Angel: RBMC: Ankeny IA

by Kristine Allen

“You want something to drink?” Whitey, their VP, asked after we’d started to go inside.

  “Hell, yeah. Thanks,” I said as I took a seat at the bar. Coy sat next to me, and Allie gave him a kiss, telling him she’d be back in a bit. He squeezed her ass as she started to walk off, and she gave him a playful swat.

  The prospect behind the bar set a cold beer in front of me, and I took a long pull before setting it back down. We all caught up for a few minutes before I decided we might need to discuss the plans I had.

  “Do you have a few minutes to work out the details for tomorrow night?” I asked Coy and Whitey.

  “Sure thing. You wanna talk here or you wanna hit the chapel?” Whitey asked.

  “Let’s hit the chapel,” said Coy as he grabbed his drink. We all followed behind him and dropped our phones in the basket outside the room. The doors closed, and the few brothers that he’d motioned to join us sat at the table. We took the empty seats.

  “What were your thoughts, and what will you need from us?”

  We discussed the plan we’d worked out prior to catching our flight. They asked a few questions here and there, then Coy nodded. “We can help make that happen.”

  “Perfect,” I said.

  “Now how about if we show you boys a good time for the night? Cold beers, good company, and some of the best Kentucky bourbon you’ve ever had.” Coy gave me a fist bump and a grin.

  “Sounds good,” Phoenix said with a sigh. “It’s been a long day already.”

  “One thing I do want to get straight, though. So there are no issues later,” Coy said.

  “What’s that?” I asked with my head cocked curiously.

  “Our sweetbutts are here voluntarily because they know we keep them safe. If they are willing, that’s their choice—all we ask is you respect them.” Coy’s jaw ticked a little. I vaguely remembered one of their girls had been killed not long ago, and I understood what he was getting at.

  “Not a problem, brother. We don’t play that shit either,” I said as I shook his hand.

  We filed out of the chapel, and someone turned up the music. Alcohol started to go down smooth, and laughter abounded. I appreciated the fact that their chapter didn’t do drugs. It was one of a few things our chapters had in common. The only thing we messed with was weed. Fuck that other shit.

  Phoenix was shooting the shit with a few of the Louisville brothers, and Ghost had already slipped off with a chick while I had stayed out shooting pool with Grem. He’d just kicked my ass in our second game when a dark-haired woman sidled up next to me. Due to the recent thoughts of Korrie, I couldn’t help but notice the vague similarities in them.

  Grem shot me a knowing look as he smirked. “We done for the night?”

  My gaze flickered to her fingers trailing up my chest before I answered him. “Sure.”

  “Show him a good time, Tammy,” Grem told her with a chuckle.

  “Of course. My pleasure,” she murmured with a sultry tip of her painted lips. Initially, I hesitated. She led me down a dim corridor and into a room. My bag was on the bed, telling me this was the room they set me up in for the night.

  We’d barely closed the door when she turned toward me and licked her lips. She was pretty, but her eyes were the wrong shade. No green with golden brown flecks that lit them from within. I shoved the thought to the back of my mind as she slowly reached down and grasped my cock over my jeans.

  I can do this.

  Without saying a word, she unbuckled my belt and freed my length from my pants. I was okay with that, because I didn’t want to talk to her.

  She dropped to her knees and licked slowly around the sensitive head. Fighting the need to push her off, I sucked in a breath as she swallowed most of my cock down her throat. Slowly she worked me over until I drifted off to another place and time as I grabbed her hair. “Take it all,” I said through gritted teeth, but I didn’t force her.

  Like a perfect wet dream, she happily did as I asked. My head dropped, and I grunted in satisfaction. She fondled my balls and trailed her nails up my thighs. With each stroke, she did something with her tongue that had me groaning. When she bottomed out with my entire length down her throat, I knew I was close.

  “God, yes. That’s it,” I growled out as my spine tingled and my abs tightened. When I shot my load down her eager throat, I shouted, “Korrie!”

