Raze (Dirty Soul MC: Long Beach #1)

Chapter 28

“This is nice.” I position myself between Raze’s legs where he’s stretched out on the sun lounger enjoying the sun, then I lie back against his chest. He looks sexy as hell in just his swimming trunks and sunglasses, and I intend to take full advantage of the day he’s taken off to spend with me before he goes on his run tomorrow.

“And where did ya get this?” He snaps the strap of my bikini when he notices it’s new.

“I went shopping with Alicia yesterday, remember?” I point out. My confidence has grown over the past few weeks. Being Raze’s ‘old lady’ seems to come with a status that makes me feel protected. Alicia has been hanging around the club more often and everyone seems to have accepted me as Raze’s old lady, except of course the club whores who still hate me.

“It don’t leave a lot to the imagination, does it?” Raze points out, still going on about my new bikini.

“Well, it’s only me and you out here so I don’t see the harm.” I rest my head back on his shoulder and soak up the sun, while his hands slide over my midriff.

“Boss.” When I hear a voice approaching us I make a long, heavy sigh. I knew it would only be a matter of time before we got interrupted and when I look up and hold my hand over my eyes to block out the sun, I see James standing beside us.

“I thought I told you not to interrupt me today.” Raze sounds equally as annoyed as I am.

“I know, and I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t important.” James purposely keeps his eyes focused on the sand at his feet.

“Well, out with it then,” Raze bites back impatiently.

“It’s about the run tomorrow. I was wonderin’ if I could come along.”

“You wanna come to Reno?” Raze sits up, forcing me up with him.

“Yeah, I do.” James nods his head firmly

“And what does your moma say about that?” Raze frowns at him.

“With all respect sir, it’s not up to my moma. I’m old enough to make the choice.”

“Good answer.” Raze settles back down, arching his hand around my throat and dragging me back to rest against his chest again. “You're in, speak to Sasquatch. Tell him to fill you in on the plan. And if he tells ya to do somethin’ you do it. I need this run to go smoothly.” He dismisses him with a nod of his head, and James looks pleased with himself as he races back across the sand toward the clubhouse.

“Is this run dangerous?” I ask, getting the impression that Raze is feeling the pressure. He’s spent much more time planning this one than he did the other run he went on.

“The stakes are higher, and we have to pass through Reaper territory,” he admits, making all that calm I’ve found over the past few weeks spike back into panic.

“Then it is dangerous.”

“Not if they don’t know we’re comin’, and we’ll be on our guard.” His hand strokes lazily through my hair.

“I worry you know, about you being out there.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll be fine,” he assures me.

“And how do I know you’ll be fine?” I turn around propping my chin on the hands I rest on his chest.

“Because I got a real good reason to make it home.” He furrows his brow.

“Yeah, well you better, because I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.” I admit not even feeling ashamed of how stupid I sound. “I feel safe here.”

“That’s because you are safe here,” he reminds me and I climb a little further up his body so I can kiss his lips.

His cell starts to ring and when I see Wrath’s name light it up I lift it from the cooler and hand it to him.

“I’m meant to be takin’ a day off.” He places it straight back, showing that he’s got no intention of answering it.

“But if it’s about the run you need to take it,” I point out, watching him pout. “I want that run to go without a hitch so you're not away from me for a moment more than you have to be.”

“You're cute as hell you know that?” He squeezes my jaw tight and kisses me before he picks the phone back up and answers.

“Wrath…Yeah… I’ll be right there.” He rolls his eyes and stands up.

“I gotta head to the club and make a few last-minute adjustments. Why don’t you call Alicia and see if she wants to hang out,” he suggests lifting his sunglasses onto his head and pulling on his tee.

“I’m good, I think I'll just enjoy the peace for a while.” I rest my head back on the sun bed and smile to myself when he leans over to kiss me goodbye.

“I don’t think it gets any better than this,” I say to Reggie when he ventures out the house and starts walking around the cooler. Raze is right, he probably could have flown off weeks ago, I’m sure his wing is healed. But I’m glad he hasn’t. I like his company and although he’d never admit it, I think Raze is warming to him too.

I must lie on the beach for a whole hour, drifting in and out of sleep, and when I see that Raze still isn’t back I decide to head up to the clubhouse to get myself a drink.

I check the phone that Raze bought me a few days ago and message Alicia. I’m sure I won’t have to try too hard to persuade her to come hang out, she hasn’t admitted it to me yet but I’m sure she has a huge crush on Vike.

I pull on some denim cut-offs and head toward the balcony, smiling politely at Rocco and Saul as I pass them on my way up the stairs.

