Hell's Flower

by SL Schiefer

  “Drill was shot today while watching you,” I tell her bluntly.

  She gasps and places a hand over her mouth. “He’s in the hospital, so for right now, the only person who will be watching you is me. I’m not leaving you alone for a minute.”

  “Is he going to be okay? He isn’t going to die, is he?”

  “I honestly don’t know. One of the prospects is down there right now, keeping an eye on everything. If something changes, we’ll find out right away.”

  Raven closes her eyes and leans into me again, wrapping her arms around my back. Putting one of my arms around her, I hold her there while stroking her hair with my other hand.

  “There is something I need to tell you, though. We’re riding out as soon as everyone gets in here and putting a stop to this shit for good tonight. I don’t want to tell you what we’re doing, just in case you’re questioned regarding anything tonight, but I’m sure you’ll hear about it on the news. I just want to keep you as clean as possible in this.”

  “I understand. I don’t like it at all, but I get it,” she says into my chest.

  “I don’t anticipate anything happening tonight. It should be us just running in and doing what we need to and getting out.”

  “Okay. You fucking better be safe. I need you to come back home to me. I love you. I’m not done with you just yet.”

  I can feel her smile, which makes me smile in return.

  “God, I love you, too, Angel. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me. I promise I’m coming home.”

  Just then, there is a knock on the door. “Mace, it’s time to head out, dude,” Creep says without opening the door.

  “Alright, give me just a minute.” I pull Raven’s head up for me to kiss her. “Stay here, Angel. Please, for the love of God, just stay in this clubhouse. Don’t leave for any reason. I love you.”

  I walk away, leaving her standing in my room.

  ***

  Nineteen of us pile into three SUVs. Only five of us are going up to the clubhouse, but all three vehicles will be waiting a couple miles away. They’re dropping us off in a pull-off in the woods with a path leading right to the clubhouse.

  None of us talk as we trudge through the woods. Being out here makes me realize why I hate being in wooded areas like this. Fucking mosquitos and a bunch of god damned bugs. I really hate bugs.

  Creep whistles low, getting all of our attention. Pointing to his eyes and then around him, he’s telling us to pay attention to our surroundings. We’re getting closer to the house.

  When we hit the clearing, everything happens in a matter of minutes, though it feels like hours.

  Quietly, we make our way to the house. I don’t know what everyone else is thinking or doing besides concentrating on not making a sound, but I’m still watching our surroundings. I’m the one who decided I would do the front side of the house, so when I edge around the house, I notice there aren’t many bikes here and only a couple cars. They must be out doing something tonight, probably making a drug run or something else.

  Four of us have gas cans that we’re emptying around the house. Carver doesn’t have any gas, but has a lighter he’s ready to throw the minute he sees us take off for the woods. We’re taking the cans with us so there will be nothing here to tie us to this. We haven’t touched anything, and the lighter will be unrecognizable by the time anyone gets to it.

  Creep is the first of us to start back to the opening; the rest of us follow when our cans are empty. When we turn to wait on Carver, we see the tiny flame of the lighter flick on and in the next second, flames are spreading everywhere. Carver runs at full speed back to us.

  Everyone starts walking in the direction of the vehicles while I just stand there and watch. I didn’t want this fight between us to ever come to this, but I stand behind our morals of the club so much to protect the people I can. To help everyone I can.

  But Jake just won’t stop. He is a coward, not willing to stand up for himself. Allowing others to fight for him while he stands back and watches the cards fall.

  Tonight, that ends. He either stands against me himself or he’ll back down. If he comes after anyone in the club or my girls again, I. Will. End. Him.

  Chapter Thirty-One – Raven

  AS SOON AS GUNNER leaves me alone in his room, fear envelopes me. It squeezes me from the inside out like a vise. My chest feels heavy, almost as if someone is trying to suffocate me.

  What if something happens to one of them? What if something happens to Gunner? What if he dies? What if whatever they have planned backfires? What if they get caught and he, or they, end up behind bars? What if Jake and his crew retaliate tenfold?

