“Fuck,” I roared, smashing my cigarette in one of the ashtrays on the table.
I was on my feet and hand punching through the wall before I realized my Reaper had surfaced and I’d damaged the whole area, plunging through the drywall and into the next room which happened to be where several of my brothers were shooting pool. Rael narrowed his eyes and Hannibal chuckled at the mess.
This wasn’t going to end well.
Turning the knob, I opened the door and let myself in, tugging on the key that often got stuck in the lock. Weeks had lapsed since I was back in the same apartment that I once shared with Trish, but nothing was out of place, just a little dustier than the last time I was here.
I dropped my keys and handbag on the rickety table where Trish and I always kept these items out of habit and headed into the kitchen for a drink. My shift at work was so goddamn uneventful it was prompting the urge for excitement and release – neither of which was happening without Bodie since he was busy with club stuff or whatever those bikers did all day long.
Hell if I knew.
That was one of the things I missed the most since all the shit that went down in recent months. My job at the bar with Trish was fun. We danced, laughed, drank, and had a good time together as well as with the customers. She was my best friend and with her gone, I had yet to find another girl that completed me the way she did. Trish and I were cut from the same cloth. Two slightly broken souls trying to find our way in the world who shared a love for bad boys, makeup, and hard rock music.
Sighing, I wished for the hundredth time that my bestie hadn’t taken off and left Tonopah. Couldn’t say that I blamed her. The situation had been shitty and being kidnapped had a way of screwing with your head. I was stupid enough to stick around and that had everything to do with a certain tattooed biker who stole my heart with his cocky smile and confident swagger.
Opening the fridge, I scanned the contents and found only bottles of booze. It was tempting to pop off the top of a beer or mix a quick cocktail, but it wasn’t what I really wanted. Alcohol only masked the real issue, the horrid memories of the things I’d been forced to see and endure. The worst was knowing that all the shit from my past wasn’t really my fault. The blame lay with my twin and I couldn’t even be mad at her because she wasn’t here anymore.
Suraya was dead.
Fuck.
That still hurt to think about. Probably always would. Blinking back tears, I shut the fridge and refused to dull my pain by drinking my life away. It would have been so easy to do it but I’d seen how drugs and alcohol fucked with people and ruined their lives. Suraya had gotten caught up in that trap for a brief time and I wasn’t stupid enough to follow in her footsteps no matter how tempting it might be to escape reality.
I drank but I knew my limit. Sighing, I walked away and downed a quick glass of water instead.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I tugged the device free of my jeans. Bodie’s name flashed across the screen and I couldn’t resist a smile. Swiping across with my thumb, I answered in what I hoped was a cheerful tone.
“Hey sexy.”
“Baby, what’s the matter?”
How could he tell with two words how I felt?
“Eh, just bored. Work was painful.”
He gave a short laugh. “That slow, huh?”
He had no idea. I was a receptionist for a dental office and the morning had consisted of few appointment or interactions, even with the other staff. My only real friend was Gina and she had been preoccupied all morning with stocking supplies, organizing charts, and helping with other small tasks.
“You could say that.”
“Why don’t you quit? Told you there wasn’t a need to work.”
I wasn’t living off Bodie or his money. “Not that again,” I teased.
“You’re forgetting how much I love to spoil you,” he rasped, “Kind of like the way my dick can’t wait to be buried in your sweet pussy.”
My breath hitched, instant desire spiking in my girly bits down below. Oh, that wicked biker. He knew exactly what his dirty words did to me. “Is that how you spoil me? I thought it was that talented tongue of yours.”
“Talented tongue and mouth, that’s all you, baby. My cock is fuckin’ hard just thinking of your lips wrapped around me.”
“Now you did it,” I purred into the phone.
“Did what? Got you wet for me? Exactly how I like it. Playing with that sensitive clit yet?”
“Maybe.”
“Take off those tight ass jeans and prove it.” Excitement flared in his tone and I knew he was turned on.
“Bodie,” I moaned, tempted to get myself off over the phone. My man knew how to bring me pleasure even without his cock, fingers, or mouth.
