by Jennifer Ann
“Welcome back, brother,” Butcher says with a sneer. “Dryden is going to be happier than a whore on payday to see you.”
As I slowly lift my hands into the air, I struggle against the urge to tear his throat out.
I’ve fucking failed Alexa.
15
Alexa
Kerissa seems preoccupied the moment we leave the safe house, always glancing into the rearview mirror of the white Jeep and looking over her shoulder. She immediately fires off questions that feel especially invasive, especially in the way she looks at me sideways when she throws them out. Where did I go to school? How long have I lived in my neighborhood? Do I have family in the area? Have I stripped before? Am I seeing anyone?
I’ve tried not to meet her gaze too often, and not just because it’s sickeningly easy to see why Michael would be attracted to her in the first place, but because I’m afraid she’ll see right through me. What’s with all the questions? It’s not like she has any reason to be suspicious because I didn’t leave her waiting long at the safe house.
Once I realize we’re not headed for Spinner’s, my breasts become slick with sweat despite the warm wind whipping my hair around my face. I pull it to one side and glance over at Kerissa. “Where are we going?”
“We have a few…errands to run,” she says. Then she twists around to look at me, smirking. “So tell me, Brandi. What made you want to work for my uncle?”
I hold my breath and stare straight ahead, trying desperately to swallow. She knows.
“Is it the exotic location?” she asks in a sing-song voice. “The way my uncle treats the dancers? Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that you’re fucking MJ now that he’s out of prison.”
All the blood drains from my face in a cold rush. Turning to face her, I blink rapidly. “What?”
“It’s too late to play dumb. I talked to Archer this morning. He had his suspicions about you the minute you walked into Spinner’s.” She laughs in a bitter sound. “Girls who look like you don’t come in off the streets, asking for a waitressing job. Everyone who walks through that door begs to dance because they know stripping’s good money. And my uncle said there was something about you that was too familiar. Told Archer you were acting all modest around him…covering your tits and blushing.”
As my pulse quickens to a dizzying speed, I dig my fingernails into my thighs. “How did you know about Michael?”
“I’ve never had biscuits and gravy that taste exactly like his momma’s recipe, and he has this weird thing about lining up the biscuits on the pan in a diagonal pattern. I used to give him shit about being mildly OCD. Guess half a year in prison didn’t change him.”
I reach for my purse by my feet, comforted by the weight of my Beretta. A semi passes in the next lane, blowing my hair around my face. Tatum told me that if I got into a sticky situation while in a car with anyone, that I should jump and roll into the ditch. But if I were to jump on this highway, I’d be run over in a matter of seconds. What if I somehow signaled to a car for help?
“What’s the matter?” Kerissa purrs. “You seem a bit nervous.”
Watching her lips curl in amusement, I attempt to calm my racing heart by taking a deep breath through my nose. “What do you want from me?”
“How deep are you into this thing with MJ?” Her eyes shift from the road to me, and I see something dangerous flicker to life behind her eyes. “Has he told you he loves you? That he wants you to spend the rest of your lives together?”
My heart thumps so hard that it shakes my entire chest. “No.”
“Bullshit. I may not know you, but I can tell you’re lying.” Eyes fixed on the road, she shakes her head. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’re not the only one to fall for his bullshit act. I was once in your shoes. That guy can be a real charmer. He sought me out the same way he did with you. Fucked the shit out of me once he knew he had it in with the club, and made sure my father knew we were doing it. Only rather than wanting me to get him out of prison like with you, he hooked up with me because he wanted revenge on my father.”
Oh god oh god oh god…this can’t be happening. Surely she’s elaborating because she’s jealous. Michael wouldn’t use me like that, would he?
Holding my hair behind my head, I scowl over at her. “Revenge for what?”
