by Erin Trejo
“What the hell are you doin’ walkin’ around like that?” He asks his tone gruff and husky.
“Apparently Dawson forget to pick me up,” I tell him as I roll my eyes. He watches me, unsure what to say and to be honest, I’d prefer if he didn’t say anything at all. I don’t need his pity or his bullshit.
“Get on,” he says nodding over his shoulder as he pulls his helmet off. I cross my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Get your ass on the bike, Xena,” he growls. I huff and take another step back before turning and continuing walking. I don’t know who the hell he thinks he is. As badly as I’d like a ride I am not getting on that bike with him. I can hear his boots pounding the pavement behind me but I act petty and ignore him.
“You think this is funny?” He roars. I ignore him and keep going. Until I can’t go anymore. His hands wrap around my waist, lifting me off the ground. I kick and yell at him as he walks us back to his bike, setting me on my feet.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snap at him. He grabs the helmet, slamming it onto my head. I start to reach for it but he moves to stop me.
“Leave it the fuck alone. I got shit to do and babysittin’ your ass isn’t one of them.”
“Babysitting? I didn’t ask you for a ride!”
“And yet you’re gettin’ your ass on this bike!”
“No the fuck I am not!” I protest once more crossing my arms over my chest again. The nerve of this asshole. He steps into my space, his nostrils flaring. I can tell I’m pissing him off and I don’t care. I actually think I might like it.
“I just said I have shit to do,” he says leaning into my space.
“Then go do it. I don’t need you to take me home. I know the way.” His eyes burn deeply. He’s really pissed off now. Wonder why I like that look on him? Or maybe I just like the fact I can piss him off just as easily as he does me.
“You said they were bad people, the ones after Jack?” He asks and I nod my head. “Then why do you think they won’t mess with you walkin’ around like this?” He motions to my outfit. He’s right, I know he is but that doesn’t mean I’ll admit to it. I won’t give him that satisfaction. Besides, I’ve walked home before and I was fine.
“Why do you sleep outside?” He narrows his eyes at me, confused by my question. “Answer me and I’ll get on.”
“Because I want to.”
“Not good enough.”
“Get the fuck on the bike, Xena!”
“Why, Ryder?” I push him. I want to know the answer. Since he’s been here, he’s slept outside. He hasn’t left to go to a hotel or his dad’s. He just sleeps outside. Thank God it hasn’t rained but it will and then what?
“Fuck,” he grumbles scrubbing his hand down his face. “If I’m inside I can’t hear everything. If anyone comes near that house I will fuckin’ kill them.”
“I have a gun you know? We don’t need you there to protect us,” I remind him. His eyes sparkle in the moonlight just like they used to. He reaches for my arm and I let him take it before he pulls the hair tie off my wrist as I watch. Pulling his hair back, he secures it before gripping my wrist in his hand and yanking me to the bike. “Don’t pull on me!”
“You are stubborn as hell,” he says through gritted teeth.
“And I’m way too chubby to be riding this thing. Now let me go,” I yell as I try to pull out of his grasp. He spins around to look at me, roughly grabbing my chin in his free hand. His lips meet mine way too quickly before I have a chance to respond. He kisses me senseless and I let him. Why am I letting him? His tongue snakes into my mouth, a moan slipping past my lips. I’m gasping for air when he lifts me easily and sits me on the bike before climbing on. When he revs up the engine, I tap his shoulder. He turns to look at me over his shoulder.
“What?”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because you wouldn’t shut up. Now hold on.” Arguing with him could go one of two ways. It could get me in trouble or it could fire him up enough to let me off this bike. I debate both options and decide to shut up once my feet start throbbing. With a huff of air leaving my lips, I scoot forward and wrap my arms around his waist. My fingers graze the muscles under his shirt and I nearly moan. A rough chuckle vibrates through his body when I realize that moan didn’t stay in. I’m about to say something and climb off, loosening my grip when he pulls off quickly. I tighten my grip on him as we fly down the road. I haven’t felt this free in a very long time.
Resting my head on Ryder’s back, I relax and enjoy the ride. That is until he moves past the road to the house. Where the hell is he going?
37
Ryder
I should have taken her home. I repeat that to myself at least a hundred times as I pull into the parking lot. When I climb off, Xena eyes me suspiciously before she climbs off, pulling the helmet from her head.
“What the hell is this?”
“A night club.”
“No shit? I didn’t know,” she smarts off. Sarcastic little shit. “Why the hell are we here? I didn’t agree to go out with you. You were taking me home.”
“This place is linked to some of the assholes that Jack was mixed up in.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, her anger fades. She stares at me for a second before setting the helmet on the seat and fixing her hair. In seconds, she flips her hair over her shoulder and starts walking toward the door. Her ass sways, jiggling with each step she takes making my cock harder and harder. I reach down and adjust it as I follow her toward the door. When I reach her, she’s flirting with the bouncer. He’s smiling down at her, taking her in. Maybe I should have made her change before we came.
“What the hell are you doin’?” I growl when I’m close enough to her. She peeks up at me from under her lashes as she looks over her shoulder at me.
