Ryker: Dead Souls MC: Prospects #4

by Rylan, Savannah

  And in a flash, his lips were against mine once more.

  “Kaylynn,” he grunted.

  It all happened so fast. His cock. My pussy. Filling me. Pounding me. Knocking the bed against the wall. I clung to him, my nails raking down his bare back. My legs locked around him, not wanting to let him go as our kisses turned sloppy. I sucked on his lower lip. His tongue. The skin of his jawline. My pussy clamped down around his thick dick, feeling the ridges of his cock pulsing for more friction. I wanted more of him. All of him. I wanted to drown in his sounds and drench myself in his sweat.

  The movements of his muscles mesmerized me.

  But the sound of him growling my name in my ear threw me over the edge.

  “Kaylynn. Holy shit squeeze that dick. Like that. Tighter. Kaylynn, you’re just—fucking—”

  His hips slammed against me one last time and we fell over the edge. Together. Shaking and trembling as broken words fell from our mouths. My head fell back. My body collapsed against the mattress just before he blanketed me. His heavy form, like a weighted blanket over my body, pinned me to the soft surface and brought me an enjoyment I’d never experienced before.

  I swam in an unfamiliar ocean. His cock emptied inside me and the only thing I thought was, I want more. Never had a man made me feel this way. Never had I wanted to be with a man as much as I did Ryker.

  And it scared the shit out of me.

  “You’re wonderful,” he whispered.

  At first, I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly. But when he pulled back and looked into my eyes, I saw him smiling. Really, truly smiling. A smile that reached his eyes and made them sparkle as he gazed down at me. And it made me smile back. My hands ran down the raised red marks I’d left behind with my own nails. He slowly pulled out from between my legs as a rush of liquid soaked the bed below me. I giggled as he rolled off to the side, taking me with him and pulling me away from our mess.

  I laid on top of him as his arms surrounded me. Holding me close. Cradling me against him.

  And I didn’t want him to release me.

  “I’m ready for a nap,” I snickered.

  Ryker grinned. “Then, lay down and take one.”

  “That means I have to move.”

  “Why? When you could simply lay on top of me.”

  His hand came up and guided my face against the crook of his neck. He tucked my hair underneath his chin, then his hands began mindlessly exploring. They slid over my curves and massaged the outside of my thighs. I closed my eyes, ignoring the grumbling of my stomach as I laid there. Sinking further into his muscles.

  And just as I slipped into a deep, sound sleep, a thought took me by surprise. One I’d never thought about any man that had come into my life. One my mother tried telling me didn’t exist. One that wrapped me up, kept me warm, and held me close. Just like Ryker’s arms.

  One I convinced myself didn’t exist.

  I could get used to having him around.

  23

  Ryker

  “Mic check,” Rock said.

  “Testing, one. Two,” Diesel said.

  “I got him,” I said.

  “Me, too,” Bear said.

  “Three,” Toxin said.

  “And four,” Saint said.

  “Guess I’ll say ‘five’ to keep the train going,” Cage said.

  “Wonderful. Now, camera test,” Rock said.

  Diesel turned on the small camera we had implanted into the button of Diesel’s pants. A terrible place for a camera. But if Lars knew what we looked like and knew how we dressed; it’d look weird if Diesel randomly showed up with glasses on. Or in some fucking button-down shirt. So, Rock angled the camera up, placed it as best as he could, then made Diesel wear a black shirt to try and get the camera to blend in a bit more.

  “Yep. Gotcha on camera just fine,” Brewer said.

  “How’s the angle look?” Diesel asked.

  “I mean, it is what it is. If someone’s in front of you, though, we’ll know who it is.”

  “Perfect.”

  The task was simple. We all had earpieces in that hooked up to Diesel’s earpiece so we could hear everything. But the reason why the prospects had to test ours was because we’d be walking around. Casing the damn place in case something went wrong. We had everything recording, too. With the intention of taking what we had to the police. Or at the very least, using it as a bargaining chip against Lars and his men.

