“That crazy—”
“Careful. You don’t want to wake her up,” I said, cutting him off.
“That crazy pint-size demon just tossed me through a sliding glass door!” Void said, shaking his head and staring at her with wide eyes. “Who the fuck does that?”
“Two Tricks’ enforcer,” Sprocket said, making his way out of the room, followed by Eagle and Picasso.
“When that snitch told us she was his enforcer, I thought he meant that she just told them where to hit. Not that she would do the hit herself,” Picasso said, narrowing his eyes at the woman in my arms as he continued to apply pressure to the wound on his hip.
“We better get out of here. No telling who heard the fight or if she managed to call for backup,” Sprocket suggested.
“I’ll take her in her car so it’s not left here for Gaby to deal with,” I offered, striding through the yard to the back gate that we’d entered through.
The guys followed me silently as we checked to make sure we wouldn’t be seen leaving with an unconscious woman. Eagle went to the valet and handed over the ticket that we grabbed from her purse. My jaw dropped when I saw the sexiest Camaro pull up.
“Fuck,” Sprocket said, looking like he was going to come in his pants from just looking at it. “You have to agree she’s got good taste.”
Eagle met us at the end of the driveway and rolled down the window. “I think it’s best if I get her to the compound. Not sure I trust any of you not to take a joyride in this thing.”
Picasso opened the door for me, and I begrudgingly slid her into the passenger seat and buckled her in. “Can’t say I trust you not to do the same, pres.”
Eagle just flashed me a shit-eating grin as I closed the door and he peeled out into the night.
“We’re fucked,” Picasso said as we watched the taillights disappear.
“Royally fucked,” Void agreed.
I rolled over, and my face was flooded with sunlight, causing me to groan and pull the pillow over my head.
“Fuck, Harper. I told you not to mess with my room,” I mumbled to my bed.
Not being a morning person, I had turned my room into a cave. Working late nights at the shop and dealing with shit for the Hidden Empire sometimes kept me out until dawn. So I needed to be able to sleep late into the day, and the California sun was a worthy rival.
I groped around the bed, trying to find my phone so I could see what time it was. Unable to find it, I peeked out from under the pillow cautiously. What I saw had me chucking the pillow across the room and sitting up in shock.
“Where the FUCK am I?” I demanded to the strange room.
The room was simple with a queen size bed, plain wooden dresser, and matching nightstand. It had no personality, just white walls with nothing hanging on them. The sheets and the comforter were cream-colored, but they felt soft… so not a cheap hotel.
I slipped out of the bed, finding that I was still in the dress that Harper had made me wear to the party. Like sparks to kindling, the memories of last night came blasting back to me. I raced over to the window, hoping that I might recognize where I was.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” I yelled, seeing open fields and mountains.
The view was stunning, but it was nowhere near downtown L.A. Spinning on my heel, I started yanking drawers open, trying to find my wristlet that had my phone in it. I still had my watch, but it said that it was disconnected from my phone.
“Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck, fuck,” I swore and paced around the small room, pulling at my hair. “What the fucking hell is going on?!”
If those assholes thought that kidnapping me was gonna help them with Tricks, they fucked up. Bad.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen something so small so angry before,” a voice drawled.
My eyes snapped to the door, where I found the intrepid leader of the Phantom Saints, Enzo Rossi, leaning against the doorjamb. Behind him, I could see the cold eyes of his enforcer, watching his back like a good minion should.
Hmm… wonder what gave them the idea I might be dangerous?
“You’re forgetting Gaby’s chihuahua, Fifi. She was a damn angry ankle biter,” the enforcer mused, moving further into the room.
I could see his arms were covered in cuts from our last encounter. It made me smile to see my crazy idea had almost worked. Next time I would have to make sure he didn’t grab onto me when I sent him through a sheet of glass.
“Cute, never heard that before.” I deadpanned. “Now, I’m not a genius by any means, but for me, kidnapping someone you need help from wouldn’t be my first choice. Speaking from the limited experience I have, I’m not feeling all that helpful.”
