by Debra Kayn
"Angel." He growled on an exhale. "Look at me."
She did, because maybe he'd make her feel better. The crushing weight grew heavier on her chest. She wanted to pace the room and fix everything. Most of all, she wanted to scream, but her voice wouldn't work.
His hand cupped her face, and he stroked her cheek with his thumb, belying his harsh voice. His touch penetrated her fear. "Breathe."
Latching on to his deep, soothing voice, she mimicked him. Her breasts rose as his chest expanded, touching each other, the moment her lungs filled with air. She exhaled and leaned against him as his body softened, letting her enjoy the warmth and bulk he gave her.
"That's it, angel." He kissed her forehead. "Stay with me and breathe."
Pressed against him, leaning on his strength, her body slowly relaxed. She laid her cheek against his chest, and instantly tuned in to the racing of his heartbeat. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the low, steady tha-thump, tha-thump of his heart. Reassured that she wasn't alone, that he'd stayed, that no one was ripping him away from her, she relaxed.
Chapter Seven
Risa's body molded against Kurt's and he absorbed her trembles. He rubbed his hand over her back, underneath her hair. One minute she defied him, and the next she'd zoned out completely.
He probably wouldn’t have recognized the anxiety making her search for escape, except something about the way her eyes lost focus and flitted around the room reminded him of Lee. His brother, so different in personality from him, had escaped the bitter trauma of their childhood by getting that same look in his eyes. Then he'd talk until Kurt developed a headache. There was nothing he could do to silence Lee once his fears got ahold of him.
Tonight, Risa headed in the opposite direction Lee always took when stress was high, and it threw him off balance. He could see the fight in her eyes, the panic when no sound rolled off her tongue. Whatever he'd said or done caused her to fear him, and that settled on him like a strong right hook.
"Th-thank you." Risa raised her head and pushed against him.
Instead of letting her go, he held on to her. "Want to tell me what I did, so I don't do it again?'
"You..." She cleared her throat and gave her head a shake. "It wasn't you."
He let her step away from him, but kept his gaze on her in case she disappeared inside of herself again. "My bro. He talked. I could never get him to shut the fuck up. But he did that—he pointed at her and shrugged—that thing you just did."
Her gaze jerked to him. She opened her mouth, but quickly closed her lips without speaking.
"I was never the reason why Lee panicked though." He tilted his head to keep contact with her eyes when she tried to look away. "I can't say I like knowing I'm the reason you're scared."
Risa lips puckered in displeasure. He moved toward her, wanting to put her at ease. "We'll work—"
Bang...bang, bang, bang.
The window in her office exploded. He dove for Risa, taking her to the floor, and covering her with his body. Shards of glass peppered his back, his head, and his arm as he removed his pistol tucked into the back of his jeans.
The office door swung open and bounced off the brick wall. "Prez?" said Ink.
"Here." Kurt lifted his head. "Secure the area and keep the girls safe. Gather Remmy and Cutter, I'll meet them in the lobby. Have the others secure the building."
"Done," Ink said, changing direction and leaving.
He gazed down at Risa. She stared back at him in shock. He shifted onto his feet, taking her hands, pulled her upright. "Do you know who is shooting at my building?"
"I-I don't know. Maybe the miners." She pressed her hand to her stomach and gazed at him accusingly. "You did kick them out."
"Are you shitting me? They get turned away from pussy and start a street war?" He motioned toward the door and when she continued to stand in the office, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him. "That'll end now."
"Wait. I'll call Colby. He'll come and make sure it doesn't happen again," she said, hurrying to keep up with him.
He glanced at her once, and continued into the lobby. "You're not calling the Sheriff."
"Why not?" she asked.
He put her against the wall. "Because this is Bantorus territory. Now stay. Right there. Do not move."
"Bantorus...," she muttered. "You're not all that."
He leaned closer and put his lips on her ear. Her body shuddered, and he said, "Yeah, I am. I can also tell that you think I'm all that, so when I'm done here, plan on going up to your room and while you're in the mood to talk, you can tell me why you tremble whenever I come near you."
Her chest rose with the sudden intake of breath. "I do not."
"Mm." He inhaled her sweet scent. "And, angel, I like that you do, so don't stop because I've noticed and called you out on it."
She sagged against the wall. He stepped back, reluctant to leave. Damn if she wasn't warm, wet, and willing.
"I mean it, stay right there." He took one more look, hoping she stayed willing to listen when he returned. Confident they could work out their differences in the new business plan; he also hoped she could put away her attitude and enjoy what he could feel going on between them. He wanted her, and he always got what he wanted.
"Streets cleared, but I caught sight of a red Ford pickup leaving the area." Remmy jammed a clip into his pistol.
"Cutter, you ride the end." Kurt pushed out the front door. "Let's roll..."
A long line of bikes lined the sidewalk where they'd left them earlier. Kurt threw his leg over his Harley.
"Mother fuckers." Remmy stood beside his bike. "They shot my fucking gas tank."
"Stay here." Cutter started his motorcycle. "I'll kill the bastards for even looking at the bikes."
Kurt raised his hand, leading the riders away from the Sterling Building. Besides the occasional confrontation, he hadn't expected the miners to do a drive by shooting so soon after arriving.
