The edge of forever: A Blackhearts twins novel (Book two)

by Rachael Tonks

  “You saved my life. I will be forever thankful for that,” she chokes out. “To both of you.” She turns to Kailee, and they hug one last time.

  “Keep in touch,” Kailee says to Layla as a small tear trickles down her face.

  “I’d love that.”

  “Oh, dammit.” Kailee stomps her foot against the ground. “I have no idea what happened to my cell phone.”

  “I have mine.” I dig into my pocket and retrieve my phone. I step over to the car, leaning through the driver’s window, and Aston passes me a pen from inside the glovebox. Tearing the top from my cigarette pack, I quickly scribble down my number, handing it to Layla. “Call anytime.”

  “Thank you,” she says as she takes it, clutching it in her hands tightly. I lean back against the car, watching as the girls say their emotional goodbyes. Kailee instantly falls into my embrace the second Layla finally turns to make her way slowly toward the entrance of the station. I watch carefully, my eyes scanning the surrounding area as she walks the few feet to the door. She pauses for a second, glancing over at us as she pulls open the door, giving one last tenuous wave.

  “She will be okay, won’t she?” Kailee asks, her words rumbling against my chest.

  “I’m sure of it.” I push her back, offering a smile.

  “Sit with me. In the back.” Her eyes plead. “Hold me.” Her voice becomes a whisper, and there’s no way I can ever deny a fucking request like that.

  “Sure, Pip. Whatever you want,” I say, opening the door to the back of the car and jumping in with her.

  The motion of the vehicle rocks Kailee to sleep as I hold her tightly in my arms. I want to rest my head back, close my eyes, and catch up on the sleep we missed last night, but I know I can’t. I have to be alert and keep my wits about me. As of now, I’m not sure who I can trust, and which motherfuckers are after my blood. Although I know Jax is right at the top of the list, the mastermind behind the whole human cattle market is who concerns me. I don’t know who I’m at war with, but I feel it coming. I knew it was a risk, and I knew there would be repercussions, but right now, I have no idea who is in on this. The car’s pace slows, and we jerk a little as the car comes to a complete stop.

  “This is me.” Aston cuts the engine, turning and looking at me through the gap between the front seats. I carefully slide my arm from Kailee’s hold, her eyes blinking slowly as she wakes from her nap.

  “Thanks, man,” I say offering him my hand. “Couldn’t have done it without ya, bro.”

  He lifts and drops his shoulders loosely. “Just doing my job.”

  “Where are we?” Kailee murmurs, her eyes scanning our surroundings.

  “This is Aston’s drop. We’ll be home in about thirty minutes,” I say, planting a kiss on her forehead before exiting the car and making my way around to the driver’s seat. I stop just in front of Aston, offering my hand. He takes it, and I can’t help pulling him in for a hug.

  He turns, pushing his hands into his pockets. I watch him walk off into the distance before jumping into the driver’s seat and starting the engine.

  “Hey,” she shouts, her lips curled into a pout. “Wait… I’m sitting up front.” Climbing through the gap, she drops on the seat beside me. “It’s lonely back there.” She lifts a brow before reaching for her seat belt.

  “Buckle up, Pip. It’s sure to be a hell of a ride.” A wicked smirk finds my lips.

  “You don’t just mean the ride to your mom’s, do ya?”

  I love that she gets me. I laugh, leaning over and kissing her cheek. Deep inside my dark and twisted mind, I worry about what will happen next, but in my heart, I’m fucking soaring.

  She does that to me.

  My Pip.

  Jax

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  That bitch has ruined everything we worked so fucking hard for.

  I’ve lost my father, my brother, and she’s to blame.

  She made him choose.

  He chose her over me.

  I race into Eric’s trailer, and reminders of him are everywhere. I scream out, thrashing my arms out, which sends the table and everything that was on there flying.

  I slam my body to the floor, my mind a whirl of anger and guilt. How did it all go so wrong? How did I allow this to happen? I’m smart, calculated. I covered my tracks. How did he find out where I was? Where we had taken her? It had been the plan all along. That waste of space she calls a father put a price on her head. She could have made us thousands and got our asses outta this motherfucking trailer park and into somewhere we could call home.

