Violet's Guns: Book 9 of Colson Brothers Series

by Reese Madison

  “I know baby. Come on, let’s lock up and get out you of here.”

  “Why aren’t you losing your shit? Shouldn’t you be storming out of here and going after those assholes?” I asked digging my keys out of my purse.

  “I’ll take care of that piece of shit. You’re on lockdown until I do.”

  “What?? NO!!”

  Gunner grabbed my purse and keys then shut the door too hard but managed to, thank god, not break it. “You know better than to argue with me.”

  “What are you going to do? Spank me? Hit me?? Too fucking late for that!!” I regretted my words the second they came out.

  He spun on me with a look I never want to see again.

  “I’m sorry. I’m pissed off, and I’m scared, so I’m taking it out on you. Just ignore me and take me to the club kicking and screaming if you have to.” I give up. All I want to do is feel safe again.

  “That was the plan. Let’s go.”

  It took some doing to get me on his bike with what he deemed ride-able gear before we finally checked into Exiles Hotel.

  The place looks almost the same.

  It shook me.

  The memories of those three months of mourning took my knees out from under me.

  “Whoa.” Gunner scooped me up. “What just happened??”

  All of a sudden I’m right back there almost five years ago. Only this time it’s worse. I know the impact of… the impact. I can see the short story fly fast in my mind as it crushes my heart. This is the last place I need to be right now.

  “Okay. We’ll go baby. Hang in there. Breathe.” Gunner begged before everything went dark.

  8

  “How is she?” I asked the doctor.

  “She’ll be fine. From what she told me it sounds like she had a bit a of a nervous breakdown coupled with an anxiety attack. Her BAC was a little high, so I’m guessing that didn’t help. Back her off the booze gently, and keep her away from whatever set her off.” He suggested.

  “She drinks too much?? I don’t see that. I mean, I know she’s been indulging a little lately, but she’s never drunk.” I argued on Violet’s behalf. I’d know if she was a drunk, right??

  “Her liver levels are normal, so no I doubt this is more than just a bad day.” He assured me. “If anything she’s been working too hard, enjoyed a little too much whiskey last night, and needs to drink more water. She’s okay Mr. Colson. You can go in and see her now. She’s been asking for you.”

  I shook the man’s hand. “Thank you doctor. She scared the shit out of me.”

  He returned my handshake with a wink. “Her discharge paperwork is ready at the nurses desk. Take her home, draw her a bath, and get her a good steak and a gallon of water. She’ll be just fine.” He left before I could question the wink. Gay or not he’s been great dealing with me fretting over my Violet.

  I pushed open the door and felt instant relief when she threw open her arms for me with a smile. “Guns!! Come here dammit, I need hugs.”

  I hugged her a little too hard but my girl didn’t flinch. I inhaled her scent mixed with the smell of this hospital. “Damn baby. What happened?”

  She kissed my neck and let go to rest back against the pillow. “For some reason being back at the apartment brought all the memories of losing my parents back full force. Between that and the near death experience this afternoon I lost my shit.”

  “That was yesterday. You’ve been out cold all night.”

  She looked at me funny. “Really?”

  “Yeah. I guess you were tired, probably from working too hard the last couple weeks.” I devised looking around. “Doc says you can leave any time, but I have to feed and water you, and make you take it easy for a few days.” I looked away pretending to hunt for her clothes which I know full well are in the closet locker thing. “I should have taken better care of you.”

  “No, you should stop dancing around making love to me so I’m not so damn distracted. My shit’s in the closet. Snap out of it Guns, I’m fine.” She’s going to be a perfect old lady. I don’t respond to coddling, and neither does she. That’s my fault. I never let her cry, it killed me inside. I told myself I was saving her from getting lost in the grief like I had. Tough love to get her through. I’m so full of shit.

  I got her things and helped her dress. “How’s the cheek. He hit you pretty hard.”

  “I’ve been hit harder by women during a sparring match.” She replied sounding a little like me.

