He looked at her. “You made the bed? You didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugged. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or not?” she asked bluntly.
He nodded, patting the really old, sagging couch that leaned against the window. “This is my fault,” he said. “I told Catfish — that’s the president of our club — about the will. He wants my half of the farm for the Wraiths.”
She grimaced. “So it wasn’t that they were targeting Maddy and I because they thought we were a couple,” she clarified.
“They might’ve given you a hard time — the Wraiths aren’t exactly open-minded,” he said, rubbing at the back of his neck like he had a knot there. “But no. This is about the money.”
“And they’re convinced you’re going to just give them thousands of dollars?” Thuy asked, then shook her head. “Or does it really not matter what you want?”
Drill’s frown was intense. “Apparently, it doesn’t matter what I want. I’d made a deal with Catfish: I had until Christmas to convince you guys to move, to sell. He jumped the gun, and I want to know why.”
That little tidbit had her sitting up straighter. “You wanted until Christmas? But… wait. You were that sure you could convince Maddy and me to move?”
He looked at her, and for a second, there was a lopsided smile on his face that was so filled with tenderness that it melted her defenses.
“Why would you want to stay here?” he asked quietly. “You’re a smart woman — an educated woman. You’re used to a big city, with… I dunno, sushi restaurants and lots of movie theaters with subtitled films and shit. Why the hell would you want to stay here, on a farm, working in a Podunk library? I get why my sister wants to stay, but she wouldn’t stay without you, especially not when she’s pregnant. I thought I could either show her that it was a bad idea, or show you that you weren’t going to be happy here. That there isn’t enough here to keep you happy.”
“You didn’t do a very good job,” Thuy said, with a gentle smile of her own. “If anything, you provided some of your own incentive for me to stay.”
His eyes glowed with warmth, and her heart trip-hammered in response.
She cleared her throat, shifting away from the emotions that were starting to flood her. “Besides. I’m liking it more than I thought here. The air’s clean, the trees are breathtaking, and the town’s like a postcard. It’s amazingly beautiful. I like the library, too. I mean, it needs some work,” she closed her eyes for a second, thinking of just how much work it needed, “but I like helping people, and there, I feel like I am. I have that chance. And I’m getting used to the farm. I don’t know much about plants, but Maddy’s teaching me stuff. I’m even getting used to the cattle. I’ll miss them in the spring when Mr. McMasters takes them back.”
Drill looked at her indulgently, and he reached out, stroking her cheek, tucking her hair behind her ear. The gesture ought to annoy her, she supposed, but she found herself tilting a little, until his hand cupped her face.
“You really think you could be happy here?”
“I will admit, I do miss sushi,” she said, and he laughed.
“I could take you to Knoxville,” he said. “Or Nashville. I’m sure one of them has it.”
“You’ve never eaten it, have you?” she asked.
He made a face, and she laughed. “Raw fish,” he said. “I catch plenty of it, but I’m not gonna eat it that way.”
“We’ll see about that,” she said, her voice playful.
Then she realized, abruptly, what she was doing.
She was still pissed, dammit. She and Maddy were being threatened by a biker gang, and Drill had a part in it, no matter how inadvertently. Why was she making plans to eat sushi with this man?
She pulled away from his hand, silently cursing herself.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to let you get hurt,” he reiterated, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Not you, not my sister. I’m going to fix this. And I’m going to stay here to make sure that nothing else happens.”
“Are you going to stay here forever?” Thuy snapped . “Because we’re not selling, and we’re not moving. I know Maddy. She’s digging her feet in, and she’s angry at you because you let this happen. I don’t even think she’d sell if I threatened to leave — and if she’s staying, I’m staying, no matter what. So how are you going to stop them?”
“I’m going to talk to Catfish.”
She made a noise of frustration, a frustrated, choking growl. “I know what these people are like,” she said. “Unless motorcycle clubs are a lot nicer out here in Tennessee than they are in the rest of the world, just reasoning with them and asking them to back off isn’t going to do shit. They respond to one thing: strength. How are you going to get them to back down?”
“If I have to beat Catfish down, I will,” Drill said vehemently. “I’ll do whatever I have to, to keep you safe. I will always protect you, and do what’s best for you. Do you understand that?”
Thuy swallowed. His blue eyes blazed incandescently. He was holding her, staring at her.
“You said before, to that guy from the library,” she said, her voice shaking a little. “You said I was yours. Why’d you do that?”
She saw his throat work as he swallowed. “Dammit, Thuy. You know why.”
“Swear to God, I don’t,” she whispered.
He sighed. Then he leaned forward, his lips pressing against hers. “Because I want you to be,” he said against her mouth. “I have never felt like this about anyone. Ever.”
She hadn’t, either. That, almost more than the bikers, scared the hell out of her.
She didn’t want, couldn’t think about it right now. Instead, she leaned into him, her mouth moving, silencing him. She made a soft little cry of pleasure as he slanted his mouth over hers, meeting her, matching her intensity. She ran her hands up his chest, then linked them around his neck. They were still side-by-side on the couch, but she twisted, pressing her chest against his, trying to get as close to him as possible.
