Wire: A Wings of Diablo MC Novel

by Lake, Rae B.

“Look, if you want to take a ride, just say so. My dick is free for the evening.”

  “Oh, fuck you, Dillon!”

  “Anytime you want, Keeley.”

  She hung up on me, leaving me at the end of the phone, wondering why the hell I did that.

  She’d been nothing but good to me and the minute Prez ruffled my feathers about her, I lashed out. What a dickwad move.

  “Wire. Get your ass down here.”

  I hopped out of bed, trying hard to put the conversation with Keeley out of my head. I was having a hard time doing that.

  I walked out in my typical outfit, dark washed jeans, black worn t-shirt, my biker boots and my kutte. I didn’t need anything else. I didn’t think I even had any other colors in my closet besides black and dark blue.

  The dark blue shirt was by accident. I was so fucking drunk one day I couldn’t tell the difference between the two colors and ended up buying the wrong color.

  “Yeah, Prez. What’s up?”

  “You straight?”

  “Yeah. I’m straight. What’s up?”

  “I need you, Clean and Larry to take a trip down towards Laraby Street. The Maniacs may have a bit of information about the drop.”

  “You got it.”

  Larry and Clean were already outside on their bikes, waiting for me to get my shit together. When there was business to be done, there were no games played. I strolled up to them and jumped on my baby, heading to the garage on Laraby. The Maniacs had something to say, so we would listen.

  * * *

  “Do you know who fucked up on the drop and let loose?”

  “Your President already asked me all this.” Guy seemed to be more pissed off than anything that we had shown up at his garage to question him, but Prez must have had something on him to make us come down here.

  “I am sure he did. I’m just here to see if maybe we could jog your memory a bit.” This was usually Gin’s job, squeezing people for information, but it hadn’t been since his last major fuck up. Now I somehow had ended up with the task.

  “Is that a threat, boyo?”

  “Not at all. You of all people should know that I don’t need to threaten.” I folded my hands under my arms and let my barbed wire tattoo sleeves speak for themselves. If there was someone no one wanted to be questioned by, it was me. I was ruthless. I loved my reputation.

  “Yeah, we all know, Wire. No one fucks with you.”

  “So, tell me what you know about the drop? We are just trying to get to the bottom of this, that is all.”

  “I don’t know shit…”

  I rolled my eyes, wishing I could just take him in the back and show him what his entrails looked like. I turned to walk away. If I asked him again and he gave me the same bullshit answer, I may put my fist through his jaw.

  “But you might want to check in house,” he said almost under his breath.

  I turned back around quickly at that. He was crazy if he thought that I was going to let him bash my crew. Not today! “What the fuck did you say?” I took purposeful steps straight toward him. The crew he’d with him all stood up, picking up whatever they could as weapons, and in a mechanics garage, there were quite a few pieces that could do some real damage.

  He put his hand in his pockets. He wasn’t trying to fight me.

  “I’m no snitch, boyo. I’m just saying you are checking with all the other crews. Maybe you ought to check your own. By the way, ain’t you missing a man at this interrogation?”

  Gin.

  He had to be talking about Gin, had to be. Gin’s downfall was a little too far and too quick.

  Did he set us up?

  The more that I thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense. I really hoped not. Gin was a brother even if he was an ass. We’d kill him for this and slowly.

  “I hear you,” I nodded slowly, looking Guy in the eye. I wouldn’t say it aloud, but I wanted to confirm that I was on the same page.

  “Fine. Now get the hell out of my shop. Them ugly bikes are scaring away my customers.”

  “Please, if you want a ride on my bitch, all you have to do is ask!” Clean yelled as he did an obscene dance on his bike. You could always count on Clean to relax a situation.

  “Hey, ain’t that your visitor’s truck? She stalking you or something?” Larry said as he went to start up his bike.

  I turned towards where he was looking and low and behold, Keeley’s emerald green hybrid truck was parked in a small office building space.

