by Jessie Cooke
“Which one of you brilliant fuckers is the boss?” Dax asked. Both men on the ground pointed at the truck. “Front or back?”
The guy that Garrett had put on the ground didn’t move. The one Ryder still had a hold of lifted his head slightly and with a bloody mouth, and in a garbled voice, he said, “Back.”
“He got ears in there?”
The guy with the bloody mouth nodded and said, “Walkie-talkie is in the Jeep.”
Dax motioned to Garrett, and Ryder couldn’t see if he stepped on or over the guy on the ground so that he could reach into the Jeep. He pulled out a -talkie and tossed it to Dax, who caught it in one hand. Dax put it to his lips and said, “Can you hear me?”
“Who the fuck is this? What’s going on?”
“This is your worst nightmare, douchebag, and what is going on is that I’m taking my guns back. I’m about to pull that door open and if you do anything stupid, the next time anyone besides us sees you, it’ll be in a body bag. You understand?”
“Fuck you. Come on in. I got three hundred grand worth of guns and ammo in here.”
Dax dropped the walkie-talkie and pointed his gun at the back of the truck. Without being told, the prospect lit it up with his flashlight. Everyone who didn’t have someone on the ground aimed his weapon in the same direction as Dax. “Unlock it,” he told the prospect. The men inside had to hear the lock come off, but when the door didn’t open Dax said, “Last chance, dickheads.” He probably gave them thirty seconds and there was still no response. With his face expressionless, he motioned the prospect out of the way and in the next instant sent a bullet ripping through the metal roll-up door, and someone inside screamed. “Open it,” Dax told the prospect, who stood slightly to the side of it and pushed it up. The whole time one of the guys inside was screaming:
“Don’t shoot! I’m not armed! Don’t shoot me!” The lights landed on him and Ryder could see that he was standing with his arms up over his head. He scanned the rest of the truck and saw that the other one was lying on the floor of it with blood flowing heavily out of his chest.
“Get out of the truck,” Dax said. The guy scrambled out quickly and as soon as he was on the pavement Zack was there and took him down to the ground. He sat on him with a knee in the guy’s back, his gun to his head, and a smile on his own face. While Dax was issuing orders for the prospect to go get the van and everyone that wasn’t sitting on someone to start unloading the truck, Ryder heard Zack say:
“Pretty lucky that bullet didn’t hit you, huh?” The guy underneath him muttered something unintelligible and Zack laughed. “Yeah, you’re right...that guy in there might be the lucky one.”
It took the men fifteen or twenty minutes to unload the truck and put everything into the van. Once that was done, Dax sent them on their way. The 69ers would meet them a few miles up the road and escort them the rest of the way back to Boston. Ryder knew that the rest of the job would be clean-up, so he wasn’t surprised when Dax told them to put all the captured men in the back of the U-Haul. The guy that Cody had taken down was a bloody mess. The one that looked like he wanted to cry earlier was crying now, and Garrett’s guy was barely breathing. His guy probably had a broken nose from his fall to the ground, but he’d still gotten luckier than his partner in the truck. Zack was still smiling when he tossed his inside and the guy looked relieved to be free of him as he scooted into the corner on his butt and a pout on his face like a child. These guys were definitely not hard-core thieves. It was obviously that this was their first heist, and they weren’t very good at it. They had picked the wrong people to practice on and it was obvious on their busted-up faces that they knew that.
When Ryder tossed his in the truck he could see that the guy Dax had shot was still bleeding. It was doubtful with the amount of blood he’d already lost that he’d be breathing for much longer. Once they were all loaded, the door to the truck was closed and locked. The prospect who stayed behind was already changing the plates out on the Jeep. It would be driven back to the ranch and stripped for parts. Ryder wasn’t sure what Dax planned to do with the U-Haul truck or the men in it. He was surprised, though, when Dax told them all to go back to their bikes.
