by J. L. Drake
“No.” He reached back and pulled them around his waist again then gave them a pat to indicate they stay here. With a flick of his wrist, we started to move backward out of the parking spot, and his feet guided us onto the road.
He moved, and we jolted forward, not overly fast, but enough that my legs squeezed his hips. There was construction, so we were rerouted a different way—a longer way and one I hadn’t been before.
My bladder nearly took a dive when we leapt into a turn at an intersection and it decided not to return to its rightful place. Honestly, I didn’t blame it.
“Ah!” I buried my head in his shoulder blades as we split two trucks.
This was it—this was going to be my death. Yup, right here, I was going to tumble awkwardly off his bike, roll under a car, and get hit by a moped or something equally embarrassing. Just flop, no bounce and roll. Oh, sweet mother wrapped around something holy, this was it.
Finally, he slowed, and I was able to see straight. I was used to cars, enclosed in metal that protected my flesh and bones. No wind to remind me of the speed we were traveling.
And breathe. In and frickin’ out.
At the third stoplight, I finally took a moment to relax. I sat back and flexed my stiff fingers. I didn’t enjoy taking the turns—at all. It scared me and felt like death was waiting. He turned his head so I could hear him.
“When I lean, you lean,” he ordered.
Sure, yeah, of course.
Dick.
I didn’t nod because I was wound tight. I saw him flash a smirk in the mirror, one that made my breath catch in my throat. Lord, he was fucking sexy. His short beard called my fingers, but I behaved. I didn’t even know the man.
The light was about to change, and I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him like he showed me. We moved forward, and I shut my eyes when he slipped us in between the cars. We took a corner, and I leaned a little with him but had to admit it didn’t feel natural, and my thighs were getting one hell of a workout.
He reached back and ran his hand under the back of my leg and gave me a nod. I guessed I did well, but my attention was immediately on his warm hand running over my skin.
More of that would really help calm me.
We pulled into my apartment building. It didn’t surprise me he knew where I lived. No doubt Brick told him.
He stood and helped me off, and I removed the helmet and handed it to him. He reached for my arm then walked me to the door and waited for me to go first.
Umm.
Once inside the elevator, he pushed my floor number. He turned to look at me like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. Trigger was the kind of man power just seemed to ooze from, like Christian Grey, but different. Trigger’s was more raw and unpredictable. He screamed danger and sexy all at once. Frankly, it was fucking with my head, and I needed some space. I started to move, but his grip on my arm told me to stay put.
I felt his gaze burning into me. I tried to ignore it, but failed.
“What?” I couldn’t handle the silence anymore. I swore I saw him smirk.
The doors opened, and he released my arm and fell into step behind me. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but at the same time, I wasn’t about to complain. I liked having him near, even if he was scary as hell.
Unlocking my apartment door, I walked in, then turned when I didn’t feel him follow. He stood in the doorway.
“Ice your lip and get some sleep.”
I dropped my bag on the table. “I could have worked tonight, Trigger. Really, I’m all right.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” he rumbled.
I leaned against the table, my hands gripping the edge as I looked down at my feet.
I heard him come inside, but he didn’t shut the door. “You wanna tell me what really happened? Don’t fucking lie to me, Tess.”
I sighed. He was like Brick but harsher, so I didn’t lie. I just withheld some of the truth. The last thing I needed to do was start a war. I wasn’t an idiot; biker families were very protective and territorial.
“Wrong place, wrong time.”
“God, woman, you infuriate me!” He puffed out a long breath, and his hands flew to his hair and down the back of his head. “Do you try to piss me off?”
“No!” What the hell? “You have a bit of a temper, don’t you?”
He dropped his hands as he snapped his neck to the side. His eyes locked on mine, and I swallowed back a small gasp. The man was positively frightening.
With one stride toward me, his neck was at my eye level. He was massive and radiated with anger.
“Do I scare you?” His voice was low.
“A little,” I panted. My body tugged me in his direction. What the hell was wrong with me?
Snap out of it, Tess.
His strong hand slid around my neck, resting there as he studied my face, looking for something. “You like it, don’t you?”
Again, I nodded.
“Stupid girl,” he muttered, but before I could snap back, he turned and spoke over his shoulder. “Don’t come back until Saturday night.”
Four days! Christ, I need that money.
***
The next day, I unpacked everything but two suitcases, which I kept in my closet.
I propped up my laptop and watched a few episodes of Weeds. I loved how Nancy always survived the shit storms she got into. I guessed if she could, I could. My gaze flicked over to the bookshelf which held a collection of my favorites. I wasn’t the girl who read Jane Eyre or Romeo and Juliet. Nope, I liked my dirty books with the alpha males and jacked-up situations. There wasn’t a romantic bone in my body, but those books spoke to me. I flicked off the TV and reached under my pillow. I could use a little Logan right now.
By Thursday, I was feeling better. I was able to fully cover the yellow bruise, and the cracked lip was healing. I took my favorite spot by the window and hoped I would see the rooftop boxer, but he hadn’t been around much.
