My eyes flick to meet Rock's.
"Nope," he mutters unmoving.
Snake leans forward, rests his elbows on his knees, and clasps his hands together. "I want you to listen to me, everything, before you bring out the Queen Of Hell to seek vengeance. Got it?"
I'd like to throw his ass on the ground and beat the shit out of him.
I want to shut him up. With my mouth.
"Go on," I reply sounding bored.
"Good," he leans back. "There's a one-million-dollar bounty on you, little bird. They say you're a strung out hooker who robbed her trick."
I'm on my feet before he's even finished the sentence.
"I knew I should have cut that dickless pigs nuts off."
"Sit. Down," Snake states coldly. Rock still hasn't moved.
Summer's in the other room still getting dressed.
Snake woke me about an hour ago. I've had time to eat, and boy did I eat, and have a shower. It feels good to feel as human as I'm capable of feeling. This conversation is quickly changing that. Psycho Raven is banging the door down to come out and play. I reign her back in and take my seat again.
"Obviously he's lying," Snake continues. "But you did steal the counterfeiting plates. Care to tell us why?"
I glare at both of them. Why should I tell them? They won't believe me. You're here, aren't you? They are helping you. A thing I didn’t realize I have is making an appearance now. Who knew I’ve got a conscience? I pick on a fingernail as I let out a heavy breath.
"You're going to have to trust us, Raven," Rock finally joins the conversation. "We've put our asses on the line for you. Time for you to come clean."
The fact that he didn't threaten to throw me to the wolves does not go unnoticed on me. Because they absolutely can. They probably should. I certainly wouldn't have anything to do with me. I'm well aware that just being seen with me could be a death warrant. I'm the fortunate one in this situation, because these men are not your typical men. I'm getting the very distinct impression that the regular rules do not apply to them, in either the regular world or the criminal. It seems to me they play by their own rules, come and go as they damn well please, and couldn't give two shits about what might be in their way.
I'm the one who's trouble here, although I have a nagging suspicion they've got their own dirty little secrets.
"We had a deal," I begin. "I was hooking the Steel Brothers guy up with a very large shipment of heroin with my contact. I was acting as the middle man, but he insisted on meeting me alone, my guy didn't want to be part of the deal either. So, I agreed to meet him in some shitty hotel where only the junkies and prostitutes do their thing." I have nothing else to lose, so I decide to tell them the truth. "I was so stupid," I say this to myself, because I can't believe I fell for the set up.
"I think it's safe to say that wasn't one of your smartest moves," Snakes comments quietly.
His eyes haven't left my face.
"Did he insist you bring the package or the deal was off?" Rock questions, still in the same spot.
"Yes. He planned on screwing me out of the money right from the beginning," I seethe.
I'd known it, I'd felt it, but it was too much money for me to pass up. Every warning had told me to turn and walk, and fast. But I got greedy, and the guy knew it, he'd made sure of it.
"He obviously was doing this deal on his own, cutting the club out of it." Snake turns to Rock. "And he had the plates with him. That's an added bonus. Dude would probably be stuffed and put on the mantle for anyone else to see who might think of fucking over the club." He turns back to me with a wicked grin. "He didn't take into account he was dealing with the Queen Of Hell. Poor bastard. But tell me something, little bird," he narrows his eyes at me, "why did you take them? There's something else isn't there?"
I can feel the weight of his and Rock's stare. They think they know me. They think they've got me all figured out. They think that they'll tell me to jump, and I'll ask how high.
They're wrong. I don't jump for anyone.
I clamp my mouth shut. I never want to admit any weaknesses. I haven't been weak since I was a kid. The guy almost had me. That had awakened too many sleeping demons inside of me. I'd sworn years ago I'd never be a victim to them again.
Besides, the Steel Brothers wouldn't give two fucks about me anyway. To them, chicks are only good for a wet hole, a mouth, or to get them food.
I glare at Snake and refuse to answer.
"Hellion, we can't take care of this unless we have all the facts," he tells me, reading me with those eyes that can see right through my bullshit. Maybe they can. Probably. But that doesn't mean I'm cutting myself open and letting them in where no one's ever been.
