by Susan Stoker
“Yes, sir. No problem,” Roach answered meekly. Cruz and Tiny followed suit.
The outing seemed like a bullshit one to Cruz, but there was no way he’d say anything now. He’d have to watch it play out and see how it went. Ransom thought he worked security at the mall, and obviously decided it was the perfect place to take Angel and her friends in the name of introducing them to the MC.
Ignoring the group of men, now grown to six, who were gathered around the girl tied to the table, and who were cheering each other on even louder, Cruz and the other two prospects left the clubhouse to pick up Ransom’s pseudo girlfriend.
“Fuck. I can’t wait until I’m a full member. That there was prime pussy,” Roach grumbled as they got into the panel van the club owned.
“I tend to like ’em a bit older,” Cruz drawled.
“You’re losing out, bro.” It was Tiny who chimed in this time. “The younger they are, the tighter the pussy. I’m a big motherfucker and I need tight pussy to get off. Twelve and thirteen is ideal.” He laughed at himself. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take pussy and ass no matter how I can get it, but I prefer the girls. They’re just starting to get little titties.”
Cruz swallowed the bile that rose up in his throat. Jesus fucking Christ, he had to get this job done sooner rather than later. He couldn’t wait to bring these assholes down. He only hoped he didn’t lose himself in the process.
* * *
Mickie tried once again to get through to her sister. “Angel, why don’t you come over here? We’ll go get manis and pedis together.”
Angel sighed heavily into the phone. “No. Ransom is sending some of the guys over and they’re taking me to the mall to meet up with Cissy, Kelly, and Bridgette.”
“Why would MC guys want to go with you to the mall?” Mickie asked in what she thought was a reasonable tone. The entire thing made no sense to her. There was no way rough-and-tough motorcycle club men would want to hang out at the mall with some spoiled, rich twenty-somethings. They were up to no good and Mickie didn’t like it.
“Maybe because they like me and want to get to know my friends?”
Mickie knew there was nothing she could say that would sway her sister. There were so many things she wanted to say, but nothing that Angel wouldn’t take offense to at the moment.
She settled for asking her sister, “Be careful then, okay? Will you call me when you get back?”
“No. I’m not twelve anymore, Mickie. I don’t have to call you when I get back and I don’t have to ask permission to do anything either.”
“I just worry about you.”
“You don’t need to. I know you don’t approve of Ransom and his friends, so therefore, I don’t want to hear anything else you have to say about them.”
Mickie stared at the phone in her hand. Angel had hung up.
She sighed. The only bright spot in her life at the moment was Cruz and his texts. They were really funny. Mickie had tried to keep her communication with him to a minimum, they didn’t really know each other after all, but he’d made that hard. Cruz was charming, even in his texts. He always told her how nice it was to hear from her and he made her feel special.
Mickie clicked on the app and read the last text from Cruz from the day before.
Green beans or corn on the cob?
Mickie had answered with corn. His next text had made her laugh out loud.
Guess I’m going back to the store this afternoon then. :)
Whatever you get is fine. I can eat green beans.
Nope, you want corn, you’re getting corn.
They’d set up their next date. Cruz had invited her over to his apartment for dinner. Mickie supposed she should feel awkward and nervous about going to his place, but she didn’t. She knew she’d just met him, but so far he’d seemed pretty sincere. And while their first date hadn’t exactly been textbook, considering some of their topics of conversation, she still was interested in getting to know him better.
She enjoyed talking with him and it felt good to be the center of a man’s attention again. Even though their relationship, if it could be called that at this point, was new, she really wanted to trust a man again. Troy had ripped her heart out and had really done a number on her, but to not trust anyone ever again was letting Troy win, and she refused to let that happen.
Mickie typed a quick text, letting Cruz know she was thinking about him…and wanting to run something by him. She hoped she wasn’t being paranoid, but thought maybe a second opinion would reassure her that’s all it was.
Hey. Just thought I’d say hi.
His response took a few minutes, but she smiled when she heard the ding of her phone.
Hey back. How are you?
