Shafted (Devil's Blaze MC Book 4)

by Jordan Marie

  “The key?” Bree’s eyes are an ocean of questions.

  “Someone lays claim to you, that’s like putting themselves in the running to be the next President,” he elaborates.

  “I don’t see how. I thought those kind of things were voted on? Besides it’s just a stupid club, what does that have to do with life?”

  “Christ. She doesn’t have a clue, Shaft man. And this is who you’re claiming as your old lady?” he laughs, and then he turns to Bree with his hate. “You can’t be that stupid, bitch. Do you even know how your Grand-daddy makes his money? Or hell, Shaft for that matter?”

  I don’t think I just hit, busting his nose and letting the sight of the red blood calm me, at least a little.

  “Call her a bitch again, and you’ll be breathing through a tube. Brother or no brother,” I promise.

  “You’d choose a piece of tail over family?” He attempts to get up from the floor.

  I don’t move to offer him a hand up, the fucker doesn’t deserve one. “Bree is my family. You haven’t got this, but you need to start.”

  “She’s going to get you killed,” he says sounding like a broken record, telling me shit I already know.

  “Some things are worth dying for,” I vow staring at my woman, knowing I’d do just that for her. She’s worth it. I’d burn the world down and spell her name in the ashes when I’m through.

  “No! Jax? He’s wrong. Pops wouldn’t kill you,” Bree pleads mostly at war with herself. She doesn’t want to think her Pops can be a bad man.

  “Bree—”

  “Sure he wouldn’t sweet cheeks. Your Pops killed his own son without a second thought. Hell, he’s killed enough men to fill up two cemeteries. He’s not going to think about it when he puts a bullet between Shaft’s eyes. He’ll probably throw a party to celebrate,” Keys says and Jesus, I need to kill that son of a bitch.

  “You’re lying,” Bree snaps at him, but her eyes tell me she knows different, but isn’t ready to accept the truth.

  “Whatever. You ready Shaft? We’re supposed to be out looking for our brother, remember? Or you too wrapped up in pussy to work for your club now?”

  “Get the fuck out of my house. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  “Yeah. I think I’m done in here anyway,” he says and then leaves. I stare at the door for a second and only turn to face Bree when her question echoes in the air.

  “Is he right? Will being with me get you killed, Jax?”

  “Bree…” I have a hard time meeting her eyes. I don’t want to hurt her.

  “Will it?” she asks, but from the tears in her eyes, I think she might know the answer.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Bree

  “Answer me!” I yell at him. His eyes are full of so many emotions. My stomach drops to my knees.

  “Bree, sweetheart—” he attempts to placate me, but I won’t stand for it.

  “Jax, answer me,” I order him, ready to beat the words out of him.

  “He’s not exactly going to be thrilled about it. Hell, how could he be?”

  I don’t accept that. “Because I found someone who cares about me? Someone I love?”

  “Bree, you need to drop that shit.”

  “Drop…what?” I huff tapping my foot with a hand resting on my hip.

  “This is not some damn fairy tale you grew up reading,” he says to me, his tone exasperated. I don’t know if it’s due to the fight or this conversation.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “There is no love in the real world.” His words hurt my heart.

  I take a step in his direction. “That’s not true.”

  “It is. Was it love that got your grandmother killed?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Let’s just let it go. Listen, I need to go try and find Sabre. Are you going to keep your word, or do I need to find a man to watch over you?”

  “We’re not done with this discussion,” I growl, wanting to have this out.

  “I know, but baby, Sabre is out there somewhere. He has a family that’s worried sick about him,” he says earnestly. Guilt pools in my stomach. I couldn’t imagine the hell that his wife must be going through.

  I take a deep, steadying breath. “We will have this out when you get home.”

  “That mean you’re going to stay put?” he asks, some of the tension leaving him.

  “If I don’t will you have an aneurism?”

  “Possibly,” he says his lips going into a smile.

