“Our dogs having been sniffing something,” Levi said. “Looks like someone tried to make a really big drop in our town. Really big. Big enough that whoever did it, they must be sweating.”
“Who here is sweating?” Reese asked as he looked around the DRM crew.
Sledge stepped toward him. “Get the fuck out of here. You think we’re messing with drugs. That’s our business on what we do.”
“Not in our town,” Hawk said. He made a quick move and knocked Berz’s hand away. With one punch, he knocked Berz back, busting his lip open.
“Easy, easy,” Sledge called out as Berz lifted the gun again.
Brett and Jason now pushed forward.
On their sides were Ellis and Zac.
“Look,” Reese said. “We’re not in the mood for a fight here.”
“That’s because you’re getting shut down,” Sledge said. “See, you can wave your little dicks around all you want…”
“What’s the obsession with dicks?” Brett asked. “You trying to admit something to everyone here? All that time in the clubhouse with your buddies, huh?”
“Tell him to quieten down or I will kill him,” Sledge said to Levi.
“Nobody is killing anyone,” Reese said. “We’re here to make it known that we’re watching everyone.”
“Good to know,” Lyle said. “We done here?”
“No,” Hawk said. “We need to check everyone.”
Sledge laughed. “Eat shit.”
“I’ll make you eat my shit,” Hawk said.
“Take this asshole out,” Sledge said.
He turned… the signal for all hell to break loose.
Berz jumped at Hawk, pulling the trigger. The gun exploded. Hawk was smart enough to move and the bullet went through the air. They collided and went down to the ground.
Levi grabbed Sledge’s shoulder and spun him around. Sledge threw a quick punch, hitting Levi in the jaw. Reese would have helped out the Prez but he had his own issues with Lyle. The crazy-eyed murderer grinned and pulled out a knife. He slashed at Reese and cut air as Reese jumped back.
Brett and Jason were already running toward the fight. Ellis and Zac tried to move around the action to take a more tactful way, but face it, as soon as everyone took out weapons, it was fight and then flight.
“Get ready to ride,” Levi ordered everyone. “Then we come back with heavy artillery and wipe them out!”
The Back Down Devil guys all cheered.
Reese dodged another slashing attempt and punched Lyle in the mouth. He went for his wrist, twisting it and taking Lyle to the ground. There he broke his hold on the knife and lifted it by the blade and chucked it through the air. Reese stood up and stomped on Lyle’s face, just once, and ran into the other fights. It was a risky move since bullets were now flying.
There was one person that caught Reese’s attention. One of the DRM members, a guy named Digg, hadn’t moved from his ride. He was hiding something, and Reese wasn’t in the mood to talk. So, Reese tackled Digg off his ride and took him to the ground. The motorcycle toppled to the ground too. Levi shouted orders for his guys to get back on their rides. It was no longer about trying to look tough, but to be smart. They were in DRM territory which meant they could all get killed with ease.
They’d made their point and it was time to leave.
Reese saw Digg reach for something in his pocket and clutch it tight in his hand. Digg swung his gun and smashed it into Reese’s jaw. For a few seconds, Reese saw stars and Digg was able to get up and make a run for it. Reese got to his feet and saw that Ellis and Zac were on their rides, ready to go. Brett and Jason were pulling back, Levi behind them in their protection. Hawk swung another hard fist, hitting Berz again, dropping him to one knee.
“VP!” Hawk yelled. “We have to go!”
Reese gritted his teeth and stood. He charged after Digg, knowing the risk he was taking. Behind him he heard Hawk and Levi calling for him. He caught up to Digg and tackled him to the ground. They rolled over a few times before Reese popped up and climbed to his feet. Digg flicked his wrist and Reese felt a hot pain in his arm. Digg had thrown a knife. The split-second that Reese looked at his arm to see the blood, Digg got his gun out.
“Fuck,” Reese growled as he reached for his weapon.
