Cain looked over at Eric who was huffing doubled over. She must���ve seen something awful about Penny and Nola.
���Fucking Hell.��� Cain cursed. All this shit was making his head spin. He felt like a dog chasing its tail.
Samantha arrived in hysterics. She begged for forgiveness, babbling incoherently about Iris and the cop. Cain shook in rage. What the hell was she talking about. He wanted to put his hands around the woman’s neck!
���Calm the fuck down!��� Cain shook Sam and she sobbed harder.
It took a few minutes to get her to calm down enough to learn where she���d driven Iris.
���When I dropped her off she said she wasn���t sure where the house was and started walking.��� Sam stammered.
Cain still wanted to throttle Sam, but she had come back to tell them where Iris was. He wanted to tell her to never show her face here again, probably still would, but she wasn���t entirely to blame. A man like Hank would���ve found a way to get to Iris eventually. Sam was just the weak link he���d taken advantage of.
Cain called in the rest of the Reapers. He, Wolf and Eric armed themselves to the teeth and loaded up. They were a menace, bikes roaring as they converged on the suburbs. Cain was immediately glad to have Wolf at his side, he was like a bloodhound following Iris’ scent.
Iris
���Here goes nothing.��� Iris steeled her nerves as she banged on the door.
Hank was suspicious as he yanked Iris into his house peering up and down the street.
“How did you get here?” He railed.
Iris was done being afraid of this man. She raised an eyebrow at his question. “Really” was her thought.
“Let the girls go and the Reapers will have no reason to follow us.” Iris said instead.
Hank shoved Iris towards the dreaded basement. She stumbled down the stairs to be greeted by the sight of Penny and Nola curled up on the concrete floor. Like a mother bear, Penny huddled over her child bristling. Penny gasped a cry when she saw Iris. Iris crouched down hoping to shield them from Hank as he paced the floor in agitation.
“Whatever you do stay down.” Iris whispered to Penny.
���You shouldn���t have come.��� Penny replied worriedly and yet a hint of relief tinged her voice at not being alone in this situation.
���Shut up so I can think!��� Hank started towards them yelling.
His behavior was erratic as he waved his gun about. Iris stayed low to the ground in case he started shooting or the gun accidently went off.
���Lets just go.���
Iris tried to suggest they leave the girls there and get out of town before the Reapers located them. If they weren’t here Hank couldn’t shoot anybody. She knew that���s what Hank wanted anyway.
���I said shut up!��� Hank gripped her jaw hard.
The fact that she dared to tell him what to do, only seemed to rile Hank further. Hank shoved her back and started pacing again, muttering and looking at his phone.
Nola continued to cry despite Penny���s attempt to console her.
Iris could see it was only agitating Hank further. Iris had to convince him to leave Penny and Nola alone. She had to get him away before things turned bad. Just because she���d dreamt two possible fates didn���t mean that another wasn���t possible. Hank could always snap and kill her friends here right in front of her.
Iris shifted away from Penny and Nola. She had to draw his attention and potential ire away from them. Penny tried to pull her back but Iris shook her head giving her friend a pointed look.
Hank stared at her suspiciously as she approached him, pointing his gun at her. Iris didn���t make any sudden moves. Hank���s behavior was more psychotic than usual.
���If we stay here any longer the Reaper���s will find me.��� Iris tried again. ���We need to leave town and go someplace, Vegas maybe.��� Iris suggested knowing Hank was a greedy bastard.
Iris stood nervously watching Hank. You could almost see the wheels turning in his head. He was thinking of all the ways he could force her to cheat at cards.
It took him a bit to concede but eventually he took Iris’ advice since she’d always steered him the right way.
���Don���t do anything stupid.��� Hank told her as he wrenched her arm and led her upstairs and away from her friends.
Iris sighed in relief. Even though she was back in Hank’s hands Penny and Nola would be safe and soon Cain would be too.
Cain
Wolf stopped his nostrils flaring. “They’re in one of these houses.”