“Nothing. You ready?” She asks. I nod my head reluctantly. I watch as the asshole at the door passes her a card which she slides in her pocket. I fight the urge to snap his neck. Or maybe hers. We walk into the club as my eyes slowly adjust the lighting. Xena tries to walk away but I grab the back of her shorts and jerk her back against me.
Leaning down and whispering in her ear, “You aren’t walkin’ off in here. Did you forget who this place is associated with?” She looks up at me over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. I should spank her ass. The thought has crossed my mind more than once.
“I was only going to the bar, big man.” She turns around and I release the grip I have on her shorts although I want to rip the damn denim off her instead. She’s affecting me and I didn’t want her to. She’s luring my ass back in just like I was afraid of. Following her to the bar, I let her order whatever she wants and I order a beer. The girl has me in knots and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I didn’t come back here for her. I didn’t want to be bothered by her and yet here she is.
Tossing some cash on the counter, I grab my beer and her drink, passing it to her before ushering her toward the corner. I want to see what all this club is about. I’ve done a little research before I set out on my explorations. Bringing the beer to my lips, I take in the scene. Bodies dance, move and sweat on the dancefloor but that’s not where I’m looking. My eyes roam the crowd for anything suspicious. And there it is. In the corner there are a few guys huddled around. They glance around every once in a while making me think they are doing a deal. Not that it surprises me, I’ve seen worse than a drug deal before but this concerns my brother.
“This is boring,” Xena whines next to me. I ignore her until she sets her drink down on the table next to us and starts toward the dancefloor. I reach out and garb her wrist, yanking her back next to me.
“Stay right here.”
“No. I want to dance.”
“I can’t keep an eye on you and them,” I hiss over the music. She smirks at me.
“Then dance with me!” She yells and starts back out again. My grip falters
and she slips away from me. She turns back, looking over her shoulder at me before giving me a wink. I take down what’s left of my beer, setting the bottle on the table before following her out there. My eyes scan the floor as I go. I can still see the assholes in the corner from here so what’s the harm? Xena smiles and dances to the music. It’s like her body moves with each beat. My gaze flickers from hers to the corner and back. I wonder if that’s the same ones that showed up at the funeral. The short one looks familiar but I can’t place why.
“Dance with me! You can’t just stand here!” Xena screams over the music. I pull my gaze back to hers and watch the light in her eyes. She’s practically beaming up at me. It’s a new look, yet old. I’d seen it so many times in the past but I never expected to see it again. My heart pounds in my chest as I reach for her. I know I shouldn’t but I do. Pulling her into me, she gasps, her cheeks turning pink. She holds onto me as we move to the music. Each boom of the bass has my cock hardening against her. Each sway of her hips pulls me under her spell a little more. The spell that I’d once broken. Lost in the haze, I lean down and capture her lips with mine. All the memories, all the pain, all the love comes rushing back to me. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what this is. When I pull back, she looks lost in her head too. I don’t interrupt her thoughts as we keep moving. Instead, I let my gaze wander the room when I see one of the back doors open. The man that walks in doesn’t fit in here. Xena’s hands are all over my body as she dances. My body keeps moving but my mind is somewhere else. I track the man’s movements; each step he takes is with confidence. The suit he’s wearing tells me he’s someone of importance. My eyes narrow as I try to see what he’s up to. He moves into the corner and all the men that were standing there stop moving. Xena is hollering something but I don’t listen. Instead, I spin her around, pulling her back against me. Leaning down, I run my lips up and down her neck. My cock hardens but so does my stare as I recognize the man. Mitch Hardy. Top level drug dealer. He doesn’t do anything aside from sit on his throne and dole out orders. My lips continue to move over her soft flesh as I watch him halt any other conversation from the men in front of him. Xena moans and my cock likes it.
“Ryder,” she says my name panting for air. I slip a hand around her stomach and slowly dip it into the front of her shorts. I growl against her when I realize she isn’t wearing any panties under them. Finding her wet for me, I nearly blow. I need to focus on what this asshole is doing but with her soft pliable body melting into mine, it’s becoming harder and harder.
“Oh shit,” she moans, pressing her body into mine. I circle her clit, letting her juices coat my finger as I go. Hardy motions to someone else to come to him and my eyes immediately dart to him. What the fuck? I know that guy. Or at least I did. He was a good guy back when I knew him but judging by the look of him now, that’s all changed.
“Ryder,” Xena pants, her breathing become more labored by the second. My strokes come rougher, harder. Their discussion seems to be over and Mitch turns to head back out the door when his eyes move over the dancefloor. I quickly lower my head, resting my face in the crock of Xena’s neck, licking and sucking her perfect skin but keep my eyes on him. Just as he turns to leave, she comes. And she comes hard. I use my free hand to hold her steady as her body shudders from her release. When I think she’s steady on her feet, I slip my hand from her shorts, grab her hand and lead her toward the door quickly. I don’t give her time to protest or to calm her breathing, I just go.
“What the hell? I was having fun,” she squeals as I drag her past the bouncer that’s staring her down.
“Yeah? I wasn’t.” Her feet stop moving and she pulls at my grip. Yeah, I’m that kind of asshole.
