“Do you have any excuse for why you’ve been such a bad little boy?”
He tries to talk, but I can’t understand him. Not that I give a fuck. I just want to play.
Turning onto my side, I lean over and snatch the tape from his mouth. He’s screaming and sobbing. Slob and snot drips down his singed chin.
Getting up, I walk around where Edge is showing the stocky motherfucker whose boss and turn the music volume down. When we are ready to shoot, one of us will make it loud again. Finishing off my cigarette, I toss it to the floor and stomp it out.
“Please, please, please,” Otis sobs.
“Shut the fuck up.” With the music on low, whoever inhabits that house on stilts might hear. “If you make a fucking sound, you lose a nut.”
“Have mercy on me.” He’s lowered his voice. Smart motherfucker. “I work for Creighton! He’ll miss me if I’m gone.”
“How sad.” As if I give a fuck who Roxanne’s ex-husband will miss. At the mention of that asshole, a thought occurs to me. “Creighton put your ass up to this?”
His eyes bulge and he shakes his head frantically. “No! No, I swear.”
I’m a little disappointed at the truth I hear in Otis’ words. I wouldn’t mind fucking up Creighton because of the way he turned Duke against Roxanne.
Pushing that thought aside, I circle Otis, ignoring his cries for mercy, and crouch near his midsection. “You, motherfucker, thought to make a fucking fool of me.” I wag a finger at him. “That isn’t very nice. You never intended to call me back.”
“That isn’t true!” he slobbers out. “I was just trying to intimidate her when I said that. She didn’t have to tell you that.”
I wave the flame around his nut sac. The stench of burnt pubes swirls in the air.
“Mommmmiiiieeeee,” he croaks.
“That’s for thinking I’m a fucking fool.” I snatch the lighter away. “Pearllene didn’t tell me shit. I worked it out myself.” I roast his balls again. He shudders and gives a silent scream, the kind that’s so intense all sound is buried in your throat.
The scent of human flesh burning isn’t pleasant, so I remove the fire again and stand, then decide to snatch the tape from the hand that’s bound to his side. I’m crouching again and look him in the eye. “You fucked up her hand, son.” I twist his index finger until I hear a snap. He opens his mouth and I lift my brow at him. “You gave her a black eye.” The ring finger pops. “A bloody nose.” The other finger breaks. “A busted lip.” The pinky shatters. “They weren’t doing anything but enjoying their day, son.” I pick up the knife again and consider his thumb. “You had to fuck with them. Fuck with me.” The knife is sharp, so the thumb is hacked off easily.
He’s moaning and clenching his jaw so tightly, I’m waiting for it to break. Sweat is popping off him and he’s fucking trembling like he’s in the middle of the Arctic.
“We have to wrap it up,” Edge says just as the same thought crosses my mind.
“Lucky motherfucker,” I say to Otis. “You get my abbreviated torture.”
Edge raises the volume again, then pulls his weapon out while I get mine. We each aim at our targets and fire. Blood fountains up between their eyes.
We take them out back and use the shovel I brought back with me from Pearllene’s to bury the bodies.
The job is done. Rescue mission complete and avenged.
We’re all washed up, as best we can, considering that fucking disaster of a bathroom. I turn the music off and collect the docking station and phone. I’ll dispose of them somewhere else.
“Edge, what about the Benz?”
“Fuck!” His brow wrinkles as he thinks on it. “Give me a minute.” He pulls his phone out and hits up a number. “Computer-genius-hacker-boy better have some answers for me,” he mutters half to himself, his free hand on his hip in concentration.
“Yo, Joel. I need another favor—” He’s interrupted by this Joel. Edge listens impatiently. He must want to know the old lady is safe. “Yes! I got her safe and out of the pickle she gone and got herself into.” More words are thrown at Edge. “Joel, I got no time to waste now going through it all. Once I get on the plane back to Alaska I will fill you in. I got a question I need answered right fucking now. You and your boys ever need to get rid of a dead-motherfucker’s car in a real hurry?” Words go back and forth and then Edge is giving up the address and thanking the “clever bastard”.
