by Zoey Marcel
“Sean.” Malachi tipped his jaw up. “Do you think about me...more than you should?”
No question had ever inspired such a strong union of heat and tenderness in him before.
“I’m not gay.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“It doesn’t matter when you’re with Peggy, does it?”
The preacher put his hand on the wall to keep him from leaving. “Answer the question.”
“Yes, I think about you. I think about my dog and my family and mates. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“The way you look at me...”
Sean melted at that husky timbre and the searching way Malachi gazed at him while cradling his jaw. What if it was another test?
“I’m not gay,” he whispered pleadingly. “I need you to believe me. Please.”
Malachi let go of him. “Forgive me.”
Whether the request was one of belief or mere consent to bury his suspicions and pretend they didn’t exist was difficult to tell.
Sean blinked back tears. “I have nothing but respect for you, and if I look at you that way...” He swallowed down the lump in his throat. “Or touch you a little too long, it’s only because I’m in awe of you. That doesn’t make me sinful. It just means you’re my favorite person.”
Malachi bent his head down, touching his face to Sean’s. “You’re mine.”
His heart clenched.
Malachi moved his head, keeping it down until he could pin his eyes elsewhere as he walked around the corner and away from him.
Sean tilted his head back against the wall. He couldn’t breathe. It felt like his ribs were closing in on his heart, crushing him so bad it hurt.
There was something there, but whatever it was Malachi would never let it show. The impasse was torture.
* * * *
He stood outside the bank in McKenna Downs, surveying the scene before him. Such pathetic creatures with trivial lives, scurrying about like mindless rodents on a pointless mission. Which of them should he pick off next?
There was Danielle Hartwell, strolling along down the street and doing her best to avoid Heller Enos for some reason he couldn’t be bothered to learn of. She was plump and fleshy in a fuckable way. Killing her would be a treat. She was the sister of a policeman. How could that not be thrilling?
He’d walked by the police station earlier, smirking to himself that they had no idea that the serial killer they were in search of happened to be in this town today.
Perhaps his next project should be a man. But which irritating male specimen should he murder?
There was Nate, the bastard of a chauvinist. He couldn’t care less about women’s rights, but it was Nate’s superiority complex and stupid way of thinking he was the only person alive with muscles and a brain that got on his nerves. He couldn’t deny that Nate had muscles, but he had his reservations over the claim that Nate had anything close to a brain in his big, stupid head.
He decided to kill the motherfucker eventually, but not today. It was a crisp autumn day in October, damned chilly and invigorating.
He saw people shopping, the occasional token car driving by, and Justin Huntington coming out of the beauty store. Now there was an appealing piece of flesh. He’d sink his cock into that one’s likely virgin ass and give him a nice erotic death afterward if not for the fact that Justin had some kind of ties to Hessian, a hit man and good friend of his. No need to ruin their friendship over a sexy boy. There were other fish in the sea.
Justin went across the street to where Aiden Friel was pumping gas and talking on his phone. Aiden was Justin’s boss and one of the owners of Leather & Lace. Just why Justin wanted to be around his employer when he wasn’t even on the clock didn’t take an Einstein to figure out. Justin obviously liked Aiden.
Heller Enos walked up to them at the gas station, carrying a manila envelope. He seemed to be waiting for Aiden to get off the phone. Heller was all decked out in denim and wearing a vest with patches on it, the Princes of Hell colors, no doubt. Yes, it was all well and badass of him, but it was hardly an ensemble that he would have chosen for himself. The biker was a fine-looking man, but far too big for his taste.
Aiden was a right fit man as well, good and brawny. He was smaller than Heller, most men were, but he was a lot bigger than Justin.
He turned his attention to Danielle again, who had been about to go into the beauty store before quickly walking the other way when she caught sight of Heller across the street. Such a coy little thing. She would be a treasure to ruin.
Turning on his heel, he went into the bank. The McAlisters owned it. He stood in line, smiling when Brighton McAlister walked up to him.
