Axel (Reapers MC Book 17)

by Elizabeth Knox

  Grim told me she had feelin’s for him and I know for a fact the reason I never went down this path is because of my brother. Now he never told me he reciprocated those feelin’s whatsoever, but in a way, it makes me feel like I’m betrayin’ him by even bein’ interested in her.

  “Zane, I have a lot of respect for you, but if you allow this to—”

  “And I have a lot of respect for you too, Cheyenne, but if another word comes out of that mouth of yours I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?! You can’t do a damn thing to me! I’m not part of the club. I’m your fucking nurse practitioner!” Cheyenne screams across the room at him. Now, I don’t know much about pregnant ladies . . . but I’m pretty damn sure they’re not supposed to be gettin’ themselves riled up like that.

  Zane’s nostrils flare and he nods in agreement with her. “Yeah, you’re damn right about that, but I can make Frost pay for your actions, so get the fuck out of my office before I take my anger out on your ol’ lady.”

  Cheyenne mutters somethin’ under her breath before she exits the room, slammin’ the door shut behind her.

  “Jesus Christ. She’s lost her wits. We can’t go in blind, and after what happened to the club when Cracker died . . . I’m not willing to make the same mistake my father did.”

  I nod. “It’s understandable, Prez. She’s just personally attached to the situation. We’ll . . . we’ll find another way. Say, I might have an idea, if you’re willin’ to hear it. It’s a messy one, but it could calm her down a bit.”

  Zane leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. “I’m willin’ to hear it.”

  “We send one of the prospects down to bumblefuck wherever it is to hit on this chick, have them sink their hooks into her, and get them to drag her ass up here, under the guise of a relationship and all that. It would give us the ability to go snoopin’ around without bein’ obvious as fuck.”

  Zane narrows his eyes and nods his head a couple of times. I’m sure he’s goin’ through the motions, figurin’ out how the fuck we can make this work. “I’m not green lightin’ it yet, but get me what you can on the girl, any sort of damn information and then come back to me.”

  “Sure, give me a couple of days and I’ll have somethin’ for ya,” I tell Zane and make my leave.

  As I’m walkin’ out through the middle of the club, I see Grim’s smug mug and do a double take. Shouldn’t he be at the hospital with Natalie? “The fuck you doin’ here?” I holler from across the room, and Grim cackles.

  “Nat’ told me I needed to leave her alone. Apparently, I’m too fuckin’ annoyin’ after a couple of weeks in the hospital, only leavin’ to take a shower. Roxy told me Davina and Aggie are havin’ a great time with Jordyn and Nova by the way, and Sorcha can’t stop tellin’ me about how much fun she’s havin’ with Noelle. If you don’t mind, I say we let them stay with them for a couple more days. I’m grateful they’re havin’ fun and they’re not stressin’ out, you know?”

  “Yeah, I get that. Aggie’s the only one who mentioned she was nervous for her mom. The other two didn’t say anything to me, but I assured Aggie her mom’s in the best place she can be and her lil’ brother will be cookin’ away for as long as he can,” I tell Grim, and he smiles in thanks.

  “I appreciate that and thank you for steppin’ up when we’ve needed you to over the last couple weeks.”

  “No thanks needed. We’re family, brother. It’s what I’m supposed to do,” I say, givin’ his shoulder a good squeeze. “But, if you don’t mind I wanna talk to you about somethin’?”

  “Yeah man, what’s up?” Grim asks, and I motion with my head for him to follow me. At the club we have a room off to the side that has a nice flatscreen and it’s a cozy area for whenever people wanna get a bit closer to one another and don’t want pryin’ eyes. Now, I’m not doin’ none of that shit in here with my brother, but I don’t want pryin’ ears. I did happen to walk right past Rosa and Octavia talkin’ at a table, so I’ll have to go see what that’s about when I’m done here with Grim.

  “Shit, you brought me somewhere private. Somethin’ must be up,” Grim cackles, cockin’ a brow.

