Chapter 6
Chapter Six
F luorescent lights flicker overhead, but Blaze’s hand is warm in mine, steadying, his calloused fingers interlaced with my own.
Muted voices of the night-shift nurses echo from the station around the corner, so I tug Blaze into an empty hospital room. The door clicks softly shut behind us.
I reach up and tug the blond wig lower over my forehead, ensuring it conceals my raven hair. Then I zip the oversized hoodie up to my chin. Between the wig and shapeless layers, I’m unrecognizable as Nyx’s daughter.
Blaze eyes me skeptically. “This is a dumbass idea, Vina. Too risky.”
“Fine. Go back to the bike.” I meet his gaze, unflinching. “I need to know my father’s okay.”
His knuckles brush my face, and there’s a sadness in his eyes. “I get it. Wish I had it in me to worry about my dad that way.”
I scowl, waiting for him to go on about that.
But he schools his features. “I’ll wait here.”
Before letting me slip out, he pulls me back for a heart-stopping kiss, plundering my mouth until we’re both gasping.
“Shit,” I hiss when he’s done.
“Go,” he says. “Be quick.”
I slip out of the room, trying to ignore the heat of Blaze’s lips on mine. With ginger steps, I creep down the hallway. The antiseptic scent burns my nostrils, and I have to fight the urge to gag. I hate hospitals. They remind me of all the ways a body can break.
At the third door on the left, I pause. There’s a small window, and I stand on tiptoes to peer through. My breath catches when I see him, tubes snaking out of his nose and arms. He’s small, frail. Nothing like the fierce, larger-than-life father I know.
Rage simmers and my fingers curl into fists. Someone’s going to pay, but first, I need to know Dad’s going to pull through.
Mom is there too, her hand holding his and her forehead resting on the bed.
I open the door. Like moving through molasses, each step is sluggish. The room is dimly lit, and there are no sounds aside from a ragged sob. Mom’s head snaps up. Her eyes are red and puffy, mascara streaking her face.
“Vina?” she whispers, thankfully recognizing me in disguise. “What are you doing here? It’s not safe.”
I ignore her warning, moving to the other side of the bed. Up close, Dad looks even worse. His skin is gray, his chest still.
“What the hell happened?” I ask, my voice shaking.
Mom swallows, fresh tears spilling over, but before she can say anything else, footsteps echo in the hallway
“Stella. Shit,” Mom says and pushes me toward the second door. “You’ve gotta hide.”
I dart into the tiny bathroom, pulling the door shut behind me with a soft click. My heart thunders as I lean against the cold tile wall, straining to hear.
The room door squeaks open.
“Oh, Mama Nyx.” Stella, one of the BTMC girls says. Her voice is usually so bold, but not now. “I came as soon as I heard.”
Mom lets out a choked sob. “He’s gone, Stella. I don’t know what to do.”
Fabric rustles and I imagine Stella wrapping her arms around Mom in a fierce hug. “I’m so sorry.”
I press my fist against my mouth, fighting back the anguish clawing at my throat. Silent tears stream down my face. I should be out there with Mom, holding her hand. But instead I’m hiding in a fucking bathroom like a coward.
Mom sniffles. “Thank you for coming, sweetheart. I know Dom…he always had a soft spot for you girls.”
“The club will stand behind you, Mona. Anything you need, we got you,” Stella says.
A pause, followed by Mom’s voice, strained but steady, says, “Actually, could you go grab me a soda from the machine? I’m parched.”
“Of course. Be right back.”
The door opens and shuts again. I hold my breath until…
A soft knock at the bathroom door. “Vina? Baby, it’s me.”
Mom slips inside and faces me. Her green eyes are so like my own, now filled with tears and deep, aching sorrow.
“You have to go,” she whispers. “Before Stella gets back. The club…there’s something not right.”
I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you.”
Mom cups my face, her palms soft and warm. “Listen to me. When I say something’s not right, I mean the club’s out for blood. They want revenge on the Crown City bastards. But you and I both know your dad wouldn’t want anyone making the war worse because he died.”
I clench my jaw. Dad was always level-headed. Between the MCs, he wanted a truce. Not only because he craved peace, but because he didn’t want more bloodshed with his half-brother.
“Mom, I can’t lea?—”
She locks her grip on my chin. “You have to. I think Grit has something to do with it.”
“Dad’s VP?” Gears begin shifting in my mind. I was so angry when Iron arrived at the barn, I couldn’t recall. Did he finger Grit in all this?
Mom nods. “I don’t know the extent, because he’s kicked everyone out of church.”
“Fuck, really?” I scowl. Dad always kept club business in the open, claiming it’s one of the reasons he’d left CCMC.
“Yeah,” Mom says, “and I’ve heard that they’re looking for you… and Crown City’s quarterback.”
She eyes me and I blush.
“Come on. You have to go. Call me at the house in the morning.”
“Mo—”
“Hush, Vina.” She pushes me out.
Peering toward the nurse’s station, I see Stella bend over and extract a can from the vending machine. I adjust my wig and dart back to the room where I left Blaze.
My lungs burn and my vision blurs with unshed tears. This has to be a nightmare. But the antiseptic smell, the flickering lights, the ache in my chest where my heart used to be—it’s too vivid to be a dream.
When Blaze sees me, he pushes away from the wall, crossing the room in two long strides. Without a word, he pulls me into him, one hand cradling the back of my head while the other presses me tight against his solid chest.
Trapped like that, my dam breaks.
