Violet's Guns: Book 9 of Colson Brothers Series

by Reese Madison

  She sighed then rolled over facing me. “Look, if you must know I’m still a fucking virgin. I came close a few times, but I just couldn’t. If you laugh at me I’ll knee you in the groin.”

  “Bullshit.” I ran my hand down her back and got a handful of her ass. “It’s not fair what you do to me.”

  She boldly wrapped an arm and leg around me. “How long have I been doing ‘this’ to you?”

  “Two years, or so.” I admitted. “You?”

  “Ever since you dumped a sexy blonde off your lap to hug me when I came home for Christmas two years ago.” She’s got a good memory, but I get the feeling she’s had feelings for me for a lot longer than that. In fact it was about two plus years ago when I dumped the blonde for my favorite brown-eyed beauty.

  “I don’t think I could handle it if anything happened to you because of me and my position with the club. I already lost my family once.” Shit, that last part slipped out.

  “Your wife.” She looked up planting her nose under my chin. “I know Gunner. I’ve known for a while. You don’t have to do this. I’m not asking anything from you.” How did she find out? I guess it’s no real secret. People are just smart enough not to bring it up to my face.

  My wife opened the door for who she thought was a homeless man in desperate need of water one day while I was at work. She was young. I was young. We trusted people back then.

  I came home to find her raped and murdered. I found out later she was pregnant, and there was more than three different DNA variations. Gang raped while carrying my baby. I lost my shit. Slider found me shortly thereafter half overdosed on pain killers and stinking of stale liquor and cigarettes passed out behind one of the local biker bars. He reigned me in like only a brother can. A task I wouldn’t have wished on anyone.

  “She was pregnant.” That wasn’t in the news per my request. I wouldn’t give the fuckers the satisfaction of knowing how deep they really hurt me.

  “Oh shit. I’m sorry.” She hugged me like I’ve never been hugged. “I’m so sorry.”

  I held her in a way I should have held my wife. I didn’t love her like I should have either. That only made her rape and murder harder to handle.

  “Get some sleep.” She encouraged softly.

  “You deserve better Violet.”

  She rolled back over and hugged my hand to her chest. “Not for you to decide.”

  ***

  Gunner is obviously more fucked up than I thought. He’s only making it more difficult to let go and kick him to the curb. Not that I could, but I’m trying. Sort of. Not really.

  I woke up the next morning and once again had to push is heavy ass off me so I can breathe. “Seriously Guns?? You’re going to smother me to death at this rate.”

  He pulled me over and up to sit on his morning wood. Our hands melted together. His eyes are still closed. “Move.”

  “I can’t. You have my hands.”

  He bucked his hips. “Move.”

  “Gunner…”

  He bucked again. “This is your fault. Fix it.”

  I sighed and rocked my hips. “Oh shit.” I’m not a complete prude. “Shit.” I used my weight and pinned his hands over his head while I got what I needed. The sheet and our clothes are the only things keeping me from losing my virginity.

  He broke his grip on my hands and grabbed my ass when he lost it between us. “Fuck me.”

  I collapsed on top of him and kissed his now sweaty neck. “You’re complicating things Gunner.”

  “Yeah, I know. I better go.”

  “Oh no you don’t.” I sat back up and looked him in the eye. “I’m not one of your fuck bunnies. You don’t get to rub one out then take off like your ass is on fire.”

  “I have to go to work Violet.”

  “I know that, and you know what I mean. Don’t try to play me Gunner. You’re either all-in, or you’re not spending the night here anymore. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it, but fucking make a decision.” I climbed off then turned back and stole a kiss off his cheek. “Get out of here.”

  He caught my wrist and pulled me back. “I don’t want to hurt you Violet. I also can’t help what you’re doing to me since you got home. Just do me a favor and don’t date until I can figure this out.”

  I laughed. “You really don’t get it do you?”

