Bloody Mine (Royal Bastards MC, #2)

by Landis, Nikki

  Rael’s laugh was loud and contagious. “You’re so fucking predictable. Ever do anything unexpected? Just for fun?”

  Grabbing one of the long neck bottles, I tossed back a heavy swallow. “My life is far less exciting than yours.” Fucking Mammoth. He was probably laughing right now knowing Rael would sucker some dumbass to join him in his game.

  Rael snickered, picking up a knife and playing with the blade, twisting it around in his hand. “I like the way these feel in my palm. I wouldn’t say it’s my weapon of choice but I don’t mind throwing one on occasion.”

  Yeah, sure. “Right.”

  “Care for a wager?”

  “No.” I gave him a look. “I’m not throwing knives.”

  Rael pouted like a little kid. “You don’t know what you’re missing. Come on.”

  I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest.

  “Fuck, bro. Just try it.”

  What was this? Peer pressure? Annoyed, I picked up a blade, hurtled it through the air, and shocked the shit out of me and Rael when it hit dead center of the board. A perfect fucking bullseye.

  “Shit,” Rael laughed. “You’re a natural.”

  Unable to resist, I smiled. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Try another. Prove its not beginner’s luck.”

  Despite my earlier apprehension, I decided to throw again after Rael retrieved the knife and handed it over. The blade landed in the center again. Nearly perfect.

  “Impressive, bro.”

  Yeah, it kind of was. I threw six more times and my aim was the same. Almost all were in the center. “Fine. This isn’t that bad.”

  He huffed out a breath. “Admit it. I’m fun to be around.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  We each smirked at one another.

  My phone chirped with an incoming text a few minutes later.

  Xenon: You there?

  Me: Yeah. What’s up?

  Xenon: Monitor is back up but blurry.

  Me: OK

  Xenon: Looks like trouble. Better check it out.

  Me: Shit. OMW.

  “Xenon says the monitor is working but it’s blurry. Looks like something is up.”

  Rael cursed. “Let’s roll out.”

  I chugged the last of the beer and ran from the bar, hopping on my bike. We broke every law speeding through Highway 95 to get back to Tonopah. I didn’t notice much at first when we turned onto Sasha’s street. It wasn’t until we were almost at the apartment that I noticed the front door was busted in. Place had been completely ransacked. Furniture was overturned. Drawers dumped. Pictures pulled off the walls and broken. Glass and debris were all over the floor.

  “Son of a bitch!” Rael shouted.

  The alarm was blaring a shrill wail as I stepped inside and punched in the code, plunging the apartment into silence. We moved from room to room but no one was there. In the back bedroom, the one that belonged to Sasha, four words were written in black spray paint on the wall: I’m coming for you.

  “Fuck,” I roared, kicking at a wastebasket as it tossed more paper and junk onto the carpet.

  “She’s not here. It’s all good,” he reminded me.

  Not good enough, though. My woman wasn’t safe. Not really. She was a target and Chamuco was making sure I knew it.

  Both of our phones began ringing at the same time.

  Rael answered but I didn’t hear what he was saying because Grim was on my line.

  “What you need, pres?”

  “Bodie, you’ve got to find Sasha.”

  My blood ran cold at his words. “What?”

  “She’s not here.”

  A bellow of rage left my chest.

  “I don’t know where she went but one of the prospects said she drove out of here about an hour ago alone and seemed to be in a rush.”

  “I’ll find her,” I snarled into the phone and hit end, hanging up before Grim could say anything else.

  Rael ticked his head in my direction. “Xenon is trying to find out what happened.”

  “Text Shadow and tell him to come fix the fuckin’ door.” The prospect was pretty good with repairs. We used his skills often.

  “Yeah. I’m on it.” Rael probably didn’t like that I gave him an order but I didn’t care.

  Jaw locked in anger, I spun on my heel and headed out the door, determined to locate Sasha.

  If Chamuco had her, there would be hell to pay.

  My Reaper agreed, taking hold of my body, and rushing to the surface of my skin. I embraced his presence and the rage that fueled my need for destruction.

