Ride or Die (Devil's Edge MC #1)

by Terri E. Laine

  “They did that to her because of me. She told me how they’d come and she’d backed up my claims that I was hers for the taking.” He still felt the gut shot from the assholes she wouldn’t name proving to her that women in the community were property to be used and taken by whoever. “If she hadn’t loved me, she’d be alive and well. I’d failed her. I didn’t keep her safe.”

  He went quiet knowing he’d kept himself at a distance from everyone for that reason. That’s why he’d never staked a claim on Lyla. As long as he didn’t, she’d been safe. So why had he allowed himself to get that close to Piper?

  Brightness filled the room when she opened her lids and surprisingly Ender was still there peacefully asleep. Nature called, forcing her to free herself from his warm embrace. Naked, she reached down in the pile of discarded clothes and found his shirt. Donning it, she didn’t bother putting anything else on. She planned to get naked again upon her return. She would have Ender at least one more time before heading out of town.

  His shirt covered her to about mid-thigh. She hadn’t expected more considering it fit tightly across his chest and arms. Fighting a smile that wanted to claim her lips, she exited his room. It was only a few steps to the bathroom and she made it there with silence still filling the house.

  Business done, she took care of a few essentials after, like washing her hands and finger brushing her teeth. When she made her exit, there in the hall stood Taylor, AKA Poet.

  “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said, eyes dancing up and down her.

  Not liking his tone, she stepped forward to face him despite her nakedness under a single shirt. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  No longer the impressionable child he’d used and discarded, their head to head was inevitable. He glanced at her shirt, then in the direction of Ender’s room. She didn’t care that he knew who the shirt belonged to.

  “Sleeping with Eric as a way to get back at me?”

  She chortled. “Honestly, it has nothing to do with you. But that was always your problem. You were always the center of your universe.”

  As she started to turn, he reached out to stop her. “Wait,” he said, sounding tired. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s none of my business.”

  Glancing at her arm, she silently let him know to release her.

  “Piper.” Along with a pause, his retreating hand ran roughly through his blond hair. “I fucked up.”

  She’d waited for the words for so long it was disappointing to hear them now. It was far too late and she didn’t need them anymore.

  “Yeah,” he said as if he read her thoughts. “I get it. I’m the asshole who waited too long to say it. But I need you to know, I never used you. I did love you. I was just too stupid to handle it better.”

  “No,” she corrected. “You loved the club more than you ever did me.”

  He was about to protest, but stopped himself. “That’s not totally true. I didn’t know what I was feeling at the time. You were the first girl I’d ever felt that way about. And then, I hadn’t been patched in long. I thought I would lose my spot if Rocky found out.”

  “In other words, I wasn’t that important to you.”

  His hand nervously found his hair again. “I’m messing this up.”

  “Let me save you time. None of it matters anymore.”

  “But it does,” he jumped in. “I loved you and fucked it all up. And I’m man enough to say that now. I get that you aren’t that girl anymore. You’re more Eric’s type, though he prefers his chicks with less tits.”

  “If you’re trying to insult me—”

  “I’m not.” His eyes found the ceiling for a second. “Look, all I’m trying to say is that if he hurts you, brother or not, I’ll kick his ass.”

  She doubted very much he could, but it was kind of sweet of him to say so. Emotions and the right responses to such had been lost to her years ago. So she nodded and left him standing there as she headed back to Ender’s room.

  The sky was lighter when she walked in. Ender lay with his swath of thick black hair covering one eye. In sleep, he lost his hard edges. She hadn’t noticed that on the road. Then again, she was sure he hadn’t allowed himself to sleep so deeply with her before. Apparently, he too felt safe with her or being road weary for so long had finally caught up to him.

  Climbing in behind him, she wrapped her arms around his chest to enjoy his warmth. He was a better man than he thought himself to be. It was too bad neither one of them had it in themselves to make a go at anything long-term. She relaxed against him, prepared to relish the last few hours with him before she left, seeing no reason to stay.

  As her mind drifted, she started to mentally prepare for leaving her current life. She would find a small town somewhere to lose herself in. She was done with killing. But what other skill set did she have? Law enforcement? She didn’t think herself that selfless. Maybe in a small town…perhaps.

  Nuzzled in against him, her eyes popped open when Ender stirred and rolled over to face her. She only got a flash of his darkened eyes before she was flush on her back with his knee spreading her legs. A slow smile grew on her face as she felt the press of his hardness against her opening.

  His eyes held hers, not bothering with words as he plunged into her. She tried not to be the first to look away. But as he moved, her eyes fluttered with nine inches of hard muscle stretching her in places she didn’t think possible. He jerked his hips forward, hitting that spot that had her back arching and her eyes rolling back. His plunging movements were rough, but not punishing as he continued to pin her with his stare as if to convey that she was his.

  He straightened and lifted her hips, continuing to fuck her like no man had before. She tried to stay lucid and not lose herself to the pleasure. She wanted to remember her time with him for those cold nights when she had nothing but her hand and vibrator.

