by Jade Kuzma
I popped up out of my seat and headed out of the meeting room. Summer was already waiting for me, an anxious look on her face that’d been there ever since I got out of my cell.
“What’s going on? What’s happening—”
“Just relax.” I put my hands on her shoulders to calm her down and I could feel her shaking. “I got everything under control.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
I sighed a deep breath because there was nothing I could say to make her not worry. “Rex and I are heading to a meeting.”
“With who? Is it Moore?”
“Could be Moore. Could be club business we don’t even know about. But I haven’t forgotten what’s at stake. I told you I’d get your little girl back and I’ll do it.”
“Theo…” Her head dropped. There was something so familiar about the way she looked. It gave me this damn feeling like I was letting her down. Shit bugged me in a way I couldn’t shake. “…You’re heading to some meeting with a complete stranger after getting involved in a shootout.”
“Technically, he never shot back at me.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do,” I sighed. I squeezed my hands tighter around her shoulders then put a hand on her chin, turning her to face me. “Everything will be all right. I know… I know you don’t trust me. Just this one time, okay?”
She breathed softly through her nose and nodded. That worry in her eyes hadn’t gone away. I could feel her concern. But more than anything else, I was determined to see this through.
I didn’t know what the fuck I was heading into but that didn’t matter. I’d settle it either way.
* * *
The sun was going down in Ivory. You noticed it a lot more when you headed toward the outskirts. The few buildings that were there were empty. There was no traffic and the road was empty. You could see all the way to the fucking horizon because the nearest city was so far away.
Rex rolled right behind me as we headed toward the address Doc gave us. It wasn’t really an address though. It was more like coordinates in the middle of a bunch of abandoned farmland.
I spotted our target from a quarter-mile away. Some plain-looking sedan with some asshole standing right next to it. As I pulled up closer, he looked just like the kinda man Doc described. Some muscled-up ex-con for hire. Nobody that intimidated me.
I parked a few meters away from the car with Rex flanking me. I got off my ride, making sure my piece was on the back of my waistband where it needed to be. There was no point in wasting any time.
“Well?” I held my hands out. “Heard you were looking for Cobras. You got one.”
The man looked me up and down then opened the backseat of the black sedan. I watched as a man in a pair of jeans and a dirty wife-beater stepped out.
You knew a motherfucker didn’t have his head on straight when he had face tattoos. But it was more than the ink or the shaved head or the disregard for showering. The punk looked at me like I owed him money even though I’d never seen him in my life.
“Cobra.” He smiled and revealed his disregard for brushing his teeth, too. “If it isn’t the man himself. I thought you’d be harder to get a hold of.”
“Cobras aren’t hard to find,” I said. “We’ve got a rep in Ivory.”
“Apparently, you do. I hired a man to do some work for me and you put him in the hospital in only a few hours.”
I gritted my teeth to stop myself from moving forward and slugging him right in the jaw. “…Lennox Moore.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Theodore Miller. You weren’t kidding about having a rep. Funny thing about being in an MC. Always makes it easier to get dirt on you.”
“I ain’t ashamed of my sheet. I’ll print you out a copy if you want.”
“Oh, I think I know enough about you, Miller.” Moore put his hands behind his back and started pacing back and forth. He puffed his chest out even though he was lean enough for a stiff breeze to knock him over. “You’re close to the girl. Summer… You care about her, don’t you?”
“Don’t matter if I care about her or not. You got her daughter. You better gimme a damn good reason why I shouldn’t put one in your skull right now.”
“Because I have her daughter. Don’t worry. She’s safe. She’s a real sweet little girl. Doesn’t talk much. Behaves herself.”
“I’ll kill you for every single time you put a finger on her.”
“Temper, temper.” He chuckled like he loved showing off his grin. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not interested in doing anything to the girl. I just want my money.”
“You’re not getting it.”
“I don’t think you understand. Her boyfriend stole from me. I don’t know what he did with the money but that’s fine. I’ll just have to get it from the mother of his child.”
“You’re not getting it,” I repeated.
“You’re not in any position to bargain, Miller. You’ve got one option. Tell Summer I want my money or she’ll never see her daughter again—”
I moved forward and his ex-con bodyguard moved in front of me. Moore chuckled again and tugged his security on the arm. “Don’t worry about him. That’s just the biker bravado talking. He won’t do anything. Not when he knows what’s at stake.”
Moore walked from around his bodyguard and moved up close to me. He was as thin as a twig but he was tall enough to look me in the eye. The only reason I hadn’t slugged him was because he had Summer’s girl.
“I know how you bikers like to handle these things. You handle your own business. Don’t like getting the police involved. That’s how I like it, too. That’s how my ex-partner, Summer’s boyfriend, liked it. We can settle this without them.”
“What do you want?” I clenched my jaw, my fists balled as I kept holding myself back.
