I wasn’t ready to have a repeat of what happened six years ago.
But the bathroom door opening ripped me from my thoughts. Calista came in and smiled at me, then locked the door before she leaned against it. She walked over to me, backing me up against the wall before her hand pressed into my chest, and I grabbed her wrist before she made another move.
“If you wanna make this look legitimate, you’re gonna have to muss up my hair or something,” she said.
Even though I hated the idea of putting my lips on her and erasing Gemma’s imprint, I knew she was right. She pried my hand from her wrist and put it in her hair, and I fisted it hard. I reached my hand up and smeared some of the makeup on her face, making it look like I had kissed her roughly. It needed to be obvious what had gone down in here.
Just in case someone did come by to clock her.
She stared up at my face, and I knew she wanted to kiss me. But I wasn’t going to allow that. I would not do that to Gemma. Gemma was the one I wanted to be with, and no woman would ever compare to her.
I pulled my face away from Calista’s, and she was panting. She dropped to her knees and undid my pants, feverishly pulling them down my legs as I wrenched her up.
I spun her around and pinned her against the wall and saw the dazed look in her eye like she had been brainwashed or temporarily taken over.
I released her without another word said and pulled my pants back up my body. I pulled out the wad of cash I had sitting in my pocket and placed it in her hand, her eyes wide as tears rushed down her cheeks.
“Get back into their good graces,” I said, “and feel free to eat my food.”
Then I unlocked the bathroom and left her standing there.
Chapter 10
Gemma
I wanted to find an excuse to see Talon again. Every single night I fell asleep, I closed my eyes and saw him. The silent way he had commanded my body had been astonishing. The way I had simply relented to him was intoxicating. But the way he made me feel safe through it all was something I’d never experienced before. In college, there had always been this underlying fear. This need to clock things in the room I could use as weapons. I’d always been intent on staying on top just in case I needed to get away, but I kept myself in the gym and strong just in case I was on the bottom and needed to still get away.
But with him, there was no fear. Just an experience and an emotion and an orgasm so powerful I thought I was going to evaporate into thin air.
Despite the conversation Jace and I had at the bar that night, he was still hounding me about Talon. He kept asking me if we were talking, or if we had talked that night. I kept brushing him off, saying his threat probably scared him or something, and Jace would mutter something like ‘good’ or ‘serves him right.’ I had no idea what the hell he was talking about, but I knew there was something he wasn’t telling me.
Something about Talon that was crucial to me knowing.
“Getting up to anything tonight?” Jace asked.
“Not really,” I said. “Might go out into town later. There are some things I’d like for my bathroom if that’s okay.”
“I don’t give a shit what you put in there. It’s yours, far as I’m concerned. You grew up in the thing.”
“Just making sure is all,” I said, grinning.
“Any luck on the job hunt?” he asked.
“Been putting in some applications, but you know how it is getting a job around here. Even a part-time position takes two weeks to get back to you. Hopefully, I’ll secure some interviews.”
“Where you applying to?”
“A couple of full-time management positions, a couple of music educator positions. I’m also thinking about making some fliers and advertising my ability to give music lessons. It all depends on what I find in town.”
“Thought you were looking for bathroom stuff?” he asked.
“You know that discount store Mom and Dad used to always go to?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“There’s a music store across the street. Figured I’d go price music books and a stand. Stuff like that.”
“You’ll need all that as the teacher? Doesn’t the student bring that shit?”
“Nope. I provide beginning sheet music and the stand. I’ll also need to buy a piano-tuning kit.”
“Well, if ya take that route, lemme know. We can carve out space or something in the house for ya, and I’ll get that damn piano moved somehow.”
“You could always call Talon to help,” I said, grinning.
I saw Jace’s face fall in that very instant and I couldn’t help but throw my head back and laugh.
“Holy hell, it’s still too easy to piss you off,” I said.
“That’s not funny. I’m serious. Talon’s no good for you. At least right now.”
“What does that mean?” I asked. “Supposedly, he wasn’t good enough for me when we were teenagers either.”
“Gemma, you’re a good woman. Ain’t nobody gonna be good enough for you. But right now, with the club, we’re in some stuff right now. Talon’s our main man. He doesn’t need his head distracted with the likes of you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “Are you guys in trouble?”
“Look, I’ve said too much already, but--”
“Jace. Are you in trouble?”
Even though my brother was stubborn as hell, he was the only family I had left. If there was something threatening him-- something looming over him in any way--, I wanted to know. I wanted to help him in any way I could. He was my brother, and this protection thing didn’t go just one way.
“Gemma, look at me. We’re fine, okay. We just can’t go getting distracted. I’ve been going to work and coming home, so I don’t do just that, okay? Besides the fact that Talon shouldn’t lay a finger on you ever because you’re precious to me and deserve more than this life, right now is the shittiest time for you to try and defy me.”
“Defy you? You don’t own me, Jace.”
“Gemma, I’m not looking’ to fight with you. Just… fucking stay away from him, okay?”
