King of Kings

by Shreffler, Betty

  Several of the Royals fidget uncomfortably, their gazes darting between me and Reed.

  “It’s been three generations of this bullshit, and it ends now!”

  Axel and Trevor make their moves. Two flashbangs roll across the floor behind the Royals, their fuses igniting, bursting blinding light and an intense disorienting bang into the space. With our earplugs in, it’s less severe, but still more than I anticipated. With my adrenaline pumping, I draw my Glock and aim for Reed’s body. Pulling the trigger, a bullet explodes out of the barrel, clipping Reed in the shoulder. A gun fires back, hitting me in the chest, knocking me back as the vest under my shirt takes the majority of the impact. Among the chaos of guns firing and voices shouting, I make out Reed’s body darting for the door, his hand over his open wound. Dom and Jake are at the exit, one of their guns taking out Duncan, his body collapsing on the ground with a gruesome thud as his head smacks stone.

  Pulling my trigger, I shoot Reed in the side, his feet stumbling to reach the door. A gunshot whizzes past me, and I catch sight of the bullet hole Max put into the blond greasy-haired Royal who had his gun aimed at me. Returning my attention to Reed, I stare back at the barrel of his gun. I don’t blink or hesitate, pulling the trigger of my Glock and unleash another bullet into his body. It hits him in the chest as another bullet strikes him in the neck from Dom’s gun. Reed’s arm drops, his gun clunking on the floor as he falls to his knees, blood spilling out of his mouth, chest, and side. I have no time to watch him die.

  Max pulls another flashbang from his side pocket, pulls the clip, and throws it into the remaining group of Royals we have surrounded. Shielding my face from the light, I knock over the nearest table, duck behind it and bring my head up to aim at the Royals. Max and William drop down next to me. A trail of blood rolls down Max’s arm, but he pays no attention to it as he unloads his clip into the group. Another body drops to the floor; the massive Royal who held William to the chair stares out with blank eyes, blood pooling out around his chest.

  With a glance to the left, I find Wesley and Ink behind another table. My heart skips a beat, my eyelids expanding, my chest tightening so hard my breath stops. Next to Ink, Wesley is holding his neck as blood pours out of it. Ink shoves his shirt into Wesley’s neck as Axel steps out from the bookshelf behind them and fires at the Royals.

  Diving across the floor, I slide behind Wesley and Ink’s table, blood staining my hands as I apply pressure to Wesley’s wound.

  “Stay with me, old man!”

  Color has drained from his face. Glassy eyes stare back at me with an expression of acceptance.

  “It’s over… for me, son. I’m not… making it… out of this,” he sputters.

  The scent of blood fills my nostrils as Wesley’s breathing becomes weaker. Another gunshot explodes from the direction of the door as Dom puts down another Royal, then drops to his knees to help Jake. Blood is leaking from Jake’s left leg, and the two work to create a tourniquet with Jake’s belt.

  “Yes, you are.” I know deep down the statement is more to convince myself. I’ve lost so many I love, I can’t bear to lose more.

  “Stay with me, I’m gonna get you out of here.” Putting his arm around my shoulder, I try to lift him. Ink does his best to lift Wesley from the other side.

  A gurgling cough spatters blood across the floor. Wesley’s knees give out, and we collapse. Lying across my thighs, he gurgles as he tries to speak. Tears gather in my eyes as the last man of my father and uncle’s crew dies in my arms. Gripping his shirt, I roar into the air, sucking in the sulfur as I struggle to breathe.

  Around me, the gunshots have stopped, but the yelling hasn’t. Blood and bullet wounds cover half of my crew, but there’s not a single Royal left alive. Max lands on his knees in front of me, gripping my arm with force.

  “We need to go. We need to finish this.”

  “I can’t leave him!”

  Dom and Trevor lift Jake to his feet. Trevor’s hand is wrapped, blood seeping from the fabric he tore off his shirt and tied around it. Axel limps toward the exit with Ink holding him up on one side. Max is holding his arm to his chest, grimacing through the pain. I don’t want to leave Wesley’s body in this disgusting mess, to be burned among the ashes of the Royals, but Max is right, if we don’t finish this now, we endanger all of us. Max tugs at my arm again, and I release Wesley’s body. Gathering his necklace, wallet, and keys I tuck them into my pocket and go to Axel’s other side, helping him and Ink.

