A Savage Kinda Love

by Kiki Leach

  In a way I never wanted to for as long as I was still breathing.

  "Baby--"

  "Can you just hold me for a few minutes?" I asked him. "Please."

  "Always, Cheyenne." He made a face without realizing why, then dipped his head toward mine and pushed his brows together. "You've been crying?"

  I smiled in being so unbelievably visible to him, in feeling so terribly seen, then shoved myself even further into his space, forcing him to take so much more of me than he had already. "I didn't think you'd take much notice of that, if any."

  "Baby, something like this... I couldn't ignore from you if I tried, and I wouldn't."

  "That's both comforting and absolutely terrifying for me, Nikko."

  "Why?"

  "Because you see me beyond the person I hope to be in front of other people," I told him. "You see who I am -- even the parts I try like hell to keep hidden, sometimes from myself, you take a keen notice of; even if you don't say anything aloud, I can feel you observing, feel you watching me."

  "You want me to stop?" He grinned and lowered one hand from me while sliding the other along the side of my throat. As his thumb grazed my overzealous pulse, I parted my lips and slightly tilted my head. "Why were you crying, baby?" he asked me. "Your old man?"

  "In part, along with a few other reasons."

  "He didn't fess up about the money?"

  "He's still claiming that he handed it over to Snake."

  "You believe it after hearing what he had to say for yourself?"

  "More than I did before."

  He nodded. "What about the motherfucker you headed out to see before him? The one at your club?"

  "He didn't know anything about anything; seemed to know even less than me."

  "Who was it?"

  "His name is Taz -- short for Tasmanian Devil... someone I've known since we were kids."

  He eyed me in silence and brought his other hand back up to my face. "You think you can somehow get Snake to confess about this money if he has it?"

  "I can, but not outright. He'll never be honest, but I'll know by what I ask and his reaction if he's lying..." I redirected my attention behind him and gazed at his mother's curtains. "Rox was also badly beaten when I showed up to see him, Nikko. He didn't say when it happened, but claimed after I mentioned the bruises that it was thanks to Chino because of him not looking out for you in there."

  "You think my old man did it?"

  "Not after Rox finally fessed up to not knowing who the hell was actually behind it."

  "You fear he'll get fucked up even worse now that they know he's a snitch?"

  "We both know that nobody else inside can or will trust him for it."

  "I can call around," he said, "make sure he's protected for the time being."

  "Thank you."

  "Yeah... You know I'm at the point of doing damn near anything for you, baby... anything to save you, help you -- whatever the fuck I can do when I'm able."

  "You promise?"

  "Always, baby -- fuckin' always, Cheyenne.." The words floated from between his lips to mine like a sonnet. I grinned as he shifted just the tips of his fingers beneath my chin, grazing my skin as if he needed to know I was still there and with him; then he leaned in to try and kiss me. "Baby."

  "Yes...?"

  He stopped just short of touching my lips when a sharp ring echoed throughout the room. "Goddamn." I snickered as he reluctantly lowered his hand and watched with curiosity as he stepped back over to the bed, reaching for his cell. He soured at the number flashing across the screen before answering. "Yeah?" After a few seconds of silence on his end, he turned to me with a peculiar look on his face and lowered the phone from his ear. "Snake," he replied. "For you."

  "What?"

  "Said he couldn't get you on your cell, so he dialed up mine."

  "Erm..." I scrunched my face as he placed the phone inside my hand. "How the hell would he have gotten your number when I haven't given it to anyone at the club yet?"

  "Could've been Chino. But whatever he wants sounds important, baby."

  "I bet." I turned from him and lifted the phone to my ear. "What do you want?" I snapped into the speaker.

  "Christ, Cheyenne. Hello to your ass too."

  "It's also curious to know what the hell you want?"

  "To see you out here tonight," he said. "We need to talk."

  "About what, exactly?!"

  "Taz told me you stopped by here to see him."

