“Just saying the words isn’t enough. I want you to feel how much I love you.”
“Show me,” I whisper as he’s removing the clothes between us.
Trailing his fingers up my abdomen, he lifts my shirt and bra off, his lips locking onto each breast, hardening my nipples to rounded crests.
“I love the way your body responds to my touch.”
Feathering kisses down my stomach, he unbuttons my jeans, folds them down, and pulls them off me, taking my underwear with them.
“I love how wet you get when you want my cock inside you.”
Spreading my legs, he palms my clit, flicks it with his thumb, then massages it, my back arching as a rush of pleasure swims through my body.
“I love the look of satisfaction on your face when I make you come.”
Taking his hand from my clit, he removes his vest, then lifts his T-shirt off, giving me a perfect view of his sculpted chest and abs.
“I love the way your eyes light up when you see me naked.”
With a quick flick of his thumb, his jeans are unbuttoned. Stepping off the bed, he drops his jeans and briefs, kicking out of them and his boots. Coming back onto the bed, he spreads my knees and lies between them, his gaze carnal as he reaches down and wraps his fist around his thick cock.
“I love the way you bite your lip when you’re thinking how good it’s going to feel to have me fucking you.”
Placing his tip against my pussy, he rubs it along my clit, my need for him coating his cockhead as I whimper for more.
“I love the way you moan for me.”
Thrusting in deep, he pulls out and thrusts harder. My body screams with pleasure, little bolts of lightning igniting at every nerve ending. My arms reach for his neck, my legs wrapping around him as he holds himself up, thrusting into me with such fervor, my eyes pinch close and I cry out as he takes my body on a ride I’ll never forget.
“Look at me, baby.”
When I do, he collides his lips with mine, the passion he exudes so intoxicating, I want to drown in it, be swallowed in this moment, frozen in the sensation of his love. I want this man to be my future, to love me like this for the rest of our lives, and I know he would. Nix’s emotions run deeper than any man I know. He’s an alpha in every meaning of the word, but beneath that protective exterior is a man with a heart that will love with everything he has and fight until he has nothing left to give. He’s mine, my Nix, my white knight on a Harley.
“I love you.”
Slowing his thrusts, he lowers on top of me, his hand winding into my hair as his other hand intertwines with mine. My legs stay wrapped around him as he rolls his hips, coming into me slowly, pulling out, and thrusting again, making love to me in a way he’s never done before.
* * *
My dry mouth and urge to pee drag me out of my soft, warm bed, filled with the scent of Nix and the night we spent together. As my feet touch the floor, there’s a hollow, empty pit in my stomach, quickly filling with sorrow. Nix is gone, and on my nightstand is a scribbled note.
Because of you, I found happiness I didn’t believe was possible. Because of you, I developed hope for a future. No matter what happens, remember I love you.
Moisture fills my eyes as panic tightens my throat. Reaching for my phone, I dial his number. It goes right to voicemail, so I call Liz.
“Have you seen Nix this morning?”
“No, why? What’s going on?”
“He stayed over last night. We didn’t get a chance to talk. We had sex then fell asleep. When I woke up, he was gone.”
“He would’ve gone back to his house to shower and change.”
“I’m headed there now.”
“Don’t! Nix will lose his mind if you show up at his house. It’s where he lost Jenna. Please, Synne, don’t go to his house. Not today. Jake said they’re meeting the Royals today, and we need to stay away from the shop and clubhouse. The Royals will be waiting and watching them.”
“I have to. I have to see him.”
“Listen to me.” Her tone brooks no argument. “He needs a clear head for whatever is going down between the Kings and the Royals. If you show up and the Royals see you, they’ll use you against him. For his sake, please stay home.”
“I can’t sit here all day worrying.”
“You don’t have to do it alone. I’ll pack up stuff for Liam and come over to your place.”
“What are we going to do? Try to watch TV we don’t care about? Try to eat food we don’t have an appetite for? I can’t stay here, locked in this apartment, thinking about every horrible scenario. I’m going riding.”
“Stay away from the clubhouse and shop,” she reiterates, her tone forceful.
“I didn’t fall in love with him so I can lose him. I’ll talk to you later.”
I disconnect the call and rush to the bathroom now that my body has remembered it needs to pee. Jumping in the shower, I wash all of me as quickly as I can, then with fresh clothes on, I head to the kitchen to get something to drink before gathering my riding gear. With thoughts of Nix constantly on my mind, I won’t be able to accomplish anything today. Fear is a tight ball resting in my gut, and the only way it will loosen is if I see him. Maybe I can talk him out of whatever they’re planning before it’s too late.
With a cup in hand, I set it on the counter, open the fridge and fill the glass with orange juice. My doorbell rings and I jolt in surprise. Lowering the orange juice carton, I go to the door and am shocked to see Liz standing there in gray pajama pants, a pink tee that says, I’m a drop the F bomb kind of mom, her hair disheveled and half straightened with Liam tucked into a backpack carrier. Opening the door wider, I make room for her to enter.
