by Tl Reeve
“Kru….” She lifted his face and pressed her mouth to his, kissing him with such force and passion, it took all of his willpower not to fuck her…yet, anyway. Soon, he would. When she was safe and her brother’s soul was at peace. He allowed her to explore him. Taste him. Her blunt fingernails scored his T-shirt-covered chest. A snarl of pleasure curled his lip. With his hand still cupping her sex, he felt the heat of her pussy and wetness coating it.
“Kru, we’re…shit.” Fawn’s voice cut through the lust-filled fog surrounding him. His arms banded around Gabby, shielding her from view. “I’ll come back.”
Gabby whimpered and he pulled away. Her arm had been caught between his arm and the chair pinching it. “Shit. Sorry, baby.” He changed their position slightly then kissed her fingertips. “Give us a second, sis.”
“You got it.”
The door closed behind them and Kru sighed in frustration. “This isn’t finished between us. For now, we have work to do.”
With trembling hands, Gabby tried desperately to right her clothes. However, the snaps were harder than they’d been when she’d dressed earlier. At least, when she unfolded it, she could slip it on over her head without too much effort. Now, with her arm aching like a son of a bitch and her body vibrating with adrenaline and arousal, all she’d managed to do was mutter a curse. Kru gently pushed her hands away and helped her re-dress. He didn’t tuck her shirt in, but then again, it’d mean touching her again and, if the kiss was any indication, they’d be naked before she could say, “Your sister’s outside.”
“Now what?” she asked, a little harsher than she intended. “Sex isn’t a cure-all.” Even if having her body pressed to his did feel, right.
“I never said it was,” he answered, adjusting himself. “Don’t sit there and tell me you weren’t thinking about fucking me, either.”
“You’re an asshole.” On shaky legs, she crossed the room to the door and opened it. “You can come in now.”
Fawn gave her a look while Kalum waited. “I’m sorry, Gabby.”
“It’s okay. We have tons of work to do.” It’s better to be interrupted than do something stupid, anyhow. And, if you believe that, you’re really stupider than you look.
“Kalum and I only wanted to make sure you had everything you needed—” She grabbed the spreadsheet on the table. “Why are you looking at accounting stuff?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be out riding?” Kru asked.
“We were, but I got worried about you and Gabby, so we cut our trip short,” Fawn answered, still going through the paperwork.
Gabby glanced at Kru then over to Fawn. He nodded his head. She sucked in a breath. “My brother was murdered,” she stated. “I have to believe it had something to do with his...motorcycle club.”
Fawn gave her a quizzical look, which made her wonder how much time the people around these parts spent in the real world. “Bikers?” Kalum asked, garnering another look from his wife. Really these people were some backwoods folks.
“Yeah. We’re not terribly bad people.” Mostly. “Anyway. Kru is trying to help me find who killed him and who came after me yesterday.” Why she felt compelled to cover for Kru and not explain his connection, she didn’t know. It wasn’t like she’d stick around afterward.
“Is this what you do, Kru, in the hu—uh real world?” Fawn asked.
“Something like that,” he answered.
“Do you want some help? I’m a wiz with numbers.” She continued to look through the pages, skimming them before flipping them over and moving on, totally unaware of the bewildered looks Gabby and Kru were giving her.
“Uh, sure. I mean if you want to.” Gabby shrugged. “I was telling Kru, I have some emails from Poppa I need to go through. I just have to get my laptop.”
“Your dad? I thought you said he was dead?” Fawn stopped going through the paperwork and stared at Gabby.
She laughed. “Not my dad. Poppa is his club name. He’s like a father figure to me. His old lady…uh, wife, is Alicia. She’s really good people.”
“Or so you think,” Kru interjected.
“No, Kru. Poppa, Hombre, and Black Jack are good people. I trust them with my life.” Conviction filled her. “They’re not the enemy. My brother trusted them to protect me if something happened to him. In fact, I should have called them by now and checked in. Poppa’s going to worry.”
“Unless he already knows,” Kalum stated.
