by Simone Elise
“Shut up, Abby, and shoot.”
Rolling my eyes, I hung back out the window, pulling the trigger. His back window smashed. I took out a brake light as well.
“AIM FOR THE TIRES!” Matthew shouted from inside the car at me.
“That’s a bit hard when he is all over the bloody road!”
I took a calming breath, ignored the fact we were doing double the speed limit, and focused on the fact he was within range. This kill wasn’t going to be as clean. We were making a scene. I pulled the trigger again, making sure there was nothing left of the back window.
I could see the headrest and while my body was being thrown around from the speeding and sudden breaking, I was doing my best to get a kill shot.
I lined up the headrest. This bullet would go straight through it, and another kill would be done. I’d be one step closer to freedom. It wasn’t lost on me that the cost of my freedom was taking others’ lives. Still, it didn’t stop me from firing the bullet and when the car suddenly went left, heading into the shops, I knew I had been successful.
“Ok, let’s get out of here before anyone sees us,” I said, climbing back in.
“I can’t believe you just took that shot.” Daniels looked at me, completely stunned.
“As much as I love you being in a state of awe about me, we really need to get out of the city. There are cameras everywhere.”
He nodded his head and quickly took a side street. “Still can’t believe you took it.”
I looked back and cursed.
“What?” Daniels said his eyes on the road.
“It was out front of the police station.”
“You’re joking?”
“Nope.”
Daniels laughed and for the second time tonight, I found myself laughing as well.
“That’s just our luck tonight, isn’t it?” he said.
“Yeah. It is.” The slow trickle of rain spread across the windows. “Seems our luck is getting better.” Not only were we going to have to ditch this car and burn it, but we would also have to walk in the rain from the bush. From the bush to the clubhouse was at least an hour walk. I looked down at my heels. They weren’t meant for long distances.
***
I watched the car go up in flames. Daniels was always skilled at burning things. This was no different.
“Ok, let’s get you back home.” He turned, lighting up a cigarette.
“You don’t need to take me. I’ll be fine to get back on my own.”
“I’m not letting you walk out of the bush, back to the clubhouse, in the dark, in the early hours of the morning.” I thought that was the end of his lecture when he added. “And pregnant.”
“Do I have to remind you which one of us took the head shot tonight?” I turned and started walking up the bush track.
“Yeah, and I know you are out of bullets.”
“How do you know that?” I had one bullet left. But how could he possibly know that?
He smirked and caught up to me. “Counted the rounds. You shot all of one gun, and I’m guessing you have one or two left in the chamber of the other.”
“You notice too much.”
“You should carry more ammo.”
“I had ammo. I just used it all. I didn’t expect to be chasing someone tonight. I thought it would be straightforward.” I pushed a branch out of my way and my heel sank in the mud.
Daniels’ hands were on my hips and he gently lifted me out of it. “Blake’s going to have a fit when he realizes we killed a man outside of a police station.”
His hands were off me, and I was so used to no one touching me that his hands had left a mark on my body. “Well, I didn’t see him heading to a station. Now come to think about it, it makes sense that is where he was heading to.”
“Yeah, still sucked for him though. You and that killer aim came out ahead again.”
“I really need to practice more. My aim let me down tonight. I let off too many rounds.” It was the truth. While I was a good shot when the man was in front of me, I sucked when they started moving.
“You made the shot. I don’t know anyone else who would have pulled that off.” He looked at me, impressed. “I wouldn’t have even pulled it off.”
That was one heck of a compliment from Daniels.
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” I winked and we kept walking, knowing we had a long ass walk ahead of us. The rain started to pick up and I looked up at the sky. Looks like it was just going to get heavier.
But I was still high on the chase and the kill to even shiver from the rain.
***
I was soaked when we ran inside into the clubhouse pub. It was empty, which wasn’t a surprise given the hour. I peeled my leather jacket off and dumped it on the bar.
“I swear it only got heavier as soon as we got into town,” Daniels said as soon as the door shut.
“I agree.” I spun around, crashing into his chest. I took a steady breath in and gripped his shoulder as I took one heel off and then the other. “Oh my gosh, that is relieving.”
“Never seen a girl get so excited about taking heels off.”
“Well, normally that girl hasn’t just walked a muddy bush track and then walked home.”
“Sorry about making you walk.” Daniels’ hands stopped on my hips, and I took a sharp breath in. I don’t remember the last time a man touched me. That was a lie. I knew. And it was Kade.
Daniels’ hands ran up my body till he was cupping my face. The gap that was between us was gone.
“I’ve been wanting to know what your red lips taste like,” he murmured, his thumb running over my bottom lip.
I knew it was coming. But instead of pulling back, or running. I just looked up at him and then his lips hit mine. At first he was gentle. Then it was me who wanted more. I picked up the speed of the kiss instantly. I was still high on the chase and the kill, my blood still pumping hard and fast for a drug I was being forced to take.
He lifted me off the ground, my legs wrapping around his waist and my dress going up to my hips. His hands pushed the holsters off my shoulders, and the holsters and guns fell to the ground. I didn’t care we were in the middle of my Dad’s pub. I didn’t care that I was kissing a man that was forcing me to be with him. I just needed to be touched. Just for one night, I wanted to be reminded what it was like to be held by a man.