"That's all you need to know." Because that's all I'm telling him.
A long moment passes, my breaths are heavy and angry, his are soft and non-existent. Silent. But no doubt he's deadly. Rock is a dark presence lingering to my side.
I'm surrounded by lie detectors.
Fuck them.
I steal a glance at Snake. He's sleek and inked on the outside, all smiles and 'I don't give a fuck'. But that's not what he really he is. He's sunshine and laughter, he's winks and promises. He's your most dangerous enemy. Mostly because you never see it coming.
Rock is all dark and brooding, a kind of 'If you fuck with me, or mine, I'll cut out your heart, no questions asked.'
Me, I'm bad. That's it. What you see is what you get. I don't care about anyone but me.
But sitting in this room with them after they saved my ass, I am not feeling like me. At all.
But it doesn't matter what I am. Because this phase is called Use Snake. That's exactly what I'm doing.
"Fine. I'll let it go. For now, but you will tell me. Sooner rather than later," Snake tells me, and he thinks it's the truth.
What he doesn't know is I'll be long gone before we get to it again.
"This is what we're going to do," Snake drops it. "I've got a call into the Steel Brothers president. I'm going to deliver the counterfeiting plates back to them for you, and call it a wash. Have him agree no harm no fowl..."
"Not so fast, cowboy," I stop them both with a hand held up. "I want to get paid. That guy ripped me off, I should be compensated. I probably kept them from losing those things for good. The asshole was probably going to sell them. I should be given a reward at least."
No one says anything for a long moment. Because I'm right. But we all know the truth.
The Steel Brothers would repay me with a bullet in the middle of my skull. Get rid of any loose ends as efficiently and effectively as possible. I'm a threat, I know they had a weak link. They don't want anyone knowing the club has any vulnerabilities.
It's obvious Snake and Rock have the same opinion.
"Goddamn it," Snake runs a frustrated hand through his hair.
"She's not wrong," Rock murmurs. The guy's like a fucking statue. I don't think he's even blinked once since his eyes have been glued on me this entire time.
"I know she's not wrong," Snake snaps. "She's completely fucking right. But do you honestly think they're going to believe her?"
"No." One word Rock.
I roll my eyes again.
"Either I get my money, or I'm keeping the plates," because fuck that pig for getting away with trying to screw me over, for trying to rape me, and for robbing from the hand that feeds him.
Snake glares at me. Our eyes battle. Then he laughs. He fucking laughs.
"You're a real pain in the ass."
I give him a crooked smile. The Queen Of Hell kind of likes this guy.
"You have no idea."
CHAPTER 18
Snake
She's hiding something. I don't think whatever it is would conflict with the fact she was set up. What I'm uncertain of is, could it detract from proving the guy was trying to fuck over the MC club?
That's her wildcard. That's what's going to save her ass.
And ours.
The guy's g
ot her painted as a junkie whore. He's one of their own. Who are they going to believe, him or her? Exactly. We can only assume what two-faced Bat Boy told the Steel Brothers. He couldn't give a damn about Raven, all he wanted was the money. Piece of shit.
When we entered the Ink & Arms expo, it'd been an unending wall to wall ink and attitudes. Summer and Raven stayed sandwiched between me and Rock with Gringo right behind us.
It looked like Gringo hadn't had any sleep at all. Besides all that's going on with Summer, and Raven, the shit with Sasha's tearing him up. Sasha might be a spoiled diva, but he loves her, and I don't think she'd overreact because she's not Gringo's center of attention right now. Even if she did, Gringo's a professional. He wouldn't let it affect him if it was just Sasha throwing a temper tantrum. From what I saw earlier, it's bothering him.
That's not good.
He's on lock down though, just like me and Rock, as we walk through the crowd. We picked up some pretty toys that we'd ordered and have them in a bag slung over my shoulder. I'm good with guns, real good. I was a sharp shooter in the Army, that's all I did all day and all night. What can I say, I was blessed with precision. But I don't use a gun, I might carry it, but I'd rather use my hands. You can kill a man with a perfectly placed blow. It's silent and effective. And no mess.
