“Nova, Falcon this is Grandpa Fish and Grandma Marsha, they raised me.” I informed the kids. A strangled sob from Marsha echoed and then she was there, hands latching on to Nova’s face and twisting it one way and then another.
“She’s so pretty, you’re so pretty.” Marsha said quiet tears rolling down her cheeks.
“You’re pretty too.” Nova said magnanimously.
“Precious babies.” Marsha said and gathered the twins in her arms. Fish wrapped his arms around the three of them, and Ace and Apache stood up. Ace looked at me, and there was hope in his eyes, that this meant what Ace thought it meant.
“Need a beer.” I said. Ace nodded and bellowed across the room to a prospect. Ace got close as Drake, Phoe, Fish, Marsha and Apache made a fuss of the kids.
“Thank you.” Ace whispered.
“Punished you for too long, I correct my mistakes.” I whispered back. Green eyes flared, but Ace nodded and held a hand out to Akemi. Akemi released me and took the hand.
“Thank you for watching out for them.” Ace muttered to Akemi, his voice hoarse with emotion. Akemi gave a sharp nod.
“Artemis is the little sister I never…” Akemi broke off, and it was my turn to search Akemi’s face and make sure my brother was okay. Akemi swallowed hard and nodded towards the bar.
“Got beer?” Akemi asked when he’d control of his voice again. Ace nodded, and Akemi walked in that direction.
“There’s a story there.” Ace drawled.
“That’s Akemi’s story. None of us shares each other’s stories.” I told Ace bluntly, and Ace’s eyes narrowed and realised my slip. Ace didn’t push.
“Thank you.” Ace whispered again.
“Go spend time with your kids.” I moved to join Akemi. Ace’s hand reached out and snatched mine.
“Need to find time to talk.”
“Not tonight Ace, this is taking enough out of me.”
Ace gave another nod and moved towards the kids. One by one, brothers were coming forward and introducing themselves. The twins looked to be in heaven, they’d always wanted a big family, Akemi and Master Hoshi and Mrs Humphries was not enough. The kids had a huge family now. Ace had his arms around both kids when someone else wasn’t hugging them half to death.
I spied Slick standing to one side of the bar and slowly approached, shame on my face. Slick watched warily as I stopped two steps in front of him. Shit was awkward between us now, it never had been, but I’d caused this. Trouble was, I’d no idea how to fix it. I’d punished an innocent man.
“Artemis.” Slick finally said.
“Slick, I’m so…” Slick cut me off mid-sentence.
“Don’t!” Slick looked at me and dropped his head and studied his boots. I waited.
“What you did to me girl, I’ll not ever forget. Forgive you, understand where you were comin’ from but can’t forget. Those few minutes I could have given in and taken what you offered. Betrayed a brother.” Slick stopped and lifted his head, eyes blazing into mine and full of hurt.
“I thought…” I began, and Slick cut me off again.
“Loved you with everythin’ I have. You took that and tarnished it. Dirtied it up. Nearly made me betray my brother. That I don’t forgive. Took something from me and you can’t ever give it back, girl. Time will tell.”
“Give you all the time you need Slick.” I whispered, genuinely meaning it.
“You do that, and maybe one day we’ll be okay again.” Slick said and walked away towards the back rooms. I dropped my head and turning saw Drake’s gaze on me. Drake’s face was thoughtful, and he shook his head. Give Slick time, Drake was saying silently. I nodded.
Texas had called in a pizza order, and a prospect had run out to get soft drinks and snacks from a local shop. There was a happy vibe in the clubhouse, brothers celebrating, but I picked up an undercurrent. I got Apache to one side and asked what was wrong. Apache gave me a look that said not tonight, tonight was about being happy.
Phoenix whispered something to Drake gazing at me. I was going to ask Drake what was wrong when Marsha collared me and began firing questions. Marsha wanted to know everything. In Marsha’s eyes, I saw fear and worry over what I’d endured and survived. Out of sheer kindness and the fact Marsha had raised me, I kept most of the dark from her.
Marsha and Fish had seen enough dark. They didn’t need mine, although I saw in Fish’s stare that he knew more than I was telling Marsha. Marsha took what I gave her, and when she pried for more, Fish distracted her. Ace led the kids from group to group, with Apache never far from Ace’s side and Silvie never far from his.