“Done! He knows a guy who will be happy to take the Merc off our hands. Dude owns a chop shop and he can launder it for us. Merc will be gone within the hour.”
Loose ends tied up.
Edge keeps a hold of his phone. “Give me your number so I got it for future reference and I need Pearllene’s address to go get Miss Catherine and be on our way. They doing okay?”
“I left them in good hands.” I shake my head, thinking of Pearllene and her chooney and frowning in embarrassment. I still can’t fucking believe what she and her pervert subjected me to.
I give Edge the address details. “I’ll give them a call and let them know you’re on your way.”
I glance at my watch as I follow Edge out of the fucked-up house and into the cold night.
“So, I’m curious, motherfucker. Why the walking boot?”
Edge glances into the darkness. A deep frown creases his forehead before he looks back at me and answers. “Made the biggest fucking mistake of my life with a woman. I could fill three fucking books with my troubles. Got shot in the foot for it. Deserved it.” He doesn’t elaborate anymore and I leave it the fuck there. A man’s business is his own.
Time to get the fuck out of here.
Edge holds out his hand and I accept it without hesitation. “Ride or die, brother,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder.
He nods. “Ride or die, brother,” he echoes.
We head off to our bikes, secure in the knowledge that each of our clubs would back the other up if it ever came down to it.
Once I return the bike and I’m back on the jet, I head to the bathroom to shower, looking forward to enjoying the rest of the holidays with my family and friends.
Edge
Not Gonna Happen
I arrive at Pearllene’s home and have my helmet off and am in the process of dismounting when the front door swings open and a pretty, blonde braided, curvy young woman comes bouncing towards me in her robe.
“Hi, Edge, I’m Alexia.” She looks me up and down and bats her thick false eyelashes at me. She looks early twenties under the streetlight.
I nod my head at her and open up my saddlebag, withdrawing both the ladies’ handbags. I hold Pearllene’s out to Alexia and she takes it as an invitation to grab my bicep and tug me towards her front door, leaving me still carrying both bags. Another pretty girl is standing, leaning against the backlit doorjamb with long dark hair who looks a little younger than Alexia.
“And who might you be?” I inquire as I tug my arm free from Alexia’s grasp and swap it for Pearllene’s handbag.
“Carissa. I’m that one’s…” She points to Alexia who is darker skinned, “sister and we’re Pearllene’s granddaughters. We heard you were coming and Alexia couldn’t just wait until you knocked on the door. She’s been standing, peering out the window impatiently.” She rolls her eyes. “MeMe told us you were hot.”
I ignore the comment. “I guess you two better show me to the ladies then.” Alexia is all up in my personal space, smiling away. “Carissa, you better lead the way.”
“Alexia, give the man some space and stop ogling him,” she huffs out in exasperation.
“Just because you’re into girls doesn’t mean I intend to ignore a fine man when I see one,” she shoots back hoping to embarrass her sister.
I hold my hand up in a sign of truce. “Ladies, I need to see Miss Catherine and I need to do it now!” I inject some impatience into my words, encouraging them to let me through the door.
Carissa speaks up as we walk through the neat home and up the stairs.
“Edge, my girlfriend is a nurse and she’s looking after the two of them.”
“Edge, when she says girlfriend, she really means girlfriend, not just a girlfriend.” Alexia feels the need to spell it out to me. I got it the first time.
Somebody save me from these two bickering.
“Alexia, what the fuck? Yes, I have a girlfriend. Get over it. So what? I don’t like dick.”
Awkward moment. Much.
“Edge, is that you?” Miss C’s words filter through all this sister-shit.
Thank god.
She sounds tired.
I walk into a bedroom that has spewed out girlie, girlieness everywhere. Has to be Alexia’s room. Miss C is laying on the bed propped up against the headboard, looking a lot better than she did earlier. She’s changed her clothes, no doubt borrowed some of Pearllene’s and she’s now dressed in a thick olive green coat and pants.
