Two Tricks (Hidden Empire Book 1)

by Elizabeth Knight

  “I’m going to cause a major diversion in the compound that should keep them busy long enough for us to get to a safehouse. I don’t want to risk taking you back home or to the shop because that will be the first place they’ll look,” Wes said, not looking up from his work.

  I nodded. “We can’t go to any of Tricks’ warehouses either in case masking my signal doesn’t work. Guess you weren’t so crazy for making us have safehouses all over the state.”

  A loud siren blared behind us, making me jump.

  “Don’t worry, it’s just me,” Wes reassured as he plugged in the phone, hacking into that next. “Just a few more seconds and we should be good. Got it! Okay, you jump in the driver’s seat, and I’ll get him strapped in back here so we don’t lose him with your crazy-ass driving.”

  “You’re always so mean to me, Wes.” I pouted, even though I could only hold it for a second before a smile bloomed on my lips.

  Hopping down, I slipped my foot back in my boot and tied it back up before vaulting into the driver’s seat. I of course had to move the seat all the way up and lower the steering wheel, but none of that mattered as I turned the key and the engine rumbled to life. The back bed had three-foot sides, so I wasn’t too worried about him falling out once Wes got him strapped in.

  “Oh, make sure to keep the cooler—it’s full of food and drinks,” I called over my shoulder.

  Moments later, Wes was by the fence with a set of bolt cutters, making a big enough opening for me to drive though. It took longer than I wanted it to, knowing that we had limited time to get the fuck out of here before they noticed we were gone.

  “Cognac! Cognac, come in! Everything back here is going crazy, Eagle thinks we’re under attack by Two Tricks. We need you and Dax back here now!”

  I looked down at the radio for a moment, unsure of what to do. The voice was so frenzied, I couldn’t tell if I knew who it was. Reaching down and grabbing the radio from the floor, I rolled my shoulders and readied myself for the performance of my life.

  “Help! They are shooting at us! Please, we need backup. Cognac ran out of bullets. We’re on the east side along the fence line. Please, there’s too many of them!” I shouted into the walkie-talkie, revving the engine so it sounded like we were running for our lives.

  There was a pause, then Eagle’s voice came across the radio. “Dax, who is after you? What can you tell us?”

  “It’s the Mad Dogs!” I answered, knowing that the two MCs didn’t like each other.

  The Phantom Saints had pushed them out of the L.A. area when they grew in power, and Mastiff, their president, didn’t take it well. There had been rumblings recently that they were going to make a move to reclaim their territory.

  “There has to be twenty of them or so after us! Cognac took out a few, but they are gaining on us. Please help!”

  I pushed the desperation in my voice, knowing that in reality I never would have let anyone think I was that weak. But I really needed them to believe what I was saying and keep them busy while we got away.

  “Hang in there, little hellcat, we’re coming,” Eagle said, a darkness in his voice that I could pick up even over the radio.

  Tossing the walkie-talkie out of the ATV, I flipped it into drive, slamming my foot on the gas and shooting through the opening Wes made us. Pausing long enough for him to jump in, I fishtailed as the tires kicked up dirt into a cloud. Laughing, I grinned as we flew across the open land to freedom, cranking up the music once again.

  “Fuck, Dax!” Wes yelled. He held onto the roll cage for dear life as I sent us airborne over the crest of a hill, crashing back to the ground with a whoop. “Do you have to make everything into a life-or-death situation?”

  “How else do we know if we’ve lived life to the fullest? When my time comes, I want to have no doubt that I took advantage of all life had to offer. Besides, when else am I gonna run away from a biker gang and return the favor by kidnapping one of their guys?” I asked, horns blaring as I cut across a four-lane road.

  “Not all of us see the fun in living our lives like that,” Wes grumbled, checking behind us at Cognac.

  Rolling my eyes, I gave him a pointed look. “Says the guy who just snuck into a biker gang’s compound with no backup to get me out. How exactly was that plan gonna if we hadn’t happened to fall into your lap?”

  “If you must know, I was taking a play out of your book and was just gonna wing it when I got to that point.” Wes shrugged.

