“You all saw her last night. How shaken she was. You know what I’m saying is true,” I said.
“Where’s she staying’ now?” Dean asked.
“Right now? With me,” I said.
I knew it was the wrong answer the second Maverick’s lips curled up into a cheeky grin.
“Gettin’ it in while gettin’ us work. Nice.”
“Damn, I knew there was a reason we called you the ultimate playboy,” Duke said.
“Trying to give her a distraction to focus on?” Colt asked.
“No, no, no. You know what he’s doing? Trying to ‘soothe her broken heart.’ Isn’t that the line you used on the last girl?” Maverick asked.
“Oh, shit. Wait a second. If the two of you went back to your place, does that mean--?”
“Enough!” I roared.
I drew in a sobering breath as all of the guys’ eyebrows hiked up onto their foreheads.
“What happened between Leti and me is none of your damn business. And as far as I’m concerned, she’s safer with one of us than she is in some shoddy hotel waiting for her next phone call from some asshole named Sebastian that won’t give her proof of life for the only shred of a family she’s got. This girl comes from nothing. She’s got no one. She abandoned the only thing keeping her alive to follow us last night because she thought we could help. So, you can cut up and dick around all you fucking want to. But, I’m here to save a life--possibly two--and stop the influx of cocaine coming over into our damn town and getting into the hands of our fucking children. Got a problem with that?”
A silence fell over the lodge as my fists slowly unclenched from the fists they had balled themselves up into.
“No. No problem,” Duke said.
“We were just teasing you,” Colt said.
“No issues here. Just a bit of fun,” Maverick said.
“You get that out of your system? All of you?” Dean asked.
We all turned to our President and slowly nodded our heads.
“Good. Because I’m done pussyfooting around,” he said.
“Okay, I’m all out for taking out the cartel. You know I’m always up for a good gun show. But how the hell are we going to help this woman’s brother?” Maverick asked.
“Leti,” I said.
“What?”
“Her name is ‘Leti.’”
“Fine. Whatever. Leti. How are we going to help her brother?”
“I can work on getting as much intel on that subject as I can. There’s a good chance Leti has more knowledge of his whereabouts than she understands. Pieces of the puzzle she doesn’t know go together,” I said.
“That’s fine. Especially since she’s staying with you, right?” Dean asked.
My eyes slowly panned over to him before I nodded my head.
“Okay. You’ll work on that, then. But you better keep this together. You know we never get personally involved with jobs.”
“Pretty sure he’s already blown that,” Maverick murmured.
“What was that?” I asked.
“I said ‘I’m pretty sure you’ve got that covered,’” Maverick said, grinning.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Whatever you can pull from her in terms of information, I want to be kept in the loop,” Dean said.
“And once you can get a bigger picture on what’s going on with this situation, we can start drawing up detailed plans of what to do,” Colt said.
“Sounds good to me. Does this mean we’re taking the job?” I asked.
“Does this woman have any way of paying us?” Duke asked.
The room fell silent as the question hung heavily in the air.
“I’ll get you guys paid. That’s a promise,” I said.
“Ah, so it’s another one of those jobs,” Colt said.
Dean held his hand up to silence the room as my eyes connected with his. He got it. He understood. Especially after going through what he went through with Brynn and Diesel. We had just wrapped up things with the Dead Souls, and it was fresh enough in all of our heads for Dean to recognize what he was looking at.
A man who had been hit by a force he couldn’t identify or deny.
“All in favor of taking the job?” Dean asked.
And as his hand inched its way into the air, I found myself indebted to the family I had come to love as all of the other guys raised their hands as well.
Chapter 11
Leti
I heard my phone ringing out from my purse, and I got up from the couch. It was automatic, at that point. If I heard that ringer, my body almost wanted to pick up the phone. After choosing a movie that looked funny to try and keep my spirits high, my mood immediately took a tumble. I knew who was calling. It was the only person that called me on that stupid cell phone.
Sebastian.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Where are you?”
I cringed at the harshness of his voice.
“I’m at a friend’s place recuperating,” I said softly.
Sebastian paused as if trying to process whether or not to believe me. But, I had to sell it. I had to make sure he believed me. Because the alternative was not a good thing.
For myself or my brother.
“Are you contagious?” Sebastian asked.
“I’m not. At least, I don’t think so. I haven’t gone to a doctor or anything.”
“Good. Don’t. Because we need you for another task. Give me the address for your friend’s place. I need to come by and get you an allotment of money for your next task.”
“No, no, no. Don’t come here.”
The words flew out quicker than I could catch them, and the silence that dripped over the conversation made me cringe.
“What did you say?” Sebastian asked.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want my friend wrapped up in all this, you know? I’m almost positive I’m not contagious. Let me get a hotel, and I’ll call you back.”
“An address, Leti.”
“I’m just trying to protect my friend. I’ll meet you anywhere else. Just not here.”
“Anywhere?”
I knew I’d regret my words the second his tone of voice hit my ears.
“Yes,” I said. “Anywhere, Sebastian.”
