“Oz…I’m going to come…” I warned him and I thought I heard him chuckle. I moved harder on him, rocking and rolling till my body gave up and I orgasmed. I could feel it taking over me, every inch of my body.
I felt like my breath was caught in my throat, my mouth fell open and my toes curled.
“Fuck. This feels amazing,” I heard him grunt. Then I felt him release too. It was quick and came in bursts and I could feel his seed filling me up. Our juices mingled and I slipped and slid in his cum while I continued to rock over him.
Oz stroked my back, feeling the curves of my shoulders, then my hips, till he was tightly gripping my butt next.
Once I was done, I was completely exhausted and I fell on his chest. He weaved his fingers in my hair and stroked me lovingly. With my cheek pressed up against his chest, I could hear his heart beating. It was quick. He was still coming down from the high of his orgasm.
Oz wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.
“This feels like home,” I heard him mumble and I looked up at him.
“You are home,” I said and we kissed again.
Then Oz lifted me up and we settled down on the couch like we had the previous night.
Me on top of him, my head on his chest and our bodies stretched out together. I could feel myself slipping…I was going to sleep soundly tonight.
“I hope you don’t have any more nightmares tonight,” he said, playing with my curls. I smiled at him and shook my head.
“I won’t. Now that I know for certain that I’m completely safe,” I told him. “I hope our friends are going to be all right,” I added.
Oz was still playing with my hair and he nodded.
“I’m going to make sure that they are.”
I believed him. I knew he was going to do whatever it took to bring Dash back. Melody was out of danger already, and that was some relief.
“You should get some sleep, beautiful. Mama needs her rest,” he said and kissed my forehead. I could listen to him speak forever. His voice was the perfect lullaby.
Epilogue
One Week Later
Kaya
Soon after the incident, Oz had forced me to go to a doctor and get checked up. I came out with a clean bill of health, and the blood tests confirmed that I was pregnant. It was still very early, but as long as I took care of my health and stayed hydrated—the doctor assured me that the baby was going to be healthy too. I now had nine months of pregnancy to look forward to, and every day that went by felt like a miracle unfolding.
Melody was due to be discharged from the hospital today and I showed up with a bunch of balloons and flowers and her favorite orange chocolates. Melody was wide awake when I got there, and the nurses were helping her into her wheelchair.
“Mel!” I screeched and rushed towards her.
“Kaya!”
She was equally excited to see me and we hugged and I was careful not to be too harsh with her. Her arm was still in a sling while her shoulder recovered from surgery. Other than that, the doctors confirmed that Melody was healing well and quickly.
“You look well,” I said, while taking over from the nurses so I could wheel her out.
“Never felt better. I don’t think I need this stupid wheelchair!”
“You heard what the doctors said, Mel. You need to take it easy for a few weeks. I’ve got you all settled into my room at the apartment and I don’t want you lifting a finger. I’m taking the couch,” I told her.
Oz had given me one of the MC’s cars to drive while I picked Melody up from the hospital. Pretty soon, I was going to get my own car too!
“Are you sure about this? Don’t you want some alone time with Oz? You sure I’m not butting in?”
I stopped pushing the wheelchair and walked around so I could look Melody right in the eye.
“You took a bullet for me. You literally saved my life. This is the least I could do for you! I don’t want to hear another word. I’m taking care of you till you are fully recovered and up on your feet. And if Oz and I want some alone time, there’s always his apartment we can go to,” I said, which made Melody chuckle like a school girl.
“Man, you two look fine together. I can’t even imagine what this baby is going to look like!”
I laughed at that, while I rolled her out of the hospital. She didn’t really have trouble with her legs, so getting her into the car was easy. The doctors just wanted her to rest as much as possible.
“I hope my job is still waiting there for me when I get back to the diner in a few weeks. I’m sure they’re not going to like me being away for so long,” she said as I got into the driver’s seat.
“Oh yeah, about that. There was something I wanted to talk to you about.”
Melody looked at me quizzically.
“Oz is helping me set up my own art business. Designing logos, business cards and greeting cards etc. You know how I’ve been talking about doing it eventually…”
“But it’s happening now?” Melody squealed excitedly and I nodded.
We hugged again and this time I forgot and hugged her a little too hard till she squeaked.
“Sorry. Sorry!”
“This is great, hun. Everything is falling into place for you. I’m so happy. I’m so sorry I ever doubted Oz!”
I waved a hand in the air.
“Are you kidding me? You had every right to doubt it. Look at your shoulder!”
She rolled her eyes at that like it didn’t mean anything to her at all.
“This old thing? It’s like a badge of honor. We’ll have cool stories to tell this kid when its born,” she said and looked at my belly, which I stroked.
“I also wanted to ask if you want to come and work with me. Instead of going back to the diner and waitressing.”
Melody looked surprised for a few moments and I panicked, thinking that I’d made presumptions when I shouldn’t have.