  I don’t care. Why should I? She means nothing to my brothers or me.

  I don’t even know when my feet started to go in that direction, but before I could even say anything to Clean and Larry I was already in the middle of the street.

  “Guys, give me a minute!” I yelled back at them as I half walked, half jogged towards that truck.

  I didn’t even wait for an answer.

  I circled her car, almost scared that she or Max would pop out, confirming my growing suspicion that Keeley may be stalking me. When I’d gone around the whole vehicle, and she was nowhere to be seen I was a bit upset. Not that I knew why.

  I looked inside her truck to see an employee parking pass hanging on the rearview mirror. Maybe she works here.

  I looked at the building, and if there were any more windows, I would think it was a hospital because of the sterile look of it, but I wasn’t too sure about that. There were not many cars and no people walking in or out.

  I walked in the door, and a sheepish boy was sitting at the front desk. He nearly shit bricks when he saw me walk in.

  “What is this place?” I asked with no preamble.

  “Um… ex... excuse me, sir?” Fear, I could almost smell it on him. I looked him right in the face and repeated the question. I didn’t like to waste time, and he was wasting mine.

  “Oh, this is the Wildlife and Ecosystem Service Station.”

  What the fuck was that?

  “Yeah, whatever. Where is Keeley?”

  “Oh, Ms Juric?”

  Juric?

  “Yes. Ms Juric. Where is she?”

  “She is down in the lab. Would you like me to tell her that you’re here to visit?”

  “I want to see her.”

  “Now?”

  “Immediately.”

  He blinked a few times. I could see that he was a bit miffed. I guess this isn’t the usual protocol.

  “Shall we get a move on.” I gave him my nicest, fake smile as he got out of his chair and slowly led me down some stairs and into a more sterile looking area.

  “I can’t take you into the lab. They will fire me.” He looked up at me. I didn’t want the kid to get in trouble. I did see that most of the rooms were completely transparent, glass paneling throughout.

  “Is she in an area where she’d be able to see me?”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  We walked a bit further in, and there she was along with a few of her colleagues, big eye protective goggles on, hair net and full white jumpsuit. It did nothing for her shape. Still, she turned me on.

  I walked up and knocked on the glass, jarring everyone out of their little world. I could see the panic on her face when she saw who had caused the disruption.

  She excused herself to her colleagues and quickly came through the electronic doors. She got rid of her jumpsuit and ripped the goggles and hairnet off.

  “Dillon?” She asked out of breath as she made her way to me.

  “Yeah, we need to talk.” I had no idea what I was going to say, but I wanted her to talk to me.

  She grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her. We walked into an office, and she closed the door behind me.

  “Are they outside? How many? They aren’t going to come in here, are they?”

  I shook my head, I was such a dick. I‘d really scared her with that. I know that my club was crazy, but they weren’t crazy enough to stalk a woman without cause.

  “No, Keeley. There’s no one outside. That was just something I said to scare you ear
lier. I had no idea that you would take me so seriously.”

  She closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath. She was clearly at her breaking point, and that was my fault. “So seriously? You told me that my life was in danger and that I should watch my back. What kind of person doesn’t take that seriously?”

  “I know it was a shit thing to do. I didn't think when I said it.”

  “Tell me about it!” She waved her hand in the air. It looked as though she was trying to throw the conversation behind her. “So, if you’re not here to tell me that my life is in danger, what do you want?”

  I was at a loss. I was not an apology person. I rarely felt the need to do it, but I knew how I had acted was clearly past the line.

  “What’s with the fucking attitude?”

  Why did I say that?

  “My attitude? You come into my life and toss me back into a place that I don’t want to be, with a bunch of criminals and lowlifes, tell me that my life is in danger, then treat me like your common corner slut. That’s why I have a fucking attitude!” She stepped straight into my space and poked a finger into my chest. “Now, did one of your little club pussies scrape their teeth on your dick or something? You got an emotional stability problem? No, if not, get your shit and get the fuck out my office.” I looked her right in the eyes, and there was something about the whole situation that seemed off to me. Then like a fucking blow to the head, I realized what it was.

