Mallory understood something. Dice trusted River because he didn’t trust himself.
She slid her arms around him and leaned her head on his warm chest. “I’m so sorry Dice.” She knew it wasn’t enough to take away his pain, but it was all she could force out of her throat.
“It’s why I didn’t come after you. I... I couldn’t...”
“Shhh. I understand. It’s alright. I understand.”
“I love you Mal. I know I’m not supposed to, but my wolf chose you. I can’t breathe without you.” His arms were like steel around her body, but she didn’t complain. “I wanted you to be happy, to live a life away from this shit. River said you’d be happier, I believed him… now I feel like I let you down. I just don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll never leave you again.” She knew he could hear a lie and the look in his eyes told her he had heard the truth in her words. She would never leave him again, no matter what happened. Dice was her forever.
His lips crashed down on hers and she didn’t fight him. She gave back with all the pain she had felt over the last five years. This was a kiss of punishment and one of reclaiming. Her back hit the wall with enough force to knock the breath out of her.
“Not here Dice… Sam…”
He didn’t answer, only lifted her until her legs wrapped around him and carried her from the room. He didn’t go far, as soon as they’d turned into the hall he pressed her against the wall again.
“I need you Mal. I need to mark you, claim you as mine. I need to make sure the whole damned world knows that you are mine.”
“Do it Dice. I’m yours, always yours.” She panted against his warm neck. The cords there strained and she didn’t try to fight the urge to bite down.
He tore at her clothes until they lay in shreds on the floor. Then he removed his own. He wore no shirt, but it seemed to take forever for his belt to hit the carpeted floor. There was no hesitation, he plunged into her and groaned as she greedily took him into her body.
“How have I survived without you?” He shivered in her arms, trying to retain control.
“Dice…” Mallory was losing her mind. Her whole world was shattering around her. The only thing keeping her from flying apart was Dice. She closed her eyes, refusing to ruin the moment with her tears. “Please…”
He understood, had always seemed to understand her. He began to move inside her, pulling pleasure from her body and distracting her tortured mind from the horrors of the last few days. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. Nothing mattered but the pleasure Dice was giving her.
Sweat trickled down Dice’s neck and she didn’t resist the urge to lick the salty drop.
“You’re killing me baby girl.” He groaned. “Come for me Mal.”
His words ignited something inside her that she’d thought had died. Her body clamped around him, pulsing as her pleasure shot through her. He held her as she came back down, shivering in his arms, and followed quickly.
She felt her legs slip and he held her. “Hang on baby. I need to clean you up.”
He carried her to the shower and inside. “I need to go back…”
“No. Not tonight. You are going to let me clean you up and then you are going to sleep.”
She started to protest.
“I mean it Mal. I have to take care of you. My wolf demands it. He’s shredding me. I need you to clean up, eat a bite, and sleep. I’ll sit with Sam.”
She knew he wouldn’t back down. She agreed and let him clean her up. He washed every inch of her body and then her hair. Then he dried her in a fluffy, green towel, tugged on a pair of panties and one of his shirts. He brought her an apple and tucked her into bed. Sleep wasn’t as hard to find as she’d feared. She drifted off as soon as her head hit her pillow. She would trust Dice to watch over Sam. He was right, she needed to be strong and she needed rest to do that.
She would feel better in the morning and somehow, they would find an answer to this madness.
Somehow, they would save Sam.
7
Dice watched Sam as he sat on the rug playing video games. He was having a good day. The monster seemed to be resting, but it wouldn’t last, it never did and each time the monster grew stronger, sucking the life out of little Sam.
Dice sat at the little dining table and sipped his coffee. He needed more sleep, but, like Mallory, he didn’t want to take his eyes of the son he had just met and would lose too soon. He’d lived through hell, but this was far worse than anything he’d had to endure before. Loving this little person so much and being powerless to save him or even ease his pain. It ripped him apart. Why couldn’t he remember?
Dice’s phone buzzed, causing him to utter a curse which drew Sam’s wide gaze. “Sorry Sam.” He mumbled and pressed the phone to his ear.
“Dice.” He answered.
“Gotta roll brother.” Clothesline came over the phone. “You’ve got twenty.”
“Shit. Yeah, ok.” Dice hung up and met his son’s eyes. He hated to leave him, but there was work to do, important work.
“I’ll be back by morning Sam. You stay strong for me.” He dropped a kiss on Sam’s dark head and turned to go find Mallory.
“Ok daddy.” Sam said and turned back to his game.
Dice’s heart stopped. He watched his little son, so much like he’d once been and he vowed to find a way to help him. It could be done and he’d be damned if he didn’t figure out how. He found Mallory in the bathroom, her skin dewy from the steam of the shower, her hair a mass of wet curls and he felt his body react.
“Damn.” He breathed.
She shot him a grin. “What?”
“I wish I had more than twenty minutes.” His eyes devoured her as he stepped closer and ran his finger over her breast.
“Mmm, me too.” She whispered.
He pulled her close and kissed her hungrily.
