"Did you watch TV much?"
"No. I've seen it, but it wasn't something I had the luxury to watch whenever I wanted."
"What did you do to pass the time?"
"I read."
Ace nodded his head. He found a show where they were working on motorcycles, then stood and said, "I'll be right back."
I watched as he walked away and thought, not for the first time, that he had a beautiful ass. Before Ace, I'd never once had that thought about a man, and it shook me. A moment later, Ace returned with a thin black rectangle looking thing.
"This is a kindle. I read on it, maybe two or three times a year. You can download whatever books you want to read on it." He pressed a button on the bottom of the device and powered it on then handed it to me, explaining how it operated.
I browsed Amazon and couldn't believe all of the options of books to choose from. In Colombia, I read whatever I could get my hands on, but this was a bit of heaven. I couldn't help but grin.
Ace sat beside me watching his show, I heard the soft intake of breath beside me, then felt Ace's finger brush my cheek.
"This is nice watching you searching for something to read. You look happier."
"Ace, there are so many books! I can type in any trope I want, and literally, thousands of books appear."
Ace grinned at me then pulled me closer to his side. His arm swept around me, and I found myself leaning slightly against his chest. I settled on a romance called Tainted by Crazy. I thought it would be a lighter romance, plus the cover was gorgeous. I found myself chuckling as the story began. Every time I made a little noise of amusement, Ace seemed to give me a light squeeze. I could tell that it pleased him to see me enjoying something, and that thought slightly unnerved me.
We sat with him watching TV and me reading. There was a casualness about it that left me feeling lighthearted. Eventually, I felt my eyes get heavy and felt Ace shift us on the couch. I knew I was cradled against him, but I was too sleepy to suggest getting up. Plus, his body felt too warm and too comfortable to move away from him.
It was dark when I blinked open my eyes. The TV was no longer on, and we were on the couch in the living room. Ace's arm was around my waist, and he was sleeping. I somehow turned into him and could hear the even beats of his heart.
It was dark, but the moonlight from outside filtering through the window made it so I could make out the stubble that began to cover his jaw. It was alluring in its own way. I reached my hand up and stroked the side of his face feeling the roughness against my palm.
He shifted and cracked an eye open.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you," I whispered.
My hand was still on his face, and I felt him lean into it. Like my caress did something for him. Not too him, but for him. It was strange, but there was a difference. I'd done things to men, but I'd never really done things for them to make them feel. Feelings were never a part of it.
"Don't mind waking up to you, Princess," Ace responded sleepily.
I watched him—just stared at him and wondered how in the world I ended up here. He closed his eyes and pulled me closer to him, then kissed me on the top of my head. He began to fall back asleep, and I realized that it was in the darkest hours that it was easiest for me to say what was on my mind.
"Ace?" I whispered.
"Hmm?" he mumbled back.
"Thank you for saving me."
"Always, Princess. Always."
IT WAS THE FOURTH DAY in Ace's home. His cupboards were practically bare, and I had been living in Ace's T-shirts. After the first night and morning filled with orgasms, I expected there to be more, but Ace changed. He seemed more affectionate, pulling me close and continuously touching me. He didn't let things go any further. I wanted him too, but I could tell he was doing this on purpose.
I'd forgotten the guest bedroom and slept peacefully in Ace's arms in his bed. I didn't just feel safe while lying in his arms. I had this overwhelming sense that I actually was.
I was drinking coffee while lying in his bed. Ace hollered from the kitchen, "It's official, Alex. The cupboards are bare." His voice got louder as he approached the bedroom. I gulped at the sight of him bare-chested, wearing track pants and nothing else. He'd been up far longer than I had. By the time I had blinked my eyes awake, I was sure he'd already put a major workout in. How that man still smelled fresh after that, I had no idea.
“I'm going to the clubhouse to check in with Shane and Gunner. Then, I'll stop by the grocery store. You won't starve in a few hours, will you Princess?" he teased. Somehow, I no longer minded him calling me Princess.
"I think I'll manage."
