“Evie?” His once-strong voice is gone now and nothing but a hiss.
I nod. “It’s me, Daddy.” I lean over to hug him, vaguely aware that I’m sobbing on his downy-fresh sweater.
I pull back to look him in the eyes. “I’m here, it’s me.” He wheezes and starts to cough, his thin body shaking.
“Oh my God, Jason.” I look over at him for help. He stands watching us, his eyes alert.
“James? Do you need a nurse?” My father straightens up and waves away the offer. He watches me. I drop my hand, and I guess reach for Jason. I feel like a bad teenager who stayed out past her curfew.
“Daddy, I think you need more oxygen.” I reach for his cold hand, which makes him look like he’s eighty when he hasn’t even made it to fifty. He pulls out a smartphone from a small pouch to his right and adjusts the oxygen. Jason has done all of this. My eyes are blurry with tears and when I look up at him, it’s hard to see him. But he wasn’t lying. My dad has been getting the best care and it doesn’t matter that Jason’s a bad guy. I don’t care that he may even kill people. All that matters is he’s mine.
“You brought me my baby girl,” he hisses out.
I rub his hand trying to get him to focus on me. He’s wheezing and his eyes are watering, but his hand squeezes mine. “Oh, Daddy, I missed you. Is there… do you need anything?”
“I need to take care of some things. I’ll be back.” Jason reaches for me and I hesitate. It’s one thing to kiss in front of disgusting bikers and another with my father in the room.
“Eve?” I look up at him then my dad who looks confused.
“Angel, your father’s not stupid. He knows I fuck you.” I freeze. Holy shit he did not just say that, did he?
“I need to make some phone calls. I’ll let you two catch up.” I stand and nod.
“Christ.” Jason reaches for me and his warm lips find mine. It’s tender and tears well in my eyes again. He breaks away. “I’ll be back shortly.” Then he looks at my poor dad, whose eyes are huge and fists are clenched. “You look good, James.”
My father hisses out what sounds like “fuck you.” Jason grins and looks at me. “Call me if you need me.” I nod and sink into a leather chair watching him leave, then turn to smile at my dad. He stares at the closed door. Sighing, I get up and pull the chair close to him so I can face him. It smells like Lysol in here and I flash to Amy constantly spraying the clubhouse. His room has a large, beautiful window that faces the backyard of this place. The yellow walls and green lawn and flowers make it look like a picture.
“Daddy, are they treating you good?” He is still looking at the door and turns his blue eyes on me.
“Don’t tell me you are with him.”
“I don’t want to talk about Jason. How are they trea—”
“Jason?” he gasps out. “That’s Blade. He got that name because he cuts people up.” His hands shake as he wipes the side of his nose, which is running because of the oxygen.
“Okay… Blade. Let’s not get all worked up.” I try to soothe him.
He sits and looks at me. “You think you’re in love?”
Instantly, my cheeks turn pink. Shit, this is not good. My dad is all upset. Maybe I should lie.
I go to open my mouth and he turns away. “The thought of you whoring yourself makes me sick.”
Speechless, I’m also paranoid Jason will walk in. “Daddy, you don’t know him,” I hiss under my breath. “He’s different with me.”
He reaches into his pocket and brings out a Kleenex. “You aren’t nothing but a plaything for him, Evie. I thought you were strong.”
I lean forward and take his clammy hand. “I am strong. And you have nothing to worry about. All you need to do is get better and—”
“I ain’t getting better, Evie. I’m dying. No matter how much money Blade spends, it’s not going to change that I’m dying and you’re sleeping with a man who will never put you first or a ring on that finger.” He slumps back, but he’s glaring at me like if he had the strength he would paddle my butt. “He’s a killer and he took you,” he rasps.
“Yeah, well we can thank Benny for that.” I stand up. The room is light and airy but it’s warm and I need some space.
“He’s your brother.”
“He sacrificed both of us.” I look out his window. This place is unbelievable with all the grass and flowers, not to mention the professional landscaping. That’s what the compound needs: some flowers. Maybe it wouldn’t always smell of gasoline and oil. I spin toward my dad. “I’m working on taking care of you.” He looks from me to the door.
