Payback (Dueling Devils)

by Shyla Colt

  “Yep,” Lefty replied.

  As the others disbanded, leaving the carnage behind, he watched the building go up in flames.

  “You think this is over?” Lefty asked quietly.

  “I sure as fuck hope so. I blew the warehouse, so there’d be nothing to come back for. I know we could’ve used it, but in the end, I don’t think it’d be worth the trouble it might cause.”

  “Good call.”

  “I hope so. I want this shit put to bed. You call in a marker at the station.”

  “Yep, gun trade gone wrong.” Lefty nodded.

  They lapsed into silence as the building crackled, popped and smoldered.

  Ardy watched Demon from the back door as she finished the dishes. He’d been stoic for the past two weeks. He’d come home reeking of smoke and gasoline. He’d pulled her into his arms, held her tight and never said a word. It terrified her. Watching him pull back had been a painfully slow death, but she’d given him the space he needed. Now, she needed to pull him out of the darkness he’d been flirting with. She placed the last plate in the cabinet and walked to the sliding door.

  Out on the deck, she approached him slowly. “Hey.”

  “Hey. The kids finally asleep?” He glanced up.

  “Oh yeah, after a whole afternoon in the park they were out once they hit the bed,” she answered, running her hand down his back.

  He glanced down at her.

  Ardy released a sigh. “Are we going to talk about what happened?”

  “You know we don’t talk business with our women. That protects you too, you know?”

  “I know, Jonah.” She leaned against his side, resting her face against his arm. “But something it eating you up and we’re not going to be able to move forward until you talk about it. I’m not asking for details. I just want to know what’s weighing so heavily on your shoulders.”

  He slowly leaned his head back and peered up at the sky. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Ard.”

  “Say whatever it is you want to say. Be blunt, be a dick if you need to, but say something. Every day, I feel you slip a little further away. Did you change your mind about wanting to be together?” She sucked on her bottom lip. “I don’t know where I stand, or what direct—

  “No.” He placed a finger on her lips. “Don’t ever doubt the way I feel about you Ardy. Nothing’s changed there. I just needed to get this shit in my head straight. I’ve done a lot of bad shit in my life. I can handle the weight. But I never had to deal with wanting to be worthy for someone. How can I come to you with all this death clinging to me? It’s like tainting you.”

  “What?”

  “You’re pure and good. It drives home how much of a bastard I am for keeping you.”

  “Keeping me? Like I’m an object that can be idly tossed aside.”

  “That’s not what I’m saying.”

  “Then explain it, ‘cause this is sounding like a kiss off.”

  “Fuck Ardy I don’t want to see you look at me with fear or disgust. I can’t handle it and eventually it’s going to happen. Don’t you understand that? I can’t keep the two worlds separate indefinitely and then what? I can’t lose you.”

  “You won’t. Where is all this coming from?” She cupped his face with her hands. “Talk to me.”

  “I took them all out Ardy. I made sure every last one of them was dead and I burned everything that meant anything to them down to the ground.”

  “Good.”

  “What?” His voice shook.

  “They tried to kill me and the kids. I have no sympathy for them. I wish I would’ve been there to see the look on their faces. You don’t fuck with me or my family. I might be petite, but I’m not weak. The Irish are made of sterner stock. I love you. That’s not a fair weather emotion.”

  “You remembered?”

  She smiled. “Well now, you just confirmed I wasn’t dreaming.”

  “Tricky.” He arched a brow at her.

  “I have to be when it comes to you. Don’t you know how much you mean to me? I left behind everything for you.”

  “But what happens when you regret it. This isn’t your world.”

  “It is now. The moment I chose to step up and be your old lady your world became mine. Your burdens rested on my shoulders. You’re the strength and the head leading the operation, but I’m supposed to be the heart. I get that. I need you to trust me enough to let me try.”

  He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I’m going to burn in hell for doing this, you know.”

  She snickered. “That was kind of implied…given your name.”

  “Smart ass.” His lips twitched.

  “Made you smile.” She grinned up at him while batting her eyelashes.

  “Yeah, you’re good at that.” He smoothed his hands down her hair. “Fuck, I love you, Ardy.”

  The words made her heart race. “I love you too.”

  He wound his fingers in her hair and pulled her body to his. “I don’t know how I lucked up on you, but it was the best thing to ever happen to me.”

  “Before you came along I think I was asleep, going through the daily routine on autopilot. Then you came and opened my eyes. You woke me.”

  “You might be sleeping beauty, but I’ll never pass for Prince Charming.”

  “Maybe I was waiting for a black knight.”

  “I can be that all day long.” He slid his hands down to her to ass and squeezed.

  She giggled. “Are we okay now?”

  “We were never not okay. I was just lost in my head. It happens. I have a lot of shit going on up there and I’m not used to sharing it with anyone. “

  “Well, I’m here now and I want to be involved. I can take it, okay?”

  “Alright. My little woman is fierce, huh?” He bent down and brushed her lips. “It’s kind of hot.” He squeezed her ass again and lifted her up, carrying her to the railing. “Spread your legs baby.” His hands trailed up along her legs, beneath her skirt and massaged her thighs. “I want to taste you with the stars above us.” He captured her lips and rubbed her pussy through her underwear.

