Viper's Kiss

by London Casey

  Outside, Blaine walked to his ride.

  Miller came with him. “If I ever see you put your motorcycle here again, I’m going to chop your dick off, blow up your ride, and then shoot you in the head.”

  “Got it,” Blaine said.

  Miller put on sunglasses and walked away.

  A minute later they were riding. Motorcycle after motorcycle, thundering out of the lot, each one with its steel horse cry for outlaw freedom, they were going to stand strong and defend a town that wasn’t so sure what it was the MC actually did.

  Blaine wasn’t sure what Miller had planned to keep Ethan busy though. If Ethan showed up and saw two MC’s ready to battle, he’d hang back and enjoy it. Then he’d make a name for himself and take both crews out. Not with guns though. Ethan loved the game of it all. Taking it down piece by piece until it became beneficial for himself.

  There was just too much to focus on right now with the club. Blaine was actually relieved he got his secret off his chest. And that he sent Jessa packing back home where she belonged.

  They rolled through Frelen right to the border on the east side. There were five motorcycles waiting. All Eight Under guys.

  Miller led the charge, the entire table coming to the meeting. That meant there were a total of nine Back Down Devil members there.

  Miller and Gaige were in the front. The rest of the guys hung back.

  Blaine climbed off his motorcycle and took out his gun. He was in charge of arms and the one who had to make sure his VP and President stayed safe.

  “Looks like you have us outnumbered here,” someone said.

  “Just showing you what it’s like,” Miller said. “You’re Levi.”

  “You’re Miller.”

  There was a slight hesitation before both men shook hands.

  “Lots of bullets flying lately,” Miller said.

  “Comes with the territory.”

  Miller pulled at Levi’s hand. “My fucking territory.”

  The Eight Under guys all took out weapons. Large weapons. The kind that shot multiple rounds per second.

  “Don’t worry,” Miller yelled back. “Nobody draw on this. We’re not showing our weakness.”

  “Weak?” Levi asked. “You don’t get it. You’re old. Time’s are changing. We cleaned up the table at the MC. Got rid of the dirt and recruited.”

  “Good to know. Since you’re new, I’ll explain this once. You step in Frelen, you die. You think you have us figured out, right? Watching from the outside. I get that. You have plenty of your own.”

  “Some of our business has traveled into your town,” Levi said. “Safety reasons. But they still need their supply.”

  “We don’t deal drugs.”

  “Too bad.”

  “You try to push anything, Levi…”

  Two other men came forward.

  “Anderson, Victor,” Miller said.

  “Good for you,” Anderson said. “You know who we are.” He reached into his back pocket and took out an envelope. “This is for you.”

  “What the fuck is this?” Gaige asked.

  “A cut,” Victor said. “Our offering for the little border situation we have here.”

  “You’re paying me to let you deal in my town?” Miller asked.

  “That’s a good deal you’ve got,” Levi said. “We’re not here to stir up old shit, Miller. All the old guys are in the ground now. Except you.”

  “Call me old one more time,” Miller said.

  Levi laughed.

  Blaine saw it happening a second before it did.

  Miller took out his gun and put it to Levi’s forehead. He grabbed Levi by the throat.

  Anderson and Victor had their guns pointed at Miller.

  Blaine came forward. “Hey, hey, hey. Come on. Put all the fucking guns down.”

  “Who the fuck are you?” Anderson asked.

  “Ah, shit,” Blaine said.

  He put his head down and rushed forward. His shoulder hit Anderson. Anderson flew into Levi who flew into Victor. Blaine kept going, digging his boots into the ground until the four of them were on the ground. That neutralized most of the gun threat.

  Blaine started swinging his fists, knowing it was three on one.

  The rest of the guys hurried off their motorcycles and a street fight was underway.

  Victor grabbed Blaine by the arm. Blaine slammed his head into Victor’s face, breaking his sunglasses and spraying blood everywhere. Anderson was on his hands and knees. Levi kicked back to get out of the way.

