by J. L. Leslie
~Sully~
I stand in the kitchen and pop another strawberry in my mouth. It’s almost two a.m. and I’m in Lincoln’s kitchen eating fruit. I like that I have the freedom to do that. I need to get a shower and get in the bed though. Get out of these clothes. I smell like cigarette smoke and alcohol. I guess that’s what I get for staying at The Lion’s Den for most of the night. The place was packed and the patrons weren’t there for the music.
I wanted to see what kind of turn out it would have. What kind of people would show up. It doesn’t make knowing what the women we didn’t sell are coming into, but at least I know. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything I can do about it.
I wrote down everything Thad needs to know in the file and put it on his desk. I didn’t bother looking at the women who are coming. They’ll be here soon and the meeting with Juan is set up. Juan also managed to scrounge up three men and if Thad likes them, he’ll pay a hefty amount for them.
I eat one more strawberry and then take a long shower. I slip on Cal’s t-shirt and a pair of pink cotton panties and head back to the living room. I scream out in surprise when I collide with Lincoln in the hallway.
“You scared me to death!” I scream and punch his shoulder.
He laughs and the sight of a smile on his face makes my heart flutter. His eyes crinkle in the corners and his left cheek has a dimple that I didn’t notice before. He rarely smiles. It’s truly a shame.
I tentatively reach up and touch my finger to his dimple then trail my finger over his lips, reminding myself that mine have still yet to touch. To taste. I rise on my tiptoes towards him, but he flinches back, refusing to let me kiss him. Instead, he drops to his knees without a word and kisses the sensitive skin of my thighs. The ink from the tattoo on my side swirls down my leg, stopping where his lips are at the edge of my panties. Goosebumps rise over my flesh.
“Lincoln…” I whisper and he gazes up at me, his dark, blue eyes imploring as he slides my panties down my legs.
I step out of them and watch him shove them into his back pocket. He nuzzles his face against my center and breathes deep, inhaling my scent, then he cups the back of my left leg and urges it over his shoulder. I lean against the wall and breathe out as his tongue darts out and licks my core. The leg I’m standing on trembles, threatening to buckle, but Lincoln holds me firmly at the hips and delves his tongue inside me.
I thread my fingers through his already messy locks and pull his face closer, if that’s even possible. He growls against me, causing a vibration against my flesh, and I nearly crumble on top of him.
“Yes…please…yes!” I bite out and succumb to him, arching myself against his mouth as I come.
When he moves away from me, I cry out, needing to feel him there again. Lincoln grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder and I gasp when he smacks my ass. Despite being upside down, I know he’s headed to his bedroom. I bounce as he flings me down to his bed, but only for a split second because then he’s pulling me up on all fours. I look over my shoulder to watch him shove his pants down and position himself behind me.
He still hasn’t spoken a word to me, not one, when he pushes into me. I close my eyes and let him fuck me. I let him slap my ass as he thrusts into me. I let him thumb my clit when I’m close to coming again. I let him release deep inside me and I love hearing him moan my name when he does.
This I allow. This I want. This I can control.
Chapter Fourteen
~Lincoln~
I wait until Sully’s breathing is even and has been for at least fifteen minutes before I slowly extract my arm from beneath her warm body. I hadn’t mean to curl myself around her when I’d finished, but it happened. I can’t even use tequila as an excuse.
I know what she’s been going through. I know Thad has been taking what he wants from her and when I came to my apartment, I’d planned on getting clothes and leaving her be. I heard her in the shower and had no intention of bothering her. She doesn’t need another man pawing at her.
But then she came out. She came out and her sweet vanilla scent surrounded me. She touched my cheek and then my lips. I almost kissed her. Damn, I wanted to. I haven’t touched my lips to a woman’s in a long time. Not since my attack. I don’t know what’s holding me back. I have no problem fucking a woman, but when I get close to kissing one, I feel my face smashing against the shower floor. The hot breath of the Raven is back in my ear again, howling and screaming. Stay down, bitch, and I’m disgusted with the thought of letting someone get that close.