“He’s dead,” I croak. “My father…he’s gone.”
Blaze doesn’t speak. He just lets me fall apart in his arms. I hit him, over and over, pouring all my grief and rage and helplessness into each blow. He takes it, not even flinching, his muscles absorbing the impact.I don’t know how long it lasts. Eventually, my arms fall to my sides, limp and exhausted. My cheeks are wet, my throat raw.
Blaze’s hand rubs soothing circles on my back while the other cups my face, his thumb brushing away the tears. He holds me, not saying a word, just letting his touch comfort me the way nothing else can.
Pressed against him, I become aware of his body. The hard planes of his chest, the corded muscles, the heat of his skin bleeding through his shirt. And more. The crackle of electricity between us has nothing to do with grief. Sex won’t erase what I’m feeling, but he can distract me long enough to get some focus back.
I tilt my head back to look up at him and find his eyes already on me, dark and intense. His gaze drops to my mouth and I lick my lips.
He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and then he speaks in a rough tone. “Vina…"
I don’t let him finish. Rising up on my toes, I crush my mouth to his, desperate for the oblivion he can give me. For a few blissful moments, I don’t want to think or feel. I just want to lose myself in him.
Blaze hesitates for only a second before he’s kissing me back, his mouth hot and demanding on mine. With a groan, he spins us around, pressing me up against the wall. His hands slide down my sides to my hips, gripping tightly as he grinds into my ass. His length is so hard against my leather pants, through his sweats. A thrill rockets through me.
He holds me against the wall, his hot mouth dipping to my neck and sending shivers racing down my spine.
I buck at him impatiently, needing to feel him.
He breaks off, yanking his shirt off before his mouth is back on mine, his tongue delving deep. My hands roam over his chest, tracing the ridges of muscle. He shudders beneath my touch, a growl rumbling in his throat.
With clumsy fingers, I fumble with his sweats, shoving the pants and boxers down over his hips, freeing his thick, hard cock. Blaze hisses as I wrap my hand around him, stroking from base to tip. He throbs in my palm, hot and heavy.
I kick myself off the wall, backing him up until he lands on the empty hospital bed. His eyes stare heatedly up at me. I strip off my hoodie and T-shirt in one motion. The wig falls too, leaving me in just a black lace bra and panties. His hands cup my breasts through the thin material.
I climb onto his lap, straddling him. The head of his cock nudges against my damp panties and we both groan. Blaze’s hands drop to my ass, squeezing as he pulls me down hard against him, rubbing me along his length.
My head falls back, and he takes advantage, his mouth latching onto my throat, teeth grazing my racing pulse.
I rock against him, chasing the friction I crave. “Not enough. Inside me. Now.”
Blaze’s hand grasps my wrist as I reach for his cock. “I know you need this, Vina, and I’ll give it to you because I care more about you than anyone I’ve ever met.”
My eyes prickle, and I thrash my head back and forth.
Blaze grasps my face in both his strong hands, brushing the tears away again. “Take what you need, beautiful.”
His words break me. I’m not beautiful now. I’m raging and using him, but I can’t stop myself. Reaching between us, I shove my panties to the side and position him at my entrance. Our eyes lock as I lower myself onto him, taking every thick inch until he’s buried to the hilt. We both still, savoring the connection.
Then Blaze, still holding my face, flexes his hips, fucking up into me, and I cry out. His hand covers my mouth as my nails dig into his shoulders. I start to move, rising and falling on his cock. He meets me thrust for thrust, his pelvis grinding against my clit with each downstroke. The pleasure builds swiftly, coiling in my core.
Blaze’s hands are everywhere, cupping my breasts, gripping my hips, sliding up my back. His touch sets me on fire. I can’t get enough, can’t get close enough. I want to crawl inside him, to lose myself completely in his heat and strength.
Our bodies move together in a frenzied rhythm, skin sweaty slick, breath rasping in harsh pants. All my senses are consumed by Blaze. His scent, his taste, the stretch with him deep inside. He grips my ass, lifting me slightly and changing the angle so that he hits that sweet spot with every thrust.
My head falls back as the pleasure ratchets higher, almost unbearable in its intensity. Blaze’s mouth latches onto my breast, drawing the aching peak between his lips, his tongue swirling and flicking. The dual sensations are too much.
“Blaze,” I gasp. “I’m going to…”
“Give it to me, princess,” he growls against my skin. “Choke my cock with that sweet cunt.”
My body convulsed around him as ecstasy and torture crash through me. I bury my face in his neck, muffling my cries. Blaze thrusts up into me erratically, chasing his own release. His fingers dig bruisingly into my hips as he holds me down, grinding deep.
With a guttural groan, he stiffens, his cock pulsing as he spills inside me. The hot rush of his cum coats my inner walls, and I clench around him, milking every last drop.
For a long moment, we stay locked together, chests heaving, hearts pounding in sync. Blaze’s arms wrap around me, holding me close as we both float down. I rest against him, savoring the rare moment of peace.
All too soon, reality comes crashing back. The muted beep of machines, the medicinal stench that permeates everything. The cold, hard truth that my father is gone, and nothing will ever be the same.
Tears burn again, and I blink rapidly, trying to hold them back. I can’t fall apart. There’s too much at stake. I have to be strong, for my mom, for the club.
I blink up at the clock, clearing my blurred vision.
“Ah, hell.” I scramble for my clothes, grateful that the fuck did a little to get me focused again. “We’re supposed to be at the docks in twenty.”