  But Brewer had every mind to take what we got to the police.

  And I was all for that plan.

  “All right. Everyone know their mission?” Diesel asked.

  “Yep. Old guys at the building across the street. Young guys casing this building in case shit pops off,” Toxin said.

  Knox rolled his eyes. “We aren’t old.”

  “You got kids and wives. You’re old,” Toxin said.

  Saint snickered. “I mean, if that’s the definit—”

  Diesel cut him off. “Focus.”

  We ran down the plan one last time before we all parted ways. It was simple, really. Lars wanted to meet at the back of a restaurant. One where he’d probably paid the owner off to use the facility or some shit like that. A public place, so neither party felt the need to kick up a stink, if necessary. Though, we all knew Lars wouldn’t hesitate to take us out if something fishy started happening.

  Which was why me and the rest of the prospects fanned out around the building.

  “All right. Entering,” Diesel said.

  “Back’s clear,” Bear said.

  “Right side door clear,” Toxin said.

  “Left side door clear,” Cage said.

  “Ryker and I got eyes on the front. You’re good, Diesel. We just lost sight of you, though. So, stay on your game,” Saint said.

  “I got him on camera,” Brewer said.

  “Good. Keep it that way,” Rock said.

  Saint and I continued strolling up and down the walkway. Up one side of the street. Down the other. Diesel’s breathing ticked up a bit. I knew he was nervous. And just as we heard a door open over our earpieces, I saw him.

  Alex.

  Standing outside the restaurant.

  “Stop, Saint,” I said, jutting my arm out over his chest.

  “What’s up?” Toxin asked.

  “Got sight of Kaylynn’s brother out front. He’s alone. And I don’t like the look of things,” I said.

  “Ah, Diesel. Take a seat,” Lars said.

  “Here we go,” Brewer murmured.

  “We’re recording now. Keep a hand on your guns, boys,” Grave said.

  “Everything’s good on the roof, thanks for asking,” Knox said.

  We all chuckled as I caught bits and pieces of the conversation taking place.

  “A deal for the girl is quite a nice negotiation,” Lars said.

  “I’ll let you know when it’s a good deal,” Diesel said.

  “What? Don’t care about the girl’s well-being?”

  “She’s not my girl. I’m just here as a favor to a friend.”

  Had I not already obtained my daughter; I would’ve fumed at that comment. But I understood why Diesel kept doing things this way with this man. He wanted to get under our skin. So, our best play was to make it seem as if he couldn’t. As if we didn’t have weaknesses. As if we weren’t phased by the kidnapping of children. Lars chuckled before things became muffled.

  Then, Lars’ voice came back into the clear.

  “I want your club disbanded,” he said.

  Diesel snickered. “Seriously? You kidnapped an innocent little girl just to see if you could force us to break up? We aren’t a band, Norden.”

  “That’s not all. My men will be usurping your business. Whatever it is you guys, well, do with your lives. I don’t know, and I don’t really care. But I want it.”

  “Sounds like the plea of a toddler.”

  “And I want my fucking daughter back,” he snarled.

  “Ah, daughter for daughter. That makes
a little more sense,” Diesel said.

  I peeked down the alleyway and watched Cage stiffen. Toxin dashed down, wrapping his arm around the man before he charged through the door he stood in front of. Saint and I backtracked as the guys continued to talk. More muffled sounds. More frustration as I tried to make sense of the noise over the earpiece.

  “You guys got eyes on him; I take it?” I asked.

  “We can hear them fine, too. Because we aren't moving,” Brewer said.

  “Gotcha,” Toxin said.

  “I want at that man’s throat,” Cage growled.

  “If you can’t stand down, I’m removing you,” Rock said.

  “Kaylynn’s brother hasn’t moved, but he also isn’t standing guard. He could ruin this,” I said.

  “What do you want to do?” Grave asked.