“Peyton.” Saint comes out the side door just as I’m about to step inside and when his eyes automatically drop down to my tits he immediately turns his head in a different direction.

“Are you, erm... Ya lookin’ for Prez?” He keeps his focus on the galvanized wall to avoid looking at me.

“Not really, I’m sure he’s busy. I just came up here to get a drink. It’s getting warm out here.”

“Yeah, you're hot… I mean it’s hot. Out here.” He stumbles on his words as he rushes past me and I chuckle to myself as I walk into the clubhouse.

“Hey, Polly.” I take a seat on one of the barstools and watch her get straight to work, fixing me an iced tea. She’s looking distant as she places it in front of me.

“You okay?” I check, apart from Alicia she’s about the only woman who speaks to me around here. I know some of the members still see her as a whore, but she’s way more than that. This place seems to be getting busier during the day and it’s her that's keeping the bar stocked and the kitchen running.

“Not really.” She shakes her head and looks toward the door where I assume all the brothers are talking through their plans.

“Sonny in there?” I ask, certain that this is about his request to go with them on the run. He’s her kid and I guess it's natural for her to be worried. Mom was always worrying about us. She did everything in her power to try and put Kane off following in our dad’s footsteps. She’d be devastated if she knew it was all for nothing.

“I know I’m being overprotective and that Raze will look out for him.”

I wonder what makes her so sure about that, is it the fact that he’s the leader or something more personal?

“Of course, he will.” I place my hand over hers to give her some reassurance.

“Whoa!” Ruckus stops in his tracks when he strolls through the door, closing his eyes and then opening them again. “Does Raze know ya…here…dressed like that?” Just like Saint, he doesn’t seem to know where to put his eyes, and when the door to the meeting room opens and Raze steps out he immediately raises his eyebrow when he sees me.

“Oh, I don’t think so.” He shrugs the shirt he’s wearing off his shoulders and wraps it around mine, snarling over his shoulder at the brothers behind him while I slide my arms through the sleeves.

“What’s the problem, everyone else around here dresses like this,” I point out, there may not be any of the girls in here right now, but half the time they don’t wear anything on their top half.

“No one else around here belongs to me,” he tells me, tying the front of his shirt up around my waist.

“There.” He nods, looking satisfied with his handy work.

“Peyton.” Alicia comes rushing through the door, smiling at Raze before she drags me over to the side of the room.

“Please tell me you have a tampon,” she whispers, looking panicked, especially when she sees Vike step out the meeting room.

“ I might have one in my car, go to the bathroom and I’ll go check.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” She rushes to the bathroom and when I head for the door, I feel a hand wrap around my wrist and tug me back.

“Where d’ya think you’re goin’?” Raze asks me, with a very serious look on his face.

“To my car to get something for Alicia.”

“What kinda somethin’?” He questions pulling me real close so our lips are almost touching.

“A lady kinda something, you wanna come with me?” I smile, loving how protective he gets over me.

“No, just don’t take too long. I wanna get back to our time alone.” He kisses my lips before releasing me.

When I get to my car I open the trunk and go through one of the bags Kane had put together. I remember thinking about how thoughtful it was that he packed tampons, and when I locate the box, I take one out and slide it into my pocket. Once I’ve closed the trunk back down I stare through the rear view window at the glove compartment and think about the phone that’s in there. I’ve been so selfish since I came here. I never did make that call that I promised Dad I would and for all I know Kane could have been trying to get hold of me.

Checking around the yard, I make sure I’m alone before I open the front passenger door and flip the glove compartment open. My hands start shaking as I take out the phone and switch it on to see if Dad or Kane have tried to get in touch. There must still be a little battery left because it comes on and seeing that there's a message from Dad waiting for me gives me an unexpected comfort.

We never had anything to do with him growing up. Mom never wanted us near the club, and he’d choose them over us. But I have to be grateful to him for one thing. Him telling me to come here wasn’t just a good idea, it was a life-changing one.

Just checking in, hope you're okay.

I read the words a few times over and realize it’s what any normal dad would say to his daughter. I take a lot of comfort in that, and checking over my shoulder to see if anyone’s around I hit the call button so I can hear his voice again.

“Peyton?” He sounds surprised to hear from me.

“Dad.”

“You okay, did they find you?”

“No, I’m fine I just wanted you to know that.”

“That’s good, real good baby. Are you still with the Souls?”

“Yeah, I’m with them.”

