“Krista still asleep?”
Glancing over at Merc, Viper didn’t detect anything sly about the man’s question. He gave a nod and sipped his coffee. “Burrowed under the blankets like it was the middle of fucking winter.”
“Cute,” Merc muttered. They fell silent for a time, the only sounds in the clubhouse the occasional snore and some vague sounds in the kitchen. “I’m happy for you, man. She’s perfect for you.”
“I only hope I can live up to whatever expectations she has.”
“You sure she’s the one with expectations?”
Merc’s quiet question had him turning to stare at the other man, who wasn’t even looking his way. But it raised a valid point. Maybe it wasn’t Krista expecting certain things. He’d have to think on that more. Leaning forward, Viper grabbed a boot off the floor and tossed it toward where Angel lay. It smacked into the guy’s ribs and had him popping up ready to do battle.
“What the fuck?” he slurred out sleepily.
“Rise and shine, sweetcheeks. Get your ass up. You need to sober up for your shift.”
Angel threw him the finger but pushed up from the floor, providing Viper and Merc with a view they totally did not need to see.
“Jesus, man, where the fuck are your pants?”
Scratching his ass, Angel turned to give them the full Monty and smirked. “No clue, brother.” Then he sauntered off toward the stairs.
“God help us if he runs into Duke up there.”
Viper checked his watch and shook his head. “Too early still. Duke should still be getting pretty for the day. At his age, it does take a little longer than it used to.”
“While you don’t have to do a damn thing, do you, pretty boy?” Merc ran a hand over Viper’s cheek that earned him a gut punch. Wincing, he rubbed at the spot. “How the fuck Krista fell for that ugly mug, I’ll never know.”
“At least I have brains to go with my brawn. A woman loves a man who can actually talk to her about current events and the like. Which means there’s no hope for you.”
“I may not have your brains, but at least I’m hung like a horse.” Merc smirked at him and pushed up from the sofa. “They may not fall for my face, but they stay for my dick.”
“Nasty, and something I did not ever need to know.”
Laughing while he made his way across the floor, Merc smacked people here and there to wake them up before finally headed up the stairs. Viper leaned back on the sofa to finish his coffee while folks started to slowly rouse themselves. If they didn’t get moving faster, he might just sic Clarice on them. It was amazing how quickly they would wake when that woman spoke up. Of course, it might have something to do with her weapon of choice: a big-ass wooden spoon she used with deadly accuracy. Hell, he might get her out here anyway, if only for his own amusement.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Waking to find Viper gone wasn’t exactly how she’d planned to start her morning. The note he’d left her had helped, though. It had been sweet and considerate. Krista could only smile when she thought about it. While short, the fact he’d left it had her in a happy place.
Her mood pretty much plummeted when she saw her mother’s expression ten minutes after leaving Viper’s room in the clubhouse. Nadine did not have on her happy face. She was wearing her ‘someone’s going to die painfully’ look. “What’s wrong?”
Nadine shook her head and took Krista’s arm to pull her into the kitchen. “I don’t know, but your father is pissed. And I don’t mean when he finds my underwear on the towel bar instead of his towel after a shower. I’ve only seen him this mad twice before. Both times ended in a bloodbath.”
“Krista.”
She turned at hearing Viper call her name. After giving her mom’s hand a squeeze, she went to her man and into his arms immediately. She knew better than to ask what was happening, since it was clear it was club business. It was one thing for him to offer up the information; it was another to question him for it.
He held her for a minute and then drew her into the hallway leading to the back rooms. “We got word from the Devils. Porter paid them a visit and wasn’t happy to be denied entry. He shot one of their prospects. Marx called to warn us that Porter’s headed our way. He’s pretty sure the psychopath has figured out they no longer have Duke and Nadine.”
“Shit, what does that mean for us?”
“Nothing good. We’re taking precautions and Duke’s warning the sheriff. The best Marx could tell us was that Porter had two other guys with him. He doesn’t know if there are more, but he sent a man to trail them to find out. Hopefully we hear back soon. For now, we’re moving all the kids out to the barn with the sweetbutts. Clarice will be in charge there, but can you help her get everyone out there and set up. Maybe grab them some snacks.”
Krista knew the barn was a reinforced building. Basically an above-ground bunker her father had found online and purchased super cheap. Usually, it was used for storing large parts until they were needed at the shop or equipment they were renting for a specific job that was too big for keeping anywhere else. It also had its own generator to keep it cool since otherwise it was basically a windowless oven.
“Yeah, I can do that. What about Mom and I?”
“Duke hasn’t decided yet,” he told her. Viper did not sound happy.
Stepping in close, she set a hand over his heart. “I’ll go out to the barn if you’d feel better about it.” She wouldn’t like it, but she’d do it. Krista did not particularly like small spaces. Less so when she didn’t know how long she’d be stuck in them. Elevators were okay because she knew the ride could only last a predetermined time.
His hand came up to cup her cheek. “Maybe but only as a last resort. I know how you feel about tight spaces, Krista.” He gave her a gentle kiss. Krista leaned in and took a moment to enjoy it.