  If she questioned me calling her someone else’s name, she didn’t say anything. She sucked me dry, then stood up. Wiping her lip with my thumb, I got my breathing under control. “Get in the bed,” I told her.

  Her grin told me she thought I was going to fuck her. For half a second, I thought about it, but as usual that hesitation at the back of my mind prevented it. Besides, I was exhausted. Instead, once she climbed between the sheets, I dropped my clothes to the floor and climbed in behind her.

  As I pulled her into my front, she rubbed her ass against my cock. “Go to sleep,” I mumbled.

  She stilled and stiffened for a moment. Then she relaxed and snuggled into me. As I drifted off, I wrapped my fingers in the silky dark tresses in front of me. I ignored the floral scent of her perfume and pretended she smelled like vanilla and sunshine.

  That night my dreams were plagued with every memory I had of the only girl I’d ever loved. The girl I’d let go because she deserved better than the killer I’d become.

  The next night, we slipped out of the trees behind the fancy house that doubled as the mayor’s residence and office. Former senator Damon had set his useless fuckwad of a son up as a figurehead mayor of this small town outside of Louisville.

  From what Coy’s boys had found out, he ran the town like he thought he was a damn king. Well, tonight his reign came to an end.

  Ghost disappeared from the shadows next to me. Phoenix motioned me around him, and I silently climbed the back stairs. We’d familiarized ourselves with the layout of the place, so I knew exactly where to go once I got in.

  By the time I got to the back door, Ghost already had it unlocked and open. Like a shadow, I slipped in as he and Phoenix secured the outside. The muted sound of music and grunting led me to the room I knew was Lester’s office.

  With a gloved hand, I carefully turned the knob.

  The sight that greeted me was one I could’ve easily lived without seeing. Lester’s big white belly shook with each awkward thrust as he fucked the woman who looked way younger than she actually was, bent over his desk. In fact, I might’ve puked a little in my mouth.

  Her eyes met mine and rolled in bored disgust. Then she held out her thumb and pointer finger in mock measurement. Behind my dark mask, I grinned at her ballsy move.

  What he didn’t know was that she was a trusted girl hired by our club. She’d been well-compensated for her duty that night, but she had no clue what was about to go down after she headed back to Louisville. I motioned for her to leave as we’d arranged. She happily stood up, causing him to slip free.

  “Hey!” He panted as he grabbed for her, but she jerked away and grabbed her clothes.

  “Later,” she said. As she passed me, she raised her brows and looked me up and down. With a grin, she sauntered out the door, pulling her dress over her head. It was only then that he realized he wasn’t alone.

  “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded as he stood there, unaware or unashamed of his tiny dick hanging out. Evidently, his disgusting self-importance didn’t allow him to register fear that a masked man was in his office.

  “I don’t think you really need to know,” I said with a sinister grin hidden behind my mask. Then I whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “But if you really must have an answer, they call me the Angel of Death.”

  “Do you know who I am? You can’t come in here pulling stupid shit like this and get away with it. I’m not giving you a penny, nor am I playing any of your little thug games. Who sent you?” He sneered but not before I saw the slightest flicker of fear in his beady eyes.

  “I don’t want dick shit from you,” I said. “
Just to tell you this is for Kira Kalashnik.”

  “Get out! I don’t owe anyone anything! I paid Kalashnik up front! And that was years ago!” he yelled as he grabbed his pants, still thinking he had the upper hand as I raised my weapon to his head. Chuckling, I watched him fumble and trip around trying to stuff himself back in his clothes.

  “You really do live in your own little world, don’t you? Kalashnik is dead, but Kira’s husband isn’t. You fucked with the wrong person when you fucked with her. Now you won’t be fucking with anyone.” I carefully spoke the words that Voodoo had instructed me to say to ensure Lester Damon’s soul died with him.

  “What the hell kind of gibberish is that?” he questioned as the fear he’d suppressed began to fill his eyes. The difference was, it remained there.

  Surprise registered on his face seconds before the silencer did its job and muffled the gun’s report. The small hole it made in his forehead was quickly followed by a trail of red that ran down his nose. He toppled forward and whacked his head on the desk before falling to the floor.