Problem with being alone was temptation rested heavily on your shoulders. It stared at me all day, and I finally gave in. I balanced my laptop on my knees and signed into the security feed to the house in Las Vegas. No surprise, the password hadn’t been changed. I didn’t think they even knew it.
I moved the camera around until I found her. She answered the door to Doug. I hated all things that had to do with Doug. Her body language was the same, slutty and looking for money. She was a waste of a human being. She opened the door wider and let him in. I switched cameras and watched out back. The pool was filled and there were bodies draped everywhere over the chairs and tables. Every cabana was full. Everything was normal.
Just as I was about to log out, I saw him. He was in his swim trunks, hair styled as usual. His walk was that of a man who knew exactly what he brought to the table. My stomach coiled into an acid ball as my finger hovered over the mouse.
“Clark!” someone yelled.
He smiled in their direction, and I felt my walls crumble.
Logout. The screen went black. Why do I do it?
I face planted into the pillow and let my emotions take over. He hurt me, and I left. Move on, Tess. He wasn’t good for you. He never was.
I spent Friday under my covers with Mark and his love of food. With a heap of Chinese boxes piled in front of me, I cracked open the book and wondered how much trouble Mark got her in for joining the Green Team.
A vibration buzzed my leg, and I pulled the phone free from under my thigh.
Oh, I had an email—junk mail, of course. I barely used this account anymore. It was mainly for my old job. However, I forgot I had set it up on my phone. Tapping away on the screen, I went into my saved messages and found the recording I couldn’t bear to part with. Many times I wanted to delete it, but I couldn’t. I was a sucker for punishment.
“Tess?” Her voice broke through my walls once again. It was old, but her voice brought me comfort and then pain. “Where are you? You were supposed to be here, and you’re not. A
re you with Matt?” Pause. “Of course, you are.” There was another pause followed by a sob. It broke loose from deep inside me. Oh, it’s my sob. “Something’s not right here, Tess. I think someone might be here. I need your help. Please call. I’m really scared this time.”
Dragging my heavy body across the living room, I found the bathroom and emptied my stomach into the toilet. I twisted the tap and turned on the shower, and sitting on the floor, I cried until the water hurt my skin.
Buzz, buzz, pause, buzz, buzz.
I peeled my dry eyes open to look at my phone. Three missed calls from Brick. Dammit. I smacked my clock to turn it toward me. Two a.m.
Buzz, buzz.
“Yeah?”
“Where have you been?” He went silent for a moment, then asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I’m sending someone to pick you up. We’re having dinner together.”
“Brick, it’s two a.m.”
“Night is the best time, baby. Now get some clothes on and be downstairs in ten.”
“I hate you.”
Chapter Four
Trigger
I jumped back and forth, kicking and punching to try to clear my damned head. I had to make a drop and seal a deal with the Reaper, and all I could do was think about who the hell hit Tess. I watched the tapes from my club, but it showed nothing. My thoughts weren’t clear. This was not how I operated. I was a machine. I wasn’t meant to be clouded by a fucking woman who got herself into trouble on day three of her job.
If my father were here, he’d beat the shit out of me. I was only meant to make money. I was his cash cow, a way to form the Devil’s Reach. I was the reason this place existed. When he left, I was eighteen and had more life experience killing people than most of the seniors here. I had the respect of the club, but I had their fear more. Bottom line—fear was more effective.
I sent a hard blow to the bag before stopping for some water. I didn’t use gloves when I fought. I never had, and my knuckles were torn up from years of fighting. My father always said you needed to be able to feel their bones break to know you were winning. He was a sick son of a bitch. He tossed his first punch at me when I was seven, and I didn’t know what was going on until I started to fight back. He had grinned and given me a pat on the back. A month later, I was pulled from public school to be homeschooled and trained. I was taught to fight clean but deadly. Losing wasn’t an option, so it was a good thing I was a quick study.
“Hey, shit.” Allen hit my head as he came into the kitchen for another beer. “You didn’t take the trash out.”
Oh, no! My eyes squeezed shut as my pencil shook in my hands. My math was due, and since Allen didn’t care about school, I was falling behind.
I slid off the chair and headed for the trashcan, but he stepped in front of me.
“Too late now, boy.” I heard the action rather than saw it. For whatever reason, I ducked and missed the blow. He looked surprised as he tried to swing at me again. I ducked and dipped to the right. “You think you’re clever?”
He swung again, and I dodged and kicked his knee, which made him lose his balance. He fell to the floor and gazed up at me with a baffled look.
I was stunned at what I had done but also felt a sense of strength. I was seven and had just made the devil fall to his knees.
“So, you can fight,” he said more to himself.
That was when things took an unexpected turn.
My phone rang and pulled my attention to my pocket. I shifted my erection and answered the call.
“I’ve got someone here who wants to see you.” Gus cleared his throat, which never helped with his raspy voice. It was only a matter of time before he kicked the bucket. Poor bastard had almost every kind of cancer you could get.
“Who?”
“A mole.”
My skin tightened and I reached for my vest.
“Be right there.”
