I leveled my eyes with him underneath the table, and I saw him scrambling for his gun.
“Oh, no you don’t,” I murmured.
With the third shot, the world snapped back into focus. And the sounds around me blurred into a symphony of catastrophe. All Hell broke loose. Fitting, for the deal I’d just made with my soul. Bullets whizzed about in the air as my father groaned out in pain. I shot at his arm, causing him to drop the gun before I moved away from the booth. He was on the floor. Bleeding. And I hope he stayed there while he fucking bled out. Men around me shouted before they cried out in pain, and that was when I heard it.
The sound of doors crashing in.
“Sutton!” Cage roared.
More gunshots rang out as I slipped away from the booth.
“Cage!?” I exclaimed.
“Sutton!” he roared.
“Cage! Where are you!?”
I ducked and winced with every gun that went off. It was a firefight that flooded the diner in the blink of an eye. I looked over at my father and saw him bear-crawling out from underneath the table. He had his gun in the arm I hadn’t hit, so I jammed my foot out to kick it away. He cried out in pain as his fingers crunched underneath the force of my foot. But his gun slid away, and he was rendered helpless.
“Sutton! Stay where you are and keep down!” Cage yelled.
So, I sprinted for the bar and ducked behind it. I didn’t have the extra magazine, nor did I know how many bullets were in the magazine I had left. My guess was three, conservatively. Which wouldn’t be enough for me to fight my way to Cage. All I could do was tuck myself behind that bar underneath the cash register and wait it out. All I could do was listen to the sounds of bullets embedding themselves into the walls as men gurgled on their own blood.
“I’m coming for you, princess!” my father said, groaning.
All I could do was listen to my father literally pull himself toward me as his shadow crept closer. I saw it from around the corner. I saw him pulling himself through his pain as his bloodied hands slowly came into view.
So, I took aim at the corner and braced myself. Because if a bullet to my father’s face is what stopped him, I wouldn’t fucking hesitate.
Come get me, you bastard.
23
Cage
The shootout raged around me as I kept my sights locked on Sutton. I saw the front door to the diner come in as the windows were shot out. Men dropped like flies. We got the workers out through the back, but barely. And as I saw her father bear-crawling for her, my heart slammed against my chest.
Keep your head in the game. Play this smart.
I popped bullets off at every man that got in my way. While the Black Hornets kept a hold on the outside, blocking all exits, the Dead Souls stormed the doors. I watched Toxin wiggle his scrawny-ass through a broken window, taking out two men with his gun in the process. I saw Diesel run out of ammunition and charge a man, ripping the gun away from him just to turn it around on the guy in black. It was as if they were clearing a path for me. Enabling me to get to Sutton that much quicker.
“I’m coming for you, princess!” Lars growled out.
My head whipped over to Sutton and I saw tears streaming down her face. She had a gun in her hand and fear in her eyes as I watched her father literally dig his nails into the dusty linoleum floor. He had blood in his eyes. He was coming for her life.
But not if I had anything to do with it.
“Get her! Now!” Diesel roared.
Some of the men had abandoned their guns, turning to fist fighting instead. Men in black suits with broken sunglasses on their face laid there with their mouths hanging open. Bleeding from every orifice. It was the sight of a war. A war we were about to win. And as I launched myself through the window that separated the kitchen from the back of the counter, I landed with my hands first.
“Cage,” Sutton breathed.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Lars murmured.
I scrambled for my gun and laid there on my side. The man was in pain. Bleeding, I was sure of it. Sutton raised her gun and pointed it at her father, watching with wide eyes as he came around the corner. But I wouldn't let her have his death on her conscious. Even if she thought she was ready to bear it.
I shot just in front of his hands. Stalling him and shocking him just long enough for me to get to my feet.
“Come here. I’ve got you,” I said.
“No,” Sutton said, struggling.
“You aren’t doing this. I’m not letting you kill your father.”