Pure erotic sin.
He did things to me no man ever had. And that beard . . .
Damn. I could come just from the thought of those whiskers tickling my inner thighs.
There was a scuffle and then I heard a couple of the guys in the background. I missed Bodie’s reply because it sounded like he hit mute. Sudden silence wiped out any other noise, but it didn’t last long.
“Gotta run, baby.” His words were blurted in a rush. Something was up. He’d only tell me it was club business if I asked and he would be right. I had enough worries without adding more on top of my own.
“Okay.”
“We’re gonna pick this up later, yeah?”
“Yes, we will.”
“Might be in late. Want you naked in our bed when I get there.”
Our bed. Our room. I loved it that he always made a point to say that.
“So demanding,” I complained with a laugh.
“Sasha?”
His tone lost the playfulness and became serious. “Stay at the Crossroads. You on your way?”
“I can be.”
“Do it. Need you there. It’s important.”
“Alright.”
“See you soon, baby.”
He hung up and I tried not to dwell on his words. Sometimes Bodie was cryptic but I knew he was limited on what he could share because of the club. I didn’t fault him for his secrecy. I knew who he was when we met. No delusions there.
I kind of loved the fact that he protected me from the worst of it, especially since the kidnapping. In the last two months I’d finally gotten to a place where I didn’t have nightmares anymore and wasn’t tempted to glance over my shoulder every minute of the day. Nothing like being taken against your will to kick up a little paranoia. Of course, I was the stupid one who went on my own free will. All to save my best friend. They would have killed Trish if I didn’t listen to their demands.
I didn’t regret my choice. We were both alive and that was what mattered.
Since Bodie wanted me at the Crossroads, I packed a couple of bags with extra clothes and did a load of laundry, sticking around for another two hours before I was finally ready to leave. One the way out, I bumped into the neighbors on the right. A single mom with two young kids. My friend Gina, Rev who was ten, and his younger sister Olivia who was seven.
“Sasha!” Olivia called out, waving from the backyard.
Rev was jumping up and down on their trampoline. “Hi, Sasha!”
“Hey, you two.”
“Mom is working all weekend,” Rev complained.
“Can we come stay with you?” Olivia asked, giving me a pleading look.
Shit. I hadn’t seen these kids in weeks and felt bad that they were alone so much. Gina worked two jobs to make ends meet – during the day at the same dental office where I was a receptionist and then at night as a waitress. She was the one who initially told me about the job and put in a good word.
“Tell you what, I’ve got to take care of a few things tonight but I’ll be by tomorrow. We’ll spend the day together. How does that sound?”
Rev did a flip and landed on his back as the air was knocked out of his lungs but he was right back up again. “Okay!”
Olivia seemed d
isappointed. “Will you bring pizza?”
“Of course, Liv. I promise.”
She smiled timidly. “Okay.”
“And root beer!” Rev added.
Laughing, I agreed. “Sure. You both stay together and in the house. Call me if you need anything tonight. I can be here in fifteen minutes.”
Rev gave me a thumbs up and Olivia nodded before she ran to the trampoline, shoving her brother out of the way as she began to jump in the middle. He bounced to the side and shook his head but didn’t get mad. He was patient with her and I wasn’t too worried. Those kids did alright on their own.
It wasn’t my place to judge if they were home alone often. The kids had school which kept them out of trouble. They listened to their mom on the weekends and helped out around the house. Responsibility far too mature for their ages but life wasn’t always as easy as we liked. I snagged the last bag from the house and waved to the kids again, wishing there was some way to do more for Gina.
The SUV was packed when I went back to lock up, double checking that I set the alarm Bodie insisted was installed. He never said much but I was certain the club kept an eye on the place, even when no one was home. One of the bikers was a whiz with computers and technology. I hadn’t spoken to Xenon much but he struck me as incredibly intelligent and inventive.
I flipped the porch light on and shut the door, ensuring everything was set. Frowning, I wondered why the light wasn’t working. Dipping my head down to unscrew the sconce, I found the socket empty.