Good. I think I had some visitors this morning. Mickie jumped right into what she wanted to ask him.
??
I saw 2 motorcycles leaving my apt complex this am. Never seen them b4. They could’ve been visiting someone, but it was early and the guys were wearing leather vests. Think they could’ve been Red Brothers?
Maybe. You have mace?
Yes.
Good, always carry it & have it out when you walk to your car. Call me if you get worried and I’ll come and escort you.
U don’t have to do that. They didn’t do anything, but with Angel and all, it freaked me out a bit.
Your instincts are probably right on. Let me know if anything else weird happens. Ok?
I will. Sorry 2b a downer.
Never apologize for letting me know you’re worried.
Talk 2u later?
I’ll check back to make sure you’re good.
Ok. Bye.
Bye.
Mickie put the phone down and sighed. Darn Angel. Somehow she’d known the bikes were connected to Angel and the MC. She’d have to be extra vigilant just in case.
Cruz’s offer felt good. Even though they were still getting to know each other it felt nice that she had someone to contact if something did happen.
* * *
Cruz felt his phone buzz in his pocket and pulled it out. Mickie. After their text conversation this morning he’d had to force himself not to beat the shit out of Ransom. He hated more than anything that the president was messing with her. He’d hoped he’d convinced Ransom she wasn’t really trouble, that she and Angel didn’t get along, but obviously the man was still keeping her on his radar.
He knew if Ransom was having the members watch her apartment he’d have to make sure if he was seen there, it could be construed as being a part of the role he was playing…keeping his eye on Angel’s sister to keep her out of their club business.
Looking down at the phone, Cruz didn’t dare let the grin that was dying to come out show on his face in case the assholes he was with wanted to know what he was smiling about.
Just when I think the world has gone crazy, u text me with something completely normal & innocuous. Thank u. And…I don’t look anything like Julianne, but thanks. :) Thinking about u.
Earlier he’d sent a short message: I just realized who you remind me of…Julianne whats-her-name from that dancing show. Hot. He’d attached an older picture of the woman when she’d had her hair cut in what the Internet called a “pixie cut.” Her hair was blonde, but in Cruz’s mind, she and Mickie could’ve been twins.
Cruz stuffed the phone back into his pocket and tried not to let her words get to him.
Shit, who was he trying to kid; the fact that Mickie was thinking about him had already burrowed deeply into his bloodstream and gotten stuck there.
“There she is. Fuck, she might not be twelve, but I’d still fucking tap that.” Tiny’s words cut through the warm fuzzies he’d gotten from reading Mickie’s text like a knife slicing through butter.
Cruz looked up and saw Angel leaving her apartment as she turned and locked her door. She was wearing a tight pair of jeans that left nothing to the imagination, her thong was clearly visible over the back of her pants. She wore a cropped T-shirt, and as she made her w
ay toward the van, they could all see it was tied in a knot under her breasts. Her belly-button ring was glinting in the sun as she ambled toward them.
“Fuck yeah. I think we’d all love to tap that,” Roach agreed wholeheartedly.
“Shut the fuck up. We can’t get anywhere near her or Pres would have our heads. Keep your dicks in your pants and remember we have to make sure her and her friends have a good time today,” Cruz growled out grumpily.
“Yeah, yeah. Shit. Who pissed in your fuckin’ Wheaties, Smoke?”
Cruz ignored Tiny’s comment and got out of the van just as Angel approached.
“Hey. Ready to go?”
“Yeah. Thanks for coming to get me, Smoke.”
Cruz grunted in reply and assisted Angel into the front seat. Roach was driving and Tiny was sitting in the seat behind him. Cruz climbed in and sat behind Angel.
“Hey, Roach, Tiny. How are you?” Angel asked politely, as she settled into the seat.
“Good. How’re you?”
Angel giggled as if she was a teenager. “I’m good.”
“Ransom sent a present for ya,” Roach told Angel. He held out a joint.
“Cool. He’s always thinking of me. Got a light?”
