Where there's Smoke (The Devil's Apostles MC #1)

by Annie Buff

  “Nero what’s wrong?”

  He shook his head; this was so much more than she signed on for. He was on edge, terrified she would leave him because of all this chaos. All he could do was hold out his arms, inviting her in. The way she felt against him was the reason he wanted to keep living. Peyton Sidle had no idea how much he loved her, most days he couldn’t believe it. Every time she smiled, with the way her eyes shimmered when she looked at him. The best part of his day was the night. That’s when she would curl up behind him, kissing his shoulder and wrapping her tiny arms around him. She loved to hold him and he would always give her anything she wanted. That’s how much he felt for her. The fact they’d made a baby together was an added bonus, but nothing would mean anything without Peyton.

  “I’m ok baby, just so much on my mind with all this shit and I’m worried it’s too much for you.”

  She could understand his worry; this was a lot for one person to handle. Smoke was notorious for internalizing everything. Sharing was hard for him. He had been trying hard when it came to her, but still he would keep things bottled up.

  “Well since they’re gonna drink and talk, why don’t we go upstairs. Take off all of our clothes and show me how much you love me. What do you think Nero? Wanna go get naked with me?” There would never come a day when he didn’t answer yes to that question. He loved her fiercely and the physical was just the best way he knew how to show her. Smoke was terrible at words, always had been. When it came to expressing himself he was always screwing it up verbally. Physical expression had always come easy, but with her it was just like breathing. As simple as it was necessary.

  “Not upstairs sweetness, I think it’s time we christen the clubhouse. I’ve never allowed it in the clubhouse, but it’s mine and I want my woman bent over the fucking pool table, wet and ready. What d’ya think baby? Wanna let me take you on the pool table?”

  That’s exactly what was going to happen, she gave Smoke a slow nod. He knew she was thinking of all the things that were about to happen. He knew she was already aroused just with the thoughts. He had every intention of sinking his tongue, his fingers and lastly his cock deep inside her until she shuddered and screamed his name.

  Smoke stripped her bare, laying her back on his old pool table letting his eyes feast on the beauty before him. She was complete perfection, her slit glistening from her arousal. He knew it was all for him. Smoke settled between her legs and lapped at her like he was a parched man who’d just found water, paying particular attention to her hardened nub. His cock was throbbing just listening to the sounds she made. Her whimpers and soft moans had him on the verge of coming without so much as a touch.

  He knew she loved this, he did too. She tasted like the sweetest honey and he was so addicted to her he would never be able to quit. Peyton was a drug, the best kind he’d ever had. She ran through his veins like heroin without the horrific side effects. She was his drug of choice. She had told him tasting him was the same for her. Smoke remembered her soft lips sliding up his cock in the cab of the truck and it just caused the throbbing to escalate, he had to be inside her.

  He pulled her to the end of the table and hovered over her, nothing mattered but looking into her eyes as he pushed himself into her, hearing that first gasp he loved so much. As he started that deep gentle thrust, she responded. Her body met his, and with each new drive she would gasp over and over. Peyton was so slick, so wet that old pool table would be stained forever but Smoke didn’t care. The way she felt, how she smelled was driving him nuts. Every game played on it would forever remind him of this night. He felt her nails dig in, and the blood start. It was mere moments before she wrapped her legs around him, arching her back as she hit her climax. Peyton shuddered, shouting his name and yelling oh God oh God over and over.

  Smoke let go, giving her what she loved so much, his orgasm. His rigid body shook almost uncontrollably as his warm seed jetted deep into her. The two held on to each other as they rode out the aftershocks and came tumbling back down to earth.

  “Damn sweetness, I fucking love you. You know that right? Nothing in this world is better than you. And baby I always will, you’re my forever girl.” Hearing those words drew tears from Peyton. She knew he loved her, but when he said it, that got to her. Smoke wasn’t very articulate when it came to voicing his feelings, but he was really trying. That meant everything.

  “I know Nero, I love you too. You’re the best thing in the world. I swear I couldn’t ask for a better man than you.”