  “Evidently not. Why don’t you explain it to me?” He snapped and got up adjusting his shorts. “Never mine. I need to go clean up.”

  I rolled my eyes and went downstairs to make coffee.

  ***

  “Are you moving in with Violet?” Kevin asked when I grabbed my bag.

  “No. Why”

  “I was thinking about asking Hillary to move in.”

  “And me to move out.” I finished for him.

  “It’s not like you don’t have a place to go.” He argued.

  I shot him a dirty look.

  He put his hands up. “Sorry.”

  “Not your fault. I’ll be out by the end of the week.” I’ll get an apartment. Violet can put up with me for a few more days.

  “Don’t be mad dude. I like this chick, and if I don’t make a move soon she’s gonna bolt.” He explained.

  “I get it, and I’m not mad. You guys are good together. It’s no problem at all brother.” I shook his hand. “I appreciate you letting me live here all these years. We’re good. It’s that house. I can’t go back there.” I confessed as he walked with me out to the driveway.

  “Yeah, sorry I brought it up. You ever think about selling it?”

  “I tried, but the disclosure shit sends people running for the hills.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah it does. I’ll catch ya later.”

  “I’ll buy you a beer later for the hassle.”

  “No hassle. Somebody needs to irritate Violet.” I fired up my bike and headed back to work.

  One of my favorite things about Violet is the way she can go from being a complete mess to absolutely beautiful with very little effort. Right now she’s a mess, and still manages to be stunning.

  She looked up as I walked in making that damn bell ring over my head. She eyed my bag and shook her head. “I swear you’re a glutton for punishment.”

  “Tell me about it. Kevin wants Hillary to move in so I’m moving out. You’re stuck with me until I can find an apartment.” Or a house. I need a damn garage. “Speaking of garages, what’s in that steel building over there?” It’s been locked up tight since before her parents passed away. When I asked if we should deal with the contents years ago she shut me down.

  “Who was talking about garages??” She stood and began rolling paint on the wall.

  “Just answer the question for once, will you?”

  “Bite me.”

  I set my bag by the stairs and walked over to bite her neck. “You stink.”

  She laughed. “No shit Sherlock, I’ve been sweating my ass off in here all day. The AC is busted.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” I smacked her ass and left to go take a look at it.

  “I already called a guy! He’s coming out tomorrow!” She yelled from behind me.

  After giving it a look I told her to cancel the repair guy.

  “You can fix it?” She asked reloading the roller.

  “Yeah, I’ll go get the part tomorrow. The warehouse is closed right now.” She needs a new unit, but I’m not telling her that until after I install it or she’ll insist on going without AC to save the money. I’m not going without air conditioning. She needs to keep her clothes on. Lots of clothes.

  She knows me too well though, and shot me a suspicious look. “You’re up to something.” She left the roller and followed me to the kitchen.

  I opened the fridge ignoring her. “Oh good, you went shopping.” I grabbed a beer and offered it to her.

  She took it but refused to let me off the hook. “How bad is the AC?”

  I opened my beer and took a long draw.

  “It’s my AC Gu
nner. I have a right to know.” She insisted.

  “Will you stop pestering me already. Jesus. Slider said you’d make a good old lady, but I’m not so sure with the way you keep nagging me.” If it was anyone else she’d slap me.

  Violet stepped up to me crossing her arms over her chest. “He told me the same thing, but only if you ever got your mind right about us. Do you have your mind right Gunner??”

  “What if I do? What if I did decide to make you my old lady?” I’m curious how she’ll react with everything laid out on the table for once.

  “You don’t want to do that. Too much responsibility.” She unfolded her arms and reached past me to open the fridge.

  “What are you talking about responsibility? Don’t tell me you’re not on the pill.” I downed a third of my beer trying to cool my thoughts of a good romp with her naked body.

  “I’m on the pill, but you don’t want to be my first. It’ll fuck with your already fucked up head.” She informed me while taking chicken out of the fridge. “Are you staying for dinner?”