  “Let’s go,” I growled, stomping from the apartment in time to hear a familiar voice scream.

  Sasha!

  There was no sign of the cat.

  I had walked the entire neighborhood with Rev and Olivia and we didn’t see him anywhere. The kids called his name over and over but he never showed up.

  “He’s got the prettiest purr, Sasha,” Olivia cried, burying her head in my stomach.

  My shirt was soaked with her tears. “I’m sure he does, honey.”

  “And he always catches mice,” Rev added.

  “He’s the best catcher too,” she agreed with a sniffle.

  “Maybe he’s out hunting,” I suggested.

  Rev shrugged like he considered the idea.

  Olivia adamantly shook her head. “Nope. Buttons doesn’t hunt like that since his accident.”

  Rev rolled his eyes. “You don’t know that.”

  “Yeah, I do. He just plays with the mice. I know. I saw him playing with a mouse last week.”

  “Was it dead?” Rev was staring her down, his little brows bunched up in frustration.

  “Well, no. I don’t remember.”

  “He wasn’t hunting because it was already dead.”

  Olivia shook her finger at him. “You don’t know, okay? You weren’t there, Rev.”

  He opened his mouth to retort when I held up my hands. It was obvious they were both tired and stressed. I ushered them back into the house, knowing the cat was either lost or wasn’t ready to come home. An uneasy feeling tickled my spine and I turned around, staring out at the twilight and shadows. No one was there but I had the distinct impression we weren’t alone.

  The door was shut and locked fast as I told the kids to take a bath. While they were busy getting ready for bed, I walked around and made sure all of the windows and doors were locked and secure. That odd sensation was back and I pulled my phone from my pocket, ready to dial Bodie when there was a thud outside on the front porch.

  My entire body trembled as I realized I was here alone without any help or protection with two small children. I didn’t even text Patriot or Bodie when I got here. Nobody knew I left the Crossroads.

  This was a monumentally bad idea. How could I be so careless?

  Holding my phone and ready to hit the emergency call button for 9-1-1, I peeked outside of the front room window and noticed something small was on the porch. The lightbulb wasn’t working as I flipped the switch and I immediately remembered this afternoon and the missing bulb at my apartment next door. No way was it a coincidence.

  The last of the sun’s rays had slipped below the horizon and it was too dark to make out the shape. I inhaled three deep breaths and decided I should have a weapon before I opened the door. Running for the kitchen, I grabbed one of the largest and sharpest carving blades and headed back toward the front, clutching the knife in my palm hard enough to hear my knuckles crack. My heart was racing in my chest as I listened to the two kids teasing one another upstairs.

  They had no idea what was happening and I intended to keep it that way.

  I would protect them with my life.

  When I inched the door open, I expected someone to jump out at me but the porch was empty except for the lump on the wooden surface. I scanned the yard and both sides of the house before I decided to inspect what was on the ground. Something wet was pooling around what appeared to be a burlap sack. Dark scar
let liquid gleamed in the low light as I bent down to inspect the object.

  To my utter horror, the bag contained the missing cat, minus the head which was placed beside the body. A scream of pure terror was torn from my lips as I backed away and dropped the knife, then my phone in my mad scramble back inside. Feeling like a complete idiot, I bent down fast and snatched the knife and the phone, barely realizing I sliced a finger in the process.

  Blood dripped from the wound but I was so shocked that I didn’t notice.

  “Sasha!”

  The door was wide open when I saw Bodie hop the fence and run into the yard, sprinting up the steps as he rushed inside and shut the door with a slam. Shaking, I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

  “Fuck, baby. Are you alright?”

  He pulled me into his embrace and gently pried the knife from my hand, frowning at the cut. At the same moment, the kids ran down the stairs, calling my name.

  “Hey,” Bodie greeted them both, hiding the knife behind his back, “Do you all have popcorn? I came over to watch a movie.”

  Blinking, I stared at him not quite comprehending what he was saying.