  "Great." I spun back around to Nikko and dragged my hand across my forehead. "Did he tell you what it was about?"

  "He told me enough of what I need to know."

  "What the hell does that mean?"

  "You went back to Rikers to see your old man right after leaving here?" he questioned. I pinched my lips and rolled my eyes while shaking my head. "I want you out here so that we can discuss what the fuck was said between the two of you, Cheyenne."

  "What was said between the two of us is private."

  "You weren't asking him about the money he's still claiming he handed over to me from the Gambiano's? Money I don't fuckin' have?"

  I shut my eyes for a few seconds as my shoulders dropped. "If I refuse to come out there--?"

  "I'll be on Nikko's doorstep instead. Either way, this shit is getting discussed before I head out tomorrow with some of the boys on a run."

  "Is Nix going with you?"

  "He's staying behind to take care of some shit for the business -- garage is struggling a bit this month in comparison to the last; not as many cars or bikes rolling in for repairs or upgrades this summer." A beat passed as he exhaled. "Are you coming out here or am I bringing my ass out there tonight, Cheyenne?"

  I swallowed hard and refocused on Nikko. "We'll both be out there tonight."

  "I didn't invite your boy--"

  "He's coming regardless. I don't want to be out there alone."

  "This club is full of muthafuckas you've known since birth." I remained silent. As seconds of air passed between us, he grumbled. "He keeps his shit to himself when he comes."

  "Trust me on the fact that he will."

  After hanging up, I dropped the phone back into Nikko's hand and crossed my arms.

  He arched his brow while placing the phone on top of his dresser, then tipped his head and stared directly into my eyes. "You want me with you at the club tonight?"

  "Yes... You heard why he wants me out there?" He nodded. I looked to the ceiling and groaned. "Remember me telling you about their parties?"

  "That's the shit happening out there tonight?"

  "It is, which is why I wasn't interested in going. But I don't want to be alone out there, Nikko."

  "I'll be with you, baby. Whatever the fuck you want, I'm there."

  He leaned in to kiss me, then reached for my hand and guided us from the bedroom.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Ready, Willing and All too (Un)Able

  A few hours later, we pulled into the lot of the club.

  As music blared from inside the building and beer bottles smashed to the ground after dropping from the hands of half-naked women being chased by charter hungry bikers, Nikko cut the engine on my car and glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

  "What is it?" I asked him, my tone wary as he snickered.

  "Nothing much, baby, except..." He dropped his hands from the wheel and shrugged. "You weren't kidding about all this shit."

  "Not in the least, though right now is nothing compared to the brothel it will become after midnight. Let's go so that we can get the hell back out of here before that happens."

  After hopping out of the car and into a cloud of weed-based smoke, Nikko stepped to my side and took one of my hands inside his own. The color in his eyes dimmed before shining bright enough to light up the darkest parts of the night's sky. "You sure about dealing with Snake tonight?" he questioned.

  "No. But he's not giving me much of a choice and with him leaving tomorrow, I think it's best that I push him
on this while he has no time to retaliate against it."

  Nikko knit his brows. "You think he might've been the one to have your old man attacked?"

  "It's possible, a warning to stop talking about the money. But Rox isn't backing down from it either way."

  He bobbed his head. "The people I contacted are gonna keep eyes on him 'til he's out like I told you, baby. As long as he doesn't say anything else to Elias or pull anymore shit with some other motherfucker inside, he'll be good."

  "Thank you."

  I smiled at his reassurance before we traipsed across the parking lot and headed for the club.

  We stopped at the door before moving inside as hordes of top and bottomless women streaked between pool tables while holding onto their cigarettes before jumping onto the laps of various brothers scattered across the room.

  "Oh boy." I looked to Nikko as a few of them swung between portable stripper polls while others seemed to garner the most pleasure in humping the juke box or dancing fully naked on top of the bar in front of Nix and Eyes, a longtime member who had gotten his nickname after losing his right eye during a knife fight with his ex-wife. I lifted my hand to wave in the hope of getting their attention. "Hey!"

