Skin Deep, Shades of Ink (The Devil's Apostles MC Book 3)

by Annie Buff

  Fate, Destiny Or Whatever

  Rylee didn’t argue too much during their trip to the store. He was putting more food in the cart than she’d bought in a single trip in over a year. Slinger noticed her putting things back, she was

  concerned about spending.

  “Hey pretty lady, where’s all the meat we had?” She looked at him, half afraid of what he might do. Slinger knew this was from that piece of shit ex-boyfriend. No woman should ever be afraid of her man, and he was her man. She might not fully understand that yet, but he did. Not even a day and he was head over heels for her, and for her son.

  “You’ve put so much in the cart I don’t know when or how I’ll ever be able to pay it back.” That’s what this was all about, owing him.

  “Rylee Baby, why would you have to pay it back? Me and you are a thing now, remember? I’m doing this because I want to. This is what a man is supposed to do, help his lady out. So can you stop

  worrying?”

  Rylee nodded and smiled, this was so different than her ex. She worked all the time to support him, then he left her when she was six months pregnant. From there on out, it was just Rylee, then Rylee and Micah. Now she had a boyfriend, a very handsome big damn biker. He made her feel safe, no man had ever given her that kind of security.

  They were almost finished shopping when she heard it, a voice she wished she was imagining. Her ex, Trevor and he was heading her way. She knew Slinger heard him too. Rylee prayed he would just go away. She already had a bad feeling her new boyfriend wanted to murder the old one.

  “Hey Ry, I didn’t see your car?” He was trying to be nice and make small talk because they were in public. “I need to borrow it, I’m out of gas.”

  She knew there was a reason behind him being decent, there always was. Slinger stood back, letting her handle Trevor until he heard something he didn’t like.

  “My car is in impound at the moment, and even if it wasn’t you’re not using it.” “Dumb bitch! You got your car

  impounded?” That was the point Slinger had been waiting for. He nonchalantly strolled up, put his arm around Rylee and glared at the ex. He was six foot two and knew he was intimidating.

  “Baby, you okay? Did we get

  everything we needed?” Her ex stood staring, trying to figure out what to say. Slinger had a few words for him, but not in front of Micah or Rylee.

  “Here Baby,” he said handing her a wad of hundreds. “Go pay for this, I’ll be right behind you.” He told her with that same grin he always had. Rylee didn’t argue, her headache was getting worse and the prescription they had filled was going to be a godsend.

  “Look bud,” Slinger dropped his tone as he spoke to Rylee’s ex, “I don’t really give two shits who you are, but Rylee had an accident today and that’s why her car is impounded. She and I are together, so if you ever call her a bitch again you’re gonna need a broom and dustpan to collect your teeth. Are we clear? Oh, one more thing, don’t evershow up at her apartment looking for money. She’s got nothing for ya. Got it?” The look Slinger gave him said he meant business, that and the fact his hand moved his cut just far enough to see the piece on his hip.

  Rylee paid for the groceries and saved the receipt and the change so she could make sure to give it to Nash. She saw him saying something to Trevor, but she was out of earshot. She waited by the ice machine and when Trevor busted past her glaring, Rylee knew her new boyfriend had hit a nerve with the ex. She really didn’t care anymore anyway. Trevor was an ass, all he ever did was use her and hurt her. Never once did he take Micah anywhere.

  Slinger loaded his passengers in his truck then took care of loading groceries. He knew Rylee had to be feeling down right shitty and he needed to get her home. He could see it on her face. She tried hard to hide it, but Nash knew. She gave him directions, and once she said the street he knew exactly where she lived. It was cheap housing and that was all she could afford. That was going to change, he would make sure they lived someplace nice, someplace safe. This part of town was notorious for gang violence, prostitutes and pedophiles.

  When they pulled into her parking spot, he had her open the apartment door and he took Micah, situating the little boy at the table.

  “Hey little man, can we let Mom lay down and you and I can fix dinner?” he seemed to really like the idea of helping. “Great Micah, I’m gonna get the bags and be right back.” The toddler just grinned big.