She starts to get up, a serious look on her face. “There be a reason you came back from Alaska and it wasn’t because you knew I be in danger. Spill.”
She doesn’t muck around. First things first. I walk up to her and give her a warm hug and a kiss on the forehead. Her aged womanly curves comforting to hold in a grandma kinda way. “You feeling okay?”
She hugs me back, holding on a little longer, then pulls back. “I be feelin’ as best I can considerin’. Now don’t you be messin’ with my old heart. Is Whisper doin’ okay? Or are you here to be givin’ me bad news?”
“Whisper is safe. I was coming back to escort you to Alaska so you can be with her. I didn’t want you here with Christmas around the corner if she didn’t make it back in time for your first Christmas together.”
“Why she not be comin’ back before Christmas?” Fear edges its way into her voice.
“She’s been through some bad shit and it might not be wise, straight away. We will talk about it on the flight over when I can get you fully up to speed on everything that happened. Speaking of up to speed, Miss C…” I raise an eyebrow at her, “you got some explaining to do on how the hell you managed to get yourself fucking kidnapped.” She goes to open her mouth and I put one finger against her lips. “Now isn’t a good time. I can wait. Fuckers are dead. You need to be fed and rest and then you can tell me the tale of ‘Pearllene and Miss C Go To Lunch’. Funny how that sounds just a normal day for any other old ladies…but not you two.” I really should have said, ‘fucked-up adventures’.
“Who’s Whisper?” Alexia demands.
I turn to the girl. “Never gonna happen.” The hope in her eyes dashed. I give her chin a little caress to soften my comment which brings out a flirty smile on her face.
Carissa pipes up. “I told you, not every guy you bat your fake eyelashes at is gonna succumb to your womanly charms.” For that she gets a shove from Alexia as she pouts away.
I roll my eyes to the ceiling and back down again where Miss C is finding this highly amusing.
“Well, we better be goin’ and checkin’ on Pearllene so we can be gettin’ a move along. I need to be seein’ Whisper.”
“You okay to ride on the back of my bike?” A long loud sigh comes from Alexia.
“I be alright.”
And I know she will be, too. I respect the hell out of this strong-willed old lady. I think she secretly enjoys our time together and it makes her feel alive not being labelled too old.
I check her wrinkled face over, noting her bruises on her dark colored skin, which I know will be sore. “You go ahead.” I hand over her handbag. “I will just have a word to Alexia and Carissa.” Which has Alexia beaming at me and playing with one of her Heidi braids.
I roll my eyes at her. “I repeat. Not gonna happen, doll face.”
She starts pouting again and Carissa shoves her again.
Miss C leaves and I get down to business. “Ladies, sit on the bed. I need you to do something for me.” They plop down, all ears.
“I have a small issue I need attended to. Do either of you have a car?”
“I do, but we both drive. Carissa doesn’t own a car.” Alexia says proudly, giving her sister a smug smile.
“Good job. Would you both be able to drive over to the Cake Café in the morning and get Miss Catherine’s car for her and then one of you drive it back to Connard while the other follows?”
“Sure can,” Carissa answers, beating her sister to the draw. I take it to mean she’s answering for both of them.
“Thank you. I’ll let the gentleman friend of Miss Catherine’s, Lenny Charleston, who is watching her house for her, know to expect two pretty ladies with a Beamer tomorrow.” I pull out my wallet and hand them each a hundred dollar bill. “For your troubles.”
“Thank you, Edge,” Alexia coos, still batting those lashes hard.
“Your MeMe will know Miss Catherine’s address and we will leave the key with her.” I give them both a kiss on the forehead, making Alexia squeal.
I turn my back, smiling to myself. “Still not gonna happen,” I mutter and leave to go find Miss C knowing they are gonna trail behind me. I turn back around just before I exit the bedroom. “In answer to your question. Whisper is my sweet and wild girl.”
“Awwww,” they chorus.
Now we’ve got a plane to catch.
I don’t know what will happen when we arrive in Anchorage with Miss Catherine, but one thing I know for sure, twenty-four hours is nearly up and I’m through playing Mr. Nice Guy.
