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

by Annie Buff

  “ Oh, mother fucker! Smoke is gonna lose it!” Jace didn’t understand what his new brother was talking about. He knew the brush had become pines but this was certainly something more than the scenery.

  “This is the road to Smokes cabin, that asshole has been hiding out on Devils property. That’s why we couldn’t find him in the Junction, he went the one place we would never look. Damn we need to make sure nothing happens to that house.”

  Jace sent a message to Renegade, relaying what Slinger had just said. What he got back was that Ren had the same thoughts and to stop at the Red Barn. They needed a plan, they all knew how mad Smoke would be if his home got leveled.

  Ren leaned against the front end of the sedan, pulling out his phone and calling Smoke. He knew even being the VP now he had to call the President. This was definitely not something he wanted to take on as his first official task.

  “Boss man we got a problem. Found Trevor and he’s shacking up at your cabin.” Renegade immediately pulled the phone from his ear, the President was screaming bloody murder.

  Everyone had gathered around when Ren made the call and nobody needed to ask what smoke said, that had come through loud and clear. Once the yelling stopped, Ren put the phone back to his ear and continued his call. Smoke was crystal clear on how they were to

  proceed.

  “Were supposed to wait, Smoke says he and Falcon are on their way. So, we got a few hours to kill, I say burgers and pool sound good. Maybe a few beers and a serious shot of gin, fuck I need a drink.”

  The weather up north was damp and he was hurting, Ren had been shot and stabbed enough times that when it rained or got damp, he hurt. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone, Ren would just nurse it with a few swigs of his favorite alcohol.

  Smoke and Falcon made the Red Barn in record time, it was a five-hour drive and they did it in three and a half. When Smoke walked in, the look he had said everything. Heads were going to roll, he pulled up a chair and turned it so as he sat the back was at his chest.

  “ Oh, I am not a happy man. That fuck is in my home, where my wife and

  daughter have slept. Where I go to unwind and release stress. No!”

  Smokes fist hit the table and Ren watched the beer bottles tumble like dominos. He knew when Smoke said sit tight this was going to be a grade A shit storm. Even Raul was slightly nervous, that look was priceless. Slinger had known Smoke longer than any of them, so he figured he should be the one to open up with the questions.

  “So how are we gonna do this Smoke? I mean if he’s inside we gotta bring him outside right? Otherwise we run the risk of wrecking the place and that’s not a good thing.”

  No, it wasn’t, Smoke knew if anything happened to his cabin his wife would go on the warpath. She and Bones had spent a fortune to repair it after the debacle with Skinny and his goons, and even at five-foot-tall and barely one-hundred and ten pounds, she would be more frightening than opening the gates of hell.

  “ I was considering kicking the door in but Falcon here said that was a bad idea.’ Smoke spoke to them, “He did have one that does very little damage but will get his ass out of my fucking house. Wanna tell them?”

  Falcon nodded, throwing back his shot of Jim Beam. “My sister said don’t fuck up the house so we’re not gonna. What we are gonna do is make it very

  uncomfortable inside. I’ve got a case full of tear gas and a launcher, so we’re gonna break a few windows with the canisters and that will get him outside. After that the fun can begin. Slinger I know you want a piece of him before Raul turns him into fish food so you can have your turn. Anyway, that’s how I say we do it and boss man agreed.”

  Ren sat with his arms folded over his chest just laughing, this was the best way to get him out in the open and not piss off the Queen. The rest of the evening was spent working out the specifics on how it was going to go down and just how they were going to sneak up on him. That was the part none of them could figure until Jace spoke up.

  “What if we left the vehicles on the road side and just hiked in? It’s like what, three miles down that road? We all can pack what we need and be silent doing it. I was on the SWAT team for a few years, that’s how we did it when we didn’t want to be heard. It’ll work, he won’t hear a thing.”

