Steel Cobras MC Complete Box Set: Books 1-6

by Evie Monroe

  Through the windows, the clouds hid a dull moon, masking whatever stars shined on this awful night. Everything was eerily silent, except for the sound of blood rushing through my ears. I listened for Blaze’s barking voice but didn’t hear it.

  When I raised my head, I saw a small pool of blood. I felt my cheek, my temple. It was sore to the touch, sticky and wet with blood.

  In the dim light, I stared at my fingers, coated in red, as my memory came back to me. Blaze, bringing the butt of his gun down over my head. He’d wanted me to suck his cock and threatened me with that gun. I quivered, remembering staring down the barrel of his gun, and the way it’d felt pressed up against my face.

  I raised myself up on my knees, and looked around carefully, trying to figure out what was happening. The office was empty.

  Then I heard a gunshot. There could be no mistaking it. Another. And another.

  I flinched each time one rang out, pressing myself against the solid wooden front of my father’s desk.

  I remembered Phoenix. He’d come for me.

  I had to let him know I was here. I had to find him.

  Head throbbing, I shifted and crawled on my hands and knees toward the door. When I reached it, more gunfire.

  Fuck! What was happening? Was Nix okay? It sounded like a war zone out there.

  A part of me wanted to go back and hide under my father’s desk. Another part of me wanted to make sure Nix was alive. Though it was hard to imagine anyone ever getting the better of someone like Phoenix Nash, he was out there, and he could be in trouble. And I wasn’t helping him, hiding away like a coward.

  I reached the door knob and used it to lift my body to a standing position. Dizzy and wavering on my feet, I braced myself against the door jamb.

  Then I slowly twisted the doorknob and pulled.

  Only an inch. It revealed a sliver of blackness.

  My head swam, and I rested it against the wall, disoriented. With the door open, the sound of the gunshots was louder. Every one of them made me shudder. And there were so many. So many chances for Nix to die.

  I closed the door and leaned against it, trying to summon the courage to step out into the hallway. My heart-rate was zinging at a million miles an hour, so fast I thought it might give out on me any second.

  What am I thinking? Am I crazy?

  This kind of lifestyle was in Nix’s blood. But me? No. I was protected, scared of everything, and stayed away from danger. This lifestyle was definitely not for me. It was full blown crazy to me. Shootouts in Aveline Bay? Murders?

  If both of us came out of this alive, we’d definitely have a come to Jesus meeting. No matter what, I wanted to stand by him. Be there for him when he needed a sound mind or a soft touch.

  I was in love with Phoenix Nash, the man who made me feel things no man ever had, and who’d easily go through this hell to be with me.

  There was no other option. Even if I had to go into every fucking gunfight by his side, if I was going to do this, I’d better grow a pair and start learning to kick ass.

  Taking a deep breath, I reached for the knob again. I pulled it open a little and as I poked my head out, I heard the sound of quickly moving footsteps.

  The footsteps grew louder, and then I saw the shadow of a man coming toward me. I couldn’t tell who it was, but I saw the glimmer of his gun caught by a light in the hallway.

  I had the urge to step back, but I planted my feet.

  He noticed me and started to slow. As he did, I noticed the flames on his jacket. Shit. Hell’s Fury.

  He opened his mouth to speak, and a bullet sliced him right between the eyes.

  Blood spattered over the door and onto me as he fell to his knees, then slumped forward. I strangled the scream in my throat.

  Oh, my God.

  The body jerked once, but after that, didn’t move. He was dead. I saw a man die. Right in front of me. His one eye still open, staring forever at nothing, the blood pouring from his head, turning the carpet around him black.

  He was still holding onto his gun.

  I’d never fired a gun. I’d held Nix’s gun once. Barely. If we survived this, he’d have to give me lessons.

  I sank to my knees next to the body, inching forward slightly. I looked up and down the hallway for the shooter, but it was too dark to see very far in either direction. More gunfire but coming from a distance. I still had no idea where Phoenix was.

  Just then, I heard another gunshot, closer. I threw myself back into the room and crawled as fast as I could over to the banker’s lamp on my father’s desk and pulled the cord. I was cast into darkness, except for a rim of light coming in through the open door.

