosa's smile was meant to be comforting. "Thank God Jace and his friend passed a group of them on the road and was able to follow them."
"Yes. That was lucky for us."
"Casey will be taken care of, she'll get whatever she needs to get through this. She's family now. Jim claimed her in front of his brothers right before he left to go get you girls to bring you here."
I digested what Marie had said. As I'd told Jace earlier, it was too late as far as I was concerned. Jim should have claimed Casey earlier. I kept my thoughts to myself though, because it wouldn't change anything now, and I didn't want to cause trouble by placing blame on Jim. They had their rules, and I didn't pretend to understand them. But then something Marie had said made me question her.
Dangerous (Nomad Outlaws Trilogy Book 2) Page 13