He walked to his dresser and quickly changed from his track pants to a pair of jeans. I watched while he did this. It was a sight, the way his arms stretched over his head, flexing just a little as he put on his shirt.
"Do you have any specific requests?"
"I'm sure whatever you get will be fine."
"Come on, there has to be something."
I thought about it. There was something that I could use. "How about women's shampoo and conditioner?"
"Got it. Any brands?"
I'd never been to a store, and I didn't know brands. Everything had been purchased for me. I shrugged my shoulders, "Whatever you get will be fine."
Ace walked to me and kissed the top of my head. "Don't open the door for anyone. Don't go outside without me. You're safe here, but I don't want to take any chances."
I nodded, "Okay, Ace."
He pulled away to walk out of the bedroom, then backtracked and bent low to hug me. His hug was tight, and I clung my arms around him. I not only felt safe in his arms, but I felt this unfamiliar feeling of longing and acceptance, mixed with a heavy dose of guilt.
Ace left, and I finished my coffee, trying to figure out what to do.
Freedom. That was what I was after. That was the goal, right? But how could I do what Hades wanted? I hadn't even met my brother yet, but I knew I didn't want to betray him. I felt safe here. Safer than I'd ever felt before. Was that really so wrong?
I moved to the spare bedroom and stood at my bag filled with jewels. I could take that and try to disappear, putting Hades, Gunner, and Ace behind me. I could just run.
I found myself laughing as I clutched the bag. What a ridiculous thought! Run. I'd never even visited a store before. It's not like I could go in and trade a necklace for a meal, could I? I'd be found right away.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I'd barely heard the doorbell. Seeing the tire of a motorcycle through the window, I thoughtlessly opened the door. It happened so quickly, I must've thought it was Ace, or one of his brothers as he'd call them. That is the only thing I could come up with when I'd thought about it later, for why I opened the door so freely.
It wasn't Ace.
An older man with greying hair and a round belly, wearing a leather vest that read Hades Runners stood in front of me.
I was stock-still, unsure of what to do.
"Your old man ain't happy with you, girl. Says if you don't go get your phone and call him, I'm to put a bullet in you." He moved his vest and flashed a gun that was strapped to his side.
Oh, I'd fucked up.
I'd fucked up big time.
Mindlessly, with the door left open, no less, I moved to my room and dug the phone out from the bottom of my bag, then walked back out to the man at the door.
I powered on the phone, and it rang almost immediately. I didn't want to answer it. I wanted nothing to do with it, but here it was... Hades' way of making sure that I recognized my safety for the lie it was.
"Answer it now!" The man said in a low guttural voice that sent a shiver down my spine.
I hit the green button and heard a voice with more malice than I'd ever heard before, and Enrico and my grandfather were masters at malice, so this was saying something.
"It's been days, you stupid cunt. You don't call. You don't text. It's like you want to die. I should put an end to you right no
w, you worthless little slut."
Oh, how the tears threatened to fall. Ace was making me soft. I needed to remember my backbone.
"Hades," I steeled my voice as much as I could, given the amount of fear that ran through my body, "I've been at Ace's. My brother wants to make sure I'm safe before bringing me out into the real world."
"But you're not safe, are you? You meet your brother and stop playing house. I need intel, and I needed it yesterday. We had a deal, Alejandra. I can tell your grandpa where you are, you know, and then none of these Bleeding Scar pansies will be safe. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly."
I was met by silence on the other end. Hades had disconnected.
The man at the door lifted his gun to me, tapping the trigger with his finger. "Not today, sweetheart. Remember we know where you live." He cackled as he reached his bike, not holstering his gun until right before he swung his leg over his bike.
I watched him leave, and only once he was out of sight did I let my weak legs drop. I sat against the wall staring at the door. I wasn't safe. Not even a little.
I JUST FINISHED PUTTING the phone away when I heard the roar of a motorcycle. It made me freeze. I didn't know who it was or what I'd do if it was actually Hades. I was frozen in the guest bedroom, staring at the floor when I heard Ace bellow my name, "Alex!"