  Everyone but Dom and I pile into Axel’s truck. With William in the driver seat, he takes off to my house, where Liz is waiting to give medical aid or send them to hospitals, whichever she decides. The night before, the crew chose to include her in our plans, knowing there was a good chance of bullet wounds, and now, I’m thankful we did.

  Standing at the tailgate of my truck, my adrenaline is crashing, the pain in my chest worsening from the bullet my vest took. Dom drags the gasoline tank from the truck bed, and I notice blood dripping down his boot. My gaze moves up his leg and finds the tear in his jeans and the blood in its place.

  “You’re shot.”

  Dom shrugs it off.

  “It’s a flesh wound. I’m fine.”

  Shaking my head, I begin to chuckle but am forced to cough instead. Sharp pain claws across my chest, nearly buckling me over. As he carries the gas tank inside, I continue taking deep breaths and walk around, checking our surroundings, ensuring the shooting didn’t attract attention. With nothing but darkness that matches my broken soul, I inhale another breath and join Dom inside with the second gas tank. The two of us cover the space and bodies in the flammable liquid, but I can’t bring myself to cover Wesley’s. Seeing the old man’s body lying at my feet digs a hollow hole in my gut. My nostrils flare as I fight back tears. Dom puts a hand on my shoulder as I stare back at the empathetic expression on his hardened features.

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  Nodding, I swallow the lump in my throat and walk away. Going over to Reed’s body, I let my rage and anger fill me. The thought of Jenna’s beautiful face is a memory as vivid as a photo. Squatting down, I wipe at a fallen tear, flick open the lighter, ignite a flame, and lower it.

  “This is for all of them.”

  The flame touches fuel, and within seconds, the orange glow is spreading across his clothing. Dom and I waste no time running out of the building. Jumping into my truck, I put it into drive and speed out of the parking lot as flames rise behind the dingy windows in my rearview mirror.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  NIX

  Stepping through my front door is a reminder of the horror we escaped. Jake’s passed out on my couch in nothing but boxer briefs with his stitched-up leg raised and sitting on a pillow. Max is stitched, bandaged, and shirtless while he gathers blood-covered evidence in a black garbage bag. William is chugging a bottle of whiskey between filling a second garbage bag. Ink is sitting at the table with Liz and Axel, his hand against his forehead in angst as he watches Liz stitch up Axel. Looking around, I notice one of us is missing.

  “Where’s Trevor?”

  Ink turns his attention to me with wild eyes and a beer in hand. “Hospital.”

  Liz lifts her head from Axel’s shin. Seeing my condition—blood-covered clothes and stained hands—her lips thin below her wrinkled forehead. There’s an uneasy tension she’s holding back. “His hand wound needs to be looked at by a surgeon if he ever wants to ride again. Audrey took him.”

  Lifting my shirt off, I pull at the Velcro on the bulletproof vest. “You called Audrey?”

  Liz’s eyes widen as she stares at my chest.

  “You need an x-ray.”

  “I need alcohol, a shower, and sleep.”

  Glancing down, I look at the damage. There’s red and purple bruising all around the impact wound a few inches wide. The wound itself is dark purple, the skin torn and dried blood caked around it.

  “I’m going to need to clean that and wrap it. You might
have a cracked rib.”

  “I’ll survive,” I assure her.

  Dom sheds his shirt and bulletproof vest. As he passes the table to the kitchen sink, Liz inspects him to ensure there are no wounds. Her gaze lowers down his leg and catches the dried blood on his boot.

  “I’ll need to look at your leg.”

  Dom gives an acknowledging grunt as he washes his hands. Coming into the kitchen, I wash my arms and hands, then gather my ruined shirt off the floor and toss it in the closest garbage bag. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out Wesley’s necklace, wallet, and keys, my finger smoothing over the silver engraved Kings MC charm. Sorrow forms a lump in my throat as I stare down at his belongings. The pressure of tears prickles my eyes, causing me to pinch them closed. Opening them, I set the items in a drawer, avoiding the pain for now.