“He tossing you out?”
“No… and I’m working on making sure he is going to keep me.”
“You are my pride. Don’t give him your heart. You’ve got plenty of time to find the right man.”
I look up at the ceiling wondering if I should tell him the truth. Before I can say anything Jason strides in along with a doctor. I pull my T-shirt down, hoping I don’t look trashy. The middle-aged doctor smiles at my dad and me.
“You must be Evie.” He holds out his hand. I reluctantly shake it. I hate shaking hands—it always seems so phony. “Your father talks about you all the time.” He looks smart, meaning he has salt-and-pepper hair with dark thick-rimmed glasses.
“Um… yes, that’s me.” I look at Jason who stands next to the doctor, his eyes unreadable. With his arms crossed, I can’t help but glance at his biceps.
“Well, we are happy that we are keeping your father as comfortable as we can.”
I stare at the doctor. “What does that mean?” It comes out harsh and I hear my dad wheeze harder.
“Excuse me.” The doctor moves to my father and looks at his eyes then at Jason. I guess he’s forgotten I’m here.
“I’m going to give him something to help relax him. This has been a busy day.” The doctor goes to the door, and I move to stop him but Jason takes my arm.
“It’s okay, Angel. Let him help your dad,” he whispers in my ear, and I sag into him. Tears, fucking wretched tears, are threatening to fall again.
“James, we’re gonna let you rest. Eve will be back tomorrow to visit if you would like.”
I look at him. Green eyes swirl in front of me and I almost feel as if I might be lightheaded.
“Really? I can come back?”
Jason looks aggravated but stays quiet with a nod.
“Daddy, I’ll be back tomorrow.” He nods and starts the very same coughing that gives me nightmares.
“Daddy?” Jason holds me as a nurse barges in with a syringe that she injects into a tube on his wrist.
I watch my father’s eyes roll back and his head falls forward as if it’s too heavy for his neck. But the coughing stops. I must make a sound because Jason holds me tight in his arms and the nurse looks confused. “He’s fine,” she says. “Trust me, we are taking great care of him.”
I want to scream. He’s not doing fine—he’s dying. Instead I focus on Jason’s hands as he takes charge.
“Thank you, Harper. This is Eve, his daughter. She’ll be coming and going.”
If I wasn’t trying to pull myself together I would roll my eyes. Because Harper the nurse looks at Jason like he’s a god or something. He is, but he’s mine.
“We’ll let you take care of him.” He laces our fingers as he gently walks us out and nods at the doctor as we pass by.
Jason pushes open the side door and I scrounge around in my bag for my sunglasses. I’m wired yet tired. My heart feels like it’s racing and Jason stops and turns toward me. He’s so tall his body blocks the sun for me as his warm hand tilts my chin up, and I almost choke on how absolutely perfect he is. Suddenly I want him. Like it’s almost primal. His thumbs caress away my tears and he leans down and licks my lips and his spicy, smoky scent envelops me.
“I’m sorry.” His mouth is on my forehead.
“He’s dying?” I can’t believe I said that. Of course he’s dying—has been for years. “I don’t know w
hy, but I thought you could save him.”
“I’m not God, Angel. And he’s not dead today, so stop crying.” His gravelly voice makes my skin hot and butterflies of excitement snake all the way down to my sex. I look at him and he either feels the same way or it’s all over my face because I’m burning.
“Fuck.” He looks around the parking lot, which is packed but certainly not deserted. He grabs my arm. “I can’t lean you over my bike to fuck you right now, so stop looking at me like that,” he says, his voice gruff.
“I need you.” It’s the most honest, vulnerable thing to come out of my mouth. And for a brief time, I let myself acknowledge that he can take away this sadness and make me feel better. I shift, the wetness of my need already making me flushed. His green eyes change, his nostrils flare as if he can smell my want. Suddenly he’s urging me back toward the nursing home. Instead of entering, he pulls me around to the side and up against the warm wall. Then his mouth is on mine as a growl rises from deep in his throat. Our tongues touch and it’s as though the world, maybe even the universe, has stopped existing. People, staff, nature vanish as I cling to him, his strong arms holding me up. His hand unbuttons my jeans and I hear myself make a sound I didn’t know existed inside me as he starts to rub my clit with two fingers.