The red cage came into view at the corner, parked behind a black Nova that'd seen better days. Kurt slowed. Ink and Cutter rode behind him off to the sides and covered his back. His pistol lay between his legs within easy reach.
Two men, one in each front seat of the vehicle remained forward facing, but he caught the glance of the driver in the side rearview mirror. He cut across the street, away from the truck, and pulled alongside the curb, not taking a chance that they'd shift the truck into reverse and damage his motorcycle. From his position, the driver would also have to turn in the seat to do any damage, giving Kurt time to defend himself.
He discreetly tucked the pistol under his belt in the front, letting his vest cover the handle. His muscles relaxed the way they always did before a fight or when participating on an important run. Federal wasn't Pitnam, but the situations were the same.
Nobody fucked with Bantorus MC without consequences.
"Put your knife away, Cutter," he said, knowing his MC brother itched for a fight. "They don't know the rules."
"Let's make sure they learn them fast," Ink said, standing.
Cutter lifted his chin. "Got you, prez.
"Both of you wait." Kurt moved off his bike, and walked across the street alone.
An older couple walking their dog glanced at the riders and hurried their steps, their dog yapping at the intrusion during the quiet evening hours. Kurt approached the truck from the rear, knocking his knuckles against the panel to get their attention. The moment the driver turned his head toward the rolled-down window, Kurt stuck his hand inside the vehicle and pinned the guy to the seat by the throat.
"Put your hands on the steering wheel while we talk," he said, digging his fingers into the man's neck.
The passenger shifted. Kurt's gaze went to the other man. "Don't do it. I have two men standing right over there that would love for me to give them the word to slice your throat. All I want to do is talk."
The man's throat muscles spasmed under Kurt's hand and he said, "That's it, don't move."
/> He let go and kept his arm propped in the opened window, his other hand on his pistol. "You either know who shot up the Sterling Building or you did the shooting. Think carefully before you answer, because whether you're telling the truth or covering your own ass, doesn't matter. I only want information."
"You can't ride into town and think you control what businesses stay open or closed. This is Federal. There are families living one block away and have to deal with your loud bikes and the trouble you drag into our quiet town." The passenger shook his head in frustration. "You need to go back from where you came from before something worse happens."
"Trouble would be if I shoot you both." Kurt waited for his words to sink in, and then he added. "Who's responsible for the shooting?"
These men were barely twenty-one and scared shitless. Kurt waited sixty seconds and when no answer came, he whistled. Everyone had to grow up sometime.
Ink and Cutter approached the truck. Kurt stepped back. "Go ahead and help them out of the truck."
"Fuck that." The driver leaned over the steering wheel, fiddling with the keys.
Cutter thrust his knife deep into the dashboard, stopping the driver's movements. Ink, already on the other side of the vehicle smiled through the raised window at the passenger. Kurt removed his pistol.
"It wasn't us." The driver's head swiveled from one biker to the next. "Travis and Wayne drove by shooting."
"And, they'd be...who?" Kurt asked, flipping off the safety.
"Miners. They work at Meghoni Mine," the driver said. "Shit. They're just pissed off because you've cut them off from the women. They weren't going to hurt no one."
Cutter removed his knife and smiled at the driver. "What do you want us to do now, prez?"
"Let them go." Kurt thumbed the level on the pistol and put the gun away. "Silver Girls cut down on the hours they're going to work. Spread the news. They're closed during the week and will only open Friday and Saturday nights, starting next Friday. The miners will have to find somewhere else to get their cocks off during the week."
The driver nodded.
Kurt motioned for his men to step back. He stood watching the truck drive away before turning around and crossing the street.
Ink glanced at him. "You're letting the girls continue working the weekends?"
"Yeah." Kurt threw his leg over the seat of the Harley.
"Are the ladies ours during the week?" Cutter reached into his vest pocket and then brought his hand to his mouth.
The snap of a sunflower seed splitting open between Cutter's teeth left Kurt grinning. "You'd have to ask the girls. Same rules, same responsibilities that you had in Pitnam apply here. I get one complaint from the girls about any of the men mistreating them or falling down on the job of protecting them, and we go to the table. Your colors will be up for removal."
"They'll have their mouths too full to do any complaining." Ink sat his motorcycle.
Cutter spit the empty shell onto the street. "Are we going after the guys from Meghoni Mine who decided to play chicken with us?"
Kurt looked down the empty street. "Let's see how they react to some pressure first. Next weekend, the original riders are rolling into Federal and bringing our supplies. The miners will see how big of a presence they're up against when we're all together. I'd like to hold off, let them get used to us first. If they move in and put the girls in danger, then we'll act and their ass is ours. In the meantime, I want Remmy and the crew staying in town as a reminder that we're here. I'll take two men with me up to the clubhouse tomorrow night. We'll start a rotation, two in, two out. That way everyone gets to rest in comfort."
"What are you going to do tonight?" Cutter ground out the shells on the street with the heel of his boot.
Kurt planted his feet on the ground, tipped his bike up, and grinned. "Don't worry about what I'm doing tonight. I'll be more rested than any of you."