No one asked any questions; they rarely did where Dax was concerned. They trekked back into the brush where the bikes were, and they put their guns away and started gearing back up for the ride home when they heard the first explosion. Instinct told them to run back and check on Dax, but Handsome stopped them. “He’s fine. Let’s ride.”
Ryder tried not to rubberneck as he passed the ball of fire in the middle of the highway, but in his rearview mirror, in the light of the fire he saw Dax walking back toward his own bike. His thoughts went to Carolyn and Tyler, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was in store for them when they were caught. He also couldn’t help but breathe another sigh of relief that Dax seemed convinced now that Storm and her mother hadn’t had any part in that robbery. Despite what he’d told Storm about their not hurting her mother, all he had to do to remind himself how badly Dax hated to be fucked with was look into his rearview mirror.
25
Storm stood out in front of the hospital waiting for Ryder. She couldn’t wait to see him although she was afraid the money thing would hang heavily between them. It had been five days since he left her. Her mother was doing great. She’d been moved out of ICU and it had been three days since she had a seizure. Storm had been making plans to take her home soon when she got a phone call out of the blue that changed everything.
She had been on the phone with the medical supply company when another call came through. Unsure who it might be or how important, she clicked over. She felt the blood drain out of her face at the sound of Carolyn’s voice.
“Storm...it’s Carolyn.”
“Carolyn? Where are you?”
Her ex-boss was whispering, like she was afraid someone would hear her as she said, “I’m sorry. I just needed to say that. I’m so sorry. I hope that Dax knows now you didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Why, Carolyn? Why would you try to make it look like I did in the first place?”
“I hired you with that intention. I didn’t mean to like you so much. I didn’t mean to get so attached. I should have known that I couldn’t do this without hating myself.”
“You can fix it, Carolyn. Tell me where you are. I’ll go talk to Dax with you...”
“Baby girl, I have known Dax Marshall for years. There ain’t no way I’m going to talk to him. I wouldn’t walk out of there alive.”
“You can give the money back.”
“There’s no money to give back. I’m so stupid. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. Fifty grand seemed like so much money, and a fresh start...oh, honey, I needed that. Between raising Robby alone and Tyler not being able to work, I’ve just been so tired. But it wasn’t worth it. I turned my back on my boy and I left you...a sweet young thing just trying to make her way...to take the fall. I hate myself, Storm, and I just needed to say I’m sorry.”
“Carolyn, who was the man in the bar?”
“I have to go, honey.” Her voice had gone down even lower and Storm could barely hear her.
“Carolyn, please...” The line went dead, and it was at that point that Storm called Ryder. Within twenty-four hours he called back and told her that Hunter had traced the call to Nevada and he was heading out there. It took four conversations and a lot of harsh words for Storm to talk him into letting her go too. She knew that after what Carolyn did to her that she shouldn’t feel compassion for the woman, but she did. She had to be there and know for sure that nobody hurt her.
The sound of the motorcycle brought her out of her thoughts. She saw Ryder smile when he saw her, and she couldn’t help but smile back. God, she had missed him. He stopped the bike near the curb and got off. Without saying a word, he took her into his arms and pulled her into a kiss. She was practically dangling off the ground as their lips met. His hot tongue wasted no time delving in betwe
en her lips to find hers. He kissed her like he was starving, and she kissed him back with the same amount of passion. She didn’t even think about all the people walking back and forth past them until he broke the kiss and she saw an old man and woman staring at them. She felt her face go hot and she smiled at them. The old man smiled back, and the woman elbowed him in his skinny ribs. Ryder laughed.
“Hi, baby.”
“Hi. Thank you for coming to get me.”
“I’d still rather you stayed here.”
“I know, and that makes me appreciate that you came to get me even more. My aunt is here with Mom and she’s doing great. She is worried about the money, though, and she wants to talk to you.”
Ryder made a face...that face that men always make when they’re forced to meet the parents. “Nobody needs to worry about that money. I don’t want to upset your mother here at the hospital, though.” Storm smiled. She knew he was just stalling about meeting Elise, but she’d already decided that the hospital wasn’t the place for it, either.
