by Erin Trejo
“Remember what I said if I don’t make it.” I want to throw myself into his arms and hold on but he just turns away and climbs in the ring. I watch as he bounces around a little rolling his shoulders back. Colorful tattoos move with each muscle he flexes and I can’t stop myself from staring.
“He’s yours?” A blonde woman pulls my attention when she leans into me.
“My husband,” I tell her letting the words roll off my tongue like they’ve always been there. It sounds insane to call him that but in a way I like it.
“Lucky girl,” she smiles at me. I nod my head not feeling all that fucking lucky right now. The one man that is slowly stealing my heart was just on the phone telling another woman that he loved her and is now in a ring about to fight for me.
The announcer gives their names and the crowd starts going insane. The two of them circle each other and that’s when I notice the size difference. I gasp when I take in the other guy. His taller than Keaton by a few inches but is much broader. His arms are more muscular and looks as though he sat around doing steroids all day. My heart pounds harder when the man moves in on Keaton. I try to remain calm just like he told me to do but that’s easier said than done. The man’s fist collides with Keaton’s face, forcing him to stumble backwards. Blood runs down his chin from his mouth as I gasp. They throw more punches and a few kicks. Both men are bloody and bruised, battered and running low on energy. One hit has Keaton falling to his knees. His eyes lock with mine when mine widen. The man is coming toward him quickly. I try to force a scream but nothing comes out. Keaton rolls to his side, narrowly missing a kick to the face. Keaton throws his leg out, swiping the other guys. He falls to the floor and Keaton leaps to his feet. Climbing on top of him, his fist move faster than they have the whole fight. The sound of screams and cheers gets louder as Keaton pounds the man’s face. I’m not sure how to feel. It’s disgusting yet he’s winning and that’s a good thing. Another man leaps into the ring, waving his hands.
“That’s it! Winner!” he screams over the sound of the crowd pulling Keaton up by his arm. My heart is beating so damn hard I feel like I’m going to pass out. Someone pushes through the crowd coming to stop at my side.
“I’ll have a car take you guys to the hotel and have his bike hidden. Doesn’t look like he’s going to want to ride tonight and probably shouldn’t be on it to Cali either,” Brian says with a smile as he looks up at the ring. The guy that was announcing things let’s go of Keaton and he nearly falls to the ground. He stumbles out of the ring, shaking his head as he makes his way toward me. I rush toward him, closing the distance and throwing my arms around his neck. His hands slip around my waist as he whispers in my ear, “I’m okay, baby. I’m okay. Let’s go.” He’s out of breath and the scent of blood is strong. People cheer and slap his back as we make our way through the crowd. Brian isn’t far behind us cheering and ushering us toward the door. We step out into the warm night and Keaton takes a deep breath. It’s as though he’s been trying to hold on and handle the pain the whole time we’ve been inside.
“They’ll take you to the hotel and get him settled. Car’s yours to use. Don’t care what happens to it,” Brian says as two big guys come around and pull Keaton from my arms. I watch his head as it falls forward, looking like he passed out, which he may have.
“Shit!” I hiss when I see it.
“He’ll be alright,” Brian says when I turn to look at him. “Give him these.” Handing me a bottle of pills, I look them over before looking back at him.
“Only pain meds, sweetheart. I’m not trying to kill him. Here’s his cut. When he wakes up and that may be awhile, make him take two and go back to sleep. He needs to recover before you head out.” I nod my head taking the envelope of cash from his hands. When I turn around, the other guys have Keaton situated in the back of the car, his head leaning back against the headrest, his eyes swollen and closed. I climb in next to him and scoot as close as I can wrapping my arm around his chest. The ride to the hotel doesn’t take long and I’m surprised when no one bats an eye at these two big ass men carrying Keaton inside and to a room. In fact, the lady at the desk just nodded and went back to what she was doing on her phone. I follow along carrying our bags that Brian had taken out of the saddlebags on the bike and holding the envelope with Keaton’s money tightly to my chest. Worry, regret and anger are just a few emotions that are running wild inside of me as I watch the men open the door and carry him in. My heart feels frozen in place as I stand there semi-shocked. He did all of this for me. He risked his life to keep me safe. No one has ever done that, not even my own family. I’ve learned over the years not to depend on anyone but myself but Keaton could have been killed tonight.
