I feel sick.
Karma. It’s a motherfuckin’ bitch.
I hear Reese sigh loudly, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. I’m too . . . wounded.
“Do you remember Cassie Hawthorne from high school?”
That gets my undivided attention.
“How could I ever forget?” She was a girl we shared the summer after graduation. Three drunk, young kids exploring their sexually ambitious side. We fucked her the entire summer. Right up until our father died and Reese went pro. I think that was the last real “relationship” he ever had with a woman.
Reese raises his eyebrows communicating his silent thought.
“Are you for real? She’ll never go for it.”
“I think she will. I think that’s what she secretly wants.”
“How could you possibly know that?” I challenge.
“Because what woman would say no?”
It’s official; he’s gone completely insane.
“Your ego defies gravity.”
“How do you think I got her on the back of my bike?” Reese smiles shamelessly. “I didn’t give her an ultimatum and neither should you.”
He’s got me there. He’s been able to beat me to the punch with Kayla in every way.
“So, what? One of us is just supposed to throw her over our shoulder like a caveman and declare her ours?”
“Why not? I want her; you want her. She wants us. Seems like simple math to me.”
I scrutinize my brother.
“Don’t look at me like that. You know this is a win-win for everyone.” He crosses his arms and stares off into the sea of people mingling, drinking, showing off their latest mods, and plain old shooting the shit.
My brother is a supremely complex individual.
It makes me frown. Win may not be the right word. Short-term solution sounds more like it. A bandage. A quick fix. Definitely not something permanent. But if Reese is cool with it, so am I. Because I want Kayla any way I can have her. I want her back in my bed, underneath me, begging to come. Even if that means I have to share her temporarily.
I’m willing to deal with the repercussions.
And there will be repercussions.
There always are.
Kayla
I haven’t seen Tammy since I graduated high school. We were always close, but after she enlisted in the Air Force and I left for college, we lost track of each other. Hugging her is like slipping into a well-worn pair of jeans or walking straight back into an old life.
It’s a consoling familiarity.
“Kayla Kincade! What are you doing here?” She squeezes me so tightly, my back cracks. “I thought you walked away from this scene forever ago?”
“I did.” I strain to breathe as heartbreaking memories pelt me like bullets. “It’s sort of a long story.”
“I got the time, girlfriend.” Tammy’s twang springs off her syllables.
Tammy grew up on one of the most rural farms in the area. She’s a tall, thin, country girl with five overprotective brothers, who shoots straight from the hip. She can also ride anything with two wheels and has no problem showing you up while she does so. I remember when she schooled her oldest brother on a dirt bike. It was then and there she earned the respect of every man in her family. She was a sore winner, kicking up mud right in his face. But I guess when you’re the only girl swimming in a sea of testosterone, you need to make your statements where you can.
I angle my face away from her, determined to suppress the toilsome emotions. Tammy turns my cheek, sweet compassion gushing out of her big hazel eyes. Just being in her presence teleports me back to the past.
“All feels real again, huh?”
“For a minute.” I try to smile, fighting off the sadness before it drags me under. Before the guilt swallows me whole. It only takes a split second before I’m suffocating.
“So don’t think about the past, and tell me what you’re doin’ here! On the back of Reese Dane’s bike, no less.” She shakes me excitedly. “You’re every woman’s target tonight. Including mine!”
I turn red, restraining a smirk. “It just sort of happened. I was his nurse when he got hurt.”
“His nurse?” She puts her hands on her hips. “That’s it?”
“Yes, his nurse. That’s it.”
“And what are you now?” she pries.
Tammy’s no idiot. Neither am I, and neither is Reese. Showing up at a rally with a girl on your bike says something. Specifically, she’s mine.
I glance back at Reese and Dev, both glaring at me in completely different ways. Reese looks like he wants to eat me alive; Dev looks like he wants to murder me. Who can blame him? At the moment, he probably hates me. And why shouldn’t he? I slept with him, then ignored his every phone call and text. And trust me, there were numerous. I drilled it into his head that I want nothing to do with bikers, and then have the audacity to show up at a rally, of all places, an hour after I fucked his twin brother in broad daylight.