“Hey, you. I saw you come in here. Figured I’d harass you,” Brighton joked.
He smiled. “How can I ever thank you?”
Brighton smirked. “Cashing your check so you can flee the country, huh?”
He smiled again, wider this time. “Yes, I didn’t tell you, but I’m abducting you and taking you to Canada.”
“Canada, huh? What are we gonna do there? Visit that big mall, see a hockey game?”
He winked at the boy. “Among other things.”
Brighton gave him a light push, but he was smiling. “Dirty guy. You know I’m a taken man.”
“Don’t pretend you’re not flattered.”
“Yeah, you caught me.”
“I’m making a deposit.”
“I’m going to later, in Danielle.” The little troll seemed quite proud of himself.
He shook his head, managing a small smile. “I didn’t need to know that.”
“You know you loved it.” Brighton winked at him. “Well, I’ve gotta bounce. David and I are meeting Danielle at the coffee shop. It was Heller’s idea. He’s gonna swing by, too.”
“Enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks, man. You do the same.” Brighton swatted him on the ass.
He felt his groin stir and a strong desire to tackle the smaller man and bury himself balls-deep inside him. He threw Brighton an amused glance.
“Your day just got a hell of a lot better, huh?” Brighton teased.
The young thing had no idea.
“It really did. Keep it up and it’ll be off to Canada with you.”
Brighton laughed because he thought he was joking.
He grinned because he wasn’t.
“I look forward to it, although now that I know you plan on kidnapping me, you just foiled your own plans.”
“Or perhaps I told you my intentions to gain your trust and keep you from ever suspecting the obvious.”
“Whoa. Brain broken.” Brighton gave him a friendly smile and waved at him as he headed for the door. “Have fun, my good man.”
“I will.”
In Canada.
Chapter Five
Danielle sat down at the coffee shop next to David, wondering why the cop in the next booth was singing “Cat’s in the Cradle” into his cell phone.
David gave her a quirky grin. “That’s Greg Friel. I think he’s harassing his brother.”
“Gotcha.”
Greg laughed. “Hello?”
He hung up, grinning when he heard David titter.
“Brothers, huh?”
“He hung up on you?” David asked.
“Yep, Aiden doesn’t like that song,” Greg explained.
“Why? Is he a parent?” David asked.
“Yeah. You didn’t know that?” Greg sounded vaguely surprised.
David shrugged. “I don’t keep track of everybody and their spawn.”
Danielle noticed two thuggish-looking men walk in. One was bald with a huge flaming-red horseshoe mustache. Not exactly a Yosemite Sam wannabe, but interesting. He was beefy in a stocky kind of bulking stage that blended muscle and fat in a manly display. He was dressed in jeans, dark combat boots, and a denim vest with the Princes of Hell insignia on it. Their symbol was a bison skull with red demonic eyes and a crown on its head.
The other man had more of a strong medium build. He wore jeans, heavy boots, and a black leather vest over his shirt with the same colors on it. He had a rugged look to him with an austere face that begged the question, “Is he attractive or scary?” His brown hair was shaggy and he had thick brown facial hair. He would have been right at home in a Western movie, probably starring as the bad guy.
Both men had to be friends of Heller’s since they were in the same motorcycle club.
“David, who are they?” she asked.
David’s focus went to where she was looking. “Bikers. The big guy is Taurus and the scruffy, sinister-looking one is Shifty.”
“Do you think they’re good people?”
“Eh.” He wiggled his flattened hand side to side.
Greg looked over his shoulder at them, seeming unfazed until he noticed something else. “Shit.”
He ducked under the table.
Danielle tried not to laugh. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s her,” Greg whispered loudly. “Turn back around before she sees you.”
“Sorry.” She turned slightly, spotting a strawberry blonde strutting into the coffeehouse. “Who is she?”
“It’s Pepper Donovan,” Greg explained. “She’s the DEA. She’s driving everybody nuts.”
