The hot, salty liquid hit the back of my throat. I swallowed it, and licked him clean.
He grabbed the back of my head, and urged me to look at him. His gaze was intense and relaxed all at the same time.
I smiled up at him. “How about that shower?”
FOUR
Sawyer
Dinner was in the oven, and I was picking up clothes from Cruz’s floor. I bought him a hamper almost two weeks ago, so you would think that he’d start to use it. At least he stopped locking his door on me. Once he realized I wouldn’t do his laundry unless I could get to it, he finally caved.
I wanted him to know he could trust me, so I didn’t snoop. I went in, gathered his dirty clothes, and got out. He had a tendency of leaving pens in his pocket, and after one too many ruined shirts, I started checking them before tossing them in the wash.
I stuck my hand in the pocket to his jeans, and didn’t find a pen, but my hand hit something. I pulled it out, and fell back onto the couch, staring at the small plastic bag of white powder.
Shock froze me in place, and I just sat there, holding the bag in disbelief. The timer to the stove began to buzz, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t take my eyes away. I kept thinking, if I stared a little longer, it would disappear, or turn into Kool-Aid. Clearly, my mind was playing tricks on me because there was no way my baby brother had coke in his pocket.
The door opened, and I panicked, shoving the tiny baggie into my own pocket. Cruz and Evie walked in, and I should’ve ripped him a new one right then and there, but, once I confronted him, there was no denying the reality. I wasn’t ready for it yet.
“Hi, guys,” I said, straightening, and trying to ignore the little packet in my pocket that was weighing heavy on my mind.
Cruz smiled as I tossed his pants into a basket. “You’re doing laundry. Thank God. I’m out of socks.”
“What did you do before I got here?” I asked.
“You’re spoiling him,” Evie joked, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close.
“What’s that beeping?” Cruz asked.
“Crap, that’s dinner. Evie, would you mind taking the chicken out of the oven?”
Ignoring the problem wasn’t going to fix anything. Logically, I knew that. I just needed to know what the hell my little brother was doing with drugs before I acted.
“Sure,” she said with a smile.
Cruz grabbed her hand, and didn’t let go. “She’s a guest.”
“She’s here more than I am. She’s not a guest anymore. She’s family.”
Evie twirled into Cruz, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I’m family,” she cooed, and skipped into the kitchen.
Cruz turned to follow her, and I reached into my pocket. “Want to explain this?” I asked, holding up the white powder.
He snatched it from my hand, his eyes wild with panic and anger. “You sneaking through my shit?”
“I don’t have to sneak when you leave it in your pocket. What the fuck are you doing, Cruz?”
His jaw tightened, and he tipped his head from left to right.
“Are you snorting or dealing?” I asked, knowing either answer would destroy me. “Huh?” My voice rose, and I stepped to him, shoving his chest. I was so fucking angry with him for being so goddamned stupid.
He grabbed my wrist, and pushed it into me. “Mind your own fucking business.”
I looked over my shoulder to make sure Evie wasn’t done in the kitchen yet. She might be family, but she didn’t need to see this. Unless she already knew, and then I’d beat her ass, too.
“You’re my brother, and whether you like it or not, you are my fucking business. Now, you’re going to listen to me. This,” I held up the bag. “Is going to stop right now. I swear to God if I find any evidence that you’ve been dealing or snorting this shit up your nose, I…”
“You’re going to what?” He puffed his chest out, and I wanted to smack that fucking smirk off his face.
“Dinner’s ready,” Evie said, bouncing back into the living room. She froze when she saw Cruz and I squared off. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“Nothing. We’re leaving,” Cruz snarled, and grabbed her hand.
“But the chicken looks really good,” Evie said, giving me a curious eye.
“I’ll buy you a fucking chicken. Let’s go.”
Evie glanced back at me, but I shrugged. Two seconds later, the door slammed.
