Dice (A Righteous Outlaws Novel #3)

by Savannah Rylan

  “How do I get myself sucked into this shit?” Miles asked.

  “Because you’re a good guy,” Aubree said, patting Miles on the back. She might as well have punched him in the face. Good and Miles did not go together. He loved being a bastard when it came to women, and the fact that Cash’s old lady thought he was a good guy looked like it physically hurt him.

  “Where’s your soon-to-be husband?” I asked, wondering how the hell Cash got out of this and got Miles involved.

  “He went to talk to Stanson.” She pointed across the way to where Stanson, Cash and Kade stood.

  “Let’s get this fucking over with,” Miles growled, as he picked up the banner and held it in place. “It’s not crooked, right?”

  “Looks good to me,” I said.

  “No, it can go up a little on the right,” Allison said, and Miles rolled his eyes.

  “She’s as bad as this one.”

  “I’ll have Martha make some extra food for you to take home on Friday to make up for it,” Aubree offered.

  Considering Miles lived in the clubhouse, and the only time he had home cooked meals was at Friday night dinner, he couldn’t say no to that offer. “I want extra chicken and extra pie.”

  “Deal,” Aubree said, and shook his hand. “Now, go up a little on the right.”

  “How’s it look?” Aubree asked, taking a step back while Miles tried to hold the sign steady in the exact place she wanted.

  “Looks perfect,” Allison said, and DC let out a squeal.

  “The kid thinks it looks good, so it looks fucking great,” Miles said, and pinned it into place. “I’m done.” He took out his comb from his back pocket, and ran it through his hair.

  Allison went to check out all the crap on the table and Miles came to a stop beside me. “I’ve never met someone so fucking anal in my life,” he said, nodding toward Aubree as he took a drag from his cigarette.

  “Don’t let Cash hear you say that.”

  “Don’t let Cash hear what?” Cash walked up behind us with Kade.

  “That your old lady is a pain in my fucking ass,” Miles said, and Cash smacked him on the back.

  “Better you than me.” Cash watched Aubree as she held up a dog dress… a huge ass fucking grin spreading across his face. “But I’ll tell you what. That pain in the ass? She turned us into a real family.”

  We all nodded. Friday Night Dinner was Aubree’s idea, and she made sure it happened every Friday no matter what. We were always brothers, but she turned us into a real fucking family that did more together than just double teaming some whore.

  “Do love my home cooked meals,” Miles said with a smile as he stubbed out his cigarette.

  “What did Stanson want?” I asked, looking across the lot to see him meet back up with Reed.

  “He’s just making his rounds. We don’t want anyone from the army or Montamos showing up. Usually a police car or two is enough to deter them,” Cash said.

  “Not last time,” I said, remembering how Gordita’s crew showed up last year, staking the place out. They left without incident, but it was enough to let us know their presence was not to be missed.

  “A lot of shit has gone down since then. I doubt they’ll be around today,” Cash offered.

  “I sure as hell hope not.” I glanced over to Allison, her smile big as she spoke with Aubree. Every time I looked at her, I was punched in the gut with how fucking beautiful she was. She glowed with a carefree air and I was afraid that being with me, living in my world would taint that part of her.

  I hated to think that anything I did could put her on edge. Make those relaxed shoulders and easy smile tense in fear. Take away that smile that went right to my fucking heart or darken those pretty eyes.

  Allison waved goodbye to Aubree, and Kade insisted on taking DC even if she was getting paid for the day. Between work and club business Kade didn’t spend nearly as much time with his son that he wanted to, so when he could he took advantage.

  Allison came up to me and rested her hand on my bicep. “You okay? You look…off.”

  I was fucking off. I didn’t deserve this amazing woman in front of me. I should’ve told her to get the hell out of my life before it was too late. Or told her to save herself before the dark cloud that followed me became a permanent fixture in her life too. I couldn’t do it though. I was too selfish to let her go, so I snaked my hand around her waist and buried my head into her neck, relishing in her sweet scent.

