She shook her head with a laugh. “While it’s much appreciated, I don’t have a whole lot with me. All the big stuff is in storage in California. So it’s perfect that it comes with furniture.”
“Want to test the bed out now?” I winked at her and gave her the smirk that made girls swoon. Allison just rolled her eyes and swapped the keys from my hand.
“Does being that forward really work for you?”
“With most girls.”
Her hand rested on my chest and her eyes were level with mine. “Too bad for you I’m not like most girls.”
The temptation to throw her over my shoulders and drag her to the bedroom was strong, but she was right. She wasn’t like most girls. That’s what I liked about her. I was bored with the same old girls slutting around the clubhouse. The one-night stands I’d grown accustomed to. The excitement was gone and blowing my load had never been so unfulfilling.
Allison was the type of girl that you had to work for and I was willing to put in the time because something told me the reward would be worth it.
6
Allison
It had been two weeks since I moved into Dice’s apartment, and fell into a nice routine with my new life… even if I was living a lie. I wanted to tell Kade that I was his half-sister, but every time I opened my mouth, the words froze in my throat.
I was making a bottle for DC when Kade came into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
“Good morning,” I said, as he grabbed a bowl from the cabinet and poured himself some cereal.
“Morning.”
He wasn’t a man of many words, and I often wondered if it was because I was an outsider. Around Sienna, Dice, and his best friend, Cash, who often stopped by, he spoke more frequently. Started conversations even. When it was just him and me, however, he was the quiet, brooding type who ate his cereal while keeping a watchful eye on his son.
Sienna came into the kitchen a few minutes later, her blonde hair wet from the shower, and resting in waves on her shoulders. Kade’s face lit up the second she walked in, just as it did every time he saw her.
I didn’t know much about my brother in the couple of weeks I had been here, but the one thing I was certain of was that he loved his family fiercely. The leather vest with the patches of a motorcycle club, and the gun I’d noticed poking out of his waistband, were scary and off putting, but how dangerous could a family man really be?
“Morning, Allison,” Sienna said, heading right to the coffee pot. “I can get DC his bottle in the morning. You don’t have to get here so early.”
“I don’t mind.” I had been a morning person ever since I was a kid. Getting up at five a.m. was completely normal. When Mom was alive, it would be our time to catch up. We’d talk over a muffin or pound cake, whatever Mom picked up from the bakery the night before, and enjoy the calm before our day started.
Since she died, mornings weren’t the same. They were long and lonely and no matter how hard I tried, I never seemed to be able to sleep in. So, instead, I was stuck with the same early morning routine and the sad reminder that Mom was gone and would never be coming back. I would never share a muffin with her again or tell her about the new scarf I was crocheting.
Jealousy reared its ugly head as I watched Kade wrap his arm around Sienna’s shoulders and pull her in, kissing her forehead. I envied the love they shared and imagined finding that special someone who could make my mornings bright again. To turn it back to my favorite part of the day just like it used to be.
Sienna shoved at Kade’s chest. “I need my coffee.”
He put his cereal bowl down and laughed, blocking her against the counter with his braced arms. He bent down and whispered something in her ear that made her eyes widen, and a blush creep across her cheeks.
I grabbed the bottle and went to get DC. Whenever I was in the room with those two, I always felt like I was intruding on their privacy. They just had that chemistry every girl dreamed about when she thought of her ideal man. Something I never experienced, though I fooled myself once into thinking I did.
“Are you hungry, little man?” I said, handing him his bottle since he was as independent as they came. He rubbed at his eyes, and sucked down the bottle like a champ.
“I need to finish getting ready,” Sienna said to Kade.
“I can help you.”
“Then I’ll never get dressed,” she said with a laugh before heading down the hallway.
DC finished his bottle and threw it at me. Luckily my reflexes were quick, or I would have taken it right to the head.
“I guess this means you’re done,” I joked. I took the bottle back to the kitchen and washed it.
Kade was finishing his cereal and the words I had been dying to say, the truth that had been desperate to come out, sat in my throat like a hard unmovable lump. “Kade,” I managed, but when he looked at me every muscle in my body tensed.
“What’s up?”
Funny thing, really. Turns out I’m your sister. Half-sister that is. We have the same dad. Surprise.
My mind was saying everything I wanted to, but the words never made it past my lips. I was completely aware that I was staring at him, and needed to say something to disperse the awkwardness. I could only imagine how bad it looked and, if Sienna came in, I don’t think she’d be happy to see me staring at her man, even if he was my brother. Though she didn’t know that.
His eyebrow arched, waiting for me to say something. Anything.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to get a grip. “I was going to go to pick up a few groceries today. Did you need more cereal?”
He laughed and I wasn’t sure why. Oh, God, what if he thought I had a crush on him? Oh, that would be awkward. More awkward than this whole conversation. I needed to tell him. I couldn’t keep living this lie and pretending like I was some stranger.
I was, though. We just happened to share a bloodline that he didn’t know about.
“That’d be great, thanks,” he said, before putting his bowl in the sink and going to his son.
He lifted DC into his arms and, when DC protested by kicking and flailing trying to get back to his blocks, Kade sat with him on the floor. DC took a red block in his hand, and held it out to Kade.