You could see both of them mentally replaying Iris’ message as they studied the dark houses. Their eyes fell on one.
Cain called in the rest of the brothers, who reached them quickly on foot. Cain was glad his kind was gifted with superhuman speed. Cain moved to the large picture window on the porch staying low as several of his brother surrounded the house. Trip moved around back to sever the alarm system. Cain spied movement in the dim interior.
“Never underestimate the stealth of a predator asshole! You fucking took what’s mine!” Cain growled beneath his breath.
The guys went to work quietly at all the entry points. The old windows posed no problem and Eric was making quick work of the door lock.
“The fucking dirty cop has his hands on my girl.” Cain noticed Hank moving through the hall gripping Iris. He was chomping at the bit to get in there. “Hurry the fuck up!”
Eric cast him a dirty look as the lock clicked. Cain nodded. Everyone was on edge. He knew Eric was just as enraged as he was.
Iris
Hank pushed Iris down the hall towards his garage. Iris couldn���t believe she was back here again, but she wasn���t sorry. Some things in life were worth the sacrifice.
It was sudden when it happened. The house was breached from every angle. The Reapers were so quiet she almost didn���t notice them. If it hadn���t been for the shadow that fell across the the porch light she might not have realized they were here at all. Iris looked back towards to kitchen to see the curtain in the window fluttering in the breeze.
Hank must have noticed too because he started firing from the hallway into the living room. Iris fell limp to the floor, making it harder for him to pull her back towards the basement door. Hank just kept firing. Iris watched in horror, she watched in hope.
Cain���s recognizable shadow stayed low as he moved around the sofa. Iris smiled. He���d gotten her message.
But it didn���t matter. Everything moved in slow motion as Hank took aim and fired despite Iris’ effort to grab his hand. She watched in horror as Cain dropped. A scream of terror and anguish rent through her.
“No no no no no.” Iris sobbed. “Oh God please no.” A terrible pain split her in two. She’d tried to change fate, but that wasn’t how it worked.
Hank kept firing blindly, foolishly expending his ammunition. Iris sat huddled against the wall in shock, uncaring if she was in the line of fire or not. The Reapers didn���t even bother to return fire, they just waited. They had him cornered.
When Hank ran out of bullets Iris smiled. Now he’d get what was coming to him. She was never a cruel person, but Iris hoped Hank’s death was brutal and bloody. After all the gruesome things she’d witnessed that meant an awful lot.
Her heart stuttered as Iris saw Cain along with several of the other brothers rise up from the floor of the living room. He stepped into the light and her heart soared. There was blood on his shoulder from where Hank���s bullet had grazed him, but he was alive. A giggle ruptured from Iris’ mouth.
Cain was flanked by the rest of the Reapers as they moved forward, several more moving in from the back of the house. They had shifted to the beastly versions of themselves.
Hank started to quake rooted to the floor in shock and horror.
“N
o one will have her.” Hank screamed shaking himself loose from his terror.
Hank yanked his knife from his belt as he grabbed Iris’ wrist and tried to pull her up. Iris resisted refusing to become his hostage at knife point.
Cain snarled and launched himself at the man.
Hank was sent reeling back from Iris, then staggered to his feet.
Trip pulled her back to safety.
Hank waved his knife at the brothers, but the Reapers just stood back and watched. Cain stood up straight, flexed the muscle in his arms and cracked his knuckles. He looked like Death itself.
“You liked betting on our fights?��� Cain growled. ���You want a bigger piece, so here it is.”
The look of trepidation in Hank’s eyes was palpable as Cain circled him.
“Wait let’s make a bet.” Cain said then stared at Iris with a cocksure smile. “Iris tell me what you see?”
Iris looked at them both, knowing exactly what Cain wanted. She asked the question as she had so many times in that awful warehouse, then smiled as the answer came to her.
“Death.” Iris pointed to Hank as she spoke his fate. It was true, she saw it clearly now. Satisfaction filled her at the proclamation.
