Chapter Sixteen
Nero
“He talking yet?”
Rebel looks tired, like the rest of us as he joins me at the table. We’ve spent the last two nights working over Chains but not got anything worth shit out of his sorry ass. I’d left them last night to keep trying so I could go home and see Oscar.
“No. Stryker isn’t holding back either.”
That’s hard to hear. On the one hand, we need to go beyond the usual roughing up to get the answers we need, but Chains is Stryker’s blood relative. It’s good to know my Reaper’s allegiance to the club is greater than blood loyalty, but I’m not totally heartless.
“Juice managed to tail one of the men working with Storm. Blaze is working on getting more information about him. It’s a fucking shame Ghost has ghosted us,” he chuckles at the joke, then shakes his head. “Would he help?”
“I’m not pulling him back in, I gave him my word. We can do this without him.”
“Just saying…”
“Not happening. Unless it gets really dire, but I’d rather leave that alone.”
There is so fucking much going on right now I wanted to take a minute to get my shit together. There is always someone coming in and interrupting. I’ve spent a lot of fucking time, too much if I’m honest, thinking about Taylor. It’s been two days since I went around to her house.
I’m trying to put her out of my mind, she doesn’t need me and my shit invading her life. It’s really fucking hard to do that.
“Where are we with the college dickhead?” I ask.
“It’s time to pull Stryker off Chains, let the fucker stew a while. I’m sure he can be ready to go.”
“We need to make it look like something separate to what happens with the rest of them.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Something out of the box. It involves the cops.”
Rebel blows out a breath and leans back. “In what way?”
“Give the names of all of them involved, except him. I want them to think he turned on them.”
“Smart.”
“I’ve been known to come up with a good idea or two,” I smirk.
“Let them think he’s fucked them over. Give Maguire his name so he can slip it to a few of them when they’re being questioned.
Sew doubt. Their families will probably get them bailed out.
If they think he turned on them, they might do something stupid. ”
“You want to let them take him out?”
“No, but if they try to fuck him up, then it won’t look so suspicious when he disappears.”
“Got it. I’m due a catch up with Detective Maguire, anyway.”
“Thinking about Cannon too,” I stroke my chin, the stubble is starting to get soft. “Maybe they’re overdue a raid.”
Rebel laughs. It’s not usually how we work but if it stops Storm in his tracks stealing one of our customers, then it’s worth it.
“Ask Fury to switch things up with Chains, try to find out about the deals they’re making rather than what their bigger plan is. Who they’re talking to.”
“Make it look like Storm’s crew gave something away and fucked Cannon over. Have other people know he can’t be trusted,” Rebel adds.
I nod. This is why we work so well together, he can follow my train of thought without me having to explain it.
“Anything to fuck Storm up is good by me. Not gonna lose any sleep over it.”
It goes without saying nothing leaves this room. We have a few cops on our payroll but Maguire has been working with Blackhawk for nearly ten years.
Crash, my predecessor, cultivated that relationship and I kept it up, paying him well. He’s done a lot of shit for us over the years. If he’s ever found out, he’ll be sent away for life and probably killed while in there. That’s why I want to keep him safe.
An anonymous tip to the narcotics division is all we have to do for Cannon’s club to get raided.
It’s more delicate with the biker gang. It may not be as fast as I want it to be, but it will be worth it. Anything I can do not to tip my hand to Taylor helps. I wish I hadn’t said the fucker would pay. She’s a smart woman, she will have put it together what I am by now. And not just another gang.
Which is why I’m surprised later when I text her that she not only replies, but invites me over. I should say no. If I’m going anywhere, it’s home again to be with my son, but the pull I feel towards her is making me doubt my decision.
Maybe one last time, to tell her it’s not happening, we’re not right for each other. Yeah, cos I’m big on talking about shit like that. Fuck it. I gather up my shit and let Beast know I’m not contactable for the next few hours but I’ll check in.
I’ve got all the brother’s checking in regularly. Given Storm’s grand plan got fucked up, we have got to be vigilant. I’m already breaking my travel in pairs rule. Shit, what the fuck am I doing going to her house. If anyone is following me, I’ll lead them right to her.
I pause and tap out a message to Jesse. It’s a lot to ask given how much time he’s been spending with Oscar. He agrees to take him overnight. I’m sure he knows why but isn’t asking questions, club business rarely comes to my home.