“Where’s your room?” His grip on me tightened and he pulled me hard against his chest. He pressed into my core, feeling him right there.
I didn’t answer. As far as I was concerned right now, he could have me on the pool table. Or here. I kissed him with aggression and need. Biting his bottom lip, forcing him to open his mouth. As soon as his lips parted just slightly, I forced my tongue in. He moaned and his grip on my ass holding me in place tightened.
“Abby, we need a room,” he groaned.
My hands ran up his clenched back and while he still had control, I had let mine go.
Someone clearing their throat had Daniels’ attention.
“Abby?”
And just like that, the spell that was over me broke. Only one voice could pull me away from this. Taking my lips off Daniels, I turned to see Reaper standing there, topless and with a glare on his face.
I swallowed sharply and pushed Daniels back, getting off the bar. What the hell was I thinking? More importantly, what the hell was I going to do if he hadn’t shown up?
Chapter 14
Reaper
I watched as he helped her off the bar. Hated the fact that his hands gripped her hips as he eased her down. I wanted nothing more than to rip the man’s hands off her. But she wanted him to have his hands on her, which was the only thing stopping me from acting.
She wanted him.
“Um, I’ll just go get you the merch. I’ll be one second,” Abby said, pulling down her dress and walking past me. She didn’t even so much as glance at me. But that look in her eyes when I said her name, it was like I snapped her out of something.
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Daniels leaned against the bar, watching her walk up the stairs.
As soon as she was out of earshot, I walked to him. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face with my fist.
“Maybe you should wait outside.” Before I throw you out.
“I’ve noticed something, Reaper,” he said, having the guts to look me in the eye. “Your eyes are always on her.”
“All eyes are on her.” I wasn’t the only watching her every move. If I could, I’d be tracking down their dates as well. But Abby had made it clear. She didn’t want me near her. She had picked him over me.
“You’re the father, aren’t you?” He was acting like he knew about Abby’s and mine’s relationship. I doubted she had told him the details. But the detail of who the father was seemed like the type of thing you would share with your boyfriend.
“I’m sure you already know that.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Nah, she never mentioned it. Said blood wasn’t important.” He gave me a smug look. “After all, I’ll be the one helping her bring the kid up.” He took a step closer. “You know, giving the kid a real role model to follow after.”
“Like I’m going to let that happen.” I gritted. Just don’t hit him.
“Mate. I’m not only fucking the woman you clearly love, but I’m also going to be bringing up your kid.”
Fuck it.
“Ok, so I’ve got the AKs.” Abby rushed down the staircase. She frowned, seeing how close Daniels and I got to each other. “And the ammo.” She handed him the gun.
“Thanks babe,” he said, taking his eyes off me and on her. “When can we get the shipment?”
“If you are happy with the samples, like I am, we should get it within two weeks.” She moved in between us. “As you know, they work perfectly.” She smiled. A real fucking smile too. It lit up her whole face.
“Yeah babe. You did show me that.” He laughed and they shared a couple joke. I think I’m going to be sick.
“I already got a taxi coming. They’ll meet you out the front.” Abby said, looking after her boyfriend.
I had pretended like they weren’t a real couple. It was easier to cope with. Then actually thinking he was getting what was mine. What I craved every single day. Every time I looked at her. It was killing me not to touch her, not to pull her into my arms.
But after just walking in on them, clearly about to take things further, I couldn’t just lie to myself anymore. Abby was in a relationship, and it wasn’t with me.
“Thanks babe. I’ll call you about the weekend.” He kissed her forehead. “And I’ll handle things with you know who.” He glanced at me. Clearly they had more secrets.
“Thanks for that. Night, Daniels.” Abby pulled back from his kiss and turned around to walk off as soon as the door shut.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me.” I spun around, catching her at the bottom of the stairs.
“What now?” She sighed. “What could I have possibly done to upset you?”
“He isn’t bringing up my kid.” Just keep a lid on your temper, Kade.
She scoffed. “I’m not having this conversation.”
“Why?”
“Because at the end of the day, I don’t even know if I should be a mom.” She flung around, showing me her non-cold side, and for the first time in months, she was letting me see the real her. “I shouldn’t be a mum, Reaper. Hear those words. So I don’t know what I am going to do.”
What the hell did she mean? “You aren’t actually thinking what I think you are thinking, are you?”
She pursed her lips and nodded her head. “I was going to mention it to you. But I’ve been busy.”
“Busy.” I spat out. “Running around with your boyfriend isn’t busy, Abby!”
“It’s too late to have this conversation.” She turned and walked up the stairs quickly, but this conversation was nowhere near over. Typical Abby. Things get hard, she runs. But I wasn’t letting her run away from this.
She actually thought I would let her give up our kid?
She pushed her bedroom door open and went to close it in my face. I gripped it and forced it back open.
“Reaper, not now.” She groaned and flicked on her lights.
