Breaker smirked and raised his hand to wave. Whatever was going on, he wasn’t bothered by it. In fact, he seemed ready for war. He rose straight to his feet and looked at the door of the diner as it burst open and Tyler came crashing in. The whole of the room gasped and went silent, and people began to whisper as they watched the scene unfold.
Tyler was standing in the entrance to the diner with his legs wide apart and his hands flexing by his sides. Ashley put her head in her hands and closed her eyes.
Please don’t let this be happening… she thought as she heard the two men take steps toward each other.
“What the fuck is this?” Tyler spat.
“Tyler,” Ash began, trying to cut in before it turned nasty. “Are you serious? I’m just having a conversation with someone…”
“Yes, I am fucking serious,” he said harshly, and his tone made Breaker take a step forward protectively.
“Don’t speak to her like that,” Breaker said. “Don’t ever fucking speak to her like that, you hear me?”
“Or what?” Tyler barked.
“Or I’ll rip your fucking head off!” Breaker snarled as he pushed forward and slammed his palms straight against Tyler’s chest.
“Guys!” Ash shouted. “Stop it.”
She got to her feet as they squared up to each other again and she could see the look of shock and awe on the other diners’ faces. It was almost like they had been waiting for something like this to happen, as if it was the kind of thing that kept Slate Springs alive.
“That’s my kid sister,” Tyler spat as he tried to make himself look big next to Breaker, but he was dwarfed in size. His eyes only reached Breaker’s chest and it was obvious he felt intimidated.
“She’s not a kid,” Breaker said.
“Hey, I’m right here,” she cut in. “And this is ridiculous. Both of you are being pathetic. If this has something to do with whatever score you’re trying to settle then I want no part of it. I’m leaving.”
She grabbed her purse and moved quickly toward the door. She had the feeling that Tyler would find them soon and be irrational, but she was disappointed and saddened at how he had spoken to her. It knocked her confidence all over again.
“Ash!” Breaker called after her as he shoved his way past Tyler and chased her to the doorway.
She ran down the steps and kicked up a huge spray of sand and dust as she crossed the highway and made her way back to the motel parking lot.
“Wait!” he shouted.
She didn’t want to stop, but she also didn’t want whatever they had to end. She slowed her pace and finally turned to look at him. She could see Tyler standing in the doorway of the diner, but there was enough distance between them that he wouldn’t be able to hear.
“This isn’t about rivalry,” he said seriously, as if he was panicking and worried. “You can’t think that. That’s not how any of us roll around here. Not when it comes to women.”
She could tell he was being genuine, he was clearly distressed by the accusation.
“But it all seemed like such a game to you before,” she said sadly.
“Yes, and it did to you too,” he said as he took another step forward. “But it’s just the game of you and me. There’s no one else playing with us.”
His eyes. They were so sincere and so deep they were intoxicating.
“I don’t fuck around when it comes to what I want,” he said as he took a step forward and trailed his fingers down the side of her face.
His touch felt electric. It was hot and it sent tingles right through her. She gasped and looked up at him, waiting for him to sweep her into his arms.
She could feel Tyler’s eyes on them, but in that moment, she didn’t care. She had never wanted anything so much before and the rest of the world around her was falling away as all she could focus on was her and Breaker.
They were the only two people in existence.
He cupped her face and pulled her right up onto her tiptoes as he bent down and kissed her. His mouth was hot against hers and as he opened her up and let his tongue search her, she gasped and melted into his arms.
The whole world was spinning around them and she felt as if she was floating on air. She was weightless and all she had ever known was suddenly being questioned. Never had she had a kiss like it. Never had someone made her feel that way.
She had always believed she had felt love before. But this kiss was something else entirely. If this was how they were beginning then who knows where their chemistry could lead them. It was so right. So passionate. So tender. And when they broke their lips apart and looked into each other’s eyes, she realized she was trembling.
He smiled at her and kept cupping her face.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since yesterday in Kady’s,” he breathed. “But it was worth the wait.”
He bit his lip and she couldn’t help but do the same. They were grinning at each other like children, and it was only then that she became aware of Tyler’s angry presence again over Breaker’s shoulder.
“This is a big fucking mistake,” he spat at them.
When they turned to look at him his face was red with rage and the vein on his neck bulged with tension.
“A big fucking mistake,” he reiterated, and Ash was sure she could see his eyes twitching.
“Tyler,” she soothed. “Why? Just calm down, this doesn’t involve you in anyway.”
“You’ve fucked it now,” he said angrily as he jabbed his finger toward Breaker with a look that could kill. “You think this truce is going to smooth over after this? You’re fucking dreaming.”
He snarled and Breaker tensed too, stepping away from Ash and squaring up to Tyler again, dwarfing him in size and blocking him from Ash’s view.
“I’ve told you before, little man,” Breaker hissed. “Don’t speak to her like that… And don’t threaten me. Ever.”
