And her fighting some bitch who was a friend of Jane’s? The person responsible for the loss of her man, ten years of her life and the scars on her face. He wanted her to have the chance to avenge her losses. He would be there, at the side of the damned octagon watching this woman fight a demon from her past. And she would be victorious, of that he had no doubt.
To be honest though, once you got past the shock of the scars her beauty was still there, changed maybe, but still there. No one had eyes like hers or that little smile she gave when she was amused. To him she was fucking beautiful, scars and all.
Somehow he had to fix what he had broken. Fix his fuck up when he had pushed her away because he got scared that she was getting too close. And why the hell had he ignored her when she had walked into the clubhouse with Rock? Did he do it to see her reaction? And if that was it why did her reaction piss him off? Or was it her lack of a reaction that did it?
When he heard Noelle saying she was leaving he tuned back into the conversation going on around him while he had been lost in his own head.
“I’ll take you home.” His voice sounded strained even to himself.
“No need, Rock said he’d drive me once I was ready to leave.” Her clipped voice pissed him off and he stepped right into her.
“I picked you up and I’ll be dropping you off. Not Rock or anyone else, understood?”
Her pale green eyes shot sparks at him and he couldn’t stop the smile even if he tried. He loved the reactions he got out of her. She narrowed her eyes at him because he didn’t budge when she tried to push him away.
“Fine.” She waved him off. “Go, I’ll meet you outside.” She ordered him away as if he was a fucking cab driver.
Jesus. This woman had just pushed his last fucking button and he went with it.
He didn’t give a shit that Hawk and DC were right there watching when he pulled her close, cupped her face and went to town on her mouth. He kissed those tight as fuck lips until they softened and she opened for him. Sliding his tongue into the heat and wet of her mouth he tasted the unique taste he only associated with her mouth. A taste unlike any he had ever tasted before. Not that he had kissed a lot of women, he hadn’t. It wasn’t something he did, usually he avoided kissing. It was too intimate as far as he was concerned.
Playing with her mouth and tongue he sucked her top lip into his mouth and nibbled on it before stroking his tongue over the scar and doing the same with the bottom. He didn’t nibble though, he nipped hard enough that she shuddered and moaned softly. That’s what he wanted, her lost to his mouth as he showed her what he wanted from her, and her hands clenched in the sides of his kutte holding him to her.
He would be driving her home in one of the club’s SUV’s with tinted windows and he wanted no one else in the car with them. He needed to talk to her, to explain and to convince her to allow him to go with her to the gym. It belonged to the Warriors and no way was he letting her walk in there on her own with nothing to let those fuckers know she was taken. Not happening.
She didn’t know it yet but he was staying over, in her bed, with her.
His past had ruled his future for much too long. No more.
Kid smiled against her mouth and after a final nip slowly lifted his head and looked into her dazed eyes.
“You ready to go, baby?” He asked softly and he grinned when those pale green eyes shot fire at him before she blinked and cold expressionless eyes stared up at him before she nodded.
Damn. A kiss wasn’t going to fix his fuck up.
Turning her in his arm he looked at his prez and his woman who were both grinning like they had won the fucking lottery or something.
“Now that’s what I like to see.” DC said as she looked up at Hawk. “Kid with an expression on his face and not that dead look he’s been walking around with ever since I met him.”
Shaking his head at the two them he quickly got them through the ‘see you tomorrows’ and with Noelle tucked against his side walked out of the office and down to the common room. The minute they walked in Rock was right there and stopped him from moving forward with a hand against his chest. He wasn’t even looking at Kid, his eyes were on Noelle.
“You okay? Need a ride home?”
“Apparently your ass of a brother is taking me back to the house. I enjoyed getting to know you today, it was a lot of fun.”
And of course his brother ran with it.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
She gave Rock that small smile and winked. “DC and I are working out at the Warriors Gym tomorrow morning at eight. You can always join us and work off all the food and beers you’ve been scarfing down since you arrived here.”
“Heeeey! You saying I got fat?” Rock slapped a hand on his hard abs and looked outraged but his eyes twinkled with mirth.
Noe made big eyes at him and shrugged, Kid couldn’t have stopped the laughter if you had paid him. It burst out of him and Rock and Noe joined in. They stood in a tiny huddle laughing their asses off while his club brothers stared. He knew why they did. It wasn’t like him at all. Yes, of course he laughed at shit but not like this, never like this.
Rock tapped Noe on her nose. “I’m coming and you’d better be ready to bring your A-game little girl because I’m going to crush you.”
She snorted derisively. “Bring it little Rocky. This girl is going to school your ass.”
“Never!” Rock shouted with a grin.
His girl’s fist suddenly shot out but instead of hitting Rock on the chin she pulled it and stopped a hairsbreadth away from his face. Rock’s eyes went wide then narrowed.
“We’ll see Rocky, we’ll see.” She taunted.
Rock turned to him shaking his head. “Brother, you need to tell your woman to behave.”
Kid shook his head. “My woman is fine, little brother, you make sure your ass is at the gym at eight tomorrow and be ready to suffer. We’ve been too damned lax this last week.” He dipped his head and kissed Noe on her neck.