“That’s the only piece of the puzzle that remains missing. I don’t know what my father ever did to MJ, but it became clear that’s the game MJ was playing when he fucked me in the middle of my folks’ living room and told Rambone to stop by. MJ was in the best mood I’d ever seen him in after my father stormed out of there afterwards. MJ went out of his way to push every last one of my father’s buttons. When I told him that I killed my father because I loved him, he simply told me that I should run before the cops came. He used me to get what he wanted. Just like he used you. If I had known what he was planning—that he wouldn’t stop until my father was dead—I would’ve walked away.”
I shake my head, deciding she’s unstable just like Michael said. “He didn’t kill your father.”
Tilting her head back, she laughs with a maniacal sound. “I didn’t say he did, did I? It was much more complicated than that. MJ played me like a charm…made me channel all the hatred I felt for my old man all my life and made sure it festered. I did the dirty work so MJ wouldn’t get his hands dirty.” She pauses to study me over her shoulder. “He played you too, girlfriend. He had you believing he was totally innocent.”
I suck in a mouthful of warm air and plead with myself to stay calm. What if she’s telling the truth? What if Michael only told me she was crazy because she’s the only one who knows the story of what happened the night Rambone was murdered? What if he used me to get him out of prison so they could run off together?
Bending over, I try to calm my racing heart. How the fuck could I allow myself to have been so easily manipulated? I knew from my dark past that people are only kind if they want something. That they’d promise a place to live for giving their friend a blowjob, or they’d offer something to eat other than wet dog food to sit naked on the bed with a man in a suit who has wandering hands.
As the forgotten memories resurface, my stomach roils. I was so fucking weak when Tatum found me in that alley, beaten within an inch of my life by an angry john. If she hadn’t come along that night, it’s likely I’d be dead. I know for damn sure I wouldn’t have turned my life around the way I did to become an officer in the Army and a licensed attorney. I never used to think there was anything good in this world until she came along and took care of me like a bird with a broken wing, helping me turn my life around and using part of her inheritance to make ends meet.
I allowed myself to believe in that kind of goodness once again when Michael came into my life. It seems unlikely I let my guard down enough to get duped by a man. I’ve spent the last eight years holding men at an arm’s length, unable to let anyone get any closer unless it was to have wild, unattached sex. But if Michael was truly only using me to get his conviction overturned, why did he come looking for me at Spinner’s? Why would he come back for me when he could’ve disappeared through Witness Protection? Is it because he wouldn’t have been able to disappear with Kerissa?
Maybe because for whatever reason he wanted revenge on Rambone, he’s not finished. He told me by sleeping with Kerissa it made both Rambone and Kerissa’s uncle angry. Maybe he’s after Dryden too.
I refuse to let myself be a fucking victim ever again, whether by Michael, Kerissa, or that fucker Dryden.
“If you killed your father, then you’re the one who should be in prison.” I whip my Beretta out and point it at her head. “Pull the fuck over.”
Glancing out the corner of her eye, Kerissa laughs. “Like you’re really going to shoot me? The vehicle would crash, and we’d both die. Doesn’t sound very…safe.”
“I’m known to be a little reckless every now and then.” I release the safety and raise my eyebrows. “Go ahead and try me. See how far I�
��m willing to go in order to nail your crazy ass.”
She jerks the steering wheel. We sharply veer off to the right, cutting off several vehicles and creating a sea of blasted horns. Then she cuts onto the highway’s shoulder and my heart leaps into my throat.
This crazy bitch is going to kill us both!
The gun’s jolted from my grip when we hit a lip on the exit. Before I’m able to recover, Kerrisa snatches it from the seat. I spring toward her to wrestle it back and she backhands me with my own gun.
Unbearable pain ricochets through my skull.
A bright flash flickers before my eyes.
My ears ring and everything turns black.
Someone’s moaning.
It takes my brain a minute to process what’s happening before I realize the sound is coming from my own lips. Red-hot pain ripples across my forehead where Kerissa struck me, and my entire head throbs. When I inhale deeply, the metallic tang of blood stings my nose, and my body feels as if it’s floating on the edge of losing consciousness.
“Oooo…that’s going to leave a mark!” the crazy bitch sings from close by.