“Lincoln?” I feel Sully run her fingertips over the thin lines of my scars. It feels like a feather being teased over my skin. “You should stay and sleep. I’ll go get on the couch.”
Her selflessness makes me smile. “I need to get going.” I tell her and pat her hand that has now slipped around my bare waist.
She kisses my shoulder and scolds me. “You should sleep.”
Every fiber in me wants to stay. I barely even know Sully and the things I do know about her aren’t necessarily good things. She helped Cal run a human trafficking ring for fuck’s sake. That’s not really a good quality. Still, she stayed in that restaurant and held three Drycos at gunpoint to get me out of there. Each time I’m around her, I feel her chipping away at my exterior. Making me want to think about a life beyond the Ryker club. Hell, a life with me leading it. I don’t know which one I want more.
Fuck it.
I lie back down and pull Sully to me. She curls one leg over my thigh and lazily drifts her fingers over my midsection and then up over my nipple rings, then back down again.
“I know this isn’t what you always wanted.” she says, quietly. “You and your brother…neither of you wanted club life.”
I clench my jaw, not wanting to think of Luka and the things we used to want. How life used to be for us. That’s all over now.
“No, we didn’t, but that seems like a lifetime ago now.”
“What changed your mind?” she prods.
“Cal.” I answer, honestly.” For me, anyway. He showed up out of the blue one night and then started coming around the gym I trained Luka at. He made the Rykers sound like a family and for someone who doesn’t have much of that, it sounded nice.”
“You had your dad and brother, though.”
“I did and we were very close, my dad and I still are, but what Cal was telling me was different.” I admit and I don’t know why I’m even telling her these things.
“You wanted to be an individual.” she says as if reading my mind. “What about Luka? Why did he join the Ravens?”
“He claimed it was to protect me. Said he was trying to get me a better deal.”
“But you don’t believe that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know what I believe anymore.”
~Sully~
Hearing the brokenness in Lincoln’s voice is devastating. He believes everyone he’s trusted has turned on him, with the exception of his dad. How will he feel when he learns the truth about me? That I’m not Caroline Willis, the former DA’s daughter. That I’m actually trying to earn my way into the FBI.
After Katy disappeared, my family was lost. My mother had a nervous breakdown and never recovered. She’s still in a psychiatric facility in Tennessee. My dad drowns himself in whiskey and probably wouldn’t know who I was if I ever returned home. Me being there only reminded him that Katy wasn’t.
I quit school and got my GED instead. I worked my ass off and got my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and then headed straight to D.C. for training. Only I failed. I failed at the one thing I wanted more than anything. I wasn’t good enough to be an FBI agent. I didn’t have the talent for it. But someone thought I did.
When I was approached just outside of the facility that day, I thought he was joking. I didn’t even make it through training and he thought I could handle an undercover job. What the hell was he thinking?
You’ll be perfect. You look just like her and I know the Rykers have been looking for a way in
with the DA. They’ll take you in. I know it. Then we can bust their asses.
At the time, I had no idea who the Rykers were. I never knew who the biker was that my sister, Katy, met and I never will, but once I was told what my job would be and that it would definitely get me a position in the FBI…if I could pull it off…I accepted. I knew there would be risks and I knew the types of things I would be expected to do. I knew it would take time. A long time.
I’ve reported everything to my handler, whom I lovingly nicknamed Katy. I knew if my phone was ever checked, no one would be suspicious of a woman’s name, certainly not Cal. I know we’re close to taking down the Rykers. Even though they had nothing to do with Katy’s disappearance, it’ll feel good to get one motorcycle club off the streets. They’re definitely not saints. Far from that.
I know as I’m thinking this, that I’m sharing my bed with one of them. He might be second guessing his role as a Ryker, but the things he’s done…he’s no saint either.
He’s participated in every illegal activity the Rykers have done…theft, assault, drugs, and now prostitution. I might be able to see the good in him, but when the times comes, I’ll have to turn him over with the rest of them. Even if it kills me.
