by Sam Crescent
“You got it. You got a problem with that?”
“So long as the only pussy you’re riding is mine, and once we get contraception dealt with, you can ride bareback,” she said. “You’re on condoms until I get an appointment.”
“Come on, what about the fun?”
“In getting pregnant? There is no fun. You think I’m going to be your baby momma while you go and screw around? Ha, no thank you. I’m happy having fun, but when and if I ever do settle down, it’ll be with a guy who is ready.”
“You don’t think I’m ready?”
She put another jacket into the trash bag. The pockets were empty, but it looked like there was vomit down the front, and the stench was horrific.
“Are you ready? Is this what this is all about? You’re trying to tell me you want a serious relationship and you’ve picked me to be your special one?”
“Hell no.”
“Good. We don’t know each other, Landon. I like hanging out with you, but I’ve got to say, the diner and cleaning shit, it’s not going to cut it. I’ve got a lot more fun ways to spend my time. Believe me.”
“You know, some women would be glad just to hang out with me.”
“Then why aren’t they here?” she asked.
She held up a pair of pants and ignored the white stains on the front. She wasn’t even going to go there as to what they were. Putting her hand in the pocket, she felt some papers and pulled them out. Most were receipts, but on one was a phone number.
“Do you recognize this number?” she asked.
He stepped over the trash and took the number. “No. Let’s find her cell and see who it is.”
He looked around the room, and Anna got to her feet. She had knelt in something on the floor, and she didn’t dare look at her knees.
“No one else is here because I happen to enjoy hanging out with you.” He put his cell phone to his ear and glanced over at her.
“I like being with you, and hanging out. It’s fun, for the most part.”
She didn’t foresee either of them having sex in this room, or his apartment. She had to shower.
Landon surprised her by putting the cell on speakerphone.
The screen was cracked, and it rang for a long time.
She was about to suggest he give up when someone on the other end answered.
“Listen, whore, I’m not giving you shit until you pay up. You already owe me two grand for supplies, and you promised me your Trojan ass would come through. What the fuck can you want?”
Landon looked at her and started to mouth the words. “Talk to him.”
“What?”
“He thinks it’s Maya. I don’t know who this is. You need to talk to him.”
“Erm, hey, sorry, erm, I really need it.” She tried to make herself sound croaky and out of it. She had no idea what she was doing.
“What the fuck, Maya? What are you on?”
“Tell him you’ve got the money and to meet with him.”
She did exactly that.
“All of it?” the guy asked.
“Plus interest.”
“All right.” The man gave her the location and warned her to be ready in two hours. After that, he hung up, and Landon smirked.
“I’m not going to meet a drug dealer in two hours, am I?”
“Why not? I’ve got to talk to Duke. We’ve got a couple of boys to gather together. You won’t be alone.”
“In case you didn’t know, this is club business, and we’re not club anything,” she said.
“You’re the woman I’m fucking and you liked Maya. This is helping her.”
“It is?”
“Yes. I want to eradicate the source of my problem, and this fucker, he’s a huge problem to me. Are you in or out?”
“I’m in.” She didn’t know who this guy was, but if he was giving drugs to women and hurting them, she had to stop it, one way or the other. There was no way she could allow Landon to go alone. Besides, she wasn’t lying to him when she said she enjoyed spending time with him. She did, even if this one wasn’t going to lead to sex.
****
“Duke, Bertie, Floss, and Smash, this is Anna. Anna, this is—”
“Let me guess, Duke, Bertie, Floss, and Smash?” Anna said, interrupting Landon in his flow.
“You got it.”
“I stink,” Anna said. “Nice to meet you all.”
“Any reason you do stink?” Floss asked.
“I told her to get changed into some of Maya’s things. This is what we could find.”
“Maya really was losing it toward the end, wasn’t she?” Smash said. “Fuck, you do stink. I’m sitting up front.” He moved toward the front seat.
“I don’t like this,” Duke said. “Whatever goes down, you will keep your fucking mouth shut. If not, I’ll make sure Danny and Misty pay the price.”
“How do you know Misty?”
Landon banded an arm around Anna as she made to step close to Duke.
“I have my ways of knowing everything about everyone in this town. You forget, little girl, this town belongs to me.”
“You’ll leave my friend alone. I’m doing you guys a favor here, not me. Don’t threaten me.”
“Is your girl stupid or after being hurt?” Duke asked, looking at Landon.
“Listen to me, hot shot, I don’t care if you’re the president of this club. You mean nothing to me, and none of this means anything. You’ve got yourself a drug problem and you need to find out who is getting one over you, because so far, you’re not in control of your town. Someone else is. I don’t need threats to keep my mouth shut. You think I want to live in a town with a drug problem? I’m on your side. Also, I may be a woman, but I’m no one’s old lady. Talk to me, not the guy I’m screwing.”
Landon didn’t know if Duke was going to shoot her there and then. To his surprise, Duke smirked. “I like her. Welcome, and I appreciate you doing this for us. I may not show it, but I do.”
