Chapter 24
Corvus King
Iwake up to the heavy breath of Tempest on my arm, her body pressed against mine. The warmth is suffocating, but I can”t let go. I hold her tighter, feeling the sweat pooling between us.
”Corvus,” she mumbles, half-asleep, ”you”re too hot. I gotta pee. Move, please.”
She wriggles out of my hold, her skin sticky with sweat, leaving a cold emptiness behind. I watch her for a moment, appreciating every curve and line of her body.
”Sorry, Princess,” I say, running a hand through my hair.
She glances back at me, a small smile playing on her lips. ”It”s alright. Just... try not to smother me next time?”
”Can”t make any promises,” I reply, grinning wickedly. My mind races with thoughts of what I want to do to her body.
”Whatever you say, Corvus,” she calls over her shoulder.
I hear the sound of water hitting porcelain and decide to join her. She had just started to wash her hands, her brows raised in surprise as I pull my dick out of my boxers and start to pee right in front of her.
”Well, help yourself then,” she says, sarcasm dripping from her words.
”Princess,” I chuckle, ”you”re stuck with me now. Get used to it.”
Her lips curve into a defiant smile. ”Nope, don”t think I will.”
”You got no choice,” I reply, flopping my dick back into my boxers and washing my hands.
As we exit the bathroom, Tempest”s hips sway with each step. I can”t keep my hands off her. I follow her into the kitchen, wrapping my arms around her while she makes coffee. She smells so good.
”Ugh, Corvus, I need a shower,” she complains, her body slick with perspiration.
”Too bad,” I replied, licking her neck and tasting the salt on her skin. ”I like you like this.”
”God, you”re disgusting,” she laughs, shoving me away playfully.
”Maybe,” I admit, grinning at her.
”Corvus?” she asks, pouring steaming coffee into two mugs. ”What about work today?”
”Day off,” I tell her, taking a sip of the strong, black liquid. ”I organised it last night. Just you and me today, Princess.”
”Really?” Her eyes widen in surprise. ”What about everyone else?”
”Told ”em to take the day off, too. Figured they could use a break.” My gaze drifts around our place, noting the empty spaces that still need filling. ”Thought we could go shopping for some house stuff if you want.”
”House stuff? You do realize you”ve already bought it all? There”s nothing left to buy.” She says with raised brows.
”Nothing?” I glance around our place, noticing the large windows that could use some dressing up. ”What about curtains? And throw pillows?”
Her laughter is like music to my ears. ”Well, yes, I would love curtains, but nope, no throw pillows, thanks. You gotta take them off the bed every night and then put them back on. Waste of money if you ask me.”
”Fuck,” I chuckle, shaking my head. ”This is why I love you.” The way she sees things so practically never gets caught up in unnecessary details. She just... keeps it real.
”Whatever,” she says with a smirk, rolling her eyes as she walks out of the kitchen.
With breakfast on my mind, I get to work making grilled cheese sandwiches. The sizzle of butter hitting the pan calms me somehow.
The ringing phone pierces the silence, tearing me away from the comforting sizzle of the grilled cheese. I left the damn thing in the bedroom. Of course.
”Here,” Tempest says, sauntering back into the kitchen, holding out my phone. She”s only in her underwear, and it takes all my willpower not to growl and pull her close. ”Thank you, Princess,” I manage to say, reaching for the phone.
She laughs at my struggle, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ”Answer your phone, VP,” she teases, before stepping away.
”Corvus,” I snap, finally swiping the answer button.
”Morning,” Mr. Pavlov greets me, his voice cold and measured. ”Are you free to meet today? I have fixed my little problem and would like to arrange future business with you personally.”
Shit. I wanted this day off with Tempest. But this deal... It could mean more money and less go-between bullshit. My chest tightens as I weigh the options, knowing that every choice has a cost.
”Fine,” I say, gritting my teeth. ”Meet me at the warehouse at 11.” I hang up before Pavlov can reply.
”Shit,” I mutter under my breath, already hating that this day is slipping away from me. I dial Killer”s number, hoping he won”t be too pissed off about being summoned on his day off.
”Whaddya want, VP?” he grumbles, clearly just woken up.
”Killer, I need you to watch Tempest for a couple of hours today. Be here at 10:50.”
”Sure thing, VP,” he mumbles, and I hang up before he can complain any further.
Tempest walks back into the kitchen, her concern replaced with a smile. I hand her a plate with the grilled cheese sandwich, perfectly toasted, and say, ”I have to go see the Russian mafia at 11. I”ll only be gone for two hours. Killer will come and sit with you, then we can go curtain shopping.”
”Okay,” she smiles, accepting the situation. I lean down and kiss her deeply, grinding against her as I feel the fire between us ignite once more.
”Still got a couple of hours, Princess,” I whisper huskily in her ear, reaching out and flicking the stove off. My appetite for her outweighs any hunger for food.
”Corvus, you”re insatiable,” she laughs, but I can see the desire in her eyes. I lift her into my arms and carry her back to the bedroom.
———————————————————————————
The wind roars in my ears as I ride my Harley down the dirt road, kicking up dust behind me. Sun”s high in the sky, casting long shadows over the abandoned warehouse up ahead. Hammer and Nate are already there, leaning against their bikes like they own the place.
I pull up next to them, cutting the engine with a flick of my wrist. The world goes eerily quiet as I climb off my bike, my boots crunching on the gravel beneath me.
