14. Dax
DAX
Ihad to hand it to Eagle, he had a sweet bike, even if I did hate the ape hanger handlebars.
His were almost too high for me to ride comfortably, but I managed just fine and smiled the whole time, knowing how pissed he was going to be.
One thing you didn’t fuck with was a man’s bike and I sure fucked with theirs.
What would that phone call sound like? Or would they have their precious Nelly and her father take them back to the compound?
Wes and I drove at breakneck speeds back into the city.
I didn’t want them to be able to catch up to us and I’d learned my lesson with them the last time we made an escape.
I was dropping this fucking bike off at a different location and Wes and I would head to my penthouse or as Wes called it, my love nest. Since we both agreed not to bring people back home, I decided to get a place that was all mine, and I could do what I wanted there.
It kept things simple, but this would be the first time Wes would be seeing it.
We pulled into one of our warehouses, keyed in the code to open the gate and drove in.
Wes hopped off his bike, opened one of the garage doors and I drove the bike inside, leaving it in perfect view of the small windows on the door.
None of my people would let them in without contacting me first and I didn’t plan on giving the bike back as of yet.
Like I said, it was a sweet ride and with a new set of handlebars, it would be a good backup to have.
These assholes needed to learn firsthand why you didn’t fuck with Two Tricks, because I was just getting started.
In my mind, we no longer had an alliance.
Because if they didn’t want me, then they didn’t get what created the person I am today.
“You sure about this, Dax?” Wes asked, gripping my hips, and pulling me to his chest. “Don’t get me wrong, they deserve to lose you if they can’t get their heads out of their asses. I was talking more about having a third group after your head.”
“They might not want to date me, but I highly doubt they want to kill me just yet. When I’m done with them, they might, but that will take a little time to set in motion,” I answered, looking up at him. “You having any second thoughts?”
Wes shifted so his arms wrapped around me, and he ducked his head, kissing me like his life depended on it.
“Never. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Dax.
The day that you gave me a black eye for picking on Devin, I knew that you were the only woman for me.
The fire inside you drew me to you, and I’ve been trapped ever since. ”
“You’ve always chosen me, haven’t you,” I murmured. “Please don’t ever make me walk away from you like I just did to them. I was almost to the point I wasn’t sure I could, but if it’s between denying who I am and submitting to something I know isn’t right—I’ll always choose me.”
“Shortcake, you think I don’t know that already?
You’ve been that way even before you lost Devin.
” Wes sighed and rested his head on top of mine.
“Did you change when you lost Devin? Yes, just not in the way you think you have. You’re not broken, Dax, you’re more guarded, quicker to call people on their bullshit, and trust needs to be earned time and time again, but that isn’t broken. ”
“Ha, that’s what you see when you look at me?” I laughed. “What about the amount of people I’ve killed, tortured, or extorted? That has to say something about me is broken.”
“Why does it have to prove that you’re broken?
Everything you’ve done is to stop others from taking advantage of those less fortunate.
Every location where you have a warehouse, the crime rate drops, homeless people are cared for, and community centers are built to support families.
Okay, so getting to that point was due to a fair amount of bloodshed and broken bodies, but you get my point.
This is the side of the Hidden Empire that no one knows about but makes the biggest impact.
” He kissed the top of my head, took my hand, and intertwined our fingers.
“Come on, let’s get to the love nest so we can finally relax.
Today has been a little more eventful than I was expecting, and I have some things to fill you in on. ”
“Nothing major, right? Because if it is, then I’m gonna need you to keep that to yourself until tomorrow. I’ve hit my limit of fucks to give about things other than cookie dough ice cream and watching Big Bang Theory.” I groaned, following after him.
“Guess I’ll be filling you in on things tomorrow then.” Wes grinned at me.
“Wait, is it something that we can let slide?”
“It will be fine, trust me. The Empire is as much my baby as it is yours.”
Wes mounted his bike and I slid in right behind him, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his back.
I could hear the slow steady rhythm of his heartbeat and it set me at ease the whole way to the high-rise in the heart of the city.
We pulled into my parking spot then headed into the lobby, so I could grab my spare key fob that I always made sure they had on hand.
I never knew when or how I was going to show up here, so it was helpful to have a backup plan so I could actually get into the place.
“Ms. Rose, good evening,” Sebastian, the model they hired for the front desk, greeted. “One moment and I’ll grab your key.”
“Did you have to pay extra in the HOA for him?” Wes teased, knowing that pretty boys were not my thing.
“Here you are, and your maid was by yesterday, so everything should be stocked and ready for you,” Sebastian informed me with a blinding white smile.
“Thanks, Bas. Oh and if anyone comes here looking for me, you know what to do right?” I asked.
He clutched his chest like I’d wounded him. “How could you think I’ve forgotten that you don’t exist the moment you leave with your key? Devin Rose who?”
Grabbing a bill from my phone wallet, I passed it over to him. “You’re everything we pay for and more, Bas, never change.”
Sebastian gave me a wink and turned back to his computer, ignoring me just like I always asked.
“You think someone would be able to find this place when you have zero ties to it and use a fake name on everything?” Wes questioned as we walked to the elevator.
“What do I always say? It’s better to be alive and paranoid than dead and relaxed.” I huffed.
I hit the button for the twentieth floor and settled in the corner out of the way of anyone coming or going. It was also a better vantage to shoot someone. Once the doors opened, I exited and headed right for the stairs, going up two more floors before heading down the long hall to my place.