“What are you doing here?”
“As soon as you hung up, I put him in a carrier and drove straight here. I could hear it in your voice. You were still planning to search for Nix. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you anywhere near the clubhouse or shop. I already lost one best friend, I’m not losing another.”
“Whatever they’re planning, I have a bad feeling about it. I need to talk to him. I need to see him.”
“Well, unless you plan on shoving a mom and baby out of your way, you’re not going anywhere.” Her arms cross, and she widens her sandal-covered feet, securing her stance.
I can’t fight the chuckle that escapes.
“You and Liam are safe. I’m not going to shove either of you out of my way.”
Liz swings her arm and shuts the door behind her.
“Good. Because I’m freaking out enough as it is. I can’t handle fighting with you on top of it. Help me out of this carrier, then I’ll tell you what Jake told me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
NIX
Jake drops his vest on my desk and lands in the chair across from me with a thump.
“Liz called. She had to stop your girl from rolling in here.” Leaning back, he puts his hands behind his head, stretching as the chair balances on two legs.
Lowering the paperwork in front of me, I set down my pen and sit back in my chair.
“Seeing she didn’t show up, I’m glad Liz talked her out of it. The clubhouse or shop is the last place she needs to be right now.”
“I know it, brother. It’s almost over. Soon, you won’t need to worry about that shit.”
Scratching my thumb across the facial hair on my chin, my brows flick upward. “I’m already worried about the aftermath.
“Leave no trace. That’s the plan. As long as we stick to it, the aftermath should be minimal or none at all.”
“Yeah.” My chair turns as my gaze drifts out the window. “But that doesn’t stop my mind from thinking of all the different ways this shit could go south.”
The chair Jake’s in taps the floor and drags my gaze to him.
“You thinkin’ we should abandon our plans?”
Raking my hand through my lengthening hair, I exhale a resigned sigh.
“No. The Royals would keep comin
g for more money. It would never end, and Synne would never be safe—none of us would.”
“Ever since you said it, I’ve known this is what we need to do. We’re making the right choice… no matter what happens.”
“You’re right.” Gathering the completed beneficiary paperwork, I place it in the folder with Liz’s name on it and set it aside. “You got all your affairs in order?”
“Yeah. Liz gets everything—house, business, car, and Harley.”
“Same,” I nod. “With a special gift for Synne.”
“What’s that?”
“She gets the Reaper and my cruiser.”
“Lucky woman,” Jake quips.
A smile rounds the corner of my mouth but falls as my attention is stolen by the ringtone of my cell phone. Glancing at the screen, it’s a number I recognize, one I’m not so sure I want to answer, but I do anyway.
“Nix Wilson?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s Special Agent Adams from the TBI.”
“I still have you in my contacts. So, why the call?”
“Angela Kersee. Consider this a courtesy call. You nor the Kings are a suspect. This isn’t something I should be telling you, but you know it, anyway—”
“Reed Alverez and his thugs killed her,” I finish for him.
“DNA is still undergoing processing, but I have no doubt we’ll find something on them.”
“I appreciate the courtesy call.”
“That’s not all.”
Of course, it isn’t. Lowering my phone, I press the speaker button and set it on my desk for Jake to hear.
“I didn’t think it was. What’s the real reason for the call?”
Jake pulls his cell phone out and taps the record button. I give him an approving nod.
“Hacker’s Automotive, you know anything about it?”
“I can probably fill you in on some missing holes in your case, but I’m gonna need a favor in return.”
“Yeah. What kind of favor?”
“One I’ll save for later.”
“Don’t tell me your club is getting involved in illegal activities.” His tone lowers, vocalizing his disapproval.
“No illegal activities, but we have the same problem—the Wild Royals.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” he sneers. “I’ve got a growing gut and thinning hair to prove it. So, what information do you have to make my life easier?”
“Hacker’s Automotive was a front for the Royals. It was their central location for drug containment and distribution. They loaded drugs into the vehicles that were supposedly there for repairs, then sent the drugs out to clients and dealers.”
“How’d you get this information?”
“We have our ways.”
There’s a grunt on the other end of the phone. “Yeah. I heard about Rex Alverez. Hell, if I could put you on the payroll, I would.”
“From what I heard, Rex got what he deserved.”
There’s another grunt and no argument after. “The explosion at Hacker’s Automotive is being reported as a chemical accident that resulted in a fire. I can’t help suspecting otherwise. The Royals have gathered themselves several enemies over the years.”
“They sure as hell have.”
“This is going to put them in deep shit with the drug cartel. They’re going to owe them some serious cash.”
“Maybe this is the beginning of the end for them.”
“From the reports flying across my desk, I’d say the Royals have finally pissed off the wrong people or person. And I don’t think this is the end of it either.”
“It won’t be any heartache to us to see them fall.”
“Well, Wilson, I hope I don’t see your name or the name of any of the Kings’ members come across my desk if what this is, is a war.”