Big Joe met me at the door and grabbed the keys I tossed at him. I wanted my bike to be hidden. Plowing through a group of guys, I stopped at the counter and caught Gus where he was propped up against the wall.
He nodded out back but also behind me. I found Tess and Brick having dinner, although she looked upset rather than happy.
Fuck.
“Tie him up and get the fire ready.”
“Yeah.” Gus disappeared out back while I walked over to the table.
“What’s wrong?” Tess jumped at my tone. “I told you not to come back until tomorrow.”
She glanced at Brick then back to me. When she opened her mouth to speak, Brick stepped in.
“I asked her out to dinner. I didn’t know she wasn’t supposed to be back.”
“This isn’t a hangout for people like you.” My frustration with the mole was getting to me.
She raised her chin. “And what am I, exactly?”
Brick kicked her leg, but she didn’t seem to get that she was disrespecting me.
“You’re a rich little girl who is lashing out at her mommy and daddy. Don’t use my club as a way to rebel.”
“Trigger—” Brick tried to step in but shut up when I shot him a look.
Tess stood and stuck a finger in my face. “You haven’t given me a chance since the moment I stepped into this club. What the fuck have I done to you? Other than show up when you needed a bartender.”
“Don’t forget stirring up shit with the Serpents. Not one of the chicks have had that happen.” I vibrated with anger. She had a mouth on her. I grabbed her purse and jammed it into her chest. “Get out.”
Brick stood but remained quiet. Tess shook her head and muttered something.
“You got something to say?”
She licked her split lip before she huffed, “I don’t know what I did, but you are way more fucked up than I thought.”
“Better you learn that now than later.”
“Whatever.” She turned to leave but stopped Brick when he started to follow. “Don’t. Brotherhood, remember?”
Brick stepped back, to my surprise, and let her leave. Once she was out of sight, he turned to me.
“She doesn’t belong here, Brick.” I spoke before he could. “Living in hell’s basement isn’t a life she needs.”
“Trust me, Trigger.” His arms were locked at his sides, but instead of showing fear, he looked sad. “You just pushed her back into hers.”
I could hear the chains rattle from down the hall. My body was jacked up, and I needed an outlet. Tess needed to leave. Whether she could handle this life or not, she fucked with my head, and I didn’t need that.
Gus tossed me the metal rod, and I flicked my mental switch and watched as one of my hangarounds screamed in fear.
“Please, Trigger, it’s not what you think.” Saliva sprayed from his lips. They always looked the same way when fear took over. “I was trying to think outside the box. You…you needed information on the Serpents, and I wanted to be the one to get it for you.”
“And?” I twisted the side of the rod and made the flame shoot out in a fireball.
“And!” he shouted but closed his eyes to think. “And I know they have an eye on that girl.”
“Girl?”
“Yeah the one behind the bar. The one Rail wants to hit.”
“How exactly do they know her?”
He stopped to catch his breath, and I watched him carefully as I lit a joint. Fire poured from the device that was now resting in a sling. I kicked it and it shot out toward him.
“She has to walk by them every day to and from work. The desperates have already claimed her. It’s just a matter of time.”
I pulled over a stool and sat inches from his face.
“When were you going to share this?”
He shrugged, not following. “She’s a chick, didn’t think that was important. I wanted to come to you when I had something about your drugs.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.” His face twisted as he thought. “The pres mentioned
something about your contract. He was on the phone with someone telling them to lay low for a bit.”
“Who?” I hated back stories. Just give me the fucking details.
“I don’t know.”
I lunged forward, holding his eye open and pressing the tip of my joint into his pupil. He screamed and bucked. I fought to hold on as he was lathered in sweat.
“I don’t!” He hissed in pain. “They just used a nickname, Father something.”
I wanted to kill him slowly, remove layers of his skin, break each bone one at a time for playing in their yard, but I could use him.
Grabbing his chin, I towered over his shaky body. “You listen to me. You hear anything about any one of us, you come tell me, no one else. This is your last chance.” I pointed to a Serpent who we killed three nights ago and had left his body to rot a while longer before we got rid of it. “Or that will be you.”
“Yes! Okay!” he almost cried.
Turning to find Gus and Brick by the door, I stormed up. “He’s made his way into their clubhouse. Keep him there until he figures out what the fuck is going on.”
“Yeah,” Gus agreed.
“Deal with him.”
Brick followed me out, and I wanted to lash out at him too. He brought Tess into my club, and now I needed to babysit her.
“Where’s Tess?” I grunted.
“I don’t know. Home, maybe?”
“Find her, and tell her not to walk by that fucking club anymore.”
“Does she still have a job here?” He sounded confused. I didn’t answer because I didn’t know what the fuck to do with her anymore.
I slammed the door to my room in his face and hit my bed hard. I needed to sleep this shit off.
***
It had been four days, and Brick couldn’t locate Tess. Or at least he was choosing not to. My mole was now reporting in every day, and Peggy was working the bar. That was a clusterfuck all on its own. Fuck forbid she counted over twelve.
“What the hell!” Cray jumped off his seat and shook his vest. “You got brandy on my cut, Peggy!”