  Ugh, messy. Dammit.

  I’d taken my first step in his direction when the side door flew open and I spun in surprise. Instinct had my gun pointed at the intruder.

  Right before I pulled the trigger, shock jolted through me. Surely, my recent thoughts were making me see things.

  “Korrie?” I whispered milliseconds before the gun she was holding went off and I fell to the floor.

  “Angel With A Shotgun”—The Cab

  30 minutes earlier…

  “I hate my fucking job,” I muttered as I sat in the office next door and listened to the grunting. It had been a shitty few days that had started on Friday.

  I’d come in to try to get caught up, though I’d have given anything to not be there. For someone who didn’t really do much in the way of true politics, he still made sure I had a shit ton of crap to take care of for him. In my opinion, it was all to make Lester feel important when everyone knew he wasn’t.

  When I’d shown up late that afternoon, I’d really thought Lester wouldn’t be around. Though it was a Tuesday, I wasn’t supposed to be working, so I thought maybe he’d go out. His car hadn’t been parked in the driveway, so I’d foolishly thought I was in the clear.

  I was wrong.

  I’d been opening the mail and filing reports when he came in through the connecting door.

  “Well, hello, Korrie. Isn’t this a pleasant surprise! Thought you were out sick,” the asshole said callously before he slid his way over to invade my personal space.

  His hand cupped my ass and squeezed. Lightning fast, I twisted, gripped his wrist, and snarled. “Touch me again and I will carve your eyes out,” I said as I held the letter opener toward his owlish eyes. “Do I make myself clear?”

  “Easy! I don’t know why you have to be so damn uptight. We could have a lot of fun together if you’d loosen up,” he said with a leer.

  “Fat chance,” I muttered. Thanks to my mother, I was stuck in that shitty job, but with what she held over my head, I didn’t have a choice.

  Thankfully, he’d returned to his office shortly after that.

  “Dammit. I shouldn’t have even come in at all.”

  I’d worked furiously to finish what I needed to get done so I could get home but, I didn’t make it because Lester had come back before I got out of there. Hence the disgusting noises I was listening to through the wall. I was a little surprised that he was still “entertaining” when he didn’t think I was going to be there to clean up his mess.

  I fucking hated Tuesdays.

  Suddenly they stopped. From my window, I saw a young woman rushing across the street to a car that sped off.

  Hm, guess he paid her himself. I gagged to myself. Or maybe she decided she didn’t get paid enough to deal with his proclivities. Usually the “agency” that sent them had filled them in on what he wanted. They were paid through means I didn’t know or want to know. What I gave them was more like hush money. An expected tip, if you will, for putting up with the piece of shit.

  It was disgusting and I hated it, but they all knew the score before they got there. Yet they still came. Then they left. Revolving door every Tuesday.

  Except this time, I hadn’t given her a tip; she simply left. Lost in my thoughts, it was a minute before I realized I heard murmured speaking. Then there was a shout followed by a loud crash.

  I jumped up, grabbing my gun from my purse. Fear skated down my spine as I worried whoever he was arguing with might know I was there.

  My mind went crazy with the possibilities, but I calmly chambered a round.

  Fuck.

  Please don’t tell me he had hurt this chick and her agency—hell, who was I kidding—her pimp was here to deal with Lester. There was no way I was getting involved in that.

  It was bad enough I usually had to stick around to pay off his prostitutes and show them out because he was geeked out of his mind. If he’d done something bad to her, I was done. I’d figure something out. Even if it meant finding out a way to create a new identity for myself.

  Debating whether I should try to sneak out and run or grab the bull by the horns took all of two-point-two seconds.

  Knowing I was being that dumb chick that I always shouted at during scary movies, I quietly made my way to the connecting door. When I swung the door open and saw Lester bleeding out on the floor, I raised my gun at the man wearing a dark mask. He swung in my direction and raised his gun to point at me, but I was prepared.

  I pulled the trigger right as I could’ve sworn he whispered my name.

