by J. L. Leslie
I watch Raiden get up from the stool and exit through the back. I don’t chase after her right away. I calmly finish my game of pool, successfully kicking Eric’s ass, then I open the back door. Raiden is walking towards the target range.
I go to my room and grab an extra blanket from my bed before slipping out to follow her. It’s not exactly a short walk to the target range, but she’s far enough ahead of me that she doesn’t even notice me. She’s already setting up bottles by the time I get there.
“Are you in any condition to shoot?” I ask and she turns to me, a Beretta dangling from her fingertips.
“I can always shoot.”
I spread the blanket out and take a seat. “Let’s see it.”
Raiden sets up a few more bottles and then comes to stand back, surveying her work. She raises the Beretta and fires, shattering one of the bottles.
“You know, I used to think I was in love with Cal Harrison.” she informs me, glancing at me for a split-second before firing another shot. “I was fifteen, he was nineteen, and damn it, he had those green eyes and he drove a motorcycle. He said all the right things.” Glass shatters. “I wanted that life. I wanted what my parents had.” Bang. “And when he fucked me for the first time, the first time I’d ever fucked anyone, I just knew that I was supposed to be with him, you know?”
I don’t answer her. I’m pretty sure she didn’t pose it as a question she really wanted me to answer, so I just sit there and let her talk.
“We were inseparable. I would’ve done anything for him and I was pretty sure, he’d have done the same.” she says. “But then my dad shows up to pick me up from school one day, instead of Cal, and tells me I have to end it. He’s a Ryker. I argue with him and tell him he’s not part of the club, but dad tells me he is and he’s using me. When I talked to Cal, he told me he had recently become a member, but that what we had was real and we could end the feud between the clubs. I stopped him right there. I could never be with a Ryker.”
I watch her shake her head and she fires two more shots before she looks at me. “What if I could’ve ended all of this right then?” she breathes out and starts again. “My dad has always been priming me to be an asset to the club. Since I was twelve, he was getting me ready. When I ended things with Cal, my loyalty to the Ravens was solidified. I could never turn my back on them. Being with Griffin was my idea. I chose to do this. To have this pretend life.”
Raiden lowers the gun and walks over to the targets. She sets the gun down instead of setting more targets up. After a couple of minutes, she comes to me. She kicks the oversized boots off and lowers herself down to straddle my lap. Her kiss is heated and fierce and it takes me a moment to push her away. I hate seeing the confusion on her face.
I trace her bottom lip with my thumb and I feel it tremble beneath my touch. My cock strains against the fabric of my jeans. This woman does something to me, I can’t explain it.
“I can’t keep doing this, Raiden.” I close my eyes as I tell her this. I close them because I don’t want to see the hurt on her face. I close them because I don’t want her to see right through me.
“I know.” she whispers and I hear her voice catch. Her forehead rests against mine and her hands cup my face. “I wish I could choose. I would choose you.”
Damn it.
I crush my lips against hers, despite knowing that I shouldn’t kiss her. I shouldn’t want her. I shouldn’t be falling for a woman I can’t have. I should let her go.
But I can’t.
I need this and so does she. In this fucked up world where I’m pretending and she’s pretending, when we’re together, we don’t have to.
Raiden unfastens my jeans and reaches in to wrap her fingers around me. She spreads the glistening pre-cum over the head of my cock and I groan against her lips. I feel her lift and I slide my hands beneath her dress. Her thong is lace and it rips easily.
When Raiden lowers herself back down, I ease into her with no barrier. Neither of us say anything, both knowing that what we’re doing feels right, even if we have to hide it. Her legs wrap around me as she grinds and bounces against me, setting her own rhythm and pace.
I thread my fingers in her hair and tug backwards, exposing her neck so I can trail kisses over her skin. I want to pull the dress she’s wearing over her head, but I know by the way she’s moaning and her pussy’s clamping down on me that she’s close. I’m not far behind. I settle for pulling the straps down and then the cups of her bra. The second I close my mouth over her nipple, she calls out my name. I suck and graze my teeth over her sensitive peak while she comes and then I release inside her.
We stay joined together, neither of us wanting the connection to end. Raiden’s head lies on my shoulder and I stroke her back with my hands. It’s definitely one of those after-sex moments when you don’t know what to say or do because reality is setting back in.
I want to fight for her. I want to argue with her that she’s already given up enough for the Ravens and it’s time to live her own life. She deserves to be happy.
I want to make demands and tell her she has to choose. I’ve already lost one woman I loved and I can’t go through losing another. Especially not to a man she doesn’t even want to be with.
It’s simple.
Make a choice.
Choose me.
Chapter Twenty-Three
~Raiden~
I reluctantly climb off Luka’s lap and find my dad’s boots. I tug them on and stand up to go get my dad’s Beretta. I can feel the evidence of our tryst sticky between my thighs. I don’t regret it though. I’ve never regretted being with Luka.
“I’m gonna head back and clean up. Then I need to get home.” I tell him.
He’s gathering up the blanket that he brought. I know he’ll wait a few minutes to come back into the clubhouse so it won’t look like we left together.