  Slinger was already in love with him. He was such a sweet boy, and he had a terrible male role model. Slinger would fix that right quick. He brought up the bags to her second-floor apartment and went to check on Rylee. The pain meds were working, and she was woozy from the narcotic.

  “Hey pretty lady, you doing okay? Me and the boy are gonna cook for you. You just rest okay?”

  Rylee felt like Jell-O, so there was no way she was in any shape to argue. Plus, watching Nash and Micah warmed her heart. Her son had never had a man in his life. She had never known who her father even was, and Trevor was nothing more than a waste of air. Seeing Micah laughing and happy with a man was very new, and pretty neat.

  Rylee was still worried about how she was going to get herself to work and get Micah to his sitter. It was too far to walk and coming home as late as she did, this was not the neighborhood to walk in.

  Nash, can you come here for just a minute.” He nodded and went to kneel beside the old floral print sofa where she was laying. “I still have no car. What am I going to do?” The tears were threatening once again. She was trying so hard to be tough, to be strong but the fear of not being able to provide was trumping strength.

  “What you’re gonna do is le t me crash on the couch, that way I’m close if you need me. Then, in the morning after we’ve taken care of breakfast, you can take me home and keep the truck until we get you some transportation. Easy solution Sweetheart. I’ve got my bike, and I really don’t use the truck for much. I’m usually at the clubhouse if I’m not in the shop. The Queen almost always cooks dinner, so I don’t need much from the store. Unless it’s tequila.” He chuckled. Slinger had a thing for good tequila. He

  remembered many hangovers from his love of the agave nectar.

  “I can’t, it’s really new and what if Micah makes a mess in it. He spills juice and Cheerios in my car all the time.”

  Slinger wasn’t concerned, there had been worse things inside his vehicles at one time or another. Vomit and blood topped the list, so a few Cheerios and apple juice wasn’t a problem.

  “Trust me pretty lady, it’s nothing that can’t be cleaned so please stop worrying. He can’t hurt the truck. Now what would you like on your burger?”

  Rylee drove the big Dodge for a week, feeling guilty Every time she got in it. It was the end of fall and the weather was turning cold. Slinger had shown up twice in the past week wet from rain. He didn’t seem to care, but Rylee did. He had given her the use of his truck and was going to get sick from the elements. She was expecting him for dinner, and they needed to discuss her vehicle situation. When the knock came she didn’t think to look through the peep hole. Trevor was on the other side of the door and when she opened it, he punched her square in the mouth.

  “The fuck bitch! Who is the criminal you’re bringing around my son?” Rylee picked herself up off the floor and stared him down. She really did hate this man. Slinger had left her a gun for her purse, but she knew she was too far away to get it. Micah was with Peyton so thankfully he wasn’t here to see this. The boy didn’t need any more reason to dislike his Father. Trevor had given him enough. Micah would not go near him, he knew the man was bad news.

  “Get out!” She scr eamed as loud as she could, hoping someone would hear and call the police. The problem was, in this neighborhood screaming happened a lot.

  “Fuck you bitch! I saw the cash he handed you, I know you have some and I want it!”

  Rylee had just cashed her paycheck and if he knew, he would take it all. She had no intentions of letting him know.

&nbs
p; “You’re driving his truck ! I saw it in the parking lot, must be fucking him real good to get that!” He took another swing and she went down hard, but she was still yelling. Hoping for one of her neighbors to do the right thing.

  Slinger pulled up and cut the engine. Feeling that something was off, he waited and listened. He heard Rylee screaming and he ran as fast as he could. He made the second-floor walkup in less than six seconds, bounding up the stairs in threes. He found a bloody Rylee in the kitchen, trying to clean herself up. The scum of an ex was long gone, out the fire escape and down the alley somewhere. He’d find him later, all that mattered now was his Rylee.

  He took her and held her tight, he didn’t care about blood she was leaving on his shirt. He needed this. He needed her and he needed to kill Trevor. And that

  w ouldhappen, but he had to have a conversation with his President first. The brotherhood would be in on this one.