Hank screamed in rage as he lunged forward. He attempted to swipe his knife towards Cain. Cain knocked his arm away raking his claws across Hank’s flesh. Hank wailed in agony.
Cain played with the man for a bit, easily dodging Hank’s knife. For each lunge Hank made, Cain returned with a painful gash, till Hank was bleeding like a stuck pig.
Finally Cain tired of the game though he was far from exhausted. His next strike was a crushing blow to Hank’s face. Hank flew back against the wall then slid to the floor with a gurgle that spoke of death.
Iris sat dazed with her back against the wall. Iris watched as Eric carried both his girls upstairs in his strong arms. He whispered to Penny with misty glazed eyes. Cain looked on with relief as he bent down and engulfed Iris in his arms.
���Its over, all the madness is over.��� Tears streamed down Iris’ face.
“Shh I have you” Cain crooned as his face rubbed through her hair comforting himself in her touch and scent.
He carried her outside and Iris was shocked when he started to run with her clutched to his chest. The man was so fast that everything was almost a blur as they passed.
Cain stopped as he approached his bike. It was parked not far from where Sam had let her out. He wasn���t even out of breath as he helped her onto the motorcycle behind him.
Iris leaned into Cain���s back as she rubbed her face against his broad shoulders, soaking up his smell. It comforted her on a soul deep level. He was here, he was real and alive. The thought of what might have been shook her. She knew Cain was probably mad at her but she had to do what she did.
���If I hadn���t left he would���ve killed the baby and Penny.��� Iris whispered into Cain���s back as she rested her head against him. ���I didn���t want to leave because the alternative meant that you������ Iris choked on a sob. She couldn���t voice what she���d seen.
���It’s all over now angel.��� Cain squeezed her hands tugging her against him as he started up the engine.
Iris rode back to the clubhouse clutching Cain tight on the back of his bike. The rumble of Cain’s motorcycle lulled her as she stroked his chest and pressed her face into his back. Iris felt a deep sense of peace envelop her. This was true freedom. Iris gave thanks as the steel shifted beneath her, the stars shining so bright above and the wind whipping through her hair.
Cain
They arrived at the clubhouse and Cain carried Iris back to their room. He slowly stripped her down checking each inch of her for even a hint of a new scratch.
Cain stepped into the shower with Iris then rubbed shampoo through her hair washing away dirt and sprayed blood. He didn’t want even a speck of that bastard to linger on her skin. Cain caressed Iris’ arms, legs, breasts, and cheeks. His thumb traced her quivering lips. Her eyes were deep pools of emotion.
Cain was beyond thankful that Iris��� insight had saved his sister and his niece from the horror that she���d seen. But it leveled him that he almost lost them all. He couldn���t imagine a fate like that.
“Never again Iris…I couldn’t bear it if I lost you.”
Cain kissed her with relief and longing. He couldn’t believe he was holding her. Cain tenderly kissed the tip of her nose then each eye. He felt respite but also a bit of frustration. Cain wanted to kiss and “tan” her backside all at the same time. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.
Cain picked Iris up and carried her into the bedroom, to sit on the edge of his bed with her. They were different. He couldn’t begin to understand her gift unless she helped him. Iris had to learn to trust and be honest with him. Cain quickly turned her over on his lap and swatted her ass. Iris squealed in shock.
“Next time you tell me what’s going on, and you keep telling me till I understand.” Cain admonished Iris as he swatted her sweet lush ass that poked up in the air.
���You would���ve never let me go.��� Cain smacked her butt again. “Okay okay” Iris said breathlessly with her head down by the floor. Then she was quiet.
She pulled back holding, the cuffs and restraints.
Why the hell hadn’t he gotten rid of those already? Man he was an idiot.
Iris��� face was serious.
“Look Iris I’m not sorry about who I am. I’m dark and rough. I know that shit scares you. I know what you’ve been through and I would never hurt you. You’ll never be restrained again.” Cain assured her.
Iris
Everything was going to be alright. Iris hadn’t made it through the last two months unscathed but what she had gained had been worth it.