As I walk, I can hear his footsteps crunching behind me. I want to turn around and tell him we should just leave together. It would be the same words Cal whispered to me back when I was fifteen. We should just leave and never look back. I couldn’t do it then though, and I can’t do it now.
When I reach the clubhouse, James Taylor is still playing. He was Sonnie’s favorite. I clean up in the bathroom and then walk through looking for my dad so he can take me home.
“I saw him walk off with Trixie.” Eric tells me.
Shit. I nod and go behind the bar to get my purse. I pull my phone out and power it back on. I have eight texts from Griffin. I call a cab before answering him and assuring him that I’m fine and headed home. I change out of my dad’s boots and back into my heels.
I go out front and wait for the cab, not wanting to tempt myself with being around Luka any longer. I’m only outside a few minutes when Hayes comes out. I haven’t been around him much, but my dad says he’s been a good prospect. He lights up a cigarette and then eyes me.
“You know, this is really your element. You should come around more often.” he grins.
“You must’ve had a little too much to drink tonight if you think this is my element.” I deadpan.
“Aww, Raiden, you fit right in when we were in Sacramento.” he counters.
“That’s only once a year. I go for my dad and to see my grandfather. It makes them feel good to think I haven’t totally given up on the club.” I lie.
“So you would never want to be an old lady?”
“Nope.” Again, a lie.
My cab arrives before our conversation can go any further. I tell Hayes goodnight and climb in. My mind is swimming with thoughts and emotions the entire ride back to my house.
I’m not all that surprised to see Griffin’s vehicle in my driveway when the cab pulls up. He has a key and he’s already inside when I walk in. I put my purse on the counter and see that he’s lying on my couch, sound asleep. His phone clutched to his chest.
“Griffin.” I say his name quietly and give him a light shake. “Griffin, I’m here.”
He aw
akes with a start and then sits up, pulling me into a hug. “I was so worried. God, I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I told you I would be. You didn’t have to worry.”
He sighs and kisses my cheek. “You have no idea what those people are capable of, Raiden.”
I relax against him and let him hold me. He’s wrong. So very wrong. He has no idea what they’re capable of.
~Luka~
I’m sure the last thing Griffin Knowles expected to see when he got to his office first thing on Tuesday morning was me. Yet, here I am, sitting and waiting for him to arrive. His secretary assured me he should be here any minute. She also told me she wasn’t sure if he would be able to meet with me. I know she’s just trying to get rid of me, but I’ll take my chances.
Griffin walks in, honestly looking a little tired. His eyes cut to me and he motions towards his office. He pushes the door open and I close it behind me.
“What do you want, Varelli? I’m honestly not in the mood for bullshit leads.” he informs me.
“Late night?” I ask.
“Not your concern.” he snips.
I decide to be a little bit of a prick. Can’t help myself. “Your girlfriend is definitely beautiful. Must take after her mom.”
Griffin’s hands still on the stack of files he was thumbing through on his desk. He looks up at me and I can see his jaw clench. “Did you come here for a reason?”
“I want my brother released. Today.”
“You are in no position to make demands.” he states.
“Aren’t I?” I counter. “My brother is currently lying in a hospital bed. I’m sure you know that though. I mean, you bribed several inmates to attack him with promises of an early release. I’ll take that to the papers and I’ll guarantee that when those inmates are interviewed, they will back every fucking word I’m saying.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with your brother’s attack!” he argues.
“Don’t fuck with me, Knowles.” I growl.
“Oh, fuck you, Varelli!” he yells. “You don’t get to come into my office and make demands. I’m the fucking ADA! I make the damn demands!”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and put it on speaker. I know Griffin doesn’t know who I’m speaking with and it doesn’t matter. “Do it.”
“What the hell was that all about?” he asks and I shrug as I put my phone back in my pocket.
“I can make demands too. You think inmates are the only people on the Ravens’ payroll? For example, the nursing home your grandmother, Lois, lives in just so happens to be in Ravens’ territory.” I explain. “Now, I know she recently fractured her hip. That was a terrible fall she had, Griffin. She’s in no condition to be relocated, but the Ravens just don’t feel that she should be residing in our territory any longer. Now the Rykers have a facility over in their territory, it’s not quite as nice, but she may be better suited to reside there. I’m sure they’ll welcome her with open arms.”
Griffin’s on me in three second flat, his hands grip my cut and jerk me to him. “Fix it!”
“You fix it!”
He shoves me back and runs his hand through his hair. I can see they’re shaking. “I can’t have him released in one day! There’s a process!” he argues.
“Get on it.” I tell him. “You put me in this position, Griffin. Don’t forget that. I’ll give you forty-eight hours to have my brother released.” I make the call to stop the transfer while I’m standing in his office. “If he isn’t, it’s not a transfer you’ll have to worry about.”
I leave Griffin’s office and head over to the hospital. The usual guards are standing in the hallway. It makes me wonder if the Ravens do this when one of our members is hospitalized.
“You can’t go in right now.” one of them states. He stands in front of the door with his arms crossed, his long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
“Excuse me?”
