Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Ace
It’s been days since I’ve laid eyes on Liz. I had Stone drop my pickup off to her so she had a ride back and forth to work the day after I left her alone in her apartment. I gave her my cell phone number in the cab of the pickup, hoping she’d use it to call me, but she hasn’t. I fucked up by not getting her phone number to check on her. I could have Rooster get it, but if she wants to talk to me, she knows how. Besides, shit is going down with the Club and Savage Saints is my first priority. I’ve had Stone, one of the prospects, keep an eye on her when she’s working and so far nothing has happened to her, which makes me breathe a little easier.
The dance studio, Blayde’s Ol’ Lady, Siren is in charge of, was broken into in the middle of the night. Security cameras Rooster set up caught four men dressed all in black destroying everything inside. From ballet slippers to the full-length mirrors, the poles and bars, even the flooring was ripped to shreds. By the time we made it there, the men disappeared, which put Blayde and Kayne on a rampage. Stryker has been lashing out at everyone, except for Holly, in his own rage because Siren is his sister from the Nomad, Reaper.
Shipments for the Savage Saints bar have gone missing and one of the bartenders quit mid-shift. She said strange as fuck things were happening to them while they were working and it terrified her. Rooster hasn’t caught anyone on camera fucking with shit, but we all know it's the Kozlov brothers trying to impede on our territory. They’re pissed we killed their baby brother Mikhail Kozlov.
Mikhail was working with Steam and Kingston kidnapping and selling women and children. When Rooster found out Mikhail was one of the men who tormented Alyssa growing up, we knew we couldn’t let him take his next breath. When we caught them using our bar as a backdoor to their skin trade, we killed Steam and Kingston. Rooster handled Mikhail.
Kayne took pity on my brooding ass at Church and he’s allowed me to take a break from trying to sniff these assholes out. I’m close, but not close enough. So, with my new time off, I’m riding solo with Stone and Butch heading to Liz’s work. I can’t not see her anymore. I miss the warmth of Liz sitting behind me. I’m still wondering what the fuck set her off like she did. Refusing to come with me when I needed her too? Why can’t she see I’m trying to protect her?
I want to either scream or drive my fist through someone’s face. Since I can’t do either without being thrown into the loony bin, I settle for throttling my bike and going as fast as I can. Stone and Butch keep up with me until the need to throttle someone passes.
I slow down and turn into the dance club’s parking lot. I’m still frustrated but not at Liz. I’m frustrated at myself for letting this sexy woman captivate me in ways no woman ever has before. Yeah, I’ve messed around with the club bunnies, but they were only to scratch an itch, nothing more. Liz on the other hand, I’ve jacked off at least twice a day thinking about her plump red lips wrapped around my aching shaft. Or sliding into heaven between her legs.
Fuck, I’m in trouble. Parking my bike, I sit on it for a few minutes, willing myself to calm down. She doesn’t need me barging into her work like a caveman beating my chest and staking my claim. Even though every instinct is telling me that’s exactly what I need to do.
“Ready, Ace?” Butch asks. He lights up a smoke and waits for me.
Taking a deep breath, I nod my head. “Let’s do this.”
“I don’t think she’s the type to cave to demands, Ace. From what I’ve heard, you have to be smooth. Make her think it’s her idea and go with it. The minute you start throwing demanding shit her way, she’s going to shut down.” Stone chimes in.
“What the fuck?” I ask with wide eyes. “That’s the most I’ve ever heard you speak, Stone. Did you hit your head or something?”
“Or something.” Stone shrugs his shoulders, his features are cold as ice. “Let’s get this fucking shit over with.”
“Well, fuck. Is that why she didn’t come with me last time? Because I didn’t ask?”
Butch nods his head, “I would guess so. With the way you’ve been moping around, she means something to you, then I’d go with Stone’s advice and ask her, not demand.”
I stare at Stone wondering who the hell he actually is as he walks off toward the dance club’s main doors and doesn’t even stop for the bouncers to check IDs. They look up at his six-six frame and turn away. Butch and I follow close behind. Our cuts are intimidating but add Stone into the mix and no one will blink if he starts shooting up the place, which I’m wondering if it’s possible.
We make our way into the dance club, the strobe lights are flashing all around us, making it trippy as we walk to the bar. Sweat, sex and alcohol permeate the air, making it hard to breathe. I spot Liz behind the bar, slinging drinks with a smile on her face. My heart picks up speed as she flips a bottle of Jack behind her back and catches it in front of her, then pours a shot, like Tom Cruise in that movie Cocktail . Stone leads us to an empty booth set up in a dark corner.
A feisty blonde comes by and takes our drink order while trying to flirt with all of us. Butch flirts right back but Stone and I both ignore her. My eyes haven’t left Liz’s body since we walked in. The sexy curve of her hips, her plump ass, traveling up her body to her luscious chest has me hard in an instant. Then she smirks at one of the customers and I feel like my head is going to explode. It’s not a flirty smirk or a come-hither smirk, but it’s enough to get my blood boiling.
“Easy, brother.” Stone puts his hand on my arm. My body stiffens and now my blood is boiling for other reasons. I don’t like to be touched by anyone. The last person who touched me without my consent ended up buried beneath some extinct plants, never to be seen again. Stone realizes his mistake and immediately moves it away. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Ace.”
I wave him off, trying to calm down. I don’t want to kill one of my brothers. Butch is ready to spring into action if I lose it on Stone.
Liz turns in my direction and the moment her eyes land on me, everything falls away. All the rage, the pain, the hatred, everything disappears and my body relaxes slightly.
“What the fuck?” Butch asks quietly. “How in the hell did that happen?”
