by J. L. Drake
“How is she?”
“Freaked out, but she looks calm. She spent most of the night with the boys. I think she’s nervous to sleep in the room. You know Tess. She won’t show much emotion when it comes to this stuff.”
“I’m an hour away. Get the medic there in time for us.”
“You mean you found him?”
“Get a medic.”
“Yeah, boss.”
A text came through, and I yanked the phone away to look at the screen.
Cameron: 8 Stripe Backs dead, zero info. On to the next hit.
I didn’t have the head space or the desire to send the word out that Gus was found. For now, they could continue killing as many rats as they could find.
I tried Tess one more time but had no luck. Instead, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
“Here.” Gus handed me a shiny baseball bat. “Ever played before?”
I shook my head, but I knew from TV what to do. Gus grinned and started to walk backward.
“You ready?” He drew his hand back, lifted his knee, and threw the ball right to me. I waited to see its angle then swung with all my might. The ball hit the bat and soared well over Gus’s head and into the woods.
“Shit, boy!” He pulled his hat off and wiped his forehead free of sweat. “You can hit!”
I had no clue I was good at any sport. I had never been given the opportunity to try.
Gus raced over. “Nolan, that was…wow! I’ve never seen anyone hit like that!” He raised his hands to show me what he was going to do. They landed on my shoulders, and his face beamed down at me.
“I’m proud of you.”
Okay.
“Do you know what that means?”
I shrugged.
“It means you can do so much more than just toss a punch or a powerhouse kick. You have real talent.”
Someone was proud of me? That felt odd, but strangely, I was all right with it. I mustered up a tiny smile, and I knew he caught it.
“Proud,” he repeated then pulled out another ball from his pocket. “Let’s see what else you can do.”
The van stopped, and my eyes popped open. I turned to see out the window. We were home.
I opened the doors and jumped out. Brick and Morgan helped Gus out and into the bar.
The place went wild. Within minutes, the music was amped, the whiskey was passed around, and the celebration of one of our family being returned was in full swing.
Once the doctor took Gus out back to check him over, I rushed to my room, only to find it empty. I thought a moment then checked the boys’ room, and sure as shit, she was there tucked in between them.
“Mother of shit!” I yelped in a loud whisper. A Lego gun had fired and shot something with prongs at my leg.
Suddenly, Tess sat straight up and pointed a handgun at me. Her eyes were wild, and her hair was everywhere, but she looked gorgeous. She was there protecting the last piece of Gus she could. My woman.
“Babe, lower the gun.”
It took her a moment to register my voice, but she slowly lowered the weapon then covered her face with one hand.
“Hey,” I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled a piece of her hair over her shoulder, “you all right?”
“Yeah,” she whispered, sounding completely exhausted.
“I have something to show you.”
She sniffed, and I leaned over the bed and scooped her up from between the boys. I put her on the floor and lifted her face and studied it. Her eyes were dull, and I wanted to completely check her over, but it could wait.
“You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, but I could tell what happened had really shaken her up. Jace and Tess had been friends, and what Allen pulled was fucked up.
“Come on.” I tugged her hand for her to follow.
As soon as she felt the atmosphere of the bar, she picked up the pace.
“Oh, my God!” she cried in disbelief. “Oh, my God. Gus!”
Gus gave her a smile and tried to get up, but she ran over and forced him back into the chair. Her arms wrapped around him, and they took a moment to reconnect.
“You want me to get the boys?” she finally asked him as she eased carefully into the seat next to him, her arm still wrapped around him.
“Nah, let them sleep.” He smiled warmly. “I’m tired, anyway. I’ll just climb into bed and let them find me in the morning.”
“Yikes. Look at you,” Rail blurted but shrugged when everyone looked over. “Sorry, but he looks like a giant bruise.” He pointed his beer at Gus. “That’s where kids get nightmares.”
“What?” Tess sighed dramatically. “I have so many questions about your upbringing, but no clue where to start.”
“He’s the perfect example why cousins shouldn’t mate.” Brick laughed, which sent the club into full party mode.
I sat back with my drink in my hand and watched my club begin to mend itself. Tonight, we could party and celebrate the return of our own, but tomorrow, the hunt continued.
Most partied well into the morning. I didn’t think I could feel my hands at one point, we drank so much. Most of my men passed out in the chairs, but somehow, I peeled myself off the bar stool and made it to my bed.
The smell of peanut butter brought me out of my sleep. A strange sound found my ears, and then my eye was being pried open by sticky fingers.
“You in there?” Fin leaned right down and nearly touched his eye to mine. “Uncle T!” He shouted a little louder. “Hello.”
“He’s going to swat you,” Denton muttered from somewhere else in the room.
My eyelid was released, and I snapped it closed. I wasn’t ready to get up yet. The last time I looked at the clock, it was three, and Tess had come to bed naked, so I hadn’t shut my eyes until five. It was now seven, and someone was about to be killed.
“I know what will work.” I heard Fin run out of the room and race back in a few moments later. “Shhh,” he whispered loudly. “He’s like a lion. One wrong move, and whack!”
