Reckless

by Franca Storm

  He held up his hands and did as she asked.

  “Drop the damn knife!”

  I heard it clatter to the floor.

  But then he reached for his hip—a gun, I figured.

  The woman fired the shot gun and he screamed and collapsed to the floor, clutching his thigh. “What the fuck, Kim! You fucking shot me!”

  “Should’ve been your dick! Get the hell out!”

  “This is my house!”

  “Not anymore! It hasn’t been for a long time, Pete! Now get out! Five seconds or I’ll shoot you again.”

  He struggled past her. She moved with his movements, keeping the gun aimed his way the entire time as he limped towards the door. “You’ll regret this,” he seethed.

  “Get the hell out!”

  And he did.

  She waited until she heard the front door slam shut and then she hurried over to me.

  The last thing I remembered were some words of comfort from her and her trying to stop the bleeding, before I passed out.

  By the time she finishes, she’s crying uncontrollably. “I’ve never told anyone that,” she says between sobs.

  I stroke her hair and kiss her shoulders, her neck, her lips, trying desperately to comfort her after hearing the sick shit that Skinner put her through. “I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

  “No…it’s…a weight lifted. I’ve been holding onto that for so long.”

  “Fucking hell, Rox. I’m so sorry. He’s a fucking monster. I’ve known it for years, but hearing what he did to you…” I pull myself free from her and start pacing, running my fingers through my hair, tryin’ to get a grip “…fuck me. I’m gonna kill him, Rox. I swear it. And I’m gonna make it fucking hurt. Real fucking bad. I promise you that.”

  I turn my back, tryin’ to get my shit together and reel in the rage that hearing her story has sparked. I clench and unclench my fists and scrub my hand across my face roughly. Jesus Christ.

  I feel her arms around me all of a sudden. They snake around my waist, holding me tight. She rests her head on my back.

  Her touch starts to calm me, shocking me. The only thing that can usually calm me down when I’m really worked up is a long ride, alcohol and nicotine.

  I take her hands in mine and squeeze gently. “Thank you, beautiful girl.”

  Chapter 21

  ~Ax~

  After our talk, Rox drank the coffee I made her, downed a gallon of water, popped some pain pills and then led me up to her bedroom. She passed out right away. Thank fuck. Weren’t sure my self-control woulda held out if she’d come onto me again like she had outside that club. And the idea of fucking her when she was fucking wasted made me sick to my stomach. Got too much respect for her to do that shit. My girl’s fucking special. Deserves better than that.

  I laid awake for hours thinking ‘bout my mom and Skinner and all the shit happening with the Mavs, me walking out on Trig at the clubhouse and the shit I knew I’d face cuz of it.

  By the time I did finally fall asleep, I couldn’t keep the demons at bay. Talking ‘bout Skinner and what he’d done to Rox was too damn fresh, I guess and so, the nightmare hit me—the same nightmare that I’d had most nights for the last two years—that memory of that fucked up day:

  I glanced around the tattoo shop. It was after hours and empty, but the club had a master key. Everything looked fine; same old, same old.

  I turned to Smiter standing beside me. He was scanning the place just like me. “What the fuck, man?”

  “The intel said the place had been hit. Molotov cocktail attack by the Mavs.”

  “Where’d you get it cuz it sure ain’t right. One of your guys is playing with you.”

  “Shit. Sorry, Ax.”

  I storm past him, heading for the exit. “Next time, check the intel is good before you call me down.” As Sergeant-at-Arms, it was my job to deal with any security issues or breaches. I had my own guys keeping an eye on shit as well as surveillance, so when Smiter had first reported an attack here, I hadn’t believed him. But he’d insisted we come down and check it out.

  “Wait!”

  I stopped and spun back to him. “Why? We’re done here, brother.”

  “I…uh…maybe we should stay here, you know, just in case we’re early.”

  “Do you hear yourself?”

  He hesitated, looking fucking nervous. I stalked over to him. “What the fuck’s going on?”

  “I…I had orders.”

  “Orders?”

  “From Broker.”

  God, I hated that fucking VP. Piece of shit. I’d been tryin’ to get him voted out forever, but everyone was too shit-scared to do it. “What orders?”