  “Yeah, I fucked Rosa, and I wanna keep fuckin’ her but in the back of my fuckin’ head I keep thinkin’ I’m somehow screwin’ with our bro code and it’s eatin’ me alive. I’ve never even looked at her before because of it, but we got drunk and shit went down, and well, the rest is history.” God, it feels good to get this off my chest. Until it slipped past my lips, I didn’t even think I had a previous attraction to the woman, but apparently I fuckin’ did. Shit. I mean she’s always been hot, but damn.

  “You’ve gotta be fuckin’ with me right now. Why in the hell would I be . . . Axel, I have an ol’ lady. We’re havin’ a fuckin’ baby together. I don’t give a rat’s ass who’s fuckin’ Rosa, whether it’s you or Doom.”

  Immediately the conversation takes a cold shift. “He been makin’ plays toward her?”

  “Kid’s been starin’ at her ass for months now. You’ve just been too preoccupied with other shit to even notice it.”

  “Damn, I’ll have to cut that shit off at the root.”

  Grim grabs ahold of my shoulder and looks at me right in the eyes. “You’re a prick, man, but with Rosa you can’t be. I’ve been friends with her for years now and I’ll tell you, if you push that macho man attitude on her too much, she’ll never give you a chance to get close to her.”

  “Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

  I’ve never had luck with relationships or any of that sorta thing, but I don’t wanna screw this up. I seriously can’t stop thinkin’ about the woman and I want this to work, but before it can I need to make sure she’s open to tryin’ . . . and heedin’ my brother’s advice, I need to dial it back a bit so I don’t throw my chance straight out the window.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Some old wounds never heal, and bleed again at the slightest word

  ~ Stucklys

  Rosa

  It’s been a few days since I last saw Xavier and while I should be calming down more, the opposite is what’s happening. Each day my fears grow worse than the day before it while an invisible pressure pushes me down. I’ve never been one to have anxiety, or a person who gets overwhelmed easily but funny how hearing everything I did the other night completely throws me for a loop.

  It’s not just the fact my father left a hefty inheritance for me with a crazy condition, but the fact he had two other children I didn’t know about, besides my younger half-sister, Pippa. I have an older brother named Ricardo, and another sister named Marisole. All of which he never told me about. I didn’t even know about Pippa until after he died, and when I questioned him while he was alive, he always told me I was an only child. Why would he lie to me? What’s the point in lying to me about family? I guess it’s a stupid question to be asking, considering he’ll never be able to give me an answer.

  Hell, what does it even matter in the first place? It’s not like I’ve ever been truthful with who I am. For example, I know my cousins are part of the Reapers MC. Damon and Amara are both my cousins, through a relationship my abuelita had with another man. Yet have I ever told them about being related? No. The only reason I can say I haven’t is because I doubt they even know I exist. Though, my father was never close to his half-brother. They were raised in separate households, so I suppose it makes sense in its own way.

  Still, I stare at the plate in front of me and can’t even think about taking a bite. My appetite has been decreasing bit by bit every day and I can only attribute it to everything I’ve discovered. I was so determined the other night to not let my inheritance wash away, but it’s easier said than done. I have to be married if I’m going to get a dime of what’s rightfully mine, and who exactly am I supposed to be marrying? God, what a joke.

  “You okay?” Octavia questions as she walks by the table I’m sitting at, but she stops in her tracks and takes a seat. “Actually, I don’t even need you to answer
it. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing, I’m fine,” I try to tell her, but immediately she’s scoffing and rolling her eyes.

  “Yeah, right. I can see it all over your face. Something’s happened.” While she’s not wrong, what in the hell am I even supposed to tell her? ‘Hey, my dead daddy was a cartel leader who left me millions of dollars and luxurious homes, but I can’t have any of it unless I have a ring on my finger’ . . . yeah, like she’ll even want to hear about my fucked-up family life. It’s why I’ve never even brought up my mother, who’s another story entirely. That woman always made me feel like a nuisance, but my father never made me feel in such a way. When I think about it, she’s the one who made me always feel like I couldn’t ever say anything, probably the reason I’m so good at keeping my thoughts to myself, too.

