by Sophia Gray
“Holy… shit…” I laugh and press kiss after kiss against her mouth, my hips still twitching and jerking underneath her.
“I should get pissed at you more often. Oh, wait…” She flashes me a grin and nuzzles her nose against mine. “I love you, Andre… I love you.”
“I know.” With a deep breath, I draw in her scent and close my eyes. “I love you, too, Kristel.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kristel
One Week Later
My father’s been out on a lot of late nights. I have a feeling I know what he’s doing, but I can’t ask him without giving away that Andre and I are together. The only good thing is that he’s too busy to help me ‘find’ the man who got me pregnant. Still, my nerves have me agitated and on edge. I can’t help but wonder what will happen if my father finds out about what really happens behind the Black Knights scene. I know for a fact that, if that happens, Andre will be in jail for a long time. More than that, if my dad ever finds out about my involvement with them, he will likely disown me from house and home regardless of anything I say.
It is time, though, to tell Danielle at least part of it. The way she’s got her eyes on me now in this strange half glare has me even more on edge.
“You’re hiding something, Kristel. The last time I talked to you was a week ago, and you were going to talk to Andre. And you’ve been missing a lot of my calls, not to mention that you never actually did call, text, or come find me after your little coffee date or whatever it was last week with that guy.What is going on? Did I do something to make you distrust me? And if I did, how can I fix things between us?”
My face probably has guilt written all over it. It’s the only emotion I can feel right now. “No! Danielle, no, no.” I take her hands. “It’s nothing like that. But it is really,really complicated.” As I press my lips together, I look around my room. It’s slowly changing as I acquire more and more baby things. There’s even a crib in one of the corners. With a hard swallow, I bite down on my bottom lip. My father is out late again and mom is downstairs with the TV on. It’s as safe as it’s going to get. “So complicated that I haven’t been able to tell anyone… not even you.”
“Well, no kidding! What are you, some kind or murderer? Did you steal something?” She gasps. “Are you actually a thief in disguise? Did you flunk one of your exams?” She looks thoughtful before she shakes her head. “No, no, it wouldn’t be any of those things. You definitely would have told me if it was.”
“Yes… I would have. Immediately!” We both giggle for a moment.
“So what then?” She clutches at my hands when I don’t respond to her. “Kristel. How long have we known each other?”
“Since kindergarten…”
“Yes. And how many times have I betrayed your trust?”
I pause. “Never.”
“That’s right. Never. With a capital ‘N.’ So what the hell makes you think I’ll betray your trust this time?”
I sense an edge of irritation in her voice, but I can’t blame her. “I know, I get what you’re saying, but this is really, really big. And it’s dangerous. So dangerous that… I don’t know what will happen when my parents find out.”
Her jaw tightens, and she nods. She lets go of my hands, a low huff parting her lips. “You really don’t trust me, do you? Even though I have kept secret after secret for you. I have watched your back at the risk of…” She shakes her head. “I would give my life for you, and if that sounds dramatic then I guess it is. But it’s the truth. And I know you would do the same for me. So, what could possibly be bigger than life?”
I open my mouth to speak, but shut it right after. She’s right. IfI trust her, why haven’t I said anything? Why am I still not saying anything? “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just… I’m scared.Really scared…”
She still appears annoyed, but her voice softens. “I am, too. I’m scaredfor you. What kind of trouble are you in, Kristel? What could possibly be bigger than you having Andre’s baby?”
The softness of her voice chips away at my barriers, as does the fact that we’ve known each other since we were children. “I love him…” Rather than elaborate, I swallow and look at her.
“Holy shit, Kristel! You do realize who he is, right? Are you absolutely sure youlove him?”
I nod quickly. “Yes, I know who he is, and I know what he does. And yes… I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
She takes my hands again and holds them so tight it hurts. “I swear to you, Kristel, I won’t tell a soul. And I especially won’t tell your dad.” She looks at me wide-eyed again. “Oh fuck. Your dad’s a damn cop. Damn it, woman, you have really gotten yourself into a jam this time, haven’t you?”
“I know you won’t. And as far as getting myself into a jam, yeah, just a little.” I bite down on my bottom lip. “He really is sweet, though, at least when he’s alone with me. He’s sexy and charming and bold and confident. When he walks into a room, everyone notices. And when he holds me after a long night of fucking, it’s like there’s never been anyone else except for me. He looks at me as though I’m beautiful, and I know he’s thinking it. He doesn’t even have to say it. And –”
“Okay, I get it.” She giggles and holds up a hand. “Hot, strong, sexy, dreamy, but did you forget criminal?”
A sigh parts my lips, and I fall back into the bed. One of my hands presses against my belly. “I know, I know. This is a nightmare, Danielle. You don’t even know. My parents think that the guy is either gone or in hiding, and I promised them I’d find him. But they can’t know about Andre, and he can’t know that you knowanything because right now he’s so edgy I’m almost afraid for him. There’s a lot happening right now in his ‘world.’ And as much as I’d love to pretend none of this actually happened, it did. And the only way to ‘fix it’ is to give up the baby, because I don’t want to do this without him. I can’t.” I offer her a helpless look.