I was losing my brother, and I was losing him fast. I couldn’t help him because he wouldn’t let me. I didn’t know how much trouble he was in, but the thing was, I didn’t think he knew either.
What I did know was, I wasn’t going to stand back and watch my baby brother destroy his life.
***
Ryder was off on club business, so I made Mom a plate, and had dinner with her. She was still recovering, but getting stronger every day.
“How’s Ryder?” Mom asked, since he seemed to be her favorite topic.
I forked a piece of chicken into my mouth. “He’s good.”
“I’m so happy to see you two together again.”
She paused, not completing her sentence, and I knew she had more to say.
“But?” I asked.
She rested her hands on the table and frowned. “But, what about New York? This was only supposed to be temporary.”
I didn’t answer her because I didn’t know the answer. I had a life in New York. A job. Friends. My own place. I loved New York, but I always felt like a fish out of water there. Floundering around in a city that I never quite understood. Every day, I’d see hundreds of people, but each face got lost in a crowd, and I never saw them again. At the time, it was exactly what I needed. No one knew me, and the secrets I had were all mine.
I never let anyone in. My friends didn’t even know the real me, just the girl I pretended to be, and I liked it that way. I dated a bit, but nothing stuck. Usually, after one date, I realized that no matter what they did, they’d never live up to Ryder, and I wouldn’t answer their calls after that. I didn’t mind being single, though.
I still had a job in New York if I wanted it. Vicky, my boss, who knew the most about me just because of the documents I showed her to get the job, said as long as she was there I was welcome.
In Brooks Landing, however, these people knew me my whole life. There was no hiding.
Yet, the longer I spent in Brooks Landing, the more it began to truly feel like home again. My soul felt at peace here. The one place I swore I’d never return to was the only place that ever made me feel like I belonged. I might have run from the club life, but it was always a part of me. I missed the camaraderie, the built in support system, but, most of all, I missed the feeling of belonging.
Mom patted my hand. “Just something to think about,” she murmured, and got up to clear her plate.
“Mom, no, I got it.”
“I had surgery. I’m not paralyzed,” she said, ignoring my hand, and walking right to the sink where she stubbornly began to scrub her dish. “I’ll clean up here, you go.”
“I got it,” I argued, but she took my plate from my hand, and urged me toward the door. “You have a man who is probably waiting to see you.”
“He’s working,” I tried to explain, but Mom, being an Old Lady, filled in the blanks.
“Then, you go down to the bar, and wait for him to get done.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a lapdog that jumps at his beck and call.”
“Being there for someone after a long day of work has nothing to do with that. It’s about support, and showing them you care enough to want to be there for them.”
The woman made a good point.
“But, will you be okay?”
She held up a wooden spoon. “You ask me one more time, and so help me.”
I held my hands up in surrender. “Sorry.” I kissed her cheek. “Call me if you need me.”
I grabbed my purse and my keys, said good-bye to Mom one more time, and then fin
ally left. I pulled onto the street, and caught a black Lincoln Town Car in my rearview mirror.
Was I being tailed?
I made the next left, and watched as the car did the same. Testing my theory, I made a few more random turns, and sure enough, the Town Car made the exact same turns, always staying about four car lengths behind me. I gripped the steering wheel. Why me? And what the fuck was I supposed to do now? After driving around aimlessly for a few more seconds, the Town Car sticking with me, I decided to head back to the main road, driving until I spotted a gas station, and turned into it, assuming he wouldn’t follow me into a public place.
To my surprise, the car followed, pulling right up beside me. I got out of my car, and a man in a suit stepped out of his.
“Is there a reason you’re following me?” I crossed my arms over my chest as the man approached me.
“Special Agent Velasquez,” he announced as he held up a badge.
“Can I help you with something?”
“You’re new in town. Or, at least, back after a long time away. Aren’t you, Sawyer?”
How did he know my name? I hid the panic setting in, refusing to let him see a single weakness. I kept my eyes stone cold, and my stance unwavering.