  “Baby Girl, what happened? Why did you let him in?” “I thought it was you, and just opened the door. I’m so sorry.” Rylee was in tears again. He hated seeing her cry.

  “Why are you sorry Sweetie? There’s nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t do a thing wrong. Let me see your face.” She looked up at him and he saw red once again. Her lip was swollen and split, the beginning of a black eye was forming.

  Slinger knew what she would look like in the morning, and that wasn’t good. There would be no way she could go to work. He would just have to give her a new job. He’d been saying he was going to hire a receptionist, now he had the perfect candidate. That and the scum bag wouldn’t know where she was working.

  “You’re not going to want to see your face, and work isn’t going to happen Baby. Let’s get you cleaned up, pack a bag for you and Micah. You can stay with me for a few days. Sweetie, this is going to keep happening until two things happen. First is you move, second isn’t something you want to hear.”

  Rylee had a sneaking suspicion she already knew what the second thing was, and she wasn’t going to ask. He was right though, she had to move. But doing it was going to be the hard part. Moving took money, and she had very little. And now with her face as bad as she thought it was, her job was as good as gone.

  “I can’t move, as much as I want to. I hate this place but it’s all I can afford. You don’t think Trevor pays child support, do you? That man has never given me a dime for Micah, all he knows how to do is take. I have a few sick days I can use. I was saving those in case my son got sick but I don’t have a choice now. Do I?” She screamed a few obscenities and threw a coffee mug across the room, successfully smashing it against the wall.

  Slinger grinned at his girl, she had spunk. He knew living in his world she would need it. Peyton and Wisha both had taken to her, that in itself was a godsend. She would need women around who understood the life and could help her when she had questions.

  Right now, they were going to the clubhouse, he’d sent the Queen a text saying expect two more for dinner and gave her a quick rundown on the evenings events. Slinger also sent Bones a

  message, he wanted him to check her over. Make sure it was only superficial and the ass hadn’t caused any serious damage.

  Clubhouse Rules

  Slinger followed Rylee to the

  clubhouse, he didn’t dare leave his bike at her apartment. Trevor hadn’t seen it, but it didn’t take a genius to figure it out and he had no intention of losing a thirty

  thousand-dollar bike to that low life loser.

  Slinger knew he had to get her somewhere safe, and the clubhouse was the safest place he could come up with on short notice. Rylee and her son would have a dozen bikers as security, and not one of them would let anything happen to her. He left his girl in the company of Peyton and went in search of Smoke. He found him and his Prospect working on an old Camaro.

  “Prez, I need a minute.” Smoke wiped his hands on an oily rag as he nodded. Slinger told him of the night’s events, watching Smoke get madder as he spoke. This was a good thing. The madder his President was the better it would be for Rylee and Micah.

  “Church needs to be called. Nobody touches one of our women without severe repercussions. This is bullshit! Where is she? I want to have a word with her.”

  They took a walk down the tree lined path that led from the garage to the clubhouse. Bones was sitting next to Rylee, cleaning her newest injuries. When she saw Slinger she smiled. He would never tire of that, the way she smiled at him.

  “Rylee Baby, this is Smoke. He’s the Prez and he wants to talk to you, is that okay?” she shrugged her shoulders, afraid of what he would say.

  “Don’t worry Sweetie, he’s just as concerned as the rest of us. He just wants you safe.” Slinger could see the relief on her face. All this fear from Trevor. That man had to die, the brotherhood would make sure of that.

  “Nice to meet you Rylee, sorry it has to be like this though. Slinger told me what happened and I’m fucking pissed off! I need you to do something for me, well a couple something’s. First is tell me everything you can about this mother fucker.”

  So she did, everything she could think of including where he stayed periodically. Where his mom lived and what kind of car he had. Smoke asked questions about Trevor’s friends and who he got his dope from. That one shocked her, she didn’t think he was on anything.