“Fine. Come by my place, and bring no surprises. While you’re here, we’ll go through your suitcase that was picked up to make sure you really aren’t trying to pull the wool over our eyes.”
“You have my brother. I’d never do that.”
Sebastian chuckled, and it made me sick to my stomach.
“At least you know your place. Come to my place in one hour. Sixty minutes. Exactly. And if anything is missing, or you’re not sick, then I’ll be letting your brother’s captors know of the insubordinate issue you’ve become.”
“When can I talk to him?” I asked.
“When your job is finished,” he said.
“My first job was finished over two months ago. Sebastian, I need to know my brother is still alive.”
“You will do as I ask!”
The roaring of his voice over the phone caused me to pull it away from my ear.
“And if you question me, I’ll send Nicholas’ head to your doorstep,” he seethed.
“I’ll see you in exactly an hour. I promise. I’m sorry, “I said breathlessly.
“Always the good little girl,” he said, clearing his throat.
I grimaced at his words as the phone call cut off. I dropped the phone back into my purse, feeling tears crest the edges of my eyes. The worry for my brother and his safety mounted. Shit. I had to figure out how in the world to make myself look sick. If I didn’t, I knew that they would do something to Nicholas as punishment for my mistake. I wished they would let me talk to him. Hear his voice. Or even send me a picture. I leaned against the arm of the couch and put my head in my hands.
For a brief moment, I contemplated calling Jace. He had left his cell phone number on the counter and told me to call if Seb
astian contacted me. But the anger in Sebastian’s voice had me frightened. Maybe if I just showed up to his place like he asked, he would let me talk to my brother. That way I could prove to Jace that he was still alive.
With determination, I walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. I figured any man would have tainted food somewhere in his fridge. I could eat it, get myself sick. At least go pale. Something to show that I still wasn’t feeling well, but didn’t off the air that I might have been contagious. But as I rifled through Jace’s refrigerator doors and shelves, I found nothing but fresh foods and vegetables and freshly-squeezed juices.
I never thought I’d consider that a bad thing.
I closed the fridge door and panned my gaze around the kitchen. It was tucked away in a corner, off in its own little world. I racked my brain for ideas. Ways to fake an illness. A hairdryer to the forehead wouldn’t last long enough, and I didn’t have any of my own makeup to make myself look pale.
Then, my eyes fell to the fruit bowl in Jace’s kitchen.
I rifled through it, picking up fresh bananas and ripe pears. But nestled at the bottom, like a gleaming orb of disgusting rottenness, was a bad apple. It was brown on one side and molded on the other. It reeked of sickness. I felt myself already heaving. I felt bile creeping up the back of my throat. But, I had no choice. If Sebastian thought for one second that I was lying to him about anything, Nicholas was dead. I was dead.
And neither of those were an option.
I plugged my nose and took the first nasty bite. I swallowed with minimal chewing, feeling my stomach already rejecting the contents. I bit down again. And again. And again. Until the brown of the apple was gone and nothing but the flourishing mold was tasted on the tip of my tongue. I tossed the apple into the trashcan before running my mouth under the kitchen faucet. I drank down mouthfuls of cold water, washing the taste from my skin and forcing the rotten apple into my stomach.
Then, I unplugged my nose and let the fun begin.
Within seconds, I took off for the bathroom. Tears crested my eyes and snot already poured from my nostrils. I threw the toilet top open and fell to my knees, my entire body locking up while I puked. I heaved. I began to sweat. My whole body rebelled at my insane actions while I clutched the porcelain with all my might. And after twenty minutes of throwing up and another five of basically dry-heaving, I found the strength to stand up and look in the mirror.
Red eyes. Puffy cheeks. Pale skin. Dim eyes.
I looked sick all right.
And hopefully, the look would stick around for the next couple of hours.
Chapter 12
Jace
“Leti?”
I opened the door before closing it behind me.
“Leti, you here?”
I didn’t hear her call out for me, but I did hear the shower running in the distance. I slipped my leather cut off my limbs and haphazardly hung it up. I toed off my boots, eager to hear her voice. See her face. Run my fingers through her hair. After getting the guys together and voting on taking her as a client, I was anxious to get back to her. I’d been gone much longer than I ever figured I would be, and the only thing swirling through my mind was getting her back in my arms. Kissing those plump lips. Staring into those amber brown eyes that have captivated me from the very beginning.
“Leti?” I asked as I inched the bathroom door open.
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed.
“Leti, Leti, Leti. It’s just me. It’s Jace.”
I heard her panting, and I saw her foggy outline trembling beyond the frosted glass of my shower door.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m uh…”
Leti cleared her throat, but it sounded hoarse.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.
“Just tired,” she said.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I just didn’t hear you come in is all.”
I furrowed my brow at how weak and rugged her voice sounded.
“Are you getting sick?” I asked.
She snickered and shook her head before she drew in a deep breath.
“I feel like it some days. But it’s a common occurrence now,” she said.
I stepped closer to the frosted glass and placed my hand against it. I watched her form turn towards me, and even though the steam and the distorted view of her naked form I saw those amber orbs staring back at me. She paused. Looked me straight in the eye. Then, she lifted her hand and pressed it against mine.