“I’m going to rub this plump clit until you scream, and then I’m going to take you home and fuck you.”
His fingers are like magic. “Oh God.” I roll my head and look at him. My fingers dig into his chest, the cotton a slight barrier as my nails latch onto him. “I need this… I don’t know why…”
“Look at me.” He pulls back and my eyes lock on his. “That’s it… Now come, Eve.”
“How do you do this that quickly? Holy shit, I’m coming.”
His strong fingers thrust inside me as I clench around them and see stars, white light, and him. Death, despair, sadness vanish as I orgasm.
His voice rumbles in my ear. “Jesus, that’s it. Squeeze my fingers.” He kisses my forehead as he leans toward me. “I’ve been neglecting you, haven’t I?” He kisses my tearstained eyes and I shudder. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he pulls his fingers out and shoves them into my mouth, his eyes like green fire.
“Suck.”
My tongue licks his wet fingers and he smirks as he dips his head to plunder my tongue with his as we both suck and kiss. I taste myself and him and almost want to shove his wet fingers back down my pants to match him in naughtiness.
He kisses the tip of my nose. “Feel better? Less needy?” He grins as he kisses me again.
“No, but you take the pain away.” His face is almost too pretty to belong in the life he lives.
“Such a fierce little badass.” He gently brushes my lips then zips me up. Taking my hand, he brings us back to his Harley.
“Here, babe.” He hands me the helmet.
“Thank you,” I say, clearing my voice, which is raspy from all my crying. I look down because if he sees me right now, I’m sure he… well I’m not sure what he would do if he knew I was falling for him. But he doesn’t need to know that yet. I pull my blond hair out of my eyes and put the helmet on, watching his muscled legs grip the bike as he waits for me. I hop on and wrap my arms around him. My father’s words replay in my mind, yet all they do is make me squeeze and hold on to him tighter.
BLADE/JASON
“Does this look good?” Eve steps out of our bathroom. I’m on the phone with an arms dealer in Moscow; otherwise I would send her back in to change. Which is why she twirls in front of me happily and my heart starts to thump. When I frown, she stops, puts her hands on her hips, and rolls her eyes before flouncing down in a chair with her phone as she waits.
“Sergei, I need an answer. I’m done negotiating,” I shout into the phone. He’s going to try to pretend he doesn’t understand English right now. That’s what he does whenever he wants to drag out negotiating, but I’m sick of it.
“Nyet—”
I cut him off. “Shut up, Sergei. We’ve spent numerous times getting drunk off vodka and caviar. I know you understand me. Do you want the guns or not?”
My eyes drift to my Angel whose long legs seem to go on forever in that yellow dress she’s wearing. She crosses them and rolls her head. I watch as her golden tresses fall across her shoulders like caramel slides down ice cream. She’s been busy the last two weeks with her dad. I’ve assigned Dewey as her bodyguard slash spy. He gets up every day, proudly takes her to the home, then brings her back and tells me everything. I stare at her and a surge of possessiveness takes ahold of me. Her skin is glowing; her blue eyes sparkle like the clearest blue ocean. She seems peaceful and happy, which should scare me, but I’m growing used to it. Absently I wonder if I’m reprogramming my brain. Or maybe she’s doing it. I should stop asking her questions. I don’t need to know what her favorite color is, but for some reason I do. As soon as I found out it was yellow, I had a dozen yellow roses delivered to her and her father at his home. I almost stabbed Edge when he snickered walking by me as I placed the order.
She sighs and sets down her phone, closing her eyes as if she’s tired.
“Wait, did you actually just try to tell me you want me to give you these guns for that price?” I scream into the phone, causing Eve to jump and her eyes to pop open. I can’t help but smirk. When I demand things from others, it turns her on. And sure enough, her mouth opens a little as she licks her lips. I turn toward my window, gazing down at the pool, and wonder why this girl seems to be it for me. The excuse that she’s new and fresh and mine sounds shallow and juvenile. It’s going on almost five months since I rode into her carnival. I rub my neck as I absently hear Sergei trying to backpedal.