  They left the vehicles on the road right after the turn to Smokes property. Off the main highway and out of sight should Trevor decide he needed a midnight run somewhere and walked. They packed in the weapons and supplies required to do the job. They walked single file with Smoke leading, it was his property and he knew where to hide if that need arose.

  The only one not comfortable was Raul, Armani shoes may look classy but they were definitely not something you want to walk three miles in along

  mountainous terrain. Ren watched him as he winced and got great pleasure out of seeing Raul very uncomfortable.

  “Next time try a pair of Docs, much better on a long walk. Much better in general, those pretty alligator shoes ain’t made for this.” Ren was still smirking, he really didn’t like Raul and this was just poetic justice for sleeping with his now ex-wife.

  It was going on four years since his divorce, but Renegade still held animosity towards Raul. He had known Sherry was married to Ren but went after her anyway. She wasn’t a great wife but she had been his, and that should have meant leave her alone. Raul never seemed to care, it was always about him. So for Renegade to see him having a hard time was priceless.

  The six made the tree line in under twenty minutes, even hauling the

  equipment they needed. Smoke was still fuming. There were lights on downstairs so they all assumed that meant he was up. That and the amount of dope they knew he was using. You don’t sleep being on all those drugs.

  Falcon set up his tear gas launcher and enough canisters to make sure he wouldn’t be able to stay inside. Raul and Renegade covered the back while Smoke, Slinger and Jace sat out front with their automatic weapons pointed at the front door.

  The first canister sailed through an upstairs window and the sound of glass shattering echoed in the trees. He fired off two more in a quick succession before moving downstairs. The next few broke the living room and kitchen windows, but the job was done. Ten seconds later Trevor stumbled out the front door choking and rubbing his eyes, tear gas hurt like hell. The six stayed just back far enough to not feel the effects of it, they all knew how bad the sting was.

  Once Trevor cleared his vision he wished he hadn’t, Smoke stood grinning with a tech nine in his hand. That look spoke volumes, things were about to get interesting and most likely messy.

  “Well hello Trevor.” Smoke said with a very sinister look to his face. “I don’t believe we’ve met, yet here you are in my house. MY house!”

  Trevor knew he was done for, the only part of dying here was that it wouldn’t be so bad. They would probably just shoot him and be done, then he noticed Raul wandering up from the rear of the home and knew. The pain he was about to endure before he died would be more than he ever imagined.

  Raul was going to make this last for a while and that frightened him more than anything ever had. Trevor couldn’t even bargain his way out, he had nothing for leverage. Slinger and Jace had words for him before they left Raul to his business.

  “You son of a bitch! Did you see it? The fucking limp you left me with! I have to live like this for the rest of my life!” That’s when Jace fired the gun in his hand, hitting exactly where he was aiming. Trevor went down clutching his crotch, Jace had shot him square in the testicle and grinned doing it.

  “Hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it?” Jace asked ironically. “Good! Every damn day I hurt, so that’s my payback. Ink Man he’s all yours.”

  Slinger had a few things to say as well. This man had terrorized Rylee and she was Slingers world. That was

  unacceptable, so he said his peace:

  “You’ve been nothing but a coward . Hitting a woman? Really? A woman who couldn’t defend herself and frightening my boy.”r />
  “That kid is mine, and I had every right to make sure he knew.” Trevor spat at him. He had no idea what Slinger had done with Micah’s adoption.

  “No man , that’s where you’re wrong, he’s mine.” Slinger explained, “I legally adopted him months ago, before the wedding. Micah is my boy, and he knows that. He knows I love him, and he knows how a real man is supposed to treat his woman. Rylee told me to tell you she hopes you rot in hell, but I think hell is too good for you. Don’t worry though, I’m pretty sure there is a place there just for you.”

  Slinger didn’t shoot him, he did however reach for his Bowie knife and sliced the Achilles tendon. That one would burn for hours and by the screaming Trevor was doing, the fire had already started.

  Ren tossed Raul a set of keys to one of the rental cars and nodded. “He’s all yours, do what you have to but clean up afterwards.” Smoke told him, knowing just how messy Raul was about to be.