Enzo rubbed the scruff on his chin, taking me in as if I was a zoo animal or something. I wasn’t used to being on this side of things—normally, I was the one doing this shit to others.
“See, I have this feeling that you mean way more to Tricks than people think you do. My money is on you being his old lady,” Enzo said, cocking his head to the side to see if the idea fit.
I couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing at the idea that I was Tricks’ lover, then doubled over when I caught the looks on both their faces. It was pure gold.
“Oh man, I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time,” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes. “Shit. I needed that.”
Taking a moment to collect myself, I turned my back to them and looked around for something to wipe my face with. Not seeing Kleenex or anything, I grabbed the edge of the cream bedding. Once I was finally composed, I looked down to see a dark shmear from my makeup on the sheet. Not really giving a shit, I focused back on the two men, who were still looking at me warily.
“I can assure you that I’m not Tricks’ type and would never be his lover,” I said, letting them do with that information what they would.
The enforcer looked away and rubbed the shaved side of his head before he turned back to me. “Fine. You might not be his old lady, but we know you have his ear. You are one of the only people he lets around him regularly. That means you’re still valuable, and that’s good enough for us to keep you.”
Keep me? What the hell did that mean?
“What Void is trying to say is that we would like for you to be our guest until Two Tricks decides he is willing to talk to us in exchange for getting you back,” Enzo clarified.
Fuck!
This was so not my day.
“We tried to use your phone to call the person you talked to last, but it seems that everything has been wiped,” Enzo said. “I must say, you’ve thought of everything to cover your tracks—even the GPS in your car is blank.”
This information made me smile because it meant Wes knew what happened and where I was. He would have made sure to get all he needed before covering our trail. Moments like this were when having a hacker best friend really came in handy. Now it was my turn to do my part and get the fuck out of dodge.
“So what you’re saying is that I’m your prisoner until Tricks decides to show his hand,” I confirmed.
“No, not a prisoner,” Enzo stated while Void nodded behind him, signaling yes. “A guest is more like it. You are allowed to go anywhere you like around the compound, just so long as you don’t try to run away.”
“Great. Well then, you should just skip to the part where I run away, you catch me, and then lock me away, because I’m not a very good ‘guest,’ ” I pointed out using air quotations. “I’m just being honest here,” I added, shrugging my shoulders.
Enzo frowned at me, clearly not used to a woman ignoring his alpha status. “You want me to lock you up?”
“God no. What I’m trying to tell you is that the moment I have the chance, I’m outie five thousand. If I don’t want to be found, I won’t be,” I said and perched myself on the foot of the bed. “You’re going to need to give me an extremely good reason why I shouldn’t make your life a living hell.”
“Fucking little demon,” Void muttered. “I
told you this nice bullshit wasn’t going to work.”
“How does a GPS tracking anklet sound for motivation?” Enzo asked, pulling one out of his back pocket. “This one and the one on your ankle have been modified, though, to shock you with twice the force of a police taser if you cross out of the zone we set up.”
I blinked a few times, looking at the thing and then down at my own foot. Sure as shit, there was a matching one of my very own wrapped around my leg. Would Wes be able to hack into that? Probably, but I would have to figure out a way to tell him about it first. With this, I wouldn’t be able to get far before I was knocked on my ass. Being an enforcer, I’d had enough encounters with tasers to know that I didn’t relish the thought of having one strapped to me at all times.
Enzo was smarter than he looked, I’d give him that.
“You have my attention,” I said, looking him right in his commanding gaze.
He smirked, looking far too pleased with himself. “Did you hear that, Void? I think she’s getting the picture.”
“I wouldn’t get too cocky there, Mr. President.” From the glimmer in his eye, I could tell he liked me calling him that. “You have no idea what you signed up for, asking me to stick around. I do have a few requests though.”
“Do share,” Enzo said, crossing his arms as if he was preparing himself.
Oh, he is going to be so much fun to play with.
