“So, I’m still your prisoner after everything I’ve done? I’m not good enough to just walk away?”
I’m fucking this up royally. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
“You think I don’t know exactly what you mean?” she grinds out. Her hands start fisting in and out. “My mother was Fox’s possession and his punching bag. From what I’ve seen in life that’s what the kind of relationship you and I have is all about. I won’t take that shit, so it’s better if I leave now because I will kill your ass if you ever hit me.”
Fuck. I run my hand across my head. “If you’re talking about the day you came to the club, which is the only time I’ve hit you, I didn’t have much choice, but I sure as fuck wasn’t proud of it.”
“That’s what you say now. I have a temper and I use my fists to keep people in line. It’s not exclusively a man’s trait.”
“So why the fuck have you pulled back from confrontation? Where’s that hot temper you’re so proud of?” She looks stricken, but I go on. “You want to use your fists on me, go ahead. I’ll be damned if I ever hit you back, but if that’s your thing, take your best shot.” Her palm comes out and plants solidly in my chest causing me to move back an inch. “That it?” I taunt.
Her other fist takes me in the face. My head turns with the blow and my lip splits. I wipe the blood away. “What the fuck are you doing, Sofia?”
Her eyes are wild and I have no idea what’s going on in her fucked up head. “Hit me back, damn you,” she says in desperation.
I catch her raised fist before she hits me again. “No. I just said I would never hit you.”
“You know you fucking want to,” she screams and jerks her fist from my hand.
“No, I don’t.”
She backs up another six inches, which makes her feet a bigger threat than her fists. I get ready to block another attempt at my balls. Before I can stop her, she throws the door open and runs from the room. I’m on her heels as she heads to the front room.
It’s obvious the guys were listening because they’re all looking at the two of us like we’ve lost our minds. I think one of us has. Sofia doesn’t stop until she’s in front of Bear, who is unfortunate enough to be standing. He’s not prepared when she drives her fist into his nose. I think the entire room hears the crunch. Fuck. How the hell did this get so out of hand?
“Go ahead, hit me, Bear. Hit the fucking Latina like you want to.”
Blood floods out of Bear’s nose and between the fingers that are now holding his face. His eyes are watering. Somehow he keeps half his attention on Sofia while looking at me in utter confusion. I grab her from behind and her legs kick out. She turns into the wildcat from the first day.
The brothers are struggling with the same shock I am.
“Let her go, Dagger,” Skull says. “Let her get it out.”
He’s the only person I’ve mentioned her mood to. He’s crazy if he thinks she’ll stop now. I release her anyway. I haven’t the foggiest clue what to do.
She immediately turns and faces me. “You think I haven’t been hit plenty of times in my life that I can’t take it?”
“No, princess, that’s not what I think.”
She spins around and faces the guys. “Go ahead, who wants the first shot?” She strikes her fists above her breasts. “Hit me, go ahead.”
“No one’s gonna hit you, Sofia. No one wants to.” I want to cry, though. Me the big bad biker is swamped by emotion due to this woman who doesn’t see what’s right in front of her—love, respect, and family.
“Yes, they do,” she shouts. “They all want to. Every man I’ve known in my whole damned life wanted to. Foster parents, they fucking have no problem with it. My mom’s dealer. He always had a quick hand. Someone fucking hit me,” she screams again.
“Princess, no one here will ever hit you. You want to break another nose, go ahead if it will make you feel better.”
She half turns while watching the guys. Her breath is coming in and out from her lungs in loud pants. Her hands drop to her sides. When she faces me, her eyes are wide and her expression is nothing I can describe. Tears well over and roll down her cheeks.
“I’m fucking crazy, Dagger. No one in my entire fucking life has been able to handle me. You don’t want the fucked up mess I am. Everyone will want me gone and I’ll be thrown out like a piece of trash.” Her head is shaking wildly.
Ah, hell. I step closer, afraid she’ll run or worse start fighting again. I pull her in against my chest. Her hands lift and her fingernails dig into my chest between us. Her huge sobs are muffled by my shirt. I look at Skull over her head. Then I look at all the men. We’re a fucking club of rejects. Each of us with nightmares we don’t talk about. And I don’t think any of us feel those nightmares are any worse than Sofia’s. What she doesn’t understand is that, for better or worse, she’s one of us.