  “I have to retaliate, you know that, right?”

  “No. I know you’re an idiot though. Leave it alone. He hit me, not you. I don’t need you to fight my battles. You’ll make me look weak if you retaliate. In fact, I order you to stand down. I’ll make Slider order you if I have to.” She slid off the bed pulling her sweater over her shoulders that I’d brought with me this morning when I left for just a few minutes to get her some clean clothes.

  “I don’t take orders from you.”

  “I know.” She reached into my inside jacket pocket and stole my phone.

  I followed her down the hall with her bag and listened to the entire conversation. She put it on speaker for my benefit.

  The introductions were done inside the building. The real talk came outside on the way to my truck.

  “I need you to call Guns off. Make sure he doesn’t respond to what happened yesterday.”

  “Why?” Slider asked dropping his tone an octave entering president mode.

  “Because it’s not necessary. The fucker hit me Slider, not you, not Gunner. This is mine to handle, not yours. I need you to give him the order so you don’t start some unnecessary war over this stupid bullshit.”

  “It’s not your call.”

  Violet stopped at the hood of my truck and turned to look up at me. “I beg to differ. I made an agreement with that fucker. The smack was just his way of making sure I knew he was in charge. Stupid bullshit pussy move if you ask me, but that’s what those guys are. His cousin tried to break into my place and came after me with a knife. I blew his balls off. We’re even and he knows it. If you make a move you discredit me. I absolutely refuse to let you get involved.”

  “It’s not for you to say what we-“ I started to inform her.

  “Shut up Guns.” Slider cut me off. “Violet is right.” He sighed audibly. “This is Violet’s problem until she asks for our help. If you make a move Gunner, you will not have my backing. Is that understood?”

  “Yes- fuck you- boss.”

  He laughed. “I know buddy. I feel your pain on a regular basis. Get used to it.” He advised. “Violet is smart like Salina. She’s going to make a great queen of Exiles one day.”

  “Let’s hope it’s no time soon.” I barely managed not to growl at my sneering Violet.

  “Let’s hope. Joe opened up the Sedona house for you. I don’t want to see either of you back in the valley for two weeks. That’s the deal Violet. Got it?”

  “Got it boss.” She replied easily handing me my phone. “Thank you Slider. Give Sals a hug for me.”

  “Always. Gunner?” Slider asked not ready to hang up just yet.

  “Yeah boss?”

  “Prospects are starting on the fence tomorrow. Enjoy your honeymoon buddy, once it’s over you’re in big trouble.” He laughed just before the phone blinked indicating he’d hung up.

  I pocketed the phone and looked my sweet pain in the ass in her big brown eyes. “I don’t know whether to turn you over my knee or drag you down the aisle and make you my wife.” I pointed to the passenger side. Get in the damn truck.”

  She stepped up with that mischievous grin that makes me want to grab her jaw and kiss her pliable. “I’d suggest you kiss me first, but to be honest I want to go home and sleep in my own bed.”

  “You’re not going home. I packed you a couple bags. We’re going to Red and Joe’s place for a couple weeks like Slider said. And next time you go over my head, I’m going to spank the snot out of you.”

  “Promises promises.”
She shooed me away and let herself into the passenger side of my truck.

  ***

  Salina lives a dangerous life, I won’t deny that, but give me some credit. I stared down a Mexican gang member and told him where the bear shit in the buckwheat. I think I can hold my own. I didn’t even have to pull my gun, unlike the morning before the confrontation with his now ball-less cousin.

  The drive to Sedona in the dark seemed to be a fitting time to break down. I tried to do it quietly. I miss my mom the most. She was so sweet. My stepdad was pretty awesome too. He loved games. His favorite was Killer Bunnies until he discovered Cards Against Humanity.

  Tears fell silently. I wiped them away between sniffles. Gunner is listening to his oldies on the radio as usual. That’s fine. Gunner doesn’t mourn. I know that, and I accept it. We all deal with our shit in our own way. Evidently he’s too strong to really empathize with what I’m going through. I’m not sure I want him to. I rely on his strength to keep me going.