“He should be good for the night. You okay?” One of the guys steps back into the hallway as my eyes fill with tears.
“He could have died,” I say softly the words meant for me but he heard.
“He could have but he didn’t. He needs to rest. He’ll heal up. Those hits to the head were the worst, probably has a concussion.” He rests a hand on my shoulder and I can’t even find it in me to jump. I just stand here in a stunned silence.
“Call Brian if you need anything. Here’s his card,” the man reaches into his pocket and passes me a card. I nod my head before he ushers me inside the room.
“Lock up behind us,” he says before closing the door. I lock up like I was told and walk toward the bed, dropping the bags on the floor. Keaton’s face is a mess and old blood sticks to his skin. Heading into the bathroom, I grab two washcloths and a towel. Wetting the cloths I walk back out and climb on the bed next to him. I gently clean his face, his busted open lip. My chest tightens when he doesn’t move.
“You have to be okay, Keaton. This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” My words aren’t heard but they still needed to be said. I continue washing him, cleaning him as best I can right down to his knuckles. The broken skin looks so evil. When I can’t take anymore I toss the rags to the floor and pull his boots off. At least I can make him comfortable. Yawning as I climb back up on the bed next to him, I know I won’t be able to sleep until I know he’s okay and even as his chest rises and falls I don’t feel that sense of peace right now. So when sleep never comes, I sit awake and watch him.
15
Keaton
“Beverly! Don’t fuckin’ go with them!” I roar loudly but she doesn’t listen. She walks further and further away from me until I can barely see her. My heart hammers in my chest as my feet move faster and faster but it doesn’t seem to be enough. The more I run the further away she is.
“Beverly!” I scream for her but when she turns to face me it isn’t Beverly at all. It’s Skye. Her face is covered in blood, it drips down her chin landing on her shirt. I reach for her but I can’t touch her.
“Skye? Baby, what happened to you?” She doesn’t answer me, just stares into my eyes with a lost look in hers. What the hell is going on?
“Skye? Don’t leave me!” I beg when she starts to walk backward away from me.
“Skye!”
“Keaton!” Her voice. That’s her voice.
“Keaton, you’re okay,” she says softly jarring me from whatever sick dream I was lost in. I pry my eyes open to see her kneeling next to me, her beautiful eyes dark and haunted. She looks like she hasn’t slept in days.
“Skye.” Her name leaves my lips once more and that soft smile of hers floats across her face.
“You’re awake,” she says.
“What the hell happened? How long have I been asleep?” I ask groggily. My head aches, in fact, my whole fucking body aches. I shift and wince, shoving myself up. The room spins and bile races up the back of my throat. Skye must be able to see it. She leaps off the bed and grabs the small trash can, holding it in front of me as I heave. The room spins but slowly starts to calm. Looking up at Skye, she looks so concerned.
“I’m okay.”
“Yeah, barfing in a hotel garbage cans are proof of that,” she sasses me. I
crack a smile that fucking hurts my face. When I lean back against the headboard, Skye moves the can and grabs a water off the table passing it to.
“Brian said you needed to take these when you woke up. It’s for the pain,” she tells me as she dumps two pills in her hand. I shake my head.
“No fuckin’ way. For one, I don’t know what that shit is and I don’t trust anyone.”
“And two?” she smartasses me. Fuck, I love that about her.
“And two, I can’t be layin’ in this bed for days. Who the fuck is gonna protect you if I’m passed out?” She raises and eyebrow as if to challenge me and I have to admit it’s pretty sexy.
“I’m fine. You need to rest and besides, I’ve been fine the last two days.” What the fuck did she just say? Two days?
“Two days? I’ve been out for two fuckin’ days? Why the hell didn’t you try to get me up!” Growling at her, she steps away from the bed, her hands planted on those sexy little hips.