  Extermination

  It had been weeks since Rory and his friends had taken on the task of helping the Devil’s rid themselves of the cockroach problem. Jefē was still alive and in hiding. Someone had tipped him off to Smoke and his new allies. He’d gone underground but was continuing to send people after them. Some lived, most didn’t. The good news was they had leveled the compound. During the blasts most of the tunnels had caved in, successfully ending those routes. Smoke knew there were many other underground tunnels and any one of them could lead to his hiding spot.

  Bennett Murphy had gone back to Vegas; he had a family waiting and just couldn’t give them anymore time. Nix stayed along with Rory. The mission for Rory wasn’t over until his sister could live safely and bring her baby into the world without Jefē or their father hanging over her head. Peyton was excited about being a mother, as he was about becoming an uncle. She had started to show, just a tiny bump but it was there. Rory had noticed Smoke always touching her tummy whenever the two were together. They had a very special love. One like he wanted for himself.

  Smoke had extended the offer to stay on permanently and take a Prospect patch. It was a tempting offer as he had nothing to hold him in Raleigh. He was seriously considering the patch. Taking a life was less traumatic than one might think. The first time numbs you for about fifteen minutes before you vomit uncontrollably. After the third or fourth time it becomes just part of the job. No emotional attachment, just a body through the scope. Rory had become the best the army had. He had completed six tours in Afghanistan and the Middle East lending support to the allies who fought Isis.

  It was time to talk to Peyton about the patch and staying. Her opinion meant a lot to him. Knowing his sister the way Rory did she was going to tell him to take it without hesitation. Smoke had said Prospects had a list of chores before they could patch permanently but considering what he was here doing here the list would be very much abbreviated. All he had to do was make sure both Jefē and Skinny were in a hole, memorize the rules and conduct code, and then go through the ceremony. That was basically when the President gave you a rolled up patch and you had to hang on to it while getting your ass handed to you by your new brothers for twenty minutes or until the Prez called a stop to it. If he kept the patch, he was in. That would be easy; he was trained for this stuff. He’d taken many an ass kicking in his time. This would be no different. Rory knew he could handle it with ease.

  Just as he thought, his little sister was all for it, telling him how much she wanted him to stay. The truth be told he wanted this too. Since leaving the army he never felt that sense of belonging. Not until he met Smoke McAllister and the Devil’s. These men accepted him into the fold without hesitation.

  Now it was time to talk to the President and pledge his loyalty to the club. Funny how he knew this was where he was supposed to be, this felt more like home than anything else had since he was a child.

  He came across Smoke tinkering with a fifty caliber machine gun, curious to what plans he had for that until he saw the mounting equipment. That gun was going to be attached to the top of a vehicle, probably the Chevy truck with the big block engine in it. Smoke McAllister wasn’t messing around, he meant business. Rory liked that, it meant there would be no shit taken… and no prisoners.

  “Smoke, I’ve been thinking and I talked to Pee. I’m in. I just need a ride to the dealer. Need to buy some wheels.”

  “We can handle that, let me clean this up and get Peyton. We can eat i
n town, get a late breakfast and work some things out.” That worked for him. The more time he spent with Smoke, the more he liked him.

  Peyton had just talked to the antiques dealer and found out she had found the exact dishes they needed, the cabin was done and she had to find out what she owed. Bones had taken care of payment on things. Now it was Peyton’s turn to pay him. “Zeke, what do I owe you for the cabin. Your antique dealer friend just called telling me she found the dishes. So how much do I need to go get?”

  “Nothing, I got it covered. Trust me Queen I can afford it.”

  She didn’t argue, knowing Bones wasn’t going to give in. Nero’s cabin was finished and he could have his solitude once again. Peyton heard him yelling for her. She trotted out to the porch to see what he wanted.

  “What’s up Nero?” Her smile warmed his insides. Smoke knew she had no idea what she really did to him and that was ok, he knew.