“He was going to sell me off! Marry me off as a fucking pawn!” she shrieked.
Her voice was louder than the gunshots. Louder than the men screaming around me. Louder than the workers crying out back. My eyes fell to Lars as he laid there, his legs bleeding. His face twisted and contorted in pain. The gunshots finally calmed down as the last body dropped to the floor. And as I looked around the room, I saw all of us standing. Diesel. Rock. Grave. Brewer. Toxin. Bear. Saint. Ryker.
“Head count!” Diesel roared.
“All good out here!” someone yelled inside.
Then, my eyes fell back to Lars.
“It’s over,” I said.
The man looked up at me as I slipped the gun effortlessly from Sutton’s trembling grasp.
“It’ll never be over. You won’t lay your eyes on my daughter again. Do you hear me!?” he yelled.
Then, he began coughing up blood. Just like my father had in the alleyway.
“Diesel,” I said.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Take Sutton out back. I don’t want her watching this,” I said.
“Wait, what? Excuse me? No! Cage, get your hands off—no! Cage! Stop this! He’s mine to kill! Let go of me now!”
She protested all the way out the back doors. I looked behind me, watching Diesel wrap his arms around her. He physically picked her up and carried her through the back door. Out to where she could feel the sun shining on her face. I looked at every single one of the Dead Souls. I locked eyes with them, giving them a silent command to leave me alone with this disgusting excuse of a man.
And one by one, they filed outside. Closing the back door and leaving me alone. Cut off from Sutton’s shrieking protests.
“You are a piece of dirt. Just like your father,” Lars said.
I slowly turned back around, then leveled the gun at his head.
“You really going to shoot a man in the back who’s already on the ground?” he asked, grinning.
He coughed up more blood, giving his cheek more of a pool to sit in.
“No,” I said plainly.
Lars chuckled as I took one more step toward him, gazing down at his stomach-down precarious position.
“I’m going to shoot in the back of the head the man that killed my father,” I said.
And with the pulling of my trigger, I ended Lars’ life.
“No!” Sutton roared outside.
I closed my eyes and holstered the gun behind my back. I turned around, trying to force myself to walk out of that place. I had no idea if Sutton was ever going to forgive me. If she was ever going to want to be with me after all this. But I did what I needed to do. What I had to do. What I wanted to do. I avenged my father’s death. I protected Sutton from a man I knew was hellbent on destroying her. And I protected the only shred of family I had left.
I walked outside with my head held high and saw Sutton struggling to get away from Diesel.
“She’s fine,” I said plainly.
Diesel stared at me before he nodded, releasing the wild woman I’d come to love. And as she charged me, I was sure she was going to slap me. Berate me. Chew my ass off before putting a bullet in my own chest. I kept telling myself we all survived. We were safe again, now that Lars and his men had been gunned down. He had no one to take over his empire. No one to pass it down to. And now that both The Black Hornets and the Dead Souls were safe--along with their families--I could rest in peace.
Until S
utton slammed herself against my body.
“Holy shit, I thought my father shot you,” she whispered.
Her face buried itself into my chest and I wrapped my arms around her.
“Never. I’d never leave you like that,” I murmured.
She sobbed against me. “I just knew that gunshot was for you and not him.”
I kissed the top of her head. “It’s gonna take more than some lead to take me down. I think the gunshot in my back showed us that.”
“Shut up. Don’t say shit like that,” she hissed.
“And here I was concerned you’d be upset with me.”
She looked up into my eyes. “You did what I had every intention of doing with a smile on my face. I could never be mad at you for that.”
“I wouldn't let you carry the blood of your father’s life on your hands. It’s too big of a burden. Even for you.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered.
I gazed into her eyes as I cupped her cheek with my blood-soaked hand.
“I love you too, Sutton. And I want to ask for your forgiveness.”
She snickered. “For what?”
“Because there, for just a second, I really thought you were working for your father. And I was ready to end your life, if for one second it was insinuated that you helped your father kill my own.”