  My vision begins to cloud as tears threaten to overtake me. This is too much to handle. Why couldn’t I have fallen for a man who likes safe? Who plays by the rules—not his rules, but rules of society? Of the law? But then I probably wouldn’t have given them the time of day.

  “Rave? You okay?” I hear Jazz ask.

  Blinking my eyes rapidly to clear the tears, Jazz’s silhouette appears at the doorway. Her face is full of concern, her eyes narrowed while looking me over.

  “Yeah,” my voice squeaks. I clear my throat a few times and end up just nodding my head.

  She walks over to me and embraces me in one of the tightest hugs known to mankind. Wrapping my arms under hers, I squeeze tightly back, taking a deep breath, letting out all of the tension that has my muscles wound tight. When I hear her whimper, I quickly release her, stepping back and looking her over. The bruises are healing nicely, now down to yellow and green instead of the dark, fierce, purple and blue.

  “Your rib still bothering you?”

  “A bit. Not too bad unless I bump it just right or move a certain way,” she shrugs.

  Grabbing her hand, I lead her to Gunner’s bed, lying down on one side and patting the space next to me. Jazz follows suit and we both sigh at the same time.

  “I miss you, Rave,” she whispers.

  “I miss you, too. I feel like we haven’t had a chance to really talk lately, and that sucks. I miss you, bitch.”

  “Who you callin’ a bitch, hooker?” she snorts. Literally, snorts. Which only causes me to laugh at her.

  “They’re going to be okay, right?” Tears prick the edges of my eyes. I refuse to look anywhere but up at the ceiling to keep them at bay.

  Her fingers intertwine with mine before she says, “Do you really think they’d do anything to make shit worse?”

  “What if they don’t have a choice? What if whatever they’re doing right now goes wrong? What if Jake and them retaliate?”

  “Whoa! Slow down, Rave! They’re smart. And I’m sure this isn’t their first rodeo. Everything is going to be fine. I promise.”

  “God, I hope you’re right,” I exhale.

  “Do you love him?”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t think this is a good life to bring a child up in. I mean, look at everything that’s happened thus far, and we just got introduced to this all. Can you imagine growing up in this shit?”

  “No. Not really. But maybe that’s something you and Mace can come to an agreement on,” she offers.

  “He won’t leave the club, Jazz,” I groan.

  “I’m not saying he has to, but maybe you both can find a way to make it work for both of you.”

  “Yeah. Maybe.”

  “Have you told him yet? That you love him?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Did he say it back?”

  “He said it first.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t know exactly. A while ago. I never said it back. But I said it earlier today.”

  “And what’d he say?”

  “Say? Or do?” I ask, laughing.

  “Do I want to know?” she asks with a smirk.

  “Let’s just say, I’m pretty sure I’m going to die by death of life-shattering orgasms.”

  “Not such a
bad way to go!”

  “What’s up with you and Creep? You two have been spending an awful lot of time together lately.”

  “Umm…nothing really,” she shrugs.

  “Okay. Spill,” I order.

  She exhales loudly but doesn’t say anything.

  “Well?”

  “Well… I don’t really know. I mean, I like the guy. He’s different… in a good way. But at the same time, I kind of like being single. Plus, everything that happened at Jake’s club kind of has me on edge.”

  “Okay, timeout. You have to know the shit that happened at Jake’s club would never happen here. These guys actually care about people. Gunner told me they only do violent shit when it’s needed. Like with Jake.”

  “I know. I know that, I do. But it doesn’t make me feel any better. I just can’t believe I was so fucking stupid. Like, why wasn’t what happened the first time when I was there with you enough to turn me off from ever going back there? Even being shit faced, I should have never gone again, ya know?”

  “I get it,” I nod. “But you can’t hold what they did to you against the guys here. There out there doing whatever it is they’re fucking doing partially because of what happened with you.”

  “Do you think Drill will die?” she asks in a way that makes her voice sound so innocent and small.