“I told her when we get back, the two of you can meet and talk.”
“Is she as stubborn as you?”
Storm smiled again and said, “Yep.”
With a fake, enthusiastic smile and high-pitched voice he said, “Great, I can’t wait. But we better get going or Hunter will have this thing wrapped up before we get there.”
“What did they say about me going with you?”
“Hunter’s the only one that knows. Dax would have said no, so I didn’t ask him.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”
“It’ll be okay,” he said. “I hope.” He handed her the helmet and got back on his bike. Storm slid on the back and put her arms around him. She remembered how nervous she’d been the first time she did that, and now, it felt so good...so comfortable. She was glad that they were flying and not driving over two thousand miles, though...she wasn’t sure that she was quite that comfortable with it yet.
They drove to the airport and when they got there, another man was waiting for them whom, even before Ryder introduced her, Storm assumed was Hunter. Ryder had told her about his affinity for what the guys had termed his “Crocodile Dundee” hat, and he wore what looked like a fishing vest with a Skulls patch on it instead of the leather or denim that the rest of them wore.
“Hunter, this is Storm. Storm, Hunter.”
Hunter shook her hand and winked at her as he said, “I thought this kid lost his mind when he agreed to take you along, but I can see now that he wasn’t using his big head...”
“Shut the fuck up,” Ryder told him. “Get in line for security. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll do a cavity search.”
Hunter laughed but flipped him off. They all got through security without a problem and Storm suddenly wondered about their guns. Surely they didn’t plan on bringing Carolyn and Tyler back unarmed? Maybe she was thinking about television again. Maybe they were just going to go there and call the police and that would be it. She doubted it somehow.
They got on the plane and found their seats almost at the last possible second. As soon as they were on, the doors closed, and the flight attendant gave her spiel. By the time she was finished talking, Hunter, who had taken the window seat, had buckled his seat belt, rested his head on the window, and closed his eyes. Ryder held onto Storm’s hand as they took off and once they were in the air and able to take off their seat belts she said:
“Not a fan of flying?”
She felt the death grip he had on her arm loosen and he smiled and said, “What gave you that idea?”
“Oh, you know, the bruises on my arm.”
He chuckled. “I’m sorry. I don’t like to fly.”
She twisted her fingers up with his and leaned in close and whispered, “I’ll bet I know how to get you to relax.”
His eyes were as big as saucers as he looked down at her. “Seriously?”
With a wicked grin she said, “I always wanted to be a part of the mile-high club. What do you think?”
Ryder’s eyes went toward the restrooms at the end of the aisle and back to her face. Again, he said, “Seriously?”
“I’m game if you are.”
“Damn woman.”
“Damn no, or dammmmn, that sounds like a fine idea?” she giggled.
“Damn, you’re something else...and yes, it sounds like a fine, fucking idea. What’s your plan?”
She looked back toward the bathrooms. The red light was lit on one already and someone was stepping into the other one. The flight attendant was coming toward them and Storm smiled up at her and said, “Excuse me, would you mind bringing us a blanket? I’m so cold.”
“Of course.” Ryder looked over at Hunter and back at Storm.
She smiled again. “He’s sleeping.”
“Shit,” he muttered, but when the attendant brought the blanket and she spread it across both their laps, he didn’t object. She lifted the armrest between them and he watched as she put her hands under the blanket and lifted off her seat for a few seconds. She slipped her pants and panties down to the tops of her thighs and once that was done, she reached over and used one hand to unbutton and unzip his jeans. “Fuck,” he breathed out as he felt her slide her hand over his hardening cock. She curled into his side then and took his hand and moved it over between her legs. She was soaking wet.