“A hundred grand. I don’t care where it comes from. Gimme the money and I’ll give you the girl. Call me when you have it.” He patted his security guard on the arm, who tossed a cell phone to me. Moore turned around and walked back into his sedan. I thought about getting on my ride and following but just stood there and watch them head back on the dirt road back to Ivory.
“It’s all right.” Rex put a hand on my arm. I looked down at the phone in my hand and nodded.
“You know what I have to do.”
“Moore is already dead. He just doesn’t know it yet. The girl is the only thing keeping him alive.”
“The girl is the only thing that matters. If anything happens to her, I couldn’t give a shit about what else happens.”
“We got this, Teddy. Some motherfucker isn’t gonna come to Ivory and cross the Cobras like that. Moore will get what’s coming to him.”
“…Let’s make him pay.”
Chapter 9
SUMMER
Five years earlier…
I watched the candlelight flicker back and forth. It was amazing to think just a tiny wick was enough for me to see all of my surroundings. Then again, his apartment wasn’t very big to begin with. That was enough for me though. I was comfortable in the tiniest living space. I never needed anything fancy. It was the kinda place I would’ve loved to move into. Just a roof over my head, some clothes on my back and some food in my stomach was all I needed.
Right now, the food was right in front of me. It seemed like just a few seconds ago, the steam was rising from it right after I pulled it out of the oven. Every second that went by, it got colder… and colder… and colder.
I looked at my phone. I sighed even though I knew better than to expect a message.
A nice dress. A fancy hairdo. A dinner I spent hours on. But even with everything I had to be grateful for, the most important piece to it all was missing.
Of course…
Before my thoughts could get the best of me, I heard the lock on the front door. I didn’t bother looking up. I could tell it was him just from the sound of his sneakers on the floor and the smell of his leather kutte.
“Hey.” Teddy walked
up next to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I didn’t respond, staring at the cold piece of steak in front of me. “Sorry, I’m late. I…”
I shifted my eyes toward him. He looked confused but only for a moment. He knew I had every reason to be upset. My eyes moved toward his hands and I could see it. A bit of dirt and the slight tinge of red. I would’ve been shocked if I hadn’t already seen it before.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“You know how important tonight was to me. Tonight was supposed to be our night. I wanted to share this with you.”
“I know, I know. I remember. You graduated. Congratulations. We can celebrate now—”
“I was waiting for three hours, Teddy. No call. No text. And now you come here and expect everything to be all right.”
“I said I was sorry! You know I am. I’m here now! We can celebrate, just like you wanted. It’s not like you just graduated today. We have the rest of the weekend—”
“I’m not upset because you’re late.”
He shook his head, his face scrunched with confusion.
“What is it then?” He shrugged. “Why are you so mad?”
I got up from my seat and grabbed his hand. “What is this? Why is there blood on your hands?”
“You know I can’t talk about club business.”
“Is that the kind of man I’m with—”
“The Cobras don’t touch innocent people. No women. No children. Every man who had it coming to him is somebody Sutton was already trying to take down. We’re just doing our part for this town. For Ivory.”
“That’s great, Teddy. Really great…” I closed my eyes and sighed a deep breath, trying not to let my frustrations get the best of me.
“We can still have a good time. We can still enjoy ourselves tonight.” Teddy moved closer to me, putting his hands on my shoulders. There was something about his touch that was so safe and comforting. But tonight… Tonight his touch wasn’t enough to change how I suddenly felt. “I’m here with you now, Summer. Come on…” He gave me another kiss on the cheek and I turned my head away in response.
“Is this how it’s always gonna be? Me sitting at the dinner table every night, wondering what you’re doing out there, wondering if you’re okay…”
“I’ve got the MC watching my back. You got nothing to worry about. You know that.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m just tired, Teddy. I’m tired of getting all dressed up and wanting to have a special night then having to see this…” I picked his hand up and pointed out the red stains on his fingers.
What am I doing?
I closed my eyes to make sure I was thinking straight. No matter what I did, I knew there was no other decision for me to make.
“I can’t do this anymore.” I shook my head then looked at him. Teddy stared back me, confusion still in his eyes.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“This. All of this. I can’t handle it. You out there, handling club business. I’m not built to be an old lady.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying, Summer—”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do—”
He cut me off, rushing his face up to mine with a deep kiss. I was torn, stuck between trying to pull away and being unable to resist. The scruff on his face against my cheeks. The masculine taste of his tongue. The smell of leather flooding my nostrils. Everything about him was so overwhelming. But through it all, I could still think straight.
I have to do this.
“Summer… Don’t do this… I’m here…”
“Teddy…”
Another kiss quieted me again. I didn’t bother trying to fight him off. Not with how strong his grip was. Not with how much he was holding me in place. And definitely not with how much I wanted him.
He wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up from the ground. Teddy was 6’1”, well over 200 pounds, so it didn’t take much effort to hold me up. It helped that I was willingly let him do it to me.
He moved me over to the couch in the living room and bent me over it. I gasped as I stayed in my position, listening to the sound of him frantically unbuckling his belt.
