Hell or High Water (The Four Horsemen MC Book 8)

by Rayne, Sara

  “Over your dead body.” Voo climbed to his feet, pulling Lex up beside him.

  “Not today, mon ami.” Boone shook the water from his hair, spraying them with droplets. “Not today.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As Boone headed to the hospital, Voo put Lex on the back of his bike. “Hold on tight.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. He held them in place for a second, closing his eyes. A wave of gratitude swept over him. They were alive and together, and he’d never felt luckier. Perhaps the loa had finally forgiven him, and he couldn’t imagine a greater gift than Lex. He started the engine and pulled out onto the open road. The wind dried their clothing and hair as they flew down the highway.

  Lex swayed easily with his movements, balancing her weight on the bike instinctually. Her head nestled against his back between his shoulder blades, and he knew, deep in the marrow of his bones, he’d never let her go again. She’d spent these past few months looking for where she belonged.

  He intended to show her.

  The sun descended as they pulled up in front of the Chance. He scooped Lex into his arms, cradling her against his chest as she giggled. He rubbed his chin on her small forehead.

  “I’m gonna take care of you, ma petite.”

  Lex clung to his shoulders as he carried her upstairs, kicking her door open. He crossed the room to the bed and set her on her feet. She trailed her fingertips down his arms. “I almost lost you today.”

  He swallowed hard. “You brought me back from the dead. In more ways than one.”

  His mouth covered hers, hands sweeping over her hips. He unbuttoned her jeans, and she gasped against his lips. Kneeling, he mouthed the tender skin below her navel as he peeled the still-damp fabric from her body, dragging her panties, along with the denim, down her legs.

  Trembling, she stepped out of the panties and pulled her shirt over her head. Holding his gaze, she unfastened her bra. The scrap of fabric slid from her body, exposing her full, heavy breasts tipped with pert, peach-colored nipples.

  Voo groaned, cupping her ass and locking her in place.

  Capturing a hard peak between his lips, he teased with his tongue. Lex’s hands slid into his hair, fingers tangling in his dreads as she pulled him closer with a moan. He mouthed his way to the other breast.

  “You’re overdressed,” Lex gasped out.

  He stood, stripping off his leather as she stared at every inch of satiny flesh revealed.

  “I love the hungry way you look at me,” he whispered. “You’re liable to burn me alive.”

  She wound her arms around his neck, kissing his wide chest. He hooked hands beneath her knees, wrapping her legs around his waist. With her ankles locked at the small of his back, his hard cock found the soft juncture of her thighs. She ground against him, and his knees nearly buckled.

  “Like that, do you?” Her lips curved.

  “Oui, J’adore ça.” He toppled them back onto the plush mattress. Wrapping his arms around her back, he hugged her tight to his chest. Voo cradled her head as he took her mouth, thrusting his tongue into the sweet depths. She writhed beneath him.

  He kissed his way down her jaw, tracing the veins with his tongue. Her fingernails dug into the muscles of his back as he licked her collarbone. Trailing his lips to her navel, he stroked her legs, drawing her knees apart.

  His chin brushed the tiny patch of silken curls over her center, and she trembled. “Easy, ma petite. I promised to take care of you.”

  Gently parting her, he touched his lips to her swollen clit.

  She jerked. “Voo….”

  “You’re mine,” he whispered against her damp flesh. He licked her, savoring the sweet, heady taste of Lex on his tongue. Teasing, he took his time, pulling primal sounds of pleasure from Lex as her fingers twisted in the sheets.

  Her thighs clamped around his shoulders as her back arched. He slid one long index finger inside her as she came, her inner walls clenching around it. As she collapsed back against the mattress, he crawled up her limp body, eyes locked on her face.

  She shivered. “What did you do to me?”

  “If you’re interested in seconds, I’m game.” His voice had lowered an octave. He reached into her bedside drawer, where he’d stashed the condoms from their first night together. As he carefully rolled it on, he couldn’t believe how much had changed in the last twenty-four hours.

  “I don’t know if I could take it.” She tilted back to watch him as he placed his hands on the mattress beside her head.