  Right now I need to be weak. I can be weak and still have him beside me. If I lose it I know he’ll tuck me under his arm and demand I end this sadness. That’s good. That’s fine. He’s my strength. Maybe that’s what I really needed four years ago. His strength.

  I can’t blame him for not letting me mourn. It would have brought too much of his own sadness to surface at the same time. He didn’t ask for this. I went to him. I claimed him. I grabbed onto his strength so I wouldn’t drown in my own devastation. It’s not fair to blame him for my not being able to mourn properly.

  I reached over and slid my hand under his thigh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blamed you for not being able to mourn properly.”

  He let go of the steering wheel and put his hand over my wrist. “Blame me all you want. I can take it.” He inhaled then exhaled in a rush. “I wasn’t the best person for you to turn to.”

  “You represented strength, something I desperately needed. I owe you everything, and for some stupid reason I keep blaming you for shit that’s not your fault. I’m sorry. You’ve done everything right and I’ve done everything wrong.”

  “Oh shut up.” He let go and unfastened my seatbelt. “Get your ass over here. Neither one of us is perfect.” Gunner tucked me under his arm and kissed the top of my head. “You did good. You did right. You do realize we’re going to be doing this for the rest of our lives, right?”

  “Doing what?” I’m stupid happy to be in his arms again.

  “Butting heads. You’re going to keep me grounded, just like Salina keeps Slider grounded.”

  I hugged him knowing he’s right but unwilling to let this get too serious just yet. His threat to move out earlier scared me so bad I got sick to my stomach. “I wonder if she has to spank him to keep him in line.”

  He shook in silent laughter. “Jerk.”

  I cracked up. “I love you too.”

  “Quit.” I laughed as he backed me to the railing under perfectly red mountains.

  He gripped the hem of my shirt. “Mine.” This childish grin and temperament are making me giddy.

  “Yes. Yours.” I let him pull my shirt off over my head and smiled when he threw it over his shoulder towards the house.

  He ran his thumb over my cheek. “Why didn’t you shoot him for hitting you?”

  “Because it was a stupid show of power. Hitting a woman is nothing more than a sign of weakness. I don’t respect a man enough to fight him when he pulls weak ass bullshit like that.”

  “Next time shoot the fucker. Evidently I’m not allowed to avenge you.” He instructed trailing the backs of his fingers over my favorite black lace bra.

  “You taught me not to need a man to avenge me.” I bit my lower lip as his hands wound around my back to unclasp my bra.

  “I’m supposed to protect you. Avenge you.” He’s having trouble finding the clasp. This isn’t the first time. I’m starting to wonder if he ever actually has to undress women, or if they just throw their clothes off on the way to jumping in his bed.

  I ducked out under his arm and grabbed my shirt on the way back inside.

  “Hey! Where are you going??” He asked on my heels.

  “If you’re going to take my clothes off it’s not going to be on the back deck.” I tossed my shirt in his face when he backed me towards the master bedroom where we dropped our bags a few minutes ago.

  He pulled the shirt off his face and dropped it before launching himself at me. “You can’t get away this time Violet. Enough with the foreplay.”

  I screamed as he caught my wrist and grabbed me around the waist tossing my ass dead center in the middle of the bed. “Slow down!”

  He tossed his shirt aimlessly onto a nearby reading chair and kicked out of his boots while threatening me. “You’re in big trouble now woman.”

  I have the giggles, and he’s not helping with that look on his face. You don’t scare me Gunner. Never have, never will.”

  He bent planting his hands on the bed and crawled towards me with his now lustful dark green eyes set intensely on mine. “Yeah well, you scare the shit out of me.”

  “I do?” I asked as he used his size and my weakness for those eyes and my need for his kiss to get me on my back underneath him.