  “Just some family drama, O’, nothing to worry about,” I say, hoping calling her by her nickname will make her less invested in digging in my problems.

  Her eyes soften up a bit. “I didn’t even know you had a family. You’ve never spoken about them, like, at all.”

  Sucking in a sharp breath, I nod, knowing I already fucked up. “Yeah, my dad died when I was a teenager and I have a super fucked-up mother. There’s not much to tell. You know?”

  Octavia frowns a bit, and I know she’s going to do what she always does, offering some sort of encouraging advice. “Well, if you ever want to talk about it, please know I’m here. I might joke about gossip and being bored up here in the middle of nowhere, but I’m only playing around when it comes to that stuff.”

  “I know, you put on a front but deep down you’re a really nice person,” I say, and she smiles in thanks.

  “I wanted to talk to you about some stuff, if you don’t mind . . . but I’m not sure right now’s the best time,” Octavia speaks up, and the way her tone drops and she seems uncertain only makes me want to know more about whatever she’s holding back in that head of hers.

  I glance around us for a quick second and realize we’re the only two people in the clubhouse for about twenty or so feet. Whatever she needs to discuss with me, she can. “Go ahead, I need the distraction.”

  “Okay, so it’s no surprise I’m pregnant, and the guys are making me take an official maternity leave. They want me to take a full eight-weeks of no work, which could very well kill me, but whatever, I’ll do what those two stubborn men want.”

  “Okay . . .” I say, waiting for some sort of inclination on what she’s getting at.

  “I’d like you to handle operations for the Vixens until then, and I’m even prepared to have you assist me with a few weeks of shoots to get you through the first month, but the second month I’m on maternity leave I want to see what you’re going to be doing. How your creative style progresses without me constantly looking over your shoulder.”

  If I thought I was anxious and overwhelmed before, it’s been thrown to about a thousand times worse. “Whoa, that’s a . . . that’s so much to um . . .”

  “Rosa, we had plans, or are you blowin’ me off for a hot redhead?” Axel’s voice comes from behind me and I turn, while Octavia giggles.

  “If Inc or Zane hear you say that you might get your dick chopped off.”

  “Good point. I’ll have to choose my words better next time.” Axel laughs in her direction. “But are we gonna go or what? I made reservations for us and shit.”

  I turn around to look at Axel, completely flabbergasted because we haven’t made plans. We’ve barely spoken since the other day, but hell, I’ll play along. “Shit, you’re right, I’m sorry. It slipped my mind.”

  “It’s no big deal, I caught ya in enough time that we won’t be late.” He smirks like he does when he’s about to do something mischievous, and for a millisecond I forgot about the way he was ordering me around the other day. I’m certain I’ll be walking out of here beside him, but I’ll be giving him a piece of my mind as soon as I can.

  I glance back at Octavia and she’s smiling widely. “You know, I told everyone a few months ago I thought you two would make a great couple and it’s nice to see I’ve got a good intuition.”

  “You did?” My tone comes out completely caught off guard, because word travels fast around here and it never got back to me.

  “Yeah, I was talking to Zane and Grim about it, and I said Axel’s arrogance and your grace . . . how they’d pair nicely, and boy, I think I hit the bullseye with this one.”

  “Don’t go pattin’ yourself on the back yet, sweetheart. She’s still got plenty of time to kick my ass to the curb, and it might happen sooner if I don’t get her ass fed. You know how she gets when she’s hungry,” Axel pipes up.

  “Oh, do I ever. We’ll chat later and go over the specifics, Rosa, but I hope you’re willing and open to what I’ve proposed,” Octavia comments, rising from the chair in front of me. “And it’s nice to see your appetite’s suddenly come back.” Octavia’s eyes drift down to the full plate of food in front of me and she snickers, totally catching Axel’s save. She walks off and heads over to where Alexa and Roxy are while I rise and scoot in my chair, grab my food, and chuck my paper plate in the nearest trash can. Axel’s quick to slide his arm around my waist and walk me straight outside, then he slips his arm from around my waist and manages to grab ahold of my hand.