  It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dark. When they did, I faced the hallway and could see the dead man’s hulking body just lying there.

  I silently crawled forward, reaching for him.

  I spread a hand out cautiously and touched him. Nothing.

  I shoved him a little harder. Again, no movement.

  I walked my fingers toward the gun, still clasped in the hand sprawled out over his head, bathing in the shallow, spreading pool of blood.

  His hand was still warm.

  Taking a deep breath to tamp down the bile in my throat, I reached forward, loosening his hand from its grip on the weapon. When I succeeded in prying his fingers from it, someone put their fingers through my hair and viciously grabbed a handful at the base of my skull.

  Pain screamed down my neck and I felt hairs popping from my scalp as I was propelled backwards into a solid wall of muscle. I yelped in agony as a beefy arm wrapped around me and a foul, hot breath hit my ear.

  “Drop it, darlin’,” the voice hissed out. Blaze. He licked the shell of my ear. “I think you and I have a date. You don’t want to miss that, right, sweetheart?”

  Every muscle in my body protested and I dropped the gun at my feet and willed myself not to cry.

  Be tough. For Nix.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Phoenix

  Jig’s gun out of ammunition, I tossed it on the ground as I crouched in my hiding spot in the darkness, on the top floor of Michael Anderson’s building. I’d been firing blind, no clue whether I was hitting anyone or anything. This was fucking insane. I had no idea if Liv was okay. I knew she was in her father’s office, only a few feet away from down the hall, but if she was with Blaze, I had reason to suspect the worst.

  I withdrew the gun I had hidden in my boot. Rule Number One of the Cobras: Always have more than one back-up weapon.

  More gunshots went off. I looked up, over my shoulder, from behind the low cubicle wall. From here, I had a good view of Anderson’s office. It was the only light in the entire place. As I did, a door opened, and I saw a Fury member come out of the stairwell. Not seeing me, he started to run down the hallway, toward the office.

  I turned around, cocked the gun over the cubicle wall, and fired off two shots. My second shot hit him in the back. He fell to his knees in a run and slid in front of Anderson’s door, now motionlessness.

  The sound of gunshots ceased for a minute. I sat back against the wall, took the time to reload the cartridge in my gun with the bullets I’d kept in my holster.

  The next time I looked, the light in Anderson’s office suddenly flickered off.

  Now, everything was dark.

  What the fuck?

  I was really firing blind. I strained, trying to will night vision into my straining eyes. I caught only blurred movement. Blinking again and again, I heard a noise. A scream.

  Olivia.

  A second later, she appeared in the doorway just as a brief slash of moonlight cut through the door.

  Blaze was behind her, hugging her body to his. She was stiff, breathing hard and whimpering, blood dripping down the side of her face.

  He had a gun to her head.

  Fuck.

  “Phoenix!” Blaze shouted up and down the hallway. “Tell your men to call it off or she gets a bullet in the brain, asshole!”r />
  I leapt to my feet, gun at the ready. Pointing it at Blaze, I crept toward them in the hallway. The shooting stopped. Down the darkened corridor, I heard nothing but silence, like we were the only ones in the building.

  I moved into another shaft of moonlight, still aiming my gun at Blaze’s head. Steadily, I inched closer. That cut on her head looked serious. “Let her go.”

  “Phoenix,” Blaze growled. “Tell your men to back the fuck off. It was supposed to be just Cullen and you, asshole.”

  “You know I don’t listen too well,” I told him, lining up the perfect shot. My finger itched to pull the trigger on this asshole. But I couldn’t chance that he wouldn’t have the time to squeeze off one last shot on Liv.

  “Should’ve known. Jig told me you didn’t bring the information. So what makes you think I’m going to let your little slut leave here alive?”

  Dragging Liv across the floor, he yanked her over the body in the hallway. Blaze’s cold eyes fell on me. I could see Liv more clearly now: She was as terrified as hell. My gut twisted.

  “Motherfucker let her go or I will fill your body with so much lead that they’ll be scraping you off the fucking ceiling.”