  It was never personal. She was the payment, and this whole plan was about business.

  But he had to get involved. Ryder had to give in to the dick twitch he had for this girl, letting his emotions get in the way.

  It can’t be this way.

  Questions have to be asked. Answered are needed.

  I have to find out where they are.

  I feel the unexpected vibration of my phone inside my pocket. I reach in to retrieve it, checking the name on the screen. Three times I’d avoided it. But I couldn’t put it off any longer.

  “Donny,” I answer with a croak.

  “Jaxon, my boy. You left pretty swiftly. We have things to discuss.”

  “Like what?” I ask, already knowing what he wants from me.

  “Like the fucking money I’m owed. Your brother left you in one hell of a motherfucking mess, didn’t he?”

  “I’ll figure it out.” I breathe out heavily.

  “How? Tell me how, boy? Those girls were set to bring in some pretty big fucking bucks. Not to mention we have to relocate, and the fucking Feds are going to be sniffing around…”

  “I’ll get more girls,” I cut in.

  “Hmmm, I’m not sure,” he replies. “How can I be sure this won’t happen again? Seems to me you’re a fucking liability. And now, the boss has gone…”

  “I got this,” I blurt out, my voice louder than intended.

  “The girl?” he growls. “The redhead. I had big clients who had their eyes on that one.”

  “I’ll make it happen,” I say with absolute certainty. “I just have to deal with my brother first.”

  “Make it happen, Jax. I will no longer be able to guarantee your safety if you don’t. You get me?” he orders.

  “Got it,” I snap.

  “I’ll be in touch,” he replies before disconnecting the call, and all I hear is the dead tone.

  “Fuck,” I yell, clenching and punching the floor. The bastards will come for me if I don’t do as Donny says. He was a big gun, one I couldn’t afford to fuck with. I have no idea what I’m going to do, but whatever it is, I guarantee it won’t be pretty.

  Ryder

  “I have no idea where we are,” she says, giving my thigh a little squeeze. “These roads all look the same to me.”

  “Sure,” I say with a tone of sarcasm, my eyes catching her brilliant smile. “What you looking so happy about?” I ask suspiciously.

  “Oh, nothing,” she says, closing the gap between us and resting her head on my upper arm. I can’t help but want to bury my cock in her so fucking deep until she’s screaming out my name again. It’s only been a few fucking hours, but my body is craving her like a drug.

  Her hand slowly wanders to the growing fucking bulge between my legs.

  “Fuck, don’t,” I warn. “You drive me crazy without even touching me. Continue touching me, and I’m going to crash the fucking car.”

  “Pull over then,” she says coyly, and I can’t help but widen my eyes. “You’re due your payback.”

  I chuckle. “Touché, Pip.”

  Despite my warning, she doesn’t stop. Flicking the button on my jeans, she slowly lowers the zipper just enough to gain access. Every touch sends another rush of blood to my straining cock. I drop my head against the headrest, my body stiffening as I try to keep my eyes fixed on the road. Taking me in her hand, she frees me from the confines of my jeans, stroking so delicately, so fu
cking slowly, it’s like torture. My cock has stiffened so much it’s becoming painful. She was teasing me, and as I quickly turn and glance at her, I can only describe the look on her face as beyond beautiful. The way her lip curls a little at the corner as she teases me. How her eyes are wide with excitement as she watches me writhe, longing to stop the car and bury my cock so fucking deep inside her that it hurts.

  She looks at the frozen expression on my face while she works slowly over my shaft, rubbing her thumb in a circular motion over the tip of my cock.

  “Fuck,” I growl. “If I wasn’t driving I would take you and make you very fucking sorry that you ever teased me.”

  “Is it too much, Ryder?” she goads, her tongue slowly dipping out and wetting her lips while swirling her thumb round and round, showing me a side of Kailee that I didn’t know existed.

  “Never,” I strain. “This only makes me want to fuck you. So damn hard.”

