Honor and Redemption

by A. C. Bextor

  Nikolas notices, staring at Gypsy’s hand at my waist. When he opens his mouth to comment, Elevent steps in. “You probably get that after everything that’s gone down, you’re walking into the viper’s den.” Nikolas’s lips turn up at the ends. “And by that, I mean, you probably have about five seconds before the guys start to get riled.”

  “Dear God,” Sunny breathes. I hadn’t seen or felt her coming in close and stopping at my other side. “I’ve never—”

  When I turn to her, her face flushes. She’s never met Nikolas. Obviously, neither has Wren. Their reactions second my motion. Nikolas is as handsome as he is charming.

  “Me either,” Wren puts in somewhere close. “I think I swooned.”

  “And now, we’re finished,” Gypsy berates, pulling my arm and dragging me three steps back.

  Nikolas chuckles to himself. “We’ll talk soon,” he says. “After I speak with Elevent.”

  “Okay,” I return.

  As Nikolas passes the small group, all heads turn to watch him go. Before he’s gone and away, he stops on the other side of Leglas, which is a bold move in itself.

  “I see I was right to send you home,” he tells me. “It’s obviously a very chaotic but loving place to be.”

  “You were definitely right,” I tell his back as he walks away.

  “Seriously, though,” Wren chides so all the women and men still within earshot can hear. “Not only is he hot, he’s totally sweet!”

  The girls burst out laughing, while the guys left in the room curse to themselves. And I stand, staring at the spot where Nikolas had stood, wondering how the man is always right.

  “Well, fuck,” I curse beneath my breath. “So much for helpin’ Cricket celebrate coming back to herself.”

  With Cricket feeling better, the girls have been planning a casual, impromptu celebration tonight in an effort to bring her full swing. The invite list is restricted to the club’s members and hang arounds only. No wannabe prospects are invited, keeping the men in fewer number. And the alcohol is not to be served in excess.

  All of this had been approved by Elevent. It was something I was looking forward to.

  That was, until this afternoon when Nikolas Ivanov showed up, dressed in a suit and requesting Cricket’s help. She’s been home just over a week and here he is, asking for the ridiculous.

  “No way Cricket is going back there,” I declare, my gaze zeroed in on Nikolas to reiterate my point.

  “I’m sorry for the girl, I really am. But she wasn’t alone with those men. Cricket’s dealing with the same shit,” I continue, figuring if I have the floor, I’ll keep going until this breaks through his thick Russian head. “Cricket’s healing, but she still has a long road ahead of her. What makes you think she needs to be anywhere but home?”

  “This is selfish,” Nikolas accuses tightly. “Perhaps if you saw what had been done to ‘the girl’, as you’ve so callously labeled her, you’d have a better understanding of why I’m so desperate to ask.”

  This fucking favor is too much.

  Elevent sits back in his chair, contemplating. “This girl,” Elevent starts. “Where is—”

  Nikolas’s already uneasy mood pushes to irritation.

  “She isn’t a girl, some nameless face we discuss without meaning,” Nikolas teems. Elevent attempts to interrupt, but Nikolas shuts him down. “Her name is Evelyn, Eve if you like, and I’d appreciate her being addressed as Evelyn, or Eve, when you talk of her.”

  Elevent loses his rigidity. Lowering his voice, he nods and presses on carefully. “Evelyn, then. Where’s she now?”

  “She’s back with Agatha and myself. Under a doctor’s care, of course.”

  “She tried to kill herself, Nikolas,” I state to reason. “How is it she’s not committed?”

  My background is emergency medical and care, not psychiatric. However, anyone would question the same. The woman in his care needs more than a few days rest and a pep talk from Cricket. She needs her head examined.

  “And what shall I tell them? These nosy doctors at these very public hospitals,” Nikolas clips back. “That Evelyn, along with all the other women I bring into my home, has been violated and abused? Shall I also share that my hobby is avenging what’s happened to them?”

  “Point’s been made,” Elevent concedes. “We get it.”

  “If I thought Eve were a threat to others, she would not be in my care. However, the doctor I have on staff assures me she’ll be fine.”