I’m a walking fucking contradiction. Truth is, I was so ass backward after what happened with the two of them that I didn’t know what to do. I needed time to sort things out.
Dev is the dangerous one. Plain and simple. I know when he looks at me, it’s more than just physical attraction. I felt it when he touched me, when he kissed me. It was emotionally charged. Being with Dev felt final. Being with Reese felt free—no strings attached. No chance to get hurt. I knew he never planned to stay. He was an easy out. At least, that was my impression until he showed up clear out of the blue. I’m in the worst possible situation. Caught between two men I yearn for equally. Desire equally.
“Now, we’re . . . friends?” I try to simplify it.
“You asking or telling?”
“I’m not really sure, to be honest.” I laugh. “I’m just trying to let it all sink in.”
“I understand that. Reese Dane is definitely one fine piece of man. I’d let him sink in all night long. Mmm.” I snap my head toward Tammy as a stab of jealousy punctures my gut. “Hell, I’d even take his brother as a consolation prize.” She jokes as I glare at her. Once she peels her eyes away from Reese and Dev, Tammy looks at me, startled. “Why you shootin’ death rays? You can’t lay claim on both of them.”
Says whom?
I know that thought is preposterous, but still. In my warped little world, they’re both mine.
Before I get a chance to tell Tammy hands off, someone hollers my name.
I turn to see Knight stumbling toward me.
“What’s up, girl?” His voice pitches as he puts an arm around me. “I thought you didn’t show face at these things.”
I’m momentarily stunned. One, because he’s never touchy-feely, and two, I think that’s the most he’s spoken since I met him.
“Um . . .” It takes me a second to reply.
“No worries. No explanation needed.” He cuts me off. “The important thing is you’re here, and I have moonshine.” He holds a large Mason jar up to my face. Now, I understand the source of his loose mood.
“Why do I have a feeling that you and that ‘shine are a dangerous combination?”
He grins and nods. “Like a Molotov Cocktail.”
“I like cocktails,” Tammy chimes in coquettishly.
“Oh yeah?” Knight still hangs on me but centers his full attention on the leggy brunette. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Tammy.” She flashes him a flirty smile, and I swear up and down he gets hard instantly.
“Knight.” He slips off me and cozies up to Tammy. She doesn’t seem to mind one bit. You cannot only see the instantaneous attraction, but you can feel it. I glance behind me at Dev and Reese, who are still hanging back on their bikes. Despite being identical twins, they each portray their own persona. Reese is flashy, where Dev lays in wait. He’s methodical. Even his sleek black sports bike screams discipline and control. A quiet domination.
I know just how dominant he can be. I shiver from the mere memory.
Jesus. I need to get a grip and stop thinking about Dev when Reese is the one I came here with. Who made me come an hour ago.
Too bad that’s easier said than done. Truthfully, it’s fucking impossible. Not with them both ingesting me like that.
“Drink, Nursie?” Knight shoves the moonshine under my nose. “You look like you’ve got way too much shit on your mind. It’s a party! Lighten up.” His arm is around Tammy now. When did that happen?
I gladly accept the Mason jar without a second thought. He’s right; I do have way too much shit on my mind.
I take a sip of the sweet-flavored alcohol. Mmm. “Is that root beer?” I examine the dark amber liquid.
“Riley’s grandpoppi’s secret brew.” He winks as I take another swig. “Now, drink up!”
“I like this side of you,” I confess to Knight.
“You mean he isn’t always this charismatic?” Tammy pets Knight’s chest. He’s dressed casual, as usual, in a gray and white camo flannel and baggy jeans.
“He’s usually so shy,” I tease.
“Not shy,” Knight corrects me. “Controlled.” He looks directly into Tammy’s eyes, and I swear I hear her panties squeal.