  I kissed the sensitive skin in the crook, then trailed my lips along her collarbone. A laugh fell from her mouth and, damn if that wasn’t the sexiest fucking sound I’d ever heard. Her hands gripped my shoulders and softly urged me away.

  “Save that for later,” she said with a sexy wink that had my cock straining against my jeans. It would be so easy to drag her off somewhere and take exactly what I wanted, but she’d been looking forward to this event, and I didn’t want her to miss it because I couldn’t control my dick.

  I draped my arm across her shoulders. “Come on, let’s go play with some dogs.”

  We walked around the event, and I did my best to greet the town people. I figured a little sucking up would make it seem more like we were saints in leather opposed to criminals. I noticed with Allison at my side, it made me more approachable.

  Even Mrs. Kramer came out for the event with her great-grandkids. A boy and a girl, who Mr. Rollins would have a fucking coronary over every time they showed up to the complex.

  “Aren’t they just the cutest?” Allison said to Mrs. Kramer, just as the boy kicked me in my shin and took off.

  “Oh, yeah, adorable,” I mumbled under my breath.

  “I better go get him,” Mrs. Kramer said. “Oh Allison. I have some extra yarn I’m not going to use. Stop by later and you can have it.”

  “That’s very sweet of you. Thank you I will.”

  Mrs. Kramer hurried as fast as her old legs would take her after her great-grandson who weaved in and out of people, using their legs as an obstacle course. Allison watched with humor in her eyes.

  “I see you made friends with the old hag,” I said.

  “She’s not a hag. She’s actually very sweet.”

  “As long as you don’t step on her garden.”

  “She takes her flowers very seriously.”

  We continued walking and came upon Beast, who was in the middle of trying to free himself of a little pipsqueak of a dog who wouldn’t stop following him.

  “Leave,” he demanded, and pointed back to the woman who was running the booth.

  The dog looked up at him with a tilt of its head and sat down, but, as soon as Beast turned and started walking, the dog followed. The little mutt moved more like a bunny as it hopped toward him.

  “Oh, for fuck sakes.”

  Beast spun back around and headed toward the girl, the tiny dog right on the heel of his boots. “Stay,” he ordered and, once again, the dog sat down and tilted its head. Beast let out an annoyed breath and began to walk away again when the dog leapt up and chased after him.

  “I think you’re going home with a dog,” I said, and Beast scowled.

  “Not fucking happening.”

  “It’s so cute, though,” Allison said, bending down and petting the fluff ball. “Is this a Yorkie?” she asked the woman.

  “It sure is. Just rescued from a puppy mill in Alabama.”

  “Oh, my God, how cute!” Aubree exclaimed, dropping to her knees and taking the little guy in her hands.

  “Good you deal with it,” Beast muttered, but, as soon as he moved, the dog jumped from Aubree’s hold and followed him.

  The expression of total distaste on Beast’s face was fucking priceless.

  “Aww, she likes you,” Aubree said. “What its name?

  “I don’t fucking know,” Beast groaned.

  “Her name is Beauty,” the woman offered.

  “Shut up!” Aubree exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “It’s like meant to be,” she said, scooping the dog up.
“She’s the Beauty to your Beast.” She held the dog out to Beast and he growled.

  “No,” he stated, but he should’ve known better than to try to argue with Aubree. The girl had a degree in that shit.

  “Look at this face,” Aubree said, gripping Beauty’s face and leaning her head against the fluff ball. “How can you say no to this?”

  “Easy. No.”

  I had to give him credit. He was holding his own. I was tempted to take the thing in.

  “It’s not even a dog. It’s a rat.”

  Aubree covered the dog’s ears. “She can hear you.” She kissed the top of its head. “You do not look like a rat. You look like a little cutie pie.”

  “If you like her so much, then you take her.”