“No worries, Adams. We’re just a bunch of free-spirited bikers, selling custom bikes and beers.”
Agent Adams chuckles through the receiver. “One more thing, Wilson.”
“What is it?”
“Local PD reached out to Angela Kersee’s family. They’re coming to sign off on her cremation in a few days. Would you like the opportunity to say goodbye before they arrive?”
My throat tightens, my words lodged as memories of Angela flood my mind. The last time we were together, I gathered her leopard print shirt off the end of my bed and handed it to her as she finished dressing. With a salacious grin, she tossed the shirt, grabbed the waist of my jeans, and pulled me back on top of her. There was a time, I truly loved her. A time she made me happy. A time I considered a future with her before she decided I wasn’t enough.
“No, I don’t want to be reminded of what they did to her. I want to remember who she was before the Royals destroyed her.” My tone is harsher than I intended, but I can’t hide the anger that surfaces every time I think of her body lying in the dirt.
“I understand. Thanks for your time.”
He disconnects, and I tap end call on my cell as I release a breath and fall back in my chair. My thumbnail is ground between my teeth as my thoughts drift off to Angela’s death, Jenna’s, Pat’s, Bear’s, and my grandfather’s best friend, Ray Alverez—the man whose death began the blood feud and animosity between our clubs all those years ago.
“Adams believes the cartel will punish the Royals for the loss of their drugs; that’s a benefit for us.” Jake’s voice snaps me back, my gaze darting to him. “When everything goes down, that’s the first thing they’ll suspect.”
“Let’s make sure they have no reason to believe otherwise.” Standing, I shift out of my vest and leave it on the desk with Jake’s. “It’s time to get ready.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
NIX
My crew is all here on the first floor of the tobacco factory, our getaway trucks parked outside in the darkened parking lot, facing out for a quick exit. Five of us stand behind a six-foot metal folding table with a black duffel bag sitting on top. We’ve set up camping lanterns and thrown a few objects around to make it look like teenagers or homeless have been using the space. The extra two metal tables, a broken dresser, and busted bookshelf are all items we picked up from second-hand donation stores. They look worn, useful, and disguise their real use—coverage.
I’ve sent the text to Reed. Dominic and Jake are by the entrance, waiting for the Royals to show. Axel and Trevor are set up in their locations, awaiting the signal. Max, Wesley, Ink, and William are at the table with me. Wesley, Ink, and William are several steps back, giving coverage to my back while Max and I give the appearance the President and VP are ready to do business.
The roar of Harleys in the distance cause every muscle in my neck and back to tense. Max pats my shoulder.
“We’re in this together, brother.”
Nodding, I pat his shoulder, and hip check my Glock.
My chin rises as Reed’s VP, Duncan, steps through the doorway first, surveying the scene as he slows his steps. Two more of Reed’s thugs stomp in behind Duncan, followed by Reed and five more Royals. The only one missing is Rex, who’s either still in the hospital or at home nursing his wounds.
Where we’re standing, the door is to our right. The Royals continue forward, coming to a stop across the table from us with their left sides to the door. Dom and Jake are the last to enter. Leaving the door unlocked, they remain next to it. Reed’s crew is tightly wrapped around him, giving him protection, but that won’t matter.
“What a shithole you picked to meet in.” Reed’s gaze sweeps around the large space, taking it all in with a grimace.
“I wasn’t gonna pick a place the cops would find. The last thing I need is for them to think we’re making drug deals with the Royals.”
“Right,” Reed snickers. “Can’t tarnish your squeaky-clean record, can we?” The other Royals snigger, but it doesn’t faze us. Our minds are focused only on the plan.
“You know it wasn’t always like this,” I say to Reed.
My statement pinches his dark brows. “What
do ya mean?”
“This place is where my grandfather, James Wilson, worked and met your grandfather, Ray Alverez. It was their mutual love for motorcycles that bonded them and started the Kings. It was meant to be a brotherhood. A club for riders who loved the road, the wild, and the wind, my grandfather would tell me. It was never meant to be a security team. James told me the story of how they were approached to provide security for a cargo truck. James said no, but Ray insisted it would pay well. They didn’t need to buy guns as most of the men owned one, anyway. With his insistence, Ray convinced James, and they took the job.” Shaking my head, I chuckle aloud.
“And that’s where it all went south. At the last minute, James and several other Kings members decided the money wasn’t worth the risk and tried to convince the others, but Ray, his son, Dante, and the remaining Kings did the job anyway. Someone wanted what was in that cargo truck, and they were willing to take risks to get it. Ray was driven off the road, his bike and body beyond recovery.”
“Why the walk down memory lane, Wilson?” Reed growls. “I know how my grandfather died.”
“Because it was your uncle’s anger toward my grandfather that influenced his decision to separate from the Kings and start the Wild Royals. It was your uncle who drew first blood, killing my uncle and raping my aunt! And it was your grandfather’s greed that got him killed! My family has had to suffer for your grandfather’s decision ever since, you piece of shit!”
King of Kings Page 20