Viper's Kiss

by London Casey

  Blaine touched her cheek and ran his thumb along her top lip. “Goddamn.”

  “Better than that whore?” Jessa asked.

  It had been burning in her since the day it happened. She wanted to know. She needed to know.

  “Better than any whore,” Blaine said. “I swear on my dick.”

  “I’m your favorite whore now?”

  “Forever.”

  Jessa kissed up Blaine’s body, tasted the hard ridges of all his muscle. She pressed her body tight to his and just stayed there. His arms wrapped tight around hers. Between them, there was life in her belly. She felt a fluttering feeling. She couldn’t be sure if it was the baby kicking or if it was just her falling in love even more.

  ***

  When Jessa opened her eyes, she looked up and Blaine was still awake. He was just staring into the darkness. It was three in the morning and there was no way Blaine should have been awake. Jessa’s body felt numb and tingly still. It had been three hours since they last had sex and Jessa wanted more. Blaine had opened a part of her she didn’t know existed. Some wild side. Or maybe it was pregnancy hormones. Either way, Jessa loved it.

  “Why are you awake?” Blaine whispered.

  “Why are you?”

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  “I am,” Jessa said. “Everything worries me. I have to figure all this out. Everything is going to change.”

  “I know.”

  “My body… my mind… we’re going to have a baby, Blaine.”

  “We are.”

  “You keep thinking about them, don’t you? Why?”

  Blaine looked at Jessa. “Because I wasted so much time. I was ripped apart long before they were taken from me. And you’ve put me back together, Jessa. Now it makes everything bigger. I have something to lose now. And all I want to do is protect it.”

  “You will,” Jessa said. “I swear to you, Blaine, I trust you.” Jessa took his hand and placed it on her stomach. “We trust you.”

  “You don’t know what that means to me. But it also fucks with my head. I think of all the danger I’ve seen in my life. When I was on both sides of the tracks. It’s not easy. And to think that I lost you once… I can’t go through that again. What I put you through that night.”

  “Blaine, please…”

  “If you hadn’t gone to the house, Vin wouldn’t have you in his sights.”

  Jessa couldn’t argue that. In so many ways, Blaine had taken her life by storm and maybe even ruined it. Jessa thought of it a different way. Blaine took her by storm and had her hand tight in the craziest ride possible.

  “I’m going to be mean for a second,” Jessa whispered. “We’re here, Blaine. Whoever isn’t… isn’t. I’m not a badass outlaw like you, but I can’t imagine worrying about yesterday is going to keep you focused on tomorrow.”

  “Damn, that’s deep,” Blaine said. “That kind of talk could make me hard.”

  “You could get hard if I burped.”

  Blaine smiled. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  Jessa playfully slid her hand down between Blaine’s legs.

  He was hard.

  “Blaine…”

  “What?” he asked. “You ever hear the sound of your voice? Damn. It’s smooth and sexy.”

  “Is that the only thing you like about my mouth?” Jessa asked.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think we’re having a very rough morning,” Jessa said.

  She kissed Blaine’s neck and let her fingers scale the length of his hard shaft.

  It was starting to grow on Jessa… being wild and free.

  But she also knew the price that came with it. That was the reaper waiting right outside the door, ready to strike.

  thirty.

  Miller cleared the clubhouse except those who normally sat at the table.

  They had all the intel they needed.

  Eight Under was getting a delivery of guns. Just like the other guy’s note had said.

  “We tracked it,” Shay said. “They parked the car and left it. A big RV showed up. Looked like it was dumping its tank, but they were loading up. It’s just sitting there.”

  “Boy, that’s risky,” Trev said.

  “It’s slow and calculated,” Miller said.

  “So let’s attack,” Blaine said.

  “We have to think this through,” Gaige said. “How to isolate everyone.”

  “Gun fight,” Jace said. “Let’s pick one. Just get everyone fired up.”

  “Not with Ethan on our ass,” Miller said. “We’ll be behind bars with gun charges.”