  My lips pulled into a wide grin at his words as we crossed through a river, soaking us as water sprayed everywhere.

  “Was that really necessary? There was a bridge,” Wes griped, wiping off his face.

  “Please refer back to my earlier statement,” I chirped with a wink.

  Wes just shook his head and pointed to the left. “Take this road until it ends at a cabin. That’s our destination.”

  Pulling onto the uneven dirt road, I slowed, not wanting to draw any attention if there were surrounding cabins or campsites. I shouldn’t have been too worried, though, seeing as we’d gone up into the mountain range with towering pine trees, the air cooling with the shade.

  We hit a big rut in the road and a loud grunt came from the back, letting us know that Cognac was awake. I peeked over my shoulder to find him glaring up at me, teeth bared around the gag that Wes had put on him. And just because of who I am, I gave him a wink. He thrashed around in the back, but he didn’t get very far with how securely Weston had tied him to the bed.

  After a few more miles down a road that would have killed anything besides a truck—or an ATV—a small log cabin appeared. It was nestled in the pine trees, the picture of secluded bliss with its simplistic appearance. There was a covered port that I parked the ATV under, silence descending upon us after I killed the engine. I hopped out, stretching as I took in the small patio that had two wooden chairs on it, setting the tone of the cabin.

  Heading up the stairs, I examined the doorframe for our typical spot to hide the keys. Spying the small etched double-spade, I pushed on it, and the wooden compartment popped open, showing a lockbox with the keys. I put in the code and snatched the keys, unlocking the door.

  “Don’t be a dick and I won’t knock you out again,” Wes growled at Cognac as he hauled him out of the bed of the ATV.

  Wes cut the ties around Cognac’s legs and pulled him to his feet, shoving him forward. Trusting Wes to manage Cognac, I entered, taking in the open concept of the safehouse. My eye was drawn to the stone fireplace with the simple brown couch in front of it. The kitchen was to the right, simple and clean, with an old-fashioned wood-burning stove. I remembered when Wes talked us into making this into a safehouse because it was run all on solar power and natural resources. Totally off the grid. The bedroom was up the stairs in a loft area that was open to the rest of the cabin.

  Weston shoved Cognac into one of the kitchen chairs and tied him to it. This was not the best place for holding a captive, but it was definitely going to be hard to find if things went according to plan.

  Then I would have to decide what to do with Cognac. The simplest choice was to just kill him. Although there might be a way to use him so they didn’t retaliate if we let him go and both went our separate ways. Ambling over, I pulled the gag out of his mouth and perched on the kitchen table so we were eye to eye.

  “Loba,” Cognac said, his eyes searching mine.

  “Allow me to introduce you to Weston Price, my business partner, best friend, and left hand to Two Tricks,” I said. Wes hissed at me, upset I was sharing information. “Wes, this is Cognac, treasurer to the Phantom Saints and all-around ladies’ man who believes he will one day talk me into sleeping with him.”

  Cognac and Wes looked at each other for a few moments, their gazes unreadable. Cognac broke the tension first, putting on his flirty grin and glancing over at me.

  “It seems we underestimated your warning. How the hell did you two even coordinate a plan like this without us knowing?” Cognac asked.r />
  Hmm, they thought we’d planned this somehow. No sense in telling him it was a total fluke of right place, right time.

  “As Picasso once said, you don’t get to have my job without having a few tricks of your own.” I smiled, resting my chin on my hand. “Now, it seems that we need a special key to get this damn thing off me. You wouldn’t happen to have it, would you?”

  “Do you really think I would make it that simple for you to run away from us? Before you ask, no. I’m not going to tell you who has it, either.” Cognac grinned, far too pleased with himself for a guy who was tied to a chair.

  Weston leaned against the table just behind me and nudged me with his shoulder. “It seems as though he’s forgotten that you’re Two Tricks’ enforcer.”

  Never once had I questioned my place or the job that I did, but somehow the thought of using my normal tactics on Cognac didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it could be that they hadn’t used force on me while I was their guest, but I wasn’t sure I could threaten it out of him.

