Chapter 18
NIKOLAI
The ripping sound of the velcro fills my bedroom as I readjust the straps on my bulletproof vest.
I’m strangely calm knowing that we’re likely catching Knox tonight. Our traps have been set.
Enzo said that the buzz through the Reaper social media accounts is that they’re gearing up for a big event tonight.
I have their big moment right here, in the form of an eighteen inch machete that I slide onto my belt.
“Is everything okay—” Melissa’s eyes widen, then narrow when she pops her head around the door frame from the hall.
“Fine.”
“What’s all that about?” She gestures at my chest. “Are you in danger?” Her arms cross her belly, pushing her breasts up.
It’s a struggle to avoid staring at them, but I can’t miss the frown on her face.
“No. We have a mission tonight.” Pulling my shirt over the vest, I watch her mouth move like she wants to say something, but isn’t. “What?”
Her fingers dig into her arms. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.” She chews on her lower lip as her eyes drop.
“I won’t. But, I have to go. There’s a chance we’re going to get Knox tonight.” I slide my pistol into the shoulder harness beneath my polo and start to push past her.
“Are you in such a big hurry to get me out?”
Fuck.
“No. You aren’t safe at all until he’s gone. Where you stay after that is…” My arm waves to try and cover my lack of words.
What do I want? Does it matter if she wants to leave?
I’m not sure. She still acts like she’s holding something back from me.
Tonight is not the night to figure it out. “Thank you for keeping an eye on Elena. I’m late.”
She doesn’t move when I try to step past her. “You shouldn’t.”
For the first time, her lip doesn’t tremble, but is firm and locked.
This is new. It makes my cock twitch.
“It isn’t your choice.” Picking her up by the waist, I move her out of my path.
What the hell was that about?
Why is she choosing now to try and make a stand?
Is it because she wants to stay so badly?
She has my head all fucked up.
As my hand reaches the door handle, something stops me. This burning need to turn around. And, when I do, she’s there.
That fire in her eyes draws me in. I don’t see it often, but when I do it sets me alight in a way I never thought could happen again.
Her big, dark eyes are locked on mine. The way her chest rises and falls, that beautiful blush spreads up her neck.
Fuck it.
My fingers twitch at my side as I purposely stride towards her.
Before I know what I’m doing, my hand is laced around her throat and her back is against the wall.
It feels right. Having her pulse erratically beat against my palm.
I am under her spell, inhaling her amber scent. Maybe I’m being poisoned to behave like this with her.
“Is this what you wanted?” I whisper against her lips.
Nudging her legs apart with my thigh, my hand plants on her firm ass.
“Fucking kiss me, Nikolai.”
That’ll do it. I knew there was a darker side to her.
I slam my lips over hers and her arms wrap around my neck, tugging me in closer. It’s as if she’s trying to take some control back.
Well, she’s messing with the wrong man.
I’m always in control.
Tightening my grip on her throat, a moan escapes her and my cock is rock hard. I take back over, deepening the kiss, commanding her and stealing the air in her lungs.
Mine.
These lips belong to me.
And once I’m home, I’ll be claiming the rest of her.
But, right now, however reluctantly, I have to go.
I pull myself away, noticing the goosebumps on her smooth skin erupt under my fingertips.
Oh, I could have so much fun with this woman.
She blinks at me, opening those swollen lips to speak, yet stops herself.
With a smirk, I tuck the stray dark curl behind her ear.
“I’ll see you later, beautiful.”
I back away before giving her a chance to reply, but that little grin she gives me tells me enough.
I need this job done as quickly as I can.
Jax and Alexei are waiting at the meeting spot standing next to their motorcycles. Our other men are in two other locations so we can all arrive at the bar at the same time.
“Ready to kick some ass?” Jax beats his fist into his palm.
I nod as Alexei bounces from foot to foot.
He’s unpredictable going into these. Some days, he acts like he’s half asleep. Others, he’s a tornado of limbs and brimstone.
It would be better for us if he’s the storm.
“Let’s go.” We saunter into the bar and head for the back.
The eyes of dozens of Reapers watch us. Most are dressed in regular street clothes and not wearing their signature leather vests.
But, it’s obvious who they are.
Our guys come in from the back.