She reached up and cupped my cheeks, running her thumbs along my skin. Then, before I knew what was happening, she thrusted her lips against mine.
“I could never blame you for that,” she whispered.
I wanted to kiss her ravenously. I wanted to kiss her until she was breathless. Until she was naked. Until she was riding my cock and letting me see all of her. But we had to get back to the lodge first. She clung to me tightly as we all rode back, with me bringing up the rear. Like we had going there. She kissed my shoulder where my wound was. Hell, the damn thing hadn’t even hurt through all that adrenaline. It didn’t even hurt, even now. My engine revved as we pulled back into the lodge. All of us walked inside and proceeded to clean ourselves up. No words were exchanged. No one looked at one another. And it wasn’t until we were all gathered after our showers and shaves that Diesel drew in a deep breath.
“Church in the morning. Cage, you’re expected to be there. A motion will be put on the floor in your honor,” he said.
I furrowed my brow. “A motion for what?”
Grave nodded. “Aye.”
Brewer smiled. “Aye.”
Rock clapped my good shoulder. “Aye, and a massive ‘aye’ for the prospects who can’t vote in this shit yet.”
“I’m not following,” I said.
“There will be a motion on the floor to make you a prospect for our crew. If you’re looking for someone to ride with. You're family. You proved that today. You protected us at all costs. Went to the largest and longest lengths for us, no matter what it meant to you. No matter what it might have cost you in the end. If you’re looking for a home, be at the meeting at ten in the morning. There will be coffee and an official vote,” Diesel said.
I felt like an absolute pussy for tearing up in front of them. But it happened.
“I’ll be there,” I said.
“Does he always do that?” Toxin asked.
“Let the man have his moment,” Ryker murmured.
“See you in the morning. And leave those tears at the bedroom door, yeah?” Diesel asked.
I snickered. “You got it, brother.”
He smiled at me for a long time before he nodded at the guys. As they clapped me on my arm, they headed out the door. Bidding both Sutton and I goodnight. The prospects hugged me. Actually, legitimately hugged me. And welcomed me to a group I hadn’t yet been inducted into yet. I stood there in the doorway, making sure they all got off on their bikes safely. And after I closed—and locked—the front door, I heard Sutton’s voice behind me.
“Sounds like we have some celebrating to do, big boy.”
The second my eyes fell on her body, my mouth went dry. She was in that damn dress again. That tight little number that clung to every curve that made my mouth salivate. She sauntered over to me. Her hips swayed deeply, catching my eyes and making my heart drum for more. I shed my clothes as she approached me, butt ass naked by the time her lips softly met mine.
Then, with a growl, I hoisted her body against me.
She giggled against my lips as I devoured her. My tongue fell deeply into the back of her throat as I practically tore that damn dress off her. She was naked underneath. Completely bare for me as her skin graced mine. I wanted to cherish her body. Take it slow and kiss every crevice. But I was too riled up and pumping full of adrenaline.
All I wanted was to be seated within her body.
I fisted her ass cheeks in my palms and picked her up. I sucked on her lower lip, listening to her moan as I walked her down the hallway. Our clothes stayed on the floor, ready to be found in the morning after the two of us finally woke up. I kicked the door closed behind me, cloaking us in black. We fell against the bed, her tits bouncing against my chest. I pressed sloppy kisses against her skin. I found her mouth as her legs spread for me, gracing me with her heat. With her wetness. With her warmth.
Effortlessly, I eased into her. With nothing but the night to cover us as I thrusted into her. Over and over again.
“Oh shit, Cage. Yes,” Sutton moaned.
“So, fucking tight for me. Just the way I like it,” I grunted.
“Take me. Hard. Don’t stop until I’m screaming your name.”
“With. Fucking. Pleasure.”