  Evelyn Traymoore was ripped from her home the same day Cricket was taken from ours. Nikolas conveyed that Eve hasn’t spoken a single word since all this started, and his concern for her well-being is most urgent.

  Case in point, the specific reason for the favor.

  The same day Cricket decided to leave Nikolas’s mansion, Evelyn had taken a knife from Nikolas’s kitchen drawer and slit her wrist right there above the kitchen sink. For understandable reason, he didn’t feel prudent to share this with Cricket.

  Until now.

  “Cricket was treated severely, but Evelyn’s handler was…” He pauses, giving each man his attention before finishing, “creative in his measures to subdue her.”

  “Fuck,” Elevent snaps.

  Leglas growls, running his hands through his hair, then down his unkempt beard.

  Cricket wasn’t handled with kid gloves by any means, but the way Nikolas speaks, Evelyn got it worse. Much worse.

  “Are you still working on leads to Seveena?” Elevent prompts.

  So far, we haven’t heard a word, and since our focus has been on Cricket, we’ve accepted the silence in reprieve. This doesn’t mean we’re all not on edge, waiting to strike back, but we also figure that time will come as soon as it’s ready.

  “Seveena is active in her operations. We’re closing in on her new location, and when we do, she’ll be handled.”

  “Handled,” Leglas broaches. “Fuck handled. That cunt will be dead.”

  “Leglas,” Elevent growls.

  “Leglas is right,” I assert. Nikolas gives me his attention. “I’m sorry the woman you have isn’t well. I’m sorry for not only her, but that those she loves who aren’t moving on from this. But I saw the way you looked at Cricket out there.” I fight not to puff my chest or fist my hands. “Cricket’s not Eve. Cricket’s doing better.”

  Leglas, siding with my aggravation, steps up to include, “Takin’ Cricket to this woman to talk about what happened—”

  “Especially to talk about what happened,” I cut in.

  Leglas doesn’t miss a beat as he says, “All this may fuck up Cricket’s progress.”

  “This isn’t your decision,” Elevent states.

  Leglas twists his neck, scowling in Elevent’s direction. “What the fuck?”

  Elevent pays no mind to Leglas’s tone. “This is for Cricket to hear and choose what she wants to do with it.”

  “Bullshit,” Leglas hisses. “You know as well as everyone here, that if given the chance to help another person, Cricket’ll jump at it, her own progress be damned.”

  “The doctor agrees, that if Eve were to see Cricket again, healing and returning to her life, she may find hope that there is life left to live.”

  “Bullshit,” Leglas repeats.

  “If Cricket decides this is what she wants, fine. But she won’t go at this alone,” Elevent decides. “She’ll have us at her back.”

  “Fair enough.” Nikolas nods. “Agatha loves company.”

  “Bikers, in your house, all up in your shit.” Elevent words his reference as bait.

  “I’ve nothing to hide. And being as you have one of your own who’s been harmed, I trust you’ll use care with the women I keep.”

  “We’ll have a mind to do that,” Elevent confirms.

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m talkin’ to Cricket first. If I get that she’s able to do this, I’ll be in touch.” Elevent pushes his chair back and stands. “If she’s not ready, I’m sorry for Evelyn, but yo
u’ll have to find another way.”

  “All I can ask is for your consideration,” Nikolas states, standing as well. “All I can hope for is your help.”

  “Until then, maybe before your next unexpected visit, you could call or text,” Leglas suggests.

  “I’ll take this into consideration,” Nikolas pacifies with a smug smirk. “Thank you for your time.”

  Elevent lifts his chin. Leglas shakes his head.

  I sit in my chair, staring at the table, wondering how the fuck we got to where we are. Not only Leglas being on the same side of any coin as I am, but especially one that involves Cricket.

  What’s he up to?

  Jesus Christ.

  I’m a menace to all man kind. And sure as shit, I’m an embarrassment to this club. Any brother would brand me a pussy for doing what I just did.