  “I’m sorry, Ax.”

  “Sorry?”

  “I…I’m supposed to keep you occupied.”

  “What the fuck you talking ‘bout?”

  He shook his head. “I…can’t.”

  I fisted my hands in his cut and slammed him into the wall. “Talk! Now!”

  “There’s something going down with the Mavs and Broker didn’t want you involved cuz of your personal connection. Skinner being your old man and all.”

  “Going down? What?”

  “Intercepting a Mavs transport. Drugs. Several miles from here in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere. Broker said the Mavs are planning on bringing it through our territory.”

  “That makes no fucking sense,” I said, releasing him and stepping back.

  “I dunno, Ax. Just following orders.”

  “Where’s the intercept location? Broker say?”

  “Yeah. Somewhere ‘round Nightridge Bay.”

  I spun around. “What?” Adrenaline spiked through me. “You sure?”

  “Yeah, that’s what he said. Why, man?”

  Fuck. “That’s where my mom lives.”

  “What? Why the hell would he be intercepting there?”

  “I dunno…maybe cuz it’s a fucking set up!”

  “Shit…I swear, I didn’t know.”

  “I gotta get there now!”

  I rode like a maniac with Smiter at my back. Even ripping through the speed limits, it took us close to an hour to get down there.

  I pulled up, almost smacking into the gate in my rush, ripped off my helmet, tossed it on the ground and ran like hell towards the house.

  My heart jumped into my throat as I saw the front door was open.

  “Shit,” I heard Smiter mutter at my back.

  We both pulled our guns and hurried inside, sticking close to the walls and holding our weapons at the ready.

  “Mom!” I called out. “Mom, it’s Neil!”

  “Here, Ax!”

  Weren’t her voice. Was Broker’s. Me and Smiter exchanged a look. What the hell was he doing here? We followed his voice into the kitchen.

  I froze. “Oh fuck,” I choked. “Jesus Christ…ugh…shit….” It took everything I had not to gag at the sight in front of me.

  My mom was lying on the floor, blood fucking everywhere with Broker knelt down beside her.

  I knew right away: she was dead.

  Smiter cursed.

  My eyes were wide. I could hardly breathe.

  Broker looked up at me. “I’m so sorry, Ax. He got to her first. Skinner. He killed the protection you had watching the house.”

  I sank to my knees beside my mom. “Get out!” I thundered. “Both of you! Get the hell out!”

  They hurried outta the room and shut the door.

  As soon as they were gone, I snapped, roaring and cursing wildly. I was in agony. My mom was dead! Dead! And my old man had murdered her. Brutally stabbed her.

  I brushed my fingers over the golden cross hanging from her neck. It was stained in her blood. “No! No! No, Mom! Shit! Fucking hell!”

  My eyes snap open and I bolt up in bed.

  Holy fuck!

  It’s been a long time since I’ve had that nightmare. Talking ‘bout her last day with Rox late last night must’ve dredged all that shit up.

&n
bsp; It still kills me that I didn’t figure out ‘til later that Broker’d been working for Skinner at the time. He’d set it up. They’d both murdered her. Smiter and him had been forced to pull me away that day cuz I’d refused to leave her. And then, now I know, he went back for her neckless. Motherfucker!

  “Neil?” Rox says softly from beside me, her voice heavy with sleep.

  I turn to see her rolled onto her side, her eyes squinting at me.

  “Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep, beautiful girl.”

  But she don’t. She raises herself up in the bed. I watch her grab her head and mutter, “Shit.”

  “Yeah, you overdid it last night.” I grin at her. “Light weight.”

  “Shut up.” She slaps my arm and I wince.

  “Sorry. Your gunshot wound. Are you all right?” she asks, worriedly.

  I laugh. “Yeah, fine. Just sensitive.”

  “Do you have painkillers with you?”

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’ll take a couple more when I get up.”

  She nods. And then her eyes narrow as she looks at me. “What the hell?” she cries. The next thing I know, she’s flipping on the lamp on her bedside table.

  Light floods the room. “Ow. Some warning next time,” I grumble, blinking hard to adjust my eyes to the harsh brightness.