His mouth opened, his tongue licking at the seam of her mouth for entrance. His hands moved lower, cupping her hips. She opened her mouth, her tongue moving against his.
More. I want more this time.
More pressure, more passion, more physicality.
Less thinking.
They were in the cabin, she realized. Privacy. Maddy would not be coming to interrupt.
She felt heat that had nothing to do with the wood-burning stove seep through her system. She pulled away just long enough to tug off her sweater. She wasn’t wearing a bra underneath.
She stood there, half-naked, and waited.
He took her in with his eyes, studying her like she was a puzzle he was dying to solve. He reached for her almost reverently. “Thuy,” he breathed.
He covered her breasts with his palms, his hands rough from working with engines and riding his bike. The slight abrasion against her excited nipples made her arch her back and gasp, pressing harder against him.
He groaned, leaning down and resting his head against her neck, then pressing hard suction against her wildly beating pulse. She leaned against him, her knees buckling.
He lifted her like she didn’t weigh anything, wrapping her legs around his waist. He kissed her, long and hard, and she moaned softly against his onslaught.
More, more, more. She clawed at his back, all but begging him without words to take it deeper, be rougher, simply do more.
After what felt like both an eternity and not enough time at all, he nudged her down, placing her on her feet.
“I can’t,” he said, simply.
She blinked. “What?”
“We can’t,” he corrected. “We can’t have sex tonight.”
“What?” She couldn’t help it. She whimpered with need, embarrassing herself. “Why not?” She rubbed up against him. “Your body seems to be on board with the plan.”
“Oh, God, baby… you’re making it really hard for me to d
o the right thing here,” he said, and she could see sweat on his forehead, feel the slight tremor run through his body as his hands stroked down her sides.
“I can feel that.” Her own body felt like it was on fire. She kissed him, hard, and he kissed her back, then pulled away, his breathing hard and ragged.
“Damn it, Thuy. I just punched out a member of my own club,” he said. “They’re going to be pissed. And they still want half this farm. I have to fix all this, and I’m not sure if anybody else is going to come tonight for retribution. I want to make sure you and Maddy are safe tonight, then I’ll deal with Catfish tomorrow.”
The words were like a bucket of ice water poured on her head.
He needed to protect Maddy.
They needed to protect Maddy, dammit. Not screw around and leave Maddy to fend for herself.
She pulled back, taking a step away from him. “Of course, you’re right,” she said, guilt swamping her. “God. I don’t… I forgot. I can’t believe I forgot.”
“Hey, come here,” Drill said, pulling her to him, cradling her against his chest. “Remember what I said? I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. Don’t beat yourself up over this.”
She struggled for a moment, wriggling, but his warmth and his body enveloped her, and she finally sighed, succumbing to it. She felt his heart beat, still fast and uneven, beneath her ear.
“I don’t know if I’ve felt this way before,” she admitted softly.
“Next time,” he said, and she felt him kissing the top of her head, stroking her still naked back, “when I’ve got this fixed… I’m not gonna stop until I’m buried deep inside you, and you’re screaming my name with pleasure. Got it?”
She quivered. “Not fair,” she muttered, and felt as well as heard him laugh. “But until then…”
“Until then,” he said, with a reluctant sigh, “I guess I’d better get you back on up to the house.”
She tugged on her sweater, then turned to him. The expression on his brutally handsome face was mixed: regret, hunger, sorrow. And a sweetness, an intensity, that she couldn’t remember seeing aimed at her ever.
“Next time,” he reiterated, his eyes glowing.
She swallowed hard, then headed back through the cold, back up to the farmhouse. She was getting in over her head with Drill, and she knew it.
Just like she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to do anything to stop it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Drill slept lightly all that night. The cabin’s bed was surprisingly comfortable, but he still jumped at every noise, the shotgun close at hand. He texted Catfish at dawn, telling him to meet him at the Dragon as soon as possible. Which was why he was rolling into the mostly-empty bar at nine o’clock in the morning. He saw Catfish’s motorcycle there, a custom chopper that was comprised of mostly stolen parts, gleaming in the cold December sunshine. There were a few other bikes there, too, as well as a rusty pick-up and a beat-up old Plymouth. He walked in to find the bartender serving beers to a few hung-over members. Music was playing low on the jukebox. Drill stalked past the few people there, ignoring their greetings. He went right back to the office, opening the door forcefully.
“What the hell, Catfish?”
Catfish looked up, as did Dirty Dave. Catfish quirked an eyebrow at him. “Good morning to you, too, sunshine,” he drawled sarcastically.
“What’s he doing here?” Drill said, nodding at Dave. “I told you I wanted to talk to you.”
“We’ve been making some plans for that half of the ranch you’ll be selling,” Dave said. “Figured you’d want to be here for that. We need to talk about how you’re gonna sell it, as well.”
“Get out.” Drill’s voice dripped with venom.
Dave’s smile was slow and smug. “Now, now. No need to get all touchy.”
“Get. Out.”
Dave grimaced. “You gettin’ cold feet, son?”
“I’m not your goddamn son, and get out before I throw you out.” Drill clenched his jaw so tight he thought he’d crumble his own molars.