Chapter Fifteen
~Lincoln~
I take a long drag and slowly let the smoke drift out of my mouth. I slept all fucking night last night. No tequila to keep the nightmares at bay. Just an insatiable blonde who woke me up with her lips around my cock.
She deserved bacon after that. I’m not a softy, not by a long shot, but what kind of dick would I be if I didn’t at least feed the woman who just swallowed my jizz?
So, I cooked her breakfast while she showered. Then I ate bacon and eggs with her before I showered. It was almost too domestic for me.
I climb on my bike, getting ready to head over to the clubhouse, when my phone rings.
“Yeah.” I answer, wishing with everything in me that I could have ignored the call, but knowing I don’t have that option.
“We have a little birdie to play with. Come to 1440 West Alendale.” he instructs and I hang up.
When I arrive at the address on Alendale, I realize it’s a motel. Not exactly what I was expecting, but I’m to a point in my life where shit doesn’t surprise me anymore. The only thing is, I don’t know what fucking room to go to. I don’t see any bikes or any sign of Thad.
I pull my phone out, but before I can call him, I spot Lazarus at one of the motel room doors. He waves me over.
“What the fuck is going on?” I hiss. “Where is everyone?”
“It’s just me and Thad. Bikes are parked in the back, but there’s no cameras here. You’re good.”
“Yeah, I’m good. It’s daylight outside.”
He ushers me inside and the room reeks of piss. I look at the man strapped to the chair and it isn’t hard to figure out why. He’s been urinated on. His clothes are soaked in fucking piss. Real mature.
Blood pours from his nose and mouth and his left eye is swollen shut. He has salt and pepper hair and looks to be in his fifties. He’s not wearing a Ravens cut, so I’m not sure who this “birdie” is supposed to be.
“I thought you had a Raven here.” I comment and Thad laughs.
“He is a fucking Raven.” Thad snorts. “He just happens to be a retired one. Once a Raven, always a Raven. Meet Walt Turley.”
I glare at him, my eyes wide. “You think this fucking helps us?” I argue. “He’s not even in the club anymore! He doesn’t know shit!”
Thad slams his fist into my gut and I double over, grunting in pain. It takes me a few seconds to get myself upright and when I do, I pace the room to get my anger under control.
“Everything we do sends a message!” Thad grits out. “I’m tired of fucking around with the Ravens and the Drycos! The Ravens didn’t even take notice to the job we just pulled! We are the fucking leaders in this town!”
“Damn right, we are.” Lazarus agrees.
“I called you here because I don’t feel that you respect this club enough, Linc.” Thad states. “You need to prove yourself to me.”
“I don’t respect the Rykers?” I reply, my voice cold. “I go on every job I’m assigned, I robbed Diesel’s, I helped you set up a prostitution ring, I drive your pick-up truck and haul illegal drugs every two weeks, not to mention the eight months I spent in jail for this club, but I don’t respect the fucking Rykers?”
“I need more guts from you, Linc.” he answers. “Yes, that’s it. More guts.”
“More guts? What the hell are you talking about?”
Thad walks over to me and places a blade in my hand, a sadistic smile on his face. “Guts.”
He points to the man in the chair. A man I don’t know and have never seen in my life. A man who could have children or grandchildren for all I know.
“Gut him.” he instructs.
The man’s screams are muffled by the duct tape covering his mouth. He struggles in his restraints, but is unable to loosen them. He’s not a Raven any more. He’s no longer part of this life, but is being punished for it. He’ll die for it.
I look down at the knife and ignore the slight tremble in my hand. Lazarus comes around to my back and I feel the pressure him and Thad are inflicting on me. Without them saying it, I know it’s either my life or this former Raven’s. Either way, he will die.
My eyes plead with him as I turn to him, begging him to see that I don’t want to do this. Praying that he recognizes that my hand his being forced and that I’ll make this as quick as possible. I plead with whoever this Walt Turley is to forgive me because I know I’ll never forgive myself for this.