I know the Steel Brothers are here. I can see them with their cuts and emblems.
It's not the threats you see, but the threats you don't that are the real problem.
I made a few calls, put a few bugs in some ears with people who have connections with the underground. I need a few good names. If The Program has three more contracts to kill us, and if they're with an outsider, then these people will know who they are. I'm not looking for a big name with a big mouth. It's the ones who keep a low profile, the ones who don't want to attract attention themselves, those are the most dangerous.
That is the person who's going to come after us.
I need names and I need them fast. But right now, my thoughts are on getting Raven out of this fucking mess she's made for herself.
That's why I'm not too concerned about being in a crowded room filled with men who've got more kills credited to their names than Paula Deene's got pots.
Raven and the Steel Brothers. They are pissed and they're out for blood. I can imagine the things they want to do to her to get even for taking what's theirs and for making a joke out of one of their boys. They've got big mouths and even bigger attitudes. I suppose that's necessary in their world. Some of their rival clubs are too stupid and too strung out to know any better. You've got to be the biggest dog with the loudest bark to keep the stupid one's in their place. I don't fault them for that. The Steel Brothers are far from stupid. They've made a huge success for themselves and are rolling in cash and favors. There's no telling who they've got on their puppet strings, and I'd bet my ass they fall on both sides of the law.
In the far corner of the room is the man I'm looking for, the vice president of the Steel Brothers. One angry looking mother fucker, and he's glaring at Raven.
"Gringo," I call him over my shoulder. "I've got someone I need to see."
I need him to flank this side in my absence. Just because I'm not too worried doesn't mean we're taking unnecessary risks.
Rock's staring at me over the women's heads, he's clearly not happy with my announcement.
"Where are you going?" Raven latches onto my forearm.
I grin down into her face. She's too fucking beautiful; her whole package is her best weapon. "Miss me already, hellion?"
"Hardly. I've never been glued to anyone like I've been stuck in between the three of you."
That's a fucking image if I've ever had one.
"Perfect fit I'd say," I wink at her.
Her cheeks flush, but she's not distracted. "If you're meeting with bruiser boy over there, I'm coming with you. I'm not letting you discuss my business without me." She's a stubborn little thing.
"No."
Her eyes narrow to slits. "It really is cute that you think you have any say in the matter."
The five of us have come to a halt in the center of the crowd, people are pushing into us, bumping into our shoulders as they maneuver their way past the blockade that is us.
I don't give two shits about them. The five-two evil princess is my only concern, her and keeping her ass right here.
"Would you mind tying up Raven and putting a gag on her mouth? Preferably a ball gag, I'd like to see her drooling when I get back. Maybe that will cool her ass down." My eyes haven't left hers, but I'm talking to Rock and Gringo.
"Got to collar her first," Gringo remarks dryly.
"Should be fun," Rock comments.
Summer chuckles.
I give Raven a halfcocked smirk, because that picture of her stuck between us has just gotten a whole lot more interesting.
"You want me wet, cowboy?" Raven turns her body to face mine with the most evil, wicked, and drop dead smile on her face. "Why didn't you just say so," my entire body ignites into white hot flames. She's scratching her nails up the inside of one of one of my thighs before her hand palms my dick and balls.
"Christ woman," I growl.
"Wrong answer, it's Queen to you, the Queen of Hell, must I remind you?" she squeezes my sacks firmly as my cock grows thicker in her clutches. "I'm coming with you. Either right next to you, or on my own. You choose." Her grip tightens almost to the point of pain, but it feels so fucking good.
"Do you think bruiser boy might think my hard-on's for him?" I dip my head in the direction of the man in question.
"Maybe, but frankly, I don't think he's your type. Might be helpful though," she drags her nails over my bulge. I suck in a sharp breath. Goddamn, she's killing me. "So what's it gonna be?"
She wants to play? Let's play.