Tiny leaned forward from the back and flicked his lighter. The three men watched as Angel lit the marijuana cigarette and coughed as she inhaled.
“Thanks, Tiny.”
“Who’re we meeting today, Angel?” Roach asked.
The three continued to make small talk as they made their way to the mall. Every time Angel talked too much and let the joint burn, Tiny or Roach would encourage her to take another hit. By the time they got to the mall, Angel was high as a kite. Mission fucking accomplished.
The rest of the afternoon was more of the same. Cruz went through the motions of being nice to Angel’s friends and observed Tiny and Roach slowly winning the four women over. They carried their bags and were quick to compliment them.
At one point, when Cissy asked Angel if she was all right—Angel had been giggling uncontrollably at any and everything—Roach threw his arm around the slender woman, leaned into her ear and whispered, “She’s feeling awesome. Haven’t you ever smoked a joint?” When Cissy had looked up at Roach in shock, he’d told her, “No? Well, shit. We’ll have to educate you then.”
Cruz had to admit, Roach and Tiny were good. Ransom had picked his prospects well. By the end of the shopping trip, the seven of them were sitting in the panel van in the parking lot. He’d taken them to the employees-only parking area; since he had an employee pass as part of his cover, Cruz figured maybe the cops would pay less attention to the obvious-as-shit van here than if he was parked amongst the Mercedes and more expensive cars that people typically drove to the mall. The women were giggling and laughing after sharing two joints.
“Oh my God, this is so awesome! You guys are the best friends I’ve ever had!” Bridgette enthused.
“I know. I love you guys!” Cissy joined in. “Angel, you never told us how great this stuff is!”
Trying to sound experienced, Angel huffed, “I wasn’t sure you were cool enough to take the chance.”
Kelly pouted. “That’s not fair. You know we’re just as cool as you.”
Tiny winked at Roach and Cruz. He leaned over and whispered in Cruz’s ear, “And so it begins. Never fails. It’s all a competition with these rich bitches.”
“When can we do this again?” Cissy asked Angel.
Looking perplexed, Angel looked to Roach and stammered, “Ransom gave me these…”
Roach stepped into the conversation as if he were a puppeteer holding the strings of the marionettes that were Cissy, Bridgette, Kelly, and Angel.
“You know this stuff isn’t cheap, Angel. He likes to spoil you, but it’s not like it grows on trees.”
Bridgette took the bait. “Oh, but we have money, don’t we girls? We don’t expect to get it for free.”
“Yeah, I got access to my trust fund last year. I’ve got lots of money,” Cissy said.
Cruz inwardly groaned. Jesus fucking Christ, these women needed a keeper.
“That’s good, sweetheart,” Roach crooned, leaning into Cissy. He bent down and licked her neck, right by her ear. “You got any right now? I’ve got some more stuff you could take with you if you wanted. No, wait! I got an idea. You wanna get some more of your friends together? I bet you’ve got some other cool friends who would be up for it, yeah?”
Bridgette chimed in next. “Oh yeah. Cissy, we could get a group together next weekend! Your parents are leaving the country, aren’t they? We could use their house. They have that big room that would be perfect. It’d be like high school!”
All four women giggled hysterically.
“All right. That sounds awesome. But how about instead of having it at one of your houses, you guys all come down to the clubhouse? It’s private and secure and all your friends can meet the MC members. We’d love to have you join us for one of our parties.”
When the girls nodded enthusiastically, Roach continued reeling them in. “I’ll need a down payment. Give me some dough now, and I’ll get you the address of the club. You bring some of your friends and the MC will be waiting and we’ll have enough cigarettes for everyone,” Roach said smoothly.
When the four women opened their purses and pulled out their wallets, Tiny took Kelly’s wallet out of her hand and helped himself to two hundred dollars. He closed the wallet and handed it back, leaning into her and nibbling on the lobe of her ear. “That should do it, ma chère. I can’t wait to hang with you and your friends.”
Roach collected money from Cissy, and Cruz reluctantly pocketed five hundred dollars from Angel and Bridgette.