I need more ‘shine if I’m going to endure this. One jar is just not enough.
I hit the bottle hard as Tammy and Knight eye-fuck each other right in front of me. For Pete’s sake, get a room or get lost in the woods or something. I laugh to myself.
“Easy there, killer.” Reese’s voice travels behind me as I swallow down more moonshine. I turn to find him and Dev leaned forward on their bikes, looking like two jungle cats on the prowl.
“Someone made a friend,” Dev comments about Knight.
“He’s full of surprises tonight,” I add.
“So are you.” Dev stares me down.
I shift uncomfortably. This situation is never going to get easier. I know what the smart, rational thing to do is. Just walk away. From both of them. But I’m neither smart nor rational at the moment. On top of that, walking away seems nearly impossible when they’re both hell-bent on having me. There’s nothing but heartache down this road, I see it clear as day. Someone is going to get hurt, and I can pretty much guarantee that someone is going to be me.
“Easy.” Reese draws me next to him, keeping Dev at bay. “Let’s not scare her off already.” Let’s? He kisses my neck openly while Dev drills a hole through my forehead with his searing gaze. I nearly buckle under the mishmash of Dev’s scrutiny and Reese’s warm lips. I down some more moonshine, begging for a palliative escape before Reese slips the jar out of my hand.
“You’re going to be walking sideways soon, and we can’t have that,” he murmurs as he hands the Mason jar off to Knight.
We? Why does he keep using plural pronouns? And why is it irking me so?
Reese wraps his arm around my waist, locking me against him and his bike. My back to his side, while Dev’s suppressive blue laser beam ensnares me. I swallow thickly.
Before I internally combust, a black and yellow motorcycle comes veering out of nowhere. It circles around our small group several times, the pipes roaring annoyingly. We all grimace. They sound like a buzz saw. The rider parks next to Knight then removes his helmet. If I didn’t know it, I would have bet money it was Riley. He loves attention, and I have a feeling the only time he gets it is when he’s on a bike.
“What the fuck are you riding? A bumble bee?” Knight asks him, aghast.
The name is appropriate considering the skins are horrific.
Riley cackles, his laugh echoing up through the night sky.
“It’s my newly-acquired P.O.S. Won it ten minutes ago. Can’t believe the jackass actually raced me! Look at this thing.”
He dismounts the shabby machine, then kicks it. “I’m going to strip it for parts.”
“That’s about all it’s good for.” Knight curls his lip. “Scrap.”
“Guy was desperate to race. I couldn’t say no. He looked hard up, too. Needed a score, ya know.” He rubs his nose and inhales exaggeratedly. “Probably shouldn’t have even been driving.”
“And you raced him anyway?” I ask.
“’Course I did. Easy mark. I’m not an idiot.”
“Hell, yeah!” Knight high fives him. “That’s how we do.”
“I know, right? I mean, look at this shit.” Riley fishes into his jacket pocket and pulls out a handful of plastic.
“What the fuck is that?” Reese asks, as we all lean in curiously to look at what’s in his hand. Upon better inspection, I realize what he’s holding.
“Holy shit.” I grab his wrist and yank. “Are those all yours?”
What Riley is holding is half a dozen empty dime bags with a tire stamped on each one.
“Of course not. I don’t mess with this shit, but apparently, that guy does. This was his jacket. He bet the whole enchilada, helmet and all.”
“Yo, man, you need to ditch that shit. Empty or not.” Knight sounds alarmed in his drunken state.
“I plan to.”
“Smart idea.” Tammy frowns. “I heard that’s the stuff killin’ people off.”
“You know about this?” I ask Tammy, a little too interested.
“Just from what I hear around town. Supposedly, there’s a huge stash at some abandoned church somewhere.” She shrugs. “But it’s just hearsay.”
Abandoned church? In this area, that’s not uncommon.