  The garage door that connects to the kitchen opens, and Synne walks through it, carrying additional supplies. Shock hits me to the point of standing there like a deer frozen in headlights.

  “Better yet, she can clean and wrap it,” Liz says, nodding to Synne.

  “Liz?” I admonish.

  “I needed the help, and she needed to know you’re okay.”

  Synne sets the additional hydrogen peroxide, gauze, and tape on the table and is quick to approach me. She eases into my open arms with tears in her eyes. Wrapping her hands around my back, she caresses me as she hugs me carefully.

  “I love you, Nix, so damn much.”

  The scent of cinnamon and vanilla rises to my nose as my cheek rests against hers. A sensation of comfort eases into my tired muscles, diminishing some of the pain and guilt. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I whisper, “Even after knowing what I’ve done?”

  She pulls back and stares up at me with nothing but love in her eyes.

  “Yes. I’m not going anywhere. Not now, not ever.”

  Gently, she pulls me toward her, her warm, soft lips evaporating all thoughts from my mind as her kiss fills me with the warmth of her love. As I tighten my grip on her ass, she pushes into me, and I grimace from the pressure on my chest. Pulling back from our kiss, her gaze goes straight to my chest.

  “Let me take care of you.”

  “All right, baby.”

  Taking my hand, she leads me to the sink, gathering the peroxide and gauze. Dabbing my wound carefully, she watches me with sad eyes every time I grit my teeth. When she’s finished, she takes Liz’s instruction and wraps my chest. William hands me the whiskey bottle, and I take several drinks. Liz finishes Axel’s stitches and convinces Dom to have a seat. After I change, the rest of my brothers take turns showering and putting on the fresh clothes they stored at my house.

  With all the bloody clothes, bandages, earplugs, and evidence gathered in bags, William and Ink tie them and load them into my truck along with a gas can. Driving over to my shop, they dump the bags in the steel commercial dumpster we’ve emptied and light them. From my porch, I watch the flames flicker above the top of the dumpster. Synne steps out onto my porch and takes my hand, her warm fingers sliding between mine.

  “Whatever happens next, I won’t abandon you.”

  Turning to look at her gorgeous face, I gather it in my hands and kiss the lips of the woman who’s given me love I never dreamed was possible.

  “I love you with everything I have to give. You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, but if what happened tonight lands me in prison, don’t wait for me, live your life. Ride hard, live free, and never look back.”

  Caressing my hand, she brings it to her lips and kisses it as tears well in her eyes.

  “I meant it. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll help Liz run the businesses and wait for the man who would sacrifice everything to protect the ones he loves, so I can love him the way he deserves to be loved.”

  Putting my head to hers, I breathe her in, cherishing this moment, freezing this memory in my mind, so I never forget how incredible it feels to be in her presence, touching her, tasting her, feeling her love. My mouth lowers, taking her lips, and with my kiss, I show her the passion she ignites within me.

  “Come to bed with me.”

  The two of us pass by sleeping bodies and quietly ascend the stairs to my room. Behind the closed door, I slip her out of her clothes, get rid of mine, and lay her beneath me. My stretched cock slides between her pussy lips as she welcomes me with a pleasured moan.

  * * *

  The aroma of coffee wafts upstairs into my bedroom. With a groan, I drop my feet to the side of the bed, every movement reminding me of the ache in my chest and exhaustion of my body and muscles. Synne wakes and a moment later, rubs her hands on my shoulders, relieving some of the tension.

  “Stay here, babe. I’ll get you a pain reliever and coffee.”

  “Thank you. I’m gonna try to take a shower.”

  Stepping off my bed, I look over my shoulder and watch her round, tight ass, my cock lengthening in response. If my future is a jail cell, I’m going to spend the next several days fucking her as often as I can because it’s going to be misery without her. Putting on a T-shirt and boxers of mine, she disappears out my bedroom door.

  Forcing myself to stand, I palm my sore chest and amble to the bathroom connected to my room. Turning on the shower, I set it to the temperature I prefer and do my best to unwrap the bandage around my chest. Synne comes in just as I’m finishing, setting the coffee and Tylenol on the counter. She gathers the wad from my hand and tosses it in the trash as I swallow the pills and wash it down with warm coffee.