  He let out a low laugh. Leaned forward, putting his dirty nose on the top of Liv’s head. Inhaled deeply. “Mmm, she smells so damn good.”

  I took a step closer, itching to be near her. To make her safe. I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything.

  “Stay right there, fuckwad,” Blaze said, straightening. He looked over his shoulder. “Drop your gun and call your men off, or I kill her.”

  I had the shot. So perfect. This could all be over so easy. But I couldn’t risk Liv.

  I lowered my gun. Dropped it to the ground. Kicked it over to him. “Guys. Back off,” I called down the hallway, holding my hands out in surrender. “What do you want?”

  “You’re right. You really don’t listen so well, man. So I guess I have to say it again. Your contacts. Now. Send one of your men to get them. If I don’t have them in my hand in fifteen minutes, the girl dies.” He grinned, then shouted out, “You hear that Cullen? Tell your boy Hart to get on his little computer and start printing.”

  The door behind me opened, and four Hell’s Fury men stepped out, flanking me. They grabbed fistfuls of my shirt and pushed me forward. My clenched fists ached to throw a punch, but all I could do was stagger down the hall toward Blaze, scowling at them, the dangerous rage inside tightening my muscles.

  Blaze grinned sadistically as the men shoved me. He loved seeing me beaten. Closer now, I saw Liv’s big blue eyes, full of fear, focused on me, pleading for help.

  Fuck.

  Things may have looked hopeless, but they weren’t lost. I inhaled sharply, let out a breath, urging myself to stay calm. Rule Number Two of the Cobras: Wait for the right moment. It would come. I just had to bide my time.

  Just then, Liv’s eyes caught mine, and filled with determination. She ducked her head, buried her mouth behind Blaze’s forearm, and bit down, as hard as she could.

  “FUCK!” he shouted, jerking her away. But he loosened his grasp for only a blink, not long enough to make a move. The second she started to run, he grabbed her back, harder. He kissed the side of her head. “I like it when you fight, baby. Keep fighting. I bet Nix’ll get off on that, too.”

  Blaze dragged her inside the office and his men shoved me in behind them. They forced me down on my knees and I felt the barrel of a gun bearing down on the back of my head.

  Blaze shoved aside all of the shit on top of the desk with one swipe and laid Olivia’s trembling body over it. She looked like a lamb offered up for sacrifice, her legs hanging off the edge of the desk.

  Then he slowly walked over to me and said, “You Cobras have been giving me shit for far too long. And we mean to end it. Here. Now.”

  “Good,” I said. “Let’s end it. But let the girl go.”

  He smiled, his eyes trailing over the half-moon of a bite mark on his forearm. She’d gotten him good—he was bleeding. “I might. But not just yet. You haven’t given me what I want, yet. And I’m not happy with how you’ve been fucking with me.”

  I shouldered my arm forward but the men quickly yanked me back. I hocked up saliva in my throat and spit clear in Blaze’s eye.

  He didn’t flinch. He wiped it off with one hand, his scowl deepening. Then he retreated to the desk. Starting at her face, he pressed the cold barrel of his gun against her skin, trailing it down over her body. He used it to nudge aside her clothes, playing with her as her chest heaved in the moonlight. She looked scared to death.

  He beckoned two of the men forward, grinning at me. “You’re going to like this, Phoenix, my boy.”

  Breathing hard, I growled at him. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

  He cupped a hand over his ear and leaned forward. “What did you say? I guess I don’t hear very well either. And that’s too bad for you.” He nodded at his men, motioning them toward Liv. “Strip her. I want her naked.”

  “DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!” I lunged forward, but two sets of hands held me back. The gun bore into my head, pressure shoving me down to the ground. I shoved my way out, only to be yanked back a second later. “Fuck. FUCK YOU! I’m going to FUCKING KILL YOU, BLAZE!”

  The room was filled with Liv’s sobs as they approached her. I hung my head as I heard the sound of ripping clothing. I winced each time she screamed. I struggled, feeling useless as fuck, as Blaze sidled up to me. He put the barrel of his gun under my chin, lifting my face to meet his.