Digg curled his lip, knowing he had the Back Down Devil MC VP pegged. That kind of kill would boost you up the DRM ranks in seconds.
Except for Digg, he wasn’t going to get a boost. He was going in the opposite direction.
Hawk stepped up next to Reese, gun ready. He pointed, pulled the trigger, and that was the end of Digg.
He flew back to the ground, his hands opening.
That’s when Reese saw what Digg had been hiding.
A baggie… of junk…
Reese darted forward, grabbed the baggie, Hawk flanking him to keep him safe. Then they rushed back to their motorcycles and Brett and Jason held the line with gunfire to keep the DRM guys at bay.
As fast as it began was as fast as it ended.
The guys in Back Down Devil had their motorcycles alive, growling, their thundering echoes crying out in the midst of the last of the gunfire. DRM wasn’t stupid enough to follow. That was a fight and a war they couldn’t win.
They were on their way back to the clubhouse. With the intentions of talking about what just happened.
But there would be a bigger surprise waiting for Reese.
Chapter Fourteen
“It’s going to be okay,” one of the prospects said to Josie.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Richie.”
“Okay, Richie. I’m sitting here with my cousin. Okay? My cousin’s stepbrother was Laszlo. Ever hear that name?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. And you may not realize who I am to Reese.”
“Right.”
“And you’re going to stand there and keep repeating yourself? How’s it going to be okay? You don’t know that. Have you ever seen one of these runs when fewer guys come back? Or one of the guys comes back missing a limb or with their face blown off?”
Richie’s face went white. “No.”
“Then you have no right to say that to me.”
“Sorry, ma’am.”
“Can I get a drink?” Steph asked.
“Get my cousin a drink,” Josie said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Richie said and hurried away.
“Jeez, you were mean to him,” Steph said.
“I know,” Josie said.
“Why?”
“Because that’s how it goes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Look. There are a lot of people who think they understand what this all is,” Josie said. “They don’t. You have to have a certain mindset to make this work. This isn’t about throwing the middle finger to cops and drinking a lot of whiskey.”
Steph nodded and swallowed hard. “Isn’t it scary?”
“Yeah. It is. For everyone involved.”
Steph reached for Josie’s hand and squeezed. “You’re scared for Reese. You’re worried he’s going to get hurt.”
Josie didn’t respond to the obvious statement. She just kept staring at the gate at the end of the lot, waiting and hoping to see Reese show up. A long time ago it was sort of sexy. Watching him get on his motorcycle and leave. Watching all the guys leave together. The way he and Lasz would get to the end of the lot and then fist bump. Only they weren’t just going for a ride to breathe in fresh air. They were always going into trouble. Always looking for trouble. As much as it made Josie worried and angry, she knew there was a purpose for it. That was just part of the life. Accepting it all.
When she stopped accepting it, things fell apart with Reese.
And whatever was happening now…
“I hear them,” Steph said.
Josie listened. Sure enough, in the distance, she heard the rumble of the motorcycles. A sense of relief went through her. But it was short lived. She still nee
ded to see Reese.
Steph grabbed her arm. “You’re sure about this?”
“I’m sure,” Josie said. “You have to be honest, Steph. Okay? We’re family to these guys. We’ll make this right.”
“I didn’t know… okay? When things…”
“Just leave it,” Josie said. “You’re Lasz’s sister. Believe me, these guys are going to love you. And your baby. She is going to be loved, Steph.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
Josie looked at Steph.
I’m not sure, Steph, okay? Because when they find out you…
“Here you go,” Richie’s voice boomed as he returned with a couple of bottles of water.
“Thanks,” Josie said.
The rumbling thunder of the motorcycles got louder by the second until they finally showed up. Levi and Reese were the first to pull into the lot. Josie let out a sigh and touched her forehead. She shut her eyes for a second. She almost forgot how the stress of this life felt.
The only question that mattered was this. Was being with Reese worth the stress?
Thinking about his rock-hard body and the way he loved her… yeah, it was worth it, again and again.
