by Harley Wylde
“You don’t know who you are,” Cinder said. “I get that. We can’t expect you to react the way you would have before when all that’s gone. I’ve tried to be as understanding as possible, but the truth is that sooner or later we’re going to need to have a discussion. About your future with this club.”
And there it was. If I didn’t go on this run, if I stayed behind, then it would give him even more cause to throw my ass out, which meant Nik and Oliver would be homeless too. Regardless of how I felt, or what I wanted, I needed to put them first. Being with the Devil’s Boneyard was the only way to keep them safe. If that meant I had to leave them for a while and sort this shit out, then so be it.
“I’ll be there. Just want a little time to say goodbye to Nik and Oliver.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it. And, Ashes?”
I stood and moved closer to him, Oliver clutched against my chest.
“Don’t fuck up,” Cinder said. “I want you and every man I send with you to come back alive, and preferably unharmed. Whatever it takes to get your head on right, fucking do it.”
There was only one thing I could think that would make me feel more settled. Not that leaving Nik or Oliver would be easy regardless.
“I want Nik to be mine, and not just in the eyes of the club.”
I heard a soft gasp and looked over his shoulder to see my woman lurking outside the room. Her eyes were wide and her lips parted. There was something in her gaze, hope maybe? Did she want that too?
“Nikki, you want to be married to this asshole?” Cinder asked.
“More than anything,” she said.
“Then I’ll have it taken care of. If Shade can’t handle it, then I’ll call up the Reapers and get Wire to work his magic. Or that woman of his.”
Cinder walked out without another word and Nik came to stand in front of me. She tipped her head to the side, her gaze assessing but I didn’t know what the hell she was looking for. Even if Shade or Wire could make us legally married, as far as paperwork went, it didn’t give Nikki a ring and I didn’t have time to go get one. I’d just have to make sure I brought one home for her.
“You’ll be careful?” she asked. “Come home to us?”
“Yeah, Nik. One way or another, I’ll come home to both of you.”
She wrapped her arms around my waist and got as close as she could with Oliver between us. Our son yawned, smacked his lips, and shut his eyes. It was almost too good to be true. Would he remain asleep if I laid him in his crib? That was always the true challenge.
Nik drew back and I carried Oliver down the hall to his room. Pressing a kiss to his brow, I settled him in his crib. He squirmed a moment, but didn’t wake up. As quietly as I could, I crept from the room and pulled the door mostly shut. Nik was in the hall waiting for me. It seemed we both had the same idea, since she took me by the hand and led me into our room. I shut the door, turned the lock just in case, and started stripping out of my clothes. I hadn’t gotten much further than my cut, shirt, and boots before I remembered that we were out of condoms. Fuck my life.
“Um, Nik. One slight problem.”
She stopped undressing and stared. “What?”
“No condoms. We used them last night.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “Well, one broke, so…”
“And you want to play Russian Roulette and take a chance on me knocking you up by just not using one at all?”
I could see the indecision in her eyes. As much as I would love to be inside her, to make love to her one more time before I left, I knew she wasn’t ready for another kid just yet. It was one thing for me to accidentally knock her up, and another to take the risk on purpose. “We can wait, Nikki. I’ll make sure I bring back two boxes of condoms.”
She sighed and came closer, cuddling against me. “Fine. But in case you forget, I’m buying some too. There’s thirty-six in a box, right? So we’ll probably need at least three to get through the month.”
A startled laugh escaped me. Three boxes? What the hell? Did she think I was part machine? “Hey, Nik. I know you love my cock and all, but you do realize I’m not one of those sex bots you like to read about.”
I felt the heat of her blush against me. “They’re androids.”
“Same difference. I’m only human, and I think over one hundred condoms in a month is expecting a little much from me. That would mean at least three times a night, every night of the month.”
“And we have a little cock-blocker down the hall.”
