Dice (A Righteous Outlaws Novel #3)

by Savannah Rylan

  “Go ahead, baby. Come for me.” His words were my undoing. Tingling heat expanded inside me, moving through me like a rush of lava until it erupted into sweet, delicious convulsions. “That’s my girl.” He pumped into me once more, the feel of his orgasm, the hot, slick release, sending me spiraling again.

  My body went limp against him, and I pressed a kiss to where my nails left bright red marks on his shoulder. He buried his head into the crook of my neck, and we stayed like that until the sun came up.

  22

  Dice

  It was a sunny day when we buried Miles. It was fitting, as if he were shining his light down on us and reminding us to celebrate his life instead of mourning it. Still it was hard. Each and every one of us felt a bit of responsibility. Felt that if we just said something or did something maybe he’d still be with us.

  The vision of his lifeless body hanging from the ceiling beams haunted my dreams and my thoughts. His blank stare was there every time I closed my eyes and, in some sick way, I knew that’s exactly what he wanted. He had a demented sense of humor, and I’m sure that didn’t change in death.

  We stood at the cemetery, staring at the black coffin that would be his final resting place. Phil said a few words before joining his old lady and draping his arm around her shoulders. Allison squeezed my hand, and Aubree’s sobs broke through the silence.

  One by one, people tossed a flower at the base of the coffin. First Phil and his wife, then Braxton, Beast and Hudson. Tears flowed freely down Sienna’s face even though I could tell she was trying so hard to force them back. DC rested on her hip and, when Kade placed his flower down, he took his son.

  Sienna shook her head, and rested her hand on the shiny black surface. “I’ll never forgive you for this, you bastard,” she said with a laugh. “But thank you.” She stood there for a moment, staring down at the coffin. Because of Miles and his so-called confession, Sienna never had to worry about the truth coming out. It would be buried with him. She bent down, placing the flower with the others, then went right into Kade’s arms.

  Cash and Aubree walked up next. She cried into Cash’s cut, wiping her nose with what was left of a tissue. “I’m sorry I was such a pain in the ass. Nobody will ever hang a sign like you. I’ll miss…” She choked on her words and ran off. Cash dropped his flower, patted the casket and took off after his old lady, wrapping her in his embrace.

  Allison squeezed my hand again, and I drew strength from it. I took a deep breath, not ready to say goodbye to my friend, but knowing time was against us. Allison placed her flower and then rested her hand against my chest. “You okay?” she asked, and I nodded.

  She stepped away to give me a moment, and I bent down with my own flower. “I don’t know how I’m going to do this without you.” Tears threatened to rise and I forced them back. I needed to be strong. Miles wouldn’t want us to be sad. He wouldn’t want us to suffer. He’d want us to rejoice, knowing he led the life he wanted. “You always thought you were the fuck up. The bad guy. But what you did? The confession? Fuck, man, you’re a goddamned hero. I’ll miss you, brother.” I tossed the flower with the rest of them and stood up. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out Miles’ comb, resting it on top of the casket before saying my final goodbye.

  Allison waited for me, her red hair blowing in the wind and her cobalt eyes full of concern. I went to her, taking her in my arms and kissing her head. Today sucked. It was one of the worst days of my life, but having Allison here, made it a little easier.

  “Let’s go get drunk,” Beast grunted. He went to move past us when his body went rigid. His breathing grew heavy, and I glanced around his large frame to see what the problem was.

  Every muscle in my body tensed as my eyes landed on Angelo and Matias.

  “What the fuck are they doing here?” Cash growled. He pushed Aubree behind him. Kade & I both stepped in front of our girls. If either of them as much batted an eyelash in their direction, I would rip their throats out.

  “S, take DC and the girls to the car and get the fuck out of here,” Kade said.

  Normally, Sienna would have put up a fight, but with DC now she didn’t argue. She took the keys from Kade’s hands and ushered the girls away. My body was on full alert, panic just on the cusp of taking control, until I heard the engine of Sienna’s car start and the sound fade into the distance.