“First off, if I could get some clothes to change into. It seems that I wasn’t allowed to pack a bag for this sleepover.” I gestured to the cocktail dress I was still wearing.
“I’m sure we can find some children’s clothing around here somewhere,” Void offered.
I took a deep breath as I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to suppress my irritation. Popping to my feet, I wandered over until I was toe-to-toe with Void, looking up into his hard, frozen gaze. He peered down at me with a smile that was more teeth than lips. It sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.
“I’m so very impressed with your observation skills, Void! I had no idea that I was small enough to fit in kids’ clothes,” I said in a super peppy voice, then let my face fall into bitch mode. “Yes, I’m five-foot nothin’. Also referred to as bite-size, shortstop, tater tot, half-pint, pipsqueak, shrimp, hobbit, smallfry, and my personal favorite, goblin. Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on, shall we?”
As I talked, his smile only grew wider and more genuine, not at all bothered with my attempt at putting him in his place.
Fine. I’d try something different since words didn’t seem to be doing the job.
Snapping my knee up, I watched him crumble as I stepped back, removing my knee from his dick.
“No? How about now? Let’s grow the fuck up and leave out the jokes about me being vertically challenged, okay?” I turned my back on him to continue my conversation with Enzo. “Where were we? Oh yes! Clothes would be lovely. I also need to call the tattoo shop and let them know I’ll be out of town and that I need to reschedule my clients. Of course I’m happy to leave out the whole kidnapping and being held against my will part.”
“Not gonna happen,” Enzo said. “There is no way that we can make sure you don’t let Two Tricks know what’s going on.”
Point for the president.
“Okay, what if I send a text and let you approve it before it’s sent? Then there is nothing to go on but the simple few words,” I countered. “You’re a businessman yourself, surely you can understand my position.”
This was my only shot to get any information to Wes before he came in here, guns blazing, to get me. This was going to take a more subtle approach, being on their home turf. We had secrets to keep, and I wasn’t going to let them use me to find them out.
“Fine,” Enzo agreed. “Anything else?”
“Have you lost your fucking mind, Eagle?” Void barked, now back on his feet and motioning to me incredulously. “She all but told us she would do whatever it took to get out of here, and you’re going to give her a phone?”
Enzo turned on Void, pinning the big man against the wall of the bedroom with a forearm to the neck. “Are you challenging your president?”
Void looked like he wanted to push the issue but then thought better of it. “No.”
“I didn’t fucking think so, because you of all people should know what happens to those who go against my judgment,” Enzo said as he pulled his arm away. “Go get a burner phone so we can get this done.”
As Void left the room, I could feel my eyebrows raise in shock. There was more to this president than met the eye if he could make a man like Void come to heel with just a question. Seeing this gave me a new perspective on the man before me, and I was more than pleased with the challenge it presented. Now it was my turn to poke the bear.
“Would now be the wrong time to ask you the final thing?” I ventured, stepping closer to him.
He waved a hand, gesturing for to me to continue.
“It’s actually more of a statement, if I’m being honest,” I said distractedly as I let my fingers run over the patches on his leather cut.
“Spit it the fuck out already,” he said, the fire still in his eyes, but now for a new reason.
I gripped his t-shirt and pulled him down so I could reach him. Leaning in, I let my lips brush against his ear.
“I’m not one of your members. I’m not a hang-about you can fuck whenever you want, and you’re not my fucking president,” I whispered and kissed his neck right below his ear. He jerked away from me, eyes wild. “Don’t expect me to fall in line like everyone else around you. I have my loyalties to another person, and that isn’t you.”
Enzo didn’t speak; he just looked at me, breathing fast like he was trying to hold himself back from either killing me or fucking me. The second option I wasn’t entirely opposed to—it’d been way too long since I last got my itch scratched. Just when I thought he was going to make his move, Teo walked in.
“Void said you wanted a burner phone,” he said, holding it to him and totally ignoring the rampant sexual tension going on in the room.