Danielle frowned. “But you’re a cop. Aren’t you guys supposed to be on the same side?”
“You’d think, but she’s bat-shit crazy. Seriously, for the love of God’s mama, will you turn around?”
“Sorry.” She adjusted her booty in her seat.
Pepper squinted at the two bikers in warning and marched over to them. “Well, if it isn’t the drug lords themselves.”
Shifty looked annoyed.
Taurus did, too, but his gray eyes swept her body over before returning to her face. “I told you those were vitamins.”
Pepper sniffed. “You may take vitamins, but sooner or later you’ll have drugs on you. And when that day comes, you’re going down hard.”
Taurus smirked, glancing at Shifty. “Sounds to me like she’s asking for something.”
Shifty grinned. “Sure does. Too bad you don’t go for feminists.”
Taurus snorted. “That’s not a feminist. What we’ve got right here is an official man-hater.”
Pepper stood there steaming, eyes darting between them.
“Don’t tell me. A frustrated virgin?” Shifty guessed.
“Nah, look at her. She’s been all over the park,” Taurus said.
“I have not,” Pepper retorted. “Don’t you try to change the subject. We were talking about—”
“I bet somebody hurt her bad a long time ago, probably a drug addict,” Taurus said to Shifty while eyeing Pepper. “So she became a DEA and has this unhealthy vendetta against anyone she suspects is less than upstanding.”
Pepper blinked at this before scoffing. “That’s your uneducated opinion. Tell me where the drugs are.”
Heller Enos walked in, grinning. He gave her a pat on the back. “Sorry, lady. We got rid of them before you came into town.”
“I knew it!” She pointed at them.
Heller smirked. “That’s what’s known as a joke, doll.”
“I’m not your doll,” Pepper spat. “You think every woman is your plaything.”
Danielle tried to ignore the sting.
“Well, not to worry, nutmeg,” Heller walked past her. “I don’t play with dolls that come with a crabby face.”
Pepper glared at him before shooting a warning look at the other two bikers, pointing at them. “Remember this. The war on drugs is far from over.”
Taurus folded his arms, donning a sly smile. “Shifty, didn’t they legalize marijuana in a few places a while back?”
Shifty got a crooked smirk on his face. “Yeah, I heard about that.”
Pepper balled her little fists, scowling at them. “Shut up!”
The bikers chuckled.
“Greg, get up,” she ordered. “We’re working together today.”
Greg popped up, putting on a fake grin. “Oh good. How are you, Pepper?”
“Suspicious.” She grabbed Greg’s arm roughly when he stood. “Look at you all, going about your lives when a serial killer is running around slaughtering people. Worse, drugs are destroying people’s lives and none of you gives a damn. Or maybe you’re all on drugs to forget your pathetic lives.”
Greg looked humiliated to be standing next to her. “Come on, Pepper. Let’s go.”
She walked briskly away with him.
Taurus seemed entertained. “Explain to me how drugs are worse than murder.”
Pepper pinned hostile eyes on him. “If I have to explain it to you, then you must be on drugs. Show them to me.”
“Whoa!” Greg grabbed her when she lunged for Taurus.
Shifty blocked him and Taurus’s stance became mildly defensive, but mostly he just laughed at her.
“Tell you what, spicy, I’ll let you search me, but you’re gonna have to make it thorough.” Taurus winked at her.
Greg gave him a scolding look. “Show some respect.”
“Oh, believe me, when I search you it will be completely, asshole and all,” Pepper said.
Danielle blushed. Such class.
Taurus glowered at her. “Woman, you go near my ass and I’ll beat yours.”
“You just try it, you big hunk—thug!” Pepper blushed at her mistake.
Greg suppressed laughter.
Taurus smirked, scanning her head to toe and licking his lips. “Well, well.”
“You smile because you’re high.”
“That’s not why I’m smiling, little habanero.”
Pepper’s scandalized face was betrayed only by her twitching lips.