  Rev jumped down the last few steps and headed into the kitchen. Olivia’s eyes were wide.

  “Why did you scream, Sasha?”

  “She thought she saw a mouse,” Bodie explained, holding me tight against his chest as I swallowed hard, my gaze focused on the door and entryway. “Why don’t you grab a couple of bowls?”

  She nodded with a small smile and left us alone.

  “The cat,” I finally whispered.

  “I saw. Give me a second.”

  Bodie let go and walked into the kitchen, sliding the knife into the sink without the kids noticing. A moment later he was back with a wet washcloth that he wrapped around my finger. “I’ll find a bandage in a minute.” Tugging his phone from his cut, he fired off a series of texts.

  After a few minutes I heard someone on the front porch but he didn’t seem alarmed.

  “Rael is gonna take care of it. Kids won’t ever know.”

  Nodding, I didn’t trust my voice.

  Bodie shoved the device back into one of his pockets and lifted his hands, cupping my face. “Everything is going to be fine. Rael is staying here and he asked Patriot to come over and keep watch for the night. We’re gonna watch both apartments.”

  “Why is the cat dead? Who would do something like that?”

  “I’m going to find out,” he promised.

  It was hard to believe he didn’t have any idea. After all, the club had plenty of enemies. I knew that firsthand.

  Choosing to trust him, I didn’t press for answers.

  The kids picked out some animated movie with monsters and settled in next to me and Bodie. Olivia was snuggled into my side. Rev sat next to Bodie and somehow got him involved in a popcorn tossing competition. It was kind of adorable. Most of the kernels ended up on the couch and floor instead of their mouths but both of them were laughing before it was over.

  Watching them it became surreal how seamlessly Bodie could transition from normal moments like this to his biker lifestyle and the Reaper. Cool, calm, and affectionate one moment. Rough, deadly, and serious the next. He wasn’t the only one. All of the guys in the club seemed to be the same.

  Olivia fell asleep before the movie was over and Rev’s head kept bobbing as he tried to catch himself and stay awake. Eventually they were both breathing evenly and out for the night. Bodie carried Rev upstairs and I followed with Olivia. She was a light little thing and not hard to lift at all. Once they were both tucked in, we tiptoed back downstairs and sank onto the couch together.

  Bodie tugged me into his lap as my head rested on his shoulder. “You should get some rest.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “I will but I’d feel better knowing you were comfortable first.”

  “You’re too sweet to me,” I whispered with a yawn, ready to close my eyes.

  “Sasha?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “I’ve got you, baby.”

  “I know,” I assured him, sighing with contentment as he wrapped his arms tighter around me.

  With Bodie near, I wasn’t afraid of anything.

  I didn’t tell Sasha the truth.

  Part of me felt bad for not revealing what I knew, but the rest of me understood it was better not to worry her about Chamuco. She didn’t have to take on that burden. That was why I was here. It was my fuckin’ job to protect my woman. Sometimes that meant she was left in the dark about the club, especially when our enemies chose to fuck with us.

  When I found the motherfucker that killed that cat, he was going to be sorry. I was betting it wasn’t Chamuco. He sent someone to intimidate Sasha and probably enjoyed fucking up her apartment. I didn’t get the connection to the kids and worried Gina was somehow in over her head. I didn’t mention it to Sasha but the cat’s death was a clear message. They were in danger as much as Sasha.

  My Reaper couldn’t wait to exact a little revenge. Those kids were devastated and their pet was never coming home. Was it better to tell them he was gone and give them closure or just wait it out until they realized he wasn’t coming back? Hell. I didn’t know shit about kids.

  Flustered, I hugged Sasha closer. I’d let her deal with it. Women were better at this sort of thing, right?

  I’d spent a restless night unable to sleep more than a couple of hours. The danger was far too close and with three vulnerable lives in my hands I couldn’t rest like my body needed. Patriot and Rael would take turns keeping watch between the two properties but I was too wound up. My mind wouldn’t stop focusing on Chamuco or the threat he was clearly issuing. A mistake he would spend the rest of his life paying for once I reaped his wretched soul.