“Dice, you know we can’t…” She panted, but her hands weren’t pushing him away, they were holding him tighter.
“Don’t tell me what I know baby girl.” He whispered against her ear, but he stepped back and devoured her with his eyes.
“Where are you headed?” Mallory was struggling to get her composure back and Dice loved seeing what he did to her.
“Club business baby girl. I’ve got to work tonight. I’m going to have one of the prospects come hang out. I want you safe and I want you to rest.”
“Ok.” She nodded. “Ok, we will be ok here.” She nodded and he wondered if she was reassuring him or herself.
“Don’t get too desperate for me and jump him.” He winked.
She rolled her eyes. “Not that one with the buggy eyes, he gives me the creeps.
Dice laughed. “You don’t like Peepers? Why, he’s a charmer.”
Mallory’s laughter sounded like music. It healed places in his heart that he hadn’t known were broken.
“I love you Dice. You come home to me. We need you.” She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her damp body against him. He ran his hands down her skin and grasped the globes of her ass causing her to moan. He smelled the sweet scent of her arousal and promised to be home by morning. He wanted her so bad he ached, but he had a job to do. He left his house and climbed on his motorcycle. He needed to clear his head. He wouldn’t be able to keep his promise if he didn’t and he meant to grow old with Mallory.
He rode the two miles to the Saloon, leaving his fear behind him.
When he arrived, River was standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like he’d aged ten years since the day Sam collapsed in the shop. He’d been researching and making calls to try to find someone who was willing to help Dice’s son and for that Dice was grateful.
“Anything?” Dice asked, hopeful.
River shook his head. “There’s a rumor, a maybe, but it’s risky.”
“I don’t mind risky.” Dice assured him.
River nodded. “We can talk about it in the morning. Mallory should have a say, Sam too.”
“Got a tip. Two girls, early teens. One is suspected to be a hybrid. Her daddy was a lion, mama was human. She can’t shift, but has the odd features and super senses, you know the deal. The fucking hyenas love that shit. Killed her daddy and took her mama for themselves. The word is they plan on selling the girl to one of their sicko clients, but we rarely find the hybrids still alive. They get off on killing them, but it’s more than that. Seem to like lions the best.”
Dice felt his stomach churn. They had seen too many girls in the hands of the hyenas. Most didn’t survive and if they did, they were haunted. “What about the other girl?”
“Not much to tell. Think she’s human, but I can’t say for sure.” He handed over a grainy picture. It was easy to tell which girl was the hybrid. She had lion features, the other girl looked completely human.
“I need Beans to go out and stay with Mallory and Sam.”
River laughed. “Why him? He will stink that house up so bad you’ll have to move.”
“She doesn’t like Peepers and I figure we take Limbo and Mouse with us.”
“You figured right.” River nodded. “Are you going to be alright tonight. Need your head in it.”
Dice nodded. “Better than I’ve been my whole life.”
River nodded as they walked toward the clubhouse where several groupies were hanging out. Ricky was climbing off his bike and heading their way. Pie had his hand up some blonde chick’s skirt and his tongue down another’s throat.
“Does he never get enough pussy?” River grumbled.
Clothesline snorted. “Pie loves his pie. Figures the best way to make damned sure a woman ain’t his mate is to get down and dirty.” There was a sadness in Clothesline’s voice.
Dice understood. They all wanted that connection. Being in a pack made their wolves more bearable, but a mate brought happiness, most had never had that.
Dice pulled Beans aside. “Need you to ride out and keep an eye on my girl. Anything happens to her and I’ll eat your fucking liver with my oatmeal.”
Beans paled, good.
“Yes, sir Dice. I’ll make sure they stay safe.” Beans ran for the old, wreck of a motorcycle he’d pieced together. He was a good kid, even if his farts would peel the paint off a building. He’d had a rough life and he hoped to find his place among the misfits that made up the Howlers MC. Dice hoped he made the cut. He also hoped he found a good doctor.
He walked into the clubhouse that was housed in the back of the saloon. They would discuss the plan before heading out, but they would do it away from prying eyes and in a sound proof room.
One of the groupies pressed her fake titts against Dice with a wide grin on her over painted lips. “Hey baby. I heard about you. I know why they call you dice... “her hand dropped to his crotch and he swatted it away. “Cause you got a pair hidden in your jeans. Is that right baby? I bet you’d love for me to give those some attention.”
A snarl ripped from his lips before he could tell her to back off. She went pale under the thick makeup she wore and stepped back.
“Crazy fucker! I was making you an offer you won’t get again.”
“Let me make something crystal clear to you and anyone you want to enlighten.” He knew his eyes glowed like a monster and his throat felt raw from the gravel that accompanied his words. “I only want one woman touching me and that woman ain’t you. Touch me again and I’ll rip your throat out.”
He left her there and stalked to church. The walls were soundproofed and offered security against the masses of strangers that thought it was alright just to show up at any time they damned well pleased.
“Real smooth there Dice man.” Books commented in his usual calm voice. Books rarely got excited over things, but he often commented.