“Excuse me, would either of you like a drink?” Ryder looked like he might want, or need one, but he probably considered where he might put it and politely declined. Storm declined as well and as soon as the attendant was gone, she curled into him and grabbed hold of his twitching cock. She started stroking him, long and slow, and he had his fingers back between her legs, playing in the thick, creamy moisture that was beginning to coat the insides of her thighs.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“I can tell,” he said, smiling, but still looking shocked, or maybe it was afraid. His eyes kept flitting up to where the flight attendants were and then back over to Hunter, who hadn’t even flinched since they took off. Storm sat up and putting her lips right next to his ear she said:
“Just relax and go with it, baby. Nobody knows what we’re doing...but isn’t it hot to be touching each other like this while people are sitting around us...with absolutely no clue?”
Ryder smiled and moved his face so that his lips were next to her ear then and said, “You’re a little freak.”
Storm raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Are you just figuring that out?”
“Accepting it...I guess,” he said with a grin. She gasped then, maybe too loudly, as he slid a finger up inside of her. She had to press her head back into the seat and bite down on her bottom lip when he slipped another one in and began moving them both in and out. He moved his thumb up to press against and circle her clit and she gripped his cock tighter. She was still stroking him, but not as smoothly as before. What he was doing to her was dominating her attention. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to sit still much longer, though; it felt too fucking good. She needed to have an orgasm and she needed it now.
“Lavatory,” she said.
Ryder had his eyes closed. He pulled them open and his fingers stopped moving as he said, “What?”
“Bathroom, the one toward the back.”
“Seriously?”
She giggled. “Stop saying that. Just assume that from now on, I’m always serious.” She wiggled in her seat until she got her pants up and without waiting for him, she headed to the back of the plane. The last three rows were where the families with kids sat and thankfully it seemed like a loud, wild group. The mothers and fathers appeared too busy with their toddlers and infants to notice her and when she slipped into the tiny little door of the bathroom, she finally looked back toward Ryder. He was on his way up the aisle. She smiled at him and ducked inside, leaving the door open just a crack. Seconds later, Ryder stepped in, filling up any leftover room. He locked the door and she said, “Did anyone see you?”
>
“I have no fucking clue.”
She giggled again and then she attacked him. While she kissed his lips and sucked on his tongue and then slipped her lips down and sucked on his neck, she unbuttoned her jeans again and slid them down. Again, she only took them down to the tops of her legs. Taking her lips from his neck, she turned around, carefully, until her back was to him. Ryder was busy unbuttoning his own pants, and several seconds later she felt his hand and the tip of his cock as he searched for his intended target. Storm flexed her hips as much as she could, and Ryder pushed his forward, burying his thick cock in her pussy. He groaned and held onto her hips tightly as he moved in and out of her. There wasn’t a lot of room for him to pull back without bumping the door, so his strokes were short, and his cock never fully left her pussy. Storm had never had it like that and she was surprised to find out that she loved it. She loved the full feeling she had with his cock inside of her, and she loved feeling him twitch and get even harder as he slipped along her soft, soaking-wet walls.
He used one hand to find and grope one of her breasts underneath her shirt and on top of her bra. She could feel her orgasm coming and when he leaned down over her and bit her neck, she lost it. The orgasm washed over her and while it did, she bit her lip so hard that she was surprised she didn’t taste blood. He felt so good and she had needed that so badly that she wanted to scream. As soon as she finished coming she moved forward enough to let him slide out of her. He had a shocked look on his face when she turned around and sat on the toilet, immediately grabbing his cock and putting it into her mouth. He groaned again and had to reach up and brace himself with his hands against the wall. Storm sucked him hard and she took him deep and she let her tongue tease the hard ridges and bulging veins of his cock. She loved the feel of him in her mouth and she especially loved how excited he got when she had him there. She grabbed the cheeks of his ass and he wrapped his fingers up in her hair and she sucked him until she felt him pull her hair like he was trying to pull it out by the roots. His cock, already bigger and harder than she’d ever seen it yet, swelled against her tongue. He reached his peak with a growl that came from somewhere in the center of his chest...and Storm made sure there wasn’t any mess left in the lavatory for anyone else to discover.