  “Now.” His voice was calm and measured, his breath hot and reeking in my face. “Keep your eyes open. This is a day you’re going to remember the rest of your sorry ass life. You’re going to sit and watch as all of my brothers take a turn with your little girlfriend. I’m sure they’ll all enjoy your whore’s tight pussy, and I bet you they’d love to tear her apart with their dicks, just to watch you squirm. I was going to take a turn myself, but I decided . . . if she’s been with you, she ain’t good enough for me.”

  I met his hard stare with one of my own, hustled my way forward to try and land a punch. Just one, and I’d level him. I had too much uncontrolled, rabid rage in me, like a volcano ready to blow its top. And I wouldn’t stop until he was a stain in the carpet.

  “I’ll kill you, Blaze,” I said under my breath. “Her father will kill you.”

  He chuckled. “Her father is dead. Turns out, we don’t need him anymore. And you’re in no place to be making threats.”

  They killed her father? Fuck. When the hell did they get the balls to pull this shit, not fearing any backlash whatsoever?

  The window of escape, of getting free and getting the fuck out of here alive, was slowly closing. It felt like the only thing left was a miracle. But I wasn’t about to give up.

  Just then, I heard a voice and a scuffle behind us. Jig’s voice. “Blaze. Cullen ordered up the contacts. They should be here soon.”

  I heard someone fall to his knees beside me with a loud growl. “Fuck you,” he growled at them. Cullen.

  Shit. They’d gotten him, too. Had they gotten all of us? Was this the end of the Cobras?

  “Nice for you to join us, Cullen,” Blaze said in an almost welcoming voice. He turned away, then quickly came back and slammed the butt of his gun hard down on Cullen’s temple.

  Cullen let out a guttural sound and slumped forward. Blood spattered on the ground in dark black droplets.

  “That’s for not following directions,” Blaze hissed out, motioning to his men. “Lift him up. I want him to watch this, too. I want him to see what fucking around with us gets him.”

  Cullen fought against them, throwing his arms back and his body weight against theirs. I could tell by the sounds they let out. Then one of the men holding me back reached over to help him. Now, only one guy was holding onto me.

  This was my chance.

  I wrenched myself forward, hitting a stunned Blaze square in the shoulder and diving past him as I
lunged for the desk, where Liv was lying, her pale, naked body quivering. Tears were mixing with the blood and streaming down her face and her eyes were wild. The men were on me at once, yanking me back, but I elbowed them in their guts. “Liv,” I shouted, leaning over her and smoothing her blonde hair from her face, cupping her cheek. Face red and wet with tears, she started to cry harder. “Liv! Listen to me.”

  I fought off someone grabbing at me and touched her face. “Nix,” she repeated, over and over again.

  “I love you. I’m going to get you out of here. Okay? Don’t be afraid.”

  She sniffled. “I love you, too, Nix.”

  The men pulled me back. “Very touching,” Blaze said, motioning to his men. I saw two of them approaching her, approaching Liv, hands on their flies and hungry looks in their eyes.

  If this happened, if they fucking went through with this, I was going to burn Hell’s Fury to the ground. I would personally hunt down and slaughter each one of them, in the most painful way possible, and never look back. Nothing would stop me. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth as she cried out for me to help her, over and over again, each time feeling like a stab through the heart.

  But no sooner had they pulled me back, a single gunshot rang out behind us. The men, momentarily stunned, all turned toward the door as Blaze looked down at his vest. A bright red stain began to grow on his collarbone, under his vest, spreading out on his white t-shirt. He touched it, disbelieving, before launching into action.

  He shouted out, “Fuck!” Grabbing at his shoulder, he pointed with his other hand. “That fucking bastard Jetson! Get him!”

  Jetson? Somehow, Jet had gotten away from whatever chaos he’d been dealing with and gotten off the shot. Just at the right time, too.

  This was the moment. Cullen sensed it, too, because at once he threw himself back with all his might. I straightened up and slammed into the guy behind me and crashed across his face with the back of his hand.

  Then, chaos. Guns going off. Fists and body parts flying. Panic and shouting. Men grunting and growling and throwing themselves at each other.