I zoomed in on Silvie. I recognised her. We hadn’t been close, but even back then I was aware Silvie had strong feelings for Apache. Silvie had been young then too, eighteen or nineteen. By his body manner, Apache hadn’t acted on Silvie’s feelings. In Silvie’s eyes, I caught a look of love that was quickly hidden. And my heart sank. For fourteen years she’d loved that man and Apache wasted it.
A hand touched my waist and glancing up, I saw Ace stood there. Ace’s face was blank, and I looked for the kids and saw them with cues in hand playing pool with Gunner and Rock. Ace’s hand clenched on my waist, and I picked up his non-verbal cue and shook my head. His hand clenched again, and I gazed at the kids.
“They’re fine. Need to talk now.” Ace muttered.
With a sigh, I allowed Ace to lead me from the room. Ace wouldn’t back down, once he set his mind to something Ace couldn’t be swayed. Ace led me to his room and shut the door behind him. The room hadn’t changed. A single bed, a chest of drawers and a bedside table. Nothing else.
“Ace.” That was as far as I got before Ace’s mouth slammed on mine.
Ace pushed me against the door as one of his hands cupped the back of my head so he could deepen the kiss. His other hand remained on my hip, holding me tight. Ace broke off the kiss.
His stunning eyes were a storm of emotion and Ace swallowed. Ace gently ran his fingers through my hair and his mouth hit mine again. He pulled me closer to him and pressed me into his body. Ace’s cock hardened against my body, and I gasped into his mouth.
That one gasp sent electricity shooting through both of us, and Ace hooked his hands under my ass like he used to do in the old days. I wrapped my legs around his waist, damp between my legs. In two strides, Ace had us on the bed, and he was lifting my top as I scrabbled to get his off. I needed to feel Ace. Needed Ace with a burning passion, I thought I’d combust from.
With a pissed off growl, Ace gave up trying to pull my top off and ripped it down the middle. Ace gazed at my bared breasts in their black satin bra and groaned. I gave a cry of protest as I’d got his tee halfway off, and he moved one arm and yanked the tee over his head.
My hands ran across his back, touching smooth flesh and hard muscles. I ran them down to his ass and grabbed hold. Ace was no longer a boy but a prime example of male masculinity. Ace thrust against me and I shifted to meet him. Hands scrabbled at my belt, and I slapped them away and undid it and my buttons. Ace’s hand thrust between us roughly.
“Christ, baby, this will be fast.” Ace rasped, and his hands were at his own jeans. He shrugged them off and yanked mine to my knees and knelt beside me.
“Ace.” I cried out with a hint of fear. With effort, Ace dragged his eyes back to my face with effort, and I saw his face in sharp relief. Ace was barely holding onto control.
“I haven’t, don’t know if I can.” I said confused, trying to tell Ace that I’d not had sex since being cut up.
Ace’s face gentled and ran his finger down my face and dropped his head between my legs. The second Ace’s tongue hit me there, I squirmed wildly. Oh god yes, this is what I’d missed. Ace always knew how to deliver this. My hands clenched in his hair, holding Ace in place, and I thrust against his tongue.
A finger thrust inside gently and I clamped around him. There was no pain, just slightly uncomfortable. Oh god, I could do this, I could so fuck Ace. He felt so good, I gasped
as Ace twirled his finger inside and added a second. Ace stretched me, strain showing on his face as he wrestled for control.
“Baby, you’re soaked.” Ace whispered, and I felt him deep within. I moved my hips upwards to meet his tongue, and he smiled and gave me what I demanded. Ace stretched me further with two fingers as his thumb hit my clit in just the right spot. I cried out as an orgasm hit hard.
As I was still riding it, Ace moved and slipped slowly inside. Ace bit his lip, forcing control when he wanted to take. I shifted trying to get away, Ace was large, and this time there was pain. Ace held on and kissed me, wet and long, and while doing so, inch by inch, he slipped in. Ace stayed still, allowing me to get used to his size and girth. My eyes widened when he was fully rooted.
“You’re so tight.” Ace rasped and began to move, and I knew nothing but Ace.
◆◆◆
I laid on Ace’s chest damp with sweat and our body fluids. My hand idly played with his nipple, and his hand held my ass tight. Somehow during our lovemaking, we’d shed the rest of our clothes.
“I’m not her.” I said against his chest. “She died, Kayleigh died.”