I've got her wrist in my hand and behind her back with her body pressed flush against mine before she can blink. She's momentarily knocked off balance but quickly gets her shit together and the hellion is back in all her glory.
"You want to come with me? Fine. But you follow my rules." She opens her mouth to argue. "Shut up and listen." By the expression on her face, not too many people have spoken to her this way. "You talk only when and if I ask you a question, or I tell you to answer a question. No exceptions. You keep that beautiful fucking mouth of yours shut at all times. Don't even look at any of them. You're there to listen and to show them he was lying. Get me?" I pull her tighter.
By the look in her eyes, she's obviously envisioning cutting out my tongue, or my cock.
"Your rules this time, cowboy. Got it, but as soon as this is finished, payback is going to be so much fun." Her demons really want to come out and play, they're leering at me.
I tilt my head so my mouth is at her ear. "I can't wait." Her body stiffens in my grasp but she gasps. Bring it, angel, I chuckle. I lift my face so I can look into hers. "Do you have your toys, hellion?" Her eyes get this shimmer to them as a smile lifts the corners of her mouth. She definitely likes the idea she might get to play.
I'm going to avoid that at all costs, but you can never be too sure.
"Never leave home without them," she smirks.
"Good. Let's go see a man about a job."
I step back and guide her arm to slip through the crook of mine.
If we're going to visit a monster, it's best to bring the Queen Of Hell with you.
CHAPTER 19
Raven
Revenge is sweet but burns heavy on your tongue.
I thought I'd be more excited, I thought I'd be more satisfied, I thought I'd be...more.
The truth is, things aren't as cut and dry as I'd imagined they'd be.
It was supposed to be simple. Get a meeting with the Steel Brothers, tell them I've got their counterfeiting plates, admit that I'd taken them from the member who was double crossing them, after he tried to rape me. They were supposed to offer me a reward, a small token of their gratitude in appreciation for doing their dirty work, (t
hat should be the first clue of how insane my delusion was). They'd say thank you very much, here's a little gift, and I'd be on my way to the next job. Simple. Easy.
Fat fucking chance.
Instead, they're offering a million dollars for my head. After they took my ass. And my blood. And probably carved out my fucking heart.
I've been given a gag order, literally, and am walking with a man I know nothing about to handle my mess who even the Steel Brothers seem to respect.
Maybe I don’t feel like I thought I would because of the man himself who's arm mine's presently dangling from. Possibly it's because I've been fucked over by someone I thought at least wouldn't set me up as a sacrifice.
Maybe it's because once, just this once, I need help. And Snake's doing just that. I didn't ask him, hell, I didn't even know him, and he was right there, he knew what was coming even before I did, and he was ready for it, had me ready for it. He showed up out of nowhere and grabbed hold of me and kept me from destroying myself.
He saved me once already.
He didn't have to, none of them had to, I'm a whole lot of trouble and that trouble hits everyone around me right between the eyes. Yet they pulled me into their circle, tucked me under that impenetrable shield that surrounds them, the one that nothing seems to crack.
I should be walking in here alone. I want to be walking in here alone.
But not for the reasons I thought.
I had planned on using him. He walked in, made himself at home, and offered it up on a silver platter. He basically handed me everything I needed to get out of this mess without me even getting my hands dirty.
All while dealing with their own cluster fuck.
I was going to let him.
What kind of a selfish bitch am I to stand back and let Snake take the heat for my fuck-ups?
A pretty big one, apparently, because here I am with Snake following this guy into a hotel room. I am a. Selfish. Little. Bitch.
I don’t stop, I don’t tell him to go back and let me take care of this. I don’t do anything but let him lead me, because I am going to use him. I’m going to stand back and watch him weave his spell with that irresistible charm he has. I’m going to let him smile that deadly smile that should be a weapon, I’m going to let him unleash Mr. Hyde and whip out those insane fast moves he’s got you can’t even see. I’m going to use the fuck out of him, let him take my heat, because I’m bad and I suck, then I’m going to walk away and even let him clean up my mess. Even if it destroys him, and yes, all of them.
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