More footsteps came and went.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Denton warned, and I wanted to roll over to see what the fuck was going on, but I was too tired to bother, and I still hoped they would bugger off. I heard someone leave and relaxed a bit.
A warm, small hand slid over my shoulder. I froze momentarily but shook off the instant wave of hate that being touched brought as she moved to my chest. Slowly, she shifted onto the bed, and her hand found my erection. Every morning should be this way.
I rolled onto my back and let her lips travel down my chest to the waistband of my briefs. I lifted so she could pull them down. Again, her lips were on me, making their way down. My hands found her hair, and my eyes snapped open.
“What the fuck, Peggy?” I glared at Fin, who was in the doorway with Tess. They both looked confused, and Tess looked like she might murder both of us.
“What?” She smiled with wet lips and stared back at me. “You didn’t seem to mind.” She grabbed my erection and made me jump.
“You’re a ho, Peggy!” Fin screamed before he ran down the hallway and slammed the door.
Tess crossed her arms and shook her head as she kicked the door shut behind her. Peggy stayed on her knees on the bed while I fought to get up.
“First Tammy, now Peggy.” Fire blazed across her eyes. “She leaves, or I do.”
“The fuck you say, bitch.” Peggy wiggled to her feet and made her way over to Tess. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
I should have seen it coming. Tess had on her look.
She hauled back and drove the palm of her hand hard upward into Peggy’s nose and broke it.
The impact was powerful, and Peggy flew backward.
I allowed Tess to get a few kicks in, but when she grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled Peggy’s head back, I grabbed her around the waist and turned her away.
“Enough,” I hissed in her ear. “No more.”
“Let me go!” She bucked out o
f my arms and stuck a finger in my face. “I told you I don’t share.”
“Tess,” I sighed, annoyed at the situation, “I thought it was you.”
“If you can’t tell that tramp’s kiss from mine—”
“Excuse me?” Peggy stood, blood pouring from her nose. “I’ve been here for a shit longer than you, and you need to watch your back, little girl. No one does this to me and gets away with it.”
Tess went for her in a full-on charge. I held up a hand, but Tess ignored it. “Leave, Peggy.” I grabbed Tess before she could do more damage. “That’s enough, Tess.”
“Like you wouldn’t shoot someone if you found us in bed and someone was going down on me?”
It was like someone slugged me right in the center of my chest. I had to focus hard to keep a lid on my anger.
“Maybe we should test that theory.” Her eyes blazed.
“I’ll flip, and you won’t like it this time.” My chest heaved with the effort I was making to hold myself in.
She rushed toward me and shoved my shoulder, and it hit the wall. Her hand clamped down on my erection, and she glared into my eyes.
“Open your goddamn eyes, Trigger. It’s not like this was the first time.”
My head jolted back. I wasn’t aware she knew about the other times Peggy broke into my room.
“Yeah,” she paused, “there’s a lot I know.” She squeezed me harder, and I fucking liked it. “I will not be one of your fuck and chucks. If I find you in bed with another chick, I’m done. Last warning.”
I couldn’t help but grin as I grabbed her hand, twisted her arm, and pushed her up against the wall, pinning her with my hips. I cupped her neck, and my thumbs held her chin in place to look at me.
“You think I would let you leave?” I lowered my head and drank in her scent. My dick begged for a dip, but I knew I needed her to see she wasn’t like one of them.
“Then don’t give me a reason to.”
Something shifted inside. I dropped my hands and stepped back, confused by the feeling.
Her brows drew together, confused as well, then she looked down at herself and pretended to brush something off her shirt.
“I need to see Fin,” she muttered and headed for the door.
“Tess.” I struggled to find the right words.
“Don’t bother, Trigger.”
***
Tess
“As ordered.” Big Joe set a box on the bar top with a huff. “Shit’s heavy.”
“Tess,” Morgan tossed me his pocketknife, “stock the shelf.”
I felt sick. The knife slipped around my sweaty palm, and my mouth felt dry.
“You okay, Tiger?” Morgan came into my view.
“Yeah, sorry.” I shook off the haunted feeling.
Morgan waited a beat before he ripped the box open for me. “Just whiskey.”
I nodded and let out long breath as the thought of the rest of Jace’s body, possibly squashed into the box, faded from my head.
“You’ll get past that feeling,” Morgan muttered quietly.
“That’s what I hear.”
Trigger appeared, looking a little uneasy. His hands were at his sides, and his gaze shifted around the room.
“Morgan,” his head was down, looking at his phone, “let the guys know about Gus, but that they have the green light to keep killing.”
“Yeah, boss.”
“Tess,” he glanced up, “let’s go.”
“Where?” I pulled a bottle free and placed it on the top shelf, label out.
“I didn’t say.”
“Why not?” I pulled another from the box.
“Tess,” he warned, and I knew not to push. I shrugged at Morgan, who nodded for me to go.
To my surprise, we drove to the pier, parked in the normal spot with the bike hidden from view, and like once before, he took my shoes and tucked them into his saddlebag.
“Come,” he ordered and threaded a leather messenger bag over his shoulder. His huge hand engulfed mine, and I had to hurry to keep up with his strides.