The door opened. Kade looked up, and rolled his eyes. “Do I need to deadbolt the fucking door?”
“Oh yeah, sorry. Always forget to knock,” Dice said from behind me and, just hearing his voice, shot heat to my core.
He showed up here almost every morning to see his godson and I swore each time he did he looked better than the last. With that mischievous smirk, and eyes that reminded me of melted dark chocolate, it was no wonder those horrible pick-up lines worked for him. Most girls probably weren’t even listening to what he had to say, too busy getting lost in his intense panty wetting stare.
I was not immune to it either and it was another reason why I arrived so early each day. I looked forward to seeing him. I wasn’t in the market for a relationship. Probably the last thing I needed right now, but the way I looked at it was like the equivalent of going into a craft store and browsing the shelves when I had no money to spend. It was just nice to look and imagine.
“Morning, Al,” Dice said, giving me a sweet bump to the shoulder as he passed.
“It’s Allison,” I corrected like I did every morning.
“What was that, Al? I didn’t quite hear you.”
“Leave the fucking girl alone,” Kade said as Dice joined him on the floor.
DC threw his arms up, sending his block flying in the air. Dice and Kade both put their hands out to catch it before it clocked DC in the head.
Sienna called for Kade from down the hall, and he pushed to his feet. “Behave while I’m gone.”
“He always behaves. Right, little man?” Dice said.
“I wasn’t talking about him.”
Kade disappeared down the hallway, and I joined Dice and DC on the floor. DC swung his arm, and Dice rolled on his back like DC hit hi
m. DC, completely amused by Dice, let out the loudest, cutest laugh.
“You’re really good with him,” I said.
“Nah, I’m just having fun.”
“Even still, he loves it.”
“That’s because he’s a cool kid.” Dice held his hand up. “High five.” DC was more concerned with his blocks. “Don’t leave me hanging here, dude.” DC looked up, and smiled a big gummy smile and Dice fell over again. “Kid, you kill me.” Dice sat up and his gaze fixated on me. I could feel it right down to my core. “So, how’s everything over at the apartment? Did you need your pipes checked?” He winked, and I couldn’t help but throw a block at his head.
“You really need to work on your pick up lines. They are pretty pitiful.”
He shrugged. “It made you laugh, and that’s what counts.”
I smiled and picked up a block to play with DC, ignoring the butterflies taking flight in my stomach. Danger was written all over Dice, yet when he said things like that it made me wonder if it was all a façade, if the boy beneath the leather was not dangerous at all. Just the class clown who found pleasure in entertaining people, hiding behind a bad boy image.
I looked up, catching his gaze. Dark, warm and mysterious. Three signs that told me I should stay away. It was a bad combination, and I wasn’t here to stay. I was here to learn about my brother. About the only family I had left, and then I was on to the next town.
Growing up, we never stayed in one place for too long. Mom was a bit of a gypsy who liked to move from city to town to city. It was the only thing I knew. Whenever we stayed in a place too long, we got anxious. Bored. Ready for the next adventure. Which is why this was only a stopping point on my life journey, and it was only a matter of time before I grew restless. Only a matter of time before I left and never looked back.
Dice’s eyes darkened, the look becoming almost predatory, like he wanted to devour me. “Pipes aside, is the apartment okay?”
“Mrs. Kramer baked me a pie, and Mr. Rollins growled at me this morning. But I guess that’s progress since last time I saw him he stared at me in disgust. I think we’re on our way to a conversation.”
“A growl? He must like you.”
“I am pretty likeable.”
“I’d say so.”
Heat crept up my neck and exploded in my cheeks. I felt like a silly teenager who just found out her crush thought she was cute. It was pathetic and ridiculous. I didn’t let guys have that effect on me. Not since I was sixteen and stupid.
I cleared my throat like that would diffuse the lava shooting through my cheeks. “Actually, there is a problem with the kitchen sink. Even after I turn it off, it still drips. I thought about calling a plumber.”
“I’ll come over tonight and look at it.”
“That’s not necessary. I can just call someone.”
“Why, when I can fix it?”
“Are you sure you know how?”
His lip quirked in the corner. “You’ll learn soon enough that I’m really good with my hands.”
“I don’t doubt that. I just don’t know if you can handle it.”
“Oh, I can handle it all right.”
“Dice, let's go,” Kade said, coming down the hall and pulling his leather vest into place. His hair was a little disheveled. “We have to make a stop before we head to the garage.”
Dice looked over his shoulder and arched an eyebrow.
“Time to cut the doc off.”
Dice jumped to his feet and clapped. “Let’s do it.” He and Kade said goodbye to DC, then Dice lowered his head, his lips grazing my ear. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He was just coming over to fix a sink, so why did I feel like those four words held a hell of a lot more meaning behind them?
7
Dice
Cutting ties with the doctor was an excuse to celebrate. We had been working with the sick fuck for too long. Desperation made us do it. After Aubree’s old man got thrown in the slammer, we needed a doc to fill prescriptions for us when we were waiting on shipments. Which meant we had to find a doctor who had a secret. This bastard had a secret alright: a disturbing obsession with kiddie porn.