  “I would, but she wants you.” Aubree put Beauty down and she ran right to Beast’s boot, nipping at the toe and swatting at the lace. He went to step back, and she went belly up on his foot. Aubree beamed. “See.”

  Beast reached down, picking the dog up. It nuzzled against his massive hand. He held his hand flat out to Aubree, to take the dog, but Beauty curled up in a ball and closed her eyes.

  Aubree shrugged. “She already picked you.”

  “I don’t do dogs.”

  Allison rested her head against my shoulder as Aubree and Beast continued to battle it out. “Why don’t we leave these two to figure this out and we’ll go walk around a little more?” I kissed her forehead and she smiled.

  “Sure.”

  “Good luck, brother,” I said as we moved on to the next booth. With Allison tucked against my side, I scanned the surrounding area to make sure we didn’t have any unwelcome visitors. I swore, if one of those assholes from Gordita’s Army or Montamos showed up, I would get Allison as far away from them as I fucking could. There was no way in hell that I would let her be subjected to the darkness that was a big part of my life.

  The coast stayed clear, but, even if they didn’t show up today, I knew it was only a matter of time. Right now all the brothers were here, and it would be a death wish to try anything, which is why they shot at Stumpy that night. It was him and Byrd; two prospects with no back up. They were an easy target.

  Shit like this always got me excited. Let one of those bastards try to take me down when I was alone. I’d show them who was in charge in these parts. I might be smaller than the rest of the guys, but I could run faster, shoot more precisely and throw a hard fucking punch. The thrill that was always there, a part of who I was, was slipping away. Because, every time I thought of one of those Montamos fucks, or a prick from Gordita’s army coming after me, all I could imagine was Allison getting caught up in the crossfire. It scared the ever living shit out of me to think that she could get hurt or worse killed because she was with me.

  This was exactly why I didn’t do relationships. It was too late now. I was already in over my head. I was drowning in her.

  “Guess Aubree won,” Allison said, knocking me out of my head. She pointed across the way to Beast, who held Beauty in his arms, while Aubree flew past us in a blur of yellow to her booth.

  “She suits you,” I said to Beast as we walked toward him.

  He growled in response. Aubree skipped over, holding up a dress, and I spit out a laugh.

  “No,” Beast barked, and Beauty stirred in his arms. The dark rage that always brewed so ugly in his eyes lightened slightly as he looked down at the dog.

  “With a name like Beauty, she deserves to be beautiful.”

  “Dogs don’t need clothes.”

  “Everybody needs clothes,” Aubree argued and Allison laughed.

  Beast cut a dirty look to Allison and, if I weren’t so amused by the situation, I would tell him to back the fuck off.

  Allison held her hands up in front of her. “I’m sorry. This is just better than reality TV.”

  “Glad somebody is amused.”

  “Just let me put it on her.”

  Beast didn’t say anything; he just spun on his heel, his new friend in his arms, and stormed off.

  “Guess he doesn’t want the dress,” Allison said.

  “He might not want it, but Beauty needs it,” Aubree said with a mischievous smile settling on her face. “And she will have it.”

  She took off into the crowd after Beast and I laughed harder.

  “I really like her,” Allison said. “She has spunk.”

  “Aubs is good people. Plus, I love how she irritates Miles and Beast. Fucking classic.”

  Allison slid her arms around my neck, and looked up at me with those gorgeous eyes. Desire and yearning flashed bright and my fingers dug into her sides. “How much longer until we can leave?”

  “Why do you have somewhere to be?” I asked with a laugh.

  “I can think of a few places.” She kissed my lips then my neck, moving closer to me and pressing her body tightly against my growing cock. Her hard nipples poked through the thin material of her dress, and I could feel them against my chest.

  I swallowed down the rising need to throw her over my shoulder and get the fuck out of here.

  “I thought you wanted to come?”

  “I did, but I can’t stop thinking about your cock.” She reached down, cupping me through my jeans. That word coming off her sweet lips nearly undid me. The veins in my neck pulsed as she met my eyes and slid her teeth over her lip.