  I paused. “What if I went up and spoke with him? Bought Diesel enough time to finish this up?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve got my scope on him, just in case,” Knox said.

  “You aren’t shooting him unless absolutely necessary. Do you hear me?” I asked.

  “Yes, I hear you loud and clear, Norden. But you aren’t getting what you ask for. End of story,” Diesel said.

  Yet, somehow, I knew he wasn’t simply speaking with Lars.

  “Ryker. Stop it. Fall back. I said fall back,” Saint said.

  “I can get him out of this. Just trust me,” I said.

  He gripped my arm, but I yanked out of his grip. I crossed the street, trotting in the middle of traffic toward Kaylynn’s brother. His eyes landed on me and he postured. His hand flew to the butt of his gun. I took my earpiece out, refusing to listen to the guys yell and hiss at me to get back. But I knew I had this. I knew I had the capability of saving Alex’s life.

  If the guys simply gave me room to do it.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Alex snarled.

  I held my hands up in mock surrender. “I’m here to help you. If you’ll listen.”

  “The fuck would I want to listen to you for?”

  “Because your sister’s life depends on it.”

  He glared at me. “What have you done?”

  “Nothing, yet. But if you go in there and reveal to Lars what’s really going on, you know she’s as good as dead. And he’ll kill you first before you can even turn and run for the door.”

  His eye twitched. “What. Do you want? Asshole.”

  “Work with us to take Lars down. Work with us to save your own skin, and the skin of your sister.”

  “Not a fucking chance.”

  “You don’t have another choice. The two of you are either alive or dead.”

  “You don’t give my sister enough credit.”

  “Neither do you. You’ve got no idea how much she loves you. What she’s willing to do for you in order to make sure you stay alive. Do her proud, for once. Choose the life you want for once.”

  “I already have.”

  “Then, why is your eye twitching?”

  He paused. “What?”

  “Every time you get upset, your eye twitches. But you're not upset right now. Not really. But it’s still twitching. The only other reason there is for the twitching is the fact that you’re lying.”

  He scoffed. “What are you, some sort of body language reader now?”

  “I suppose it’s a gift. But I’m not here to show off my skill set. I’m here to try and save you because I promised your sister I would. And if you walk into that building, you’re dead. You and I both know that.”

  He licked his lips. “And if I agreed to doing this, what do I get in return?”

  “Other than a new lease on life?”

  “Yeah. Other than that.”

  I shrugged. “A decent relationship with the only living shred of family you have left.”

  And as he slowly moved his hand away from his gun, he nodded.

  “What do we do now?” Alex asked.

  But before I could answer his question, I heard a commotion in my earpiece.

  Along with a gunshot that ricocheted through a window in the alleyway.

  24

  Kaylynn

  “You doing okay?” Brynn asked.

  Her voice ripped me from my trance as I gazed out the window. I’d been there since the guys left. Since they all took off on their bikes, ready to enact a plan none of the girls had been filled in on.

  “How do you do it?” I asked.

  “Do what?”

  “Raise a family in such secrecy? Such danger?”

  “It isn’t always this way. But when it is, the guys always have our backs.”

  Piper spoke up. “Yeah. And when they put their mind to something, it always gets accomplished. Even if they have to take the long way around.”

  I turned away from the window. “How long has this been going on? This… feud with the mafia? How did you guys get caught up in all this?”

  Brynn put her hands on my shoulders. “For that conversation? We need wine, snacks, and seats.”

  “Apple juice for me, though,” Monroe said.

  “I’ll get the snacks!” Piper said.

  “I’ll go check on all the kids,” Kimber said.

  “And you, come sit by me. Come on. Get away from the window. You’re going to worry yourself sick,” Brynn said.

  I let her guide me to the couch as the girls rushed off into various areas of the clubhouse. I heard televisions going with movies and kids kindly asking for sippies and juice boxes. I looked over at Monroe and saw her mindlessly stroking her stomach. The softly-protruding belly that housed yet another life she’d bring into this world. Into this lifestyle.