  “ Thank you, amigos. But it will not happen here. I will take him with me, I have a place in my home for just this type of thing.”

  That was something they all believed, wondering just how sick his torture chamber was, but none asked.

  The walk back to the vehicles was silent, each one contemplating life so to speak. Slinger just felt relieved, his family was finally safe. Micah could play outside without Rylee constantly panicking.

  She could calm down and enjoy her pregnancy without all the stress that came with Trevor being alive and free. Now they all could relax just a little. In this world they lived in no one relaxed too much, enemies were everywhere. Sometimes closer than you’d ever imagine.

  Girls, Girls, Girls

  Summer was in full swing and Rylee was starting to show. Her due date was the end of November but at fourteen weeks she had a baby bump and Slinger couldn’t keep his hands off her.

  He was forever rubbing her belly, and kissing on her. The guys gave him a rash of shit but he didn’t care at all. Nothing could come close to comparing to how he felt for her. Today he would make good on a debt owed, they were going into town for lunch and meeting a special lunch date. Slinger had called his sister, asking if she was clean enough to join them for lunch. He made sure she understood his son would be there and she needed to be straight.

  Suzanne Woods walked into the Dash, looking around for her brother. This place was expensive, and it was one she could never afford but Nathaniel said he was buying so she went.

  She saw them in a corner, she waved and made her way to the table. She expected to feel awkward but when Rylee stood up and hugged her she almost cried. It was immediate acceptance, something she had never expected.

  “Thank you for coming, I’m so glad to finally meet you. This is Micah,” she introduced the little man and then patted her bump. “This is Baby Slinger, we won’t know what we’re having for another couple weeks, so I just say Baby Slinger until we know.”

  Slinger sat back watching his wife interact with the sister he really hadn’t seen much of in years. It was refreshing, Suzy looked good and she was semi clean. He saw a few tracks on her arm but she was managing so he left it be. His family was complete now, a day he never

  thought he would see.

  They sat for a few hours eating and talking until Micah ran out of patience. That ended the lunch but Rylee made sure Suzy understood she had an open

  invitation to their home anytime.

  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect because Slingers phone chimed with a message saying the girls were on their way. That meant Bones and Wisha were in labor. Her OB had wanted to do a cesarean but she was adamant about trying to give birth naturally and it seemed she was going to get her wish.

  They were needed at the hospital, but there was one stop to make beforehand. Micah was being dropped off with

  Peyton’s nanny so the adults could be at labor and delivery without impatient toddlers.

  The waiting room in the Labor and Delivery wing was crowded with a dozen men all wearing patches, waiting for word on the newest family members. Bones and Wisha were having twin girls and everyone could see how incredibly proud he was. Like Smoke, Bones would have been just as thrilled with boys or girls. The fact he was getting two girls made him ecstatic.

  Bones had stepped into the waiting room to tell his brothers they were headed to surgery. The babies were in distress and the doctors weren’t allowing her to go any longer, they needed to do a C-section to ensure the health of both babies and mom. Bones went to scrub up, knowing he would be handling his girls first and cutting cords.

  Less than an hour later both girls had arrived, screaming and very healthy. Zhara came first at four pounds, eleven ounces. Zhoe was the second born and just made the four-pound mark, but both girls were breathing fine so their doctors had no worries. Once Wisha was closed-up and in a room the brotherhood came to see her and the girls.

  Peyton and Rylee each stole a baby and as Slinger watched his wife he knew one would never be enough. She was incredible to watch, how she knew just what to do with a baby. The men took their turns, even Renegade who said he didn’t like babies was holding Zhara and smiling.

  Turning Of A Page

  The seasons had grown colder and Rylee had grown bigger, just a few weeks from her due date but experiencing what the OB called Braxton Hicks contractions, or false labor. She remembered from Micah and wasn’t overly concerned.

