by Ravenna Tate
“Are you running from the cops?” He glanced toward the road. They didn’t need any trouble from the local sheriff’s office.
“None of your business.”
She looked a bit shaken up to be so mouthy, and her flippant comment pissed him off. “It is my fucking business because you’re on my fucking property.”
“I really am sorry. I’ll get off your fucking property and be on my way.”
This girl was a mystery. She carried a very expensive wallet, spoke with a cultured tone, and yet that cuss word had flowed off her tongue as easily as they routinely did off his. She was also clearly running from someone, but who?
Did it matter? She might be a tasty piece of ass, but he didn’t need whatever headaches or drama those tits and that body brought with them. He started to turn around with the intention of leaving her to her fate, but stopped as she tried to slide back into the SUV and stumbled. “Whoa. You sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I’m all right. Just tired.”
He’d seen tired, and this wasn’t it. “You look sick, not tired.”
“I’m fine.”
“Bullshit. You’re not fine.” Don’t say it… Don’t offer… “Come inside for a while and rest. There’s real food.” Your goddam dick is going to be the fucking end of you.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” He smirked. “Afraid you might see a naked woman? They didn’t offer exotic dancing at whatever school you went to in order to be able to afford that Gucci wallet?”
She narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips, which for unclear reasons was sexy as hell. His damn cock grew larger, adding to his pain. “How did you recognize a Gucci wallet?”
“You shouldn’t judge by appearances.”
“Touché, but isn’t that exactly what you just did to me?”
Oh, this one was a spitfire. He liked that. But that didn’t mean he had to invite her into the club, or into his bed.
As the sound of an approaching car on 113 reached them, she dove so quickly into her SUV he thought at first she’d fallen into it. After the car passed, he stuck his head into the vehicle through the open driver’s side door. “What the hell is going on with you?”
“I told you that’s none of your business. Let me close the door and be on my way.” Her voice was soft, and he knew that look in a person’s eyes. The same way he knew what that fine sheen of sweat on her face meant. She was going to faint.
“Lady, you’re not going anywhere like this. You won’t get a hundred yards.”
She put her hand up to her mouth, and Tannin stepped back a few paces. He didn’t want to get puked on again. “I don’t feel very well,” she whispered
“No shit. Slide over.”
As she climbed over the console, he was treated to the sight of that amazing ass and the backs of her thighs. Tannin pictured marking them with his favorite leather flogger, right before he fucked her into next week.
He slid into the driver’s side, adjusted the seat for his height, and eased the SUV through the parking lot, around to the back of the building. He’d get his truck later. Two of the prospects were manning the gate, and as soon as they spotted Tannin, they waved him through.
A quick glance to his right sent a fresh wave of worry through him. She looked like shit. Why the hell hadn’t he walked away? He didn’t need this kind of trouble. Gorgon was gonna have a meltdown.
“My car can’t be seen,” she said.
“It won’t be. Strangers don’t get back here, and if they try, they’ll have all the Brothers out here to stop them.”
“These aren’t ordinary men.”
A nasty shiver ran down his spine. “Who are they? Cops? Cops are ordinary men. Trust me.” Before she spoke again, Tannin was positive that she wasn’t talking about cops. Fuck it all to hell and back. What the hell had he just done?
“Not cops. Mob.”
Holy. Fuck. Tannin hoped like hell Vassago wasn’t busy with pussy right now. If the Mob was after this girl, Vassago was the best person to uncover why. “All right. I’m going to park it, and then we’ll get you inside.”
“Thank you.”
He was able to grab all her bags, but left the food. No sense in making her sick again. There was plenty of good food here. He’d have one of the girls bring it to her. “Can you walk?”
She nodded. Tannin had to take small steps to keep pace with her. She looked unsteady as fuck, but they made it into the building. “This way. Up one flight.”
“Okay.” But she didn’t move. She glanced around, uncertainty and fear filling her eyes.
“Look, it’s a strip club, but not a sleazy one. This is a top-notch place. There are private bedrooms with baths upstairs. No one will bother you, and I guarantee you something better to eat than gas station egg salad.”
“I’m not objecting to being inside a strip club. I want to know why you’re helping me.”
“Because.” Because you’re hot as hell, and I’m thinking with my dick. Otherwise, he’d have left her in the parking lot alone by now.
She stared into his eyes for long moments. Tannin had fucked dozens of women since losing his virginity at age sixteen. He’d lived with the Brothers since graduating from high school. Women were as plentiful as water around here, and almost all of them had enjoyed his penchant for tanning their hides red and raw before fucking them silly. It was how he’d earned his road name, after all.
But he’d never been blindsided like this. Not once. When he gazed into those dark eyes, all he wanted to do was fall into them and never resurface. Gorgon was gonna fucking kill him, but Tannin couldn’t stop this tide. It would be easier to cut off his own arm right now.
She sighed, finally moving her feet. As tempting as it was to let her lead the way so he could watch that fabulous ass move, he was already skating on thin ice here. “Follow me.” Once they were upstairs, he led her to the bedroom across from his. He’d be able to keep an eye on her that way.