  “ Oh, he’s on something honey, trust me on that. You don’t go through that much cash, or have those kinds of outbursts unless you have a big dope habit. I know, I used to have one and my pops had one too. Any ideas on who?”

  After that conversation things started to become clear. All the mood swings, the constant need for cash. His disappearing acts all the time. Trevor was hooked on something, Smoke said it sounded like methamphetamines.

  “What’s the other something?” She asked Smoke, “You said there was a couple, so what’s the other one?”

  Smoke gave her a grin, “You’re going away for a few weeks. I have a cabin in the mountains, it’s safe and you need to relax and let us handle some security for you before you come back.”

  A few weeks was impossible, she had to go to work and she told him so. That’s when Slinger told her she could work for him and not to worry about anything.

  Rylee just stared, all these people trying to help her was overwhelming. Nobody had ever helped her with anything, but here they all were doing just that.

  “You really want to give me a job at the tattoo shop? Why would you do that?” That’s when the tears fell once again. She had to look like some kind of blubbering idiot, constantly crying; but she couldn’t stop herself. They were tears of joy, and tears of relief knowing she wasn’t going to be homeless.

  “Rylee while you two are up north me and the boys are going to move you. I need your keys so we can get all your things. And don’t worry, I’ll bring your stuff here for a few days before we get you setup in a new place. All the asshole will see if he’s watching is us loading a moving truck and coming back here. Ain’t no way he’s ballsy enough to try to come on my property.”

  She was blown away by the kindness and generosity of Slinger and his

  brotherhood. Smoke gave her a hug and left them to some privacy.

  “It’s all gonna be okay Sweetheart, trust me.” Slinger took her in his arms and held her close as he spoke. “Rylee I’ll do whatever I have to so you and Micah are safe. Can you do that? Trust me? I know it’s hard for you, he hurt you something fierce but I won’t. I promise I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.” Then he leaned in and gave her their first real kiss.

  She responded instantly, letting her lips part for his tongue to mingle with hers. Slinger felt her whimper against his mouth. He knew this was all that was going to happen now, and even though his cock was rock hard, he was okay with just a kiss. He wanted her in the worst way, wanted her to touch him. He wanted to taste her, to lick her until she was

  screaming his name.

  Slinger never much cared about oral sex before, but now it was all he c
ould think about. How would she taste, how would she respond to his touch? What kinds of sounds would he draw from her. Maybe at the cabin he would find out.

  They stayed with Slinger that night. His apartment was only a one bedroom, so he took the sofa and left Rylee and Micah to have the bed. She had tried to argue but he stopped her cold.

  “ I’ve slept in worse places Sweetie. You and the boy need the bed, I’ll be fine. And I feel better being out here where I can control things if something happens.” That was the end of the argument, he knew she had no comeback for his reasoning. He tucked them in and hit the sofa, channel surfing until he found an old Charles Bronson movie and with a beer in hand settled in for the night.

  His eyes opened at Dawn’s first light and he knew he wasn’t alone on the sofa. Sometime in the night Micah had made his way out and was cuddled up next to him. That small gesture made him fall even more in love with the little guy.

  Unfortunately Slinger had to pee

  something awful, and getting up without disturbing the toddler was going to be a chore.

  He made it in the nick of time or they would’ve needed a new couch. Once that bit of business was handled he made coffee and got dressed. They would have breakfast out on their way up north.

  He’d spoken with Smoke after he had gotten them into bed. Smoke wanted to know what kind of housing they needed to look for. Slinger told him something with a backyard. Micah needed a yard to play in. Rylee needed a nice neighborhood to raise her son in, and maybe more if he had his way. Spending time with Micah had given Slinger the itch. He wanted a baby with Rylee. Maybe not now, but one day he wanted one or two more.

  A Cabin In The Woods

  A week had gone by and Slinger and Rylee were adjusting to being a live-in couple. This had started out as temporary, but the longer they were together the more Micah attached himself to Slinger. That was perfectly fine with him. He was just as in love with the toddler as he was with Rylee.