“Hey, Petey!” Alexei yells across the room to one of them. “I got your diamonds!”
Shit. He brought the thunder.
Pulling a velvet bag from under his shirt, Alexei tosses it down on the counter and it makes the distinctive chirp of gemstones.
What the hell? Does he really have them?
The room erupts.
Chairs fly backwards from tables as our spectators leap to their feet and rush forward.
I can hear Alexei cackle over all of them as he leaps onto a stool and then the bartop, his matching pearl-handled pistols drawn.
More of our crew floods in through the doors, surrounding the Reapers.
But, I don’t see Knox, or Kirill.
“He’s not here.” Jax stands behind me, his back pressing against mine as he prepares for the swell of the crowd.
I can’t answer before the first fist flies towards me.
It turns into a whirlpool of arms, legs, and bodies as we try to fight our way through the masses.
One leaps over me and tackles Jax to the ground.
I grab him around the neck and beat the side of his head until he lets go. Then, I keep swinging until he goes limp.
There’s a sharp bite in my side that makes me turn to see another holding a knife, dripping with blood.
Asshole stabbed me.
I reach out as he jabs forward to get me again, but I grab the wrist holding the blade and force it into his own belly.
A tide of red bursts from his shirt when I jerk it further up his gut.
Jax clamors to his feet and swings at a third who runs in at an angle, glancing a blow off of Jax before barreling into me.
He knocks me onto my back and I bounce my skull off the concrete floor.
Stars erupt in my eyes, then he pounds into my face, getting in several solid hits before he’s ripped off of me by a grinning Alexei.
He turns and pistol whips my assailant until he falls into a quivering pile.
“They aren’t here.” Alexei straightens himself calmly while Jax helps me up.
The fighting moves away from us, but it seems like our guys have the upper hand.
Reapers are running out of every exit.
Alexei saunters over to the bar and picks up the cloth bag, tossing it up and down in his palm.
Opening it, he pulls something out and shoves it into the mouth of one of the dead enemies on the floor.
Then, he steps to the next and repeats.
“What are you doing?” I can’t tell what it is, but the glimpse makes it look like he’s shoving diamonds down their throats.
Shaking a few into his hand, he turns, extending his palm.
Marbles.
“They lost their’s. I’m returning them.” He gives me a serious nod before continuing.
Jax and I stand patiently near the door.
“Nikolai, you’re bleeding.” Jax turns, his eyes wide as he glances down.
Fuck.
“It isn’t bad.” Lifting my arm, I can feel the hot, sticky liquid ooze down my chest.
Where that asshole poked me is pushing up out of my vest to leak and soak my sleeve.
His lips purse. “Go. I’ll keep him out of trouble.” He gestures to Alexei before pushing me outside.
“Want me to call the doc?”
I don’t feel light headed. “No, I’m fine. I can stitch myself.”
If I can make it in the house without Melissa seeing.
It’s past midnight when I pull into the driveway. As quietly as I can, I grab the medical kit and head down the hall towards my room.
“Why are you bleeding?” Melissa asks from behind me.
Shit. Maybe this is why I ended up getting stabbed, too distracted.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re dripping on the carpet.” She follows me and stands next to my bed with her arms folded across her chest.
“I’ll pay for cleaners.” I don’t remember her being my mother.
And, she isn’t my wife. The floor shouldn’t be a worry.
“That isn’t the point.” Her eyes lock with mine in the mirror as she catches me wincing trying to remove my shirt. “Let me help.”
“I got it,” I grumble.
Without giving me a chance to object, she walks past me and swiftly takes the kit from my hand. Placing it aside, she then slides her hands under the fabric and pulls it over my shoulder.
“Shit,” she breathes before grabbing one of the velcro straps and ripping it open.
“Stop. I’ll take care of it.” I clench her wrist with my good arm, and hold away from me.
Her eyes narrow. “The hell you do.” She pushes directly on my wound, and it buckles me over.
Keeping the momentum, she forces me backwards, and before I know it, I’m sprawled across my mattress.
And damn, I shouldn’t be turned on this much. Remembering how her lips felt earlier on mine and the fact she got me into this position at her mercy.
I can sense the rage coming from her.
I’m impressed.
And I fucking need her.