“Thanks,” she said.
Duke climbed into the back of the truck, and Landon turned her to face him.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m a receptionist at a tattoo parlor, and I sew. Those are the things that make sense to me. Not this.”
“You’ll do good.”
“I feel a little sick, but it could be the stink of the clothes. She really needed to wash.”
“I know.” He cupped her face, tilted her head back, and kissed her.
“What was that for?”
“Because, you’re the first woman who is doing anything for me, like this without getting anything out of it.”
“I’m expecting sex. Good sex, with a condom.”
“We’ll see about the condom. Come on, let’s get this show on the road.”
The location they’d been asked to meet was just on the outside of the town. There was an old gas station. No one had claimed it, and it had gone out of business a couple of years ago.
They got there long before the deadline.
Finding a place to park the truck to make it look abandoned, he, Duke, and Anna, went looking for a place for her to wait. Floss, Bertie, and Smash went to find spots to hide, but to keep an eye, and to come out fighting if the need arose.
Entering the abandoned garage, Landon saw there was nothing there. It had long been ransacked of any goods. The windows were smashed, and there was dirt everywhere.
“You’d think they’d rebuild this place,” Anna said.
“Why? It’s derelict.”
“There are still cars coming back and forth. You don’t know if they’ve updated the maps, but it’s a good spot. It could also be used as a good spot for Vale Valley to put in another motel for tourist season.”
“Are you keeping her?” Duke asked. “If not, I’m thinking of finding one of the club brothers who will.”
Anna laughed. “Let me guess, you’ll be making some inquiries about this place?”
“I’m not the kind of guy to pass up an opportunity t
o expand.”
“Don’t forget to give me a cut of the profits. Back to business. What do I have to do?”
“You look nothing like Maya, so we’re going to have to improvise.” Landon stepped close, pulling the hood up over her head.
“I’m going to vomit,” she said.
“You’re going to have to suck it up. We need to know who this guy is.”
“What if there is more than one guy?”
“Let’s hope not.”
“I’m going to get kidnapped and killed, aren’t I?”
“You have one crazy fucking imagination on you.”
“I know what I know, and these things, they never end well,” she said. “Give me a gun, just to protect myself.”
“I’m going to find a place, deal with her,” Duke said.
“You’re going to be protected. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“You’re not.”
“No. I’ll be here, watching you, always, waiting. I promise.”
“Okay, then. So I go and look like a twitching drug user waiting for her next fix?”
“Yes.”
“I can do this.” She stepped out from the garage, and he watched her lean against the post.
Finding a spot, he saw Duke just across from him.
“You like her?” Duke asked.
“Yes. Any of the other brothers you think of taking her to, I’ll kill them all.”
“You know I love a bloodbath,” Duke said.
“Not recently. You’re all about the peace and keeping shit in line.” He didn’t need to explain why though. He understood.
The shit that went down with Abelli, it had been dangerous and could have risked the club. When any club stepped in with the mafia, there were only so many chances to be taken before death was imminent. They’d avoided death, but it had nearly ruined the club.
Now, years on, Duke made sure who he was doing deals with, and to make sure any potential club brother didn’t have a history with any mafia. Those connections would forever remain dead so long as Duke was prez.
Landon didn’t mind at all.
He liked to ride and he loved the adrenaline of danger, but he didn’t want to die. For him, there was no death wish.
“Depending on how this goes down, she can’t leave the club but in a body bag, you know that, right? These are the risks you’re taking with her.”
“I know.” He had no intention of letting Anna die. He would protect her.
“I see a car,” he said.
Keeping Anna in view, he watched the car approach, gritting his teeth as the guy parked suddenly, spraying up the dry dirt as he did.
“You’re so fucking stupid, Maya. I can’t believe the shit I gave you didn’t last.” The man climbed out of the car. “And who the fuck do you think you are, calling me? I’m the one who is in charge.”
The man advanced toward Anna, and Landon grabbed his gun, waiting. The car was empty, and as the man lunged at Anna, his woman let out a scream.
“Who the fuck are you?” the man asked.
Landon moved, drawing his weapon and pointing it at the guy. “You take your hands off her.”
Duke, Bertie, Floss, and Smash each had their weapon drawn.
They were all pointed at the man before them. He couldn’t allow anything to happen to Anna, but she was there. The man grabbed her around the throat.
“What the fuck is this? Where is Maya?”
“You put her down now.”
“You think I don’t know who you are? What you’re capable of? I know, and there’s no way I’m letting this whore go.”
Anna let out a gasping sound.
She was being choked.
“Let her go,” Landon said.
“Not a chance. She’s my leverage.” He started to pull her away from them, moving back to the car. The man tightened his hold around her neck, and he saw the panic in her eyes.
Shit!
He promised he’d protect her.
There was no way he was going to let Maya’s shit hurt Anna. This was all on him. Pointing his gun, he aimed and fired.
The man let go of Anna, and she collapsed to the dirt.