“Because you ladies have been so generous, we’re gonna send you home with a few gifts from the Hermanos Rojos MC. Make sure you share with your girlfriends, and remember, only invite the friends you think can handle it and won’t go blabbing to the cops or their daddies. If it works out, you can come and party with us all the time.” Roach winked at the girls.
After the longest thirty minutes of Cruz’s life, the three girls staggered out of the van and into the parking lot. They each had two joints tucked into their purses as they made their way toward their cars. Cruz knew it wasn’t safe for them to drive, but there was absolutely nothing he could do about it right now, not while keeping his cover.
With Roach insisting he drive, Cruz climbed into the driver’s seat and headed back toward Angel’s apartment. She was sitting between Roach and Tiny in the backseat and every time he looked in the mirror, he saw the two men pushing their luck. Tiny had pulled her leg up and over his and his hand was on her thigh, rubbing up and down, getting closer and closer to her crotch with each pass. If she’d been wearing a skirt, Tiny’s hand would’ve been way past neutral territory.
Roach had buried his face in Angel’s neck and was licking her like she was an ice cream cone, sucking her earlobe into his mouth each time he reached it. Cruz even saw him push his tongue into her ear once as well. She was giggling but not stopping them, lost in the good feelings of the pot and the sexual tension in the air.
Cruz cleared his throat loudly and said in a threatening voice, “Ransom’s.”
Tiny’s hand stopped its journey upward, but Roach only looked up and smiled evilly.
“Angel, we’re here,” Cruz announced loudly when they pulled up to her apartment complex.
Without giving her a chance to move, Roach put his hand on her chin and pulled her face toward his. He held her still while he thrust his tongue into her mouth and devoured her. Cruz could see the pressure of his fingers on her chin, even as she struggled lightly in his grasp.
When Roach finally pulled back, he forcefully turned her head toward Tiny, and kept hold of her while Tiny also took possession of her mouth. Cruz heard her whimper once while being ravaged by Tiny.
Finally, when the man leaned back, Roach said in her ear, “We know you’re Ransom’s. We don’t disrespect our pr
esident. We don’t take what’s his without permission. But if you’re gonna be his, you gotta know he likes to share.”
Roach finally let go of her chin and Cruz watched as she turned slowly to look at Roach. He ran his hand down her cheek gently, as if he hadn’t just been holding her chin hostage in his grip. Cruz could see the fading white spots on her skin as the blood made its way back into it.
Angel smiled shyly at Roach. “I’ll see you guys next week at the party?”
“Yeah, Angel, you’ll see us next week at the party. Make sure you only invite the cool girls that can handle it. Yeah?”
“Yeah, Roach. I’ll make sure. I’ve had a good time today. Thank you for coming with me. Is Ransom gonna come see me? I really want him.”
Cruz knew marijuana could make some people horny; Angel was obviously one of those people.
“I don’t know, Angel. But I’ll tell him how good you were today.”
“Yeah, tell him that. I was a good girl for him.”
For the second time that day, Cruz felt the bile creep up his throat. Time to get this show on the road.
“Come on, Angel. Let’s get you inside.”
Cruz came around the side and opened the van door and helped Angel out. She wobbled on her feet and leaned into him. “You gonna kiss me too, Smoke?” she asked with a smile.
“Nope. I think you’ve had enough. Time to go inside and take a nap.”
Cruz lifted his chin at Roach and Tiny, telling them he had this, and he carried Angel’s bags, and held her around the waist as he got her to her door. He had to unlock it for her and practically carry her inside.
He dropped the bags just inside the door and helped Angel sit on her couch. As soon as he let go, she toppled over sideways. Cruz shook his head. He could do anything to her and she’d have no idea. It was a good thing he’d walked her up, and not Roach or Tiny. Cruz knew they wouldn’t have hesitated to take advantage of her, their prospect status be damned.
Cruz squatted next to the couch and shook Angel’s shoulder. When she opened her eyes and looked blearily up at him, he told her sternly, “Call your sister, Angel. Let her know you’re home and you’re okay.”