I loved this place, especially at night when the sky was riddled with stars. Countless little flickers of light twinkled down on us, and the ocean reflected the moon’s bright belly. It wasn’t this clear very often, especially since we’d had so many storms lately. The clouds normally ruled the sky at night.
My eyes lit up when I saw the Ferris wheel was working again. I kind of hoped we were headed there, but he tugged me along underneath the pier and continued walking. The cool sand wedged its way between my toes and brushed over my ankles. I was enjoying the sensation when we came to a stop.
The lifeguard hut.
“What are we doing here?”
He tossed the bag then climbed up and reached down for me. He pulled me up effortlessly. My hands landed on his broad shoulders to stabilize my balance when he set me on my feet. I hopped up on the ledge to sit comfortably.
“This was where I knew.”
“Knew what?” I shifted back when he hopped up and joined me on the ledge. For someone so massive, he was shockingly agile.
He reached into his bag, lit a joint, and offered it to me to take the first hit. It hit hard, but it was more of a body high versus a head high. My muscles soon turned into goo, and I felt completely at ease.
“New?” I pointed to the tip that was held between his fingers.
“Nope, just wanted something a little different tonight.”
“Why?”
He glanced over at me with his bright green eyes. I could see the moon reflected in them.
“This isn’t something I thought I could do.”
“What, sit here with me in silence?” I joked.
“Fall in love this hard.”
My lungs felt sucked dry. Trigger didn’t share emotion. I almost didn’t know what to say. I shook off the discomfort of sharing our feelings because this was, after all, what I wanted. I needed to know I mattered more to him than anyone, and I wasn’t just an easy lay. Trigger made me want even more.
“Peggy’s out,” he continued.
“I’ve heard that before, you know, about Tammy, but she still came back like a damn alley cat in heat.”
He half smiled before he ghosted the dark sky with white smoke.
“And look where she ended up.”
“True.” I snagged the joint, needing something to do with my hands. “Is she really gone?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, “Ryder packed her shit up and left it on the back step this morning.”
“How was she?”
He shrugged. “You care?”
“Yeah, I kinda do.”
“She was pissed, but that was because Rail chose some interesting words about her leaving.”
“I totally missed all the good shit.” I laughed, relieved the nasty tramp was finally gone.
We sat in silence for a while longer, our bodies molded to the side of the hut. The sea breeze kissed my cheeks with salty spray, and it left a sticky coating over my skin. Some people hated that feeling, but I loved it. For me, there was nothing like the ocean to calm my head.
“Why do you put those sticky markers all through the books you read?”
I pulled my mind away from the waves and repeated what he said to myself.
“Ah, you mean Savi’s story?”
He nodded.
“Reasons.” I was glad it was dark. I felt my cheeks heat.
“Which are?”
I knew he wasn’t going to let it go. Trigger liked to know why I did things, especially if they were odd or unusual to him.
I tried to think about how to explain in a way he’d understand.
“Reading is personal, and certain scenes will make you feel a certain way. I like the way I feel when I read them, so I mark them. When I feel down or just want to feel something in general, I go back and read them again. To me, it’s like reuniting with an old friend.”
“Huh.” He moved to sit a little straighter. “I read some of them.”
>
That completely blew me away. “Why?”
“I wanted to know.”
“Okay.” I felt my neck join in on the blushing. “What did you feel when you read it?”
“It was a romance thing.”
“Yeah.” I sat up to see him better through the darkness. “But how did it make you feel?”
“I didn’t feel much. I hardly do. But I maybe understand Cole a little.”
Wow, I never thought I’d be here having this conversation with Trigger.
“How so?”
“He loved Savannah when he knew he shouldn’t.”
I wondered how much he had read to get that. Maybe more than he would ever say. I couldn’t help but like that he said that, that he even picked up on it. I swung my legs over the edge to let them dangle and let my hair fall forward to act as a barrier between us.
“Are you saying you shouldn’t love me?”
“Yes,” he said roughly.
“Fuck me, Trigger, if you took me here to tell me that, then you really will give me a complex about Peggy.”
He moved so one leg was behind my back while the other joined my legs that hung off the edge.
“I’m also saying I’m not someone you should love, but like Cole, I don’t care. Call it selfish.” He leaned in close and brushed his lips against my bare shoulder. “You make me see Nolan.”
I turned my head to look at him. His face was inches from mine.
“Do you feel him?” I pressed my hand over his chest.
“Yeah,” he whispered.
“You like that?”
“Yeah.” He held still.
“How does it make you feel?” I sounded like a fucking therapist, but I wanted to know.
“Makes me feel human.”
I felt the corners of my mouth rise. “I make you feel human?”
“Yeah.”
I huffed with happiness from deep down in my throat. “That’s a really nice thing to say.”
He leaned in and gently kissed my cheek.
“You mentioned earlier that this was the place where you knew. What did you mean?”
He shifted closer. His body was wrapped around mine now.
“Remember when we hid in here from the Serpents?” I nodded and wiggled in closer to steal his warmth. “The next morning, when I sank the last body, I turned around and caught you flipping over the bloody rocks.”