  Sasha’s phone started ringing and I gently shook her shoulder, caressing the side of her face before I placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Wake up, baby.”

  She stirred and a small smile curled her full, sexy lips. “Morning.”

  “Your phone keeps going off. Might be a good idea to check it.”

  She sat up and stretched. “Okay.”

  “I think you should try to get ahold of Gina too.”

  Sasha tensed and I knew she was remembering last night. The phone began ringing again and she picked it up, swiping to answer. “Gina?”

  Guess that was meant to be.

  “Hey, babe. Need to ask a favor.”

  I could hear Gina’s voice clearly since the house was so quiet.

  “I’m glad you called. I’m with Rev and Liv. They lost Buttons and I came over to help search last night.”

  “Oh no! Is he alright?”

  “No,” Sasha answered, reaching for my hand, and gripping it hard. “The kids don’t know. They didn’t see.”

  “Shit. See what? Was he hit by a car?”

  “No. Someone fucking cut his head off and placed it in a bag on your front porch.”

  “What!?”

  “Yeah. You know why someone would do that?” Sasha sounded worried for Gina. “Are you in trouble?”

  “Fuck,” I heard Gina whisper. “I don’t know. Maybe. I borrowed some money and I haven’t been able to pay it back yet.”

  Sasha closed her eyes briefly and then glanced my way, biting her lower lip. “How much?”

  “Ten grand. I wanted to clear my debt and build credit so we can get out of that apartment and into our own place. Half is for a down payment or it was supposed to be but I got stuck with some extra bills and it’s all gone.”

  Gina’s voice trembled and I could tell she was scared.

  “Hey, we’ll figure this out but I think you should come home and stay with the kids. Rev and Liv need to know Buttons is gone and I think it should come from you.”

  “Okay. I’ll be home in half an hour.”

  “What was the favor you needed?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Doesn’t matter now.”

  They ended the call and Sasha slouched, sigh
ing loudly. “She’s in trouble. I know she is. Why else would someone kill her family’s cat?”

  “You’re right. Once she’s home, try to find out more info. I can’t act without all the facts.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Once Gina arrived, Sasha made a pot of coffee in the kitchen and talked with Gina while I slipped outside to have a smoke and meet up with Rael and Patriot. Shadow was carrying bags of trash to the dumpster next door as I stood on the sidewalk, observing both places at the same time. The front door was replaced and I knew he had spent the last few hours cleaning up the place.

  Rael sauntered over, his face smeared with the remnants of his paints. Made him look fucked-up in the morning light. Like some kind of serial killer from a horror movie. Bet if I told him that shit, he’d love the comparison. I didn’t but only because we needed to talk.

  “I sent Patriot home. He’s got shit to do for Grim.”

  Nodding, I inhaled a long drag and let the nicotine soothe my anxiety. “We’ve got another problem.”

  “I hate those fuckin’ words,” Rael admitted, shoving his hands into his pockets. “What’s the matter?”

  I had thought the exact same thing only yesterday so I understood his meaning.

  “Gina and her kids live here. She’s in over her head and borrowed money she can’t pay back.”

  “From who?”

  “That’s what Sasha is trying to find out.”

  He scratched at the stubble on his chin. “Got to be connected to the Scorpions or Chamuco. Made it too easy to hist both places at the same time last night.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Grim called church for noon. Better wrap up here with Sasha. I’ll meet you back at the Crossroads. You want Shadow to stick around?”

  “Yeah. Have him watch both places for the day. I don’t want any more surprises.”

  “Yeah, I hear you, Bodie.”

  I TEXTED SASHA AND she met me at her place fifteen minutes later.

  “I didn’t find out much. She’s spooked.”

  “Yeah, I kind of figured.”

  Sasha moved close, laying her head on my shoulder. “I don’t know what to think. I’m scared for her and the kids.”

  “I’ve got one of the prospects watching both places all day. Anyone comes here or next door and we’ll know about it right away.”