Prying my eyes open, I find her hovering over me. I’m bound to one of several chairs in the center of a dark, damp room. A basement. I quickly assess my surroundings, hoping to find the bunkbeds Michael had mentioned. But the place is empty, and we’re completely alone. Where has she taken me?
“What’s the matter? Looking for your little ICE friend that was tailing us on the freeway?” Kerissa asks, licking her lips and parting them with a loud smack. “He’s the one who tipped me off and told me where to find you, you dumb bitch. I figured you would’ve heard by now the club has their fingers in everything in this town.”
Did Tatum ask someone she trusted to follow me? I know with the upmost confidence that there isn’t a damn thing my best friend would do to put me in harm’s way. She proved that when she literally scraped me off the ground and saved my life.
“What do you want?” I mumble, wincing when my head throbs even more.
“Same thing MJ wants.” Her lips curl. “Revenge. If he thinks he can fuck with me and my family without there being any consequences, he’s wrong. Dead wrong.”
“So what? You’re going to stab him in his sleep the same way you stabbed your father? You think someone MJ’s size is going to just stand by and let you attack him?” I laugh, sending a bolt of pain shooting through my head. “Hey, there’s no contest here. You win the dumb blonde contest, hands down.”
“I’m not the one who basically handed my captor a loaded gun, Alexa.”
I pry my eyes open a little wider to discover that she is in fact holding my gun. Great.
“How’s the star of the evening?” a deep voice asks from somewhere in the darkness. “I hope you’re not messing her up too badly, Kerissa. She’s not going to bring in as much money if she’s all bruised and battered.”
My fingernails dig into the chair as my heart flips against my rib cage and bile burns against my throat. They’re planning to sell me? I’ll die before I relive another experience anything like my dark past.
A hulking figure comes into view and my skin crawls. Freddie’s teeth glow bright when he sneers. “It’s a shame Dryden doesn’t pay his bouncers more. I’d give anything for a taste of that fine ass.”
That son of a bitch has been eyeing me like a fine steak ever since I first started working at Spinner’s, and it enrages me that I sit here helpless, his for the taking. Knowing he’s worried about my appearance, I decide to stand up for myself.
“Your stupid ass could never afford the kind of cash I’d bring in,” I snarl. “You’re hardly a step above cleaning the shit stains off Dryden’s toilets.”
Kerissa laughs with a cackle as Freddie stomps toward me, his gait incredibly light for someone his size. I’ve already braced myself for the slap before it cracks across my face, stinging almost worse than when Kerissa hit me with my gun. My lip burns where I’m guessing it split in half. Maybe he’s not as worried about my appearance as I thought.
“You’re still in the running for that dumb blonde competition,” Kerissa says, still laughing. Then she turns to face Freddie. “Where’s my uncle?”
“He’s ensuring your ex is taken care of,” he replies, flashing me a satisfied smirk. “He wanted to make sure MJ had a front row seat to the auction.”
A dizzying array of emotions sweeps through my chest. Above all, I feel an overwhelming surge of guilt. While I doubt it’s possible to simply un-love a person once they’ve found a way into your heart, the idea of Michael getting hurt isn’t as crippling as I would’ve expected. Wouldn’t it be natural to want vengeance after learning he may have conned me all this time? Is it so wrong that I can’t shed a tear for the man I thought I wanted to spend my life with when everything that came out of his mouth was a potential lie?
“Dryden must’ve been real excited to hear I’m back,” Kerissa growls in a quiet voice, as if to herself.
“He had a six-figure bounty out for anyone who knew where you were,” Freddie tells her. “He was convinced MJ had killed you too. Once he hears you were laying low without letting him know you were okay, I wouldn’t expect a warm welcome. Why were you hiding, Kerissa? What kind of secrets are you keeping from your uncle?”
Something heavy creaks behind me. A moment later the room fills with soft cries as young girls are herded in beside me by Sasha. As they’re forced to sit in the open chairs, I only recognize one staring back at me. Vee.