Ignoring his ramble, I think about two nights ago. I got drunk with Axel and Ryder and confessed that I’ve only had Eve’s pussy all these months. For the first time in my life, I’m monogamous. Axel actually got up and left the room. Ryder put his hand on my shoulder as if I needed support. Nodding his giant dark head, he said that it happens to the best of us.
Christ. I force myself back to the conversation. “I’m done. I have given you a fair price. You know my stuff is the best, so decide. I have an appointment and have no intention of being any later,” I grumble into the burner phone. When I’m done, I’ll throw it away. Silence is all I hear—that and some slight static and a long dramatic sigh.
“Da, I want you to know that I’m getting the worst end of the deal this time, so next time, please make it up to me.”
I snort. “Sure, I’ll have my guys be in touch,” I say then hang up and turn to my addiction, who sits and stares at me with a small, proud smile. I lean down to cage her in.
“It turns you on watching me, doesn’t it?” She nods slowly as her tongue comes out to lick her bottom lip.
“It turns me on knowing that.” I lean in farther to kiss her. I already fucked her in the shower less than an hour ago, but the thought of turning her over the chair with her ass in the air almost makes me forget that I promised her a date tonight. Jesus, she’s going to kill me.
“Pack a bag. We might be gone for a couple of days.” I’ve been thinking about this all day and I guess I finally made my decision.
She jumps up. “But… what about my father? He may need me.”
“We’re not going far,” I say over my shoulder. “I need to tell one of my guys what’s going on.” I chuckle at her stunned look.
I make my way down the stairs and enter our office. Edge is sitting behind an old beat-up desk, typing on his laptop. The desk has definitely seen better days. It’s old and dark wood. My grandfather probably put notches on it every time he fucked someone on it, so not only is it beat-up and ugly, but also for family history alone, I can’t get rid of it.
“Hey, man.” I open up the cabinet for the keys to one of my cars.
He looks over at me, says, “Blade,” and returns to his computer.
I stand twirling the keys and take in his wrinkled clothes and dark circles. “What’s up, E
dge? I’m sick of all your dark shit.”
He leans back rubbing his hands over his face and sips his beer. “I don’t know what you want me to say.” He takes another drink. “Dolly. Dolly hates the Disciples. So… my life sucks.”
I nod and look around this small room that holds a safe, some filing cabinets, and the beat-up desk. “I didn’t know you guys were back together.”
He snorts and lays his head back on the chair. “We’re not, Jason. She wants me to leave the Disciples, man. How can I leave my family? And why would she want me to? It’s not like she wasn’t raised in it too.” He looks at me.
I don’t know what to say. Unlike a lot of the guys, Edge and I share something. His old man was with my dad. Died of cancer years ago and the Disciples is all Edge has ever known. He’s never left, so Dolly’s demand for him to leave for her is a mistake.
“I’m thinking about taking Eve to my house, get away—”
“She’s the one, Jason. I’d say don’t fuck it up, but if you’re taking her to your house, you’re obviously serious.” The pain in his eyes makes me uncomfortable. He looks at the beer bottle then slams it on the desk and types on his laptop again.
“You know where to find me.” I start to walk out.
“Hey Prez?” I turn. “You look awfully fancy, man. Where you going?”
I look down at my clothes. I’m in dark jeans and a tight, long-sleeved, green waffle T-shirt.
“I’m taking Eve out to dinner.”
His lips twitch. “I want to laugh, but since you’re the Prez and all, I won’t. Have fun. This is like your first date in years, right?”
I stare at him.
“What? It’s an honest question.”
“You know I haven’t gone on a date in probably ten years.” I twirl the keys again, daring him to say anything else. He doesn’t but smiles and takes another sip of beer.
“I’ll be sure to let Axel know.”
I nod, and for a few seconds, I feel like a dick. What the hell am I doing? Then a pair of long legs descends the stairs.
“Good, do that,” I say, trying to reason that it’s no big deal that I’m doing all this. But it is a big deal—this is something I’ve never done.
Lethal Page 19