  “Then I’ll stay put. You guys are wrong though. Pops will just want me happy and you make me very happy,” I tell him, stepping into him, my arms reaching up to pull his face down to me. He gives me a light kiss. The coppery taste of blood hits me, and I pull back, using my thumb to wipe his bottom lip.

  “We’ll know soon, baby, because I sure as hell refuse to give you up.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Completely. You’re mine now. Remember what I told you this morning. Soak in a tub today and relax.”

  “Jax, I’m fine.”

  “I’m going to want that sweet little snatch again tonight and the work out I’m planning will need you to soak today.”

  “No playing until we have our talk.”

  “If you can hold out, I can,” he calls my bluff.

  “I can. It’s important.”

  “Give your man another kiss.”

  “Won’t it hurt you?”

  His lip twitches. “It’s worth the pain and then some.”

  “I don’t like your friend,” I whisper against his lips before I give myself over to our kiss. Jax’s tongue slides into my mouth, tangling with mine in a sweet and slow movement that I feel all the way to my toes. Sweet agony.

  “He’s not my favorite person right now either. Don’t worry. He won’t talk to you like that again,” his words are more than a promise.

  “It’s okay, Jax. Honest—”

  “No. It’s not. You’re my woman, Bree. Mine and there is no motherfucker who will ever disrespect you while I’m around—especially my own brothers. That’s not happening and Keys needs to learn that.”

  “When you go all He-Man like that, I have the strangest urge to strip naked and lay myself at your feet.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “Mm…hmm… Jax, my conqueror,” I flirt.

  “Oh. I like that. We’ll play that little scenario out when I get home.” The heat of his gaze melts me.

  “I’ll be waiting…Daddy.”

  “Damn it woman. You’re trying to kill me,” he groans adjusting his dick. I watch him, filled with fascination. I do this to him. Me.

  “Hurry back to me.”

  “I will, Bree. You can count on that,” he says going to the door.

  “And be careful,” I warn him, worried, but not wanting to cling. I have been cut off from the club life mostly, but I know the last thing a man needs is a weepy, clinging woman.

  “Always,” he says carelessly, opening the door.

  “I mean it, Jax. I need you to come back to me. Preferably in one piece, cause well I’m rather attached to all of your pieces,” I tell him, blushing, but desperately trying not to. For his part Jax smiles. It’s a real smile, one where I can tell he’s happy.

  “Roger that. I’ll make sure to bring myself and all my pieces back. Trust me. It’s never been more important to me than now. You just stay inside, please?”

  “Yes, sir.” I fight back the urge to salute him.

  “Believe I like Daddy better,” he grins.

  “Get out of here, before Keys comes back. I’m not sure I can handle him anymore today,” I laugh.

  He nods and then with a wink he’s gone. Suddenly, this small apartment seems way too big.

  Big and lonely.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Jax

  “Mierda! How is it possible for a man to just disappear?” Skull growls, his hand going through his hair.

  �
��We searched the entire section, Boss. There wasn’t a sign of him,” Beast tells him.

  “Christ’s big toe,” Torch grumbles, lighting a cigarette.

  “Can’t you ever talk normal cabrón, your language is getting as ridiculous as those damn shirts you insist on wearing,” Skull tells his vice president and brother-in-law.

  “There’s not a damn thing stupid about my shirt,” Torch says looking down at his black shirt with large white writing that says: I don’t always make my wife scream, but when I do it’s usually against the wall with my dick buried in her. “It’s completely true,” he says easily while Skull flips him off.

  “Shaft?”

  “Nothing Boss, me and Keys went over our area backwards and forwards. There’s no sign of Sabre.”

  “Was there trouble?” Skull asks, watching me closely. I look down at the blood stain on my shirt. I know I’ve got bruises he can’t see on my ribs, and my jaw is still bruised and swollen. After I left the apartment this morning, Keys and I had it out where Bree couldn’t see. I’m not sure if I won, or he did. We’re pretty evenly matched, but I will say the fucker will be damned sore in the morning, and he will think twice before he talks shit about my woman again.