“Bloody hell, Abby!” And I wasn’t saying that because she was frustrating me, scaring me, and possibly taking my kid away from me. I was saying bloody hell because her room was filled with guns. Everywhere. “Who the hell gave you all this crap?” It was not safe for her to be having all these in her room. “Some of these don’t even have safeties!”
I walked into her room, looking at the guns.
“I’m just doing a job for Daniels, it isn’t a big deal.” She shrugged like her room didn’t look like a middle of a war zone or a scene from a movie.
“What kind of job?”
She picked a machine gun off her bed and put it on the ground, and the fact she was carrying that while pregnant made my blood run hot.
“WHAT KIND OF JOB!?”
Her head snapped up after she sat on the bed. “Sorry, my mind was somewhere else.” She sighed. “I’m just organizing their gun connection. Their old supplier dried up. Couldn’t have them dealing with you lot. So this was my last option.”
I shook my head, not believing what I was hearing. “So not only are you fucking him, being with him nearly every night, but you are also helping him run the gang. The gang that nearly killed you.”
Was she that stupid? I expected her to spray me for judging her decisions. I expected her to go into a rant attack how it was zero of my business. Instead she shrugged her shoulder. Like she couldn’t give a fuck.
“I’m tired, Reaper, can we talk later?” She sounded so depressed. Like she had been putting up a front and now it was down, I was getting a real dose of what my Abby was like.
I walked to her till I was standing in front of her. Tilting her face up, I made her look at me. God, her skin was cold. Why was she so cold?
“What’s this shit about giving up our baby?”
“I shouldn’t be a mother.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I can’t be a mother. If you knew… if you had any idea what I’ve been doing. You would think the same.” Her blue eyes stared into mine. “It’s better if I give it up. At least then he or she would have a better life.”
I dropped to my knees. “Abby, I’ll help you. I promise you, you aren’t doing this by yourself. You can do this.” I had every faith in her. She was strong. And she would make a perfect mother. Why was she doubting herself? “You have me, Kim, your dad-” I knew it was going to kill me to say it out loud. But for some reason, I knew she needed to hear it. “And Daniels.”
Her lips dipped into a frown, and she ran her hand across my cheek. “You’re being too kind to me.” She was touching me, and all it did was make me want more. I wanted her hands all over me. “You should go, Kade.” Kade. She was finally saying my real name and when it came from her lips, it only made me want her more. I wanted her screaming it, and gasping.
Pull your shit together, Reaper. That wasn’t going to happen.
“Are you keeping the baby?”
“No.”
“Why?” I wanted her to open up. I needed to know why she was doubting herself.
She sighed. “If I tell you I’ll think about it some more, will that do? I’m really tired, Kade.” She didn’t want to fight with me. And as much as I wanted answers from her. I knew she wasn’t ready to give them. So I’d settle.
“Fine.” I got up, taking my hands off her. I thought not touching her was bad, but just a small touch of her made me feel alive again. “Don’t do anything without talking to me first, at least?”
She nodded her head.
“Do you need a hand to clear a space for you to sleep?” I looked at her bed.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Abby, you really shouldn’t be lifting all this crap around.”
“It will be gone in a couple of days.” She yawned and stood
up. “God, I’m cold.” She started picking AKs up.
“Do you want me to turn on the heater?”
She turned, looking at me, as if I had transformed into someone else. “Why are you being so nice?”
It was my turn to shrug my shoulders.
“Don’t deserve it,” she muttered to herself, putting the guns down on the floor.
I walked to her side and started collecting the ammo. She had enough here to start a small war. What was Daniels thinking, letting Abby handle these weapons?
I dumped the ammo on her couch and turned on her heater even though she didn’t ask me to. I watched her shiver and reach around to her back, pulling down the zipper.
“Why are you so wet?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Had to walk.”
“In the rain?” You had to be fucking with me.
She nodded her head.
“Doesn’t that boyfriend of yours have a fucking car?”
“He did.” She turned and grinned at me. “Till I shot it up.” She looked rather pleased with herself.
So that’s what she meant when she said he knew the guns worked.
“Not a very nice thing to do to your boyfriend,” I pointed out as she pulled the dress off. I hated saying it out loud, that word - boyfriend. Her boyfriend. And it wasn’t fucking me. And I took a sharp breath in seeing her in her underwear, with the most perfect tiny round stomach. I did that.
She turned her back to me and pulled the blankets back, and that’s when I caught sight of something on her shoulder.
“What’s that?” I asked, walking toward her.
She spun around quickly, her eyes going wide. “Nothing.” She was backing away from me, looking terrified.
“You didn’t get their mark again, did you?” Surely she wouldn’t make the same mistake. But I had caught a glance of it, it was definitely a tattoo.
She backed away from me till she backed into her bedside table, causing her attention to drop from me for a second, which was all I needed. One hand gripped her shoulder, my other hand gripped her waist and forced her to turn around.
Four letters. Shouldn’t be a big deal. But I froze as soon as I saw them.
Kade
It was written perfectly across her shoulder. Feelings were flooding my body so quickly I didn’t know which one was which. I couldn’t stop myself running my fingers across it. Checking if it was real. God, her skin was cold. But it was real.