  “I’ll show you what you can take.” He rubbed the tip of his cock against her slick folds, and she groaned. Sealing his mouth to hers, he slid inside her. The wet sheath of her pussy was so tight. He broke off the kiss, panting and struggling for control.

  Lex gasped, fingers clawing his back. He moved and her eyes rolled back, blonde hair thrashing against the pillow. The radiant light from the setting sun gilded her creamy flesh. His hips pumped faster, balls tightening as Lex’s breathing hitched. The soft sounds she made in his ear pushed him towards the edge.

  Reaching between their bodies, he pressed his thumb against her clit, and she came again, crying out, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

  Her pussy squeezed his cock so hard, he couldn’t hold back anymore. His hips pumped as his release shot through him. Lex’s thighs shook as he pulled out. Voo stilled, resting his forehead against hers. She wrapped her arms around him, lips trailing his cheekbone.

  Voo rolled onto his back, carrying her with him to sprawl across his chest. He stroked her hair.

  “Voo?” Lex cleared her throat. “About what I said a few minutes ago….”

  “I love you, too, ma petite. I have for a long time now.” He tipped her chin up. “And I can’t tell you what you’ve done for me.”

  “So…what happens now?” She tucked her hair behind her ears.

  “It’s up to you. I’ve put you through a lot. When I thought I was gonna die, you were all I thought about. You reminded me there’s more to life than pain. You brought light into my Underworld, ma petite.”

  “Well, I don’t know. You make tasty milkshakes, but there are other factors.” Her lips twitched.

  “You aren’t gonna make this easy for me, huh?”

  “Nope.”

  Voo held out his arm, tapping a thin white scar under his dead man’s hand tattoo. “When I was a boy, Boone and I went down to the crossroads. We sliced our wrists and bled on the ground to summon Baron Samedi. I demanded he make me rich. And I’ve carried the knives I used to bleed for him ever since.”

  “I thought you didn’t believe in voodoo when you were young.”

  “Figured it was a load of hogwash, but I wanted money by any means necessary—I was foolish and bitter. Figured it was worth a shot.” His finger slid to the grinning face of Baron Samedi. “My bloody wrist was hardly the greatest cost. I lost everything. I knew I’d never have the things I’d sacrificed for money again—love, family, home.”

  “You have those things, now.” She grabbed his hand. “Hades, the Horsemen…me.”

  “Do I have you?”

  “Depends—any more enemies from your past gonna pop up and try to kidnap me?”

  “You were unbelievably brave today. I can’t imagine what you went through, crashing Apollo’s car after your ordeal with Grant.” He shook his head.

  “I was more worried about you than myself, so it didn’t matter I was afraid. I had to save you.” Lex’s fingers traced the tattoos on his arms.

  “It took far too long for the Fates to beat it into my head, but I’m dead without you, Lex.” He propped himself up on his elbows. “If you still want me, I’m yours—heart, body, and soul.”

  She licked her lips. “You’re sure?”

  “You belong with me.” He took her hand and pressed it against his heart. “I’m all in, Lex. So it’s up to you. Wanna be my old lady?”

  “You gonna ask Captain’s blessing?” Her eyes twinkled with mischief
.

  He rolled her beneath him, and she shrieked, kicking her feet as they fell against each other. “I’ve had enough brushes with death, merci.”

  ***

  The next day, at the butt-crack of dawn, Lex and Voo packed up. They rented a trailer to haul Voo’s bike behind Lex’s car then headed over to the hospital to check on the Brulés. Josie had been released from the ICU in stable condition.

  “Yes, Dad, I promise. I’m fine.” Lex held the new phone against her ear with her shoulder. The cells had been waiting at the Chance front desk for them this morning, the package overnighted by Coyote. Hugging the potted orchid she’d bought at the gift shop, she rolled her eyes at Voo, who waited patiently with an amused smile.

  “I’m sorry you got mixed up in all this, baby girl. This is why I didn’t want you gettin’ involved with bikers.”

  “I handled myself fine, and I am involved with bikers, Dad. I’m your daughter. There’s no getting around it.” She sighed. Lex had avoided this call with texting since they’d gotten back to the Chance after yesterday’s ordeal, but Captain wouldn’t stop calling. “Look, I have to go. I’m at the hospital to see Josie, and we have a long drive ahead of us today.”