“Care for some company?” I asked.
The glass door swung open, and I quickly pulled myself out of my clothes. The bathroom was hot. Teeming with tension and seething with the events of an entire day. It sounded as if Leti had just as difficult of a day as I had. I tossed my clothes into the corner and slipped into the shower, blinded by the water as it beat against my back. The steam shrouded Leti’s body from my eyes. But, it didn’t stop my hands from wandering. I reached out and closed the glass door, then felt around until my hands fell onto that soft, olive skin of hers.
“There you are,” I said.
“I was just washing up really quickly.”
“Give me the washcloth.”
“What?”
I wiggled my fingers out into the steam, and I felt the soapy rag drop into my palm.
“Now, come here and turn around,” I said.
Leti’s body pierced the steam, and my eyes beheld her beautiful form. Sloping breasts that hung like large teardrops against her skin. A slim waist that begged for my touch. Blossoming hips that bled into thick thighs I wanted locked around my face. Her mahogany brown hair glistened with the wetness of the water, and her rosy red cheeks looked a little more pale than usual. Her eyes seemed sunken in. Her lips, a little chapped.
What the hell had happened with her day?
Instead of questioning her about it, I simply stood there while she offered her back to me. Smooth, delicate skin with a tan that made my lips ache to taste her. I pressed the soapy cloth to her skin and made small circles, feeling the angry red streaks of hot water pierce my back. I smoothed over the slight dip in her back. I cupped her ass cheeks, making sure they got nice and clean. I slid my arm slowly around her waist, hearing her sigh as she fell into the strength of my body.
I soaped up her entire form before the washcloth fell from my hand.
“Oops,” I said into her ear.
“Want me to get it?” she asked breathlessly.
I nibbled on her earlobe as my hand massaged her bubble-covered breast.
“I think we have enough soap. Though your body could use a bit more cleaning,” I said.
I tugged at her nipple as my tongue traced the shell of her ear. And the way she sighed for me throbbed my cock against her back. She was all too eager for me, pressing her ass against my pulsing dick. Her hands slid up and down my thighs, dragging her nails along in a very teasing fashion. My lips cascaded down her neck, my tongue lapping at her pulse point before kissing against her shoulder. I smoothed bubbles down her stomach. Down her toned abs that boasted of the faintest lines that denoted the strength her soft skin hid from view.
Then, my soapy hand slipped effortlessly between her voluptuous thighs.
“Oh, what do we have here?” I asked.
Leti gasped as she slid her legs open to accept my intrusion.
I massaged my finger between her pussy folds, feeling her hot wetness surround me. I moved my hand to her other breast, stroking it and caressing her tender nipple to its engorged peak. Her head fell off to the side. Her legs spread a little wider. I placed my feet beside hers, preventing her from spreading any wider and collapsing in on herself. Steam rose around us. My lips couldn’t stop kissing her. My tongue tasted the heat of the sweat against her skin as the steam pulled from our pores the dirt and grime and secrets our day had held.
I felt my cock slide from her back, smoothing itself against her ass cheeks before finally emerging between h
er legs.
“Jace,” she breathed.
“Mmm, so wet for me,” I groaned.
I felt her pussy dripping onto the skin of my aching cock while my fingertips slowly explored her soaking wet folds. I stroked her. Massaged her. Dipped the tips of me into her entrance, just to tease what I would eventually give her. My cock jumped against her skin. It wept for her, begging to be inside her. She shivered against me as my lips left beautiful red welts upon her shoulder to be gazed upon in the morning.
When she woke up again in my arms.
“Please, Jace.”
Her plea was so soft. So whispered. So delicate on the tip of that tongue of hers.
“Please what?” I asked.
I slid my fingers up her folds, hovering them over the swollen clit that throbbed for my touch.
“Please let me come,” Leti whispered.
And without another word spoken, the pads of my fingers fell to her swollen nub.
Chapter 13
Leti
I pressed myself into Jace’s robust and lean form as his fingers took over my body. The tips of his fingers were warm against my clit. My legs shook. My chest heaved. Never in my life had I felt so dirty and so clean at the same time, and I loved it. Jace nibbled the skin of my neck, pulling moans from my throat. I felt myself growing weak against his ministrations as my ass ground into his dick. It thickened against my skin. Pulsed in time with my gasps while my mind swirled. I pressed my head into his shoulder. I felt his muscles twitching against my bare skin. Juices poured from my pussy while he stroked my clit, circling and pressing and robbing me of my breath.
I rose my hand and slid it through his light brown hair, gripping on for dear life as my hips began to buck.
“That’s it, Leti. Take what you want. Don’t be ashamed.”
“Shit,” I hissed.
My toes curled, and the room spun as my body threw itself over the edge. His hand cupped my pussy, allowing me to grind thoroughly into the palm of his had as juices fell from my aching slit. I collapsed. My knees gave way underneath the beautiful disaster of it all. And as Jace caught me in his tattooed arms, he spun me around and pinned me into the wall.
Jace (The Black Hornets MC Book 1) Page 7