  Leaning back, I let my head fall to Weston’s shoulder and looked up at him. “I don’t want to spoil all my fun in one go. Let’s let him sit for a while as the reality that the roles are now reversed sinks in. Besides, I’m sure you have a lot to fill me in on after being gone for so long.”

  Cognac narrowed his eyes as Wes wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me to his chest as he rested his head in the crook of my neck. Typically I wasn’t one to be all touchy-feely, but I’d truly missed Weston, and it had been a very long time since I hadn’t seen or at least talked to him every day. Having him yanked out of my life bothered me far more than I thought it would.

  “I have something slightly different in mind to talk to you about,” Wes said, his voice muffled by my skin, his lips sending shivers down my spine.

  Frowning, I tried to pull him away so I could get a better look at him, but when he lifted his head, it was to plant his lips on mine. Stunned, I didn’t move. My mind was racing, trying to catch up to what was happening. He pulled back only enough to shift me so that I was facing him as he cupped my face, looking into my eyes, searching.

  “I didn’t think it was possible, but I think I just shocked you into silence.” Wes grinned.

  Growling, I grabbed the front of his vest, pulling him back to me before I could overthink this. “This better not be a fucking joke, Westy, or I will cut off your balls so the world will never be inflicted with your offspring.”

  Stroking my cheek with one of his thumbs, he rested his forehead against mine. “No joke. Just way overdue in making it happen, shortcake.”

  I grabbed the back of his neck and slammed my lips on his, devouring his mouth as if I only had moments to live. He slid one hand into my hair and grabbed a handful, pulling my head back so he could kiss down my neck. The other free hand slipped up the back of my shirt, his large palm pulling me flush against him so he could rub his jean-clad cock against my core.

  “Fuck!” I cried as I fumbled to get the tactical vest off him, pulling at the zipper.

  Sensing my frustration, he pulled back and quickly managed the vest, tossing it along with his shirt behind him before pulling mine off.

  “You have got to be kidding me right now!” Cognac groaned. “I thought you said you didn’t want to torture me right now. This is just cruel—even for you, loba.”

  I flicked my gaze over to him, but when Wes bit down on my nipple, all thoughts of our onlooker flew out of my mind. Combing my fingers into Weston’s perfectly placed hair, I held on tight as he bit and pinched my nipples at the same time, making me buck under him.

  “Holy shit, Wes!”

  “I have waited long enough to have you, so I’m going to need all your attention on me, shortcake,” Wes purred as he kissed a trail down my stomach, pushing me back on the table.

  Flicking the button on my jeans open, he made short work of yanking them and my underwear off me. I lay there, bare to him, grinning as he took a moment just to gaze at me. With both his hands, he traced over my body as if he were memorizing it. When he brushed his thumbs along my inner thigh, I squirmed, but I wasn’t going to give in and beg like I could see in his eyes he wanted me to. This girl didn’t beg for anything, and I knew I could hold out longer than he could if push came to shove.

  Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry as he dropped to his knees and pulled my legs open. Pulling me to the edge of the table, he tossed my legs over each of his shoulders, supporting my weight. I craned my neck, holding his gaze as he lapped at my clit, sending me slamming back onto the table.

  “God yes, just keep doing whatever that is,” I gasped as his tongue swirled around my nub, sending a shockwave of sensation through me.

  Trying to keep myself from leaping off the table as his teeth grazed my clit, I grabbed the sides of the table, digging my nails into the wood as an orgasm slammed into my body. Unrelenting, Wes dragged out the high as long as he could, slipping in two fingers and bringing another level of ecstasy. Finished, he cupped my ass, lifting me from the table until I wrapped my arms around his neck. Fire blazed in his eyes as he kissed me, still covered in my essence, which made it far more intimate.

  Slowly, he lowered me, and I felt the blunt head of his dick fill me until I was seated against his pelvic bone. Locking my ankles behind him, I leaned back a little to get a better angle and rocked my hips, causing friction but not letting him pull out of me. I needed to feel every inch of him right now, claiming this cock that no other woman would have again as my own.