“You were beat to hell! I did try to wake you up asshole! You wouldn’t move, not even when I sucked your dick!” She didn’t just go there.
“Don’t lie to me, Skye. If those lips were wrapped around my cock, I would know,” I tell her watching as he cheeks turn pink. It’s fucking sexy as hell.
“Brian had your bike hidden. He said it’s safe until we can come back. Left us a car to drive instead.”
“A fuickin’ cage? No, fuck that shit.”
“They’ll be looking for a bike, dumbass. Obviously they knew I was with you guys.” Fuck. This girl is trying to test my patience and as shitty as I feel I’m debating showing her who the boss is around here.
“Watch your mouth before I put it to good use,” I warn her. She narrows her eyes like I’m playing with her. When I start to shove off the bed, she jolts and holds her hands up.
“Okay! I’ll stop. Jesus, you need to stop moving and rest.”
“No, we need to get on the road, I’ll be fine. We’ve already been here two days and I don’t want to stay in one place too long. Once we get to Cali, I know I can get us in somewhere safe where no one will look. We can rest and regroup from there.”
“Brian said he would set you up another fight and have us a place to stay.”
“I know what Brian said but that’s not what we’re doin’. Where’s my phone?” I ask needing to find out if Beverly is okay and safe. I told her I would come get here and instead I was lying in a fucking bed passed out for days. Skye grabs my phone and hands it to me, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Let me get shit arranged and I’ll explain it all, yeah?” She huffs before sitting on the edge of the bed. Reaching for her kills my fucking ribs but I grab her and yank her against me anyway. Pressing my lips to hers, I just need to taste her. Just know that she’s here and she’s okay.
“What was that for?” she asks gazing into my eyes.
“I needed to know you’re real.” She smiles at me and everything seems right in this fucked up world we live in. Dialing the phone, she moves to climb on the bed next to me. She lays her head in my lap and my fucking cock jolts to life. She doesn’t act like she knows it but I know she can feel it poking into the side of her head.
“Who the fuck is this?” I chuckle when he answers the phone.
“Keaton. Remember me?”
“Fuck no. Should I?”
“Probably not. Nomad out of SC. Look, I’m in some shit and need a place to lay low and run some intel.”
“How many people?”
“Three. Four tops.” I can hear him blow out a breath on the other end.
“We got a spot for you. You know where the clubhouse is?”
“Yeah, been out there a few times a couple years back.”
“Show up and don’t be surprised when you’re ass gets searched.” I chuckle once.
“Thanks, Creed.” The line goes dead when I dial the next number on my list.
“Keaton? That you motherfucker?” I laugh at the way he answers the phone.
“You know it. What’s up, brother?”
“Shit. Just hangin’ out gettin’ my dick sucked, all that good shit. Where you at?”
“Got a situation Ripley. Need a huge fuckin’ favor.”
“I’m listenin’,” he says quickly. Ripley’s another Nomad that I’m good with that typically stays around in Texas. Why be a Nomad if you don’t want to roam? He’d never tell and I never ask.
“Got a girl that I’m on a job for. Shit’s gone south. I’m handlin’ that part but Beverly somehow got dumped at the Hell Bound’s a few days ago.” I don’t even need to finish that sentence.
“Fuck me! Who was it? I’m gonna fuck someone up for leavin’ her there!” He roars into the phone.
“I hear ya. She didn’t say but I need her out. You know I’d go in but we have that little issue of murder from way back,” I chuckle. I was in a fight with one of theirs a few years back that ended in the death of one of their guys. It was ruled that it was his fault but that doesn’t stop them from hating my ass.
“I got her. Where you want her dropped?”
“I’m headin’ out to Cali to the Fallen Angels clubhouse. Creed’s gonna let us lay low there and work up some intel on my job. Think you can get her there?”
“Fallen Angels huh? Yeah, I’ll get her there. I’ll head out now.”
“Hey, Ripley. Thanks, brother. I owe you one.”
“You always owe me one!” The line goes dead as I blow out a breath. That’s one problem solved and a million fucking more to handle.
16
Skye
He tosses his phone onto the bed as I sit with my legs crossed in front of me watching him. Running his hand through his hair he turns to face me.