The guys all drove into the lot and took their time lining up their motorcycles. Brett and Jason jumped off their rides and ran to Hawk. They were almost cheering, grabbing each other’s cuts, saying something. Reese looked at Josie and gave a nod. Levi stepped into her view, blocking Reese as he spoke to him.
They then started to all work their way toward the clubhouse.
Josie stood and smiled at them. Battle worn warriors, scars hidden in their eyes, all looking for a little comfort with either booze, women, or both.
Reese broke away from Levi as Levi looked right at Josie. He didn’t do anything though. No nod. No smile. Nothing. Just a straight face.
It made Josie uneasy.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Reese said. “Everything okay?”
“You’re bleeding,” Steph said.
“Reese, you are bleeding,” Josie said.
“VP, shit,” Richie said. “Let me get you a bandage.”
“Richie,” Reese snapped. “Go inside and serve drinks. I’m fine.”
“You’re cut,” Josie said.
Reese rolled up his sleeve, wiping away some of the blood. It was a nasty cut on his arm, but Josie knew it wasn’t something major. He had gone through worse in life; most of it Josie had witnessed firsthand.
“That’s gross,” Steph said. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Steph, stop,” Josie said.
“Christ, sweetheart,” Reese said. “Forget about my damn arm for a second. What are you doing here?”
Josie swallowed hard. “We didn’t finish our talk from before.”
“Is it that important?” Reese asked.
“It is,” Josie said.
She watched as Reese looked from Josie to Steph.
“Okay. Come into the clubhouse. The guys are fired up from our run. So just deal with the noise.”
“I’m going inside there?” Steph asked.
“Stay with me, Steph,” Reese said. “You’ve seen some of this before.”
“Not like this,” Steph said. “Lasz never let me get close.”
“You’re going to go into my room and hang out there,” Reese said. “Come on.”
Josie watched as Reese walked with Steph. There was a small sting of jealousy because she wanted to hold his hand as they walked through the clubhouse. But Reese was a protector. Protecting Steph and the baby. Which actually made Reese even sexier. Doing this for Lasz. In a way, doing it for Josie too.
The clubhouse was busy. Everyone talking, yelling, cheering, drinking. The noise didn’t bother Josie at all but she saw the look on Steph’s face. Wide eyes. Unsure what to think when a woman or two walked by half naked. The language they used. The cigarette smoke that lingered in the air, that pissed off Josie because of Steph being pregnant.
“She can’t be near smoke, Reese,” Josie said to him.
“I know, sweetheart. But she’s not sitting outside alone. She’ll be fine in my room.”
That’s where they went, and it was much quieter.
“Relax, Steph,” Reese said. “I’ll have a prospect guard the door. Nobody will be allowed in without my permission. Or yours.”
“You can do that?” Steph asked.
Reese grinned. “I can do whatever I want.”
“Hey, Reese,” Josie said. “Can we go talk in the bathroom?”
“What?” Reese asked.
“You’re cut pretty bad. I can clean that up for you.”
Reese nodded. “Yeah. Sure.”
Reese stood and motioned for the bathroom.
Josie started to walk toward it.
“Steph, here,” Reese said. “Put something on TV. Relax. Put your feet up. There’s a charger for your phone next to the bed. Don’t go through any of my drawers and shit. Okay?”
“Okay,” Steph said.
“If you get hungry, let me know. I’ll have one of the prospects bring you something to eat.”
“Really? For free?”
Reese laughed. “Just relax a little.”
Josie stood in the doorway to the bathroom.
As Reese approached her, he smirked. That little smirk was enough to kick up butterflies in Josie’s stomach. She touched her belly and sighed.
Maybe the butterflies were just nerves.
Because she had to tell Reese - and the MC - who the father of Steph’s baby was.
“What happened?” Josie asked.
The cut had stopped bleeding. It was now clean and wasn’t as bad as it looked smeared with blood.
“Nothing.”
“Reese…”
“What? Do you really want to know?”