  Nix took notice after tearing his eyes from every set of breasts wagging in front of him and hollered out, "Baby girl!" A crooked grin parted his lips as he jerked his chin. "Just one second!" He leaned into Eyes and muttered something that couldn't be heard beyond the noise, then pointed toward the chapel as Eyes looked at me and raised a shot glass full of rum just before gulping it back.

  I smiled in return, then refocused on Nix, who after dancing around the bar with a full bottle of tequila in one hand and fat cigar in the other, stopped directly in front of me and bowed. "What the hell are you doing?" I asked him. "And what the hell is that--?"

  "Snake wants to see you back in his office," he disrupted.

  "I know, that's why I'm here. What's up with the cigar and tequila?"

  "Officially welcoming your boy to the family."

  "What?"

  He pointed the neck of the bottle at Nikko and narrowed his eyes. "We're gonna have a chat about some things while you're back there talking with Prez."

  "I don't want you talking to him about anything while I'm not around."

  He stood back and scoffed. "You don't trust my ass with him, Cheyenne?"

  "After you've had only God knows how much to drink tonight so far? Hell no."

  "Baby." Nikko stared down at me with a smirk as Nix eyed him with disgust. "We're good out here," he said. "You should head back and talk to Snake -- see what's up and what he's gotta say about all this shit."

  "Yeah, baby girl." Nix wrapped a free hand around the base of my arm and grimaced as he spoke. "Head on back to Prez's office and see what's up."

  I wiggled out of his grip while keeping my eyes on Nikko's face. "You're sure that you'll be good out here with him?"

  "I won't do shit to him, Cheyenne," muttered Nix.

  Nikko nodded. "Yeah, baby, I'll be fine."

  A cautious sigh escaped me while taking one last glance between them. "Okay." I shook my head before lifting to my toes to kiss the corner of his mouth, then backed away and headed for the back of the club.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  She Took a Left on Forgery Lane

  The back of my heels clicked and clacked against the floor like a pair of wet mops slapping against concrete with every step taken in the direction of Snake's office. Once I finally reached the partially opened door, I lifted my hand to knock, then pushed back until I could see him sitting behind his desk with a pen in one hand and a pair of reading glasses in the other.

  He lifted his eyes in the manner of someone prepared for a longwinded fight before I could speak, and arched his brow. "Come in and shut that shit behind you," he snapped.

  "O. Kay." After doing as "asked", I moved to the center of the room. He nodded toward one of the chairs in front of his desk, indicating that I take a seat. "No thank you, I don't plan to stay long enough for that."

  "You plan on staying long enough to tell me what the fuck your old man told you at Rikers today?"

  "You already know that he told me about giving you money handed over to him by the Gambiano's; money you claim not to have. What else are you digging for?"

  "Are you believing his shit?"

  "Do I have a reason not to?"

  "My goddamn word on him being a thief and goddamn liar, Cheyenne. He already stole from his own fuckin' club -- you don't think he'd steal from those assholes too?"

  "I think if he had that money, he would've handed it over the minute you told him I was getting married to Nikko. The fact that he's yet to do that means--"

  "He's fuckin' selfish and nothing else." He dropped his pen and glasses to the desk and rested his hands along the edge, pushing himself to stand. "You and Nikko need to get into setting a goddamn date so we can get the money straightened out and your old man can get the entire fuck outta my goddamn hair and away from this club for good."

  "Why would he say that he gave you that money if it's easily proven that he didn't?" I questioned.

  Snake straightened his back and pinched his brows while eyeing me with suspicion. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

  "What I just said. If you don't have the money and Rox is lying, it should be easily proven."

  "You think the Gambiano's aren't working on proving your old man is full of shit?"

  "I'm sure if they are, you pointed them in that direction." I peered. "Do you know that he was attacked?"