“Beverly was a kid when she showed up at the clubhouse in South Carolina. Wasn’t more than fifteen. She hung around and did what she did but I saw her as more of a sister. I wanted to protect her from the shit she was doin’ but who the fuck was I to her? I wasn’t nothin’ but another dick she wanted to ride. I never touched her though. Like I said, she was never somethin’ I would fuck with. She wanted to go to California and one of the other guys took her part way. He dumped her at a local MC here in Texas but we aren’t on good terms.”
“I heard the murder part. You get trigger happy? Itchy finger?” Rolling my eyes, he chuckles.
“It was a fight that went a little far. We kinda knew it was gonna come down to one or the other. I choose not to be the other,” he shrugs as if it’s no big deal. The whole idea of killing someone doesn’t sit well with me but at the same time I couldn’t see losing Keaton either.
“What’s the plan?” I sigh and ask crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at him.
“The plan is to get into California and get to a safe place. Then I plan on workin’ some intel and findin’ out more about who could be after you. I don’t have much to go on so any information you can think of, tell me,” Keaton shoves off the bed with a wince and heads into the bathroom. I want to follow him but the more I think about things, I don’t think it’s such a good idea. Instead I sit on the edge of the bed and wrack my brain trying to come up with something, anything that may be helpful but it all ends in nothing. I never got involved in my dad’s business. Even when he wanted me to, I took a step back and let it all go. I don’t want to be a part of the lies and deceit that he is. I’ve seen the way people get hurt just for being around him and that’s not how I want to live my life.
Keaton comes out of the bathroom, his hair brushed away from his face. He looks so fucking broken yet beautiful at the same time. My heart clenches every time he looks my way.
“You think you can drive?” he asks holding his left side. I know he’s in pain and I’d do anything to take that pain away from him.
“I can drive. I’m not dumb,” I snap at him. He chuckles and moves to stand in front of me, holding his hand out. I reluctantly take it and Keaton pulls me to my feet.
“Didn’t say you were dumb but I did s
ee that shit car you were drivin’. You sure you can handle a car that has real steerin’ in it?”
“Are you calling my car old?”
“That son of a bitch was damn near foot powered,” he chuckles before leaning down and pressing his lips to mine. I want to kiss him. Hell I want to fuck him but not in the condition he’s in right now.
“You’re a dick. That car took me to work and everything!” I say making a big deal. Keaton laughs, throwing his head back.
“Until it blew up. Which you should be thankful for. That thing was gonna gas you the fuck out one day.” My mouth hangs open as he throws insults at my power blown to pieces car.
“What did that car ever do to you?” I ask in mock madness.
“Well, that seat hugged your ass more than I have. You touched that wheel more than you’ve touched me. I think that’s enough,” he jokes making me laugh. I love being like this with him. He makes it easy for me to be around him. When he first showed up it was rough but the more I’m with him, the more I love it.
“You can hug my ass anytime you want to, biker boy.” Wiggling my eyebrows, his eyes narrow.
“Don’t think I won’t be takin’ you up on that offer, babe but right now we need to go and I feel like I was ran over by a semi.”
“Is that why your cock is so damn hard?” I tease him seeing the bulge in his pants. Keaton shakes his head slowly grabbing me around the back of my neck and jerking me against his body.
“I could make you drop to your knees and handle that problem before we go. That what you want?” his breath mingles with mine and the only thing I can do is nod my head. He shifts slightly watching me to see if I change my mind and when I don’t a smirk crosses his face. “Do it then,” he growls shoving me to the floor in front of him. Keaton doesn’t move to help me undo his jeans or anything. He stands there watching my every move making it hard for me to focus when my pussy is throbbing for a piece of him. I reach up and unbuckle his jeans and pull them down his legs with his boxers. His cock bobs in front of me, hard and ready to be taken. My mouth waters as I lick my lips and lean in taking the tip into my mouth. Twirling my tongue around the head Keaton groans and thrusts forward. His cock fills my mouth and stretches my jaw as he works his hips.