When he pulled back, she let out a happy sigh and licked her lips. “Damn, but I do love when you do things like that.”
“Good to hear. I’ll keep it in mind for the future.”
Rubbing her thumb over his shirt, she nodded. “Do that. For now, I think we both have things to attend to. I’ll find you when I’m done.”
Another quick and harder kiss, and off he went. She took a couple more seconds to get moving. Mainly because she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to be doing. His kisses could fry her brain all too easily.
Eventually, the old synapses started to fire again and she remembered where she needed to go. Locating Clarice in the kitchen, she found out from the club housemother what the woman wanted her to attend to. First project was to head out to the barn and get the generator going. Second was to turn the AC on in the building.
Outside, Krista noted seemingly chaotic activity. Her father was out there too while they did whatever the hell it was they were doing. When she reached the barn, Krista hauled the doors open and nearly fell down at the blast of hot air that escaped. She leapt back and waved a hand before her face—not that it helped to dissipate the heat much.
There was a light breeze, cooler than the interior of the barn, so she gave it a couple minutes to cool things off before she went inside. She grabbed a flashlight from the shelf next to the door, turned it on, and went to check the vents. Krista snapped them all open to ensure nothing had crawled in to die and then went back outside to get the generator started.
It took three tries with some swearing involved, but she got it turning over. Once it was going, she went to make sure all the bulbs were functional. One she had to change, but the others looked okay. She knew the building needed airflow for a time before she could turn the AC on. Leaving the doors open to air it out, she headed back to the clubhouse. Krista would help Clarice bring items out, and when the space was a little less stuffy, she’d turn the AC on.
Her father lifted a hand to wave her over. Upon reaching him, she was surprised when he caught her arm and pulled her into the shade. “Is everything okay, Daddy?”
“I think that’s my line, baby gi
rl.”
“What, I’m not allowed to worry about my father?”
“I didn’t say that.” He hugged her in close. “You are way too much like your mother for my liking. A smartass through and through.”
“Mom says I get that from you. That you were the one to teach her all about being a smartass.”
“Don’t believe everything your mother tells you, Krista.”
Amused by his dry tone, she looped her arm around his waist. “I’m going to tell her you said that.”
“Yeah, I was afraid you’d say that.” Sighing, her father ruffled her hair. “And here I thought you might like me. You do know your momma will kick my ass if you go telling her shit like that.”
“She loves you. She’ll only kick it once,” Krista assured him. Nadine might kick Duke’s ass, but it would only be in the most loving way. Her parents were solid, sickeningly so some days. They were the example for what Krista had always wanted in any relationship she had. It was what she wanted with Viper. To be deeply loved and to have no doubts about one another, no matter the situation.
“Can I ask you something, Daddy?”
“Always.”
“How have you and Mom made it work? This life isn’t easy, even with how sheltered you’ve kept me. I know that. But you two have managed to stay together through everything.” Falling silent, Krista watched the activity around them while letting her father mull over his answer. Duke had always been one to think things through. When you got a fast, hard answer, you knew it was emotional with him. It was the ones that took time you really had to listen to on every level.
“There’s no easy answer to that, baby girl. It took time for us to figure out how to make our relationship work. The biggest thing I can tell you is to always talk. Having open lines of communications will keep you moving forward together. No secrets is another. I don’t keep anything from your mother. Yes, there are some things involving club business I sugarcoat for her sanity and my own, but I don’t hide a damn thing from that woman. If anything is bothering you, bring it up. Don’t let it fester and eat away at the foundations you’re building. Even if it’s something small and seemingly stupid. Bring it into the light. It’s better to sound foolish for a second than to regret for a lifetime.”
He fell silent again, but Krista knew he wasn’t done. She could feel it in the air between them. Resting her cheek against his shoulder, she waited patiently for whatever other wise words her father might bestow on her. He might not think he was all that smart, but Krista knew better. The man was a wealth of knowledge and interesting, if slightly quirky, facts.
“Never go to bed angry. That’s one your mother taught me. Stewing over an argument is a great way to earn yourself ulcers. Extremely unhealthy. Admit when you are wrong even if it’s after the fact. While it might be hard to swallow, it’s a sign of strength to admit when you were wrong.”
“Anything else?” she asked curiously. It was all great advice, and made perfect sense.
“You need to decide how much you want to know. Viper will go along with whatever your decision is. But only you can decide how deep into what we do you see. Figure out your comfort level and go from there.”
That one would be tough. Krista had lived happily on the fringes for a long time. She had an idea about several things the club was involved in, but didn’t know for sure. She planned on being in Viper’s life for good. He’d been completely open with her to date. Can I handle that for the rest of our lives? It was a question she’d damn well better figure out sooner rather than later.
Chapter Twenty-Four
With darkness falling, it became a waiting game. Everyone was pretty mellow, considering. There were a couple men out on watch and all the innocents were in the bunker. Kip had checked on them earlier to find the kids almost all asleep. Nadine was playing cards with Duke, Bones, and Merc. She was also winning. Krista was snuggled in next to him, sleeping soundly. Viper pressed a kiss to her hair and then turned his attention back to the monitors he was watching.