“He’s busy.” he informs me. “Should be done in a few minutes.”
The other members chuckle at whatever inside joke this is. I hear the click of the door and a brunette walks out, wiping her mouth. She winks at me and I roll my eyes as I head into the room. Lincoln is lying back in the bed, a relaxed look on his face.
“What do you want?” he asks, clearly annoyed that I’m ruining his post-orgasmic bliss.
“So, you’re not past this “I’m a Raven, you’re a Ryker” bullshit yet?” I ask and get a cold stare as an answer. “Have I ever lied to you?” He casts his gaze downward. “You have to trust me when I tell you that the Ravens weren’t behind your attack. Your own club was. I’m getting you released.”
“I don’t need your help. My attorney…”
“Is working for the DA’s office. He’s not going to help you.” I cut him off. “Me, your brother, is going to help you. Like I always fucking have.”
“Like I told you before, you are not my brother.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
~Raiden~
I push the door open to Lincoln’s room and the sight of Luka standing at the foot of his bed nearly makes me gasp. I wasn’t expecting to see him. I’m not sure why, this is his brother’s room, but still I wasn’t expecting him to be here.
My body tingles with the memory of him being inside me last night. Of him telling me he couldn’t do this anymore, but then giving in. I’ve been telling myself that since the night he showed up in my bathroom. How we shouldn’t, but I still want to. How I know what my feelings for him are, but I keep denying them.
“Lincoln, how are you feeling today?” I ask, looking over the nurse’s notes from last night.
“Pretty damn good.” he answers, a smug grin on his face.
I ignore that look, knowing how the clubs like to sneak women into the rooms. I have no doubt that Lincoln just got his rocks off.
“Dr. Hetresky thinks you might be stable enough to be released to the infirmary at Verdana County Jail.” I tell him.
“Already?” Luka pipes in.
“Unfortunately, the hospital prefers to release inmates as soon as they’re stable enough for transfer. It’s for hospital safety.”
“How the hell is he even stable enough for that?” Luka practically growls. “He was stabbed damn near fifty times.”
“I understand that, but the doctor’s opinion is that he is stable enough for transfer.” I explain.
“So, how long have the two of you been fucking?” Lincoln cuts in.
“Excuse me?” I question.
Lincoln struggles to sit up in his bed a little and then he focuses on my name tag. He reads my name out loud and then he arches his eyebrows.
“Wait a minute. R. Daughtry, as in Raiden Daughtry?” He lets out a whistle. “Do you even know how off limits your president’s daughter is, Luka? Does your club have any fucking rules?”
“There’s nothing going on.” Luka denies.
“I have a boyfriend.” I add.
Wow. The two back-to-back denials sound so cliché. If I were on the outside looking in, I wouldn’t even believe us.
Lincoln grins and looks at the both of us. “Do you expect me to believe that bullshit? First off, I know him and I know when he’s fucking around with someone. He can’t stop looking at you.”
My face heats red at Lincoln’s words. I’ve felt Luka’s eyes on me since I first stepped foot in the room.
“And you.” he turns to me. “You’re trying to pretend that he doesn’t affect you, but when he spoke, you’re breathing changed. I pay attention to shit like that.”
“I’m not fucking her, Linc. She’s with the damn ADA.” Luka argues. “I can’t keep my eyes off her because I’d like to fuck her and show her what a real man can do with a stuck-up pussy like hers.” His dark eyes narrow at me as he continues, “Her breathing changed because despite her father being my president, she has nothing to do the Ravens and being around men like us sickens her. She can’t wait to get out of this room. Isn’t that right, Raiden
Daughtry?”
The way he says my name makes it sound like I’m the one that sickens him. It stings. It definitely stings, but I know he’s doing this to keep Lincoln from knowing that he’d love nothing more than to be buried deep in my “stuck-up” pussy.
“That’s right.” I say with enough conviction and disgust that Lincoln doesn’t make a single comment. “So unless you have any questions regarding discharge, I’d like to complete that paperwork.”
Lincoln crosses his arms and stares at Luka. I don’t know what they were talking about before I came in, but I can tell they haven’t repaired the rift between them.
“I’m ready to get out of here.” he confirms.
Luka walks out of the room, letting Lincoln know he’ll be back later, while I go through Lincoln’s discharge information. When Dr. Hetresky comes through in the morning, he’ll be ready to be transferred.
“So you really don’t have anything to do with the Ravens?” Lincoln questions.
“No.” I answer. “Do you need anything before I leave?”
“Yes, just one thing.” Lincoln says, his blue eyes boring deep. “I need you to tell the truth.”
What is it with these Varelli brothers? I’ve had this façade going for two damn years and in an instant, both of them see right through it. Fucking Varellis.
“I did. Have a safe trip back, Lincoln. Take care of yourself.” I tell him.
“You talked to me before.” Lincoln says and I stop. “You told me you were taking care of me and stay calm.”
“Well, I said we were taking care of you.” I correct him.
“Either way, if you despise my kind so much, why were you so nice to me?” he questions.
“I was just doing my job.”