  The blonde haired, red lipped, easy on the eyes, hang around I tagged for my lap hours ago wanted in my bed. She begged for my cock, and didn’t hide how hungry she’d been to get on all fours in front of me to get it.

  Before Cricket and I started together, I’d have taken the nameless face to my room. I would’ve fucked her till I was too tired to keep going, then booted her ass out the door, not giving the first fuck if it was good for her or not.

  Yet, here I am, lying in my bed, staring up at the ceiling after telling a ready and willing woman I wasn’t in the mood. Not only that, but I left the club party hours before it was over.

  I’m doing all this wondering, what the actual fuck?

  “Leglas?” a soft, familiar voice calls from my door.

  I turn my head, and an easy smile forms.

  Cricket’s standing in the hallway, dressed for sleep. The yellow and pink polka-dotted one piece is too long, the fit too big. This does nothing for her hot ass, ample chest, or shapely legs.

  And fuck if my mouth doesn’t water for the taste of each.

  Her long blonde waves fall loose and thick over her shoulders. The cut to her cheek is healing. The green and yellow marks peeking around the sides of the bandage are nothing like they were a few days ago.

  Other than a few words earlier today, we’ve not spoken at all. This doesn’t mean I haven’t been in her room, watching her sleep and cursing to hell those who hurt her the way they did.

  She and I need to have the conversation that ends us, so she can move on with the guy she always should’ve been with.

  If I cared less about Cricket, I’d fuck her first. I’d give myself one last taste of something as sweet. But, I do care, so I’ll do right by this and give us both a clean break.

  What the fuck is happening to me?

  Menace.

  Christ.

  “Hey, Blue Eyes. What’s up?” I prompt, noticing late that even though she came to me, she struggled with the decision before finally making it.

  Cricket looks around my room as if she’s never been in it before. She hasn’t for a while, at least not like this—nervous and timid.

  When she doesn’t answer, I wait her out, hoping not to scare her away. Cricket takes two small steps inside and releases a burdened breath before her steps quicken.

  “Baby, what’s up?” I prod again.

  Without a reply, she walks toward me until she’s got both knees planted on the bed. Shifting the blankets out of her way, she crawls up to get close.

  What the fuck?

  My gut twists in worry, so I ask, “You doin’ all right?”

  Cricket nods, burrowing her small body into my side, but having a mind to the cuts still healing on her face.

  “I can’t sleep.”

  “So, you’re not all right,” I deduce.

  Laying her head in between my chest and shoulder, then tossing her arm over my waist, she sighs. “I’m good now.”

  A sharp pain spears my gut.

  During our time together, Cricket and I were a lot of things. A lot of quick, dirty, and fortunately, hot things. We were never this. We didn’t talk into the night, cuddle, and play. Sometimes we ate together. If the mood struck, we drank together. And God knows, we fucked often.

  But this? No.

  “Baby, you bein’ in here when you moved out doesn’t say good things.”

  Cricket pulls me closer and argues, “But if I’m in your room, no one is coming in to bother me in mine.”

  She’s using me as an escape, just as she has been for months. This is her way of asking for protection of another kind, from her family and friends, if only for a little while.

  Grabbing her hand at my waist, I pull it as far over my body as I can get it. I wrap my other arm around her back, essentially cocooning her to me.

  She rests her cheek against my chest, and I kiss the top of her head, letting silence hang between us.

  When Cricket says nothing, I get out what’s probably on her mind. “You worried about seeing Eve again?”

  Cricket takes in a breath. “Yes.”

  “Doin’ this, will it hurt you?”

  “It’ll hurt more if I don’t and something happens to her.”

  “Can’t save everyone, Blue Eyes,” I pacify.

  “You’re right, I can’t,” she agrees, then argues, “But Saint’s saved me. You know what my dad was planning. I can’t change what happened to Eve, but maybe I can change her reaction to it.”

  Fuck, but Cricket’s always been sweet. And Gypsy is a goddamn idiot for not paying attention in a way he should’ve long ago.

  And to the point of that jackass, I question, “How long you plannin’ on makin’ him wait for you?”