I snorted. She wasn’t wrong there. As often as he woke up, getting some time with her would be difficult at best. Even just trying to get some sleep wasn’t all that easy, but we’d figure it out. There were nights the second my pants came off, he’d start screaming the house down. While it wasn’t the worst thing in the world when I was just hoping to get a little sleep, if I was about to make love to my woman, it would suck a great deal. I loved that kid more than anything, but I wouldn’t be opposed to someone in the club babysitting once a week so I could have some undisturbed alone time with Nikki.
I kissed her hard and deep. It would have to do for now.
“When I get back, we need to find a sitter for Oliver for about three hours.”
“He eats every two,” she said.
Dammit. “Fine. Then we need a sitter for two hours, and they need to watch him somewhere other than here. Because you and I have plans.”
“I love you, Ashes. Be safe.”
I kissed her once more, then pulled my clothes back on and started packing. The sooner I left, the sooner I could come home.
Chapter Nine
Nikki
Ten days. It felt like an eternity. Ashes called twice a day to check in and let me know he was okay, and I think he just liked hearing my voice. While I looked forward to every call, it wasn’t the same as being able to hug him, kiss him, or know that he’d be walking through the door at any moment. He didn’t talk much about what was going on with the Reckless Kings, but it didn’t sound like he was coming back anytime soon.
I tried not to worry, but I hadn’t heard from him the last few days. I kept telling myself he was just busy, that if anything was wrong, Cinder would have told me. But would the Pres really come talk to me? Not likely. I needed Ashes to come home, safe and sound. In my gut, I worried something was wrong.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Meg. “He’s been a bit fussier than usual. I think he misses Ashes.”
“It’s fine,” Meg assured me. “Besides, he needs to get used to staying with other people eventually. You and Ashes are going to want some time to yourselves, and it’s better to get Oliver used to everyone now rather than later.”
“I won’t be long. I just need to run pick up a few things at the store.”
Meg waved me off. “Honey, take as much time as you need. Tanner is going to be two soon, and I honestly miss the baby stage. He’s getting independent on me.”
“You could always have another one.”
There was a flash of pain in her eyes that was quickly gone.
“Meg, what’s wrong?”
“I’ve been pregnant twice since we had Tanner. I lost both babies. The doctor said I’m still able to have another child, but Cinder doesn’t want to risk it. I asked for birth control pills after a rather lengthy discussion with him, so I don’t see more kids in our future.”
“Oh, Meg.” I reached out and hugged her. “I’m so sorry. This club seems to have rotten luck in that department. You and Jordan… anyone else? I don’t want to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I wouldn’t hurt any of you for anything.”
“Just us,” she said. “I’ve somewhat made my peace with it.”
I handed her Oliver and his baby bag. “You have my number if you need anything. He ate recently, so he should be okay until I get back.”
“Go, Nikki. We’ll be fine.”
I kissed Oliver, then walked down to my car. I waved as I pulled out of the driveway and headed for the main gate. It
was a little strange leaving on my own. Usually I had a Prospect glued to my ass if Ashes wasn’t with me. I was going to enjoy the freedom, even if it didn’t last that long.
The store was packed, probably everyone planning their Thanksgiving dinner already. I hadn’t even thought that far ahead. The club probably did something, but I’d have to discuss it with Meg and Clarity. If anyone had something on the agenda, those two would be at the head of it all. Parking what felt like three miles from the door gave me plenty of time to organize the list in my head.
I grabbed a shopping cart and started on the left, then worked my way across the store. It was a bad idea, but it was my routine. The list I always kept as a running tally in my head seemed to expand with each aisle, things I just had to have or needed to make. Like chocolate chip cookies, banana nut muffins, a three-layer strawberry cake. I really shouldn’t be trusted to shop for food.
I made sure to restock the diapers and wipes for Oliver, grabbed a six-pack of beer for Ashes, then somehow managed to finish my shopping without buying out the entire meat department. Even though I’d protested rather loudly, Ashes had added me to his account, but I still winced when the clerk rang up the items in my cart and the total came in at just over three hundred.