  Her body began to tighten around him as detonation approached. Feeling it or sensing it, he moved his fingers between her legs. She didn’t need him to play with her clit to get her off like the few men before him. But when he pressed down on her nub, she had liftoff. She spasmed around him as he came inside her.

  They hadn’t used protection. Ecstasy had a way of taking away any care about potential pregnancies. She religiously took birth control as fail-safe. But for a fleeting moment, she tried to recall the last time she’d taken it.

  41

  The time had come and standing there didn’t change the fact that she was leaving, he tried to tell himself. Because what could he say to her? Stay? His mouth remained shut, drinking in her undiluted beauty. With feet firmly planted, he watched her stare out the window as if she couldn’t wait to leave. And wasn’t that probably true?

  She felt his eyes on her, unable to meet them. Their desires had been sated, and damn, the man could fuck like he rode his Harley, endlessly. She was sure she would be satisfied for a while, especially with every moment with him committed to memory. Plus, she had the delicious ache between her legs like it had never been before. Brian had been good, but not as good as Ender.

  “Piper,” Ender croaked out.

  His voice was rough, having not spoken a word that morning. He’d just watched her leave his bed, gotten dressed, and hadn’t come back.

  Finally, she allowed herself to turn and face him. She didn’t speak, only lifted a chin in acknowledgement.

  “You don’t have to go,” he struggled to say.

  Her snarky response came out much more like a bite. “And what, play house with you until you get tired of me?”

  Immediately she regretted her words in light of his truths from last night. Then again, was he safe with her? She definitely had a target on her back by trying to leave the organization. Could she allow him to become a casualty in her war to leave? No, so she hardened her heart and said the words that would ultimately separate them.

  His eyes never drifted from hers. “You know it’s not like that.”

  “It’s like wh
at then? Are you declaring your love for me?” she chuffed.

  Love, no, he didn’t love her. But he felt something, a bond, a connection so deep he wanted her close if only to protect her from herself.

  “You don’t have to continue…”

  He trailed off, and she could surmise what he was referring to. “You think I should give up my job after getting caught.” She stepped closer to him. “I’ll have you know, I didn’t need your rescue. I had things under control.”

  The lie had easily left her tongue. Being grateful didn’t mean she was beholden to him.

  He felt his face screw up as he royally fucked it up. Honey coated words weren’t his thing. He said what he meant and meant what he said. Though with her, he seemed to trip over what he wanted to say. She was a foreign concept in his mind, a dream he’d never allowed himself to have.

  “You’re better than what they’re making you,” he finally said.

  It was the truth. A killer for hire wasn’t the life he wanted for her. She’d be dead before she turned thirty if she kept it up.

  “And what am I supposed to do? Play Susie homemaker to your biker badass? I’m not that girl.”

  He knew she wasn’t.

  “Law enforcement, private detective, hell, even a security.”

  All would be less dangerous than what she was currently doing.

  “And how would I support myself while I went back to school to get qualified to do that? Because I’m not going to be some mall cop.” She didn’t consider the last option. It wasn’t something she ever saw herself doing. “Are you going to take care of me?” She laughed a little. “You’re cute when you’re trying to be helpful, but we both know I am what I am, just like you are what you are.”

  Her phone chimed, which meant her cab was there. She strode to him and reached up to push hair back from his head. Without words she let their lips meet.

  Roughly, he pulled her close, remembering how being inside her had felt so damn good. He’d fucked enough women to know that being with her was a world different than anyone else.

  She pulled back, gazing in his eyes, and God help him, he let go. She took one stumbling step back. For a moment, he considered reaching for her. Something glittered in her eyes and it wasn’t humor. A shimmer reflected the light and had him fisting his hands at his sides. After one more step away, she turned, reached for her bag, and strode out the door.

  When it closed it was as if the ground rumbled underneath his feet in an earthquake. He felt unsteady and stumbled to grip the sofa arm.

  “Is she gone?”

  He glanced up to see Taylor. He managed to mask his features, but could only nod in response.

  Taylor pointed to the ground. “This. You. That was me six years ago. I watched her walk away and I lost her. Don’t make the same mistake.”

  The guy might have played like he hadn’t cared about Piper, but Ender could see in his face that he had.

  “You still love her,” Ender stated.

  And wasn’t that a bitch. Ender thought his best friend hadn’t given a shit that was why he’d gone for her.

  Taylor shook his head. “Loved. She’s not the girl I fell in love with.” He knew Taylor liked his women needy. “She’s not Mandy. She’s strong, independent, and can take care of herself. She wouldn’t appreciate my help. But you, she’s perfect for you. You’ve always liked your women like that.”

  One of the reasons their friendship had lasted was that they didn’t like the same women. Which was why it was so strange that they’d both fallen for Piper. Then again, he was right. She didn’t appear to be the girl he’d heard about.

  “Go,” Taylor said. “She’s running because she wants to be caught.”