  Blaine kicked at Anderson, sending his face right between Levi’s legs.

  “There you go,” Blaine said. “Now you’re home.”

  A second later a fist connected with Blaine’s right cheek. Then a second, a third, a fourth.

  He was quickly lifted to his feet and Levi took out a gun and put it to Blaine’s head.

  “Enough!” Levi yelled.

  That ended the fight.

  Gaige had a gun on his knees, a fist cocked back.

  Miller had two guys in a headlock, their heads red, looking ready to pop.

  All the Back Down Devil guys backed away.

  “Don’t!” Blaine yelled. “Don’t listen to this fucking pussy.”

  Levi swung with his free hand and sucker punched Blaine in the jaw.

  “How’d that feel, pussy?” Levi asked.

  “Do it again,” Blaine said. “Come on. Do it again. I love it.”

  Levi swung again. Blaine took the punch with a smile on his face.

  He spit blood on the ground. “There you go. I’m starting to get hard now.”

  “What the fuck…”

  “We have company,” Gaige said.

  A black car came up over the horizon. The Eight Under crew suddenly looked relaxed. Relieved. Like they were expecting a visitor.

  “What the hell is this?” Miller asked.

  “The reason why I’m not worried about you,” Levi said. “The reason why you need to take that money and understand what it means.”

  The envelope had fallen on the ground in the scuffle. Miller pointed his gun to the envelope and shot over and over.

  “That’s what I think of your dirty money,” Miller said.

  “You’re a fool,” Levi said. “Good luck.”

  The black car turned and stopped. The driver rushed to open the back door. Two feet appeared and a man climbed out.

  Blaine strained himself to be able to see who it was.

  “Don’t fucking move,” Levi said.

  “Levi! Let our friend go.”

  Blaine heard the voice and quickly threw an elbow. He hit Anderson in the gut and was broken free. He pushed at Victor and Levi.

  That’s when he saw who had climbed from the car.

  “No fucking way,” Blaine whispered.

  Blaine wanted to grab his gun but he was frozen. Everything around him disappeared. He had tunnel vision to the figure approaching.

  The son of a bitch smiled.

  The son of a bitch tugged at his suit jacket.

  The son of a bitch looked right at Blaine.

  “Surprised?” he asked.

  Blaine started to retreat.

  I need to get to Jessa…

  He bumped into Gaige and Miller.

  They said something but Blaine couldn’t hear them.

  For the first time since he could remember, Eight Under was officially a scary threat. Because they had a fucking ghost leading them.

  Blaine looked back one time just to make sure his eyes weren’t messing with him.

  They weren’t.

  It was him.

  The man who killed Meghan and Janey.

  The man who was supposed to be dead.

  It was Vin. And he was very much alive.

  sixteen.

  Jessa touched the round belly of the Yellow Lab. The dog - beautifully named Daisy - looked back and showed her teeth. No growl though, just teeth. A silent warning as she wanted to say, “I don’t like this place, Doc.�
�

  “It’s okay, sweetie,” Jessa said. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  Daisy looked at her owner, a woman named Deb.

  Jessa was checking for anything abnormal. Lumps, bumps, sensitive spots. Other than being a little overweight, the dog was perfectly healthy.

  She had her hands down Daisy’s belly again and had the image of doing the same to herself too. Sooner than later her belly would start to swell. She’d be showing any day now and that would be the end of her big secret.

  “She’s perfect,” Jessa said. “A little overweight, but perfect.” She turned and washed her hands briefly before getting a treat and offering it to Daisy as a peace offering for being so invasive. “She’s so beautiful, too.”

  “Good,” Deb said.

  “We just need shots and blood work and you’re all set. Are you okay with being in the room while I give her the shots and take blood? I know some dogs tend to get protective of their owners.”

  Deb put a hand to Daisy’s head. “Of course I’ll stay in the room with her. She’s my baby. I could never leave her.”

  Jessa brushed a hand to her own stomach.