She lays down next to me. “You’re right… this is a nightmare. But we’re badasses, so we’ll figure it out. And don’t youdare give up that baby! He deserves to live just as much as you and I do.”
“He does… but I want to raise him with a father. I want a strong, well-adjusted family for him to grow up with.” As Danielle snorts with laughter, I give her an odd look.
“Honey… there isn’t anything ‘well-adjusted’ about youor Andre. That boy is gonna end up just as screwed up as you guys. But he’s also going to know how much you love him because I can tell just from watching you how attached you are to him already.”
I stick my tongue out at her and poke her side. “Yeah, yeah. Besides, Andre wants to keep him, too. We talked about it at his place a while ago and it… went surprisingly well. I never imagined him as a family kind of guy, but I’ve discovered that family is his life. He would die for everyone one of his bikers. He’s never told me that, but he’s never had to. I can feel it every time I’m with him.”
“So he’s one of those guys who struts around like he’s all tough, but really he has a heart of gold?”
I chuckle. “I wouldn’t say he has a heart of gold per say, but… yeah. Something like that. And if you’d seen his face last week when I showed him the ultrasound picture, you’d know exactly what I’m talking about. I thought I was going to lose him in that picture forever.” My chuckle shifts into a giggle. “The baby already has him wrapped.”
“Like you have him wrapped?”
“Exactly. I learn from the best after all.”
“Absolutely you do!” She flashes me a grin. “You wouldn’t have even met Andre if I hadn’t taken you to that club.
“Who’s Andre?”
My face falls at the sound of my mother’s voice, and I sit up to look quickly toward the door. I can feel the panic trying to run off with all of my coherent thoughts. I didn’t even hear her come up the stairs, but the TV is still on.
“Andre is a cat.” Danielle speaks before I can. “He’s a club
mascot we met about a month ago. Really sweet and fluffy. Orange tabby. Green eyes. He took a real liking to Kristel, so we were planning on going back to see him later on in the week.”
I thank all of my lucky stars for Danielle’s quick thinking. “He’s a really sweet guy. When I came home last time, I was covered in orange fur because he wouldn’t leave me alone.”
My mother gives both of us an odd look. “Okay then… I just came up here to let you girls know that there are fresh cookies in the oven. They’ll be ready in about 15 minutes or so if you’re hungry.” She scrunches her nose up. “The cat isn’t here, is he? And what kind of name is Andre for a cat?”
“Okay, thanks, mom. And no, he’s not here. Don’t worry.” I can’t help but laugh under my breath.
She eyes us sideways for a few seconds, and I can’t tell if she’s going to stay or leave. Eventually she steps away from the door and walks back down the hall. I can’t hear the sound of her footsteps at all over the muffled sounds of the TV downstairs. My mother has always been a quiet walker.
“Fuck that was close,” Danielle whispers to me.
“Shit!” I put both hands over my mouth as I burst into giggles. “Andre the cat. That’s gotta be a thing from now on.
“Yes. And if you don’t tell him, I swear to you I will. Mark my words. I’ll just walk right up to him and ask him if he lands on his feet when he falls or whether he prefers milk or cream. Or if he’s ever had hairballs.”
“You wouldn’t!” As I burst into laughter, I fall back against the bed again.
“I would, just to see the look on his face! How confused do you think he’d be?”
“Possibly confused enough to ignore you.” I grin at her. “But from this point forward, when we talk about Andre here or anywhere near my parents… he’s a cat.”
“So… you had a one-night stand with a cat?”
My eyes widen. “Gross! No!”
I swat at her, and we both dissolve into uncontrollable laughter.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Andre
It’s a mess. The west side night club, which, historically, has been one of our safest businesses, is in ruins. None of the lights work except for a few on the ceiling above the stage. Tables and chairs are spread out across the dance floor, and most of them are in pieces. Every time I take a step, I hear the crunch of glass from broken bottles. It stinks like alcohol in this place, and some people are still cowering in whatever corners they can find.
About ten minutes ago, the cops did a sweep through here, and they were looking for me. That fucker, Officer Bryce, has been all over my ass since that night I spent in jail about a week ago. To top it all off, the giant biker who is more loyal to Samuel than he is to me has been skulking around. I have a strong hunch that he’s the one who set this disaster into motion.
“Whoa…”
I turn at the sound of Grant’s voice, and my lips press together. “Yeah, I know. I’m betting this is Isaac Morris again. I swear, if I ever get my hands on that fucker I’ll rip him into so many pieces, no forensic team on the planet will be able to figure out who the fuck he is.”
“Easy, Andre. You have every right to be pissed, but don’t let rumors and hearsay drag you in.”