Gabby turned her attention to the big lean man leaning against the doorjamb. His piercing slate eyes ensnared her. “Why…how? You don’t think he ordered the attack.”
“Were you followed, Gabby? When you came after me?” Kru took her good hand and guided her to his lap. “You were hurting. It’s why you ran from me. It’s not anything you did wrong if they did.”
“I-I don’t know. If they did, they hadn’t shown themselves since I arrived.” It was only after she talked to Poppa and had money sent to her.
“Kru, why were you there when her brother died?” Confusion filled his sister’s eyes as she sat behind the desk and maximized the window Kru had left opened when she walked in.
“I don’t think right now is a good time to talk about it,” he answered, holding Gabby close.
“Well if it determines how we help you keep this sweet little girl safe, you’d better start talking, son.”
“I’m a contract killer.”
Son of a bitch. He’d wanted to tell Fawn about his past, but the timing sucked. No time like the present. Not like his hand hadn’t been forced. Saying I’m sorry didn’t cut it either, yet what else was he supposed to say? Hey, sis, by the way, when I ran away, I killed people for money because I didn’t know how to protect you? Yeah, right. Fawn gasped. “I figured I had the skills, and a lot of pent-up aggression. I’d try my hand at it.”
“Oh my God.” Fawn pressed a trembling hand to her lips as tears filled her eyes. “I caused you—”
“No. No one caused it…well that’s not true, someone did cause it, but it was never you, Fawn,” Kru answered.
“If it makes you feel better, he never killed anyone who didn’t deserve it,” Gabby added. “Mostly killers and pedophiles.”
“How do you know?” Kru asked. No one knew what he did. No one asked and no one spoke of his contracts. They knew better.
“Craven told me,” she answered. “I think to scare me away from you.”
“Guess it didn’t work,” he muttered. “And I did a hell of a lot more than kill pedophiles and killers. If the price was good enough, I’d kill anyone. I’m no Robin Hood or whatever the fuck you want to call me. I am what I’ll always be. A stone-cold killer.”
“So, you were there the night her brother died. Why? To kill him, too?”
“I don’t know. I took a job I should have never touched,” he replied. “Her brother was already dead when I got there and someone framed me for the kill.”
“Wait, what?” Kalum stepped closer to them. Anger flared in his eyes, turning them crystal-blue. He hoped to hell Gabby didn’t see them.
“He’s telling the truth,” Gabby whispered. “He didn’t kill my brother. Someone else did.”
“Who?” Kalum asked.
“I don’t know. The guy cut the power to the building first. Craven gave me the thumb drive and told me to hide. A dark figure came into the room and….” She shuddered in Kru’s arms as a sob passed her lips. “He beat Craven, tied him to the chair then killed him.” Her eyes got a faraway look in them, as if she were right there, reliving the moment once more.
“Did he say anything?” Fawn questioned, touching Gabby’s hand for support. How many times had they held each other when she’d been hurt by Gill? How many times had he cared for her?
“Yeah, he couldn’t wait to cut me and make me bleed then fuck my corpse.”
Kru stiffened under her. His hold tightened even more. A low growl filled his chest. “I’ll kill him.”
“Not alone,” Kalum added. “You don’t have to do anything alone ever again.”
“Gabby, did you recognize his voice?” Worry filled his sister’s eyes. Kalum was going to kick his ass for not being honest when he arrived home. However, he hadn’t been expecting the sharp left his life had taken thus far.
“Maybe…I don’t know.”
“It’s okay, beautiful.” Kru kissed her forehead. “We’ll find the answers, together.”
“Yes, we will,” Fawn added.
He stared at his sister for a moment, gauging her reaction. Satisfied, he nodded. “I appreciate it, sis.”
“Right now,” Kalum said. “I think Gabby should make a phone call home. Let’s see what happens.”
“I thought you said they might know,” Gabby answered.
“Indulge me.”
“Okay. I need my phone.”
“No can do. Get their number from mine and use Fawn’s. We need to keep them guessing for now,” Kru said, handing over his phone.