Strange.
I knew there was a bulb the last time I was here. Sure, it may have burned out or even ended up broken somehow but stolen? That didn’t make any sense at all. I didn’t remove it. Trish hadn’t been here.
Who would unscrew another person’s front lightbulb and steal it?
Panic tried to press in from all sides as I immediately jumped to conclusions and worried that I was somehow a target again. Sighing shakily, I twisted the sconce back in place and lifted my chin, determined not to let my fear rule my life. This was probably a prank. Lots of young people lived in the area and it wasn’t far fetched to think it was a joke.
I shoved my sunglasses on, climbed onto the driver’s seat of the SUV, cranked Avenged Sevenfold, and drove toward the Crossroads, singing loudly to the lyrics the entire ride.
Fuck it. I was chasing my happiness and letting the cares of the world fade away.
“What’s the deal, brother?”
I took a long drag from my cigarette before replying, still attempting to calm myself down from the conversation with Grim. “A fuck ton of bullshit,” I finally mumbled.
“I hear you.” Wraith leaned against the side of the concrete façade. One leg was crossed over the other at the ankles. “Shit with the Scorpions is coming to a head.”
“It’s not just that, Wraith. It’s fucking personal.”
“Suraya and Sasha.” He understood my shit mood had to do with losing one woman and nearly arriving too late to rescue the other.
“Yeah.”
“What are you feelin’?” Wraith didn’t ask the obvious – if I wanted to do something about it. He already knew. What he was asking was if I was gonna wait it out like Grim asked.
“Not much choice. Can’t go rogue and risk somethin’ happening to Sasha or blowback on the club. My hands are fucking tied.”
“I don’t like it.”
“That makes two of us.”
Mammoth exited the clubhouse, his expression stormy as he headed my way. If I wasn’t a brother and absolutely certain he wasn’t about to kick my ass I would have been afraid of the three hundred plus pounds of muscle that he heaved on his big frame. The guy was six-and-a-half-feet tall with shoulders so wide he had to turn sideways to enter and exit the Crossroads. Big motherfucker was as gentle as a mouse until you pissed him off then he was like a charging bull and it was a fuckin’ beautiful thing to watch.
His Reaper was so wild and untamed that he was the most unpredictable of us all and that was saying something considering both Rael and Hannibal and their fucked-up bullshit.
I ticked my head in his direction and stood my ground, prepared for whatever tongue lashing he was gonna give about allegiance to the club and not stirring up trouble with the Cartel and Scorpions more than we already had going on. Surprised the shit out of me when Mammoth pulled out a cigarette, lit up, puffed a couple of slow drags, and then smiled.
“I want to fuck this Chamuco up.”
I blinked, staring at the V.P. like he lost his goddamn mind.
“Shiiiiitttttt,” Wraith exhaled, drawing out the word with a loud guffaw. “You’re fuckin’ crazy, Mammoth.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got Grim’s back but no one threatens an ol’ lady or a brother.”
“What are you sayin’?” I needed him to be totally fucking clear because I couldn’t go back on my word with our pres. Not only that, but no new threats had been issued since Christmas which began a whole new set of questions in my head. Chamuco had been silent for two months. Or so I thought.
“Grim said your hands were tied.”
I nodded, trying not to get pissed again.
“He didn’t say shit about me.”
“Fuck,” Wraith cursed, admiration in his gaze. “I love you, brother.”
Mammoth was amused. “You’re coming with me, Wraith.”
Excitement danced in his eyes. “Hell yeah.”
“Gonna take Ex and Diablo too.”
“Alright. What about Rael?”
“I’m taking point on this. Rael will fall in line.”
Mammoth was the only who could have said that shit and mean it. Rael was the Sgt. at Arms for a reason and he didn’t take orders from anyone but Grim. He conceded to Papa and Exorcist but that was mostly due to the fact that they were the oldest members of the club and founders. Respect was earned and if there was something that I did understand about Rael it was the fact that he was loyal and supported the hierarchy of the club.
He wouldn’t go against his pres or his V.P.