  No fear.

  She stood up to me like she would take me out or go down swinging if she had to. No one in my life, not even Clean, would stand up to me for long.

  I stepped closer into her space to test her bluff. She didn’t move an inch.

  I put my hands up in my first ever surrender. Part of me wanted to clap and applaud, but I think that would have just pissed her off more.

  “You’re right on all accounts. I was a dick. I shouldn’t have acted like that.”

  She squinted her eyes and pursed her mouth. “Was that your idea of an apology?”

  I grabbed the back of my neck and began to massage it. Talk about an uncomfortable situation. “Well yeah, I mean… Fuck, I don’t know. I’ve never done it before.” I rolled my eyes. This was frustrating as all hell. This was why I didn’t deal with women beyond a quick lay.

  She shook her head again and smiled a little bit. “Well, usually the words I’m sorry are in there. Then there’s some groveling, then some promises to buy me fine wines and chocolates-”

  “Nope.”

  “You’re the one who said you wanted to apologize.”

  “Not that bad.”

  She laughed now and punched me lightly in the chest.

  Wait a minute, is she flirting with me? Is she playing? What’s the read on this? I fucking hate women!

  “Whatever. Just say you’re sorry.” She folded her arms and tapped her foot, clearly waiting for me to say the words.

  “I’m sorry,” I barely mumbled the words; it was like acid on my tongue.

  She tsked, shaking her head again. “No, no, no. Say it like you mean it. You have to be genuine or it doesn’t count.”

  If I could hit her up the side of her head and give her amnesia, I would do that instead, but I wanted to be on good terms with her, so I sucked it up and said it again.

  I stood up straight and took a deep breath. “I am very sorry, Keeley. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I want you to forgive me.”

  “What are you willing to do for me to forgive you?”

  I smiled at her. “Keeley I am telling you right now unless you are talking about me pulling my dick out and bending you over this desk, you’re going to need to be very clear about what you are asking me for.”

  “Oh jeez, you brute! No, that’s not what I’m talking about at all. How about a beer?”

  “You want to go out for a beer with me?”

  “Well, yeah. Us poor scientists don’t have much fun, and you look like you could use a Cosmo or two.”

  “Hardy har har,” I mocked before turning to walk out of the office.

  “Was that a yes or a no?”

  “I’ll see you at eight.”

  “No, wait. Eight is no good. I'll still be coming in from the field.”

  I had to turn back around because I had no idea what she was talking about.

  “I have to go get some samples this afternoon by Prayer’s Creek. It usually takes a few hours. I'll be finishing up around seven, and then I have to drop the samples off here and get home to change for our date. So, like nine-thirty would be better.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Date?”

  When the hell did that happen? Did I ask her out on a date, or did she ask me? Great. Just what I need.

  “Yeah, big boy. It’s a date, meaning you have to be on your best behavior. I even expect some damn flowers. Make it happen.”

  I turned, walking out the door. I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into, and neither did she.

  Keeley

  “What are you willing to do for me to forgive you?” I asked playfully.

  “Keeley, I am telling you right now unless you are talking about me pulling my dick out and bending you over this desk, you’re going to need to be very clear about what you are asking me for.”

  Did he really just say that to me? What a creep. What a sexy creep.

  It’d been a long time since I was attracted to anyone, but from the moment Dillon popped up in my backyard, my fantasies had a male lead role. I knew that I came to this small town to get away from all the nonsense and illegal activity that was my father and his people, but something deep inside me couldn’t resist a bad boy. Finding his wallet in the house was just another sign that I should pursue this. Since it didn’t look like he was going to make a move, I had to do it. I had no problem taking charge.