“Do I need to be worried about finding porn or gruesome pictures of your handiwork?” She eyed him speculatively.
“Yes, because videoing my handiwork really sets the mood later on when I need to jerk off.” He shook his head at her. “Just call home and stop looking at me like I’m a monster.”
“Don’t get snippy with me,” she snapped. “I’m not the one who decided to get into this mess to begin with.”
“So, now we’re blaming me again?”
“No,” she sniffed. “Yes. I don’t know.” She stood and rounded the desk, putting space between them. Something he knew damn well they didn’t need at the moment. “I need to think. What if they know?”
“Well, if they know, someone told them. Whether they’re in on it or not, we won’t know for sure until we find your brother’s killer.”
“Good point.” She took a deep breath and counted to ten then released it. Grabbing Fawn’s phone, she dialed the number. The crackle of the speaker caused him to give her a quizzical look. “Just in case.”
He nodded.
“Mi hija?” Poppa’s voice came through the line, tinged in grief and worry. “Please tell me it’s you.” His voice twisted Kru’s guts and made his wolf howl in despair. Perhaps, they were on Gabby’s side after all.
“Hi, Poppa.” Her voice hitched as tears fell from her eyes. “It’s me.”
“Oh, mi hija. We’ve been so sick with worry. We thought you were dead.” In the background, Kru could hear Alicia crying, while two other men murmured soft platitudes toward her.
“I’m bruised and battered, but none the worse for wear. I’m going to assume you heard what happened?”
“Yes, we heard,” Poppa sighed. “Cisco, Denver, and Belhamy are dead. We’re also not a part of the Vipers anymore; we retired our patches.”
“What? Why?”
Kru narrowed his eyes. “Poppa.” His gravelly voice had been harsh to even his ears.
“I should have known,” Poppa chuckled. “We’re leaving Vegas, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
“I don’t give a shit where you go,” Kru grunted. “It’s none of my business. What is my business is, however, is the fact Vipers came here yesterday with the intent to kill Gabby.”
“I know. When I raised hell about it, I got blank stares and zero answers. That’s when Hombre, Black Jack, and I retired.” Losing your club was tantamount to losing your family. Your brothers and sisters in arms. For wolves like Kru, it meant lone wolf status. No one should have to leave their family for whatever bullshit reason. But you did.
“Shit,” Kru spat. “Those fuckers didn’t deserve you guys anyway.”
Poppa gave a humorless laugh. “Kid, I didn’t think you had a feeling bone in your body. Thank you all the same.”
“I’m sorry, Poppa. I’m trying so damn hard. I just need a few more days,” Gabby whispered while wiping tears from her eyes. Kru got to his feet and rounded the desk, pulling her into his arms. “We’re safe, though. I need you and Alicia to know, Kru is taking care of me.”
“We’ll never stop worrying about you,” he said, gently. “We’ll be on the move for a couple of days. Can we call you at this number?”
Kru nodded at Gabby. “Yeah. It’s my sister’s phone. Call when you get settled for the night. If you need a place to go, let me know. I can arrange a visit.”
“I think Alicia would enjoy some time with Gabby. Keep our girl safe, Kru.”
“You got it, Poppa. She’s precious cargo. I won’t let anyone touch a hair on her head.” He kissed her temple then smiled at her. “Safe travels, friend.”
“Vaya con Dios, Kru.”
Chapter Seven
Gabby stared at the black screen of the phone, heartbroken and beyond tired. Her arm ached. Her body was chilled. She was utterly alone now. The family she’d relied on from the day she arrived in Vegas had turned their backs on her and tried to kill her. Her mind swirled with questions and doubts. Had the Vipers really been her family? Had her brother trusted any of them? Or had he trusted them too much? Seemed a little apropos given the name of his crew to say Craven got bitten by a snake.