  “We need to go to town, Rory needs a bike to go with his Prospect patch. And I’m sure you didn’t eat yet so let’s go get a late breakfast before we hit the dealer.”

  She hadn’t eaten anything yet. Peyton had been distracted by the phone call and once she heard about the dishes, everything else was all but forgotten.

  “Sounds like a fun day, and after everything that’s been going on I could use some fun. I love the dealership anyway. Can we eat at Biscuits? I love that place.”

  He knew how much she loved breakfast. Smoke nodded and extended his hand for her to take.

  Peyton was fed and the new Street Glide purchased and put in for upgrades, it would be a week or so before they could pick it up. They headed back towards the clubhouse not really paying attention to their surroundings. The slam from behind came as a shock. It threw them all forward as Smoke struggled to maintain control of the truck.

  “Shoot the fuckers, whoever they are!” Smoke screamed at Rory and pushed Peyton’s head down to keep her free from the line of fire. Another SUV hit them from the other side, shaking the occupants once again. Rory was firing but it wasn’t helping. The trucks were bulletproof. The only option was to aim at the tires in between ducking to avoid being shot himself. Smoke held the wheel as tight as he could in the midst of being rammed from both sides and holding on to Peyton.

  Rory’s aim finally hit its mark and the first SUV careened off the road, flipping over. The second was in hot pursuit and not deterred by the other losing control and rolling.

  “Who the fuck is this Smoke? Goddammit they just keep coming!” Rory yelled over the sound of gunfire and crashing metal. Rory kept returning fire, hanging out the window trying to get a clear shot at a tire.

  “Aim at the radiator, the grill isn’t bulletproof!” Peyton told him. She was right too. Enough holes in the radiator would stop that vehicle cold and they could finish this without going fifty-five miles an hour. His rapid fire succession aimed at the grill worked. The steam started billowing out from under the hood and they knew that SUV was done for. Smoke needed to know who was in it; had to know which one to blame for this.

  The Suburban stopped and Smoke slammed on the brakes, turning the wheel so his truck faced the perpetrators. He had his Tech-nine in his hand as he and Rory exited the truck. He had it aimed at the driver while Rory had two forty-fives going for the passenger. Windows down they tried to fight but they were low on ammunition and had nowhere to hide. Both men surrendered, hoping to live through this. Smoke took one look at them and he knew it had to be Skinny’s crew.

  Rory shook his head laughing softly. His father had never been accused of being smart.

  “Well, well, well, looks like you two are in quite the pickle. That will teach you to do favors for my father. Tell your employer he’s going to have to do much better than a couple Suburban’s full of goons. I live for this shit! Tell Skinny that Rory says game on!” And with that, he shot them both. Nothing fatal, just a couple of fleshy leg wounds just to get their attention. Smoke grinned at his Prospect; Rory was going to make a great Devil.

  Peyton was still down when they returned to the truck. The metal was mangled but still drivable. “You can get up sweetness, we took care of it.”

  Peyton slowly sat up, her shoulder burning from the impacts. Rory saw it first and then Smoke saw what his soon to be brother in law was looking at. There was blood on her shirt, too much to be from broken glass and Smoke lost it.

  “Fuck! Sweetness we need to get your shirt off. I think you took a bullet baby. Oh fucking God dammit I’m sorry baby girl!” He was on the verge of a break down so Rory took over.

  “Ok Pee, let’s see how bad it looks.” She pulled off her shirt, seeing her shoulder and realizing she really had been shot. Now she understood the burning Renegade talked about. And it did burn like a blowtorch, he wasn’t lying.

  “Rory, how bad is it? Oh Jesus Christ it hurts!” She told him fighting back the tears. It was hard to see how bad it was with the blood pouring out of the hole. He reached his bag knowing there was a tampon in it.

  “This is going to hurt, don’t hate me Pee.” He told her as he inserted the tampon into the bullet wound. She didn’t yell, but he was right it hurt like hell.

  “Smoke, we need to get your doctor to look at this now. She’s lost a lot of blood.” Smoke didn’t respond, he was in a trance like state staring at her. “Smoke we need to move before the cops show up, come on Prez!”