“My mother was sick. Ask anyone around, and they’ll tell you that.”
“Maria, right?”
I didn’t like how he knew so much about me. Not to mention how uncomfortable he made me just by standing near me. There was something about him that I couldn’t quite pinpoint, but it caused my skin to crawl.
“Your stalking skills are impressive. Now can you tell me why you’re interrupting my evening?”
He put his badge back in his pocket, and pulled out a small notepad. “I’m here on business. The Fallen Idols seem to be involved in running and shipping illegal car parts, and I was wondering if you knew anything about that?”
Was this guy for real? Did he honestly think that, even if I knew anything about the clubs illegal activities, I would tell him? He was out of his fucking mind.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t? Does the name Liam mean anything to you?”
My heart stopped, and then battered frantically against my chest. I tried to keep my composure, but my jaw ticked, and my fists clenched.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but that is none of your godammned business.”
His lip curled up into a half smile, knowing he’d hit a nerve. “No? Are you sure about that? Come on, Sawyer. You haven’t been gone that long, have you? You know how this works. I need information, and I do whatever I deem necessary to get that information. I bet Ryder wouldn’t be too happy to know about…”
“Don’t you fucking bring him into this,” I spat.
He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a business card. “I won’t, as long as you come down to the station later to talk.”
The station? Was he out of his fucking mind? One person sees me go in there, and I might as well slap a target on my back for shooting practice. “If we meet, and that’s a big if, it’ll be on my terms.” I hesitated for a second before I snatched the business card from him, and got in my car. A smirk spread across his pretty boy face, and I wanted to ram my car into his. Rip his business card up, and throw it in his face. But I couldn’t. He knew. I couldn’t risk… If I didn’t talk to Velasquez, things would get ugly.
I flung my head back into my seat as aggravation and defeat consumed me. For so long, I ran away from my past, and now it was finally catching up to me.
FIVE
SAWYER
I flipped the business card in my hand, over and over again. I had looked at it so much I had memorized Velasquez’s number. If I spoke to him… If any of them found out… If Ryder found out… I just got him back in my life. I couldn’t risk losing him. But, if I didn’t talk to Velasquez, he’d stop at nothing to tell Ryder the truth, and, with that truth, I could lose him anyway.
Anger coursed through me, and I ran my hands through my hair, trying to calm my nerves. I took a deep breath, and picked up my cell. I had no choice.
I dialed the number, and it was as if Velasquez was waiting for my call. He answered on the first ring.
“Velasquez here.”
I closed my eyes, and, when I opened them again, found the strength to speak. “It’s Sawyer Lennox. If you want to talk, you’ll meet me in twenty minutes down at the north docks.
“See you there,” the arrogant bastard said, and I tossed my phone into my bag. I had twenty minutes to figure out what the fuck I was going to do.
***
Velasquez pulled up, and I got out of my car. He had a cocky smile splashed across his face that I wanted to smack off. His suit was impeccable like always. It was obvious he was a control freak. Probably dry cleaned everything, and didn’t wear shoes in the house. I second-guessed myself in that moment, but shook the doubts away.
I stood tall and confident, not letting my guard down for even a second.
“I see you came to your senses,” he said, leaning against the hood of his car.
I laughed, and folded my arms across my chest. “You could say that.”
“Just know, whatever you tell me, I’ll make sure your safe. We can put you and your family in witness protection. Get you away from all this. Besides, you’re already used to pretending to be someone else anyway, so it won’t be hard for you to adjust.”
I listened to him, and nodded as he explained, in great detail, how he would personally keep me safe. Witness protection was a joke. If the club wanted to find you, they would. It was only a matter of time. The only person who could protect me was me.
“So, you ready to make a deal, Sawyer?”
I stepped toward him, and he held his hand out. I glanced down at it, and smirked. “The only deal I’ll be making is the one where I kick your ass. Don't think I can't. After all, I'm a fucking legacy in these parts.”