  "I fuckin' heard about it, yeah."

  "He claims Chino was behind it," I said. "Because he didn't look out for Nikko while inside."

  "Chino's got more shit on his mind with going in for himself soon; your old man is the least of his problems now that Nikko's out."

  "Is he?"

  "As far as I fuckin' know about it, Cheyenne, yeah."

  "That doesn't really mean a whole lot to me," I replied.

  He chortled while rattling his head. "You think I've got that money."

  "Does it matter what I think if it isn't the truth?"

  He grinded his teeth. "You don't need to be looking at me in the same way as your old man, especially with the Gambiano's wanting him put down."

  "Who told you what the Gambiano's want?"

  "Chino."

  "Did he also tell you about Rox's attack and give you Nikko's number?"

  "I learned about Rox's attack after he called up Nix, asking when he planned to visit up there again. As far as your boy, his old man said it wouldn't be that big of a goddamn deal if I had the number for emergencies; a good thing too since you weren't picking up your own fuckin' phone."

  "Sure." I stepped away from his desk and moved back to the door.

  "Where is your boy right now?" he called to me.

  "Somewhere with Nix talking about only God knows what."

  "You trust him being out there with that asshole alone?"

  "No, but I trust Nikko."

  "He's the asshole I was talking about, Chey--"

  "I know... How is Marleena doing?"

  "Better than she was when you brought her in here. Still not up for seeing anybody just yet."

  "I'm guessing she's still not up for letting anyone know who the hell did this to her and why either."

  "The shit could've been anybody for any goddamn reason at this point, Cheyenne."

  "It was someone who knows the ins and outs of this club; at least someone who knows that they needed to hide their face and any impending tatts thanks to the cameras posted outside. Maybe now with Deborah back in town, she'll be willing to talk about something, ya think?"

  He dragged his hand from his forehead to his chin. "You know she's back?"

  "You were planning to keep it quiet?"

  "Just wasn't expecting for you to know about it yet."

  "I'm surprised Taz didn't tell you since he's managed to run his mouth about everything else."


  "You saw her out here today?"

  "Of course. She said a brother called her back; do you know who or why?"

  "She won't spill any of that shit to me."

  "Really. She hasn't said anything about what she's seen, what she knows -- nothing about anywhere she's been since being back?" He gradually shook his head. I lifted my brows, curious. "Where is she now?"

  "With her boy getting some shit set up at his place."

  "What? How the hell long is she staying back here?"

  "Not sure yet; she won't spill on that shit either."

  "What the hell do you know at this point, Snake?!" I asked. "And why the hell are you so fine in letting anything happen without being aware of it first?!"

  "She's the goddamn mother of my VP, Cheyenne."

  "And that means what when she's not the mother of this club and never has been? My God, this is unbelievable -- Have you asked her anything about Rox?"

  "What the fuck is there to ask? Whatever shit they had back in the day is done. I know you still hate her ass for it, but--"

  "Please. I already snapped at her for back then -- I'm not in the mood for a round two with you right now." I reached for the door and yanked it back.

  "Where the fuck are you going?"

  "Away."

  "We ain't done back here just yet, Cheyenne--!"

  "The hell we aren't."

  I slammed the door before making my way down the hall and back through the front of the club in search of Nikko and Nix.

  "Cheyenne!" I stopped mid-walk and turned toward the bar as the sound of a familiar voice radiated above the music. "Chey!"

  While peeking between waves of flying arms, bobbing heads and high kicking heels, my mouth dropped at the sight of Brandi Simpson, the daughter of Eyes' ex-wife and my childhood best friend.

  "Hey!" I called back to her as she rounded the bar, her dark brown skin glowing beneath the rapidly moving lights of the club.

  After making her way toward me, I stepped forward to slide my arms around a waist that had become damn near nonexistent since the last time I had seen her, and pulled her close enough to feel the wild beating of her heart against my chest.