There had been no movement outside the walls surrounding the clubhouse grounds beyond whatever the gentle wind created and whatever night creatures were out and about. Not that Viper believed it would last long. Porter wasn’t the sort to sit back on his heels. The guy had a serious hard-on for the club.
Against his side, Krista stirred, yawned, stretched, and then sat up more. “I wasn’t drooling, was I?”
“Not that I noticed.” Smoothing her hair back behind an ear, he leaned in to kiss her. “I love you,” he whispered. His timing was shit and the location not exactly desirable, but he couldn’t leave it unsaid. Just in case.
Her eyes went huge and her jaw dropped. She made a choked sound in her throat as her fingers tightened in his shirt. Suddenly, she snapped her mouth closed. She looked around and then jerked her head back to look up at him. “I love you too, Viper. But did you have to tell me in a room full of people, including my parents? I can’t even jump you like I want to right now, damn it.”
His lips curled up. “Sorry. I wanted you to know.”
“Now you’re scaring me, Viper. Did you tell me because you know something I don’t?”
“No, pipsqueak. I didn’t want any secrets between us, and I have been keeping it a secret from you. Now it’s out in the open where it should be.” He stroked a finger down her cheek, curled it under her chin, and lifted gently. “I don’t ever want any secrets between us.”
Krista stared at him for a minute before giving a firm nod. “Unless it’s club business that I’m better off not knowing about, I don’t want you keeping anything from me. And I won’t keep anything from you either.”
“Full disclosure works for me.” Wrapping her back in his arms, he returned his attention to the monitors.
Roughly ten minutes later, movement on the outside range of a camera had him straightening up. A small adjustment of the controls showed a shadow, and it definitely wasn’t a coyote. Viper gave a low whistle that had every man’s head jerking around to look his way. “We have company calling.” At his side, Krista stiffened and slowly released his shirt.
She unwrapped her arms from his waist. “Be careful.”
“Damn straight I will.” He hauled her in for a hard kiss. When he let her loose, her lips were wet and swollen, and her eyes glazed over. The perfect look for her, in his humble opinion. Only thing better was having her laid out naked on his bed. Not exactly the thought he should be having right then. Shaking it from his brain, he stood and pulled her up.
“Krista, stay with your mother in the kitchen. If Merc gives the word, you get to the bunker and lock that thing tight.”
She gave Viper a long look before going to join her mother and disappearing into the kitchen. Viper stepped in close to Merc. “Keep her safe.”
“With my life, brother.”
Viper smacked him on the arm and then headed out to his assigned post with Stone, Devil, and the prospect Aeron. Duke would be going out the front with his group while Bones went out the back with his. They weren’t going to give Porter any viable targets if they could avoid it. The one thing they did need to do was figure out how many the psycho had brought with him for support.
He stayed low while making the run to where the trucks were now parked. Out front was a lone vehicle, Duke’s own pickup. All the bikes were safely stowed but ready to mobilize should they need to chase this asshole down.
“In position,” he reported via the comm links they were all wearing—something they’d had to pull out of storage for tonight. Better than shouting around the compound and giving Porter an idea as to their numbers.
“Copy,” Merc’s voice came back. The man’s main job, besides watching over Nadine and Krista, was to control the lighting system and keep his eyes on the monitors. The clubhouse had a variety of lights on the outside depending on what they needed at any given time. Tonight it would be spotlights to keep the club members in shadow whenever possible. When someone was finally spotted on the video feed,
Merc would light him up, thereby blinding him in the process.
Bones reported they were in position, and shortly after, Duke did the same. The occasional soft rustle from the bushes broke the near-perfect silence. There wouldn’t be many animals out tonight, not if they’d sensed the impending danger.
“Movement out front. Looks like one person. Couple shadows out back and another one to the west. Nothing to the east that I can see,” Merc reported.
“Light up the gate when he’s close,” Duke said.
When the light went on to show a man at the gate. It wasn’t Porter. The guy had his hands up in the air, one shading his eyes while he cringed. “I’m looking for someone named Duke.”
Viper had a bad feeling about this. “Moving,” he murmured through the comms.
“Confirmed,” Merc said back. “I can’t identify the guys behind or to the west. They’re sticking to shadows and staying a hair outside the camera’s range. Looks like one guy from the back is moving around to the west side. Repeat, we have one unknown moving to the west, one guy left out back.”
Viper inched his way along the wall and slid out an east gate. When he shut it, the wall was once again seamless to the outside observer. He stayed down behind the bushes they’d carefully cultivated around the perimeter, leaving the perfect five-foot trench between the wall and the shrubbery to move along. The club had a couple members formerly in the military, and they’d utilized their knowledge to fortify the clubhouse appropriately.
At the front corner, he checked the area. The guy at their gate appeared completely alone. But with the nearly moonless night, Viper couldn’t see much beyond where the floodlight touched. He knew Duke wouldn’t do anything stupid, so he turned and quickly made his way to the back. He needed to assess the other threats. If he saw the opportunity, he’d take them out.
Only when he got there, he didn’t see anyone. “I thought you said there was a guy back here, Merc.”
Viper (Scoundrels MC #1) Page 12