  She straddles me suddenly, her fingers all over my face. “Oh my God, Neil! What the hell happened? Shit, I didn’t notice any of this last night. Too drunk, I guess. But…shit.”

  I grab her wrists, pulling her fingers from my swollen face. “Looks worse than it feels,” I lie.

  “Who did this to you? Did Broker come after you again?”

  “No. Me and Trig had a difference of opinion.”

  “What? He messed up your face like this?” she asks, shocked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, what exactly happened?”

  I shake my head. “Club business, babe.”

  She blows out a breath. “Urgh. Club business,” she grumbles. She throws the covers off her and climbs outta bed. My dick jerks at the sight of her in nothing but her bra and panties. “Stupid—”

  “Don’t start,” I rumble, cutting her off. “You made a fucking deal with us, don’t forget.”

  That shuts her the hell up.

  “Fine,” she agrees.

  She grabs a white robe off the back of the door and shrugs it on. She ties the belt and I see her reach for the door. I bolt outta bed and in the next second, I’m pinning her against it, my hands on her soft perky tits and the robe on the floor. She moans as I pinch both her nipples.

  “No more business talk. Ain’t why I came back here. Let’s take a breather for a while, yeah?”

  She looks up at me, her eyes full of lust and desire. “Just us?”

  “Yeah, beautiful girl. Just us.”

  She flashes me a devilish smirk and then pushes me back. I groan at the loss of her sweet tits in my hands. But then she drops to her knees and looks up at me, licking her lips. Oh yeah. I’m good with this.

  She tugs my boxers down my legs slowly, her eyes flashing with excitement as she sees my cock is already hard and ready for her. I snatch ‘em outta her hands when they hit the floor and kick ‘em off.

  “Mmm,” she moans. Her tongue darts out and flicks the head.

  “Shit.”

  It swirls around, lapping up the pre-cum trickling out. “You taste good,” she breathes.

  “Yeah? Show me how fucking good, babe.”

  She smirks up at me. She keeps her dirty gaze on me as she opens her pretty mouth wide and takes my cock. She swallows the whole length. I slap my hand to the wall behind me for support as I feel it hit the back of her throat. “Oh fuck. That mouth of yours is…” She starts to move. “Ah…shit, Rox!”

  I tangle my hand in her hair. Her eyes flash excitedly and she drops her hands and clasps ‘em behind her back. Hell, yeah. “Want me to fuck your face, babe? That it? Want me to own that pretty mouth of yours?”

  She nods enthusiastically.

  “Get ready.”

  I shift my weight and slide my cock all the way out to the head before plunging back in, balls deep. Like before, she don’t gag. It turns me the fuck on and I lose my shit, pumping into her with no mercy, pulling her hair roughly, using it as a handle. Spikes of pleasure shoot through me. Christ, she’s good. She knows how to grip the hell outta me; knows how to deep throat so damn well.

  I pull out before I come down her throat.

  “Hands and knees,” I command. “Gonna fuck you now. Hard.”

  She whimpers at my words and drops onto all fours immediately and sticks out her sweet ass.

  I grip her hips and sink my cock into her tight wet heat. Goddamn, I ain’t never gonna get used to how tight she is. Amazing.

  She screams as I pound into her.

  “Yes! Harder, Neil! More!” she begs.

  I give her what she wants. She’s gonna feel this for the rest of the day.

  Reaching ‘round, I squeeze her tits, teasing her already hard nipples. She squeals and bucks against me. Yeah, my girl likes it rough.

  I slide my hand between her legs and pinch her clit. Once. Twice. And then she’s screaming and coming, her pussy clenching hard around my cock.

  “Fuck,” I grunt as I pull out quickly and shoot my load all over her back.

  I coat my finger in it and tug on her hair with my free hand, forcing her head back. “Open, babe.”

  She parts her lips and I slide my finger into her mouth, spreading my cum over her tongue. “Mmm,” she moans as she tastes me. My cock jerks as she sucks on my finger, cleaning off every drop.

  “Goddamn, Rox,” I breathe, pulling my finger away and stroking her hair. “You’re something else. Outta this world, babe.”

  She giggles and sits back, grinning at me.