“What the hell did I buy?” I wondered out loud.
The clerk snickered. “A little of everything?”
I nodded. “Pretty much. I’m sure I don’t need half this stuff, and yet… I do. Probably a good thing this isn’t one of those big box stores that carries everything from food to patio sets. I’d probably empty the account in one trip.”
“Honey, it happens to everyone, especially this time of year.”
Except I hadn’t bought anything for the holidays. If I didn’t stop eating the way I had been, or baking for that matter, my ass was going to be so big it would fit into two zip codes at once. Not that Ashes had complained about my weight. Then again, he didn’t remember how skinny I’d been before Oliver. Every time I saw some celebrity in pictures within weeks of giving birth, and they were back down to their regular weight, I just wanted to scratch out their eyes. Lucky bitches! It had been two months since Oliver was born, going on nine weeks, and I was still twenty pounds heavier than before.
I pushed the cart out to the parking lot, then dug through my purse for my keys. People started to grumble behind me so I tried to walk and hunt for my keys at the same time. A horn honked, making me jump. Hastening my pace, I wanted to give a triumphant cry as my fingers closed around my keys. I stopped the cart at the back of my car and hit the unlock button on my key fob. I seriously wanted one of those new cars where you didn’t even need a key, and Ashes would likely get me one if he knew, but this one still ran and worked just fine. It was still new to me, even if it wasn’t brand-new, and I was grateful for it.
I opened the trunk and started to load the bags into the vehicle. As I turned to place two more into the space, a hand clamped down on my arm, jerking me off my feet. My eyes went wide when I saw the man who held me. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked past due for a hit of whatever drugs he was taking. I swallowed down my fear and tried to remain calm, but I didn’t think I would be able to reason with him.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Just you.”
My jaw dropped, then snapped shut. He tugged on my cut and I suddenly understood. It wasn’t that he wanted me, per se, but he wanted an ol’ lady of Devil’s Boneyard, and I was the only one handy. I didn’t know what the club was mixed up in, or if this had anything to do with Ashes, but the fear I’d been tamping down suddenly roared to the surface.
“Please. I have a son. I can’t… I need to get home to him.”
“Guess your man should have thought of that before he went poking around where he shouldn’t. Looks like your kid is going to be an orphan.”
What? I tried to break free, kicked at him, and opened my mouth to scream. He shoved a nasty rag between my lips, then slapped tape over it before binding my wrists. The man yanked me off my feet, throwing me over his shoulder. I tried to look for help, but there wasn’t a single person close enough, or anyone paying attention. Everyone was lost in their own world, fighting over parking spots or putting away their groceries. How could a woman get snatched out of the lot without anyone noticing?
When he tossed me into a trunk and slammed it shut, I blinked at the sudden darkness. This was happening. I’d been kidnapped. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Oliver. My sweet Oliver. That man had said I wouldn’t see him again. What did he plan to do to me? What the hell was Ashes mixed up in? Tears burned my eyes but I refused to cry. I’d been a helpless woman before and watched Bane die. I wouldn’t be a lamb led to the slaughter again.
I twisted my hands, trying to loosen the tape binding me. I could feel my wrists getting slick as it cut into me, making me bleed. Despite the pain, I kept working toward freedom and when I finally pulled a hand from the tape, I knew that I at least had a chance. The dick who kidnapped me had taken me by surprise before, but not this time. I tried not to scream against the pain of the tape ripping off the skin on my lips, but I was finally able to gulp down huge lungfuls of air, and get the disgusting rag from my mouth. My rising panic made it feel like I still couldn’t breathe, even though he hadn’t covered my nose.
I dozed off a few times, then would jolt awake. My bladder felt like it was seconds away from bursting I needed to pee so bad. Something told me the man driving the car wouldn’t stop and give me a potty break. Asshole didn’t care if he hit every pothole between the grocery store and wherever we were going. He’d not care if I pissed myself, but I was trying really hard not to do that.