“What’s the plan?” I asked, eager to learn what Mammoth had in mind.
“Gonna take a ride and see what kind of shit we can stir up. Chamuco frequents a few local bars around Vegas. Plan on finding him and then having a chat.”
Frowning, I wasn’t sure this was the best idea. What if he was laying low and this pissed him off? Would it place Sasha in greater danger?
“How do you know this?”
Mammoth gave me a wide grin. “I have my sources. Let’s just say there’s a sweet little Hispanic girl that Chamuco likes to fuck on the regular. He’s got a loose tongue when he’s boozed up. She’s paid to fill me in from time to time.”
“Damn.” Wraith shook his head. “Got to admit I didn’t expect that.”
Neither did I. “How long has she been fucking him and reporting back to you?”
“Since the week after Christmas. Thought it was best to watch him.”
Yeah, it was. I couldn’t help but think Mammoth had done this specifically for me, not just the club. “Fuck, brother. I don’t know what to say.”
Mammoth’s expression sobered. “Don’t need a repeat of what happened with the girls. I’ll do everything I can to prevent it.”
He didn’t say what we were all thinking. That Grim and Trish separated because of the Scorpions and Acid and the feud with their club. I not only lost Suraya but nearly arrived too late to save Sasha. Not to mention the fact that Lucky’s ol’ lady Cindi was fucked-up by Dawg, one of the Scorpions MC members and left for dead. My cousin wanted vengeance and he got it when we took out six of their members, including Dawg. Didn’t change the fact that bad blood still existed and none of us would be happy until the Scorpions were completely wiped out.
Wraith planted a hand on Mammoth’s shoulder. “You’re a beast. A fuckin’ badass, Mammoth.”
He smirked. “It’s my job to think of this shit and anticipate what the club needs as well as our pres. I want this threat
with Chamuco dealt with as swiftly as possible.”
“Then he’s been in Tonopah more than once.” Shit. How did I miss that?
“Vegas, Reno, Carson City. But Tonopah? Not until this week which worries me.”
“Like he’s been setting shit up,” Wraith added.
“Exactly.” Mammoth frowned, tossing the butt of his smoke down and crushing it with his boot. “You’ve got to lay low for this, Bodie. I’ve got reason to believe the club is being watched but you and Grim in particular. My guess is that Salazar wants to ensure our cooperation.”
Fuck. “So I’m out for this.” Snarling, I shoved away from the wall. “Grim already made it clear.”
Mammoth nodded. “Gotta be this way, Bodie. Can’t let anyone think you or Grim are breaking that contract with Salazar.”
I walked up to my brother, staring into his eyes and not the least bit intimidated by the fierce expression on his face. “You get the chance, you take him out, Mammoth. I mean it.” I didn’t give a fuck what anyone had to say about it, even Grim. Chamuco was too dangerous to leave alive.
He lifted his chin, the agreement solid between us. “Let’s roll out.” He gestured to Wraith who was texting on his phone. “Gonna do a little recon while we still have daylight too.”
“Ex will meet us outside of Tonopah at the usual spot. Diablo is about a half hour away.”
“Good.” Mammoth strode off toward his bike, Wraith only a few steps behind.
I watched as they rode out and one of the prospects secured the gate. Pulling out my smokes, I lit up another, smoking so damn much I should be nicknamed Chimney with all the damn stress of the last few months.
Rael rode in about ten minutes later. He parked his hog and then charged my way with purpose. Whatever he had to say I wasn’t in the mood for bullshit or a confrontation. If he challenged me, I wouldn’t back down.
“Heard from Mammoth and Grim.”
So? What was his point? “Yeah.”
“Mammoth might be heading into trouble.”
Frowning, I didn’t like his tone. “And?”
He got up close to my face and looked dead into my eyes. With his freaky black and white skull makeup it was kind of fucked-up. Narrowing my gaze, I waited for his next words before I punched him in the face. My fingers twitched on both hands as my Reaper hovered just below the surface of my skin.
Bloody Mine (Royal Bastards MC, #2) Page 2