“Fuck. I have no idea.” Stone answers in awe. Their eyes follow my line of sight and see Liz staring back at me, not moving. She is ignoring everyone around her, she’s only watching me as I watch her.
I stand and she steps around the bar, heading right for me. “Ace, what are you doing here?”
“I’ve come for you,” I answer gruffly, my heart hammering in my chest.
Liz frowns, her forehead wrinkling in frustration. “Ace, I’ve told you I won’t jump at your demands.”
Stone clears his throat behind me and I close my eyes, locking away my emotions, which I don’t know how to handle. “Come to the Clubhouse with me.” Liz’s frown deepens. “Please.”
She puts her hands on her hips and glares at me. “Not until you know how to ask me properly.” Liz jabs her finger into my chest to drive her point home. “Now, I’m going back to work. When you become man enough to ask instead of demand, maybe my answer will change.” I watch as Liz spins on her heels, her fiery red hair up in a ponytail almost whips me in the face.
I grab her wrist before she can walk away and pull her flush against my body. “Tell me you’ve missed me,” I whisper in her ear. Goosebumps break out along Liz’s pale skin.
She turns and rests her small palm on the side of my face. I close my eyes breathing her in. “Even if I have,” Liz leans in close until our lips are millimeters apart. “I won’t tell you unless you ask me.”
She’s out of my grip and heading back behind the bar before I can even process what the fuck just happened. Stone is trying not to break his hardened stare but Butch doesn’t give a fuck. He’s the sickest one in our Club, but he isn’t afraid to let others know him or see him.
“Bro, I told you. She wants to be asked, not demanded.” Stone shakes his head in frustration.
“It’s like I forget how to ask when I’m around her. I go all caveman and shit.” I plop down on the faux leather seat and growl in frustration.
Stone stands up and leaves without saying a word to either Butch or myself. He disappears around the corner. “Should one of us go after him?” I ask.
“Fuck, no. Stone is Stone. There’s no telling what he’s up to and it’s in our best interest, not to find out.” Butch runs his hands down his face and folds them in front of him on the table. “Last time I thought he was getting into trouble at a bar, I found him getting a blow job from one of the bar sluts while being five fingers deep in another one. Just leave him be and when he’s done, he’ll be back.”
The waitress drops off another round of drinks and I slowly sip my Casa Amigo and Lime. Stone isn’t back yet but nothing is on fire, no one is running and screaming in the other direction and the police haven’t shown up yet, so I relax while watching Liz work the bar. A few times she’s had to leave my line of sight and I’d tense up but a few minutes later, she’d pop back up and I’d relax.
Her eyes keep drifting to mine all night long and it’s doing wild and crazy things to my body. Stone finally returns after an hour. His face isn’t as calculating but I wouldn’t say he’s relaxed in the slightest. A couple of scantly clothed women pass our table, grinning but Stone doesn’t bat an eye. He picks up his drink, offers the two women a raised brow and they scurry off with lust in their eyes.
“Last call!” The DJ shouts.
After ten minutes he turns down the music. The lights flip on, bathing everyone in brightness. I blink a few times until my eyes adjust. I immediately look for Liz, who is still behind the bar. The three of us don’t move from our spots until movement behind Liz catches my attention. She’s batting her boss Joe’s hands away from her ass.
“Leave me alone!” Liz shouts trying to push away from her boss.
“That motherfucker.” I growl. I’m out of the seat in a flash.
“You’re a cock tease. Shimmying around here in those tight shorts, showing off your ass.” Joe cages Liz in against the wall.
I reach the asshole and he doesn’t see me coming since his back is to me. He goes to reach for her crotch and I snatch his hand up, twisting it backward. “I warned you, motherfucker. You don’t touch what’s mine.”
“Ace, no,” Liz shouts.
I pull on Joe’s wrist until I hear bones cracking and he screams out in pain. I release my hold on him and stand between Liz and her boss. “You’re going to pay for this,” Joe shouts while holding his hand to his chest. “Do you know who I am?” He tries to glare at Liz behind me. “Liz, you fucked up and I’ll get you one way or another.”
“Try it motherfucker and I’ll guarantee they won’t find your body.” Liz grabs onto my cut with trembling hands. Instead of freaking me out, her touch relaxes me.
“Just leave it, please, Ace,” Liz begs. I turn my head to look at her. Fear is rolling off her in waves, a look I can relate to. That sends my blood boiling and my hands begin to tremble, itching to kill this motherfucker.
“He doesn’t put his hands on you again and you expect me to leave it alone, Liz,” I growl, cupping her face. “That’s not how this works. You. Are. Mine.”
I turn my attention back to Joe but he’s gone. “Where’d he go?” I ask.
Stone shakes his head and looks around. “I don’t know, brother. But we need to get out of here. I’m sure someone has called the cops on us by now.”
Butch comes from the backroom. “He’s gone. I don’t know how or where, but I’ll have Rooster dig into him and figure out why he thinks he can get away with that.”
I nod my head and turn my body fully toward Liz. She’s trembling from head to toe and tears are glistening in her sapphire eyes. “I need you to come home with me, Liz, please.” I plead.
“Ok, but only because you sort of asked and I’m terrified to be alone.”
“Get your things and let’s blow this joint.”
Liz nods her head and disappears with Stone following. I know if I go with her, I’ll have her pinned to the wall with my dick inside of her and that’s not what she needs right now. We need to get the fuck out of here and figure out why this asshole thinks he can touch my woman. If I see him again, I swear to all that is holy, I will end him, no matter what the consequences may be. That motherfucker doesn’t touch what belongs to me.