No matter what I thought in this moment, it was never gonna prepare me for what actually happened, when I walked through those doors in Alaska.
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
The End
Continue Edge and Whisper’s story in Entwined, Hell’s Bastard # 4
Coming Mid 2017
Hell’s Bastard Series by Emma James
Wrenched (Hell’s Bastard #1)
Edge, enforcer for the Soulless Bastards MC, has revenge on his mind and no one will stand in his way, not even the sweet and wild girl.
I’m indeed a soulless bastard through and through.
Warped (Hell’s Bastard #2)
We were never meant to meet.
Our lives collided and spun out in different directions.
Now it’s a race against time.
Time she doesn’t have.
This is on my head.
I f*cked up.
The hunt is on.
Contorted (Hell’s Bastard #3)
Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.
Survival has become a waiting game, choreographed by a schedule to keep Whisper complacent.
What happens when Cezar turns the tables?
Just remember to breathe.
Entwined (Hell’s Bastard #4)
Coming May/June 2017
Venerated (Hell’s Bastard #5)
Coming Soon
Death Dwellers MC by Kathryn Kelly
Misled (Death Dwellers MC #1)
The newly installed club president, Christopher “Outlaw” Caldwell, falls for the daughter of the man he killed.
Misappropriate (Death Dwellers MC #1.5)
The past resurfaces and threatens Outlaw’s future with the woman of his dreams, Megan Foy.
Misunderstood (Death Dwellers MC #2)
In Outlaw’s absence, John “Johnnie” Donovan is serving as president, when he crosses paths with the beautiful, misunderstood, Kendall Donovan.
Misdeeds (Death Dwellers MC #2.5)
John Boy must choose the woman he loves or the club he’s pledged his allegiance to.
Misbehavior (Death Dwellers MC #3)
Matthew “Val” Taylor, the Death Dwellers’ road captain, has to face his demons before he loses the only woman he’s ever loved.
Misjudged (Death Dwellers MC #3.5)
Tragedy has struck Outlaw and his old lady, leaving him to pick up the pieces and wondering how to repair the damage.
Misguided (Death Dwellers MC #4)
The club enfor
cer, Lucas “Mortician” Banks, finds himself torn between his honor and the love of his life.
Misalliance (Death Dwellers MC #4.5)
Kendall and John Boy’s relationship takes a dramatic twist and now he faces a future alone.
Misconduct (Death Dwellers MC #5)
Seeing no way out of a deadly shoot-out, Marcus “Digger” Banks, the club’s sergeant-at-arms, kidnaps Outlaw’s son and nanny, never expecting to fall in love with Bunny Hamilton.
A Very Christopher Christmas (Death Dwellers MC #5.5)
Outlaw wants a quiet holiday season for his wife and children, but, as always, his good intentions go awry when he’s kidnapped.
Misfit (Death Dwellers MC #6)
In this hot Menage romance, Cash “Ghost” McCall, the club’s explosive’s technician, and Louis “Stretch” King, the club’s treasurer, hide their relationship with Outlaw’s youngest sister, Ophelia Donovan.
Mistrust (Death Dwellers MC #7)
Roxanne Doucette must help the club outwit a new hire Outlaw believes to be a cop—even while falling for the younger, gorgeous interloper!
Misgivings (Death Dwellers MC #7.5)
Jordan Will, doctor to the Death Dwellers’ old ladies, must deny the gorgeous new man in her life because there’s much more at stake than just their future happiness.
About the Authors
Emma James
Emma loves writing hearts and flowers romance as much as she loves taking a walk on the dark side, writing in both contemporary romance and dark suspense. Love is always only a happily-ever-after away, even if sometimes it is a little twisted getting there. She lives life positively with writing, reading, music, and photography being her passions.
The important things she needs to surround herself with are family, friends, and furry creatures. She loves giving hugs as much as receiving them and winding down with good food, good friends, and a nice drink of the alcoholic variety when she pops her head out of her writing cave.
When Clubs Collide Page 38