  Damn if that wasn’t the most insightful thing the Poet had ever said. Ender knew getting on his bike and driving all around town wasn’t the answer. He had no idea what mode of transportation she was using to get out of Dodge. But he did have one secret, the tracking device he’d hidden on her. She’d found one, but not the other. He just had to use it, only maybe it was better she wasn’t involved in his world. His claim had only gotten one girl he loved killed.

  42

  The journey back to New York was long and arduous. Flying was out of the question, so a bus ride across the country gave her time to think and come up with a plan. Unfortunately, it also enabled her to ruminate on the one man who had made her feel in a long time.

  Part of her hated that Ender hadn’t fought for her or chased her. At every stop she waited in vain for him to be there to claim her. But it hadn’t. So, she focused on what she wanted out of life and it wasn’t the stilted one she’d been living.

  Finally back in New York, she opened the door of her apartment and found everything in its place. Dust had settled and appeared undisturbed. No one had come snooping around. A good thing. Her two bags of clothes were still in the closet. On her list of things to do, she needed to purchase a small suitcase. In the meantime, she collapsed on the bed and closed her eyes.

  Shadows had disappeared by the time she awoke. Darkness had claimed the land and it was time to journey out in the world and make peace where she could and bargain with the devil if she had to.

  After a quick shower, her first stop was to make good on her word.

  A disheveled bleary-eyed man opened the door she’d knocked on. His hand wiped incessantly at his eyes long before he noticed who was at his doorstep. Angered, she shoved at his chest.

  “That’s the kind of careless shit that will get you killed,” Piper said.

  Chris’s eyes finally popped open. “Pipe,” he began. Then his arms were around her. She kicked the door closed and tried to objectively consider his emotion while not immediately elbowing him away. She sort of enjoyed the human contact that had been lacking in her life for the last few years since Brian’s death. But when Chris pulled back and studied her eyes as if considering the meaning of life and followed it up with a lean in, she pushed at his chest.

  He shrugged. “You were…”

  “Forget that,” Piper said, cutting him off. She so didn’t want to remember almost sleeping with him to try and get the documents she needed. “Do you have them?”

  “Well, yeah, but you didn’t come back. I thought you stiffed me.”

  She pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and held it out. “Here, it’s all there.”

  He took it. “You know, you don’t have to leave. I can wipe you from all their systems and you can stay here.”

  “What?”

  How much did Chris know about what she did? He’d known she was into something she couldn’t talk about. Then again, he was a high-level hacker, the kind whose alias was on government watch lists. Of course, he probably knew more about her than she knew about herself.

  “I’m just saying. They would never expect you to stay in New York. You’re probably safer here,” he said.

  She waved him off. “I’m getting out.”

  “Nobody gets out.”

  The fact that he knew that meant he did know all her secrets.

  “Watch me,” she dared. “Just give me what I need and it better be worth the cash.”

  She had to stop by the bank and make a complete withdrawal after she got her new identifications. She planned to deposit money in several different banks with the credentials Chris gave her and hoped for the best.

  He shrugged again. “Your funeral,” he said, before he disappeared in the back and returned with three solid IDs.

  “Pipe, if you ever need my help.”

  He held out a business sized card. She took it, bewildered. She’d never had his number before. Chris was suspicious of all technology. But like every human being old enough, he had a cell phone. Only he hadn’t offered her that number before.

  “If you use it,” he began. “It’s probably a one-time deal. I’ll have to scrub the number if you talk business.”

  “Chris, I—”

  She couldn’t believe how choked up she was over this. Although
she’d never counted him a friend, there he was proving himself to be one.

  He went in for the hug and that time she gripped him just as tight.

  “Be safe,” he whispered in her hair.

  Tears threatened to break free from her eyes, but she managed to hold them back. She stumbled out the door more nervous than she had walking in. Her good fortune could only mean one thing; that her next meeting wouldn’t go as well.

  She couldn’t think like that with tasks to complete. Banks, a store to purchase a small carryon bag, and a stop to arrange transportation out of the city were all on her agenda.

  Second to last stop was back at her apartment. With everything she wanted to keep in the rolling bag rolling behind her, she slowly did a one-eighty. She would never return. And small and cramped as the place was, it had been hers. If she’d been a selfie kind of girl, she might have taken pictures to commemorate the moment. Since she wasn’t. It was another memory stored among others. When that door closed, not too long after, another opened so she could enter the bar through the employee entrance.

  It was a slow night. Only one girl waited tables as Kings stood sentry behind the bar. She left her bag in the hall and stood there for a second, remembering the last time she’d been there. It was the night she’d exited the front like the daughter Kings treated her to be. That night, however, there was a good chance her former father figure would become her number one enemy. She hoped she could walk out with her life. But for all she knew, the waitress was like her, a killer biding her time until her next assignment.

  Exhaling a breath, she pushed around the corner with her gun tucked at her back under the waistband of her pants. Killing was what they’d trained her to do. She wouldn’t want to, but she would kill her boss, mentor, and the man who’d been like a father to her in a second if it meant her own life.

  “Princess.”

  It wasn’t often he called her that, especially out loud in the open. That had been her code name in her unit.

  “Kings.”

  “Come to talk to me about your trip.”