Even with everything Jace had just said, I felt more lost than ever. Something was bothering him. Something big. And I wanted to know what it was. But more than that, I wanted to see Talon. If he knew what we’d done that night before our fight, he’d be pissed.
But now that I heard the desperation behind his voice, I wasn’t so sure Jace wouldn’t try to beat the shit out of Talon.
“Fine. Whatever. I’m heading into town. You need anything?” I asked.
“Nope. Keep your phone on you in case you need me. I’ve got mine right here.”
He patted his back pocket, and I felt my gut lurch. He’d been carrying that thing around on full blast ever since I told him what had happened to me back in college. I could still see the sickening guilt in his eyes whenever he told me where his phone was, and a part of me was regretting ever telling him that story.
“Be back later,” I said as I grabbed my purse.
“If I’m not here, there’s food in the fridge for you.”
“I’ll probably grab something out, honestly. You know how I am with shopping,” I said.
“True. I’ll come help you with your bags in the morning.”
The grin he threw me almost made me feel guilty that I was lying through my teeth. The fact was, I was about to go see Talon. I had my out, I had confirmation that he didn’t need anything, and I left the time of my arrival home open-ended.
That was the freest I was going to get from Jace for now, and I was taking advantage of it.
“Hey, Gemma?” Jace asked.
“Yeah?”
“You know I love you, right?”
I nodded even as the guilt wafted up my throat.
“I do. I love you, too, Jace. I’ll be back later,” I said.
“Have fun figuring out what to do with your life.”
“Have fun not getting yourself killed with your club,” I said.
&nbs
p; Then, I was out the door, in my car, and headed for Talon’s. I backed out of the driveway and headed down the road, a smile on my face while I jammed out to my music. I was singing at the top of my lungs and racing through lights any which way I could, trying to cut the time it took me to get to Talon’s apartment. He’d sent me his address that morning, saying I was welcome whenever, and I told him I’d take him up on the opportunity as soon as I could.
I pulled up into his apartment complex to see him standing in the doorway of his apartment.
He looked to be looking out at something, and I simply sat there and watched him. His eyes followed something along the road like he was actively tracking something, and I turned my head to see if I could see anything. Nothing looked out of place or out of the ordinary, but my brother’s words did start echoing off the corners of my mind.
Talon’s our main man. He doesn’t need his head distracted with the likes of you.
It was then that Talon’s stare panned down to me. The stern glare that was seated on his face soon turned coy, and the smirk that crawled across his cheeks shivered my bones. He nodded his head inward, turning his back on me as I walked into his apartment, and I stumbled out of my car and ran up the steps to get to him.
I paused just outside of his apartment door and drew in a deep breath through my nose before I walked in.
“Got some stuff to do tonight,” he said.
“Oh, well. I could always come back later?” I asked.
“Not necessary. I’ll be back in a couple hours. Make yourself at home.”
“Talon, that’s really not necessary. I’ve got some shopping I could do anyway to keep myself busy for two hours.”
But the look he threw my way silenced the very voice in my throat.
“Two hours,” he said as he came over and kissed my cheek. “Make yourself some dinner and relax. I’ll be back soon.”
I found myself nodding as he walked out the door, locking it behind him as I stood there in the darkness of his apartment. The way he simply expected me to obey him was astounding. What kind of cockiness had this man developed while I had been at college?
And yet, he didn’t ask anything of me that wasn’t insane or obsolete. He simply wanted me to eat, relax, and wait for him to get back.
So, I walked over to his fridge, started pulling out things to cook, and decided to make him a plate while I was at it.
After all, he could heat it up after he got back.
Chapter 11
Talon
I got back to my apartment after meeting with Calista and stood out on my porch. I was looking out all along the highway to see if I’d been followed, either by someone from The Devil Saints or by someone from the DEA. I knew I had to talk to the guys about what I’d figured out, so I shot Mac a text message saying he needed to call church. I told him I had pertinent information we all needed to know, and just as I sent that text message, I saw something that made me smile.
I saw Gemma’s car riding down the road.
I’d shot her my address this morning, just in case she wanted to use it. I knew things with her brother were going to grow rough with her being back in town, and after what happened in the shed I wanted her to know she was always welcome. That she wasn’t just some woman, I was gonna fuck then toss away. She was special to me, and I wanted her to know it.
But I kept my eyes on the road until she pulled all the way in.
Now, I was checking to make sure she hadn’t been followed. With Gemma back in town and already being so heavily rooted in the club, I needed to make sure she was going to be safe. When I was convinced she hadn’t been followed I signaled for her to come up, then simply told her to make herself comfortable.
I didn’t mean to make it seem as if I was commanding her, but it was just a role I simply fell into. I didn’t talk often, but when I did, I expected people to listen. I’d gotten to where I was now in the club and obtained the reputation I had because I listened intently and only spoke when necessary. It was simply assumed that when I spoke, people would listen and heed the information I had to give.
Part of me expected it to be no different with Gemma.