There’s a bunch of dilapidated shacks littered all over the place. But it is something. I pull out my phone from my pocket as casually as I can, not wanting to draw attention to what I’m doing. As Riley, Reese, Dev, and Knight converse about the newly-acquired bumble bee bike, and what to do with it, I nonchalantly snap a picture of the license plate. It’s not a great image, but you can make out the numbers and letters from the off angle.
I text my aunt:
Not sure if this is anything, but might want to look into it and any abandoned churches in the area. #Overdose
I attach the pic and hit send.
She’ll know what I’m getting at. The only thing I’m not looking forward to is explaining where the tip came from.
A few moments later, my phone vibrates.
Sam: Thanks for the tip, crime stopper.
I smirk then erase the message.
“Whatcha doing all quiet over there?” Reese rasps, looking over my shoulder.
“Nothing,” I reply flirtatiously as I slip my phone back into my pocket. Last thing I need is to be caught text texting 5–0, even if she is family.
What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
“You ready to go for another ride?” He skims his nose down my neck, and I can’t stop myself from looking at Dev. He’s watching mine and Reese’s every move like a hawk. It’s fucking stifling. Maybe leaving is in everyone’s best interest. I know I’m going to have to face Dev sometime soon and confront what happened between us and what’s happening with Reese right now. But I’m at a loss, honestly. I don’t know what to say, or even how to address it without hurting him. Because that’s the last thing I want. Let’s face it. I may be cozied up to Reese right now, but my feelings for Dev haven’t disappeared. They’re as strong as ever and eating me alive.
Before I have a chance to respond to Reese, the loudest exhaust boom I’ve ever heard tears through the throng of people. It’s as if a blanket of dread covers the entire gathering as a figure on a jet-black beast rolls through the crowd. Reese straightens, forcing me back onto his bike. Our small circle tightens, Dev rolling closer to Reese and me, Riley doing the same as Knight locks his arms around Tammy and drags her next to me. We create our own little fortress of bodies as the biker heads straight for us. I’ve never seen anything like him. A massive body covered completely in leather with gold toe shit kickers that match the thin pinstripes running along the fairings on his machine.
“Who is that?” I whisper to Tammy.
“Viper,” she replies, just as he reaches us. He stops directly in front of Rees
e, their front tires practically touching.
The man is intimidation personified. He sits in front of our little group for several long nerve-wracking heartbeats before he removes his black Predator helmet, complete with alien dreadlocks and all.
I tighten my grip on Reese as the man shows himself. His skin is as dark as his leathers, his eyes a stunning green, like two pieces of sea glass.
“Well, look who decided to slum.” Viper’s deep timbre rattles through me. “None other than the infamous Phantom himself.”
I can’t see Reese’s face, but I can feel his body language. He’s apprehensive, but not intimidated, contrary to me.
“Have some time off, so I’m hanging with my crew. It’s not unheard of.”
“For you it is,” he contests.
“Did you just roll over here to bust my balls because you’re still sore you never escaped this miserable shithole?”
“I’m not sore,” Viper leers. “I own this fucking town. I’m king. Staying was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
As confident as his voice sounds, there’s an underlying resentment. We can all hear it, especially Reese. I suddenly have a bad feeling.
“You’re king, huh?” Reese goads him. Oh shit. “I distinctly remember burning rubber down your ass every time we raced. Which I believe makes me king. Estranged or not.”
The look in Viper’s eyes sharpen to a point. Holy fuck.
“This isn’t ten years ago. You have no idea who I am now.”
“Oh, I think I do. Washed-up racer with a chip on his shoulder.”
“Reese,” I whisper a warning into his ear, squeezing him hard. He rubs my hand, placating me, which only amps my anxiety.
“You think you can just roll up in here and stake claim? This ain’t no fancy race track.”
“You’re the one who rolled up. I was just hanging. But now that you mention it, I do think I can just lay claim. I already have. And all I did was sit on my frame.”
“You think you’re street? Why don’t you put your pussy where your mouth is?”
Say what? I straighten my spine.
Keep This Promise Page 153