  Beast’s fists clenched and unclenched. “I’ll fucking kill them.”

  The two pricks made their way across the cemetery with smiles on their faces. Angelo held his hands out as he got closer to us. “Beautiful day for a funeral, isn’t it?”

  “Why so sad?” Matias asked, flanking Angelo’s side.

  “What the fuck do you want?” Cash spat, the veins in his neck bulging and pulsing.

  Angelo’s smile widened. “We’re just here to make sure the bastard’s dead.”

  I lunged toward him, but Kade grabbed me. “Not here,” he said, nodding his head to where Stanson still stood.

  Cash’s jaw ticked. “You came, you saw, now it’s time to get the fuck out of here.”

  Angelo stepped toward Cash, and the rest of us reached for our guns. I didn’t give a shit if Stanson was just on the other side of the cemetery. I would put a fucking bullet through this prick’s head in a goddamned heartbeat if I had to.

  “You might think this is over,” Angelo said. “But it’s not. This is just the beginning.”

  “Is that a threat?” Cash asked, straightening to his full height and dwarfing Angelo.

  “That’s a promise,” Matias said.

  “Have a nice day, boys,” Angelo said and started walking away. He stopped, turned and spit on Miles’s casket.

  Anger consumed me and my fingers twitched on my gun. The only thing that kept me from pulling it out and ending the piece of shit was Allison. I couldn’t be with her if I was in jail for murder. I told her I belonged with her and, because of that promise and that alone, I let my hand fall to my side.

  We stood united as Angelo and Matias drove away. Stanson joined us shortly after, looking out to the dust that was still settling from the tires.

  “Should I be worried?” Stanson asked.

  “You’ll be retiring soon. Don’t worry about it,” Cash said.

  “My kid’s coming to replace me, so believe me, I’m fucking worrying about it. If there’s something I need to know, you better damn well tell me.”

  Cash’s Adam apple bounced as he swallowed, the iron steel gaze softening slightly. “I don’t know.”

  “What did they say?” Stanson asked.

  “They’re just talking out of their asses. I don’t think we have anything to be worried about. The minute I start worrying, I’ll let you know.”

  Stanson nodded. “That’s all I ever asked.”

  We drove our bikes back to the clubhouse and met up with the girls. Allison swiveled on the bar stool, catching my gaze across the room, and every tight muscle in my body relaxed. She jumped off, coming to me and taking my face in her hands. “Everything okay?”

  I hated the fear marking her beautiful face, the distress in her eyes. I turned my mouth to her palm and kissed it. “Everything’s fine.”

  But it wasn’t fine. I couldn’t keep doing this. The panic that rose inside of me when I spotted Angelo and Matias. The fear that something could happen to Allison, or something could happen to me in front of her, was enough to freeze me in place. Enough to make me question if this life was still the life I wanted. Needed.

  “Time for shots,” Braxton said, holding up the bottle of Jack. He poured the dark liquid in a straight line across a row of shot glasses. Everyone gathered taking one for themselves. We all held the glasses high.

  It was time to celebrate a man who was known to party all night, and there was no better way. So, with a smile I said, “For Miles.”

  “For Miles,” everyone cheered in unison and threw back the first of many shots.

  23

  Dice

  A week l
ater, Allison lay in my arms, naked and glowing from her most recent orgasm. I ran my fingers up and down her back, loving the feel of her soft skin against the roughness of my own.

  “Mmm,” she moaned before looking up at me and smiling. “What are you thinking about?”

  “What makes you think I’m thinking?”

  She pushed up and pressed her fingers to the bridge of my nose. “You get these wrinkles right here when you’re in deep thought about something. So, spill. What’s going on in that head of yours?” I took a deep breath, but couldn’t find the words. Allison sat up, crossing her legs beneath her. “What is it?”

  “Last week, at the funeral when Angelo and Matias showed up, I have never been so scared in my life. I was terrified that something would happen to you.”

  “Nothing did,” she said, resting her hand on my cheek.