He straightened his tie, and I loved the disbelief he was trying to hide from his face. He glanced back up at me. “What about—”
“It’s done. I have no secrets anymore. Nothing left for you to hold over my head.” I pointed my finger at him. “And, if you ever try to threaten me again, I will find a way to destroy you.”
“Big words for such a little lady.”
“I may be little, but don’t be stupid enough to underestimate me.”
He rubbed at his chin, and shook his head.
I didn’t wait around to hear anything else he had to say. I headed to my car, and then stopped. “By the way, you have a stain on your pants. Have a nice a day.”
I only hoped Velasquez didn’t call my bluff.
SIX
Ryder
Cruz turned onto the highway, and I followed, keeping enough distance between us, so he wouldn’t see me. He was just a dumb kid, never even looking back. After Sawyer told me about the drugs, I knew what I had to do. If the kid wasn’t going to tell me what the fuck was going on, I was going to figure it out for myself.
He pulled over on the side of the road, and removed his cut, shoving it into his saddlebag.
What the fuck are you doing, kid?
He glanced around, then hopped back on the bike, and crossed over Idol territory, entering into Pineview, which everyone knew belonged to the Las Almas.
It wasn’t safe for me to be riding around these parts, but now, more than ever, I needed answers. Luckily, I was packing, so if things took a turn for the worse, at least I’d have a fighting chance.
Cruz took a right into a parking lot, and I pulled my bike up behind a dumpster. He got off his bike, and headed into…I squinted my eyes, and… Oh, hell no. He was going right into the lion’s den. If this was Las Almas territory, that bar was their White House, and Cruz just walked in.
He was playing with fire, and it was only a matter of time before he got burned. Idols code stated I should be reporting his ass to the club. Having us figure out a punishment in church that was suit
able for his actions. But this was Cruz, Sawyer’s baby brother who was like my own blood. I wouldn’t throw him to the wolves like that. Not at least until I found out more.
I waited until he finally exited, and I nearly lost my shit when that fucking asshole that destroyed Paige’s place, and her face, walked Cruz out. The fast bastard patted Cruz on the back, and then went back into the bar.
Anger surged through me, as I got on my bike, and followed Cruz back onto the road. This time, I didn’t make myself invisible as I rode behind him. I wanted the fucker to see me. To scare the shit out of him.
Once we crossed the town border, I revved my engine, making my presence known. Cruz picked up speed on his bike, and swerved in and out of traffic, trying to lose me. It was too fucking late. I’d seen enough, and he fucking knew it.
I let him go. He could spend the rest of the day shitting bricks while he wondered what I was going to do to his sorry ass.
Sawyer was going to flip the fuck out, but she needed to know. When I pulled into the parking lot of Raven’s Nest, I called her.
“Hey, babe,” I said when she answered.
“Hey. So, what happened with Cruz?”
I sighed. “Our problems are a lot bigger than we thought. Can you meet me?”
“You’re scaring me.”
“It’s nothing we can’t handle. Meet me at my place in twenty minutes.”
She agreed and hung up. After my shit day, I needed a drink. I headed into Raven’s Nest, and flagged Larry down. Without asking, he brought me over a Jack and Coke.
I finished it in one gulp, and placed the cup back on the bar. Larry poured me another, and, this time, I took my time sipping it.
Axel slid onto the barstool next to me, his breath reeking of whiskey. “Shitty day?”
“You have no idea.” I sighed.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” I took another sip of my drink, and then lifted my chin to him. “How’s Paige?” I was actually surprised to see him. I thought for sure he’d be up Paige’s ass until that bastard was in jail or six feet under.
“She’s at work. Bradley knows what’s going on. He said he’d keep an eye on her.”
Brazen (Motorcycle Club Romance): Ryder and Sawyer 2 (Fallen Idols Motorcycle Club Book 6) Page 2