His MC brothers laughed. He rode off toward the back street and Sterling Building. By the time they caught up with him, he was parking his Harley at the curb. He walked into the building, lifted his chin at his men to let them know everything was taken care of for now, and took in the situation.
The girls were relaxed and enjoying the company of his brothers.
Risa was nowhere in sight.
Kurt found Remmy and lifted his brows in question. Remmy motioned his head toward the stairs. He took three steps at a time. If Risa wanted to stay Bantorus property, she'd damn well learn the rules tonight.
When he said to stay right where he left her, she had better be there when he got back.
Chapter Eight
The doorknob on her front door of her apartment rattled. Risa remained sitting on the couch, knees to chest, arms wrapped around her legs. She needed time to regroup, and decide what to do without anyone bothering her. The women downstairs promised to leave her alone and meet with her in the morning.
That left only one person who'd dare knock on her apartment door.
"Risa, open the door." Kurt banged on the wood.
Obviously, he'd taken care of the trouble that happened tonight. All these years, working and putting on shows, no one had ever shot at the building.
She couldn't take it anymore. The useless feeling remained after Kurt suggested they shorten their workweek and discontinue paying rent. She had no control over anything anymore.
She let her forehead fall to her upturned knees. Kurt had come into her life and upset everything she'd worked for, everything she'd put into running a respectable entertainment business, everything that would heal her broken life.
A softer knock came. "Angel?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat. No one had ever challenged her before. Every person in Federal stayed out of her decision to run Silver Girls. Some hoped she'd fail. Others gathered around her, hoping she would run business just like her mother. Kurt was a phenomenon. He scared her. Yet why did she wish he'd break the door down and force her to put up with him?
Probably for the same reason her mother ended up pregnant with Risa. Rules were broken, common sense went missing, and hormones acted out of control. She put her feet on the floor and stood. For the first time in her life, she felt a connection to a mother she despised.
Her mother loved sex.
Risa couldn't stop thinking about how it would be to have sex with Kurt.
Everyone was right. Inside, she really wasn't much different from her mother.
She walked across the room and unlocked the door. Prepared for a confrontation, she shouldered through the quiver of desire hitting her low in her stomach and leaving her breathless. "You can stay in one of the other rooms, just talk to one of the girls downstairs and she'll show you what's available. I'll meet with you in the morning to go over everything again, so I know my employees are one hundred percent happy with the decision you're making."
Kurt remained quiet, studying her intently. She raised her brows, determined to get through tonight without any drama. Her moment of weakness around him had to be put in the past.
"Stop, angel," he said, low and delicious. "Stop."
She inched the door closer to her and hung on. "Stop what?"
"Ignoring what's going on." He stepped into the doorway, inches from her. "Denying how you feel having me here."
"I'm not—"
"Fighting me when I'm only trying to help you." He lowered his face until his breath brushed her cheek.
Her sex tingled in awareness of their proximity. She struggled to inhale.
And, when she did inhale, she smelled leather and musk all rolled into one lickable scent that was uniquely Kurt. "I'm not."
A low growl came from him that stole her breath and inhaling or exhaling became impossible, so she held her breath and refused to argue.
He cupped her face. "Pulling away when I want you closer."
His steel gaze challenged her. She pursed her lips, swearing she wasn't going to lower herself to arguing with him. Just because he was bigger than her didn't mea
n she was going to let him intimidate her.
"Denying me those lips you have puckered so tight they're turning white...," he whispered.
She parted her lips, instantly relaxing them to prove him wrong. His mouth lowered, and she realized she'd fallen right into his trap a second before he kissed her parted lips.
Instead of the hard kiss she expected, he tenderly brushed his lips against hers. The gentle pressure, forced her back into the room, and he kicked the door shut. She wanted to protest, but to do so she'd have to move her lips away and she really wanted a taste of him.
He backed her to the couch. Her legs no longer moved, and she lost her balance. "I'm not fighting," she whispered.
"You are, or you'd have your hands on me right now, letting yourself have what you want." He nudged her bottom lip, sucking it between his teeth and nipped. "Open for me, angel."
She meant to say no, but Kurt captured her mouth, sucking her denial away from her. The warmth of his tongue caressed her mouth, loosening her jaw and creating a flurry of excitement in her. She grabbed onto his sides, fisting his vest.
The contradiction between her interest in the MC President and her need to rebuild a life for herself wasn't lost on her. She stroked his tongue. All she wanted to do was bask in the wonderful feelings Kurt created for her. He had her feeling capable of succeeding in whatever she desired.
Kurt lowered one hand, and flattened his fingers on her lower back, arching her closer, kissing her deeper. She moaned against his mouth. His hardness pressed against her, culminating all her strength to the middle of her abdomen.
"Angel," he murmured against her. "Don't fight with me tonight."
She lifted her leg, hooking her foot on the back of his calf. "Then don't stop."
"Not planning to, but I want you out of your clothes and flat on your back." He groaned as he pulled his lips away from her and righted her body. "Go in the bedroom, angel."
She grabbed his hand, not wanting him to stop and a small part of her was afraid he'd change his mind and she'd look like a fool. "Come with me."