“Like to help me with my marketing, and other such things. Oz will try to help but he’ll be useless at things like that. If there is anyone I would want to partner with, it would be you.”
When she still hadn’t replied, I gulped and my voice became softer.
“But Oz said that he’ll make sure he gets your job back for you at the diner if they refuse to take you in after your recovery. So, there’s no pressure.”
“Are you kidding me, Kaya? I am honored that you would want to work with me. I don’t have a degree like you, or the experience…”
“It doesn’t matter. You have the capability and the spirit and I trust you with my life. With my baby’s life!”
It was an emotional moment for us, and Melody and I hugged again. I could see how pleased she was, and I was grateful for the opportunity to make her happy. I was going to owe her my life forever.
I brought Melody over to my apartment and when we opened the door, we saw Oz waiting there for us already. He was busy making mugs of coffee and arranging cookies on a plate.
“Look at you, all domesticated!” Melody exclaimed. It was the first time I’d seen Oz blush. I had no idea he was going to be here.
“Just wanted to surprise you guys,” he said and I rushed towards him.
“Hey you, any word on Dash?” I asked him and he gave me a quick peck on my lips.
It had been a week, and nobody had been able to find him yet. There were guys from the Marked Skulls, including Oz and Abe, who were working day and night to try and find out where the Dark Legion could have taken Dash.
“We got a call today. Just an hour ago,” he said and ran a hand through his hair.
Behind me, I could sense Melody had grown quiet as well. This was intense. I’d been praying and hoping that Dash returned back safely, but from the look on Oz’ face, it didn’t seem like it would be good news.
“He’s alive, and they still have him. But they want their terms met. They claim that time is running out.”
I stroked his back and kissed his cheek.
“I’m sorry,
honey. You’re going to find a way out of this soon,” I said.
Melody came up to us.
“I’m sorry, Oz. I’m going to be thinking of your friend,” Melody said. Then she excused herself to go and settle into my bedroom.
Oz and I were alone again and he pulled me into his arms. I could see that he was worried, even more worried now that he’d received that phone call.
“Fuck. This is getting out of hand. Lewis and the others are refusing to budge, and I see their point. They can’t kidnap one of ours, threaten his life and expect to get our territory. We’re not pussies.”
Oz was growling. He was growing angrier by the minute, the more he talked about them. I hugged him tightly and stroked his back.
“You’re not going to have to do that. You will find a way. I know you will. This thing is going to come to an end, I can feel it in my bones. The Dark Legion and the Hell’s Drifters are not going to be a threat to us anymore after this.”
He looked at me and nodded.
“That is what we’re working towards.”
“And you’re going to do it.”
“But with each day that passes that Dash is in their custody, the closer we are to him getting seriously hurt.”
“You said it yourself, they’re not going to kill him. They need him as leverage.”
Oz nodded his head.
“I’m sorry that this is still going on, Kaya, and that we’re not being able to move on with our lives.”
I shook my head and smiled at him.
“I know what I signed up for, Oz. I know that this will take some time and untill then, things will be tense. But I don’t want you to worry about me. I feel completely safe. Especially since you’ve assigned those guys to watch me constantly!” I said and rolled my eyes.
Finally, Oz smiled and he leaned in and kissed me.
“I love you, my beautiful woman,” he said and his hand traveled down to my belly, which he stroked gently.
“I can’t wait to meet this one,” he added and I bit down on my lip.
“And I bet this little thing can’t wait to meet daddy either. We are never going to feel alone as long as we have you.”
We were kissing again, and I knew I would never be tired of kissing this man. The father of my child—the man who had given me everything. There was nothing else in the world that I wanted anymore. He had fulfilled me.
Dash
1
Dash
Dash
I could feel it sharply digging into my skin, blood oozed from the wound on my wrists. It was warm and smooth. I’d been pulling at the zip-ties around my wrists too hard. I should have given up by now, although it wasn’t like I had any concept of time here.
How long did they have me locked up in here? It could have been twenty-four hours or twenty-four days. I hadn’t been fed or given water. My body was covered in sweat and bruises. I could feel my mind zoning in and out of consciousness now.
Only the images of Melody falling to the ground, Kaya screaming, Oz’s face when he saw me being dragged away—reeled through my head like an old black and white movie.
I’d failed Oz. I failed the MC. Oz had trusted me with the life of his woman. I was supposed to watch over her and protect her. Kaya had even trusted me so much as to tell me she was pregnant. What if she was hurt? What if she was going to lose the baby?
And Melody. She was just an innocent bystander at the diner. While my hands were tied behind my back and three men were holding me back, it was Melody who’d managed to do something to protect Kaya. She’d lunged at her friend, protecting the baby was the only thing on her mind. She was a brave woman and a good friend. The consequences of which, were to get shot.
I could still hear the thud of Melody’s body hitting the floor. I struggled against the men to get to her, but they were holding me back. Nobody was supposed to get hurt. Least of all two women who weren’t involved in this fight. Who had nothing to do with our clubs.