  Giving her hand a squeeze, all I can say is the truth. “God, I hope not, Jazz, but I really don’t know.”

  “It’ll be my fault if he does.”

  “You can knock that shit off right now,” I say firmly. “You didn’t pull the trigger, Jazz. The blame is all on Jake’s crew.”

  Silence ticks by until I can’t handle it anymore. I jump up from the bed and start walking toward the door. Turning back around, I order, “Get your ass up. I can’t sit here worrying about what’s going on anymore. We finally have time to spend without dicks around. I say we take full advantage.”

  Laughing, she stands and walks with me back to the lounge area. “Drinks?”

  “Hell. Yes.”

  ***

  Thankfully, the ol’ ladies had kicked out all the club sluts by the time Jazz and I got down to the lounge. Since they knew something big was happening with the guys, they didn’t want the sluts here by the time they all got back. Not to mention, none of us wanted them here, and without the guys around, they were just taking up space.

  “So nothing is going on between the two of you?” Ginger asks Jazz in regards to her and Creep.

  “Nope! Nothing,” she says, shaking her head.

  “I call bullshit!” Big Bertha says as she slaps the tabletop. “Drink!”

  We all laugh and throw back another shot, this time it’s whiskey. Jazz takes the shot with us, but then says, “I swear it! We haven’t done anything.”

  “That’s just sad,” Ginger pipes in.

  “I’ve heard he’s a god of the rock stars between the sheets,” Mouse says.

  “I wouldn’t know,” Jazz mutters.

  “Oh my God, this shit is driving me crazy!” I yell out of nowhere. “How the fuck do you guys deal with this shit?”

  Lacy, another of the ol’ ladies, says, “Honey, with time, you learn to just deal and trust your man. You guys ain’t nothing if you don’t have trust.”

  “Ugh!” I groan, plopping my forehead into the palms of my hands. “This royally blows.”

  “Shot!” Big Bertha shouts.

  We all agree, giving cheers to each other before throwing back another.

  “So what’s the deal with you?” I ask Big Bertha.

  She’s actually a sweetheart. Well, a badass sweetheart, if that makes any sense.

  Shrugging her shoulders, she doesn’t answer. Instead, she takes another shot solo.

  “We all used to be friends, but then the bad blood drama came along and I had to choose between my man and his club, or these guys. As an ol’ lady, there isn’t a choice.”

  “So what made you come back?” I ask.

  “Mouse has a good tasting pussy,” Ginger says, laughing. We all laugh with her and decide to take another shot, this time of Rumple Minze.

  “Well, that, too,” Big Bertha winks.

  “You ever been with a woman before, Raven?”

  I can feel my eyes grow wide and my cheeks hot. Maybe that’s from all the liquor. I can’t even speak and just shake my head.

  “You have no idea what you’re missing. If you ever decide to leave Mace, you let me know when you’re ready for an experience of a lifetime.”

  Jazz busts out laughing, drawing all of our attention over to her.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Raven has the saddest sex life in the world. Anything is a step up from where she was. Well, that is, until she met Mace.”

  “You’re such a bitch,” I laugh. If I wasn’t drunk, I’d probably be embarrassed by my lack of… good sex? I don’t know. I’m too drunk to fucking care.

  “I got wind that Jake’s crew was playing dirty and doing shit that I do not, nor ever will, approve of. I left to come talk to the guys, to let them know, but on my way here, my man called and told me I’m a dead woman walking. So… now my ass is staying here until Mace or Creep boot me out.”

  “They would never send you packing, you know that,” Ginger says.

  “Let’s hope not,” Big Bertha says.

  “What were they doing?” I ask. Walking away from someone you love isn’t easy, I’m sure. The fact that she did because of her beliefs and because she actually gives a shit about others is admirable.

  “They were—“

  I stop listening to her the instant the metal door slides open. The first man through brings me to my feet and I run, jumping into his arms. Thank. Fucking. God.