  “Is Phee there?”

  “Probably.”

  “Damnation. You’d best head for the hills, baby girl. The woman’s a holy terror.”

  “You didn’t like Phee?” Lex grinned.

  Phee had called Captain as soon as Josie had gone into surgery. After telling him his daughter had been taken, she’d apparently used the opportunity to give him a lecture on parenting.

  “Told me I don’t know my own ass from a hole in the ground, sendin’ my daughter away.”

  “She’s very wise.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’ll see you when you get home. Love you, baby girl.”

  “Love you, too.” She tucked the phone into her pocket.

  “How’s Cap?”

  “Butt-hurt from Phee’s lecture and pissy about me being in danger. He’ll get over it.” She straightened her shoulders. Whether or not Captain liked or accepted her decisions was his problem—not hers. She’d live her life the way the same way he did—however she damn well pleased.

  Voo laughed. “You ready?”

  Lex nodded and knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” Boone called from the other side.

  They pushed open the heavy wooden door. Josie sat propped up in the hospital bed, hair tied back in a kerchief and wearing a muted-green hospital gown. The bandages around her ribs showed in the gaps of the flimsy fabric. An IV hooked into her left arm. According to Boone’s text, one bullet had bounced off her ribcage, breaking two bones, and the other had gone straight through, grazing her intestines.

  Phee and Boone sat on the bench window seat.

  Boone smiled. “Lex, so good to see you.”

  “I’m here, too, asshole.”

  “Hello, Rafe.” He spread his arms across the back of the seat. “Thought you were going back to Hell?”

  “We’re headed there after we get done.” Voo tugged Lex against his side, and she hid a smile.

  “Lex?” Josie’s voice was thin and reedy as she shifted in her bed.

  “Hey.” Lex set the plant on the table beside the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I got shot.” She smiled wanly. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “Same here.” Lex squeezed her hand.

  “I’m so sorry about all this—”

  “Stop.” She sat down on the bed. Voo stood behind her, his presence reassuring. “You got shot because of me. You don’t owe me any apologies.”

  “You wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for me.”

  “I like to think of it as fate.” Lex kissed Josie’s forehead, and she drifted off to sleep once more. Lex cast a glance at Voo over her shoulder. “Or maybe voodoo.”

  “Oui.” Voo grinned.

  “Any word on Apollo?” Boone asked.

  “Not a damn thing.” Voo folded his arms. Lex faced him. “Coyote’s trying to track him, but so far, no leads on any of the Mexican border towns.”

  “Whatcha gonna do when you find him?” Phee asked.

  “You don’t want to know.” Voo took Lex’s hand. “We should go so Josie can sleep. And we have a long ride ahead of us.”

  She squeezed his fingers. They hugged Phee goodbye, and she pressed a kiss to Lex’s cheek. “See, honey child, it all worked out.”

  “How do you stay so calm, Phee?” The woman was a rock.

  “Old bayou secret.” She adjusted her glasses.

  “Yeah, it’s called vodka,” Boone teased.

  “Hush, you.” She grasped Lex by the shoulders. “You rescued both my sons, which makes you family. You come see me anytime you want, hear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Boone walked them out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. “I can’t thank you enough for giving us back the Chance.”

  “I’m sorry it took me so long.” Voo gripped Boone’s arm. “If you ever change your mind about hotel management, I could see about patchin’ you into the Horsemen. Figure if you survived what we just did, you’re Horsemen material.”

  “Don’t listen to him—he’s hoping he’ll get to boss your prospecting ass around if you join,” Lex warned.

  “No, thanks. The bayou’s in my blood.” Boone’s lips curved. “Maybe the two of you can come visit sometime. I’ll kick your ass in the gumbo contest. Throw in a free room to soothe the humiliation.”

  “In your dreams, mon ami.”

  “And you, Lexus, are welcome with or without him.” Boone grabbed her hand and raised her knuckles to his lips. “Especially without him.”

  Lex blushed. “I do love a good gumbo.”

  “Mine’s better, ma petite.” Voo slapped Boone’s hand away.