Tyler stepped back and when Ash saw his face again, she could see the fear in his eyes. Whatever this was, whatever politics they had between them, Tyler had clearly crossed a line.
“Get the fuck out of my town,” Breaker said sternly. “If I ever see you back here, I’ll kill you myself.”
Tyler turned on his heel and marched toward his truck which he had abandoned in the middle of the parking lot.
“You’re restarting a war,” Tyler said through gritted teeth. “You’re going to regret the day you ever messed with her.”
Breaker wrapped an arm around Ash’s shoulder and squeezed her into him.
“Somehow, I very much doubt that,” he said. “Now go on, get the fuck out of here. Let your club deal with you and the trouble you’ve caused here today.”
“They’ll be coming for you!” Tyler croaked. “They’ll stick by me! They’ll see that this is wrong!”
Breaker laughed and turned with Ash under his arm and began to walk away with her toward the motel.
“Bye bye,” he called over his shoulder antagonistically.
They reached the bench on the outside of the motel walkway and sat down next to the soda machine. Tyler was slamming his palms against the steering wheel and screaming with rage. Ash didn’t know where to look or what to say. She felt terrible for causing her brother anguish, but at the same time, he had done nothing but put her down and ignore her since she had arrived in town. It was as if he hadn’t wanted her there at all.
Breaker and Kady were the first people to make her feel wanted in such a long time. Their rapport was instantaneous and fun, and they already felt like a part of her life. Tyler had slipped well into the background like her own parents and she had always feared he would end up like them. Bitter and angry at the world with nothing to turn to but booze and pills.
She sighed and ran her hands through her hair. The truck roared to life and the ground shook beneath them. As he spun out of there, Ashley held her breath and tried not to let the tears flow. She was shaking and she felt as if part of her heart was being ripped from her chest. But she also understoo
d that this time, she couldn’t put her loyalty with him. She couldn’t let him treat her that way and expert her to just be subservient. She deserved to live her own life just like he had always been living his.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Breaker said once the truck was disappearing over the horizon. “But I could never let him speak to either of us that way, do you understand?”
Ash nodded and smiled through her tear blurred eyes.
“Of course I do,” she said. “He’s always had such a mean streak. I just always accepted it because I was used to people treating me that way.”
“You never should accept things like that,” he said again as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him. She fit perfectly into the strong groove under his arm and against his body.
“Well, from now on, I won’t…” she whispered as she let her head fall against his shoulder.
The sinking feeling she’d had in the pit of her stomach was quickly disappearing. Breaker had said and done all of the right things and he was reassuring her with each passing moment. She just wished her brother could have seen how genuine they were together rather than jumping to conclusions.
9.
Breaker stood by his bike and cupped her face again as he planted another knee trembling kiss on her lips. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. She honestly couldn’t believe she had found someone so perfect for her and out of the middle of nowhere.
“What now?” she asked him. “What will happen with Tyler?”
She was worried for her brother’s safety. She still didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
Breaker shook his head and sighed.
“He’ll go back to Iron Hill and tell them all what happened,” he began. “And then I’m pretty sure he’ll get his ass kicked by them all.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Did he not tell you what was going on here?” he asked her. “You really have no clue?”
Ash shook her head. She was still so in the dark it was unreal.
“I don’t want to drag you into any of our politics,” Breaker began. “But there has been an outside threat coming ever closer for a few months now. Some Russian gang is picking off small desert towns one by one and overtaking them for business. Iron Hill and Slate Springs had to come together. On our own, we’re not strong enough to throw these guys off. We still don’t know how everything is going to unfold, but we have to keep our bonds tight and have each other’s backs.”
Ash let it all sink in and she nodded her head slowly as she processed it all.
“But then,” she began. “You and Tyler picking fights with each other isn’t going to go down well, is it?”
She felt nervous for them both.
“Your brother was hostile,” Breaker said. “He’ll be reprimanded.”
“What does that mean?” She felt her heart beat faster.
“It means he’ll be demoted, no doubt. He was here to make sure all of our relations ran smoothly. Now he’s caused negative energy, he surely isn’t going to be welcome in this town for some time.”
Ash felt terribly guilty.
“He’s just over protective,” she said. “He always has been.”
“Understandable,” Breaker said. “But I didn’t do this to deliberately hurt him. He’s not in my own brotherhood and I didn’t treat him with any disrespect. He was the one who was disrespectful and he was the one causing the beef.”
She could see his point of view and knew he was right, but she couldn’t help but feel as if she should have been more compassionate. But the thing was, Breaker was so worth it.
“You should gather his things together,” Breaker said. “I’m sure one of the Iron Riders will be back for them.”
“Is there any way you can stop him from getting in serious trouble?” she asked suddenly. “This is all my fault… I never should have come here.”
“Are you kidding?” Breaker pulled her closer to him again and looked deep into her eyes. “Don’t ever say anything like that. I’m so glad you came here.”
He kissed her once more and she felt like jelly in his arms.