He was frantic, "Alex, where are you?"
I looked up and met his eyes just as he hit the doorway.
"Alex," Ace sighed, "Jesus, I was calling you. Are you okay? I got an alert that someone was on the property, and then I checked the feed. A fucking Hades Runner was here. What happened?"
Shit, shit, shit.
Still frozen and unsure what to say, I kept quiet.
"Alex." He gently shook my shoulders. "As soon as I saw him, I rushed right here. Why the fuck did you open the door? Answer me, Alex."
I was frozen, trying to figure out what I should say, and then it came to me. "I thought it was you. I didn't think."
"No, you fucking didn't."
He pulled me close, hugging me tightly. It was the most unfamiliar feeling I'd ever experienced. He was genuinely worried that something had happened to me. He wasn't angry, or maybe he was and was just mad at the idea that I was at risk. Tears stung my eyes. For a brief second, I allowed myself to feel everything he was giving me. It was kindness and warmth. It was security and comfort. And under it all, it felt like something else. Something more, but I couldn't allow myself to dive into those feelings. We barely knew each other. Sure, we'd spent some very intense moments together, but the way he held me left me feeling even more confused.
"What did he say?"
"That Hades knows I'm here, and he wants to see me."
"Fuck that! He's not getting anywhere near you."
"I don't know about all of this, Ace. I think maybe it's time I meet my brother."
Ace scrutinized me. I was sure fear and unease were written all over my features. I didn't know what my next move would be, but I was certain I couldn't just hole up here in the safety Ace was creating. It wasn't safe. Nothing was.
Chapter Thirteen
Alex
I hadn't prepared myself emotionally for what it would feel like to meet Gunner. One minute, I was on the back of Ace's bike, and the next, we were pulling up in front of the clubhouse. It didn't seem like much, a brick building close to the highway. You would never know that it was a motorcycle club.
Ace pulled behind a building, and I could see railroad tracks in the distance. We rode down a small paved slope to a large garage bay that opened as we approached. He drove inside and parked the bike. As I got off I immediately noticed everyone in the room was pretty much frozen to the spot.
A man stood with a woman. I don't know how I knew, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was my brother.
He approached us cautiously like he feared that if he moved too quickly, I'd spook.
Ace spoke first, "Alex, this is your brother Gunner, and his wife, Charlie."
I stuck out my hand, hoping he would shake it. I felt strange like I wasn't sure if I wanted to be close to him. I wanted my freedom, but something about the way he looked at me made me feel more than a little conflicted.
"I'm so glad to meet you." He put his hand out to shake mine, but as our palms touched, he pulled me in for a hug and spoke quietly, for only my ears to hear.
"I'm sorry it took me so long. Swear to Christ, if I'd known about you, I would have been there much sooner. I'm thankful as fuck you're home."
Now, why did his words make the back of my throat burn?
I didn't know what to say, so I offered him a small smile as I pulled away.
"This is my wife, Charlie." She seemed a little shy at first, but then threw her arms around me and hugged me as well. The way she hugged me was different than the way Gunner hugged me. It was like there was already a camaraderie, which was impossible since we'd never met. She was stunning with long dark hair, long legs, and a fantastic body. She was wearing black leggings and a slouchy sweater that hung off her shoulder.
"You're safe here," she said for my ears only.
Damn it to hell! I was going to cry if they didn't stop.
"Is this her? Is this my auntie?" A little boy came barreling through the group.
Charlie laughed and bent lower to talk to the boy on his level. "Gun, this is your Aunt Alex. I can call you Alex, right?"
"Alex is fine. Hi, Gun."
"Gun is short for Gunner. I'm named after my dad. He's your brother. Wait, I guess you know that. Want to see what I can do?" I just noticed the skateboard in one of Gun's hands propped up on one side and leaning on the ground on the other.
"Sorry, the boys like to give him sugar even when I tell them not to. He's a little wound up," Charlie explained, straightening herself.
"Reggie's been teaching me a few tricks. Want to see, Auntie Alex?"
