Thirty-Eight
I ’d say my life flashed before my eyes, but let’s be honest, what really happened was an icy chill down my spine, and sudden peace, because if you know you’re about to die, what’s left to fear?
Clearly someone had a beef with me, and I had no idea who, since I was facing a wall where a mirror should be, and the gun was to the back of my head. Was it one of the Phoenix guys? A Rogue? Someone else? Who fucking knows?
“Do I get to know who’s planning to kill me this time?” I asked quietly, surprised at the calmness of my voice, when I knew for a fact that my heart had suddenly picked up again. The peace was gone, because who the fuck gets calm when there’s a gun at their head? For some reason, I really had to know who was holding it, and who thought they had a right to decide this was my moment to die. I’d had my fucking reprieve, and this shit was supposed to be over.
“You have this coming,” a low voice murmured, and I wasn’t clear on who it was from that, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t one of the guys who’d just picked a fight with me. I’d heard the rumble of their bikes leaving, so it had to be a Rogue, right? Did Roadkill return to get vengeance on me?
“Sorry, don’t recognise the name,” I said, mocking my would-be killer, because clearly I’m that much of a fucking psycho myself.
“The Pres and his men were worth fifty of you, you worthless cunt. You really think you’ve got the balls to take this club over?”
“Got more balls than them… or do dead balls still count, just all shrivelled up and fucking useless, a bit like they were. This club was filth, and they deserved it. You wanna kill me, go right ahead, but it won’t bring them back, and it won’t change a damn thing. Phoenix is patching this place over, and the scum like you won’t survive. They mean business, and I should know. They started by killing my dad, and taking his club from him.”
The guy behind me hesitated, backing up a step, removing that hard metal from the back of my skull. Should I turn? I should turn and face the cunt, right?
“Your dad? What club?”
I decided to just fucking risk it, turning to face the angry bearded face of Burn, the other biker I’d been warned about. For some reason I thought an attack would come from him and Roadkill together, but clearly I’d been misinformed, or misled.
“Ever hear of the Godless Warriors?”
His frown deepened and he nodded. “’Course I have. Everyone knew them. They were fucking deadly, and then they were just gone.”
I lifted my hands, which was probably a bit reckless, because I could have spooked him into shooting me. If I could just go a week without a bullet in me, I’d be pretty happy at this point.
“That’s who you’re fucking with. Phoenix MC look like pussies from the outside, but they’re not. My dad was a sick fucker, and it took learning what a real club was like, for me to be able to see it. The club that should have been mine was long gone, but what replaced it was something better. This doesn’t have to end like this for you.”
Burn shrugged, levelling the gun at my face. “Still think killing you will make me feel better. I was making something of myself with the Rogues. I was gonna take it over myself soon. I had it all planned. You fucked up everything, and for what? To bend over and take it from that fucking pussy club that killed your old man? You’re a disgrace.”
I grinned, suddenly feeling like I was on the right side of the argument for the first time in my life.
“Maybe I am, but I stand with Phoenix, and that means I stand against you.”
He smirked, and waved the gun a little. “You stand unarmed against the man whose gun is about to put a big fucking hole in your face. Any last words before I render your little lady man-less, and go pick up the pieces?”
“You stay the fuck away from Soph, or I’ll hunt you down from Hell, and destroy you.”
He lashed out with the gun, smacking me across the side of my face, and for fuck’s sake, what was with everyone hitting me today?
The deafening bang, of a gun going off a second later, had me wondering if I was alive or dead, and what the fuck had happened, but as Burn’s body crumpled at my feet, I met Grease’s eyes as he lowered his own piece. That sudden warmth and wetness against my fucking face and neck? You don't wanna know. Ugh .
“Sorry, Pres. Just taking out the trash. Did I get you?” Jesus fuck, this guy saved my life? He grinned, and I let out a raspy breath, as I rested a hand over my heart.
“Took ya time, man. And no, you didn’t get me, dickhead. Thanks, though. Fuck me, thanks.”
Grease nodded at the corpse.
“Found all kinds of shit on this fucker in their system. He shoulda been banged up a long time ago, but this club had a habit of covering up a whole lot of shit the members did, while keeping very stringent records, presumably for collateral to keep them in line. I was gonna recommend we end him, so uh… yeah, guess I nailed that. Item one off the to-do list.”
He tucked his gun away, typical mafia bastard, carrying a fucking gun, but thank fuck.