  Taking off my shirt and boxers, she steps into the shower behind me. With her soft hands, she washes every part of me, everywhere she touches a mix of soothing and arousing. When she places her fist on my cock and strokes, it lengthens in her hand. She rinses me off, then turns her ass toward me and puts her palms on the wall. Taking her hip in one hand, I gather my cock in the other. Sliding into her wet, eager pussy, I fuck her as hard as I can and bring us to orgasm before my chest aches and my energy wanes. With a satisfied grin, she turns back to me, rubbing my chest with gentle fingers.

  “I think we should move in together.”

  Pulling her closer, I kiss her soft, damp lips.

  “I do too, baby. But not here or your place. Let’s get a new place… together.” My hand strokes the scarlet strands down her back, my hand falling to my favorite part of her. She giggles when I squeeze both ass cheeks.

  “I’d love that.”

  Resting my head against hers, I lower my lips to her sweet mouth as fear tightens in my stomach.

  “I don’t want to lose you. Not now that I can finally be happy.”

  Caressing my cheek, her words falter as she swallows back her tears.

  “I don’t want to lose you either. I love you so much.”

  For several minutes, we stand in the spray of warm water, holding each other, afraid to let go. Even as we leave the shower and dry off, we’re drawn back into each other’s arms, unable to keep from touching one another. Pulling a comb out of a drawer, I do my best to comb her hair as she watches me with watery eyes in the mirror. Setting down the comb, I pull her back to my chest and kiss her head and neck.

  “Don’t cry, baby. It hurts me to see you cry.”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  “I know.” Putting my arms around her, I caress her stomach, ignoring the sharp prickling of pins in my chest. “Come back to bed with me.”

  Lowering my hand, I massage between her legs. Her breathing heightens, turning into quiet moans. She turns her face toward me, and I smother those moans with my kiss. Leading her into my room, I pull the towel off her, and she does the same to me. Applying pressure to my waist, she encourages me to sit on the bed and straddles my lap, riding her pussy over my lengthening cock. As it grows thick, she reaches down, raises her hips and slides her pussy onto it. Her warm walls surround me, clearing my head and emotions. Holding her ass in my hands, I rock her forward and back as she slides up and down. My own pleasured groan fills m
y ears between the slick sound of her pussy riding my cock. Tightening my grip on her ass, I rock her harder as my orgasm builds, her hands grasping my shoulders as her head falls back. Another thrust and I reach the peak of our pleasure, coming inside my sinfully beautiful woman.

  Lying back on the bed, I admire her as she sits atop me, her full breasts bare for me to see. Gathering them in my palms, I massage them, enjoying the feel of them and how her eyes light up with renewed desire.

  “All I want to do is touch you and fuck you all day long, but I need to check on my crew.”

  Putting her hands over mine, she takes control, moving my hands over her breasts, encouraging me to squeeze them.

  “I understand. Take care of them, then we’ll get back to touching and fucking.”

  The corner of my mouth curls. “That’s a deal, baby. When we’re back in this room, I’m fucking you the way we both like it.”

  Dropping onto her side, her mouth curves into a lascivious grin. “That’s a deal, babe.”

  As I sit up, the pins prickle across my chest, and she watches me with worry in her eyes.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you should see a doctor.”

  Taking her hand, I caress it.

  “I’m okay. It’s a sore kind of pain, not an I need a hospital kind of pain. I promise. If it was worse, I’d drive a couple towns over and see a doctor.”

  “You swear you’re not underplaying it?”

  My hand slides between her legs, massaging her thigh, easing some of the tension I see in her wrinkled brow.

  “I’m not underplaying it.”

  “All right. Stay put. I’ll get your clothes.”

  Leaning my weight on one arm, I watch her go around my room, finding my things, and gathering clothes for me to wear. The way she cares for me is growing my love for her. It’s the little things like this that mean a great deal to me. Swallowing the knot forming in my throat, I blink back the thoughts creeping into my mind again. The thought of losing her is so overwhelming, I have to look away to control the emotions flooding me. She brings me clothes and kisses me, worry filling her eyes as she studies me.