“No, Kayleigh’s there somewhere, seen glimpses. All I ever needed was you, Kayleigh or Artemis, it’s you.” Ace mused. Ace shifted and moved onto his side and turned my body, so I lay on my side, facing him.
“If you think I can be Kayleigh again, I can’t.”
“Only need you, woman. You feel it, what’s between us, it never died.”
“Sex.” I told Ace bluntly. To my surprise, Ace began to laugh. His laugh sounded rusty as if unused to it. He was beautiful when he laughed, and I watched with a dazed expression on my face. Ace traced my mouth with a finger.
“Sex is the least of it baby, but we do have good sex.” I glared.
“We can’t do this again. I have my life, Ace, you have yours. Won’t stop doing what I do.” Ace frowned, and I bit my lip.
“Did I ask you to stop woman? Christ, you took out an entire street gang, hunted criminals, caught your…” Ace broke off, and pain blossomed in his eyes.
“Caught those who left me for dead.” I whispered. Ace gave a curt nod.
“Just want what you can give.”
“Don’t have shit to give. Everything I have goes into the twins.”
“Liar.” Ace said, tapping my nose, I bristled. Ace grinned. I blinked dazedly again at that grin, the damn man was oh so sexy! Ace was not going to get away with dazzling me!
“You have Master Hoshi as a father, Akemi as your brother. Guess you’ve others working for you. Don’t tell me, woman, that you won’t walk through fire for them.” I shook my head, and Ace’s eyes narrowed, and I changed to a nod. I would, I’d not stop to get one of my guys safe. Maim, torture, kill, I’d do that in a blink of an eye if Angel, Kristoff or any of them needed me.
“We bonded.” I grumbled.
“So did we, you’re shovin’ your head in the sand.” Ace said bluntly. “I didn’t live Artemis, did nothing but exist, if not for Dad…”
“Don’t say it.” I said, putting my hand over his mouth. I couldn’t bear to hear that. A week ago I’d have handed Ace the gun and watched laughing while Ace did it. Now I couldn’t bear the thought of Ace ending it.
“Dad didn’t deserve that.” Ace whispered, looking into my eyes. He saw my pain at the thought of him ending it. “I died with Kayleigh. Shit baby I fucked, I didn’t prepare them, it was a hole I fucked to get rid of the edge. Forgot love and the finer points of it. Didn’t have relationships. That died with you, and now you’re here in my bed, naked, sated. Not givin’ you up again.”
“Your fear of me doing what I do will come between us.” I said, hitting a point I thought would cause contention. I was scrabbling for something to use as a barrier. Ace was too open. Too willing to pick up where we’d left off, Ace wanted to put everything behind us and start anew.
“Can’t go backwards. Ace, I managed without you for so long, hated you for so long. Took a huge step tonight towards righting the wrong done to you. But for us to go further than this, it was an itch we scratched.” Stubbornness flared in his eyes, and a cunning look crossed Ace’s face.
“Okay.” Ace said and gave my ass one last squeeze and rose from the bed. Drool collected in my mouth, and I swallowed hard. Tanned silky skin, thickly muscled thighs, hard abs, ink on his arms, back and chest, Ace was a picture of masculine hotness. Bastard gave me a knowing look, bent and picked his jeans up. I audibly gulped at the sight of his tight muscled ass. Ace pulled them up and shrugged his tee back on.
“Clean tee’s are in the second drawer, ripped your top.” He said, coming to stand back over me, Ace gave me a smile and bent and kissed me. Just as it turned hot Ace pulled away and gave me a wink. “You know where I am when you want that itch scratched.” Ace grinned, and I watched opened mouthed as he walked out of the room. No Ace didn’t fucking walk, Ace strutted in his, I got myself some, strut!
Growling, I leapt up from the bed and dressed. My top was beyond recovery. I rummaged through the drawers and pulled on a plain black top. Under my breath, I cursed the cocky man, I left the room imagining the ways I’d make Ace beg. Ways that included handcuffs, torment and lots and lots of sex.
I hit the rec room and searched for the kids. They were now playing air hockey with Akemi and Fish and by the looks, on their faces, they were cheating. Nova had such a look of innocence, I could see Akemi shaking his head at her. Ace was standing near them, arm slung casually over Falcon’s shoulder as Falcon watched Nova take Fish apart.