  Chapter Thirty-Two – Mace

  I DON’T EVEN make it twenty steps into the house before I have the sweet scent of berries wrapped around me. Arms are around my neck, hanging on for dear life. I slide my arms down her back to cup her ass and lift her against me. She automatically wraps her legs around my waist.

  I bury my head in her mass of hair, breathing her in. “Need you. Right now.” Raven barely suppresses her moan of approval.

  I stalk out of the room and up the steps, going to my room. Shutting the door behind me with my foot, I turn and slam her back against the door. “Angel, this is going to be hard and fast. If you don’t come, I’ll make sure you do after I do.”

  Allowing her feet drop from around me so we can both undress, I drop my pants, but don’t bother stepping out of them. I rip my jacket off my shoulders and my shirt over my head, leaving me standing there naked.

  She pulls her shirts over her head and while she goes to work on her jean shorts, I reach behind her to undo her bra. She steps out of her shorts and panties and moves her arms to let the bra fall to the floor.

  The bra barely hits the ground before I’m back on her, fusing my lips to hers. She reaches between us and grabs my dick, stroking hard and fast. My hands roam over her body, and I cup her heavy breasts in my hands, rolling her nipples between my fingers until they’re a tightened buds. Moaning her approval, she drops my cock and gives me the sexiest look.

  I push her back up against the door, sliding my hands down her sides to grab the backs of her thighs and lift her up again. She wraps her hands around my neck. Pushing most of her weight into the door, I use one of my hands to reach between us and line myself up with her slick pussy. Pushing in a tiny bit, I pull my hand back out and grab her thigh again.

  “Angel, open your eyes and look at me. I want to see your eyes when I take you tonight.” I’m trying desperately to hold it together, but I’m not thinking with the correct head right now.

  She opens her eyes and lets her head roll back to rest on the door. Taking in a deep breath, I push all the way in until I’m fully seated in her.

  “Remember to keep your eyes open.” I pull out of her and push back in, wanting to hold back as much as possible. I want her to try to get off, even though this will be fast
, but every time I’m inside her, I lose complete control of myself.

  After a couple more thrusts in and out, I start to fuck her. I have her propped as much as I can against the door to get as much leverage as I can, holding her hips still as I set a punishing pace.

  I keep my eyes open and on hers the entire time I’m fucking her. Her lips are parted and her eyes are dark with heat, making it that much harder to hold off. She has sweat beading on her forehead and the little hairs around her face have started to stick to her.

  God, she’s fucking beautiful. I continue fucking her against the door, and balls start to tighten as I feel myself getting bigger inside of her. Her tight walls are starting to clamp down on me.

  “Are you close? Please tell me you’re fucking close,” I grunt in between thrusts.

  “Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop,” she keeps repeating like a mantra until she starts to scream her release. Thank fuck. There was no way I was going to be able to hold off any longer.

  Spilling myself in her tight cunt, I relish in the sensation of her walls milking every last drop. I slow my thrusts in time to the pulsing of my dick, pulling her close to me as she tightens her legs around me. Walking us over to the bed, I lay her down, but stay close to keep myself inside of her.

  “Let’s just lie down for a little bit. I just want to hold you,” I tell her as I follow her down to lie on my side, facing her. She apparently agrees to my suggestion because she snuggles into me.

  I run my hand through her hair and down her back, then back up to the top of her head to repeat my actions. I don’t know how long we stay like that, but I hear her breathing even out. It’s been a long day, and with all of the adrenalin leaving my body, I’m starting to get tired.

  Settling my arm around her, I’m content to just sit here and hold her all night. Just before I fall asleep, I whisper, “I love you, Angel.”

  ***

  Being woken up by hot lips wrapped around my shaft is the sweetest way to wake up. Ever. I groan and tangle my fingers through her hair, holding it out of her face.

  “Angel, you didn’t have to do this. Uhhhh… But I’m not complaining one bit.” She continues to bob her head up and down my length, sucking and licking at the right spots.