  How did they do it?

  “They’re going to be okay,” Brynn said.

  A glass of wine was placed in my hand as the girls came and sat back down. They stared at me, and I wondered how long they’d been there. How long they’d been watching me stare mindlessly at Monroe.

  “It’s okay. You can ask whatever you want,” she said.

  I sighed. “I don’t get it. If things can get this dangerous, why have kids? Why subject them to that?”

  Monroe nodded. “Like Brynn said, it’s not always like this. This is a rare occurrence. And when it happens, there are protocols in place that keep our families safe.”

  “So, they’re all coming back? You have faith in that?”

  Piper nodded. “Yes, they’re coming back. Ryker, too. All of them are. I promise.”

  “We promise,” Monroe said.

  “Sip your wine. It’ll help relax you,” Brynn said.

  “Oh, I can’t wait to have wine again,” Monroe groaned.

  I took a sip of my drink. “So, how did you guys get tangled up in all this… shit?”

  Kimber giggled. “That story starts with Diesel not knowing he had a brother out there.”

  “That’s your husband, Brynn. Right?” I asked.

  “Yep. He’s the president of this crazy club. You know Cage, right?” she asked.

  I paused. “I’m not sure.”

  “The one with the dark, brooding girlfriend at his side?” Monroe asked.

  “Oh! Oh, oh, oh. Yes. That one. Okay. Wait, him and Diesel are—”

  “Uh huh. Half-brothers. Same father, different mother. When Cage and Sutton stumbled up to our doorstep, Cage had literally been shot at. Sutton was hungry. Dirty. Dehydrated. They were really beat up. The guy who heads up this group that’s coming after us? He wiped out Cage’s father’s crew,” Brynn said.

  “You’re going too quickly for her. Look at the poor girl’s face,” Piper said.

  “I think I’ve got it. So, Diesel and Cage have the same dad. Cage was in a crew with their father that got wiped out by the mafia?” I asked.

  “You’ve got it. He came to find us after his father’s dying words were to find Diesel. And we’ve been entrenched ever since,” Kimber said.

  I shook my head. “But—but why?”

  “I mean, other than Cage
being the only surviving member and a witness to what this man did to his father’s crew? That girl? The dark one?” Piper asked.

  “Yeah?” I asked.

  “Sutton is Lars’ daughter,” Brynn said.

  “Oh, shit,” I said.

  “Yep. He wants his daughter back. So, he’s coming at us hard. But he isn’t getting her back. Not by a longshot,” Monroe said.

  “Forgive me for playing this side of the fence, but why not? It’s putting all of your children at risk. It’s putting you guys at risk. Why not just hand them both over and be done with it?” I asked.

  Brynn shrugged. “Because we’re family.”

  “And family doesn’t sell one another out,” Monroe said.

  Suddenly, it all made sense. How the crew had gotten involved in all this. Why my brother’s boss was coming at them so hard. Why they refused to back down. They saw themselves as one gigantic family. With respect and trust running abound between all of them. The idea robbed me of my breath. In all my life, I’d never once trusted my mother. Or my father, for that matter. So, trusting people that weren’t related to me by blood? It was unthinkable. And yet, here they were. Doing it as if it seemed natural to them.

  It brought tears to my eyes.

  “You okay?” Brynn asked.

  I nodded, taking a long pull of my wine. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good.”

  “Now, why don’t I believe that?” Piper asked.

  Because I feel empty inside. “Just need a bit to process things.”

  “Take your time,” Brynn said.

  “So, you guys have just been fighting to keep family alive,” I said.

  “Hit the nail on the head,” Kimber said.

  “And we wouldn't have it any other way,” Brynn said.

  I saw them all in a new light now. Not a selfish light, but a giving light. A loving light. I fell in love with this place. With these people. With their hearts and their minds and their souls. Which only exacerbated the loneliness I felt on the inside. Because I’d never experience something like that.