I'd never really been around children and the speed at which he seemed to be going amused me. "Sure, have at it."
Gun took off on the board and moved around the room quickly, and then he jumped, keeping the board with him as he did it. "That's amazing," I said, finally taking in my surroundings. There were guys everywhere gawking. There were large machines on one side of the room. There was a couch and a few other chairs surrounding a card table. There were fully stocked stand up coolers, and on another side of the room, there was a boxing ring.
Wow.
I noticed some sparks flying, and saw a man welding a large piece of metal.
"Princess, it's a lot to take in. You want to grab something to drink, and maybe we can sit and talk?" Ace put his hand at the small of my back.
"Princess, Ace? We need to have words," Gunner spoke to Ace.
"After. First, let's get her settled, yeah?" Ace said.
I wasn't sure what their exchange was about, but I didn't have time to ponder it. We were being moved by the couch and chairs. Charlie sat in one of the chairs, and I watched as Gunner grabbed a folding chair from a stack, opened it, and took a seat. Ace guided me to the couch, where he sat down next to me, not giving me much space. Another man joined us from a corridor.
"You dipshits were supposed to tell me when she was here." He flashed a warm smile at me, then stuck out his hand. I shook his hand and was briefly struck by how attractive he was. He was no Ace, but damn he was something. He had light hair and eyes and was a tad shorter than my brother and nowhere as tall as Ace. "Hey, I'm Shane. Nice to meet you, Alex."
I noticed Shane quirk his eyebrow up at Ace, silently asking him a question. What that question was, I had no idea.
Ace didn't give me any time to ponder that. "Shane's the President of the club. I told you about him, remember?" It was then that I noticed the patch on his black vest that said President.
"Yes, I remember."
"Shane, take a seat." I watched as the tension in the room seemed to skyrocket a bit as if they were bracing for something.
"A Hades Runner made co
ntact with Alex at my house. I wasn't gone long. I was just heading to the store, and then I was going to come here, but I got an alert that my perimeter was breached."
"You left her unguarded?" Gunner accused. "We went through all that, and you left her. You should've called a prospect to go to the fucking store. Are you fucking serious right now?"
Apparently, my brother had a temper.
"She wasn't supposed to open the door. No one can get into my house with the doors locked!" Ace gritted out, annoyed to be answering to anyone about me, at least, that's what it seemed.
"Gunner," Charlie said softly, "Why don't we pause for a second and listen to what Alex has to say about what happened."
Gunner took about a half a second to contemplate his wife's words, shot Ace an annoyed look, and then turned to me. "What happened when you opened the door?"
"I thought it would be Ace or one of you guys," I gestured to the room filled with men. "There was a guy I didn't know standing there, and he said that Hades wanted to speak with me. It was like he was sent there to deliver a message. That's all."
Ace spoke next. His voice seemed raw with emotion, but low, almost like a growl. "That's not fucking all. When I got there, she was spooked. She was scared in my home, and that's the last place she should be a-fuckin'-fraid."
"Yeah, why's that?" Gunner asked almost hissing as he spoke.
Yes, my brother could get pissed.
Shane stood, crossed his arms over his chest, and demanded, "You two. Office. Now." He turned to move down the hallway he came from without looking to see if Gunner and Ace would follow. He knew they would. And they did.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex
No sooner had the men walked down the hallway, Charlie got up from her seat and plopped down next to me on the couch.
"That was intense. It can be like that with the guys. Gunner's protective of you, that's all. He's been so worried about you. He would've come himself, but he didn't want to leave me, you know?"
I didn't really know what she was talking about, so I nodded. Female friends, like kids, were also something I wasn't used to. The closest to a friend I had was Sasha, but she wasn't truly a friend. A friend doesn't doll you up only so you can be used by whatever guy your uncle wants to make nice with. A friend doesn't deliver you to the enemy. I always knew her interest was for herself and that I was a job. Still, there were times where she would warn me or sneak me something to eat or drink, even if I wasn't supposed to have it.
Explosive (A Bleeding Scars MC) Page 9