  I figure we’re heading for his truck so I don’t say anything, but he doesn’t take me to his truck, instead he walks right up to the garage where the guys have an overhang for bikes. He throws a leg over his bike, grabs his helmet, and throws it on, then hands me the second one on his bike. I haven’t seen the helmet he’s just given me before though, it has a rose etched into the side and the helmet is a deep purple color. “When did you get this?”

  “Yesterday, found it at the Harley Davidson store in Billings. Thought of you when I saw it, so I paid for the thing and brought it back here. Figured you’d be wearin’ it at some point in time, so I figured what the hell.”

  I’m almost caught in disbelief at what he’s said. “Let me get this straight, you saw this helmet and thought of me?”

  “Yep, think that’s what I just said. You gonna put the damn thing on so we can hit the road or what? I don’t want Octavia thinkin’ I’m lyin’ to her, you know? It’ll look better if you hop on the bike and we roll outta here for a few hours.”

  I unbuckle the helmet, put it on my head, and adjust the straps before buckling it up. Throwing a leg over Axel’s beast of a Harley, I wrap my arms around him and lean forward, putting my chin right on his shoulder. “Don’t think you’re fooling me, Axel. The only thing you want is my arms wrapped around you. You’re not concerned in the least bit about lying to O’ because the only person you really give a damn about is yourself.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Physical attraction is beautiful but it’s intimate mental attraction that is rare, highly intoxicating, and powerfully addictive.

  ~ Prince Madness

  Axel

  I’m not quite sure if she’s tryin’ to insult me or give me a compliment, but regardless I’ll take it. Turning my key, my beast comes to life. “Hold on tight, Velvet.”

  I drive us straight outta the parkin’ lot and head down the driveway. We roll up to the gate and I see Bama manning it. At the sight of us he presses the button to roll back the fencing and I drive straight through, turn right, and head down the road. The wind feels good against my skin and Rosa’s arms tighten around my torso. I keep ridin’ and I’m takin’ her straight out to Dallmann Lake. It’s a little under an hour drive, but it’ll give us some privacy and it’ll make us look like we went out for a while so O’s off her ass.

  I get us out to Dallmann Lake in a little over an hour, needin’ to be careful around some areas ‘cause the snow from a week or two ago is still there. Shit, I don’t know how it hasn’t melted, but I’m not a weatherman. I head around the back side of the lake and pull off to the dirt area where I know people park, coming to a stop.

  Propping up the kickstand, I turn
off my bike and remove my helmet, then look back to Rosa. “We’re hangin’ here for a bit,” I tell her and she releases her grip around my torso, puts her hands on my shoulders, and gets off my bike. I set my helmet down on my handlebars and hold a hand out for hers. She gives it to me and I put it with mine, while watchin’ her look around the area.

  “You ever been out here before?” I ask her, and she shakes her head.

  “No, I haven’t really been out of Billings, honestly,” Rosa mutters, walkin’ a few feet ahead of me she continues lookin’ around at the trees, massive rocks, and the few deer I see off in the distance walkin’ in their herd. At least I think it’s what they’re called. Fuck if I know.

  “Why is that?”

  “Why’s what?” she asks, walking alongside me toward the water.

  “Why haven’t you been out of Billings? There’s not really a reason for you to stay couped up, now is there?” A woman like her makes me think she’s the type who’d want to travel the world, gettin’ new life experiences whenever she can.

  Her smile softens and she gives me a curt nod. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I don’t know why I haven’t been exploring. Maybe I haven’t had anyone to go off and do it with, maybe I haven’t really felt the need. I’m not sure why I haven’t, though.”

  “Times like this make me realize I don’t know much about your life before you came to the Vixens.”

  “Are you trying to ask me to tell you more about myself?” Rosa’s eyes lock with mine for a moment and she makes her way through a thick brush ridden area, with me right behind her. Gettin’ up to the shore has never been easy, but man, when you’re there it’s fuckin’ beautiful.

  “Yeah, I am. I’m pretty sure you know everythin’ about me, so what’s with you bein’ so mysterious?”