“I’m taking my woman home. We’ll see you at the gym tomorrow, and brother, don’t ride alone, okay?”
Rock smiled knowingly. “I’ll be there and I’ll drag a few of the brothers with me.”
“Good. See you tomorrow.” Kid turned with Noe still under his arm and started out of the common room but again they were stopped. By Beast this time and he did not look happy.
“I’m from the mother city and I know who you are, know your history, who you’re tied to. You fuck with my club or my brother and we’re going to have a problem.” The fucker threatened.
She didn’t hesitate to give it back to the bastard.
“And I know exactly who you are, Joe van den Bergh. One doesn’t grow up in the dark underbelly of the city without knowing who the most vicious predators are. And the Beast earned himself that distinction. Don’t threaten me and we won’t have a problem.” She spoke clearly and without a single hint of nervousness.
His woman wasn’t scared of Beast, at all. It was unheard of, even DC had been wary of him at first. And then it hit him, she had been raised by a man who was a true predator and that’s why he didn’t scare her. She had seen the worst of humanity and Beast wasn’t it.
A smile suddenly changed the pissed off look on Beast’s face. “Fuck me, you’re still a cocky little shit, same as when we first met.”
“Of course, why would I change? And it’s only because you’re a giant that everyone looks little to you.” She suddenly stepped away from Kid and threw her arms around his brothers’ waist and hugged him. And the fucker hugged her back before they stepped away from each other.
“It’s good to see you again, Noey. You’re looking good.” Beast patted her on the shoulder. “I heard about the shit the fucker has you involved in again. Not cool.”
She shrugged as if it didn’t matter when he knew that it did.
“You’re looking happy which is better than the pissed look you’ve been sporting for years. And we both know I was in deep be
fore he pulled his latest stunt. He’ll never change, it is who he is.”
Beast growled deep in his chest and Kid pulled her back into his side. The move had those dark eyes of his brother burning into him, silently asking questions he couldn’t answer.
Why the hell hadn’t his brother told Hawk that he knew exactly who Noelle Murchison was? They had apparently met while Beast was at the CT chapter and had obviously run in the same underworld circles. He had known her so well that he called her by a nick name for fuck’s sake. Actually, the better question was, why hadn’t they thought to ask Beast if he ever ran into her while in Cape Town.
“You need to talk to prez, he needs to know about your connection to Noelle.” Kid said softly.
“On my way to do so now, brother. I waited because I needed to look in her eyes to see if the girl I knew was still in charge. A lot of dark years have gone by since the last time I saw her.” Beast said very quietly because neither one of them wanted anyone to overhear.
Noelle held out a fist and Beast tapped his to hers then both threw a hand up and made an exploding bomb sound. His woman started giggling and Beast shook his head with a grin.
“Good to see you again, Beast. Glad you found a good woman. I’ve got to get back to my crew but I hope we see each other before I go back home.”
Instantly the grin disappeared off his face. “You be careful out there, Noey. You know what he’s like, don’t fucking trust anyone or anything unless cleared by your crew or by Kid. Once this shit is done I’m bringing my family down to introduce you to them and we can all hang out together.”
“Looking forward to it. We have loads of space so no worries about finding a place to stay. And our security is the best, no one is getting in unless we want them inside.”
Kid couldn’t help teasing. “I got in, baby.”
She snorted. “Only because I let you in. I didn’t want you bastards blowing shit up to get in.”
Shaking his head with a grin Kid gathered her tight against his side and nodded at Beast. “Taking my woman back to her place. Go, talk to prez, and I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.”
Beast winked and stepped around them. “On my way, brother. And if you value your life you better call my old lady and tell her about your girl before she hears it from the other women. You guys stay safe on the way back. See you soon, Noey.”
Noelle waved goodbye but her eyes had narrowed slightly when Beast told him to call Tori. Shit, he needed to tell Noelle about her and explain their relationship. They walked out the front door of the clubhouse towards where one of the prospects had parked the SUV, ready for them to leave. He knew his duffle would be in the back as well as their helmets and his saddlebags.
Opening the door for her he watched as she stepped up into the cage and settled in her seat. Stepping right into the doorway he drew the seatbelt out and leant over her and locked it in place. Slowly backing out he stopped to look in her eyes then leant closer to softly drag his lips over hers. Placing a soft open mouthed kiss on her lips he backed away and closed her door then walked around the front of the vehicle to the drivers’ side and got in.
Noe was looking at him with a question in her eyes and as he locked his seatbelt in place he gave her some of what he was thinking.
“I fucked up today and I apologise for making you feel like shit when it’s all on me. I’m the one who should be carrying all of what you’re feeling. I left you outside on your own and Rock, who isn’t even in our MC, had to escort you inside to meet our prez. I’m ashamed that I did that. The worst is the absolute shit move I pulled by ignoring you. I have no fucking idea why I was so fucking stupid. I’m sorry, Noe, so fucking sorry. It will never happen again, I give you my word.”