  “But it could have. Or something could have happened to me or any of the guys. Shit like that. That’s nothing I ever want you to see.”

  “You can’t protect me from everything.”

  “No, maybe not, but I can protect you from this life.”

  “How? This is who you are.”

  It was something I had been thinking about for a while, even before Miles decided to hang himself from the ceiling. “It was. It’s not anymore. The club will always be a part of me, just like you said Miles would always be. The guys will always be my brothers, but I can’t be the man you deserve if I stay.”

  “But that’s the man I fell in love with, and I knew what I was getting myself into.”

  I kissed her palm. “And I love you for that. I know you didn’t plan any of this.”

  “No, I didn’t, but I wouldn’t change it.” She sighed. “Except for the lie. I need to tell Kade. I’ve waited long enough. It’s been a week since the funeral. I think it’s time. We can’t move on or do anything until I come clean.”

  “Sienna invited us over for dinner tonight,” I said.

  “Then, that settles it. I’ll tell them tonight. Then, we can decide what to do next. If Sienna doesn’t slit my throat with a kitchen knife.” Allison was joking, but, if she knew Sienna’s secret, she never would have used those words.

  “I’ll protect you,” I said with a laugh, tossing her beneath me, and hovering over her.

  She smiled up at me with those sexy full lips. Her eyes fluttered shut, as I ran my hand up her thigh and slipped my finger against her slick folds.

  Looking down at her, so sweet and beautiful, my decision was already made. I just hoped my brothers stood by me and not against me when I told them.

  24

  Allison

  Unable to control my nerves, my legs shook beneath the dining room table as Sienna passed the bowl of salad. Eugene rested his hand on my thigh and gave me a reassuring squeeze. It helped a little and my leg came to a stop.

  So many times I kicked myself for not telling Kade and Sienna from the very beginning, but I wasn’t strong enough then. Now, with Eugene on my side, I finally found the strength to do what I should have done that first day so long ago.

  I remembered what he said about Kade and Sienna having secrets of their own and prayed that they’d find a place in their heart to forgive me. Accept me. Understand why I did what I did even if I couldn’t quite figure it out myself.

  Sienna was talking about the garage when her eyes turned to me. Her eyebrows furrowed. “What’s going on?” she asked, and I didn’t know whether to be happy that this girl who was a stranger only a couple of months ago knew me well enough to know that something was wrong, or not.

  Eugene took my hand under the table, and my eyes instantly went to his. He nodded at me, encouraging me to finally tell the truth. To stop hiding who I really was.

  “Don’t tell me. You’re pregnant,” Sienna said, and I shook my head to put an end to that thought process.

  “No, not at all,” I said.

  “Not that it would be such a bad thing,” Eugene said, and my heartrate picked up a bit. A smile tugged at my lips, and I turned to him, completely surprised by his words. Our entire relationship had been a whirlwind and, other than our quick discussion of me being on the pill, we never discussed if either of us wanted kids. He was amazing with DC, but I didn’t know if that extended to his own plans.

  So, hearing him say that made my heart swell. Made me eager to start our lives together.

  “Well, if you’re not pregnant then what is it?” Kade asked.

  Since what I had to say directly involved Kade, I turned to him, my brother. “Kade,” I said and forced a smile. “I haven’t been completely honest with either of you. That first day, when I knocked on the door, I wasn’t here to interview for a job. I was here to tell you.” I took a deep breath and Eugene squeezed my hand. Sienna’s eyes narrowed on me, and Kade’s head tilted as he waited for me to finish. “I came here to tell you that…” It was now or never. I just had to push the words past my lips. “That I’m your sister.”

  Sienna’s fork dropped to her plate, and Kade’s eyes widened. “My sister?” he said confusion clearly etched on his face.

  I nodded. “When my mom died, I found a box of my father’s things. A father I had never met before. With the box was a note from my mother, telling me I wasn’t alone in the world and I had a half-brother out there somewhere. So, I came here to find you.”