Ace glanced over, and a smug, self-satisfied look crossed his face, and I wanted to punch it off him. Giving Ace the dead eye, I heard a snicker. Apache watched us.
“What are you laughing at?” I demanded, annoyed.
“Think you’ll get away from Ace?” Apache asked, smiling.
“Kayleigh is dead.” I told him, for god’s sake, these people needed to realise that. I wasn’t her!
“Maybe.” Apache said. “Maybe she’s being resurrected.” I shook my head.
“Kayleigh’s dead.” I hissed.
“If she’s dead, why the need to keep insisting she is?”
“Because you keep looking for Kayleigh.” I turned to Apache and stared deep into his eyes. “She’s dead, let her rest.” I snarled and strode over to the kids to tell them it was time to leave. To their credit, both kids got ready at once. They said goodbyes and hugged their grandfather and father and walked out to the car. Ace grabbed my hand as I went to follow.
“It’s not over Artemis.” Ace said in a growl. I looked at him and shrugged.
“Scratched my itch Ace. Thanks.” I replied, digging deep for a cold tone. Ace grinned, and I sent him a death stare.
“Whatever baby. See you soon.” The smug bastard turned on his heel and walked away. Akemi glanced over and got in the car and drove home.
◆◆◆
The phone kept ringing incessantly, and I sat up glaring at it. I read a number I didn’t recognise and growled as I connected the call.
“Artemis?” A voice asked. Actually, it stated more than asked.
“What.” I sniped annoyed at being woken up.
“We haven’t yet met, but I believe you’re aware of who I am. My name is Miguel Santos, and we’ve business to do.” I woke up. Literally, woke up on hearing that name. I waited and listened to the silence on the phone and realised Santos was waiting for me to ask how he’d got my number. This was my private line, and Santos was flexing muscle by ringing it.
“We do?” I asked, thoughts racing. Santos was well known in Rapid City and most of the surrounding towns. Drug running, guns and pussy, I was aware of, I’d suspicions he’d homegrown terrorist connections. Almost certain the bastard was human trafficking.
“We’ve a mutual acquaintance.”
“I don’t see how that affects me.”
“I have Thunder.” Santos stated calmly, and I stilled. I wanted Thunder and wanted him bad, I w
as about to find out how bad I wanted him.
“And?”
“Well I believe you want Thunder, you and Rage are both looking for him, and I have him.”
“Whoop de do.” I muttered. Santos laughed.
“I’m willing to make a deal. If you’re interested.”
“What do you want?”
“There’s a man running very far away. He’s stolen something from me. I want it back. I’m prepared to give you Thunder for this man. Fetch me a man called Pen Thera, and I’ll give you Thunder.” Santos said and disconnected. I hadn’t agreed to the deal, and I was now annoyed that Santos thought he could flex his muscle around me.
As badly as I wanted Thunder, I guessed the minute I brought Thera to Santos, Santos would add my name to his list of associates. And I’d no intention of being that person. I climbed out of bed and checked the windows and doors before waking up Buzz. Buzz met me in the office we’d set up, and I told Buzz about the call. What Santos hadn’t realised was that every call to anyone in Artemis was recorded, private or not.
Buzz dragged up the file and opened it, listening. Buzz tapped his finger on his chin and watched my face as Santos mentioned Thunder.
“No dice.” Buzz said strongly. He coughed and cleared his throat. Buzz’s hand went to the drawers, and he pulled out one of the energy drinks he kept there. I’d long ago learned to trust Buzz’s gut feelings, and I sensed Buzz was having one of them now.
“Agreed but need information on Thera. Who Thera is, what links he had to Santos, what this item Santos has lost is. Need to know Thera’s background, history, family, everything. Get Nigel on the task.” I said, sitting on the edge of Buzz’s desk.
“Simone and Butch are on jobs, then vacation, as is Angel. Kristoff is heading back tomorrow.” Buzz said, his mind already working towards solving the Thera problem.
“Didn’t Kristoff have the Theakston job to do next?” I asked, looking at our wipe boards.
“Yeah but Angel can pick that up.”
“Tell Angel to pick up Theakston, and I’ll put Kristoff on this. Tell Kris I’ll match the bounty on Theakston. I want Thera yesterday.” I said rubbing my brows. Buzz nodded and picked up the phone to tell Nigel to get his ass into work.
The Hunters Rage Page 14