Her head was tipped to the side and she watched him intently while he spoke and when he finished she nodded a few times as if she agreed or maybe understood.
“You panicked. We were getting too close and it freaked you out, I get it. What I don’t get is why bring me here when you’re so freaked? It would have been much easier to just take me back to the house, drop me off and disappear. Why bring me here and then attempt to humiliate me? Did you expect me to stomp over and smash my fist in your face?” She shook her head. “That’s not who I am. If I’m with someone and he does what you did today? I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of reacting to his shit. I would walk away and cut him out of my life. Which I tried to do with you but you are proving difficult to shake off.”
Kid reached over, curving a hand around her nape and pulled her close sealing his lips over hers in a soft kiss. He pulled away when he felt his dick reacting to the softness of her mouth and the soft pants of her breath.
“I don’t know why I did what I did, Noe, I really don’t. You’re not going to shake me off, baby. I’m with you now and we’ll let this play out to the end. We both know there’s an expiration date on us and I don’t want to waste another fucking second of our time together. I’m with you from this minute until you go back to Cape Town. I know there’s a lot going on that I don’t know about, I can see it in your eyes, but I don’t care. I need to be with you and I’m not letting go of us. Not yet.”
She stared right into his eyes for several seconds that felt like fucking hours.
“Okay, I’ll give this thing between us a chance even though I know it’s not going to be easy to leave you behind. And you’re right, there’s a lot I can’t tell you right now and hopefully I’ll be able to tell you before I leave. I need you to know that it doesn’t involve your club or War’s. That’s all I can give you, I hope it’s enough.”
Fuck. It’s as he had feared, there was more going on than just the damned file Murchison wanted. He needed to have a long talk with his prez sometime tomorrow, they all needed to put their heads together and find what was so important about the damned file. If it was the damned file at all.
Turning the key in the ignition he punched a couple of buttons until music filled the cage. Noe gave him that little smile he craved as Five Finger Death Punch came through the speakers.
“I love this band.” She relaxed into the seat and with her head turned towards him bobbed along to the music. By the way she mouthed the words she knew the songs.
Could she be more fucking perfect.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Face/Noe
While Kid drove I silently went over the meeting with Beast. I remember the first time I had met him. We had been so damned young and already deeply involved in the dark underworld that ruled the city. I was working for the Organisation and Beast was tied to his club. Back then the Iron Dogz MC had been dirty as hell and that’s why our paths had crossed. We had both been doing shit that changed us irrevocably. He was nineteen, almost twenty, and about to be patched in when we first met. It was one of those meetings that could have gone really badly but luckily for me it didn’t.
I had just turned sixteen and had been sent to do a job in the area of the docks that belonged to the Iron Dogz MC. Beast, still Joe back then, had been the prospect on guard duty. I was creeping up to the building he was guarding when I was attacked from behind. He heard the fighting and came rushing to investigate. He found me on my back with a man tearing at my pants and lost his shit. He killed the guy. The minute sanity returned he realised what he had done, and that it would get him into shit with his president plus he knew there had to be a reason why I was there. He carried me inside and was shocked when he realised how young I was. We silently patched up each other’s bumps, cuts and bruises.
And then we talked. I confessed who I was and why I was there and why we couldn’t tell anyone what had happened.
During the attack I had pulled the mask off the dead guy’s face and had immediately known the job had been a test. Murchison used to do it all the time. Test me while on a job. I was expected to succeed no matter what. And I did.
That night Joe and I came to an understanding.
He was about to be patched in and didn’t need shit like a dead guy fuck
ing it up for him therefore I would claim responsibility. With his help I dragged my attacker to a dark area away from curious eyes and called it in. While he went back to the building and erased all evidence of the fight.
It was the start of our secret friendship. That night might have been one of the reasons for the change in him. A change that earned him his club name, Beast.
By the time I was nineteen we were both deeply involved in the darkness of the Organisation and his club. And then I was sent to prison for a crime I didn’t commit. I personally never heard from him again but I kept tabs on him and was informed when he transferred to Joburg. Thanks to Star I have kept an eye on him the last five years. He was a friend after all.
I wonder why Beast would tell Kid to call his old lady. Why would she be pissed at him?
“We’re here, Noe. You want me to go through the residents or visitors gate?” Kid interrupted my musings.
“Residents will be easier.” I reached between the seats, grabbed my backpack and pulled the tag from the side pocket and handed it to him.
We were once again silent as we drove through the gate and into the estate. He parked in front of the three car garage and turned off the ignition. I reached to open my door but his hand on my thigh had me turning back to him.
“You need to know, Tori and I, were like family nothing more. For all intents and purposes she’s my little sister.” He explained quietly but his eyes watched me for my reaction.
“Okay. Beast and I were friends, that’s it.”
“I’d love to hear how you met because my brother doesn’t make friends easily.”
I was about to agree when my door was ripped open by a furious little blonde.
“You’ve been gone all day. Without a call or a text to let me know you’re okay. You know the rules. You made those fucking rules. I’m so pissed at you, Face.” Cuba stood with her fists on her hips as she let me have it.
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