Sure. Right. That’s the only reason you want her so close.
“Here we are.” Tannin placed her bags on the sofa at the foot of the bed. He pointed toward a partially open door. “Bathroom is in there.”
“Thank you. I’m … I’m overwhelmed.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
This woman was from his world. Or rather, his former world. He’d bet money on it. If he gave her his real surname, she’d recognize it. It was one reason he always used his road name. He didn’t want people knowing which family he came from. “Tannin.”
“Thank you, Tannin. I’m Rai, as in Raiyana.”
His brows shot up. “Don’t hear that one very often. Medieval, right?”
Now it was her turn to appear surprised. “Not many people know that. My mother had this obsession with medieval names and history. She was really into genealogy, and believed she’d traced her family back to the fifteenth century.”
“That’s a long time ago.”
“Yeah, it is. So, how did you know ‘Raiyana’ was a medieval name?”
“I read it somewhere.” Asshole. Why don’t you just give her your pedigree, while you’re at it? He’d already fucked up with the wallet comment. “I’ll check on you later.”
“Thank you again.”
Time to get out of here before he shed his smelly jeans and tossed her onto the bed. “You’ve said that like ten times now.” Just go!
Tears spilled over her lashes. “This is the kindest thing that’s happened to me today.”
It would be easy to stay, hear her story and comfort her. But duty, plus clean clothes, won out over his raging hard-on. Tannin nodded once and left before he was unable to do so.
Once the door was safely closed behind him, he paused to lean against the wall for a second. Vassago had told him about a thing the Sicilians called a thunderbolt. It was supposed to hit you hard and fast when you met the woman of your dreams, or at least the woman you had to possess,
Tannin had no clue if that was true or not, as he’d never read the book, but he did know one thing. It would take a damn long time to get Raiyana out of his mind. A damn long time.
Why the fuck hadn’t he stayed here tonight?
Chapter Three
Rai felt so much better after she sat on the bed for a few moments that she contemplated leaving. She could drive now, as well as find her own food. But that would be rude after everything Tannin had done. Not to mention, it wouldn’t solve the immediate problem. Vito’s men were still out there, looking for her.
She moved around the room, turning on lamps. She was surprised to find it decorated in soft pastels considering how dark the hallways were. Two large windows covered one wall. A subtle combination of lavender and vanilla hung in the air, and everything looked crisp and clean.
Nothing about this place, or Tannin, was as she’d imagined. Not that she’d had much occasion to picture hiding out in a strip club. Nothing about the last three weeks felt real, so why should this? After she used the bathroom, which was also very clean, and well-stocked with personal items, she sat on the bed again to wait. He must have left her food in the car because she didn’t see the bag from Sheetz.
Surely potato chips couldn’t hurt her. Now that the egg salad was gone, she was hungry once more. A knock on the door sent a jolt of fear racing through her, until a timid voice called her name. “Rai? May I come in?”
Rai opened the door to find a sweet young thing standing there, holding a tray. If she was a day over eighteen, Rai would be surprised. “Yes, of course.” Rai stepped out of the way, inhaling the smell of chicken noodle soup as the girl passed.
“I made this a few hours ago, so it’s fresh.”
“I figured he’d send up burgers and fries.”
The girl laughed. “No way. He said to give you food you’d eat if you were sick with the ‘flu.”
“You serve chicken noodle soup at a strip club?”
“No. This is for the meals we make for the Brothers.”
Rai tasted the soup. “Wow. This is great. Aren’t you eating?”
“I already did. Tannin said to stay with you and make sure you’re all right.”
“That was sweet of him.”
The girl laughed. “He’s not sweet. And I won’t tell him you said he is.”
Whatever. After Rai had eaten a few spoonfuls, she felt even better. “Why do you call them Brothers? He used that term as well.”
“They’re a motorcycle club. Each of them refer to themselves that way because they’re more than simply members. They’re family.”
Like the Mob. They call themselves a family, too. And she’d told Tannin that’s who she was running from. What if this club had connections to Vito’s organization?
“Are you okay? You just went really pale.”
Rai pushed the bowl away. “Yes.” No.
“Don’t mean to be rude, but you don’t look okay.”
“How old are you?”
“What?”
“I’m not trying to be rude either, but how old are you?”
“I’m twenty-four. How old are you?”
“You’re twenty-four?”
The girl smiled. “Yeah. I get that a lot. This face brings in a shitload of tips, let me tell you. The customers think I’m barely legal, if even that.”
“I can understand why.” Long legs, blonde curls, and baby blue eyes. She must make a fortune. “I’m twenty-eight, since you asked. So, are you a waitress here?”
“I’m a dancer. I started a doing it a few months ago.”
Rai pulled the bowl over and began to eat again. “What did you do before that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, did you have a job between graduating from high school, and starting here?”
The girl shrugged. “No, not really. I was with my boyfriend, but that didn’t work out.”
Something in her tone and the sudden pain on her face told Rai not to pry further. “And now you’re a cook as well?”
“We all share those duties.”