  “I live here now, so yeah. Are you kidding me with this virginity shit?? How did you spend four years in college and not get laid??” She has to be fucking with me.

  She shrugged taking more shit from the fridge. “I don’t know. Just did. Look, if you’re going to live here you’re going to have to buy groceries. You eat too much for me to afford to feed you.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Can I ask you something?” She asked setting more shit on the countertop.

  I walked over to the sliding glass door to inspect its integrity. Last time I used it the damn thing fell off the track. “What?”

  “Why do you live with Kevin? I mean, you make good money. You should have a house and a garage somewhere.”

  “I do.” Eventually she’s going to find out. It might as well come from me.

  “You do?? Where?”

  “Out by the ghost town under the mountain.” Suck it up. Just give her the basics and don’t let her dig around in your head.

  “Gunner!! Why don’t live there??”

  “Long story.”

  “Out with it big guy.” She urged.

  “I married a girl I knocked up when I was twenty, about twelve years before you came along. I’d just finished building my first house. I was twenty years old with a shit ton of money from my grandfather’s death. It wasn’t great but the location was prime. She moved in, we were married a week later, and two weeks after that she was killed in that house. I haven’t been back since.” My gut still hurts talking about it.

  I pulled the door out of its frame and set it aside. The tracks need cleaning. “Someone knocked on the door one day while I was at work. He asked for some water. She made the mistake of giving him some. Always was too trusting.”

  “Damn. Poor girl. So, this guy just, what? Shot her?” Maybe she doesn’t know as much as I thought.

  “No. He and two of his friends raped her before stabbing her with one of the kitchen knives I’d bought her for Christmas the year before. Eighteen times.” It’s been so long since I’ve said it out loud to anyone. The whole thing is starting to feel like it happened to someone else.

  “Did they ever catch them?” She asked softly.

  “No, but I did. That’s all you need to know. Change the subject.” I urged popping the other door off its tracks.

  “What are you doing to my doors??” She asked sounding genuinely concerned for these dilapidated old sliding glass doors.

  “Your tracks are filthy, and worn. You need a new door.”

  “Someday, when I put the bistro in, I’ll replace those with French doors.”

  “Bistro?” I thought I’d overheard her talking to Slider about a bistro but I was too far away to get the details of her plan.

  “Yeah. The tattoo parlor only takes up half the first floor. I only need the loft for a living space. The kitchen will double for the bistro and my personal use. You know that big garage door up front?”

  “Where your stepdad had his machine shop?”

  “Yeah. I want that to be an antique store first. I’m hoping that the money from the tattoo shop and the antique store will pay for the bistro. Of course I’ve got a lot of landscaping to do first.”

  “Big dreams for such a little woman.” I teased sweeping the dirt out of the tracks.

  “I know, but it’ll keep me busy until my old maid cat collecting kit gets here.”

  “Your what??” I asked looking around for a screwdriver. She has shit everywhere. I’m sure there’s one- yup, on the counter by the second sink.

  “Old lady cat collecting kit. One day I’m going to be a lonely old maid and need some company. Besides, cats floating around the bistro and antique store would be kind of cool.” She seemed to just think of that.

  “What makes you think you won’t be married with five kids by then?” She deserves all that, and then some.

  “What do you think of the color in the lobby? I thought I’d like it, but now I’m not sure.” She’s trying to change the subject now.

  “Oh no you don’t.” I sat down at the kitchen bar to watch her chop veggies now that the door is back in place. “I asked you a question.”

  “And I skirted it. Seriously.” She glanced up. “Is it too dark?”

  “No, it’s fine. Why are you being so evasive about this? It’s a simple question. Why do you assume you’ll be single in a few years?”

  She shrugged. “Just a feeling.”

  “What are you making?” I’m suddenly curious as she drops a handful of fat noodles in a pot of boiling water.