Rushing to her side, he pulled her into his arms as she tried to breathe. Her hands went to her neck, and she was gasping.
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
Duke, Bertie, Floss, and Smash dealt with the drug dealer. They tied him up, loading him into the back of the van. They tossed a coin on who was going to bring the car into the clubhouse, and Bertie won.
Anna shook in his arms but didn’t try to pull away from him. He hoped he hadn’t fucked things up. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her.
“We’ve got to get him back to the clubhouse. Are you good to walk?” he asked.
She nodded her head, getting to her feet. She wouldn’t take his outstretched hand.
Chapter Nine
Anna rubbed at her neck. She hadn’t been prepared for the attack, but it had certainly made her aware of just how dangerous Landon’s lifestyle was. Glancing around his room, she wondered if they were all torturing him.
“Don’t do that, Anna. Don’t think.”
The guy had smelled really bad as he grabbed her, and it wasn’t like she knew him either. There was no point in even thinking about him, let alone worrying what was happening to him. Whoever the man was, he’d been perfectly content to give a young woman drugs.
Landon’s door opened, and there he stood.
“Hey,” he said, stepping inside.
She checked him over, and there didn’t appear to be any signs of blood on him.
“Hi.”
“How are you?” he asked.
She kept touching her neck. “I’m fine.”
He stepped closer.
Anna didn’t move. He tilted her head back and inspected her neck. “You may have some bruises, but you’ll be fine.”
“Thanks.” She dropped her hand from her neck, feeling silly for constantly touching it. “I didn’t mean to upset you with not holding your hand or anything.”
“I get it.”
“I was taken aback by everything going on. I didn’t expect him to drag me with him. He had a death hold on me with no way for me to get away. It’s crazy.” She reached out, taking hold of his hand. “I’m happy being here with you, Landon.”
He pulled her in close. “I didn’t mean to put you in harm’s way.”
“It’s fine. No hard feelings. Honestly.” She cringed at her words. “This is all new to me.”
Landon cupped her face, tilting her head back, and he brushed his lips across hers. “You can act as weird as you want.”
She laughed. “How about you tell me what Danny is to you guys?”
“I can’t do that. Club business.”
“And you always keep secrets for each other?”
“Always. It’s kind of our code.”
“Maybe you should call yourself the secret MC and not the Trojans.”
“You’re not part of the club, baby. You’ll never know.”
“How do I become part of the club? I haven’t seen any female members wearing a leather cut.” Not that she’d ever wear a leather cut. “The jackets I’ve seen have all the names of the men who have claimed them.”
“I can’t tell you how to become a member until you’re ready to make a commitment to one of the guys.”
“Screwing one doesn’t count?”
“Nope.”
“Huh, you’re full of secrets and mysteries, aren’t you?”
“That I am, baby.” He pressed a kiss to her lips again. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Holly and Mary have everything set up outside if you want to come down and eat.”
“I’m not going to be kept prisoner in your room?”
“No. You’re safe to roam if you wish to.” He kissed her again, and she closed her eyes, basking in his touch.
She really shouldn’t be bask
ing in any touch, but here she was, loving Landon’s.
Just remember he’s got a guy somewhere in this clubhouse who could already be dead right now. Dead. Remember.
Landon took her hand, and this time, she didn’t flinch away from him.
They made their way down the long staircase, heading through the main clubhouse toward the back door, leading them out into the yard.
There were people everywhere, or at least it seemed like it.
She noticed a banner announcing a welcome home to a guy named Preach.
Everyone was sitting around the table.
“Hey, everyone, this is Anna,” Landon said.
All gazes turned toward her.
It was like she was meeting his family. She offered a smile and a small wave. Yeah, not awkward at all.
“Let’s eat,” Duke said.
Okay, then.
Glancing at the table, Anna knew this was going to be tricky.
“Hi, I’m Holly, and this is Mary. You can have whatever you want.” She knew about the two main women who had started a food blog several years ago.
“Thanks.”
The table was full of chicken, steaks, and potatoes which looked covered in mayonnaise. The salad didn’t look free from dressing either.
“I’m not really hungry,” Anna said.
“You’ve not eaten in hours. Come on, it’s fine. What can I get you?” Landon asked.
“What’s on the salad?” Anna looked toward Holly and Mary.
“It’s got olive oil, lemon, herbs, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.”
“Oh, okay. What about the potatoes?” she asked.
The table was getting even more silent as she continued to question the women. Mayonnaise and a splash of heavy cream was on the potatoes along with herbs again.
“What about the pasta salad?” Anna asked.
“Do you have an issue with my wife’s food?” Duke asked, standing up. “It’s all delicious. There is nothing you can eat that will poison you or cause you any problems. Just eat. You’re upsetting her, and I don’t like it when someone upsets my woman.”
Duke looked angry, and Anna’s heart began to race. This was the first dinner party type thing she’d been to in a very long time. She avoided events like this for this very reason.
“I’m a vegan,” she said.
The entire table stopped eating and turned to look at her.