Cain was right. Iris had never really been good at explaining her quirky gift. She needed to do better. Iris looked at Cain. Such a strong gorgeous man baring his soul. The fact he cared so much made her heart soar even as he slapped her rear end.
Iris looked over to see the cuffs under Cain���s bed.
They had to resolve this little issue. Cain needed to know she wasn’t broken by all this. He had it all wrong as Iris held his bondage gear.
“Well that would be a shame!” Iris said when Cain stated he would never use such a thing on her.
She wouldn’t mind if Cain tied her up. After everything they���d been through Iris knew he would never hurt her. Cain looked at Iris with confusion. She loved it when she stumped him.
“You don’t scare me Cain. This doesn’t scare me.” Iris held up his toys. “However if you think you’re gonna tie me up with the same exact stuff you used on some nasty slut then think again! Your garbage dick days are over baby.” Iris informed him.
Cain started chuckling.
“Garbage dick?” He questioned.
“Yeah you know sticking it in any ol’ trash.” Iris replied.
Cain looked mildly offended but then his smirk turned into a full deep belly laugh.
Cain
Cain cleared his eyes. He was laughing so hard they had watered. The way Iris had dropped the toys then wiped her hands off like they had cooties was the icing on the cake.
Cain dove towards Iris. He seized her mouth and fucked his tongue into her the way he would his cock. Cain’s lips moved to Iris’ ear and whispered.
“I love you woman.” Then with a growl Cain claimed her. “Mine!”
Epilogue
Cain
It was a perfect evening not too cold, but the bonfire out back of the clubhouse still felt great. Penny had taken her little rugrat home, along with the few other kids that had been stuffing themselves with toasted marshmallows.
It had been more than a month since Iris, Penny and Cain’s niece had been taken by that fucking cop. The Reapers were still playing interference with the fallout the dead bastard had instigated. Bu
t Cain wasn’t gonna stress about it, shit would work out, it always did. He had what was important, his family.
Iris sat at the picnic table with this strange distant look on her face. The female amazed the fuck out of him. Cain couldn’t even begin to fathom how she did what she did, but he couldn’t explain his own biology either.
Part of Cain was pissed that Iris put her neck on the line, but another part of him was so damn proud and impressed. He wasn’t the only one impressed with Iris. The last time they held church his brothers wanted to know when Cain planned on making it official with Iris. She was old lady material all the way.
Cain was ready to do it now but he wanted to do it right. Cain was waiting till he had the house he bought on a hunk of land fixed up and Iris had more time to come down from the horrific ordeal she���d suffered.
Iris insisted she was fine whenever Cain asked her how she was doing, but he wondered as she looked around at his brothers with a haunted look on her face. Iris looked at Trip with a funny tilt to her head, like she was listening to something. The smile that cracked her face melted Cain in an instant. He pulled her closer to his side and kissed her neck.
“You wanna tell me what’s up.” Cain husked into her ear. Iris beamed at him.
“I’m not quite sure but I got this funny image.” Iris looked thoughtful. “It’s kinda hard to explain, even to myself.” Iris had promised to do her best to communicate her strange gift.
It had to be hard. Cain had found himself at a loss trying to describe how he shifted to Iris, so he understood. The point was that she tried.
“I don’t see anything specific, just kind of an inkling as I look around at some of the guys. Something tells me our family’s going to get a lot bigger in the near future.” Cain’s eyes widened at Iris’s assessment.
“Are you telling me we need to invest in a larger clubhouse?” He asked her.
“Maybe.” Iris grinned.
Cain couldn’t help himself as he descended on her lips.
“My female is a wonder.” Cain thought as pure love washed over him.
Trip
Cain, looked real fucking happy. Trip couldn’t help but smile as Cain kissed Iris. Trip was so damn glad things hadn’t turned weird between them. Iris was hot for sure, but she wasn’t for him.
Biting Back: A Motorcycle Club, Shifter, Romance (Shifting Steel Book 1) Page 18