“I meant the dancing, Ryder. Your little finger job could have been accomplished at home with my vibrator.” I chuckle and glance over at her.
“Vibrator huh? Pretty boy couldn’t make you come like that?”
“I wouldn’t want him to,” she says rolling her eyes. I don’t get those two. I’ve heard the fights. I’ve seen the bruises but I never wanted to ask her about it. I didn’t want to be involved with her but now I’m curious.
“So you just keep him around to beat your ass, is that it?” She gasps and looks up at me like she didn’t know I knew. “Don’t look at me like that, Xena! You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t see what he does to you?”
“Why do you care?” She screams back at me.
“What’s he got on you? The girl I knew would have never let a man put his hands on her.”
“I’m not the same girl you knew. I thought that much was obvious.” I step closer to her, seeing the look in her eyes. She’s on the verge of tears and I can’t say that I don’t like it because I do. I want her to cry, I want her to hurt the way she hurt me.
“What’s he got on you, Xena?” I ask in a low gruff tone. “You know somethin’. I can see it in your eyes. If you have anything to do with my brother’s death, I will kill you. You now that right?” She opens her mouth but words won’t form. Tears spring to her eyes before she brushes past me.
“You don’t know shit.”
38
Xena
I rub my eyes trying to wake myself up. After last night, I don’t really want to. I feel like shit. I shouldn’t have let Ryder touch me the way I did but God did it feel so good. I’m about to stand from the bed when Dawson grabs me by the back of my hair yanking me back down.
“Where the hell are you going?”
“I’m going to help my sister with the kids.”
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t need your help. You’re going to give me pussy and give it real good,” he hisses. I cringe not wanting him to touch me.
“She does need help. She’s pregnant and just lost her husband.”
“Lost her husband. That bastard lost himself. He should have kept his mouth shut,” he rambles finally releasing his hold on me. I stand from the bed and turn to face him.
“What the hell does that mean?” He doesn’t look up at me, instead grabbing his phone and clicking through it. “Fucking answer me, Dawson!” His eyes move to meet mine and that fucking smirk that he always gives me crosses his face. I want to slap it the fuck off him. When he shoves himself up and stalks toward the bathroom ignoring me, I move. I leap onto his back and punch him as hard as I can. It doesn’t do much and I’m not really sure why the hell I thought it would but here we are!
“You fucking bitch!” He roars, slamming me against the wall with a loud thud.
“Tell me what that meant?” I scream as he tries to shake me off. He doesn’t answer before slamming me against the wall a few more times. When my head hits this time, I fall from his back, my head spinning.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he hisses each word as he turns to face me. My heart hammers in my chest unsure of what he might do now. Of course, I’ve fought him back before but never like this. I shove myself up the wall and move in again.
“You know something about Jack’s death,” I roar as I swing again. One hit collides with his cheek the other he stops. He slaps me across the face but I don’t back down. I won’t, not about this.
“Tell me what you did!”
“I didn’t do anything you crazy bitch!” He pulls his hand back and before I can react his fist collides with the side of my head. Stars flash behind my eyelids as I stumble back into the wall. Dawson chuckles, grabs his clothes and pulls them on quickly before walking out of the room. I slide to the floor trying to get my focus back. I don’t know how long I sit here in a daze when I hear him.
“Aunt Xena? Are you okay?” I open my mouth but words won’t form. I hear his little feet hit the floor as he runs back down the hallway. It’s only a few seconds when I hear Ryder.
“Where? Show me where, buddy.”
“In there. She’s on the floor,” Joey says. Ryder’s boots hit the floor harder as he comes into the room. I keep my eyes clenched shut as the pain ricochets through me.
“What the fuck? What did you do?” he growls. He’s so close. His hands come to rest on my head as he slowly lifts it. I groan the impending headache worsening as he does.
“Hey Joey? Can you do me a favor?” I hear him ask. He talks so gently to the kids that it nearly breaks my heart. He would have been an amazing dad. A sob rips from my chest at the thought. His hands tighten.
“Yes.”
“Can you go sit with your sister for me? I’ll be back down there in a minute.”
“I can do that!” Joey yells and races from the room.
“Come on, we need to get you up,” Ryder says. He slides his hands under my arms and lifts me off the floor. I try to balance myself and it takes me a minute before the room stops spinning. I open my eyes, testing my focus. The left one is swollen but the more I blink the better I can see. Ryder stands in front of me, his jaw clenched, the muscles jumping. He reaches up and runs his fingers gently over the bruise that I’m sure is forming.
“Where’s my sister?”
“She had an appointment. Told her I’d take her but my Pop did instead so I told her I’d watch the kids. Come on,” he says softly. I shake my head not wanting to go out there with him. I don’t want to leave this room for that matter. Dawson knows something and I need to find out what but Ryder doesn’t give me a chance to think about it. Instead, he lifts me in his arms and carries me from the room and down the stairs. I hear the kids laughing in the living room when he finally sets me in a chair in the kitchen. I watch him move around, grabbing a towel and some ice. He’s so comfortable here, just like he used to be.