  “Yes. Since you’ve been home you’ve turned me into your lap dog, shot a gang member in the balls, and now there’s a good chance you’ve started a war.” He lowered and kissed my chin to lift my jaw so he can kiss my neck. I love when he kisses my neck.

  “You’re not my lap dog.” I can’t deny the other two. My fingers are combing his hair out of his face while he works his way down with tender kisses and tickling whiskers. “You need a haircut.”

  “Can’t.” He lifted up and looked down, first at my girls still stuffed in the bra then up to my eyes. “Lost a bet.”

  I’m intrigued and tilted my head. “You did? What did you bet?”

  “The guys bet on how long it would take me to admit I’m your old man.” He settled down on his left side and started on my belt with his head propped in his hand. I’m surprised he’s going so slow.

  “Who won? And what did you bet?”

  “Joe.” He pulled my belt out and held it up over my stomach to look back and forth between me and the belt and back again. “Huh. This might come in handy.”

  I snatched the belt and threw it towards the fireplace. “Not in this lifetime.”

  “You’re no fun.” He went back to work on my jeans.

  “Probably not. I’m sure I’m boring compared to what you’re used to.”

  He looked over and down. “What? Why would you say that?”

  I shrugged then wiggled out of my jeans. “I don’t exactly have any experience here.”

  “Experience doesn’t matter. It’s the way we fit together that makes us different. I don’t need to make love to you to know you were meant for me. On some level I’ve always known it, but you had to do your thing first.”

  “Do my thing?” I rolled over and propped myself up on my elbow mimicking his pose to face him.

  “College. Men. Find your own path. If that path found it’s way back to me, great, but I didn’t expect it to. I fully expected you to sell the feed store and move somewhere the memories weren’t everywhere you turned.” He confided running his fingers over various and random curves.

  “I thought about it, but I like it here. I like my mountain.” I dropped down to my back closer to him now. “I was afraid you’d think I’d come back for you.”

  He laughed. “Oh, believe me, I know better.”

  “Why is that funny? What if I did??” I teased more curious as to how his mind works than worried about what he’d do or think of me if I had.

  “It’s not your style Violet.” He informed me while gently freeing my left breast from my bra.

  “True.” I’m not sure what to do with my hands, it’s oddly distracting.

  As if reading my mind he slid my bra straps down so both my breasts are free for his feasting. Now I can play with his hair
again. Were we talking about something? I forget. All I know is him.

  His scent. His touch. His breath between kisses warming my skin one second and sending chills to my toes the next. I felt him slide the panties that match my bra slowly down over my thighs, calves and ankles. I took advantage and pulled my bra off so there’s nothing else he needs to remove to have me at his mercy.

  “God you’re beautiful.” He sounds further away than he should so I pushed up on my elbows to find him shoving his jeans to the floor. “I hope you realize once we do this I may never stop. You’re going to need a chastity belt just to get me to go to work when we get home.”

  I smiled at the idea of this man, this sexier than should be legal biker, powerful biker, chasing after me for sex. “Just be gentle with me the first time.”

  He crawled up still in his boxers and settled like he was going to do pushups with me underneath him. “It’s still going to hurt. Are you sure this is what you want? I’m not asking if you want me, I know you want this. I’m asking if you’re sure you want this life, because once I make you mine there’s no going back. You’ll belong to me just as much as the life that’s goes along with what I am. You will replace Salina one day. Hopefully no time soon, but it’s a huge responsibility. If we do this, you’re signing up for a hell of a lot more than just a lifetime of putting up with my dumb ass.”

  I smiled letting his words sink in. Thoughts tried to form and reason did it’s damnedest to barge in, but the only thing that went through my head was, “A life without you is not an option for me. Not anymore. I told you to go away, so you really only have yourself to blame. Oh, and you should probably start calling me your queen now, you know, get used to it?”

  That got me tickled into a kiss. A kiss that turned heated. Heat that built until next thing I know he’s breaking the kiss to get my attention. “Did you say you were on the pill?”

  I nodded touching his face. “Use a condom if you want.”