Scrubbing her face, resignation filled her. The only things keeping her safe right now were the hills surrounding her and the lack of knowledge of how to get away. Did she really want to leave? In the few short hours she’d been around Kru’s family she’d felt more welcome than she had in the first days and weeks she’d been with her brother. In all honesty, she liked it there. The air was clean, crisp, holding a hint of the coming spring. The rays of the sun were different, too. Not as harsh or unforgiving, just enough to warm the skin. Sure, they had spotty Internet, and, well, not much of anything, yet did she have the desire to return to a city which had nothing for her anymore?
“What are you thinking?” Kru’s soft voice, drew her from her musings.
“About home and how much I like it here,” she said. “Can Alicia really come visit me?”
“I can make sure you see Alicia,” he answered, holding his hand out to her. “How about I make you forget all about this bullshit for a while?”
“I know your way of forgetting, Kru,” she groused. “However, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to quiet my mind.”
He laced his fingers with hers and gave a quick squeeze. “Maybe we’ll go for a ride later.”
“Okay,” she said, with a grin. “Do I need to grab anything?”
“Nope, I have your pain pills in my coat pocket. If you need Bastian, I can call him.” He escorted her from the small office into Kalum’s living room where everyone sat patiently waiting. “Hey, guys. We’re going to take off for a bit.”
“Okay,” Fawn answered, giving both of them a sorrow-filled grin. “If you need anything.”
“I know. We’ll be back later, maybe for dinner or something. Don’t worry, sis.”
Once outside, the cool March air whispered against her skin, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Yesterday it had been a balmy sixty-five. Today, forty-eight. Though the wind could cut you to the bone, freezing you, the sun soothed it away with a warm blast. She stared at the craggy mountainside above her and watched the trees bend in the breeze. Who’d have guessed, she’d like the outdoors? Enjoy the quiet? “I can see why you came here,” she murmured, getting into the truck after he’d opened the doors. Bullet holes littered the hood and quarter panels and images from the day before flickered in her mind. Giving herself a mental shake, she banished her wayward thoughts.
“It’s peaceful. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I rolled into town on my bike, years after I’d left.” He pulled away from the house and drove toward the small paved road at the end of the lane.
“Wow, is all of the land around us Kalum’s?” Cows grazed on dry grass uncovered by melting snow. Others ate from hay bale rounds dotting the area. A man on horseback rode toward them, and, as he got closer, she whistled low. “Cowboys really do exist.”
>
Kru growled. The sound vibrated through her, exciting her while simultaneously making her nervous. Were those sounds even humanly possible? She opened the window when Kru stopped. “Where you two off to?” Graham asked, tipping his hat.
“Fawn’s house, well, I guess my place now. We should be home for dinner. Maybe,” he answered.
“Gabby, I have a question for you,” Kalum’s brother said, propping his arms on the saddle horn.
“Okay.”
“Ever ridden a horse before?” He gave her a devilish grin.
“Yeah, but it’s been years. When I was a little girl.” She remembered when her parents took her and her brother to the stables at Bicentennial Park in Pico Rivera. Her dad had owned an old gray and white mare who had been as gentle as she could be with them. Gabby spent hours, or what felt like hours to a five-year-old, brushing the horse, before she’d been ready to ride. They never went far, but when she sat astride the old mare, she felt like she’d been queen of the world.
“Well, it’s like riding a bike. You never forget how it’s done,” Graham drawled. “We’ll go sometime, if you and Kru would like.” He looked at Kru then nodded. “We’ll see you for supper.”
Graham turned around and headed for the barn. “You were right, they are nice,” she said as Kru pulled away.
“He was flirting with you, too,” he groused. “Horny asshole.”
Gabby chuckled. “You’re jealous. Aren’t you?”
“No,” he answered. “Put on your seat belt. Don’t need you getting hurt again.”
“Oh my God, you are jealous of him,” she said. “Maybe I’ll go for a ride alone with Graham.”
“If Graham knows what’s good for him, you won’t,” he growled, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.
They pulled onto the paved road and drove in silence for a while. Tall trees and thick, lush forest surrounded them. So many questions swirled in her mind, but the peace she found riding beside Kru gave her a margin of quiet. Did it do the same for him? She glanced over at him and noticed the frown between his brows. “What are you thinking about?” she asked.