  “Dax, you’re killin’ me, you’re squeezing me so tight,” Wes growled.

  I gave him a toothy grin. “I just need to make sure your dick remembers where it belongs in case it has any questions.”

  Weston met my gaze, and the level of seriousness made me still my movement. “Dax Rose Blackmore, I have always been yours. There has never been anyone else.”

  The rush of emotions I was feeling at his words hit me like a semi. I believed every word he said, and as much as it filled my heart with warmth, it also freaked me the fuck out. After Devin, I didn’t do love—it hurt too much when they left you. Weston had been my rock, the constant in my life, and I loved him, but it wasn’t the way he was talking about right now.

  Was I even able to love like that?

  Seeing that I was on the verge of a freak-out, he spun and slammed me against the kitchen wall, shocking me out of my thoughts. He once again buried his head in my neck, but this time he latched on with his teeth as he thrust into me, causing me to grunt in pleasure. My fingers raked down his back, and I knew he would bear my marks when this was all over. Then I caught sight of Cognac watching, his eyes glazed over in lust, his arms straining at his restraints.

  Seemed this was an effective type of torture when used on the right people.

  Wes sped up, causing me to break my connection with Cognac and give myself over to the pleasure of this beautiful man thrusting away in me. Together we came, shouting, panting, and wringing out every ounce of pleasure we could from each other. Without even looking, I knew there was going to be a perfect bruise of Weston’s teeth on my neck, but I was oddly pleased about it.

  As Wes set me down, I leaned against the wall to make sure I had my legs firmly under me before moving. Once I was sure my body remembered how to function, I pulled Wes down for a gentle kiss before glancing around him. Catching Cognac’s eye, I sauntered over to him and sat on his lap, throwing my arms around his neck.

  “Now, did you want to tell me who has the key? Or is there another way to get this off me? If you tell me, I promise I’ll take care of that stiff problem you have going on. I can only imagine how uncomfortable that must be for you,” I said, pouting my lips at him.

  Cognac growled at me, narrowing his eyes. “Loba, when you meet my cock for the first time, it won’t be with me strapped to a chair after seeing you fuck your best friend. I might be a manwhore, but even I have standards.”

  “Suit yourself,” I said with a shrug, sta
nding and then looking at Wes. “I’m gonna go take a quick shower. You wanna join me and conserve water?”

  “Of course. We have to do our bit for the environment,” he said, smirking at Cognac as he followed after me.

  Freshly showered and with a hot cup of coffee in my hands, I curled up on one of the chairs on the porch. Weston sagged in his chair opposite me, rubbing his chin as if he was unsure about something.

  “What’s wrong?” I finally asked since he refused to talk first.

  Wes sighed and raked his hands through his hair. “Jeff is dead. He was tortured and dropped off at the shop with a note jammed down this throat. Seems the De León cartel believes you killed Diego’s son Benny while he was in L.A. for vacation a few months back.”

  Stunned, I paused with my cup hovering almost to my lips. Rage boiled through my veins when I registered the words that Wes just told me. Seconds later, I was on my feet and the coffee mug was smashed against the side of the cabin.

  “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN JEFF IS DEAD!” I screamed, balling my hands into fists so tight I could feel my nails biting into my skin. “How the hell could I kill their son when I have no idea who he is or what the bastard even looks like? You better know what’s going on, Weston.”

  Wes stood and walked over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders so he could look me right in the eye. “They are finally making their move, Dax. If they have any chance of getting to Two Tricks, they know they have to get you out of the way first. We’ve found every person that they’ve tried to go behind our backs and work with. Diego De León isn’t one of the biggest drug bosses on the East Coast for no reason. With the US border crackdown, they need smugglers, and that is the number one thing the Hidden Empire controls.”

  I yanked myself out of Weston’s hold, not wanting him to calm me down, and paced the porch. “So what if I supposedly killed their son? He was in L.A., on our turf, and didn’t say anything to us. None of our people or connections would give a shit that I supposedly killed someone from a rival cartel. On the other hand, the De Leóns have no grounds to kill off one of my right-hand men—in MY CITY!”