  Her lips quirk, and I can’t help but zone in on them. So pink and plush, so fucking perfect as I envision them locked around my pulsating cock.

  Without thinking, I wrap my arm around her, grabbing a handful of her hair roughly and pushing those lips closer to where I want them. To where I need them.

  She doesn’t resist; it’s like she’s been waiting for me to guide her there, and I can’t help the fucking groan that escapes the minute she takes me into the warmth of her mouth. My body stiffens, my hips jerking up as much as my functioning body will allow. I have to be careful not to slip off the pedal.

  “Tell me how good I taste, Pip.”

  “So good,” she squeaks, her tongue licking and sucking the end of my cock. I can’t help the urge to grab a fist full of her hair while chewing the corner of my lip. Trying to concentrate on the road is damn near impossible when she’s fucking me with her mouth. Her movements become eager and a little rougher, but I can’t deny it’s the pace changer I need.

  “Fuck, Pip. I knew having your plush lips around my cock would be good… but this… it’s almost too much.” I breathe out wildly. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.” I grab her hair desperately as I feel my cock twitch and swell. I’m close to coming, and all I can think is she’s mine. Finally, she’s mine. And, as if without warning, my cock pulsates violently as ecstasy wracks through me, deep and so fucking intense. My body stiffens as I groan loudly. Kailee continues to work, gradually slowing her pace before coming to an eventual stop. She resumes her upright position. She carefully buttons my jeans, the look of achievement etched across her face.

  “I can’t believe you just did that.”

  “Neither can I.” She covers her face with her hand. “I’m not sure what’s come over me. I feel like you’ve brought out the worst in me.”

  “Pip, if that’s your worst, I can’t fucking wait to sample your best.”

  Ryder

  Slowing my speed, I turn and park the car in the driveway.

  “Wow.” Kailee’s eyes scan our surroundings.

  “What?” I ask, releasing my seat belt and turning my body to hers.

  “This is not what I expected. Like, at all.” Her voice is full of surprise, and her eyes are wide with excitement.

  “What? You expected my mom to live in a trailer park, too? Because I would never allow that to happen.”

  “You love her, don’t you?” She slowly takes my hand.

  “Of course.”

  “It’s just weird for me to hear how fond of her you are… you know, after Jax and all. And this,” she gestures with her hands, “this is a really pretty house. And this neighborhood, my friend lives just a few blocks from here.”

  “There were a lot of things my brother and I didn’t agree on. Our similarities are only physical. Although, my cock is much bigger, don’t you think?”

  She drops her head, closing her eyes tightly. “So not funny.”

  “Sorry,” I say with sincerity, the sick feeling hitting my stomach. Shit. What is wrong with me? I reach out, taking her much smaller hands in mine. “I’m such a dick.” She raises an eyebrow, and a low chuckle escapes me. “I need you to understand something. This thing” — I point back and forth between us — “this is something I’ve never done before. Something I never wanted to do. So fuck, I’m gonna say the wrong thing, and I’m going to be an asshole because, until you, that’s all I knew. Pushing people away is what I’ve done all my life, and frankly, relationships have always been last on my list of fucking priorities. I know you deserve better than me — ”

  “No,” she exclaims. But I continue anyway.

  “But,” I say louder, “staying away was no longer a fucking option. I swore I wouldn’t allow you to get dragged into this world. This fucked-up existence. But you were forced into it. Everything that I feared came true when you disappeared. I knew saving you would come with its own repercussions. People are going to be pissed. Like really fucking pissed. I just don’t know who yet.”

  “Jesus, are you in danger now? Did saving me cost you your life?” she asks, and I see the swell of tears in her eyes.

  “I will figure it out,” I say with a whisper, cupping the side of her face and pulling her to me. I graze her lips with mine, and her eyes flutter shut, a solitary tear sliding down her face. “I will keep you safe, I promise.”

  I have to. Or this whole damn thing will have been in vain.

  In my heart, I’m not sure it’s a promise I can keep, but I will try with everything I have to keep her safe.