  Nothing seemed to be working so Rory put Peyton in the truck, walked around to where Smoke was standing. He knew he may regret this, but it had to be done. Rory pulled his fist back and threw a right hook, connecting with Smokes jaw. It worked like a charm.

  “Ow, fuck Prospect! What was that about?” Then he saw Peyton and thoroughly understood exactly why he’d just taken one. He needed to get his shit together and they needed to get the hell out of there. His woman was in dire need of medical attention.

  The truck went down the old state highway at exactly the speed limit, no need to draw undue attention to themselves. Smoke had Peyton’s hand and he continued to apologize, Rory phoned Bones explaining the situation with his sister. They were just under ten minutes away and Bones needed to be ready when they pulled in. Once Peyton was safely with the Doc Rory knew he needed to make it right with the Prez. He slugged him good, it had been out of necessity but Smoke was still the President and he was just a day old Prospect.

  Bones stood waiting on the clubhouse porch for the sound of tires on gravel. Somehow Peyton had been shot. He hadn’t gotten the particulars, only that he had a pregnant patient on the way. He could only imagine the condition Smoke must be in. Keeping him out of the way would be a bigger chore than tending to Peyton. Rennie and Slinger were on either side of him waiting for their Queen.

  When Bones had told them he had a gunshot wound coming they assumed it was one of the men, no one ever thought it would be her. When he broke the news that it was the Queen who had been hit their demeanor became instantly hostile.

  “How did this happen man? They just went to look at bikes for her brother!” Rennie was irate to put it mildly, Peyton was special to him, and for him this meant war! He didn’t care who was in the way, Renegade was going after them all.

  The truck pulled down the dirt drive at a ginger pace as not to jar Peyton any more than necessary. She had tears streaming down her cheeks from the pain, but never once did she voice a complaint. She was a Devil, and that meant she had to suck it up and deal with it until Bones could tend to her.

  When the truck stopped Smoke tried to lift her as carefully as possible, but he had a time getting her around the steering wheel without causing more damage. She knew he was doing his best, but when her shoulder hit the doorframe of the truck she yelped. Smoke cringed, aware that he had just hurt her more.

  Bones took her, slamming the door in Smoke’s face. The last thing he needed right now was his President barking orders at him while he was doing his job. He knew eventually he would pay for doing so, but as long as this patient was cared for immediately, Bones c
ould accept an ass kicking.

  “I owe you at least one, Prospect.” Smoke told Rory in a less than pleasant tone. Rory was expecting it; he’d just punched his new President in the face. One was worth getting his sister out of anymore danger and home where she could be treated.

  “Maybe so Smoke, but one of us had to have our shit together, and for fuck’s sake man, it sure wasn’t you. She was bleeding everywhere and you were just standing there. So you wanna take a swing at me, go right the fuck ahead!”

  Rory had stepped forward, about two inches from Smoke. This was basically issuing a challenge. One that said I dare you. Although Rory didn’t realize it then, the rules in the Army were different, what he was doing was called standing his ground by Army standards.

  Smoke must have understood the fact that Rory didn’t know what he had just done. That was the only reason he hadn’t put him on the ground yet. The fact that he was right was the other, and it stung knowing it. He had frozen when she needed him most. Smoke sunk to his knees, face in his hands fighting his emotions.

  “She’s never gonna say yes after this.” He told his Prospect as he dug the ring out of his pocket. Smoke stared at the diamond, imagining it on her finger.

  “Yeah man she will, I’ve watched you two together. Smoke she loves you, this won’t change that. I’m not sure anything could. My sister is nuts about you man, ask her.”

  Smoke hoped to hell he was right and this wasn’t the straw that broke her. He knew without Peyton, he would eat a bullet just like his old man had. Although the reason would be different, the end result would still be blood, skull, and grey matter splattered on his wall for someone else to clean up. He wasn’t the coward his Pops had been, Smoke just had that deep seeded feeling that life without her wouldn’t be worth living.