  “Nah. Just some personal shit. Keys and I worked it out,” I shrug. I hear Keys grunt his agreement in the background.

  “See to it that you do. I don’t need any more shit piled on right now,” he tells me, and I nod in agreement, without saying anything else. It doesn’t need to be said. We all need to have our heads in the game here. “Briar’s still in a coma, still fighting. There’s not much new to tell,” he says resigned, and the pain of this news hits us all. A darkness settles, a black cloud hanging over the club.

  “How’s his old lady holding up?” K-Rex asks from the corner. Stephanie is a good woman, and we all think the world of her. She’s been a basket case since Briar was shot.

  “Doc had to give her a sedative. She’s resting now. I’ve got a couple men standing guard at the hospital. There’s some shady shit going on, and until we get down to who’s behind it, you guys need to be watching each other’s backs. Am I clear?”

  All the men give their agreement by nod, grunt, or yeahs, but none of the men are happy that this is where things are. If we could just find Sabre, it would be better. Even if he was dead, at least we could move forward and maybe have a clue as to what the fuck is going on.

  “It’s close to Christmas. I want Sabre home with his family before then. We broaden the search tomorrow,” Skull growls, knocking the gavel against the table. On that we’re all in agreement, but there’s not a damn one of us who knows how to make it happen.

  I follow the rest of the men out, feeling like I’m letting my brothers down, but knowing fuck-all about how to fix it.

  “Are we good?” Keys asks, and I look at my brother. I trust him above all of the others for the most part. We’ve been through the fire together. He’s young though, and he’s got a hell of a lot to learn, especially when it comes to questioning me.

  “If you lay off my woman, we’re square,” I tell him.

  “You really don’t see the fucking mess you’re going to get yourself into? Even if by some miracle we avoid going into war with the Saints, do you really see that old bastard welcoming you to the family and letting you touch his granddaughter? Shit man, you’re setting yourself up, and I don’t want to see you fall.” I know his concern comes from a good place.

  “I got it under control. The only reason I haven’t faced it head-on is because of all the shit going down.”

  “It’s your funeral,” Keys says in resignation. “You got a death wish over a piece of ass, it’s none of my concern.”

  “I’m warning you, Keys.”

  “That’s my final thoughts on the matter, you just better make sure you watch your back, because I can’t be there to guard it all the time.” He slaps my shoulder.

  “Point made,” I say, suddenly feeling bone tired. I follow him out to our bikes, jump on and take off towards my apartment without a second glance. I don’t want to talk to anyone anymore.

  No one, but Bree.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Bree

  “You still can’t get her?” Jax asks, as I hang up my phone and stare at it. It’s not like Roxanne to go this long without talking to me, or at the very least checking in.

  “No. I’m sure she’s fine. It’s just…”

  “You’re worried?”

  “It’s been over a week. I haven’t talked to her since that morning in your apartment, Jax. I can’t remember going a week without talking to her, let alone even longer.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Jax asks. He was lying on the sofa, and I had been holding his feet while we watched a movie. Now, he does a half sit up and moves his legs so he can pull me back into him with my head resting on his stomach. I turn to the side so I can see the television, not that I really care. I let the heat of Jax’s body relax me. His fingers go into my hair, and I allow my eyes to close, drinking in the moment. I’ve never had much tenderness in my life and Jax spoils me with it. I’m coming to crave moments like this as much, if not more, than anything else we do together.

  “I don’t guess there’s much you can do, honey. I’m sure she’s fine. She’ll probably check in tomorrow. She may have found her a new boy-toy.”

  “I’ll send a couple prospects down tomorrow to check on her,” Jax says, and I turn to look at him.

  I look back at him. “You can’t do that.”

  His eyes crinkle around the corners. “I can and I will.”

  “How would you explain it?”

  “I know a couple of boys that would keep it quiet, baby. But, even if they didn’t, that just means whatever we have to face, we face sooner. You and me are together. That’s not ending. I’m not letting you go. Everyone else will just have to get used to it.”