“And they treat you good, you're not–”

“No, I’m not working at the club. In fact, there's a member here who I’ve gotten close to,” I admit, not sure if it’s exactly what he wants to hear but if he knew Raze and how well he takes care of me I think he’d be grateful.

“He lookin’ after ya?” His voice gives nothing away.

“Yeah, very much, but I’m worried about Kane. These Souls, they really hate the Reapers and I know for a fact they’re gonna be riding through Reaper territory soon. If something happens and they end up fighting… There are some men who could do real damage here, Dad.” I hear the fear in my voice and realize that I've been letting how happy I am with Raze be too much of a distraction.

“When’s this happening?” he asks.

“Tomorrow, they have a pick up in Reno and are bringing whatever it is back. I don’t want Kane getting caught up in all that.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it, Peyton. It’s the life Kane chose. He knows the risk. You just keep your head low, okay? Call me in a week. It’s good to hear your voice.”

“I will.” I smile as I hang up then decide to slide the phone into my pocket so I can charge it while Raze is away.

When I get back to the club I smile across the room at Raze when I see him deep in conversation with Sasquatch and Dev, then slip into the bathroom to help Alicia with her crisis.

“Thank you so much.” She snatches it out of my hand when I pass it her under the stall.

“My pleasure, you wanna tell me what happened.” I rest my shoulder against the wall and wait for her to come out.

“I did something real stupid,” she admits, washing her hands and then dabbing some water over her face.

“What did you do?”

“ I spent the night at the motel, with Griller,” she whispers.

“Griller?” I almost choke.

“I know. I know it sounds crazy but last night when everyone went home, we got talking and I told him how I feel about Vike. I got upset over the lack of notice he gives me and then one thing led to another.”

“Wow!” I’m shocked.

“There was blood on the sheets this morning, I had to tell him I was on my period, it wasn't like I was gonna admit the truth.” She blushes. “How long did it take you to stop bleeding after your first time?” She lowers her voice to a whisper. And hits me with another cold twisted memory.

I remember the blood on my bed sheets the morning after that first night of hell. I was so embarrassed I tried to get them to the laundry room without Kane seeing but he was sitting at the kitchen table right by the door eating his cereal. Billy stepped right out in front of me with that friendly smile on his face like he hadn’t turned my world inside out the night before. He took the sheets right out my hand and pulled out a chair for me at the table.

“Peyton. Hello.” Alicia shakes me out of the thought and back to her crisis and I stare at her in shock, when I realize what she just told me. Alicia is four years older than me and beautiful, how the hell was she a virgin until last night?

“I can’t remember.” I shake my head.

“He was a lot to take, I’m thinking that might be the problem. Do you think I need to see a doctor?”

“No, I’m sure you’ll be fine, but you must be sore. I can’t imagine he was very gentle.”

Alicia says nothing, just turns a much deeper shade of red.

“So what now? You know there's that brother code thing, I don’t think Saul is gonna be happy to hear you and Griller hooked up.”

“He’s not gonna hear about it, no one is.” She slaps more water on her face and when we both break into hysterics the door pushes open and Trinity walking in, turns us both silent.

“Did you have a good night last night?” Trinity asks, sliding lipstick over her lips before she pops them at the mirror.

Alicia side-eyes me, looking unnerved.

“I saw you last night with Griller, I was surprised, you're not his usual type.” She fluffs up her hair. “I guess it’ll give me and your brother something to talk about the next time we—” A force of rage comes over me that I can’t hold back, and remembering Raze’s words the other day I grab a fist of Trinity’s hair pull her back and smash her face into the front of the basin.

Alicia stands in shock as I pull the bitch back up by her weave.

“You fucking psycho, I think you knocked out a tooth!” Trinity screams at me.

“You aren’t gonna tell anyone a thing.” I lean over her and speak directly into her ear. “The only reason you still get to use your whore pussy around here is because I allow it. Remember that next time you wanna threaten my friend.” I release her, letting her flop to the floor, and I have to admit I feel a little revived as we walk out the door and back into the barroom.

“What the hell came over you?” Alicia chases after me, sounding as excited as she is shocked.

“I’ve just had enough of her thinking she can speak to people how she does.” Heading straight for my man, who’s now resting on a barstool, I stand between his legs and kiss him. I also notice the look Alicia and Griller give each other across the room.

When Trinity eventually steps out of the bathroom with blood streaming from her nose and mouth, she looks over in our direction and bursts into tears before rushing out the door.

“What the fuck happened to her?” Raze asks.

“Your old lady just owned her shit,” I tell him, watching the shocked look that Ruckus and Raze exchange with each other while I take a sip of my iced tea.