  “Stay there,” I tell her. “One sec.” I walk into the bathroom and grab a hand towel. I run it under the tap, getting it damp and head back to her. “Sorry, I dirtied you up,” I say as I clean my cum off her back.

  She just shrugs and leans her head back. I kiss her lips softly and she melts in my arms. Yeah, I like this soft side of her. I toss the towel on the carpet and wrap my arms ‘round her.

  “That was sweet,” she murmurs.

  “What, babe?”

  “Cleaning me like that.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. I’m not used to sweet.”

  I feel my chest tighten. “Never?”

  She shakes her head.

  I bury my face in her neck. “Well, beautiful girl, I’ve got you now. You hear me?”

  She pulls from my hold and turns to look at me, her eyes wary. “I don’t need people, Neil. And I don’t…do this. Cuddling, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know, babe. I know.”

  “But you…you’re breaking all my rules, all my barriers. And it—”

  “Scares you?”

  “Yeah,” she says, surprised that I’m right there with her.

  I stroke her cheek and tell her, “Scares me too, Rox. This ain’t how I roll. But you’re under my skin. And you’re worth it, so I don’t give a shit. You make me feel things, woman.” I take her hand and press it to my heart. “You’re in here, Rox. It’s always been ironclad—shut up tight—and for good reason. But, with you, none of those reasons matter. And now you’re in there, I ain’t letting you out. Not for nothing. You feel me?”

  She grins.

  “What? That funny to you?”

  “It was really…romantic.”

  “Romantic?” I scoff. “Like hell, babe.”

  “Yes it was,” she says, ruffling my hair.

  I laugh. “Come here.”

  She launches herself at me, driving me to the floor. I pull her on top of me and hold her tightly. She tries to shift off me after a bit, but I tighten my grip around her back. “Just relax and lay here with me, beautiful girl.”

  Chapter 22

  ~Roxana~

  “Is that burning
?” I ask, peering over Neil’s shoulder at the stir-fry he’s cooking.

  He throws his hand out, pushing me back gently. “Backseat cook,” he mutters. “It’s all good, babe.”

  “Well, what can I do?”

  “Lay the table. After what went down earlier, ain’t comfortable with you doing much else.”

  “Hey! That green pepper was wet and slippery. It wasn’t my fault.”

  He turns from the frying pan and grabs my right hand. He traces his fingers over the Band-Aid wrapped around my index finger. “You almost took this off, babe. Yeah, staying back is best.” He releases me and turns back to his cooking. And then he scoffs, “Can’t believe you dunno how to cook.”

  “Cuz I’m a woman?” I ask, hearing the edge in my voice as I say the words.

  He tenses, obviously sensing the fight in my voice. “Ain’t what I meant,” he says over his shoulder.

  “I’m not housewife material, Neil.”

  “Yeah. Already got that, babe.”

  “Is that a problem?” I ask, leaning against the worktop beside him.

  He shrugs.

  What the hell does that mean? “Neil?”

  He blows out a breath and eyes me. “Look, I do wanna settle down one day. But who’s to say what that really means? A bunch of the boys got the traditional set up. Woman’s at home. Got their dinner on the table, clothes cleaned, housework done and shit. Seems kinda boring to me, though.” He smiles at me. “I want more spark. Fire. A spunky bitch who don’t take my shit; who gets my dick hard standing up to me, challenging me. That’s what I’m into. Never known a woman to come close to that ‘til you, babe.”

  The raw honesty in his words, the way he just laid it out like that, shocks me. Wow. I thought he was gonna tell me that he didn’t know what he wants. I figured he was a one-day-at-a-time guy. But, no, he’s thought about all this stuff. Oh shit. I wasn’t prepared for this. I haven’t thought about any of it.

  “Um…cool,” I manage to respond, realizing he’s expecting me to, when he keeps staring at me.

  He laughs and turns back to his cooking.

  “What?”

  “Loosen up, babe. Stop thinking so much. Just let things happen as they happen. Stop tryin’ to control everything. Ain’t nothing to worry ‘bout. I already told you, I ain’t here to clip your wings. And, by the way, your I run free statement up at the clubhouse?”