  “I felt more secure about that before your buddy Keys.”

  “It will be okay,” he tells me, but I think for a minute I see doubt in his eyes. There’s things we should discuss, but I find I don’t want to go there again—at least not yet. I know it’s stupid, but I want to remain dumb and pretend that Jax loves me as much as I love him. I know from his reaction to the word he doesn’t even believe in the word. Maybe I can love him enough for both of us. I know I don’t want to give him up. Although he may not love me, he wants me, and he’s claiming me. Maybe in the badass-biker world that equates to the same thing? Or maybe I’m doomed to be like Roxy. Living on my own in another state with nothing but my memories. On that note….

  “If you’re sure,” I tell him, turning my body so I’m on all fours and climbing over him. That gets his attention and he helps pull me up, his hand locking onto the back of my neck as he brings me in for a kiss. His face is intense, tight with desire. For me.

  Jax kisses me, and I keep wondering how it’s possible that every kiss is better than the time before. Surely that can’t be normal, or else people would be kissing all the time and nothing would get done in the world. Kissing Jax is that addicting.

  “Damn, baby.” His tongue darts over his bottom lip. “You can kiss.”

  “I was thinking the same thing about you,” I tell him, sliding my hand into the jogging pants he’s wearing. I instantly find his cock and smile when I feel how hard he is. For me.

  “And what do you think you’re doing?” he groans as I stroke him.

  “Showing my appreciation that you worry about me so much?” I whisper, not looking at him, because I’m busy pulling his cock out, and my eyes are glued on his length.

  “Oh. Then I think I should tell you that I’m sore as hell and it hurts to move, but I got up earlier when you were napping and turned the heat up.”

  “Is that so?” I’m watching as the veins in his cock grow tighter with each stroke. I’m blocking out the sore confession, because his poor body is a bruised mess. He didn’t tell me why, but I know he and Keys had it out more. I hope that ass
hole looks worse at least.

  “Yeah, I didn’t want you to freeze. Then, last night I was afraid you’d have a nightmare, so I pulled you on top of me and let you sleep with my dick inside of you—just so you wouldn’t feel alone,” he says and my body spasms at the memory. It’s been three days since Jax took my virginity and, I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve made love since. What I do know is that none have been sweeter than when I woke up with his hard cock inside of me and Jax somehow sleeping. Waking him up while riding him is on my list of things I want to do again and again…and again.

  “That was very thoughtful of you,” I tell him, letting my tongue slide into the small opening on his head as I stroke him. Instantly, the taste of him hits my tongue. Male, salty, musky, and again…all mine. “I should probably reward you really good for that one,” I praise him, flattening my tongue out, licking the side of his shaft.

  “If you feel you must,” he says, trying to sound like he doesn’t care either way, but the way his body trembles beneath mine when I take him into my mouth fully, and the way his hand tangles tight in my hair as he pushes me further down on his dick tells me much more. Then I forget the game we’re playing. I forget worrying about Roxy. I forget everything and lose myself in Jax. My man. Mine.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Jax

  I look at the clock above the table and frown. What the hell is happening to me. It’s ten in the morning, and I’ve had two days off from the club. Normally, I’d be sleeping—most likely hung over, because shit, I was lying to Bree a couple nights ago. I’m sore as fuck. Keys got better hits in than I thought. The one bright spot I had was the fucker was in just as much misery. I know, because I texted him a few times. I need to report in today though. Skull has been good to me, and I definitely needed a couple days off to heal and regroup. We’re short-handed enough though, and we need to figure out what the fuck happened to Sabre. My taking a couple days off in that respect was not cool, no matter how much it was needed. I sent a couple prospects down to Tennessee to check on Bree’s girl this morning too. So I need to get my ass in gear. Yet, even knowing all this shit, I’m still not in a hurry to leave. I’m even starting to think of this crappy apartment as a…home. What the fuck is wrong with me?