“Okay, then. Off we go.” Greg half dragged, half walked Pepper out of the coffee shop.
Danielle ducked her eyes when Heller quit watching the spectacle and came over.
“My God, will you look at that?” he said mockingly. “It’s Danielle and one of the McAlisters.”
“As if you didn’t expect to find us here.” David reached for his cup.
Brighton walked up to them. “Hi, you guys.”
He plopped into the booth.
“Two McAlisters.” Heller shook his head with a big smile. “Now, how about we talk about this fetching dame you nabbed? You know, what I can’t understand is why you share her with—”
“I should get going.” She stood abruptly.
“What’s the hurry, babe?” Heller pushed her back down into her seat, making her breath catch. “Sit down and stay a while.”
His dark eyes became transparent before he got that sardonic edge again.
“See, what I don’t understand is why you guys let my brother and Heathy boy mess around with her, but God forbid I should touch her.”
David and Brighton exchanged a look before refocusing on Heller. “Who said that? We don’t mind if you’re with her, too.”
“No.” Heller gasped dramatically.
Danielle rolled her eyes, squirming in her seat. Damn him. He knew what he was doing, that she’d lied.
“Then I guess you boys won’t mind if I take her on a date later. How about it, sweet cheeks? Wear something nice and slutty for me, but just know that I’ll always see you as a lady, except when I’m fucking you.”
The remark warmed her, got her nipples all pointy and prickly. His compliment moved her, but she couldn’t be with him, though he tempted the hell out of her.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to go on a date with you tonight.”
Heller pulled his gaze from her and turned his attention to David and Brighton. “Either of you ever been to Chicago?”
Uh-oh, he’s going to tell them, isn’t he?
“They’ve got a nice cafe there I used to go to.” Heller’s lips drew back in a smug little smirk that she might have wiped off if he wasn’t such a giant of a man. “Speaking of strip clubs in Chicago, I’ll never forget this one hot little blonde str
ipper. She was all dressed in red and—”
“What time are you picking me up?” Danielle interrupted.
Heller gave her a victorious smile and a pat on the head. “Such an eager little thing. I’ll meet you at the bar here in town at seven. I figure you live with your brother. That’s not too far from your house or mine. Then again, maybe I should pick you up from your home like a gentleman, seeing as you’re not like the other women.”
The comment touched her. “Thank you, but I can meet you at the bar.”
“Don’t want to bring me home to your brother, huh?” he teased.
“It’s just a date. There’s no need for formal introductions to family.”
“For now. Be ready for me. Much obliged, boys.” Heller strode out after giving a flippant wave to David and Brighton.
She was excited about the date, but nervous and conflicted. He was the fifth man who wanted to be with her since she’d come home to McKenna Downs. This was getting crazy. What would people think of her?
* * * *
That evening Danielle put on something definitely not slutty. It was a short-sleeved dress the color of goldenrod that fell to just barely above her knees and had a subtle 1950s flare. The basque buttoned up the front and there was no cleavage. She wore a lightweight black cardigan over it that went down to her bum. She loved that it was roomy on her.
Black nylons became adorable bear faces around her knees and sheer on her thighs. Brighton would flip over them. He loved bears.
Yellow vintage-style Mary Janes completed her ensemble. She felt deliciously retro and was sure that it was a look Heller was too carnal to appreciate. One date would be more than enough for him when she didn’t show him any cleavage or leg. He would move on, or concentrate all his efforts on Heath instead. No one need see her in a negative light for adding more men every time she took a damned trip to town.
Her hair she wore down with part of it tied back with a yellow ribbon. Rose earrings in a charming vintage mint-green added a feminine touch she was sure Heller would find childish. That was good. If he thought she was too squeaky clean, he’d pass her up. Her willpower certainly wasn’t going to cut it on its own.
She sprayed on her favorite perfume that smelled like summertime and orange groves before leaving the house. What if he liked the way it smelled?