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here, then.” I scooped her up off the ground and she yelped at my actions. Instinctively, she held on tighter, drawing herself closer to me.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “I want to say home, but I don’t know if we’ll make it that far.”

  The spark of desire that crossed her face had me picking up the speed and ignoring every person who tried to talk to us.

  I had enough of playing nice today with the people of the town. Now, I wanted to play dirty and I wanted to do it with my girl.

  16

  Dice

  My phone buzzed on the nightstand and I rolled over, swatting for it. Allison stirred beneath me as I brought the phone to my ear. “What?” I mumbled into the receiver. The last time I looked at the clock, it was two a.m., and I just finished blowing my load deep inside Allison.

  “Dude, let me in,” Miles said on the other end, and I shifted to sit up.

  “What do you mean let you in?”

  “They’re after me.”

  “Who is after you?”

  “Just let me in, and I’ll explain.”

  I heard a slight tap on the door, and I jumped out of bed. “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I muttered as I pulled my jeans on.

  “What’s the matter?” Allison asked.

  “My best friend is an idiot. Go back to sleep. I’m just going to be in the living room.” I kissed her head, and hurried out of the room, making sure to close the door behind me.

  I ran to the front door and flung it open. Miles pushed past me, soaking wet from the rain. “Took you long enough.”

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked.

  “They were following me, and I needed somewhere to go. If I went to the clubhouse…”

  I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm the anger that was surging through my veins. “Are you fucking high again?”

  “No, I swear.” He held his hands up in front of him. “I haven’t used in a while.”

  “Then, who is after you?” I ground out.

  “Fucking Montamos.” He shoved his gun into the waistband of his pants and paced back and forth.

  The calm that I managed since the minute my phone rang vanished. Anger rushed through me with a goddamned vengeance. My eyes went straight to the closed bedroom door where Allison lay sleeping. “So, you fucking come here? Put Allison in danger? Where’s your fucking head, Miles?”

  I shoved past him and went to the door, slamming the deadbolt into place. I gave a quick glance out into the parking lot, and then pulled the curtains tightly shut so not even a speck of light could find its
way in.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go. I lost them up on the highway and I just kept driving. If I went back to the clubhouse, they would know where to find me. I drove by your house but didn’t see your bike. Figured you were here. I just need a place to crash for the night.”

  I flexed my fingers in a desperate attempt to keep myself from knocking him out. This was so typical. If there was a shit storm, he was the fucking center and he always dragged me into the fucking mess. It never bothered me before, but it wasn’t just me he was endangering now. Allison needed no part of this fucking mess.

  My temper flared, and all I could see was red.

  “Is everything okay?” Allison asked, and I spun to see her standing behind us in the hallway, a silk robe tied tightly around her waist.

  “Everything’s fine, baby. Just go back to bed.”

  “I can make some coffee,” she offered.

  “That’s not necessary.” All I wanted was for her to go back behind closed doors, away from the clusterfuck that was my life, and away from Miles and the potential danger he was bringing to her doorstep.

  “I’d like some coffee,” Miles said, stepping around me and waving to Allison.

  I rammed my hand into his chest and shoved him back, “I don’t care what the fuck you want.”

  “Eugene, it’s just coffee,” she said, heading into the kitchen despite my objections.

  Miles patted my chest. “Yeah, Eugene, it’s just coffee.”

  “Fuck you,” I said, but the bastard smiled and I couldn’t help but smile back. I pushed my fingers into the bridge of my nose. “I think I’m going to need something stronger than fucking coffee.”

  Miles went to join Allison in the kitchen, but I grabbed his arm, halting him. “Coffee, and then you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on. No more bullshit. I want the fucking truth this time.”

  His eyes bore into mine, but he knew damn well that shit wasn’t going to intimidate me. Finally, after a heated few seconds, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll tell you everything, but you’re not going to like it.”