  Sienna slammed her hand on the table, startling me and causing me to jump. “Wait a goddamned second. Let me get this fucking straight. You’re Kade’s sister and instead of telling us you get here and you lie to us. Weasel your way into our lives and never once think to tell us?” Sienna blurted.

  “I was so scared and, when you assumed I was here for the position, I just went with it. I tried to tell you.”

  “You just went with it?!” she yelled, standing up and forcing her chair back with her legs. “Why should we even believe anything you’re saying?”

  “Because I’m telling you the truth.”

  “She is.”

  “And you!” Sienna screeched and turned her attention to Eugene. “You knew all along and didn’t fucking say anything?”

  “I just found out a couple weeks ago. I wasn’t exactly easy on her either, so I get why you’re mad, but I forgave her and you should, too.”

  “Why? Why the fuck should I? She came into my home. Lied to me. Pretended to be someone she wasn’t. I trusted her with my son! How do we even know she really is who she says she is? She lied once. Why wouldn’t she lie again? For all we fucking know she’s working for Montamos or Gordita’s Army. Gathering intel on us, telling those fucking pricks every goddamned thing she can to destroy us.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Eugene said. “You’re fucking paranoid.”

  “Am I? Miles was working with them. One of the clubs oldest members. The last person anybody would suspect. So don’t tell me I’m fucking paranoid. I’m realistic and unlike you my mind isn’t being controlled by my dick.”

  “That has nothing to fucking do with this.”

  “Doesn’t it? She could tell you she was a goddamned unicorn and I bet you’d believe her.”

  “Yeah, because not only is my mind controlled by my dick but I’m a fucking moron too.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “You are unfuckingbelievable, you know that? You act like you never fucked up before meanwhile we both know you’ve fucked up plenty.”

  “Enough! The two of you,” Kade yelled, holding his hand up and moving for the first time since I broke the news.

  Sienna’s lip curled, as Kade looked across the table at me. “We’ll do a background check.”

  “I already fucking did when I hired her. Nothing about her being your sister came up. How do we know she didn’t plant a fake life?”

  “I didn’t. I swear. I’m exactly who I say I am. I wouldn’t come up as Kade’s sister because my father isn’t even listed on my birth certificate.”

  “Shut up!” Sienna spat, swinging her glare back to Kade. “We can’t fuckin
g trust her. Not after this.”

  Kade glared at Sienna and I swore she was going to lunge at him. “We’ll do another background check on Allison and her mother. I’ll have Hudson dig deep and see what he finds too. After we find out then we’ll talk.”

  “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” I offered. “I’ll give you my mom’s name, social security number. I’ll do anything I have to in order to show you the truth.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Sienna exclaimed. “I don’t care if God himself came down and told me she was your fucking sister. She’s a goddamned no good liar. She lied to us Kade.”

  DC let out a cry and it floated down the hallway. Instinctively I went to go to him, but Sienna turned her fiery glare on me. “Don’t you fucking think about. You stay away from my son, you bitch.”

  “Hey!” Eugene called out as I swallowed down the emotion rising up my throat. “You’re the one being the bitch.”

  She wasn’t though. She was right. I was a liar A no good goddamned liar and she had no reason to trust me. No reason to accept my apology and my poor excuse for an explanation. I deserved every hateful glare and every vile word directed at me.

  Kade turned to Sienna, taking her hands into his. She tried to yank away, but he held them tightly, bringing them to his chest. When she wouldn’t look at him, he took her wrists in one hand and pressed a finger to her chin, urging her to. “We all have lied and kept secrets out of fear. Have we not?”

  Sienna didn’t say anything. Her lips pursed and flattened into a straight line.

  “You, especially. I’m not saying I agree with what Allison did, but I can understand it if she is telling us the truth.”

  “Well I can’t and I think you’re a fucking moron too.” She ripped out of his grip, grabbed her keys off the counter and raced toward the door. Her eyes landed on Eugene, venom filled her gaze. “Don’t follow me.” The door slammed and DC’s cries started again.