  “Chicken and vegetable Alfredo with vodka cream sauce and garlic bread.” She rattled that off easily. Too easily.

  “Since when do you know how to cook?”

  She looked up at me. “Since I took cooking classes. When I told my business instructor what my plans were he said I should take some, so I did. He said it would be good for the bistro if I could come up with something unique. A gimmick, if you will.”

  “Sounds about right.” Like I said, she’s smart. Maybe she didn’t come up with it on her own, but she knows good advice when she sees it.

  “I thought so.” She agreed. “Do you want a salad to balance out the carbs?”

  “No. You got enough vegetables floating around in there already.”

  She smiled. “I haven’t cooked for anyone in years. You remember Rebecca, my last roommate?”

  “Yup. The one with wicked curly hair.”

  She laughed, “Yup. She used to tell everyone I was the reason she was fat, even though I thought she looked great.”

  “What ever happened to her?” I’m curious for some reason, maybe because she was a cool chick.

  “She fell in love with a fellow foodie and got married. I think she’s pregnant now. I think. I forget. We kind of lost touch when she moved in with her boyfriend.”

  “Good for her.”

  “So, what about you? You ever see yourself trying the family thing again? And no I’m not offering, just curious.”

  “I don’t know. I put myself in a dangerous position after… it wouldn’t be smart.” If anyone else had asked me I’d have flat out said no.

  “That reminds me. When are you taking me shooting?”

  “Next week. I bought a block of sessions. I’m hoping to only be here for a couple weeks. How much rent do you want?”

  She gave me a very cute look. “You’re kidding right?”

  “What? I pay my way.”

  “I wouldn’t charge you rent if you moved in here permanently. And not just because I know you’re going to replace that piece of shit AC unit.” Like I said, she knows me well.

  “Somebody has to look after you.” I can’t have her working here this summer with no AC. I made a promise to look after her over four years ago. I keep my promises.

  “I’m a big girl now Gunner. I can take care of myself.” She informed me like I don’t already know.

  “I’ll always l
ook after you. You’re family Violet.”

  “Speaking of family. You never talk about yours. Why is that?”

  Sometimes I forget she doesn’t know. “I’ll tell you one day, not now.”

  “Okay, but do you have a mother? Like, do you call her on Mother’s Day?”

  “I said not now Violet. Why are you being such a pain in my ass tonight?”

  “Because you’re cute when you’re riled.” She pulled garlic toast from the oven. “Get some plates. Make yourself useful and set the table.”

  Has she always been this bossy? Or am I rubbing off on her? She accused me of rubbing off on her this morning. We both know where this is headed. I see no reason not to have a little fun along the way. She got hers, I’ll always see to that.

  5

  “Shit.” I cussed stepping back.

  “What?” Gunner asked from the couch where he’s kicked back reading yet another motorcycle magazine.

  “I hate this color.”

  “Then change it.”

  “I can’t afford to change it. I’ve got enough money to fill the register to make change, that’s it.”

  He leaned over and threw his wallet at me. “There’s a card behind mine. Has your name on it. Don’t spend more than ten grand.”

  I barely caught it. “Oh cool, I can finally see what your real name is.” I ran as he caught on to his error and launched himself off the couch.

  “Get back here!!” He chased me upstairs and got a bathroom door shut in his face.

  I locked the door knowing I don’t have much time. I flipped open his wallet and dug out his driver’s license. My heart skipped a beat as I read the name. Charles Walter Colson. “Colson???” I bounced off the sink as he shoved the door open. Gunner can pick any lock in seconds.

  He snatched the license out of my fingers and got in my face. “You tell anyone I’ll kill you.”

  I know better. “Yeah right. First of all, you could never kill me. Second of all, you know your secrets are safe with me. Why’d you keep this one so long?”

  He stepped back and exchanged the license for a credit card. “The less you know about me the safer you are.”

  I took the card simply because I read my name on it. “And how long have you had this?”