Hudson, being the fucking computer god he was, discovered the perv. The doctor had no choice but to work with us. But now, Cash, as promised, secured another deal so we wouldn’t have to work with the sicko any longer. Kade and I got to break the news with a reminder that if he ever mentioned the Righteous Outlaws, we would dismember him whether he was in jail or not. We had connections, and the last thing he should do was test us.
Hudson would send an anonymous tip to the authorities, and the good old doctor would be where he belonged: behind bars far away from any kids.
At the clubhouse, the booze flowed, the girls danced, and I sat back watching it all. With Nick gone, and Cash and Kade tied down with old ladies, it wasn’t like it used to be. When we weren’t dealing drugs or battling it out with Gordita’s army or Montamos, we partied and we partied hard.
So many mornings, I woke up with naked chicks wrapped around me, surrounded by empty bottles and bad decisions. It was my life, and I thought it was the best fucking thing ever. But, somewhere along the way, it lost its appeal.
I was sick of sticking my dick into a nameless slut. Sick of drinking myself into oblivion and trying to forget all the shit I’d endured. Nick once called me a survivor, and maybe I was, but most of the time I wasn’t trying to survive. I was just stumbling around, and letting shit run its course. It was more luck than anything else.
A new girl sat on Miles’s lap, and he ripped her shirt off, sticking his head right in between her tits. She laughed, and he unsnapped her bra with one hand. Her tits spilled free, and I wasn’t going to lie; they were pretty fucking nice.
Miles threw her bra at my head, a pink lacy number that normally would make my dick hard. It never took much to get me going. I could be hard in an instant, a trick that drove the girls fucking wild. But, today, I wasn’t feeling it.
The girl squealed as Miles tossed her over his shoulder and slapped her ass. “You want to join us?” Miles asked.
It wouldn’t be the first time Miles and I tag teamed a girl. We only had one rule. No matter what, our dicks didn’t touch. There was nothing better than shoving your cock in a girl’s mouth while she was getting the shit plowed out of her.
But, it was just something else I’d become bored with. Besides, I had a kitchen sink to look at and, for some fucking reason, that sounded more appealing than spit roasting some whore.
“She’s all yours. Have fun.”
“You sure? I mean, look at this ass.” He lifted up her skirt, revealing a tanned ass and a matching thong to the bra that was now on the floor.
“I’m sure. I’ll catch you later.”
I headed out and lit a cigarette, sucking it down before hopping on my bike. Halfway to Allison’s, the sky opened up and the rain fell. By the time I pulled into the parking lot, I was dripping wet.
Mr. Rollins peered through his curtains, as I made my way up the sidewalk. Tempted to flip him off, I controlled myself, forcing my hand to stay at my side.
The faint sound of shitty country music floated out from Allison’s apartment, and I imagined her dancing around naked. I knocked and, when she didn’t answer right away, I knocked harder.
“It’s me,” I said, since she seemed like the type to check out the window first.
The lock unclicked, and the door flung open. “Hey,” she said with a smile. “I was wondering if you’d ever show up.” She was in tiny shorts, and a tank top that hugged her curves like a fucking glove. Who knew all those loose fitting dresses were hiding that body?
My pants tightened as I scanned her up and down, starting from her huge fucking tits down to her small waist. She was thin, but not starve yourself thin. She had the body of an athlete, hard in all the right places, yet still soft like a woman.
I ran a hand over my face, trying to get my focus off her body and all the things I wa
nted to do to it. “Sorry. I got caught up.”
“Out saving lives?” she joked, though it could be true. The doctor would be thrown in jail, and every kid he would have ever thought about touching was safe from years of torment and thousands of dollars in therapy bills.
“You could say that.”
“Come in and get out of the rain. Let me get you a towel.” She stepped aside to welcome me into the place that was my home for so many years. The first place I was able to call my own. Moving in here was the moment I started taking charge of my own life, and stopped dwelling on all the shit that kept me down for so long.
This place helped me become something other than an unwanted waste of space.
Now, looking around, this did not look like that place any longer. There were actual curtains on the windows. Yellow curtains with white lacy shit. Oh, god, they were in the shape of flowers. The tobacco smell that Sienna used to bitch about when she was pregnant as being too pungent was completely gone, and all I could smell was the sweet vanilla scent of Allison.
A big ass potted plant filled the corner. The couch had a blanket draped over it, like some shit you would see at a Grandma’s house. Like the blanket Stumpy’s aunt Martha and Aubree’s childhood chef, made when DC was born. This one, however, wasn’t blue and boring. It had every color of the fucking rainbow weaved together to make crazy patterns.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out, swiping at the screen when I saw Miles’s name pop up. A picture of him fucking two chicks with him giving a thumbs up appeared, and the caption read: This could have been you.
Allison walked into the room, and I shoved my phone back in my pocket, not regretting a single thing. I’d rather be here.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yup. So that’s interesting,” I said, pointing to the kaleidoscope blanket when she handed me a towel. It was purple. I didn’t even know they made purple towels.
“Thanks. I can make you one if you want?”
Dice (A Righteous Outlaws Novel #3) Page 4