Rage coursed through my veins again and instinctually, I pulled at the zip ties and it felt like they were now ripping through my wrists. For a moment I couldn’t feel my hands. My body felt paralyzed. I couldn’t even feel the pain. I was numb.
All I wanted to do was prove myself to Oz and the MC. They’d given me a chance. They’d given me the opportunity to join as a prospect and trusted me with this simple task. All I had to do was sit at the diner and watch over Kaya as she went about her day.
And what I managed to do was get kidnapped by the Dark Legion and Hell’s Drifters and not protect Kaya or Melody. I had no excuses. The fact that those motherfuckers outnumbered me when they stormed into the diner, was a pitiable excuse. I should have shot dead at least a dozen of them before being taken away. But I hadn’t. I couldn’t. I’d failed Oz and the MC. If they weren’t coming back for me, that was exactly what I fucking deserved.
I tugged at the zip ties again, not because I thought I could get out of here, but because I wanted to feel the pain. It was the only thing I could feel right now, other than sheer and utter regret.
The room was dark and even though I couldn’t see much, I could hear the drip-drip of water and smell the damp patches on the walls. I didn’t need to be able to see to know that they’d put me in some sort of underground rotting cellar.
We could have been in a barn or a warehouse or an abandoned construction site out of town. I couldn’t exactly tell because I hadn’t seen daylight in twenty-four hours…or had it been twenty-four days?
I always thought I could do anything. I was strong and had a willpower made of steel. I would have done anything to fulfill my duties. But without food, water and daylight, within a very short period of time—I was beginning to lose my confidence in myself.
I was beaten up and bruised, tied to a chair and made to sit upright the whole time. Excuses excuses excuses. I would have rather died than have to go back and give the MC my long list of excuses.
Was it normal that I was now beginning to despise myself? I didn’t deserve Oz’ faith in me. I didn’t deserve the responsibilities that the MC had given me. If I was so easily broken, then who was I?
I noticed a metallic taste in my mouth now. It was blood. There was a gash on the side of my face. The product of one of the earlier beatings I had forgotten about. The blood was oozing into my mouth now and I spat it out with force.
Even bleeding I took as a sign of weakness.
I growled out in anger. Mostly angry with myself and I tried to stretch myself out of the zip ties again. If I could just get out of this. Out of this place. I’d die fighting them back. I’d die proving myself to the MC.
I wasn’t sure if it was my growl that now caused the door of the room to be flung open. A sliver of light shone through and I heard footsteps approaching me. The one thing about this room was it was big. I had lots of space to myself. I nearly chuckled at that thought.
Whoever it was, was taking his time to come towards me. I blinked rapidly trying to see. It was too dark.
And then he flipped a switch on and there was a sudden golden glow in the room that I wasn’t prepared for. It’s suddenness blinded me and I squinted, fighting the urge to lift my hands up to shade my eyes.
The man who’d switched the light on now sniggered. He was delighted at how helpless I was in his hands. He’d just used light as a weapon and it made him feel like God.
He was a member of the Dark Legion. I could tell by his cut. That motherfucker had a grin on his face like he’d just been given cotton candy at the fair.
“You look fresh as a daisy,” he said. There was laughter in his voice. If my hands weren’t tied to my back I would have strangled him. He probably knew that.
I tried to focus on his face, but my head kept swaying from side to side. I was dehydrated and probably losing blood from all the wounds on my body. My eyes drooped as I tried to glare at him.
“I tried to dress up for you,” I said through gritted teeth and the guy threw his head back and laughed.
He walked up close to me and placing his hands on his knees, he stooped down low towards me. Leveling his face with mine. He seemed to be peering into the wounds on my face. Probably assessing me for damage.
I waited a few seconds until I’d built up enough bloody saliva in my mouth before I spat it out. Right at his face. It got him like a thick blood clot on his nose and he roared with disgust.
His knuckles hit me in a punch across my nose and I thought I heard it crack. Or I could have just imagined it. I was at the stage where I didn’t know imagination from reality anymore. Everything seemed real and everything seemed like a dream at the same time.
Blood. Sweat. Dizzness.
Those were the only truths and the only constants in my life right now.
“You do that again and you’re fucking dead meat!” he growled some more, wiping the stuff off his face and then wiping his hand on his jeans. No manners.
“You know, your friends are looking for you,” he continued.
When I heard that my ears perked up. I blinked furiously, trying to see more clearly again. But I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t display my enthusiasm because then he would definitely use it against me.
“Yeah, they’re looking, but they’re never going to find you,” he said and kicked one of my feet. It sent cold vibrations through my body and I gritted my teeth.
“You don’t know by now? I don’t wanna be found.”
He laughed some more. He was convinced I was making that shit up. He had no idea how true it was. The farther I could stay away from the Marked Skulls, from Oz and Lewis and all the rest. The better their chances were of winning this war. The last thing I wanted was for these fuckers to use me as bait.
Marked Skulls MC Series: Books 1-5 Page 58