“Got my point across nicely.” Dice pulled out his chair and plopped down. The others did the same and for the next hour they laid out their plans on how to extract two young girls from the clutches of a group of monsters without getting killed. It wouldn’t be easy, but they’d done it before.
It was the job, it’s what they did and they were damned good at it.
8
Mallory needed a gas mask. She was honestly going to smother to death and Beans wasn’t even in the house!
“How can he stink so bad and still be alive?” Sam asked with his hands over his nose.
Mallory couldn’t help the giggle that burst from her mouth. “Oh Sammy, I swear, I don’t know.” She laughed so hard that her sides hurt. “We shouldn’t be mean about it, he can’t help it.”
Beans was as sweet as could be, but he needed to see a doctor about his after-dinner odor.
“I’m not sure having a guard is worth this.” Sam grumbled, but there was a twinkle in his eyes that said he was enjoying the fun.
“How about we go snuggle up in your bed and read for a while?” She knew better than to suggest he might be getting tired.
Beans may have an issue with his digestion, but he knew how to play with a kid. Mallory wondered how and who it was he’d played with, but she didn’t ask. She knew that shifters were private and often had difficult backgrounds, she didn’t want to bring up a painful past. Instead, she’d watched as he’d tossed a baseball to her son and praised Sam when he caught a hard toss. He’d noticed when Sam’s energy grew thin and offered to play with cars in the dirt for a while, since his arm was getting tired.
Mallory would put up with the smell for a man who would make her little boy feel so good. She looked over at Sam now as he brushed his teeth. His lips were tinged blue and his face looked ashen. The Sickness was draining him faster than she had hoped.
She pulled him close and helped him pull on his pajamas.
“I’m tired mommy. How much longer do I have, do you think?” His face was so serious, it broke her. She stood there and held her little son and it was like pieces of her just evaporated leaving a brittle shell of the woman she had once been.
“I don’t know baby. We need to be strong, we can’t lose hope. River is trying to find someone that can help. There has to be someone.”
“Do you really believe someone can? If you tell me yes then I will fight with all I can, but if you don’t…I’m just tired. I’m not as strong as my daddy.”
He didn’t finish, but he didn’t have to. He was tired. He was tired of hurting, tired of the constant gnawing of his wolf eating him. He was tired of fighting. He was tired of living this hell he was forced to live.
“I love you sweet boy. I love you so much that I will never stop hoping, but that’s because I’m weak. This is your life and you need to do what you think is best. I will love you no matter what.”
He nodded. “I just want to go to sleep right now mommy. Will you snuggle up with me?”
Mallory’s heart was breaking in her chest. Every breath felt like razors in her throat. She nodded and snuggled into bed with her baby boy. She didn’t know if he would wake up the next day, but she knew that she had lost her baby. He’d grown up and soon he would leave her. It was a thought she couldn’t bear.
Mallory opened her eyes. Something had startled her awake, but there was no sound now. She still held Sam in her arms and the house was quiet, too quiet. She checked his breathing and found that his chest slowly rose and his head felt cooler than it had in over a week. Hope soared as she hoped that it meant he was getting better, but when a vicious snarl ripped from him she understood that the wolf was in control.
She heard a thud and her heart started to pound.
“I don’t know that smell.” Sam whispered and Mallory understood the reason why, the wolf had taken over. They were in danger.
The door burst open and a man looked around the room. He wore tattered jeans and a t-shirt that had seen better days and looked like it had something spilled down the front of it.
“Time to go sweet cheeks.” He drawled, but his eyes were never still, he scanned the room and the windows. Somet
hing had him spooked.
“Who are you?” Mallory stood and faced him.
“No time. Shit, shit, shit, no time. Get the fuck out of here. I’ll explain later. Move that pretty ass now or lose it.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She said and planted her feet. She searched for a weapon, but there was nothing.
“Stay behind me Sam.” She whispered and pulled him against her back. He was burning up and shivering.
“Mom...there’s something else.” His eyes were round and focused on the window.
“Yeah. I can’t do anything about that kid. I’m sorry, but I’ll keep your mom safe. I swear. But she needs to move her ass right now. Get her moving if you want her to survive this shit.”
Sam looked at the stranger. “I have to go with him, don’t I?”
“What? No! He goes with me!” She screamed when the man lunged at her and tossed her over his shoulder. “No! Please, no. Sam!”
“It’s for the best lady.” He told her, but she couldn’t understand.
“He’s sick. He needs me. Please no.” She begged, but he didn’t listen.
He tossed her in the back of a van and slammed the door. She pulled on the handle, but the door wouldn’t open. She pressed her face against the window and watched her baby walk out on the porch to be joined by a tall man with dark hair and glowing eyes. He reached out his hand and Sam took it. They walked together into the darkness and Mallory screamed. She battered herself against the door of the van. She screamed and cried until her throat was raw.
“Settle that shit down lady or I’ll tie you up. That kid has no chance if you keep him. River is tearing himself apart trying to find a way, there isn’t one. I am doing him a favor. You tell him that. This way… well, there might be a chance for the little guy.”
Dice: Howlers MC Page 4