  Slinger was concerned, but not about Rylee. His concern was for Micah and how he would feel with the new baby coming so every afternoon he would load him up and take him on the bike. They had matching leathers and the little man had an orange helmet, same shade as Slingers Street Glide.

  The ride had become a traditional thing and Smoke would take Nora, joining his Brother and Micah. Not only did the men enjoy the time with their children, but it gave the mothers a much-needed break.

  The women, including Wisha and her two babies were preparing for preThanksgiving dinner and a double birthday party for the little ones. Nora was turning two and Micah had turned three just weeks before so in normal Peyton style she had planned a huge party. Bones was setting up all the tables and he had roped Jace into blowing up balloons.

  Jace Morrison had found his groove here with the MC, he was accepted and even loved. That felt good, there hadn’t been anyone important in his life since his grandfather passed away and here he was fitting in.

  Rylee was by far the one he cared the most for. There was just something about her, she was like sunshine all the time. Her smile lit up every room she was in and Jace thoroughly understood just why Slinger loved her the way he did. She was the kind of woman he hoped to find one day.

  With dinner on the table and everyone enjoying the food, Smoke stood to do his usual speech.

  “Brothers, wives , and shorter folk.” They all snorted at smoke referencing the kids as shorter folk. “It’s a great day to celebrate, we had some tough times this year but I think we came through it better than we were. Tonight, we’re celebrating the days of youth, Nora’s second and Micah’s third birthday. And we’re gonna be celebrating one more thing, Krispy is gonna come and live here with us, he will be with me and Peyton. It’s time for my family to be together.”

  It had been Ren that had made the suggestion. He knew Knuckles was his sponsor and Krispy felt guilty for not seeing what had gone on. Ren had already asked Smoke about a small place for him; a place the young patch could call home. Smoke had told him home was with the club, no matter where he slept and Ren had to agree. Home would always be here, with the club. The brotherhood and the women that loved them.

  Cake had been brought out and as Rylee was getting Micah ready for candles it happened. She felt it and Peyton heard the whooshing sound, her water had broken.

  “Nash, we need to let Micah do cake kinda quickly, my water just broke.” She said showing her wet dress.

  Slinger nodded, not freaking out like everyone expected. He took care of Micah’s candles and cake, then took his wife to their place b
ehind Smokes so she could change and grab her overnight bag. Bones and Wisha were going to keep Micah, so she loaded into the truck and Slinger slid into the driver’s seat and started the truck. That’s when the panic showed.

  “ Oh fuck! Are you okay? How bad does it hurt? Do you need drugs? What do I need to do?”

  Slinger went a hundred miles an hour, and Rylee just laughed. Her husband was the sweetest thing in the world, it was nice to have someone care so much and she couldn’t love him more.

  Four hours later she and Nash

  welcomed their bundle into the world. Nobody had been told the sex of the baby so when they all filed into her hospital room they saw blue. Slinger and Rylee welcomed another a boy into the world.

  Smoke was the first to congratulate the couple and hold him. He looked just like Micah, Slinger was a very proud dad. Once he had been passed to everyone, the new baby made his way back to his mother and immediately attached himself to her breast. Slinger bent to kiss his wife, knowing how exhausted she was but she never lost the smile from her face.

  “So, what’s his n ame? To be this secretive it’s gotta be good.” Jace knew they had already decided on his name weeks before the birth, he had overheard them discussing names.

  “We picked something we thought would be a good name, one that has meaning. His name is Greyson Nathaniel Lincoln Woods.” It was a big name for such a little man, but they were right, that name had meaning.

  The end of the year was fast

  approaching and Smoke had relaxed some, but not completely. In this life, you never let your guard down, there was always someone wanting to take you out. He was just thankful it wasn’t from within at the moment. He was enjoying the quiet, but quiet didn’t last long and when it was this calm they were all waiting for something to happen.

  Raul had gone back to Mexico, but he had been kind enough to send

  photographs of his handy work. Trevor was definitely no more, and by the look of it he went out in a very bad way.