  Her breath hitched in her throat. Her breasts grew heavy and moisture began to form in her underwear.

  Demon trailed a finger down the crease of her thigh. “You going to give me that cream?” His fingers slipped inside her underwear and trailed down her cleft. “That’s it, get wet for me.” He gathered her nectar and circled her clit.

  “Jonah.”

  He growled. “You know I love it when you call me by my name. That’s something just for you.” He eased a finer inside her and she flexed her muscles. “So damn tight for me. You got the best pussy, baby.”

  Her nipples became turgid points. They brushed against her bra and she moaned. He pumped inside her once, twice and pulled out. “Do you know how good you taste?”

  “No.”

  He held the glistening tips of his fingers up to her mouth “Give it a try for me.”

  She opened her mouth and a salty sweet taste filled her mouth.

  “So fucking sexy.” He leaned in and slid his tongue in mingling their flavors while he tilted his fingers inside of her

  Ardy rocked toward him, eager to relieve the pressure built up between her legs.

  “You going to come on my fingers, sweetness? Squeeze my fingers with that tight little pussy.” His dirty words wound her up. “I can’t wait. I gotta taste you.” He knelt down, shoved her panties to the side and flicked her clit.

  She cried out, gripping his hair tight. He blew on her clit flicking it again and she arched toward him. He sucked her into his mouth, thrusting fast and she tail spun, coming hard. She leaned forward to keep from falling off the railing in her stupor.

  Pulling away, he placed a kiss on her pussy and stood slowly. “I’m nowhere near done with you, Ardy. Let’s take this into the bedroom.”

  “Take me lover, I’m all yours.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  The passion burning in his ey
es melted her. He was a walking contradiction, fire in his eyes and a fierceness laced with gentle, sweet caring, most wouldn’t believe him capable of. He was all the things she’d dreamt of in an unlikely and extremely sexy package.

  “Okay you guys, let’s get our hands washed, so we can start getting ready to eat dinner,” Ardy said, helping them remove their painting smocks. “We’ll leave our easels out here on the porch and let the paintings dry.”

  They rushed inside and she smiled. Things had been much better since Demon opened up. They’d fallen into a routine, almost as if D had a nine to five. He went to work and she stayed home with the kids. They usually did breakfast and dinner together, sometimes lunch, if he had nothing going on. They ran legit businesses to keep the Feds at bay and he often oversaw most of them at some point during the week.

  The doorbell rang and she frowned. I’m not expecting anyone, maybe it’s Dani? Dani had been visiting another charter and got caught out there, once shit had gone down. Eager to see her friend, she hurried to the door. She glanced through the peephole and froze. Confused, she opened the door. “Da?”

  “You look better than I expected you to.” Her father shoved his hand into his pockets and rose on the balls of his feet.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I was worried about you.”

  “Um, why? I talk to Mom, all the time, wasn’t she relaying things?” Still stunned, she stepped back and waved him in. “You could’ve just called, you know?”

  “No, I needed to see you with my own eyes. You think you fancy Demon? Have you caught a case of Stockholm syndrome or what?” Paddy frowned.

  His abrasive tone made her take a step back. She held up her hand. “Da, it’s nothing like that.”

  “Ardy?” Rockets’ voice drew her attention to the two little beings watching Paddy with large eyes.

  “This is my Dad, don’t be scared of him. He just missed me so much he came for a little visit. How about I put on a movie for you to watch while I go cook, then me and Da can talk in the kitchen.

  “Okay.” Rocket relaxed instantly after hearing the stranger was a family member.

  Quickly, Ardy found their favorite movie, popped into the DVD player and situated them on the couch with drinks in spill proof cups.

  Her father watched her silently. His gaze burned her skin and his anger filled the room.

  “Okay, we’ll be just in the kitchen, okay?”

  “Mm-hmm.” They nodded, already engrossed in the cartoon playing on the television. She laughed and headed to the kitchen with her father at her heels.

  “This is a damn domestic scene.”

  “Da, this is what he hired me for, to take care of his children. You know I love kids.”

  “Right.” He snorted. “To take care of his kids, so it was fortunate happenstance you discovered you were meant to be together?”

  “Yes, actually.” She walked to the sink and washed her hands.

  Her father kept dogging her every step. “This isn’t like you Ardy. You always think with your head. “

  “Maybe that was the problem. What did that ever get me, but stuck in the same place with no real plans for the future and no love interest?” She dried her hands on a dishtowel and moved to take out ground beef for the spaghetti she planned to make. Slicing open the plastic, she placed the meat in a frying pan on the stove.

  “What is that supposed to mean…Ardy Colleen?”

  She threw away the garbage and turned to face him. “It means I never branched out, or tried anything new. I love you and I love our family. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You must know that.”

  “Of course, I do. It’s my fault you’re here now. I never should have agreed to it.” Paddy shook his head.

  The guilt in his voice made her heart ache. It had to feel like a noose slowly strangling him. She moved closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you did. It forced me to take a hard look at myself and decide what I want for myself. You don’t have to feel guilty. I don’t blame you for anything. It’s not the start of a downfall.”