  Boone raised a wicked brow. “If not bigger….”

  Voo glared.

  “We’re renamin’ the Chance. It’s now the Bonne Chance Brulé.” Boone hugged Lex as best he could with Voo holding onto her hand. “Thank you for being our good luck charm.”

  “Anytime.”

  Hopefully, the streak of good fortune would follow her out of Louisiana. When they returned to Hell, she intended to head to Brimstone Ink to have Voo’s name tattooed on her back. The idea of him being her “old man”, with all the Horsemen bells and whistles, made her smile, but she’d only be able to hide the tattoo from Captain for so long.

  She’d need all the luck she could get.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Graffiti street art splashed across the whitewashed exterior of Brimstone Ink. The Four Horsemen MC logo covered the bottom corner of the glass front door, catching Lex’s reflection in its circle. She linked hands with Voo and pushed inside. A cool blast of air from the industrial AC hit her.

  The walls were a custom color called Brimstone Black—the only shade dark enough for Four Horsemen tattoos. Backlit flames crawled across the walls and ceilings, giving the space an unearthly glow. Iron lantern sconces holding firewood candles hung from the wall on thick chains. The swinging flames danced like tiny campfires.

  Sprayed on the wall in blood-red letters was the saying, “Looks Damn Good…Hurts Like Hell!”

  Most of the surfaces were stainless steel. The floor was made of black granite tile, shined and glossy. Large flat screens projected available ink designs on the wall, each image separated by a flash of flames.

  A blood-red leather chair sat on a raised dais, reserved for Horsemen. All the brothers got inked here. Jagger’s brother ran the tattoo parlor until he died. Now Jagger’s niece, Fiona Rourke, managed the shop.

  Fiona’s father had been one of the best tattoo artists in the country, with his shop featured in magazines and occasionally visited by celebrities. After his death, Fiona had worked hard to keep Brimstone Ink’s rep intact.

  “Hey, Lex.” Crash appeared from a back room, a stack of mail in his hand. He’d begun working at
Brimstone shortly after getting patched into the club. He handled security, swept up, carried in deliveries, and did whatever else Fiona needed. “When did you get back?”

  “Hi, Crash.” Lex smiled at the sandy-haired man. “We got in yesterday.”

  “Gettin’ some work done?”

  “Yes, she is. My name.” Voo wrapped an arm around her shoulders and narrowed his eyes at Crash. The possessiveness was almost barbaric, but it was a total turn-on.

  “About time.” Crash grinned.

  Behind him, Jagger walked out arguing with a beautiful redhead. She wore a black apron, red latex gloves, and a cranky expression that mirrored her uncle’s. “This is my shop now. You can’t waltz in here and—”

  “I tried to stop him…,” Jagger interrupted.

  “Not hard enough. This is an ambush!” Fiona put her hands on her hips.

  “Facing this head-on is the best way. You can’t just ignore a thing until it goes away.” Jagger glanced at Crash, and Fiona’s glare turned supernova.

  Was something going on with Crash and Fiona behind Dash’s back?

  Jagger threw up his hands, turning around, and caught sight of Lex and Voo.

  “Fiona, dear. It’s too late.”

  Lex cleared her throat. “Should I come back another time?”

  “I’m so sorry about this, Lex. I was at lunch, and I didn’t know.” Fiona crossed the room, wringing her hands. Her eyes shifted towards the privacy screen around the Four Horsemen chair.

  “What’s going on?” Lex stepped around the screen, Voo trailing her.

  “Hello, baby girl.” Captain sat in the red leather chair. His platinum-blond hair was spiked up, even more than usual, and he wore faded jeans over loosely laced motorcycle boots.

  “What are you doing here, Dad?” Her jaw set.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” He stared at Voo over her shoulder. “Hello, brother.”

  “Cap.” Voo leaned against the wall.

  “I’m here to get Voo’s name tattooed on my back.” She lifted her chin. “I’m his old lady now.”

  The temperature in the room dropped twenty degrees.

  “That so?” He raised a brow.

  Lex took Voo’s hand and looked her father in the eye. “You said you wanted me to be with someone who makes me happy, remember? He makes me happy.”