“Guess we need prospects to clean shit up, right?” He scratched his jaw as he backed away from the spreading pool of blood emanating from what used to be Burn’s head.
“Yeah. We have one, but I can get some others on it with him. We good, man?”
He lifted a shoulder, looking like he didn’t care one way or another.
“You don’t fuck with me, and I won’t fuck with you. I’m here to do a job, and I’d rather make it easy on myself, so I’ve got your back, if you’ve got mine.” He stuck a hand out, and I shook it, nodding at him.
“You know it. I guess I should get back to Soph, and make sure she’s okay.”
“Have fun telling her how you nearly came home without a face, women love that shit.”
Sophie
T he man who came home to me was beaten, bloody, and exhausted. What the hell had happened in the few hours we’d been apart?
He waved off my concern and went straight for the shower, and when he came out, I was waiting by my bed with some clothes for him, and the first aid kit. He smiled, his eyes lighting up as he saw me there.
“Aw, babe, you’re a sight for sore eyes, and I mean that literally.”
“What did they do to you?”
He laughed, cupping my face with his big warm hands, and dropping a kiss on my forehead.
“Everyone has a beef with me, but it’s all good, babe. We got rid of the other one Harley warned me about, and Grease is onside. It’s good. How are you doing though?” The concern was back in those rich brown eyes of his, and I loved that, even beaten and hurting, he cared more about my wellbeing. How could this be the same man who did such awful things?
“Soph, nothing can change the things I did, no matter how much I wish that could happen, but I’m not the same man. Nearly dying changed me, but more than that, you changed me. You brought out a side of me I didn’t know was in there, in me . I’m… Jesus… a real pussy, listen to me.”
I dragged him down to sit beside me on the bed, half hoping that towel would drop off as he moved, but it didn’t.
“I know you did bad things, and I know that the people you hurt have every reason, and every right, to hate you for it, but you’ve only ever been good, and kind, and gentle with me. You’ve made every day better, since you’ve been in my life. I honestly can’t reconcile that with the man they describe, with the things you’ve admitted to doing. I know you didn’t rape anyone, and despite apparently threatening things like that, with women who deserved better, you never crossed that line. I’m not saying this makes you a good person, but I’m saying who you are now is what makes you a good person. The things you’re doing to make amends. They can try and turn me against you, but it’s never going to happen, I promise. I had a bad moment today, but it won’t happen again.”
Micro sighed, taking my hand and lifting it to his lips, kissing each of my fingers gently.
“I’ll work so hard to be that better man every day, Soph, for you, because you’re the reason for all of it. I shouldn’t still be alive, but I am because of you, and I got a second chance because of you, and I feel like life actually fucking matters now, like there’s a reason I’m alive. It’s you. I’m alive because you exist, and I need to be beside you always.”
“Let me patch you up, because I’ll feel better about all this deep heartfelt stuff when you’re not bleeding, and hurting.”
He chuckled softly, kissing my fingers again.
“When I’m with you, there’s no such thing as pain, babe.”
I reached up, and pressed my finger gently beside the bleeding cut on his cheek, and he hissed in a breath.
“Really?” I queried, wanting him to admit he needed my help, rather than trying to ‘man up’ and hide his pain.
“Okay, fine, you got me. It smarts a bit, wise-ass.”
I patched him up, fed him dinner and painkillers, and we curled up in bed together, with me pressed against his chest, and his fingers stroking gently through my hair. It was a moment of peace we both needed, after a hectic start to the new club’s life.
“Do you think it’ll work?”
“The club? The plan to patch it over?”
I nodded, feeling Micro tense for a split second, before he forced himself to relax again.
“No idea, babe, but you’ll always be safe, no matter what. And you know, if you don’t like it there, you don’t have to make deliveries personally, or even visit there. I mean, I want you there, but I want you to feel safe, and to be happy. Jesus, but then I can’t keep my eyes on you and know you’re safe. It’s like two needs in me, fighting each other. The need to have you with me at all times, and the need to keep you away from all the bad shit.”
I lifted my head to rest my chin on his chest, so I could look him in the eyes.
“I’m happy being around the club now it’s safer, Micro, and I prefer being around you too. You’re my safe place, so wherever you are, that’s where I need to be. Are we getting to that co-dependent stage that makes us freaks?”
“Fucking hope so,” he hissed, rolling us, and easing between my legs, “like the need to be inside you right now is fucking eating at me. Tell me you want that, please.”
“God yes, fuck me, Micro.”