  “Who?”

  Cricket’s not stupid. Gypsy’s been a live wire since he got back from Texas. Since Nikolas sent Cricket back to us, semi-healthy and in one piece, he’s only gotten worse. He knows he fucked up by leaving her—again. He also knows no matter how far away he runs or how long he can manage to stay away, he can’t live without her. Neither of them can. This dance they’re doing is a stupid one that everyone is tired of.

  “You know who I’m talkin’ about, Cricket. Answer me.”

  Cricket shrugs and gives a timid, “I don’t know.”

  “You talk to anyone about what happened in that whore’s den?”

  I know she hasn’t. I made Elevent promise to tell me if and when she did, if only so I could keep an eye on her when she finally let it loose.

  No doubt Cricket’s a strong woman, and I thank God she wasn’t violated in the vilest of ways. But being taken from her home, then sold, beaten, and mentally fucked, can ruin a person. Especially one as soft as she is.

  I couldn’t live in a world with a ruined Cricket. The thought is out of reach and too much to stomach.

  “Leglas, I don’t want to think about what happened anymore, let alone talk about it.”

  “You gotta, baby.”

  “I don’t.”

  “For me, you gotta.”

  I see my aim is true and this gets her. She jolts in my arms and starts to pull away, but I don’t let her get far.

  Cricket is a people pleaser. One who would do anything for a friend or stranger no matter the personal cost. I’m a dick to use her weakness against her, but just as I don’t give a shit about how people see me, I also don’t give a shit they’re right.

  “Leglas,” she calls, her tone desperate.

  “You got me right here.”

  “Are we really over?” she questions to my surprise.

  “Hear me out,” I insist, pulling her up and over my body. With her face close to mine, I grab her cheeks and chastely put her mouth to mine.

  “I’ll hear you out,” she complies, pulling back and searching my face.

  “You deserve more than this,” I start, tensing as her eyes slam shut. “Look at me, Cricket.”

  Her eyes open, and she frowns. Deeply.

  “This club is not your home. These people are your family, yes, but this dirty, brawling house isn’t a place a girl like you lives. This is a place a girl like you comes to visit.”

  “You�
��re wrong, though,” she argues. “Saint’s is the only real home I’ve ever had.”

  Moving her hair from my chest and settling the strands down her back, I push, “Don’t you get it?”

  Her staring intently, but saying nothing, tells me she doesn’t.

  “You deserve a man who’d bleed for you,” I start.

  Cricket swallows hard, then murmurs, “What?”

  “The kind of man who’d work himself to the ground to give you all he can and more.”

  “Stop,” she orders, attempting to pull away.

  I don’t. I can’t. This conversation should have happened months ago, before my decision to take her in order to protect her heart from the asshole who broke it.

  “Given the chance, your life outside this fuckin’ place could be beautiful. A husband. Kids. A house. Friends comin’ and goin’. Family dinners and celebrations.”

  “Why are you saying this?” she rasps out, her tone desperate.

  “Because someone has to. And Elevent is selfish, blinded by how much he loves and wants to protect you.”

  Cricket looks down to my chest, running her fingers over the tattoo at my neck.

  “Elevent wants me to go back to Texas with Mom and Pop. He says it’s too dangerous here.”

  “Until we find the bad guys, he’s right. No matter how you feel about his decision, you need to do as he’s askin’.”

  “So, you’re dumping me,” she infers, changing the subject. “God, have you ever really kicked a woman out of your bed?”

  Keeping this as easy as it can be, I offer, “I’m not against being used for sex until the two of you pull your head from your asses.”

  Cricket laughs. Her body shakes against mine, and fuck me, I fight not to get hard.

  “You wanna sleep in here, you’re welcome. I can hit the couch out front,” I offer, attempting to prove the point we’re through, if only to myself.

  “I’m comfy,” she whines. “Don’t let me go.”

  God damn it.

  I’ve always been weak for Cricket, and not only when she was mine in the only way I had to claim her. Her sweetness has been addicting.

  “All right, Blue Eyes. Sleep, then. But one more thing.”