  “Shit,” Blaine said. “We can take the guns to immobilize Eight Under, but we have to make sure Vin gets his. From me.”

  “Guns first, brother,” Miller said.

  A cell phone started to ring. Miller grabbed it and threw it to Shay. He rushed outside the bar to answer.

  “I have an idea to distract Ethan,” Blaine said. “How far can we go to end all this?”

  “Whatever it takes,” Gaige said.

  “I need a bottle, some gas, and a towel,” Blaine said.

  “What the hell are you planning?” Trev asked.

  “Fuck yourselves,” Blaine said. “Trust me now.”

  “That’s scary,” Landon said.

  “We have one shot at this,” Miller said. “Our other scheduled gun run is going down next week. We can’t have this fucked up.”

  Shay appeared in the doorway. “Miller. That was Levi. Eight Under wants to meet. They want to settle. Get out of Frelen.”

  Miller raised an eyebrow and looked at Blaine. “Thoughts?”

  “Maybe Vin fucked them,” Blaine said.

  “Aye,” Shay said. “They said Vin had lost it. Was cutting out on his own.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Gaige said. “What do we do now?”

  “We’ll take the meet,” Miller said. “See what their story is. All of us go. Get ready for the war.” He looked at Blaine. “We’ll take out Eight Under. We’ll steal the shipment of guns. Then we’ll find Vin.”

  “I fucking love it,” Blaine said. “Now get me what I need.”

  ***

  Blaine lit the towel on fire and threw it across the lot. It exploded at the back office building of the Back Down Devil MC junkyard. It would take a few minutes to really get going, but soon enough, half the compound would be on fire.

  It would look like a blatant attack on the MC and would attract Ethan like a moth to a flame.

  That would give the MC the distraction they needed.

  Blaine had a prospect drive Jessa to his house. He went there after setting his own MC’s lot on fire.

  “You watch the house,” Blaine told the prospect.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Blaine found Jessa at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea. She looked so prim and proper sitting there. It made Blaine smile, considering that first night when he had her naked on the table, his mouth between her legs, taking care of her sweet pussy.

  “Please be careful,” Jessa said.

  “Just stay here,” Blaine said. “This isn’t adding up all the way. It’s going to be a long day for me. I just need you here and safe. I have a guy out front watching the house. I’m going to settle this thing up and then we’re going to find Vin and end it. Then there’s no more worry.”

  “Other than what you’ll do when we find out this baby is a girl,” Jessa said.

  “That’s easy,” Blaine said. “I’ll cut every guy’s dick off in the tri-state area so nobody could ever go near her. You know how people joke about father’s with shotguns? It won’t be for me.”

  “How romantic.”

  Blaine kissed Jessa. “And as soon as I get back, I’m going to tear you the fuck apart. Every piece of you will get a piece of me tonight.”

  “Tease.”

  Blaine kissed Jessa’s forehead. “Promise.”

  He walked to the door and opened it. He stepped back and looked to the kitchen. “Hey, sw
eetheart.”

  “What?” Jessa asked.

  “I love you.”

  Jessa smiled and felt her cheeks burn. “I love you too.”

  Blaine had said I love you to hundreds of women in life. Those who were able to take all of him into their mouth and swallow. Those who opened every hole for him to fill. Those who came two at a time and did anything he said, when he said to do it. Yeah, that was all love.

  But this time… when he said it to Jessa, his mouth went a little dry and his heart raced.

  That’s how he knew it was real.

  Now he just hoped to be able to say it again to her.

  thirty-one.

  Jessa heard her cell ring and lunged for it. Blaine had a really nice house - completely unexpected for a guy like him - but she could only pace so many times, waiting for him to come back.

  Or call.

  She fumbled with her bag and found the phone.

  It wasn’t Blaine.

  It was the office number calling. Not Dr. Ashland’s personal cell either. The actual office.

  Jessa hurried to call back.

  Terri answered.