  “Oh jeez, you brute! No, that’s not what I am talking about at all. How about a beer?”

  “You want to go out for a beer with me?”

  “Well, yeah. Us poor scientists don’t have much fun, and you look like you could use a Cosmo or two.” I tried to play it off as if I wasn’t that interested. Hell, I was so interested.

  “Harty har har.”

  He began to walk away but didn’t answer me. “Was that a yes or a no?”

  “I’ll see you at eight.”

  “No, wait. Eight is no good. I'll still be coming in from the field.” My colleagues and I thought that a particular species of fish was becoming overly abundant in the freshwater spring, causing a reduction in the population of some of the plant life in the area. Unfortunately, the only time they seemed to be very active was during the early evening hours. Each of us took turns to go. Tonight was my turn, and I honestly didn’t want to miss out on the findings.

  “I have to go get some samples this afternoon by Prayer’s Creek. It usually takes a few hours. I'll be finishing up around seven, and then I have to drop the samples off here and then get home to change for our date. So, like nine-thirty would be better.”

  “Date?” He seemed a bit confused. Let me clear it up for him.

  “Yeah, big boy. It’s a date, meaning you have to be on your best behavior. I even expect some damn flowers. Make it happen.”

  My father always told me people treated you how you let them treat you, so if I wanted respect and chivalry, I had to demand it. I didn’t care about the flowers, but it was the principal of the matter. If he showed up without the flowers, that meant he couldn’t care less about how I wanted to be treated, and that wasn’t going to fly with me. If he did bring flowers, then we could proceed further. I would take nothing less than the best. His best.

  I watched as he walked out of the room, still shaking his head at my audacity. If he stuck around, he’d get used to it.

  My whole body was hot. Dillon somehow managed to turn me on with the few words he did say, more than any man before. Sure, I had been in relationships before. I’d given my virginity to another man. It wasn't the man my father had planned me
to marry, but nothing lit a fire under me like Dillon.

  He was tall, which was a plus since I was already five foot ten. So many men fell from my good graces because they didn’t have the self-assurance to walk with a woman that was taller than them.

  He was cut, muscles weren’t bulging out all over the place like a steroid head, but I swear I could wash my shirt on his abs. The tattoos that I could see seemed to span his whole upper half from his sides to his back and arms, down to his wrist. His neck, face and hands were all clean. I remembered when I was helping Clean get him back to the club, and I had this undying need to run my fingers through his hair. It was jet black and unruly. But it was his eyes that stopped me right in my tracks. I could see his whole life story in them. They were dark grey, almost black, and while his face always seemed cool and collected, it was those eyes that gave away all his secrets. I got to him as much as he got to me. He looked at me like I was a piece of meat, and as sexist as it was, I wanted him just to pick me up and throw me over his shoulder.

  “Are you finished daydreaming, or should I give you a few more minutes?” Lamonte asked from my door. He was a good friend, but even though he often dropped hints, I was just not interested in him in that way. Too clean cut, I guess.

  “Oh, hush. I wasn’t daydreaming.”

  “Sure.” He rolled his eyes before he continued, “so, we are just about done here. You remember that you have the late night?”

  “Yeah, I’m about to leave now. Did you see anything yesterday in the north quadrant?”

  “Nothing extraordinary.”

  “Darn, I was really hoping we would find the school of fish there.”

  “No worries. We will find it.”

  He stood at my door a little longer, obviously waiting for something or wanting to say something.

  “Yes?” I asked, hoping to nudge him along.

  “Is that guy your boyfriend or something?”

  Ugh, here we go.

  “No, he is not my boyfriend. We are just friends.”

  “But he looks like a miscreant.”

  My eyes snapped to his. How dare he! “A miscreant? Why because he wears leather and has tattoos? I can honestly say this is one of the reasons you and I never really hit it off in the dating department. What gives you the right to judge anyone by their looks? Seriously, what year is this anyway?”