I slam the knife into his gut and I swear, I’ll see this man’s eyes in my fucking nightmares. Shit, maybe they’ll replace the ones I’ve been having.
He bucks and fights against me as I carve into his flesh, but that only lasts a couple of minutes. I knew he wouldn’t be able to fight long. I didn’t want him to still be breathing when I reach into him.
My hand coats in blood when I squeeze inside of him and pull out, exposing his intestines. I swallow down the vomit rising in the back of my throat, refusing to expel it.
Thad smirks. “Excellent job, Linc. I never doubted you.”
Lazarus laughs at this and I head into the bathroom to wash the blood off my hands. I scrub, turning the white sink red, but the blood feels stained into my skin. I give up and switch the water off.
“Deliver the body back home while I clean this room up.” Thad says.
“We’re not disposing of it?” I ask, surprised.
Aside from dropping the DA at the bottom of the ocean, our typical body disposal consists of burning the body, chopping it up, and burying the pieces in separate locations. We didn’t have time for that type of disposal with Steve though. Griffin Knowles was all over us.
“I said to deliver him back home to his old lady and faggot kids.” Thad growls. “I don’t give a good shit how you get him there.”
“I have a truck.” Lazarus says. “Give me twenty minutes.”
I don’t speak a word to Thad while we wait on Lazarus to get back. I do my part on helping him clean up the room. Cheap motels like this don’t have carpet, so that’s a plus. The cleanup isn’t impossible.
When Lazarus gets back, we toss the body, which is now wrapped in the motel sheet, on the back of his truck. Poor fucker. Thad stays behind to finish bleaching the floor and cleaning the chair.
“We’ll clean your truck once we get him dropped off. Don’t want to forget anything.” I tell Lazarus.
“It’s not my first disposal.” he clips. “I’m good for more than just MMA fighting.”
“I know that.” He was with me when I killed Steve and dumped him. “Just don’t want anyone running their mouths.”
He laughs. “No one at that motel will breathe a fucking word about what they saw or heard. I’ll cut their fucking tongues out.”
~Sully~
Once I’ve finish
ed cleaning up Lincoln’s kitchen, I grab some clothes out of my duffel bag and get dressed. I put on my best pair of jeans and the nicest looking top that I own which is a capped sleeve red top that doesn’t dip too low in the front. I pair this with my black strappy heels. I don’t have much so I have to work with what I have. I want to look professional since I’m job hunting. I need to get out and find a place of my own and I want steady income when I do that.
I slip down the hall to where the bathroom is and flush at the memory of Lincoln’s mouth on me as I leaned against that very wall. I tell myself to focus and apply some light makeup and muss my hair so that it has a slight curl to it.
I lock up and head downstairs, snagging the paper from the lobby. I open it to the want-ads as I walk. Despite failing at the FBI Academy, I wouldn’t say I’m stupid. I have my degree and I know my way around a computer thanks to our former computer tech guy, Bart. Unfortunately, after Bart was shot and killed at a party a couple of months ago, our new tech, Morrell, wants blow jobs in exchange for knowledge. Not going to happen.
I spot a possible job opportunity so I hail a cab and hop in, spouting out the address as I close the door. I spend the next two hours, having the cabbie drive me to numerous locations only to be told the position has just been filled or that I don’t meet their criteria. I never really thought this through. I’m a woman with no job history and no references. Listing a Ryker as a reference most likely won’t help my cause. Either the business owner will fear them or in this area, they’ll be under the protection of the Ravens.
As the cab driver begins to take me back to my apartment, I notice a help wanted sign in the window of a car garage.
“Stop!” I yell and I’m slung forward as the driver hits the breaks. “You don’t have to wait this time. I’ll walk back.”
I pay him and exit the car. As I walk towards the garage, I can hear seventies music playing. The smell of oil and grease hits my nose and I welcome it. It feels like home.