It felt like hours had passed, and I had no idea what time it was. How far were we going? I didn’t even know if we were still in Florida, or if we’d left the state. Being in the panhandle, it wouldn’t take long to reach either Georgia or Alabama. Is that where Ashes had gone? He’d said Reckless Kings, but I didn’t know anything about them. The not knowing was the worst part, and worrying about Oliver. By now, someone would have realized I was missing. Were they looking for me? Had they found my abandoned groceries and purse? Or had someone stolen all my shit instead of calling the police like a good citizen?
Every bump of the car jostled me, and I banged my head more than once. The sharp turns made me think the ass was doing it on purpose, knowing that I was rolling around like a damn bowling ball. My stomach lurched and I fought not to throw up. With my luck, it would end up in my hair and smeared all over my face. The car came to a halt, tires screeching as the car slid. After a moment, I heard the door open and felt the vibration as it slammed shut. There were voices, deep and probably male, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying, which meant they probably weren’t near the trunk. Were they just going to leave me in here to suffocate? My escape plan hinged on them opening the damn trunk.
The voices grew louder, and then I heard footsteps that sounded like they were right next to the back end of the car.
“You sure this is the bitch?” someone asked.
“Had his name on her back. Unless he’s got a side piece, but I don’t think they mark but one woman no matter how many holes they put their dick into. You know how those bikers are. Multiple whores a night.”
My hands clenched into fists and my teeth ground together. Ashes wasn’t like that! He was home every night with me and Oliver, when Cinder didn’t have him out on runs overnight. And I knew I could trust him. There was no way he was cheating on me. He loved me!
“Get the bitch out here. He’ll crack when he sees what we have planned for her. Not that it will matter,” the mystery man said.
Someone laughed.
“She’ll be a nice addition to the stable. Bet you have special clients just for her,” said the man who snatched me out of the parking lot.
Shit. They were going to make me a whore? No. Fucking. Way. Nope. I wasn’t the same woman who watched Bane die. I had Oliver to
live for, and Ashes. If I was going down, I’d go down fighting this time. No more little pathetic Nikki who gets beat up and tied down.
Okay, so I’d ended up bound, gagged, and thrown into a trunk. Not the best way to start the road to the new badass Nikki. Baby steps.
I heard the lock on the trunk disengage and the lid lifted. Two men glared inside at me, and the one who’d snatched me hauled me out of the trunk.
“You didn’t even gag the little whore?” the other man asked.
“I did. She somehow got it loose, but it doesn’t matter. She can scream all she wants around here and no one will come looking for her.”
“Time to go see your man,” said the other guy.
I went with them, wanting them to take me to Ashes. I needed to know that he was all right. We seemed to be in some sort of warehouse district. I still couldn’t figure out where. This didn’t look like any part of Florida I’d seen before, and it didn’t smell the same either. Maybe that seemed weird, but to me, home had a certain scent. And this wasn’t it.
They shoved me through the doors, and my jaw nearly dropped. Ashes, two other Devil’s Boneyard members, and a handful of other bikers were stripped to their underwear and tied to chairs. The two idiots shoving me around didn’t seem tough enough to have taken down all these hard-ass men, so I didn’t think they were running things. No, someone else was helping. I wasn’t sure if I should make a move before I knew more or not. What if I did manage to set Ashes free, and somehow disable these two men? What then? We could either free everyone and get out of here, or there could be others waiting.
“Nikki.” Ashes’ voice sounded rusty, or maybe it was more like… I swallowed hard as I catalogued his injuries. They’d made him scream in pain. “You should be at home, where it’s safe.”
One of the assholes behind me laughed. “Safe. That’s a good one. Snatched her right out of the parking lot of the grocery. Easy as fucking pie.”