Josie looked at him as she opened a bandage. “I actually do.”
“Okay. We’re trying to track down the source of Starla’s supply. Because someone used her to move that shit. Offered her a deal. She didn’t really understand what she was doing… maybe. That’s her problem. So, we went to talk with another crew and things got heated.”
“Things always get heated, don’t they?”
“When someone else is wrong, yeah.”
“So, you’re never wrong?” Josie asked.
Reese touched her jaw and grinned. “Never wrong, sweetheart.”
Josie wanted to roll her eyes, but instead, her mouth went dry. She gently put the bandage on Reese’s arm.
“You’ll be fine,” she said.
“I know that. Thanks for patching me up, Josie.”
“Anytime.”
Reese laughed. “Yeah, right. This is like an old habit, sweetheart. You do it once or twice for memories and then it gets annoying. Then you hate it.”
“Maybe you could be smarter and not get yourself cut next time.”
“I’ll work on that. Maybe a bullet will be better.”
Josie slapped his shoulder. “Don’t say that.”
Reese stood up, now towering over Josie. “So, what are you really doing here? You called to tell me Steph’s having a girl. But that’s not all.”
“No, it’s not,” Josie whispered. “I just needed to see you. When you said you were going on a run… it got me scared.”
“Right. Because you still worry about me, huh?”
“Of course I do, Reese. You know I care about you.”
Reese gently touched her face. His thumbs stroking her cheeks. “We probably could have figured out a better way to handle our grief all those years ago.”
“Does that matter now?”
“Nope,” Reese said.
Josie was there for a different reason, but that reason went out the window as Reese leaned down and gently kissed her. He kissed her a few times before slipping a hand behind her neck and pulling her tighter. Their tongues flirted before he took control.
Josie quickly broke the kiss. She put her hands to his chest. “Reese…”
/>
“We can be quiet, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I fucking need you right now.”
Josie felt her body tingle.
Reese moved away and opened the bathroom door. He looked back and grinned. “Come here. Look.”
Josie walked to the door and saw that Steph was sleeping. Her head to the side, passed out cold. Josie bit her lip, knowing what that meant. There was no excuse now. She knew what this all meant. What it did to Reese to go on a ride and almost not come back. The way it messed with his mind. He’d come back and be really clear for a little bit with thoughts. And he’d need his own release to calm down completely.
So, Josie shut the door and locked it. She turned and pushed at Reese, her hands shooting down to his jeans. She ripped his belt buckle open with ease and did the same to his jeans. Her right hand eased down the front and she felt him, thick and hard. With her other hand she scratched at his face and moved to her toes to kiss him.
The kiss was hotter than ever.
Josie touched Reese’s bare hardness, feeling his length, root to tip. She squeezed and groaned as they kissed, wanting him as much as he wanted her. She scratched her hand from his face down his body, feeling the roughness of his leather cut. She broke the kiss and inched down to his neck, tasting him.
With both hands she began to ease his jeans down, letting him be free. She felt his cock touch her clothed body, and even that was enough to make her jump and tingle.
Josie moved down, looked up, and never broke her stare as she fell to her knees before the sexy outlaw. Reese put his hands to the sink and gritted his teeth.
Using her right hand, Josie slipped her hand under his thick shaft, holding him. She came forward and gently kissed him. She left a trail of kisses to his cock, up to his tip. Her tongue came forward and she swirled around him. She readied herself as she opened her mouth to welcome him. She closed her eyes and gently moved down on him, taking his full tip into her mouth. She paused and groaned, sucking, pulling back, feeling the defined ridge of his tip slide against her top lip.
“Fuck, sweetheart,” Reese groaned.
Josie groaned back and moved down more. She worked him into her mouth as far as she could reach. Her right hand held his thick root, slowly pumping him as her mouth loved the rest of him. Her left hand moved under his shirt, feeling the rippling muscles of his stomach.
The Devil's Curve: a Back Down Devil MC romance novel Page 13