“I’m sorry, princess,” I say into her hair.
“God, Dagger, fuck. I don’t know what I’m doing. I expected to die when I came here. I should have died.”
“No, baby, don’t say that. You aren’t trash. We need you. This entire club has your back and not a man here will ever let anyone lay a hand on you. You have my promise.”
Skull approaches and places his hand on her back. “My promise too, Sofia.”
One by one, each man walks over and assures her that she’s one of us. When Rufus steps forward, he wipes his eyes. “My only job is to keep you safe. I’ll do it forever. Don’t you worry now.”
She won’t turn and face the men and that’s okay. I lift and cradle her against my chest as I carry her back to our room. She curls into my arms on the bed with all her clothes on while I whisper assurances and run my fingers through her hair.
“No one has ever wanted me. I’m so afraid, Dagger, afraid you and the brothers will get rid of me,” she cries softly.
“You’re stuck being my old lady,” is the last thing I say before her breathing slows and I know she’s asleep.
I love her, and all I can do is pray she doesn’t leave. Because if she tries, I won’t stop her.
Dax
IT’S BEEN TWO WEEKS since Sofia’s meltdown. That’s what she jokingly calls it. I watch her carefully and I’m glad to see her dark mood that led up to what happened is gone for now. She’s happy. The real change has been in her not holding back her feelings when something pisses her off. She’s my feisty hot Latina again with strong emotions. The guys can handle it and the rest of us enjoy watching when one of us is singled out and she goes off. She’s using her voice and keeping her fists to herself.
“I’ve always been a throwaway. I was just waiting for it to happen again,” she told me the morning after the meltdown.
Those words broke my heart.
When she apologized to Bear, he pulled her in for a crushing hug. She baked him a cake that night and told him he didn’t need to share. He did of course.
The whores are back working the bar and front room. Sofia’s message regarding cheating on old ladies made an impact. The attached men keep their hands to themselves. No one wants to face the wrath of Sofia, as it’s now known. If she says she’ll cut off their dicks, they don’t doubt it.
I’m proud to have her as an old lady. The entire club is proud of her. She still cooks and we’re all thankful. Red’s ladies do the majority of the cleaning under Sofia’s direction too.
The club is riding steady and we’ve been waiting for the permits to come through so we can put our business plans into action. It’s with a sense of satisfaction that I stare at the envelope from the county. I submitted all the paperwork for the store weeks ago and this is the go-ahead we need. I tear into the envelope and start reading. Sofia walks up and peers over my shoulder.
“They’ve turned you down?” she whispers.
She’s reading faster than I am. My eyes skim the words and my heart sinks. “Fuck.”
“It says the County Board of Supervisors disapproved your proposal. How can they do that?
”
I know the how and why. We’re a fucking club of ex-cons. Each of us with a felony record. I was fucking stupid to think they would give us a shot. Hell, everything was riding on this. We could open a motorcycle shop here on the property but we’d get little business. We need to be on the highway.
“Dagger.” Sofia places her hand on my back.
I shrug her hand off. “I need to ride,” I say and place the paperwork on the closest table and walk out. I head to my bike and start her up. I take off after putting on the shades I keep in my saddlebag. Sofia didn’t follow me and I know she’ll be pissed off when I come back, but I need space.
Fuck.
I hit the highway and pick up speed. An hour later I’m in Phoenix on the 101 Loop. Twenty minutes later, I pull in front of the large iron gates that surround Moon’s home. Two very large guards walk out to greet me. I turn off the engine and climb off my bike.
“Are Moon or Gomez available? They don’t know I’m here.”
“Moon knows you’re here,” one guy says. I think his name is Rack. He’s one of the guys who tied me to the rafter in the garage before Gomez began beating the shit out of me.
“Let him in,” Gomez says from behind the gate. “Bring your bike inside,” he adds.