  My belly…

  Twenty minutes later she was back at her desk. Hands at her face, she took deep breaths, waiting to throw up. The last two days it hadn’t happened though.

  Lucky me.

  There was a knock at the door and then Dr. Ashland poked her head in. “Minute?”

  “Hour?” Jess said with a smile. “Everything okay?”

  “You tell me,” Dr. Ashland said.

  Jessa felt herself start to blush. “I…”

  “You can tell me anything.”

  “I’m just still rattled by that situation here.”

  Which wasn’t a lie. That situation - meaning Vin showing up - led right to Blaine and that led to… my baby.

  “That was weeks ago, Jessa,” Dr. Ashland said.

  “It just…”

  “You’re making excuses.”

  “I’m sorry. Is something wrong with my work?”

  “Professionally, you’re on top of it all. But personally…”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just tired.”

  “That’ll pass with the first trimester. At least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  Jessa’s face burned. “Wait, what?”

  Jessa felt her jaw almost hit the desk.

  Dr. Ashland then produced an ultrasound picture of the baby - my baby - growing inside Jessa’s body.

  “How…”

  “You left it in Exam Room 4. You’re lucky one of the girls didn’t find it. You know how they like their gossip.”

  “That’s… not…”

  Dr. Ashland put the ultrasound on the desk and point to the corner where it had Jessa’s name.

  “Don’t say this isn’t yours.”

  Jessa looked up at Dr. Ashland. Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I’m pregnant,” Jessa said.

  Dr. Ashland touched her mouth. “Is it that friend of yours, Mike’s?”

  The easy answer would have been yes and lie to just get it out of the way. But Jessa didn’t want to keep lying. She was going to need help with the entire situation.

  She shook her head. “Not Mike’s.”

  “Oh,” Dr. Ashland said.

  “I’m not a whore.”

  “Of course not. I would never think that of you. So… you had to get away right after all that happened here. Wherever you went…”

  Jessa sighed. “It’s hard to talk about right now. I’m kind of in shock.”

  “I could imagine. You’ve been to a doctor. Everything okay?”

  “The baby is fine. Me? Not so much.”

  A tear fell from Jessa’s eye. She hurried to wipe it away.

  “Oh, Jessa,” Dr. Ashland said. “I know everything I’m going to say is all wrong. But don’t cry. There are women who can’t have babies.”

  “I know that,” Jessa said. “But this…”

  “Well, then tell me who the father is. How bad could it be?”

  The office door opened and Terri stood there. She put a hand out. “Sorry to just burst in. Um… there’s a few motorcycles out front. The guys are all dressed the same. One guy is looking for you, Jessa.”

  Jessa looked up at Dr. Ashland. She whispered one word. “Bad.”

  Suddenly, she had to throw up.

  ***

  When Jessa looked to the counter she didn’t see Blaine. For a second she hoped it was all a bad dream or a bad joke.

  Then she heard his voice.

  “That’s a good girl…”

  Jessa felt a rage of jealousy and rushed to the waiting room. She couldn’t believe how she felt.

  Jealous? Because of Blaine? Didn’t he fuck ten women a night?

  Jessa then did feel like a whore. Because she had let him inside…

  She opened the door and saw Blaine on one knee, petting a dog. It was a beautiful German Shepard with a dark coat and rich brown spots. The dog was on its back, leg kicked as Blaine rubbed her belly.

  “That’s good,” Blaine said. “You like that, don’t you?”

  “You certainly hit the right spot,” a woman said, sitting with her legs crossed. She had an engagement ring the size of a boulder.

  Blaine looked right at her and stood up. “I always hit the right spot, beautiful.”

  Jessa felt her blood boil. “Blaine?”

  His head snapped around. “Oh, Jessa…”

  He came running right at her. A second later his hands were at her waist, pushing her back. Jessa thought Blaine was going to put her against a wall and kiss her.

  “You’re okay. You’re alive. You’re…”

  “What are you doing here?” Jessa asked. “Who is with you?”