  “Terri? I’m…”

  “You have to come here,” she said. She sounded out of breath. Panicked.

  “I… can’t. Why?”

  “I’m so sorry, Jessa. I know you’re not feeling well. But… it’s an emergency.”

  “What kind of emergency? Is the building on fire?”

  “No. It’s about you.”

  “Me?”

  “Brandy.”

  “Br…” Brandy. The dog. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s bad, Jessa. She’s dying.”

  Jessa felt her heart rip in half. Poor Brandy girl. She thought of Jim and Brenda. More Jim than Brenda. It was his childhood dog.

  “I can’t,” Jessa said. “Shit, Terri.”

  “Jessa, you have to come here. Help them. They won’t talk to anyone but you. It’s…” Terri got quiet. “Jim is acting crazy.”

  “Let me talk to him.”

  “He’s in an exam room with the dog. Where are you?”

  “I’m…” Jessa looked out the window. The prospect was leaning against his motorcycle. Jessa had her car at Blaine’s. “Poor Brandy.”

  “Jim keeps asking for you,” Terri said. “He said you’re the only one who can do this. I don’t want to cause a problem with him, you know? Like call the police or something.”

  “Okay,” Jessa said. “Okay. Just hang tight. Okay? I, uh, let me figure this out. Tell Jim I won’t let him down. Just check on the dog. Make sure she’s breathing. If she’s in any visible pain, ask Dr. Ashland about administering pain meds. I’ll authorize it and talk you through it, with Jim, on the phone.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Hey, are you okay?” Jessa asked. “You sound… different.”

  “No,” Terri said. “I mean, yeah. I just… I know how much that dog means to them. And you. I’m really sorry.”

  “I’ll be there soon.”

  Jessa ended the call and left the house. She looked at the prospect and rushed to get into her car. She started it and the prospect was then at her window.

  “You can’t leave,” he yelled.

  “I have keys and a car. Go fuck yourself.”

  “I was told…”

  “To protect me,” Jessa said. “So do it. Follow me. I need to do something. Then we’ll come back.”

  “No way. Blaine…”

  Jessa put the car in reverse and moved. The prospect grabbed at the hood and hooked a hand. He started to run with the car as Jessa kept going. When he finally let go, he stumbled forward to his knees.

  It took the prospect a minute to get to his motorcycle and catch up to her. Luckily for her, all he did was follow her.

  ***

  The prospect tailed just as Jessa wanted him to do. When they got to the office the parking lot was empty except for Terri’s car and one other.

  Must have been Jim’s…

  Jessa hurried to park and get out of the car, only to be faced by the prospect.

  “This doesn’t feel right,” he said. “You were supposed to stay put.”

  “There’s a dying animal in there with a man who has had that animal since he was a kid. Did you have a dog when you were a kid?”

  “I didn’t even have a home.”

  “Oh. Well, you would do anything for your club because it’s family. This is family to me. These animals. What I do for them. And I don’t care how crazy that sounds.”

  “Let me walk you in.”

  “Shouldn’t you stay out here on the lookout?” Jessa asked.

  The prospect shook his head. “Yeah, sure. If anything goes wrong, scream. As loud as you can.”

  “Nobody is in there that I don’t know.”

  “Please hurry. Blaine is going to kill me…”

  Jessa smiled. “I’ll put in a good word for you. He listens to me.”

  Jessa hurried to the door. She went inside and the place was bright and quiet. She half expected to hear Jim crying or yelling for help.

  She called for Terri.

  The desk chair was turned, facing the hallway. Terri’s purple hoodie was draped over the back of it. If Dr. Ashland was here, she’d yell at Terri for having her hoodie there.

  Jessa touched the hoodie and called for Terri again.

  This time Terri called back. “Back here!”

  Jessa walked the hall. The baby started to move like crazy. Her insides were fluttering, almost like the first time she and Blaine fooled around. Jessa touched her stomach and sighed. Maybe the baby knew something was going to happen. Poor Brandy waited in the exam room to be put down. Somewhere inside Jessa she wanted to believe she could save the dog, but if it was time, it was time. There was no changing that.