“We?” What did they have going on here? A harem?
“The other women who work and live here.”
How big was this place? “Why?”
“Why what?” Her expression and voice portrayed genuine confusion.
“Why do you cook for them, in addition to dancing here?”
She shrugged. “Who else is gonna do it?”
“Men can cook, you know.”
Her laughter was spontaneous. “Not these guys. They grill steaks sometimes on the weekends, but they don’t cook for themselves. That’s our job.”
“I hope they pay you well.”
“I’ve only been dancing three months, and I’ve made over thirty thousand dollars, between my salary and tips.”
Rai nearly choked on the spoonful of soup she’d just placed in her mouth. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Damn.” Maybe she should consider a career change? Her company was likely gone anyway. “Why aren’t you dancing tonight?”
“I’m on later. I’m one of the featured acts. What do you do?”
Funny you should ask. “Up until recently, I ran my own marketing company.”
“Wow.” The girl was impressed, which was ironic considering the circumstances. “What do you mean until recently? Did you sell it?”
“Not exactly.”
“I’m sorry. Tannin said not to pry.”
Once Rai finished her soup, she was still hungry. “That was very good. Thank you.”
“Do you need anything else? He said to give you whatever you wanted, as long as you felt you could eat it.”
“I’d love a sandwich, if it’s no trouble. I could come with you and make it myself.”
“No.” She shook her head. “He wants you to stay here until…”
“Until what?” A nasty shiver ran down her spine.
“I mean he doesn’t want you getting dizzy again.”
This girl had lied to her. Rai was certain of it. She rose from the bed and paced the room. “What’s your name?” Her keys were right there, on top of one of the bags. She could leave now. Crash the gate if need be.
“I’m Chloe, but they call me Legs.”
“I can see why.”
“Tannin said ‘Rai’ is short for something.”
“Raiyana.”
“That’s really pretty.”
“Thanks.”
Chloe’s expression softened. “Hey, it’s all right. No one here will hurt you.”
That baby face, coupled with the sweet voice, must drive the men insane. No wonder she made so much money. And obviously she read people well, too, but that didn’t mean Rai had to trust her. She didn’t have to trust Tannin, either, despite the fact he’d taken her in and fed her.
“Tannin said you were in some trouble, but I’m not supposed to ask a bunch of questions. He wants you to feel safe here.”
“May I ask you a couple of questions?”
“Sure.”
Chloe tucked those long legs underneath her body and settled in as if they were best friends about to have a long chat. How nice it would be to have a good friend like that. But she’d left all that behind years ago.
So why are you still here?
To ask the pointed questions meant she’d be obligated to do something with the answers, even if they were answers she didn’t want to hear. But she’d never know unless she asked.
“Is this place run by the Mob?”
“What?” Chloe laughed again. “Um, no. This place is run by the Brothers, and the only people they kick back money to are the local cops so they leave us the hell alone.”
That was nothing new, and it didn’t surprise her. But it was also possible Chloe didn’t know the inner workings of the place. She said she’d only been here a short time. She’s only been dancing a short time. You don’t know how long she’s lived here.
“How long have you lived here? I mean, did you come here and start dancing?”
“No. I’ve been here about a year now.”
“Have you ever heard of a man named Vito Cinquepalmi?”
“Sure.”
Rai wanted to speak again, but she was frozen to the bed and her mouth wouldn’t move.
“We all have. He’s in deep with another MC club called Outlaw Dogs. They’re bad news. You don’t want to know anything about them.”
Okay… “So, Vito is not associated with this place?”
“No. Definitely not.” She wasn’t lying about that. Rai would have been able to tell.
The relief flooding through her did nothing to stop her heart from pounding. What the hell had she stumbled into here?
Chloe stood. “I’ll bring you that sandwich. Is turkey okay?”
“Turkey sounds great.”
“Mayo and tomato?”
“Plus lettuce, please.”
She smiled, and the gesture lit up her entire face. “That’s the way I eat them, too. Be back in a few minutes.”
It was cruel to trick her this way, but Rai’s life was on the line. Literally. She didn’t have time for the intricacies of being a proper houseguest. As soon as Chloe left the room, Rai gathered up her bags. There were so damn many of them. How the hell had Tannin carried them all so effortlessly? Those muscles, perhaps?
Yeah. Those. The man was covered in them, along with some seriously amazing ink. But she couldn’t let her mind go there right now.
What if she wasn’t able to get past the goons guarding the gate? Fuck. Rai dropped the bags back onto the sofa and crossed the room to glance out the window. This room faced the back, although all she spotted were big motorcycles parked in a row, alongside a few cars and trucks. Her SUV was at the end, next to Tannin’s truck. He must have moved it after bringing her up here. But she had no view of the gate or the men.
Well, tough shit. She’d take her chances. She wasn’t a prisoner here, after all. Grabbing the bags again, she placed her keys in the pocket of her shorts where she could quickly retrieve them, and headed for the door. It was time to make a run for it before she inadvertently entangled these people in her mess, or discovered it was actually Vito who ran this place, no matter what Chloe had told her.
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