“We belong together,” he sighed. “You know we do.”
“Teddy…”
“I’m gonna fuck you, Summer. Say you want it…”
“Teddy…” There was still a part of me trying to fight him off. Even as he reached underneath my skirt and tugged my panties to my knees. My slit was aching for him. My knees were trembling but still, I hesitated.
“Say it, Summer.”
God…
“Say it!” He pulled my skirt up over my back, exposing my ass to him completely. His tips pressed against my fold and any resistance I had left was gone.
“Fuck me—Ahh!” I cried out as he plunged into me. His length was so thick and rigid. I’d had him countless times before but when I wanted him as bad as I did now, it always felt like he was stretching me out for the first time.
His hands firmed on my waist as he rocked his hips back and forth. The loud thumps of his hilt against my cheeks grew louder. I cried out helplessly. The amount of ecstasy coursing through my veins overpowered any shame I might’ve had.
I gripped the couch cushions underneath me, desperately trying to brace myself from the pleasure. My knees buckled as I dug my heels even harder into the floor. The wetness dripping out of me seemed endless. My mouth hung open. All of my groans dried my throat and made me hoarse.
Teddy grunted, digging himself into me with deep stroke after deep stroke after deep stroke. There was nothing quite like being taken from behind by a man as rugged and raw as him.
“Teddy…” I sighed his name as I teetered helplessly on the edge. Overtaken by my desires, I reached down between my legs and found my clit. My fingers rubbed furiously and pushed me to the brink. All of my muscles started to tighten up. My jaw dropped so low it started to hurt. I held my breath for a moment before losing control.
Something unintelligible and embarrassing came out of me. I shuddered helplessly, coming so hard that my mind blanked. All I could do was lay bent over while my climax ravaged my body. The pleasure pulsed through my veins and made me feel like I was floating on a cloud.
Teddy kept his hands wrapped tight around me as he lost himself. My orgasm was satisfying enough but feeling his thick length throb against my insides made me spasm even harder. I squeezed myself around him, enjoying the sensations of his cum filling me up. The sound of our bodies so close together made me forget about everything that was happening just a few moments ago.
But pleasure could only last for so long. My orgasm left me and I regained my thoughts. The feelings I had… The anger… The frustration… The sadness and disappointment… It was all still there…
I turned my head up and looked at my reflection in the mirror. Hair messy. Cheeks flushed. Sweat on my brow. No matter how Teddy gave it to me, I knew I couldn’t keep doing this.
I straightened up and turned around. Looking up into his eyes, Teddy knew what I was thinking. Gone was the masculine man who could knock down anything put in front of him. Now there was just… him.
“It’s all right, Summer. I promise you. Everything will be okay.”
“I can’t… I can’t be with someone like you.”
“I love you. And I know you love me, too.”
I closed my eyes because looking at him only made it harder. I swallowed to clear my throat, knowing I’d already made up my mind.
You can do this.
“I do love you. That’s why I think it’s best if we just stop this now. I can’t be the woman you need in your life—”
“You are the woman I need, Summer.”
“No…”
“Summer—” He put his hand on my cheek but I pulled away.
“No, dammit! I’m not… I’m not the woman you need in your life right now. I can’t handle this. I’m sorry.”
&nb
sp; I finally opened my eyes. He was resigned to it. A man who never relented had given up because he knew there was nothing more he could say.
I turned away to avoid letting my emotions get the best of me.
“Goodbye, Teddy.”
Chapter 10
SUMMER
“After I graduated, I moved to the city. It was a good experience for me to get away from Ivory. Outside of graduate school and then work, my daughter was the only thing that mattered to me. I didn’t have any regrets. Leaving was everything I needed. I got the chance to focus on myself. Do what I needed to do for me. I’d lived in Ivory my whole life, I never really knew what was out there.”
With the sun down in Ivory, the patrons were just beginning to file into the Bone Pit. I’d seen the raucous crowds in here before, even if it were so many years ago. In just a matter of hours, the alcohol would be flowing and turn this place into the MC clubhouse that it was.
But the woman next to me wasn’t like the rest of the crowd. A young, good-looking blond girl. Quiet but something in her eyes told me she wasn’t so demure. She seemed interested in listening and didn’t interrupt me as I droned on about my past life in Ivory.
“Did you miss it?” she asked.
“Miss what?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Ivory.”
Ivory brought back so many feelings and memories… I sighed thinking about all of them. The answer wasn’t simple enough to put into words. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it when I was up in the city. Did I miss it? I missed going to Amy’s for the donuts. I missed the steakhouse. Hell, there’s no place in the city to get a drink quite like the Bone Pit. But what you’re really asking is if I have any regrets. The truth is, I don’t. The only thing that matters to me is my daughter.”
“The MC is out there looking for her. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that they won’t rest until they get to her. Sage will be fine. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” She patted me on the arm to console me. Sure enough, just being next to her did give me some of the reassurance I needed at the moment.
“How about you, Audrey? How has life in Ivory treated you?”