The men don’t question Moon’s enforcer, and a minute later, I’m rolling my bike in front of the monstrosity of a house. Gomez shakes my hand when I hop off the bike. He’s in a suit and tie that reeks power. I look like shit in my dusty jeans and dirty T-shirt. He doesn’t blink an eye. On closer inspection, I can see he’s tired. Exhausted is more like it.
“How are you, Dax? The wrist looks good.”
I hold up my wrist and fist my hand without pain. His goons broke it when they pulled a car maneuver and caused me to wreck my bike. “Better than the bike. Haven’t had time to get the thing fixed properly yet. She needs bodywork and a paint job. How are you?” His massive shoulders shrug, which is so out of character for him. “How’s Kiley and Celina?” I ask more pointedly.
“They’re good. We got them out of state. Safer that way. Thanks for the heads up with the warrant. We felt no backlash, so everything must be clear on your end.”
This man had the hots big time for Celina, Kiley’s aunt. I’m surprised he allowed her out of his sight. Could be the cause for his sleepless nights. “They found nothing and left with their tails between their legs. Doesn’t mean they won’t be back.”
“Come on inside and we’ll talk where it’s cool.” He turns and I follow. I’ve been inside the house before. It’s more of a museum. Moon lives here with his wife, Madison. I met her the same night I met Gomez, Moon, and Celina. I’m led to the room we had our meeting in before. “Moon’s on his way in. You want something to drink?”
“I’ll take water if it isn’t a problem.”
Gomez shakes his head and says, “No problem.” He picks up the phone on the side table and pushes a button. “Do you mind bringing us two waters, Gabriella?”
He listens for a moment. “Gracias,” he replies and puts the receiver down. “Take a seat. I’m guessing this is business not pleasure. If I’m wrong, we can head out to the pool. The misters and umbrellas keep it fairly nice.”
I can’t imagine sitting outside in a full suit. I have no idea how he stays cool in that thing. “In here works.” I run my hand over my head. “I don’t really know why the fuck I’m here. I owe you a debt and the club will pay it—”
Moon enters while I’m talking and he interrupts. “I think it’s the other way around,” he says. I stand up and shake his outstretched hand. Madison—she prefers to be called Mak—follows and ignores my hand and pulls me in for a hug. Moon’s lips curl slightly, which is about as close to a smile as he gives. An older Spanish woman walks in and rests four bottles of water on the table before turning on her heels and walking out. Before we can settle at the table the woman is back carrying a tray filled half with vegetables and half with small sandwiches. She snaps something in Spanish at Gomez and he rolls his eyes.
“She’s telling him he’s too skinny and needs to eat,” Mak says conspiratorially. “He’s not handling Celina’s absence well and we’re all tired of his moping around and the way his suits hang on him.”
“Does she ever stop?” Gomez grumbles at Moon.
“No, I don’t believe she does.” Moon replies with a soft look in Mak’s direction.
Moon is also dressed in a suit and tie. Mak wears a classy skirt and blouse with flat sandals that manage to show off her legs. I have trouble reconciling her past as a cop and the fact she now runs Moon’s escort service. She proves it takes a tough woman to handle the head of Arizona and New Mexico’s largest crime syndicate. Her casual demeanor shows that Moon and Gomez don’t intimidate her in the least.
Her eyes turn to me. “Please tell me you’ve found a good woman to keep you in line?” she asks.
Of all the things to affect me. Heat rises in my face.
Mak misses nothing. “Really, do tell. Who is she?”
Moon takes her hand and gently squeezes her fingers. “I believe this is a business meeting, baby.”
“Haven’t you heard of small talk to set the mood?” She turns her attention back to me. She’s like a dog in search of the bone he hid a week ago. “So, who is she?”
“Fox’s daughter,” I reply honestly.
Her eyes go round. “Shit, you’re kidding me.”
“I should add—his Hispanic, or Latina as she prefers, daughter. She planned to kill Fox and when I took care of the problem before she could, she paid me back by aiming a gun at me and pulling the trigger.”
Madison laughs. “That’s priceless. We’re glad she’s a bad shot.”