“Stay, Dave,” Catfish said, his dark eyes glinting with anger. “What’s the problem, Drill?”
“You told me that you wouldn’t send anyone after my sister until Christmas,” he said. “You said I’d have until then to convince them on my own!”
Dave’s laugh sounded like a rusty spring. “Convince them?” he asked. “You should just tell ‘em! Jesus, how soft are you?”
Drill grabbed the man by his collar. “How fucking soft do I seem now?” he said, shaking the man.
Dave’s eyes bulged as the collar tightened.
“Enough!” Catfish shoved at Drill, and Drill released the older man. Dave backed away, staring at Drill warily and coughing slightly. “You weren’t getting the job done.”
Drill glared at Catfish. “You’re the one saying I need to sell and give my half over to the club,” he spat out. “Why? So guys like this asshole can skim a bunch? So I can see my money go to a bunch of guys who are willing to turn tail at the first opportunity? What the hell do you think I owe to this club?”
Catfish’s eyes widened.
“Do you honestly think Darrell Winston would’ve given his wife’s cash to the club, if he hadn’t been outsmarted by those damned kids of his?” Drill pushed. “Hell, no, he wouldn’t. He would’ve kept every red cent!”
“You’re no damned Darrell Winston, boy,” Dirty Dave said sharply.
“Damned right I’m not,” Drill shot back. “Because Darrell Winston went state’s evidence. You really going to play the Saint Darrell of the Wraiths card on me right now?”
“Dave, get out,” Catfish said, sounding both irritated and tired.
“This asshole…” Dave protested.
Catfish didn’t have to say another word. He glared at Dave, then looked at the door.
Dave grimaced at Drill, but did as he was told, shutting the door behind him with a slam.
“Okay. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent Sledge and Nick,” Catfish said slowly.
“Goddamned right you shouldn’t,” Drill ground out.
“I’m in a corner,” Catfish said, surprising Drill. “The club is coming apart at the seams, and I’m holding it together by the skin of my goddamned teeth, Drill. I need your help with this, and you’re dragging your feet.”
Drill folded his arms across his chest. “Are we going to go under if we don’t have this money? Is that what you’re saying?”
Catfish’s expression grew cagey. “Not under, exactly. But we’re losing ground. We’ve got to make a statement. Having the money will…”
“I don’t want to sell,” Drill interrupted. “I don’t want to give the money to the club.”
Catfish grimaced. “Dammit, Drill. I thought we were brothers.”
Drill felt some sadness of his own. They had been like brothers, for years. “We are,” Drill said. “Which is why you ordering me to give up what’s mine is so wrong to me. And threatening pregnant women? What’s next? We gonna start mugging old people and shaking down kids for milk money, for God’s sake? You know I don’t like this kind of shit. I wouldn’t do it when Razor’s psycho ass was here, and I won’t do it for you.”
“You’re just saying that because she was your sister,” Catfish said, scowling.
“The fact that you think I am tells me how wrong I am about you.”
Catfish huffed out an impatient breath. “We need to present a united front,” Catfish said. “Listen… maybe I crossed a line, telling you to give your cash over to the club. But I didn’t think you’d have a problem with it.”
“I have a problem with Dirty Dave getting his hands on it,” Drill said.
“Fair enough,” Catfish said. “The guy’s called Dirty for a reason. But if you just walk with the money, that’s gonna be a problem. People are gonna think they can do whatever the hell they want. They’re going to think we’re broken. And that’s gonna be the end of the Wraiths.”
Catfish sat down, leaning ba
ck, studying Drill intently.
“Do you know why the Wraiths were as powerful as they were before, when Razor ran the place?”
“Because Razor was scary as fuck,” Drill said. “He wasn’t worth crossing.”
“We don’t have that,” Catfish said somberly. “I’m president, but I need them to know that they can’t cross me.”
“And you think that if I don’t give up my half of the farm, that means I’m… what? Showing that you’re weak or something?”
“Not if I show that it’s got my blessing,” Catfish said. “But I’m not going to do that. Not unless you give me something.”
Drill froze. This was his opportunity. “What do you want?”
“You know what I want,” Catfish said quietly. “You need to become Vice President. Show them that we’ve got muscle on our side. Show them that we’ve still got the old guard.”
Drill felt his chest compress.
Being VP. That meant he’d be bound to the club, and everything it did. He’d know about the killings, if more happened — and he got the feeling, based on Catfish’s comments, that they were headed in that direction. He’d be more intricately involved in all the club’s affairs. There was no way he’d be able to see his sister once he took this on: even if she somehow was willing to associate with him, knowing what he was involved in, he wouldn’t want her tainted with what he would become.
And Thuy. He felt himself compress, like a ten-ton weight dropped on his chest. There was no way he could be with her. No chance in hell they would be able to be together for the long term… and for the first time, he realized, that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted the long term, with her.
He didn’t want this. Goddamn it, he didn’t want this.
“If I take the job,” Drill said slowly, “then the farmhouse stuff — that’s all off the table? You’ll leave it alone?”
“Sure,” Catfish said easily. He held his hand out.
Drill sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.
It’ll keep them safe.
Prose Before Bros Page 19