  “A couple of the guys. We need to talk.”

  “Not right now.”

  “No, sweetheart, right now. Take a sick day. Right now. You’re sick.”

  No, Blaine, I’m pregnant.

  “Just come in my office.”

  Jessa shut the door and asked, “How did you find me?”

  “I have ways,” Blaine said. “That doesn’t matter. You’re a doctor?”

  “Veterinarian,” Jessa said. “Was going to become a doctor but after what I saw… I couldn’t do anything with people again.”

  Blaine leaned against her desk. He acted like he owned the place. She hated the way he made her feel on the inside.

  “Vin isn’t dead.”

  “What?”

  “Vin… isn’t dead.”

  Jessa gasped. “Who told you that?”

  “I didn’t need anyone to tell me. I fucking saw him with my own eyes.”

  “Jesus, no,” Jessa said. “You said he was dead.”

  “My information was fucked. Vin is back and powerful, sweetheart. You have to leave right now and come with me. You’re safe at the clubhouse and with me.”

  “I have a job here,” Jessa said.

  Blaine pushed from the desk. “You won’t have a job when you’re dead.” He got closer to her. “You seem different than last time.”

  Jessa opened her mouth. This was the moment. The right time. The now.

  Instead, she said. “Because I’m not swayed by your bullshit.”

  Blaine smiled. “You’re still sexy as hell though.” He touched her cheek. “You have to come with me. I’ll drag you out of here in front of everyone.”

  “What do I say? I have patients…”

  “What? The Shepard out there is going to write a bad review online?”

  “Don’t be an asshole about my job. At least I don’t kill people.”

  “I’m trying to save one right now,” Blaine said with a growl.

  Jessa shuddered. She hated that he was so fucking sexy. She hated even more that she had seen him naked and felt all of him. Her mind wouldn’t stop replaying the images in her mind.

  “Blaine, I have to talk to you…”

  “Not right now,” Blaine said. He grabbed h
er arm. “We’re leaving. You can pack a couple bags and then you’re gone. Do you have any commitments here?”

  “No,” Jessa said. “Just my job.”

  “Okay. You leave with me and then when we get to the clubhouse you can call whoever you need to. I don’t care what you say. You just can’t be alone.”

  Jessa got close to Blaine. “He’s really alive?”

  “I saw him. He’s been funding another MC to come after us. Shit got bad after you left, sweetheart. Between everything that went down…”

  “No,” Jessa said. She touched Blaine’s chest, inside his cut, feeling the perfect muscular shape of his chest. “Don’t talk about what happened.”

  “He’s going to come after the club hard. He’ll want you dead too. I’m going to protect you.”

  “Why?”

  Blaine touched her face. “Because I caused all this. And I couldn’t save them. This time, I’ll die trying.”

  Jessa’s body was out of control. Her hormones were changing by the second, or so it felt. Her mind and heart couldn’t figure out what the hell they wanted. Next thing she knew she was on her toes and pressing her lips to Blaine’s.

  He broke the kiss a second later and groaned. “Sweetheart. Let me get you to safety before we start making bad decisions again.”

  Jessa touched her stomach.

  Bad decisions… right…

  seventeen.

  Blaine had a hand to Jessa’s lower back. He reached for the bar and grabbed a shot of whiskey. It burned the entire way down, but nowhere near as much as his hand burned by touching Jessa. Even through her goddamn shirt. All he could picture was touching her bare skin, right there, pulling at her as he thrust deep into her sweet cave. Going deep, ripping her open in ways she never had experienced before. The taste of her honey was still lingering, which was impossible. The feel of her perky little nipples rolling between his teeth.

  Focus, brother, focus.

  Blaine pointed to the prospect behind the bar. “She gets whatever she wants. Drink. Food. I don’t care. If anyone looks at her, you tell them to fuck off. Anyone comes within ten feet of her, you shoot them.”

  “I don’t have a gun,” the prospect said.

  Blaine reached behind him and took out a gun. “Now you do.”