”Why is it that we always beat you here?” Hammer smirks, arms crossed over his broad chest.
”Fuck off,” I shoot back, not bothering to hide my annoyance. ”You both live closer than I do! Simple math.”
Nate chuckles, shaking his head. ”Could”ve fooled me with how slow you ride, old man.”
”Old man?” I snort. “We are the same fucking age cock face.”
”Nah mate I’m 6 months younger?” Hammer teases, grinning from ear to ear.
”Fuck off,” I laugh.
”Where”s Trey?” Hammer asks, scanning the area like the cunt is playing hide and seek.
”His mum was busy, and couldn”t watch his kid today,” I explain, scratching at the stubble on my chin. ”He”s home with the little one.”
”Ah, got it,” Hammer nods, understanding in his eyes. Family always comes first, even when you”re part of an MC.
”Hey, Nate,” I say, ”You sort out that thing with your sister?”
Nate”s jaw clenches, his eyes darkening. ”No,” he growls, frustration evident in his voice. ”She won”t tell any of us who the father is. And she wants to keep it.”
”Shit,” I mutter under my breath, running a hand through my hair. I crack a grin, trying to ease the tension in the air. ”Well, Uncle Nate, do you need some help?”
Nate shoots me a dark stare, gritting his teeth. ”Yeah, I wanna kill the little fucker.”
We all burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the rusted metal walls surrounding us. Hammer doubles over, clutching his stomach. ”You gonna give him a talking-to about the birds and bees?”
”Fuck,” I say, chuckling. ”I”ll supply the condom and banana for you.” I mime peeling it, smirking at Nate.
”Very funny, dickheads,” Nate grumbled, crossing his arms. The sound of an approaching car cuts our laughter short. We look up as the black car rolls in, dust billowing behind it.
”Showtime,” I mutter under my breath, watching Mr. Pavlov step out of the vehicle. My heart races, adrenaline pumping through my veins. He walks toward me with purpose, his tailored suit crisp despite the dirt road. I stand tall, shoulders back, ready for whatever he”s got.
”Thanks for meeting with me,” he says, extending a hand. I grip it firmly, feeling the weight of this moment. Shit”s about to change – one way or another.
”Hope your issues are resolved now?” I ask, not giving an inch. Can”t afford to seem weak in front of this guy.
”Oh, yes. All dealt with,” he replies, a sinister edge to his voice that sends shivers down my spine. Something tells me ”dealt with” ain”t all sunshine and rainbows.
”Good.” My fingers itch for the comfort of my gun, but I keep my hands steady, betraying nothing.
”Listen,” Mr. Pavlov says, leaning in close. ”I”d like to deal directly with you in the future. I can have my men meet you here once a month for shipments, twice the usual amount, and I”ll pay you directly.”
My mind races, calculating the risks and rewards of this new arrangement. But there”s no denying the appeal of cutting out the middleman and keeping more cash in our pockets.
A sly grin creeps across Mr. Pavlov”s face, and I can”t help but match it with my own. ”Deal,” I say, shaking his hand firmly. ”When d”you want the first shipment?”
”Two weeks from now,” he replies, his accent thick and heavy.
”Got it.” I dip my chin in acknowledgment as he turns to leave, climbing into his sleek black car. The engine roars to life, and he speeds away, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
”Fuckin” hell,” I mutter under my breath, watching the car disappear down the dirt road. Turning to Hammer and Nate, I”m met with their mixed expressions – relief, scepticism, and just a hint of fear. ”Well, that worked out in our favour.”
”Let”s hope your pops ain”t too mad about it,” Hammer says, shrugging his broad shoulders. He”s right to be worried; my old man doesn”t take kindly to change, especially when it comes to business.
”Let me deal with him,” I reply, my voice tight with determination. Pops may be a stubborn son of a bitch, but I”ve learned a thing or two about handling him over the years.
”Whatever you say, VP,” Nate chimes in, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, cutting through the air like a knife. I glance down at the screen and see Killer”s name flashing. What the fuck does he want?
”Killer,” I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.
”Corvus... shit, man...” Killer groans into the phone, his voice weak and strained.
”Killer? What”s going on?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. This ain”t right. Something”s fucked up.
”Been shot,” he gasps, ”laying... front door of the house.”
”Fuck!” My mind races as I try to process the information.
“There is a man in the house looking for someone named Louise, he still has his gun,” Killer”s voice shakes through the phone, each word strained and panicked. My heart drops to my stomach like a lead weight.
”Fuck!” I hiss through gritted teeth, my mind racing. ”Killer, stay with me. We”re on our way.” I shove my phone back into my pocket and look at Hammer and Nate, who have already sensed something”s wrong from my reaction.
”Someone shot Killer,” I bark, unable to mask the worry in my voice. ”They”re in the house, trying to hurt Tempest.”
”Motherfucker!” Nate snarls, his face contorting with rage. Hammer”s eyes flash with fury, his fists clenched tight.
”Let”s ride!” I command my voice hard as steel. We don”t waste any more time talking – we know what”s at stake. We all jump on our bikes, engines roaring to life, the growl of our Harleys echoing our own anger.
”Ride or die,” I think, repeating our unspoken pledge. We will protect our own, no matter the cost. And whoever dared to challenge that… well, they”re about to learn just how high the price can be.