This seemed to snap Enzo back to reality. “She’s allowed to send one text, and it can’t be longer than a tweet. You can be her keeper today—I have other things to deal with.”
Done giving orders, he stalked out of the room. Unable to keep the smile from my lips, I focused on Teo and the phone in his hand.
“How did you get him to agree to this?” Teo asked as I took the phone from him.
“Every prisoner is allowed one phone call.”
“Not prisoners who are second in command to a guy like Two Tricks. You don’t get that spot by being a model citizen… no, that’s for someone who has more than a few tricks of their own up their sleeve,” Teo said, frowning at me. “As his counsel, we agreed that you wouldn’t have any outside contact, and within fifteen minutes of talking to him, he goes against his better judgment.”
“Was there a point to that statement or are we just sharing our thoughts?” I quipped as I wrote out my text to Wes. “Sorry, I just wasn’t ready for us to reach ‘girl talk’ level friendship already.”
“Damn, that’s some mouth you got there, sweetpea,” Teo chuckled.
I grimaced at the pet name. Not much about me was all that sweet, and I hated peas. Who decided we should eat the little green fuckers anyways?
“Yeah, that nickname isn’t gonna happen,” I said, handing him the phone so he could look over the text.
Teo looked over it before glancing back up at me, searching my face. As if I would spill all my secrets that easily. Wes and I had developed a code throughout our years of friendship, filled with inside jokes and connections no one else would make.
“That’s all you needed to tell someone?” Teo asked. “Taking a few days off, feed the cat and water the plants. Don’t fuck up running the shop while I’m gone.”
I batted my lashes at him, channeling my inner damsel. “What else would I tell my manager? Like I told Enzo, I just needed to make
sure the tattoo shop knew I was going to be gone. He’ll contact my clients and handle things for a few days.”
“Whatever. It’s sent. I’ll hang on to this and let you know if your manager has anything to say back,” he said, slipping the phone into his pocket. “Let’s get you something to eat. By then Sprocket will have found some clothes for you.”
I padded after Teo, but he stopped at the doorway and turned to look at me over his shoulder. “I would also advise you not to call Eagle by his given name. He doesn’t like when people call him that. Same goes for me. ‘Picasso’ is the only name I’ll respond to.”
“Duly noted,” I said, not making any promises.
The rest of the house had way more personality to it than the bedroom. It was two stories, with four bedrooms and one bathroom on the top floor. The stairs led down into a large open living and dining room area. A massive leather sectional couch took up most of the space and seemed to be the place where everyone hung out. It also happened to have one of the biggest flat screen TVs I’d ever seen, as well as a pool table where the dining table should’ve been.
Turning the corner, I found myself looking at a long counter with five stools, marking the beginning of the kitchen, which surprisingly had the most personality. They had kept its original look with dark wood cabinets and matching wood counters. The appliances seemed to be upgraded, but the feel of the space was definitely not what I would have pegged for a bunch of bachelors.
“Sit,” Teo said, pointing to a stool as he headed for the fridge. “I’m not as skilled as Eagle with cooking, but breakfast is the one meal I can manage not to fuck up.”
I glanced at the clock on the wall to see it was still much too early to be awake. I couldn’t remember the last time I was up at eight, much less eating breakfast.
“Any chance a girl can get a cup of coffee? It’s been a bit of a rough morning,” I grumbled.
Silently, I watched Teo move about the kitchen, then he placed a mug full of pitch-black coffee in front of me. Just how I loved it.
I kept my gaze on him as I sipped my drink since I hadn’t really gotten a good feel for him last night. Now I let my eyes wander over his body at my leisure. Where Enzo was more harsh and meticulous, Teo was disheveled and carefree. His brown hair had flecks of red to it and was tousled like he ran his hands through it often. His beard was thick and gave him that rugged lumberjack look. Thanks to him wearing a tank top, I devoured the black and white artwork covering his right arm.
Two Tricks (Hidden Empire Book 1) Page 4