“Do you make all your dates do this routine?” Wes laughed, as we entered the apartment.
It was a simple two-bedroom, two-bath with wood floors, lots of windows and a perfect view of the city below.
I flicked on all the lights, making the place feel more welcoming.
I’d had it done by an interior designer since I didn’t really care what it looked like.
It was a lot of gray and cream with soft pops of sage green, none of which I would have chosen for myself, but still looked nice.
“No one coming here would think you own this, that’s for sure,” Wes commented as he poked around. “Until they look in your closet.”
“I’m making grilled cheese. Do you want one?” I called, heading into the kitchen.
Cooking wasn’t my strong suit, but there were a few things I could do without fucking it up...
most of the time. I grabbed everything out of the fridge and looked at the clock, noting it was past ten and the guys would be crying that they were up too late.
Ugh, what did I care if they were still awake or not?
They were no longer my problem. They made it clear that I was the crazy one and didn’t stop me from leaving.
“You want me to make it?” Wes offered as he walked into the kitchen.
“I’m afraid if I let the food out of my sight something crazy is gonna happen again before I can eat it.” I smirked as I butter the bread.
Wes stepped up beside me and started to work on his own, a comfortable silence between us.
He had always been my rock, even before Devin died, making sure I was looked after and that I didn’t get into more trouble than I could handle.
I remember when we watched Peter Pan. He used to say that he was my shadow, always right behind me even if I couldn’t see him.
I set the bread on the pan then the cheese, ham, and then more cheese, before topping it off.
Wes reached up and turned the flame down on the burner but didn’t stop me from what I was doing.
“Thanks,” I whispered, as I leaned on the counter, watching my sandwich.
“What if they apologize?”
“Hmm?”
“The guys. What if they come knocking on the door right now, begging to get you back?” Wes asked.
I looked over at him sitting on the counter, watching me with those intense dark brown eyes that seemed to always peer into my soul. “They won’t.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he countered and held up a hand. “Look, I don’t agree with what happened or that they let you walk away. I’m also not saying they shouldn’t get a taste of their own medicine and take a few hits, but I wouldn’t be so quick to write them off completely.”
“None of them stopped me,” I argued. “How does that translate to, oops, sorry we didn’t agree, but stood by silently as you left because we don’t have a brain to think for ourselves.”
“You’re gonna wanna flip that,” Wes suggested, nodding to my sandwich.
“Ah fuck,” Thankfully, it wasn’t burned, but it was definitely extra crispy that’s for sure. “I swear to God, if I can’t eat this sandwich in peace, I’m going to shoot someone.”
Weston hopped off the counter and pulled me into his arms, wrapping me up tight. I let myself relax into him, balling the back of his shirt with my hands, desperate to cling to something that was safe.
“It’s too hard to care, Wes,” I murmured, feeling tears burn in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. They didn’t deserve to have me cry over them, no one did.
He didn’t say anything, just held me until he shifted to dump my sandwich on the plate.
Then he scooped me up and carried me back through the bedroom into the bathroom.
I was set down on the edge of the massive tub that I had put in, because there was nothing better than a bubble bath when you needed time for yourself.
Wes started the water and headed back out of the room.
Quickly I stripped and grabbed a few bath salts and bubbles.
Once it was full enough, I slipped in and turned on the jets, watching as the water turned dark red and the bubbles grew.
When Wes returned, he had a tray with our food, two beers, and candy that he set down next to me.
Snatching up the cheesy goodness, I moaned at the first bite, popping in a Flaming Hot Cheeto for the perfect mix.
Wes joined me and winced a little at the temp but didn’t say anything as I handed him his plate and beer.
“I think this is the best meal I’ve had in weeks.” I grinned, poking him with my foot. “I’m not really that complicated, you know.” Weston let out a bark of laughter at that. “What?”
“Shortcake, I love the shit out of you, but that is so far from the truth. You are like a Chinese puzzle box that has a ticking time bomb strapped to it that will explode if it’s done wrong.”
I gaped at him. “No, that’s not true.”
“Yeah, what happens if someone does something that upsets you?”
Goddamn it!
“Fine, I see your point there, but, I was talking more about the things that make me happy that are not that complicated. Food, art, music, bubble bath, my motorcycle—”
“Dax, the only people who know that stuff about you are me and Harper. You don’t let anyone know you long enough to figure that stuff out.
It takes time for people to notice those things.
I’ve spent the past twenty odd years as your shadow and Harper lived with you.
You don’t date, the men you sleep with hardly ever see you more than twice, and even that’s months in between so you don’t get attached to them.
Everything you do now is designed to keep people away and I’m no help, because I fucking love that I’m one of the only people who knows you,” Wes explained.
“So, you’re saying this is my fault?”
“No. That’s what you’re hearing, but not what I said,” Wes chided. “I was trying to show you that it’s not quite as easy as you think to see this side of you.”
“Are you trying to get me to take them back?”
Wes slouched in the tub, staring up at the ceiling.
“You could test the patience of a saint. I will stand behind whatever you want to do about them. Hell, I’ll even help.
All I want you to do is think about why you’re doing it and make sure before you blow the motherfucking bridge up, that you don’t want to cross it again. ”
I sat there munching on my Cheetos, thinking about what he’d just said. He might not be wrong, but even if I considered giving them a second chance, it wouldn’t be easy.