I shake my head. “No. She pulled the shot. I have a feeling there’s nothing she can’t do. She’s nothing like her father. Rough life, traveled here from Florida. She heard about Kiley through one of the club ladies and decided she had to do something about it. Didn’t know that Kiley was in good hands. She wasn’t too happy that I took out her old man. She wanted that particular pleasure herself.”
“You must bring her here. I already love her,” Mak says.
I give a slight grin. “I think she’d like you too.”
“Business,” Gomez says testily. Yep, he’s not doing well with Celina out of the picture. I won’t ask if this is a permanent situation, but I’m thinking it is or he wouldn’t be so bad-tempered.
“Look, I’m not here for help and I’m sorry, Moon, but the Desert Crows owe you. All the brothers agree and we pay our debts. What I need is advice.” I look around the room and outline everything that’s happened up until I rode away this afternoon. I have no idea if they have another legal direction I can take the club or not. I hope so. I really need to take an alternative back to the brothers.
It’s after eleven when I’m on my bike again and heading home. Of course Moon wanted to help and not just offer advice. My pride kept me from taking him up on the offer. They are handling Pauline, though. Not killing her but making her disappear. It’s what’s best for Celina and Kiley, so I agreed to let them handle it. Mak made it clear that they wouldn’t kill her. I’m not as generous, so I’ve turned it over to Moon’s organization. Moon and Gomez didn’t seem happy about keeping Pauline alive, but Moon will do what it takes to keep his woman off his back.
I have no idea if Sofia will be awake when I arrive at the club. One thing I do know—I’ll have a pissed off Latina on my hands. I ride practically the entire way with a hard dick.
Sofia
I HAVE NO IDEA what’s happening, and no one has heard from Dagger. Skull and Charlie showed up for a short time. Skull read the paperwork from the county and offered an explanation to why their permits were turned down.
“Some asshole, most likely the agent who handled the search warrant, mouthed off to the county board,” he said. “We all have criminal records. No way we’ll get those permits now.”
I’m pissed off and have been since Dagger s
tormed out.
“Dagger will be back when he’s cooled down,” Skull told me before leaving. “He needed a ride to get his head on straight.”
It hurts that Dagger didn’t at least take me with him. Fuck, I’m his old lady and he should have me there when things are going good and bad. I refuse to allow my personal doubts to cloud my mind for long, so I spend two hours on the computer reading articles and blogs about ex-felons. The county is idiotic. The recidivism when felons find good jobs or start businesses is really low compared to the ones who don’t.
Dagger is doing everything he can to take the Crows out of illegal activity. He told the damn agent that. They’ve done their time and deserve another chance.
A plan to help with this mess develops and I print off all the forms needed for the county. I have no idea if Dagger will go for it, but it’s worth a try. I head to bed at midnight and a short time later I hear Dagger. I breathe a sigh of relief. Doesn’t matter what Skull said, I was worried.
I listen to him undress and then he slides in behind me and pulls me against his naked body. I’m in a nightshirt and panties. Dagger’s warm hand slides over my hip beneath the shirt.
“I’m sorry, princess.”
My anger floats away as he dips lower and sneaks under my panties. “I was worried,” I say breathlessly.
“I know,” he whispers. “I needed to ride.”
He moves my leg up so he can slip a finger inside me. I moan at the contact. “I want tongue,” I whisper and he knows exactly what I’m talking about. He moves down the bed and takes my panties with him. I pull my shirt over my head and bend my knees when he’s between my legs. He reaches over and turns on the light. I’m not surprised. Dagger is a very visual man. I keep my eyes closed, cover my breasts with my hands, and start to play with my nipples.
“That’s right, princess, pinch those babies.”
I pinch as he slides his tongue along my pussy lips. Fuck, it feels wonderful. His hands move beneath my ass and he lifts me solidly against his amazing mouth. This isn’t just a treat for me; Dagger eats a woman like it’s his last meal. God, his mouth, lips, and tongue are incredible. “Dax,” I say quietly.
Burn: Outlaw Romance (Hotter Than Hell Book 3) Page 16