Even though I could tell she was taken aback, I wanted to make sure she wouldn’t leave. The last thing I needed was for the wrong person to see her coming and going from her apartment. If the DEA was snooping around, she could get swooped up and interrogated. If The Devil Saints came around, she could get captured and hurt. And if someone from the club came around looking for me and saw her here, things would get back to Snake and shit would hit the fan.
So, I needed to make sure she stayed here.
Once I knew she would, I left and made my way to the mechanic shop. The guys were all waiting there for me, and the moment I walked in I put my cellphone in the Faraday box I’d made for all of us. After all the bullshit that went down a couple months ago, I felt the need to get us one for our cell phones. I’d wired up our mechanic shop to be a massive Faraday box with the touch of a button, but I guess I was being a bit paranoid.
And right now, my paranoia was welcomed.
“All right, Talon. Spill. What the fuck’s going on?” Mac asked.
“Got into the DEA’s files, and things looked okay there. They don’t suspect us, but there is an issue.”
“The fuck’s up now?” Snake asked.
“They had routes and maps drawn up in there to send out incognito DEA cars and trucks on. Because of the drug bust that happened, they matched the diluted drug content in the truck to a cartel running itself out of Texas and Mexico. Was any of that shit intentional?” I asked.
“Fuck,” Hawk said. “We didn’t mean to cut it exactly alike. Just enough to throw them off our trail.”
“Well, it worked. The DEA doesn’t suspect us one bit. But now they’re patrolling the very warehouse and highways we use to bus our own shit in.”
“Damn it,” Mac said, groaning.
“Before I met with Calista-”
“You saw her tonight?” Fox asked.
“I did. Let me finish. Before I met with her, I took a long drive. Backroads and all the precautions to check our routes. I didn’t see any unmarked parked cars or any new cameras on telephone poles, but it wouldn’t hurt to send out another squad of us in a couple days to check it out.”
“You can head that up, Talon,” Mac said. “In the meantime, I’ll start looking’ for other ways to get our shit in. The good news is, we won’t need to run another shipment of drugs for at least a few months. Our last two scores were massive.”
“Good. It’s about damn time we laid low on this shit,” Snake said.
“I know you’re worried about Gemma,” Fox said. “We’ll keep her safe.”
“You’re fuckin’ right you will,” Snake said.
“As for Calista,” I said, “that’s a much bigger problem.”
“Fucking hell,” Fox said.
“The Devil Saints are going too far as to beat their women to a bloody pulp to get answers from them. She was pretty banged up when I saw her. According to her, they’ve killed five or six of their own just to make examples out of them,” I said.
“The President’s trying to weed out the mole,” Mac said.
“Yep. She also told me that while she was lying on the floor after her husband fucking beat her-”
“Her husband beat her?” Hawk asked.
“Yeah. And she told me what he did to her was mild. The woman couldn’t even breathe right, and that was fucking mild.”
“Holy hell,” Mac said breathlessly.
“After her beating, she was laying on the floor, and she heard him murmuring about us. She thinks he suspects we are behind the planted truck,” I said.
“Fucking shit!” Snake roared.
He got up and kicked his chair, letting out all his anger while the rest of us sat in silence. Out of all the times for Gemma to come into town, she had to descend around this time. And while I was so excited she was back, Snake was worried about her saf
ety.
And quite frankly, so was I.
“What can we do about The Devil Saints, then?” Hawk asked. “If they even sort of suspect us, where do we go from here?”
It was the first time I’d ever known Mac to be rendered speechless.
“I don’t know. This is a hell of a lot of information. Talon, did you tell Calista you can’t meet with her anymore?”
“Yep. Already done,” I said.
“Good. That gets you out of it. Put together a crew of three others and plan a ride to trace our routes and warehouses. Look for anything: parked cars. Abandoned cars. New faces. Shining new cameras. Cameras that aren’t facing where they should. New employment at the warehouse. Any fucking thing you can find.”
“On it,” I said.
“As for The Devil Saints, gimme the night to think about it. I’ll call church in a couple days. Until then, lay low, don’t talk about shit, and keep your noses to the ground,” Mac said.
I didn’t even wait for the meeting to finish before I picked up my cell phone and started for my bike.
I needed to get back to the apartment. I needed to get back to Gemma. I needed to lose myself in her beauty for just a little while. I needed to erase the taste and smell of Calista for good and replace her memory with the sounds of Gemma moaning my name in my ear.
I busted into my apartment and slammed the door behind me as I heard the running water of my bathtub.
“Talon?” Gemma called out. “Is that you?”
Without another word, I walked around the corner and made my way down the hallway. I saw Gemma poking her head out, and the smile that crossed her face was delicious. Her eyes lit up, and her skin seemed to glisten, and suddenly all the fears and hesitations and thoughts of The Devil Saints I had fell to the wayside. I backed her into my room and shut the door, rendering the bedroom pitch black, save for the light pouring from the bathroom.
I cupped her cheeks and brought her lips to mine and felt her melt into my body.
“Take off your clothes and go soak in that bath. I’ll be in there soon,” I said.
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