  At the first exam room, all the way down the hall, Jessa knocked. “Terri?”

  “Yeah,” she said.

  Jessa opened the door.

  Terri stood at the counter. It took Jessa a second to process the scene.

  Terri was there. But her hands… they were tied in front of her body.

  Tied?

  When Jessa looked to the table, there was no dog. There was no Jim either. There was…

  “I’m sorry,” Terri said and tears filled her eyes.

  “I’m not,” a voice said.

  The door shut and Jessa felt a gun touch the side of her head.

  “If you scream, I’ll blow your brains out.”

  It was Vin… and he was going to get his revenge.

  thirty-two.

  Blaine couldn’t make sense of anything.

  Levi, Anderson, and Victor stood there, arms out, letting Erik, Landon, and Shay search them. They were free of weapons. Levi then pointed to his crew and then all put their weapons on the ground.

  “What happened?” Miller asked.

  “Shit went south,” Levi said. “Figured we call you. We’re backing out of Frelen. We’ll figure out something else.”

  “It doesn’t work that way,” Gaige said. “You caused a lot of shit for us. You kidnapped people from this town.”

  “People?” Anderson asked. “They were strippers.”

  “Strippers are people,” Blaine said. “Show some respect.”

  “What do you care?” Victor asked. “Aren’t you tied down, Blaine?”

  Blaine froze. How the fuck…

  “This isn’t done until we get Vin,” Miller said. “There’s some internal stuff we have to take care of.”

  “Hey, Miller,” Levi said. “I’m standing here without a gun. I’m offering myself to you. To your club. You’d do the same if you were me. We were working the streets, struggling. Eight Under was pretty much dead after what you guys last did. Then we got some information from Vin. He wanted to put something big together. Offered us serious cash and serious weapons. Just opportunity.”

  “I’m glad that worked out for you,” Miller said. “You don’t understand how dangerous Vin
is. We need everything about him. You give it all up and we’ll take a vote on how to deal with your MC.”

  “We don’t even have guns,” Anderson said. “He took everything. The trade, the deal, everything.”

  Miller looked at Gaige, then to Blaine.

  Blaine felt his blood starting to boil.

  These guys were lying. They knew about the guns, cash, the car. Maybe they were trying to play Back Down Devil MC. If Vin took off but left the car, then in theory Eight Under would have a shipment of guns and a lot of cash. But that would require them to leave the cartel hanging high and dry, which was very dangerous to do.

  Little did they know, Back Down Devil would be intercepting that car of guns and cash very shortly.

  “Why the change of heart?” Gaige asked.

  “He liked the other side better. Badges over patches.”

  “Bullshit,” Blaine said. “He loves to kill. He loves to hurt.”

  “I’m telling you,” Victor said. “He said he would rather deal from the inside.”

  Blaine stepped back. He looked around, wondering if this wasn’t some kind of set up. But the entire Eight Under crew was there. There was no attack coming. No ambush.

  “What are you thinking, brother?” Nate whispered to Blaine.

  “I smell shit everywhere,” Blaine said.

  “Maybe they’re distracting us because of the deal,” Nate said. “They know what we did with the strippers. How we saved them. So they gather us here and let Vin ensure the gun deal.”

  That was very possible. Hell, that was very probable. Blaine trusted that Miller wasn’t buying any of this.

  But something wasn’t sitting right with Blaine.

  He grabbed his cell and turned, calling his house.

  Nobody picked up.

  He called the number for the cell he gave to the prospect. The son of a bitch didn’t pick up.

  Blaine gritted his teeth and called Jessa’s cell.

  As it rang, he looked to Victor. Victor stared right at Blaine. Their eyes met and Victor swallowed hard then turned his head.

  Jessa’s voicemail picked up.

  “Shit,” Blaine said. “It’s not about the guns… it’s about Jessa…”