“A little late for that, don’t you think?” I gesture at the general space around me. “I got a frantic call from one of my guys and when I showed up, it was like this. It looks like the cops went througheverything. They even took out the fridges in the back and the storage units out back. I keep trying to stay on top of everything, but I don’t know how this asshole keeps getting in to screw with me. What, am I stupid or something?”
“No.” Grant shakes a bag at me and walks over to the bar. He set the bag down and pulls out a laptop. “There’s something you really need to see.”
My brow furrows as I walk over to the bar. Glass clicks and crunches as I go. When I reach it, Grant flips up the screen and clicks on a live video feed from just outside a local pet store, which is one of my cleaner businesses. In fact, it’s so clean that I feel safe enough to conduct a fair number of meetings there with the crew.
On the screen, I watch as Will opens the staff door for Isaac, and my face falls. “Son of a fucking bitch… it’s been him the whole time.”
“Keep watching.”
I shake my head slowly back and forth as I watch Will exchange something with the big, angry-looking biker. It appears to be money or drugs, but the picture is too grainy to tell. Will waits outside as Isaac goes in. Within a few minutes, he comes back out again with a phone to his ear. He walks away and vanishes around a corner.
“What the hell…?” I can’t believe what I’m seeing. “When did this happen?”
“Last night. Keep watching.”
I can’t believe it can possibly get any worse until Officer Bryce shows up at the door. Now, more than ever, I wish these cameras had sound, but their interactions make it clear that they are in an intense discussion. Will keeps nodding while Officer Bryce makes several hand gestures that indicates he’s explaining something. This goes on for a few minutes before they both leave the frame of the camera.
I can barely breathe as I stare at the now blank screen. Has Will, my best friend since childhood, really sold me out? Anger rushes through my chest and pours into my core, but I feel strangely calm. “This needs to be fixed, now. Where is Will?”
Grant gives me a sympathetic look and shrugs. “I have no idea. But you need to do something to get the heat off you, and you needed to do it yesterday. I may have a way to do it.”
“How?”
“We need to clean up our act, and we need to do it fast. Hard drugs need to go before anything else, but you can’t just dump them anywhere. Flushing them would be a waste, too.”
“That’s obvious.” I give him an impatient wave.
“If you’d let me finish… there’s a new drug kingpin in town, Damian Owens. He just got in a few nights ago and he’s staying at the Francis Jill Inn, which just happens to be one of your businesses. I think you should set up a meeting and sell all the hard drugs we have to him.”
I nod slowly while I work my jaw back and forth. My teeth grind against each other. This is a very good plan. If I can get rid of the hard drugs before the cops break down anymore of my doors, the Black Knights might be okay. Besides, I could really use the money from a big drug deal to help take care of Kristel and the baby.
“This is a good plan. I like it.” I give Grant a nod. “I’m gonna go right now, so call him and give him the heads up that I’m meeting him in 10 minutes. And while I’m out, I need you to track Will down and bring him to the east side safe house. Lock him in a closet, chain him up, I don’t give a shit, just make sure he doesn’t leave.”
I lift both eyebrows at Grant before I turn on my heel and head out the door; this is going to be a long fucking night.
The Francis Jill Inn is actually one of the nicer ones in town. It has clean rooms and posh furniture. Unlike some of the dumps around here, the rooms are cleaned daily and the food is actually half-decent. When I step over to the receptionist desk, the young woman offers me a polite smile. She knows who I am.
“Hey, Pearl. Has a Leyla Congo booked a room here recently? It would have been in the last several days.”
“Hold on, let me look.”
I listen to the sound of her fingers as they fly across the keyboard. Her eyes are narrowed with focus as she searches the guest list.
“Yes. She is still booked in room 209 and it looks like she’s checking out tomorrow at noon.”
“Thank you. Do you have an extra key?” After she nods and gives it to me, I offer her a brief smile before I take the stairs up to the second floor. I’ve never been a huge fan of elevators. As soon as I hit the second floor, I walk with long strides down the hall until I reach room 209. As I ease out a low huff, I rap my knuckles on the door. “Room service.”
Within moments, the door opens. A man in his early 40s stares down his nose at me,
and I tilt my head at him. He has a bit of scruff at the end of his chin and greying, balding hair. His clothes smell like they’ve just been washed, which I find unusual since he’s allegedly been here for several days. Something stirs in my gut, and I take a small step away from the door. “Never mind. Wrong room.”
“Don’t move, Andre! I know what you’re doing!” A voice from down the hall yells at me, and I look just in time to see Officer Bryce. He has a damn dog. How the hell did he find out I’m here?
“Shit!” I spin on my heel and charge down the hall toward the stairs. The drug deal now the last thing on my mind, I start to think about survival. I can probably outrun Bryce, but I’ll never be able to outrun that dog. It occurs to me that running may be the worst idea I’ve had in a long time, but I’ve made the slip under the cops’ nose before, I figure I can do it again. If Bryce brought a damn dog, he’s here for a reason. I can’t get caught and attacking them will just make things worse.