“But I don’t want you to be upset,” he said as he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear with those big hands. “So if this gets out I’ll speak with everyone and I’ll make sure he can come back… If that would make you feel better?”
“Please,” she said as she cuddled into his chest.
“Consider it done,” he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.
She knew he had to go and deal with all of this, but she didn’t want him to leave. Since they had kissed and held each other, it felt so wrong that they should be apart again so soon.
“Tonight,” he whispered. “Come and meet me at The Bullet?”
She faltered for a moment, her nerves rife and her heart pounding. Did she really have the nerve to go there?
“I thought you said you wanted to take me somewhere special?” she winked.
“Oh I will,” he smiled. “Good things come to those who wait.”
He smiled at her wickedly and she nodded in acceptance.
“I’ll be there,” she smiled.
He kissed her longingly on the lips and climbed onto his bike. As she saw him sit astride it, she felt a tightening between her legs. He looked so goddam good. It was powerful and dangerous, just like him, and he looked so much more of a man which she didn’t even think was possible. He was the most masculine and attractive man she had ever met.
He revved the engine to life and she jumped back slightly. She could feel the power of it even though she wasn’t sitting there with him.
“See you tonight, babe,” he said as he winked and revved the engine again before he took off, kicking up a huge spray of sand and dirt in his wake.
She watched as he flew along the highway and she was both aroused and intimidated. He was like a god. A complete entity in himself. And she was smitten.
She turned and ran back toward her motel room with a big grin on her face and as she opened the door and made her way inside, she knew there was only one person she wanted to tell. She grabbed her cellphone and started to type…
A: Oh my goodness Kady! You’re never going to believe it…
K: Oh I bet I can! Come on girl, spill all of the details!
A: There’s nothing much to tell yet… Apart from I think we’re probably made for each other!
K: I could have told you that yesterday ;) I saw the way you both were in my salon. It was pretty clear even through all of the bitching and moaning that you were both digging each other.
A: Help! What am I going to do? He’s asked me to go to The Bleeding Bullet tonight!
K: Erm! Get your sexiest little number on and await my knock at the door… Because I am SO coming with you! Shutting up shop now, I’ll be over to the motel in a few hours. Xx
A: See you then :D xx
As she placed the phone down, she couldn’t help but smile. She had never expected her life to be heading in this direction from one small decision to go and visit her brother. And it was so crazy to think that this town and all of these people had been on her doorstep all along. She was almost regretful that she hadn’t come to find them sooner.
10.
Ash and Kady stood looking at the bar rising up out of asphalt in front of them. That side of town was so rundown and weary, it was hard to believe that it even co-existed in Slate Springs. The Bleeding Bullet was tall and imposing, and it nestled between two smashed out and boarded up warehouses that were both eerie and industrial. The roads that led them to that part of town were empty save for the burned up cars and smashed windows that seemed to lead the way.
“It’s like another world,” Ash whispered to Kady nervously.
“I know,” she said back as the two girls squeezed hands.
“Maybe we should turn back?” Ash asked her as she caught sight of all the women lounging around on the steps that led up to the main door. They all wore ripped fishnets and
leather miniskirts. Their hair was backcombed and their make-up was heavy and dark. They clearly had an idea of how they thought they should look to be there, and Ash had never felt more out of place in her jeans and t-shirt.
“Now I know what he was talking about,” she said to Kady. “He told me about these women. He said they hang around looking for one of the bikers to fall in love with them.”
Kady snorted with a laugh.
“Yeah right,” she said. “As if that would ever happen. I’ve seen some of The Forsaken Riders with girlfriends and they’re never anything like these women… They’re clean and pure and to be honest, they’re all like you.”
Ash smiled at the thought. She was glad to hear that. It made her believe even more that Breaker was serious with how he was treating her. Not that she had ever doubted him for a second.
“Come on,” she said bravely. “We can’t just stand out here. I want to see him. I want him…”
She felt her desire grow hungry and she knew she wasn’t going to be able to let herself take it slow. The second she was alone with him, she wanted to rip his clothes off. She wanted to see what he was hiding under there and she wanted to feel the weight of him on top of her. She wanted him to dominate her and make her his.
Just the idea of him having control over her body made the blush creep back into her cheeks.
The girls strode forward and they climbed the stairs, ignoring the whores who were lounging around like wild cats basking in the sun. They pawed at the truckers and the men out there with them with an air of desperation and falseness and it made Ash’s blood boil.
When they pushed open the door and the music and thick fog of smoke hit them, she instantly closed her eyes, almost as if she didn’t dare look ahead at what she was getting herself into. When she did and she saw the writhing bodies all over each other, the kissing and the sweating, the mewling sounds coming from every corner, she was both turned on and horrified.
It was like another world, indeed. But it was one she wanted to experience firsthand and know what it was all about. She let her eyes scan the room for Breaker, but she couldn’t catch sight of him anywhere.
BREAKER (Forsaken Riders MC Romance Book 14) Page 8