  The bullet hit him in the shoulder, causing him to spin slightly before he fell to the ground.

  “Goddamn it!” I whispered in horror as the man writhed on the ground cursing. Unsure what to do next, I held my free hand over my mouth and let out a muffled scream of frustration.

  Damn him for making me have to shoot him!

  The decision of what to do next was taken out of my hands when two guys also dressed all in black came barreling in the door and I raised my gun again.

  “Whoa! What the fuck?” the taller guy said with wide eyes as they both froze. They too had on black masks, and I had to fight not to shake like a leaf. They were intimidating, and there was no way I could take them both before one of them got to me.

  Then as I blinked, the shorter one simply… disappeared. Positive my eyes were playing tricks on me, I blinked rapidly and shook my head. The next thing I knew, the cold barrel of a gun was being held to my head.

  “Where the hell did you come from?” I whispered, afraid to move. The bigger guy dropped to his friend I’d shot and ripped the mask off. He quickly used it to hold pressure on the man’s shoulder. I heard him murmur something after he reached up and touched his ear. Then the pounding of more boots followed.

  Three more guys showed up at the door. “Holy shit,” one of them muttered as he knelt.

  “We’ve got him, can you start the cleanup? We need to get the fuck out of here.” The guy putting pressure on the first guy’s shoulder said.

  Then the guy I’d shot slowly turned his head my direction. He was panting painfully.

  When his dark mocha eyes burned into mine, my lungs refused to work. Black dots flickered in my vision, and a whooshing filled my ears. Choking to find air, I clutched my chest. Finally, I gasped out a single word.

  “Jude?”

  All eyes flashed my direction as every one of them paused in their tasks. A sob escaped as I thoughtlessly started toward him. Except the vise-like grip on my arm and the cold steel to my head stopped me.

  “Please,” I pleaded, unable to get further words to pass my suddenly parched lips.

  “Let her go.” Jude groaned out the words. The guy holding me back let go after he slipped my gun from my hand, and I stumbled forward.

  “What the fuck are you doing, Jude?” I cried out as I looked over to where the other guys were rolling my boss’s lifeless body in plastic.

 
Nothing made sense. The sweet boy I’d loved couldn’t be this person. Lester Damon had been a shitbag, but Jude… he killed him.

  Maybe it made me an awful person, but I didn’t care about Lester. My fear was seeing Jude go to prison for it.

  Regardless of our history, I didn’t want that to happen to him. For so many reasons.

  Kneeling next to him, I struggled to breathe. They rolled him to the side and slid a makeshift backboard under him. He winced and gasped. Blood seemed to soak the guy’s fingers as he tried to hold pressure.

  I leaned in when they rolled him back over. “Jude,” I frantically whispered. “Heal yourself.”

  Those dark brown eyes I knew so well stared up at me. Pain hazed them as he gave me a sad smile.

  “Back up, babe,” one of the guys said to me, and I looked up in confusion. “On three,” he said.

  They lifted him, and his face crumpled in pain again. No longer worried about my former boss, my job, or my mother and her threats, I followed them outside and to the dark SUV they had backed up to the rear porch.

  As they started to maneuver him into the vehicle, I tried again. Putting my face in his, I quietly told him again. “Fix yourself! What are you doing?”

  His rasped out reply sent a cold chill through me.

  “Can’t. Heal. Self,” he said through gritted teeth. My blood ran cold.

  “You need to call 911,” I begged the two men that loaded him up. “He needs a hospital!”

  The guy who’d held the gun to my head stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “It’s a gunshot wound, lady. We can’t take him to a hospital. Now either get back or get in,” he said in a no-nonsense tone.

  Making a split-second decision that could very well end badly but that I saw as my only option, I climbed in. I rattled off my address. At first they looked confused. “Go!” I shouted. “It’s safe, just hurry.”

  Their hesitation irritated me.

  The guys that still had masks on closed the back doors of a separate vehicle. I’d seen a flash of the plastic sheeting before the door sealed. One of them stopped by the open back doors of the vehicle we were in.