I pounded into her body, feeling her writhe and shake against me. I rolled deeply into her, feeling her walls spread and pulse around my girth. The smell of her wrapped around my head. Her legs locked around me, pulling me deeper as a growl bubbled up the back of my throat. Her nails raked down my back as I slammed against her body. Harder and harder. Faster and faster. Until we were both breathless and churning with a need for release.
Her juices dripped down my balls so fantastically that I couldn't hold back any longer.
“That’s it. Sutton. Holy hell. I love you. I’m coming. Holy shit, Sutton. You’re so fucking amazing.”
“Cage! Cage! That’s the spot. Don’t stop. Don’t you dare fucking stop, Cage. Oh, fuck!”
Her back arched, pressing her tits into me as my face fell into her cleavage. Her pussy milked me for all I had, causing my balls to fill her as they hung low with emptiness. I grunted against her skin. I sank my teeth into the excess of her voluptuous breasts. I drew her in. Memorized her scent. Committed every part of this to memory before I collapsed against her.
And after Sutton caught her breath, she rolled me over. Her body still staked on my cock.
“I really hope you’re not done. Because I’ve got a lot of love to make with you, sir,” she said, giggling.
I gripped her hips, feeling her swivel and wake my cock right back up after an orgasm that made the black room tilt.
“I’m yours as long as you want me,” I groaned.
“How does forever sound?” she asked.
I rose up quickly, wrapping my arms around her and bringing her against me. I scooted back until my back settled against the headboard, feeling her already sliding up and down my girth. I felt her shake. Tremble. She whimpered and gasped as her lips fell against my neck. I gripped her ass cheeks, rolling her deeply into my body as the bed rocked with our movements.
It wasn’t long before we both flew over the edge again, spiraling into a deep abyss that left us drenched in one another’s juices.
“Again,” she whispered.
I took her from behind, feeling her ass jiggle for me before she milked my cock dry.
“Again,” she groaned.
I bent her in half, her legs tossed over my shoulders as I gazed into the outline of her eyes. Fucking her until she hoarsely screamed out her love for me.
“Again,” she whispered.
Then, I made sweet love to her. Rocking aga
inst her effortlessly as I fell into her curves and threaded our fingers together.
It was the word of the night. Again. And again. And again some more. By the time we collapsed beside one another, it was almost three in the morning. Our room smelled of sex, love, and debauchery. Our eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness as we admired one another’s spent bodies. Sutton curled against me, settling into the crook of my body.
And without another word spoken between us, we drifted off to sleep.
Ready to awaken to the new life the Dead Souls had to offer us.
24
Sutton
Two Months Later
I juggled the brown paper bag of groceries in my arms as I walked up to the lodge doors. The crew had been kind enough to let us use it as our private living quarters until we could find ourselves a place to live. Which was much harder to do than we imagined. The morning of Cage’s official prospect vote, the men came with a present. Apparently, they had tracked down my car. Which had been impounded from the gas station Cage and I abandoned it at. After paying the impound fee, they brought it with them. Giving Cage and myself a vehicle that wasn’t his bike.
Which also gave us access to dozens of articles of clothing and shoes I was able to sell for a great deal of money.
The first order of business was getting me a wardrobe fitting for the life I’d be living. More jeans and less expensive mini-skirts. More bikinis and less floor-length dresses. That car had been stuffed with so many expensive things I haphazardly tossed away that we were able to fund a new wardrobe for both myself and Cage as well as store the rest away for a security deposit or a down payment on a place.
If we could find one that would take our damn application before it was snatched off the market.
“Come on,” I groaned.
I fumbled with the keys to the lodge before I finally got them in the lock. I turned the door and sighed with relief as the cool air conditioning hit my face. Cage was out and about today, looking for rentals to put in applications at. While I eventually wanted us to buy a place of our own, renting afforded us a faster option until we could find the home of our dreams. A home that would hold us and any children we might want to have.
Dead Souls MC: Prospects Series Books 1-5 Page 15