  We slowly make our way around the back of the house, and Kailee’s hand clings to mine. I unlock the door and call out for Mom.

  “It’s just me, Mom.” I look back at Kailee, and she looks nervous. I give her a reassuring smile.

  “In here, son.” Mom calls for me. I take Kailee’s hand, pulling her through the kitchen into the living room. The usually overpowering smell of cigarettes doesn’t hit me like it usually does. “Hey,” she calls from the sofa, holding up her arm. I rush over, bending down to kiss her gently on the cheek. Her usual floral smell mixed with cigarettes feels like home. It’s not the most pleasant of smells, but it’s Mom. As I pull away, her eyes focus on Kailee standing just behind me.

  “Oh, Ryder. You didn’t tell me you were bringing a girl here. I would have cleaned up a little.” I can tell she’s fussing.

  “Oh, there’s no need, honestly,” Kailee interjects.

  “Here’s the thing, Mom.” He drops down on the coffee table behind me. “We are going to stay with you for a little while. You know, if that’s okay?”

  “Why?” she asks, narrowing her eyes and scrunching up her nose.

  “Shit,” I groan. “It’s a long story, Ma.”

  “I feel like I’m going to need some coffee for this one,” she jokes.

  I look up at Kailee, and she smiles widely. “I, uh, I don’t mind making the drinks.”

  “Oh, be a dear,” Mom replies with a wave of her hand. Kailee swiftly makes her way into the kitchen while I retell the whole story to Mom. I’ve yet to mention the whole Eric situation, but I know I fucking have to. Mom agrees to us staying although I can see she’s a little reluctant. I reassure her that it won’t be like when we were kids and the police were forever knocking down the damn door.

  The three of us sit chatting, and although I can tell Kailee is nervous, she talks easily with Mom.

  “I can’t thank you enough for letting us stay with you,” Kailee says, resting her cup on her knees.

  “Oh, it will be so nice to have some company, my son. Ryder” — Mom turns to me — “you should show Kailee where she’ll be sleeping. Oh, and clear out some drawers to make space for her things.”

  “Oh, I don’t have anything,” she says with a sound of realization. “The few things I have are at the trailer park.”

  “I’ll pick them up for you later. I have to go speak to Jax anyway.”

  Her eyes widen, and her mouth parts as a look of horror spreads across her face. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she
croaks before clearing her voice. “It’s too soon. Let the dust settle.”

  I shake my head. It doesn’t work like that with Jax. The longer he’s left, the longer he’ll scheme and plot a pathetic attempt of revenge.

  “I’m with Kailee on this one,” Mom says with a shrug.

  “No,” I snap a little harsher than intended. “You don’t know him like I do. I have to stop this before it starts.”

  “Before what starts?” Mom asks, her head tilted to the side.

  “Before he starts a war. Jax will want revenge.”

  “Why? What really happened, Ryder? Is there more to this than you are letting on?” She takes a wavering breath, her head tilting back as though she’s struggling.

  I let my eyes drift shut. “I shot Eric, Mom. Eric’s dead.”

  Mom gasps her hand pressed firmly against her mouth. “Mom, I need to know the truth…” My words trail off to a whisper as my eyes fix on her, waiting for an answer. “Jax has told me a little something about Eric. Something I didn’t know.”

  “I’m so sorry, Ryder.” Silent tears stream down her face. “I never wanted you boys to find out about that monster.”

  Mom runs her fingers across her forehead repeatedly.

  “So it’s true? Eric was our biological father,” I say with utter disbelief. I reach up, raking my hands through my hair roughly. I’d hoped it was all some sick joke. Jax’s way of fucking with my head. But this. This shit is unbelievable.

  “How?” I cry out. “How can this be true?”

  “He forced himself on me, Ryder. He raped me.” She’s struggling when she whispers the word. “You have to believe me. I was never unfaithful to your father.”

  “He fucking did what?” I snarl, my face hardening, the blood pumping through my body as my heart sinks. Bile rises, stinging the back of my throat. “I can’t do this.” I clench my eyes closed. “Just know, he won’t ever bother us again. That fucker is dead.”