I let Speedway know what’s happening, and he’s going with them, although Jesse’s place is like Fort Knox, I still feel better knowing someone is watching over them.
Taylor takes a while to respond to my message for her to come to my place and my inner voice is telling me it’s best if she disagrees. I’m parking the bike when she messages to say she’s on her way.
I grab a quick shower and tidy up Oscar’s stuff. Although Taylor is aware of my son, I don’t need to leave reminders of him on show.
The file Garrett gave me on her was destroyed, I learned from that mistake when Jesse saw it. He didn’t buy my excuse that I was doing the background on her after she saw Oscar, he told me to stay the hell away from her. If only I could. Hell, I don’t fucking understand it either.
When she arrives, I open the door wearing a pair of sweatpants and if the way she looks at me is anything to go by, it’s very much appreciated.
She looks hot as fuck in a little black dress.
It’s nothing fancy, a casual wrap dress with flat shoes, but her legs are on display, and there is a hint of cleavage that has my mouth watering.
The bruises on her face have faded a lot but she could have also covered the worst of it up with make-up. Her split lip has healed up better.
It would be wrong to grab her and fuck her against the wall, even if that is what I’m picturing. I welcome her in and she follows me to the living room.
“I was surprised you asked me over,” she says, setting her purse on the floor by the couch.
“I’m surprised you agreed.”
“Why?”
“You going to say you’ve not asked questions about me, or looked me up.”
Her cheeks flush a little.
“What did you find out?”
She shrugs. “Not a lot that went into great detail, but I can read between the lines.”
“And you still came?”
Her breath comes out on a slow exhale, and she looks as unsure as I feel. “Looks like.”
My smirk grows into a grin. Now that is out the way, can I bend her over the couch? “Do you want a drink?” I say instead.
“What do you have?”
“Depends on what you feel like.”
“Vodka?”
“The heavy stuff, huh?”
“Why not?”
Well, because she came in her car, which means she is expecting to stay. Alright then. I get us the drinks and bring in a mixer in case she wants it but she downs a shot, making me arch a brow.
“Can you tell me anything about it, or what I’m getting myself involved in.”
“You don’t believe in beating about the bush do you, Cherry,” I turn sideways so I’m facing her.
“Life’s too short,” she replies. “I’m not saying I expect anything,” she quickly adds. “I’m nervous about this.”
“Do I scare you?” I ask bluntly.
“No,” she replies. “Maybe I should be scared, but I’m not. Not of you.”
“You should be scared. I won’t lie, Cherry. I’m not going to tell you anything about the club. That is the way it is in my world. And I’m the President, so I’m pulled into everything, night and day. The club will always come first.”
Taylor chews on her lip and looks down into her empty glass. This is the right thing to do. Scaring her wasn’t in my plan tonight, I was fully on board with fucking her all night. It tells me everything I need to know about my feelings about Taylor.
Any other woman and I’d happily have used her body to get what I want. She’s different and should be pushed away.
I’m broken out of my thoughts by Taylor leaning forward to set her glass down on the coffee table.
My heart sinks for some stupid reason. This is for the best. She takes my glass, and I lift my eyes back to her as she stands up and steps in front of me.
I shift back so I’m facing her as she nudges my knee so she can step between my legs.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what she is doing but I stay tightlipped. Her hands move to the tie at her waist and she undoes the bow, letting her wrap dress fall open.
Fucking hell, all I can see is a tiny scrap of transparent fabric between her thighs, I can see the neat patch of hair and my mouth starts to water.
She slips the dress from her shoulders and it pools at her feet. It’s taking great fucking restraint not to touch her, but this is her moment.
My chin tilts upwards so I can watch her face as she unclips the bra.
It’s front fastening which I’ve never seen before and shit do I like it, because it opens up like a fucking gift, her tits spilling out of it.
She stretches her arms back to let the straps fall down to the floor behind her, jutting her amazing tits towards my face with the motion.
The only thing I move are my eyes as they lower down the perfection of her body. Her hands slip into the side of the elastic at her waist and she pushes it down, stepping out of them one foot at a time. It reminds me of the strippers at the club but I brush that thought away fast.
Taylor is nothing like those women. She isn’t doing this to impress me, or to gain clout for having stripped for or fucked the President. She’s never once called me Nero, like those women who don’t even know my real name.