“Brandi!” she yells out, her voice a mixture of shock and relief. Her big brown eyes glisten in the dim light. “Oh, God! What’s going on?”
“It’s all right, Vee,” I promise, smiling despite a surge of vomit rising in my stomach. “We’re going to be all right.”
“Jesus Christ!” Sasha snaps, taking my chin in her tobacco-laced fingers. “What’d you do to her? There’s blood everywhere! She’s going to need a fucking bath!”
A sharp response burns against my tongue, but Kerissa speaks first. “She put up a fight. What did you expect?”
Sasha whirls around on her three inch heels, giving her a dangerous look. “I expect you to do your fucking job so your uncle doesn’t have all our asses on a platter for fucking up his investments! Take her upstairs and hose her down before the hair and makeup people arrive!”
“Don’t tell me what to fucking do!” Kerissa spits out, shoving her chest into Sasha’s. “Have you forgotten who the fuck I am?”
“How ‘bout the two of you shut the fuck up and I’ll take her upstairs and hose her down,” Freddie offers. He saunters my way, eyes lidded and tongue flickering over his lips. Vomit coats my throat. “You and I could have ourselves a real good time.”
“Lay one finger on me and I promise I’ll rip off your tiny little dick and shove it down your fucking throat,” I snarl at him.
Freddie’s dark expression is murderous as he starts for me, but Sasha steps in between us, shoving him back. “Don’t even think about it! She’s already been man-handled enough!”
“Dumb blonde for the win!” Kerissa roars, clapping her hands together.
Sasha’s face turns a dark shade of red. “Untie her and take her upstairs! I’m not telling you again!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kerissa answers, still cackling as she comes at me.
A black, overwhelming vibration of revenge ripples through me as I watch her go to work in loosening the rope fastened around my body. Though I feel incredibly weak and dizzy, I’d rather die trying to escape than let these assholes treat me like an animal any longer. And I refuse to let Dryden break me again.
16
Michael
Nearly everyone in the club parking lot recognizes me as Tatum and I are forced at gunpoint toward Dryden’s office on the far end of the warehouse. The greetings thrown at my back are a mix of surprise and anger with a few offers to meet up later thrown in by club whores I’ve hooked up with in the past.
As I walk down a path I have
n’t traveled since my incarceration, my veins sear with pure hatred for the men that drove Four Brothers into the ground. My old man would hate everything Dryden and Rambone have done to his beloved club. What was once an organization devoted to helping people has become an illegal operation dedicated to the sole purpose of making its members filthy rich. If I had a match, I’d burn everything in sight to the ground.
Tatum’s cool and collected attitude grates on my frayed nerves even though I know she’s trained for this kind of scenario and has plenty of field experience. Hopefully she has a plan to get us out of this shitstorm. I’ve never been so on fucking edge, anxious as hell what will happen to Alexa if I’m unable to save her from this nightmare. I sure as fuck better be able to fix whatever Kerissa has done to her at this point.
Once we step into the dingy office occupied by the club president, Butcher tells us to take a seat. The memory of catching Dryden and Rambone talking about my parents in the very same room—triggering my decision to join the Marines—has my insides roiling with rage, and I’m unable to move. It all comes back to me in a fucked up rush, as real as if it were happening all over again.
Butcher turns to me and rolls his eyes. “Sit your ass down, MJ. Best do as you’re told or Dryden will take it out on that new fine piece of ass you sent to dance down at Spinner’s.” Then he chuckles with a sneer taking over his ugly mug. “I’d like to personally thank you for that, by the way. That pussy was the best present you could’ve sent the club.”
Even though the uzi is still pointed my way, I lurch for him. Before I’m able to take a step, Tatum hooks her arms though mine and pins them against my back.
“Be smart,” she hisses behind me. “Alexa needs us in one piece.”
Grinding my teeth together, I snarl out at him, “Where’s my girl? What the fuck’d you do with her?”