  “You expect me to believe you want to stay here shackled to some hard ass biker?”

  “I’m not shackled, will you stop saying that?” She shook her head, walked across the room, grabbed a pot, filled it with water, then set it on the stove to boil.

  “The hell you aren’t! Looking at you playing house wife for them, practically ignoring me.”

  “I’m not Da, but the kids still have to eat and Jonah will probably be home soon as well. I have duties that still need tending too.”

  “Jonah? You’re using his given name now? Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This is worse than I thought.” Paddy clucked his tongue.

  “I think you’d like him if you gave him a chance Dad. He isn’t the man you think he is.”

  “Oh, I know better than you what kind of man he is. You might have blinders on now. What about when they come off and you’re in too deep to get out? I’d never be able to live with myself if I didn’t put a stop to this. Whatever he wants us to pay; I’ll find a way to come up with it. Even if it means selling the bar.”

  “Da, stop.” She held up her hand. “Our debt is paid. I chose to stay.”

  “No.” he shook his head. “I refuse to believe that.”

  “Haven’t I always been the type to know my own mind?”

  “Yes, which is why I don’t understand you right now.” Paddy shook his head and sank down into the closest chair.

  “Da, what’s so confusing? I’m happy here. I love Jonah and the kids. This?” She circled her finger in the air. “Makes me happy.”

  “How am I supposed to look at the monster who stole you away and be happy about it? He took you from me by force. Do you know how hard that was to let happen? I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. You’re my first born. I look to you to help me. Maybe too much. I forgot you still needed looking after. That’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life.”

  “Not if you see it as the blessing it is. We’re happy together. I never would’ve found this back in Denton. I would’ve spent the rest of my life working at the bar, helping others find their own happiness while I remained in the background. An envious shadow who watched life happen to everyone else, but her. That’s not the life you wanted for me, is it?”

  “Were you really so unhappy?”

  “No, Daddy. I wasn’t. I was just…numb.” She shrugged. “Jonah makes me feel alive. I know it’s a dangerous life. But tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us. Please be happy for me? That’s what I need more than anything from you and Mom. The others will follow your example.”

  “I don’t know if I can do that darling. It doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not convinced you’re not doing this to protect me. “

  Ardy cursed her penchant for self-sacrifice. “Before you form an opinion, can you at least see us interact?” Being at odds with her family didn’t sit well with her. Uprooting and moving away from them had been bad enough. I can’t believe my mom sent him down here like some sort of bounty hunter, hell bent on bringing me back. “Da. You drove all the way here, what’s a few days spent with us?”

  “Us.” He scowled.

  The sound of a lock turning drew Ardy’s attention to the door. “Just let me get him caught up.” She dashed out the kitchen before her father could protest.

  “Daddy!” Rocket and Harley jumped off the couch, beating her to their father. Dangling off each leg, they looked up and grinned.

  “You missed me, huh?” Demon said.

  “We need to talk,” Ardy whispered.

  His face fell. “I don’t like the sound of that. Guys, can you go back to the couch please? Daddy needs to talk to Ardy.”

  “Awwh,” Rocket grumbled.

  “I’ll be with you in a few minutes, little man.”

  “Alright.” He huffed and released his hold, tuning on his heel and all but stomping back to the couch.

  “You too, little lady.”r />
  “Awwh,” Harley muttered, mimicking her older brother as she stuck out her bottom lip and trudged to the couch.

  “My Da is here,” Ardy whispered.

  “What?”

  “He thinks we’re fake. That you’re still holding the debt over me, or you’ve brainwashed me. Maybe a combo of both.” Ardy shook her head and sighed.

  “Did you set him straight?”

  “I tried. I asked him to stay a few days with us.”

  “Ardy, hell no. I don’t want someone in our space who doesn’t like me.”

  “Please, I don’t want to completely lose my family and be at odds.”

  He sighed. “The shit I do for you woman.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to take my payment out on that ass.” He patted her rear end.

  She giggled. “Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes okay?”

  “Alright, I’ll stay in here with the kids.”

  “Thank you.”

  Demon glared at the cock-blocking bastard who’d turned his life upside down. Seeing Ardy with her father had been a revelation. She doted on the old man, trying to make him as comfortable as possible, while maintaining her standards of care for Demon and his family. It pissed him off. He’d been here for two days and he’d long worn out his welcome. “I think it’s time we talk,” Demon said pushing his chair away from the table after breakfast.

  Ardy glanced up.

  “I think you’re right,” Paddy agreed.

  “Let’s take it to the back porch.” Demon nodded his head at the backdoor.

  “I’m right behind you,” Paddy said.

  They stepped out into the early morning sunshine and Demon leaned against the railing while crossing his arms. “Look, I know I’m not the man you’d want for your daughter. I can understand that. But the fact of the matter is, she’s here because she wants to be. I love the fuck out of her. I won’t let anything happen to her and I’ll always provide. But she’s not going anywhere, unless it’s for a brief visit.”

  “Mighty possessive, aren’t you?” Paddy’s brow furrowed.

  “Have you seen your daughter? I was shocked she wasn’t already taken.”