Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
THEA
Sniper is going to be a key player. I just have to hope it’s not going to send him back to being what they created.
The moment Sniper, Bullet, King, and Stone all walk back into the club, I know that they found something, and whatever it is, it’s not good. I want to go to him and ask, but I manage to hold myself back. Not only because I don’t want to leave the women, who are technically under my charge right now, but because doing so will advertise to everyone I know more than I should.
After the commotion when the other group got back, two of the Misfits hurt badly enough Medic is still seeing to them, stirring up anything else isn’t going to be a good way to top off the day. Instead, I wait until Sniper finishes a soft conversation with the others, before he turns and heads my way.
When he reaches me, he takes my hand, looks around and makes eye contact with Carson, who is behind the bar, and then pulls me away without a word. Guess I’m off duty. I don’t fight him as he pulls me up the stairs toward his room, though I do note that he smells smoky. We pass a few open doors, and I see a few of the Misfits in them, a couple of them talking quietly. They just nod when we go past, but don’t stop their conversations, and I note the tension between them. I wonder what’s going on there.
Sniper pulls me to his room, unlocks the door, pulls me inside, and shuts the door behind him. Then he pulls me into him and presses his mouth to mine in a hard kiss that has me instantly melting into him, and gripping his shirt to keep myself grounded. His tongue slides over my lips before thrusting between them to sweep my mouth. I moan, my body heating with desire.
Is it always going to be like this? I hope so, because the chemistry between us is hot as hell.
He pulls away and presses his forehead to mine, slightly breathless as he stares into my eyes. “I should be pissed at you, but after what you figured out, I can’t be,” he tells me softly. “I’m damn grateful, because you figuring that out might have turned the tide for us.”
I give him a teasing smile. “That’s why you shouldn’t have only your men rule, because there are some of us without a dick that can be very helpful.”
He chuckles softly. “Oh, I know.” He gives me another quick, hard kiss, before he pulls away. “But that’s not the biker way, and it never will be. It’s for your own protection. If we’re ever hauled to court over something, they can’t make you testify because they know you won’t know anything. And even though you do now, the cops and lawyers will just assume you don’t and leave you be.”
“I get it, but it’s still silly,” I say with a shrug as he moves to sit on the bed and take off his boots. He moves up so he can press his back against the wall at the head of the bed, and then gestures for me to come forward. When I’m next to the bed, he pulls me down so that I’m between his legs, my back against his front, and his arms around me.
It’s such a couple thing, I can’t help but smile. Who knew another dream of mine would come true so quickly?
“Thank you,” he says softly.
I turn my head and look up at him in surprise and confusion. “You’re welcome,” I reply cautiously. “But why?”
“Because you figuring out that journal page gave us the information about Vlad using a decoy system to hide where his actual operation is based. And the one that you helped me figure out led us right to one of the cabins and it’s on our land.”
I turn more fully to look at him in shock. “What? How the hell are they managing that?” I demand.
He explains the location and how well they camouflaged it, and I have to admit it’s damn brilliant. Whoever thought this up knew what they were doing. “And you think the cabin is relatively new?” I ask curiously.
He nods. “It wasn’t there when we bought the property, because we definitely would have seen it when we were marking it. We’ve been here for a couple of years now, so that means Dagger and Dmitri, the one Vlad replaced, built it, and considering how much land we own, we never would have known. Cryos only put sensors on the few acres close to the clubhouse. We own about a hundred and fifty in total.”
“And they used that to their advantage,” I say, my mind already spinning with this new detail. “Namely, if things went south, it would be your club’s ass on the line, not the Russians.”
He nods. “If we wouldn’t draw too much attention to ourselves, we would burn the fucking thing down, just to make a statement, but it’s so hidden in the trees, there is no way we could do it and not burn the forest down with it. So Bullet had us bring everything outside and he burned the pile.”
“I wondered why you smelled like smoke. I suppose it’s better that you burned the evidence at least so you don’t have to worry about your prints and things being on it.”
He nods. “When this is all over, we’ll burn the whole thing down, but we’ll be careful about it.”
“So while you were burning your pile, the others were at another location and they didn’t have the same luck?” I ask curiously. He doesn’t answer for a moment. “I overheard Viper and Hulk talking. I don’t think they realized I was there. Something about a trip wire or something and stuff exploding.”
He finally nods slowly. “Yeah, it looks like Vlad knew they were coming or was planning for the possibility.”
I frown. “But how? I mean, they didn’t know you would be looking that way, right? Not until they got there. And don’t you find it odd they booby-trapped that one and not the one that you already went to look at?”
He frowns. “I mostly figured they didn’t think we would be smart enough to find what they were hiding. And we almost didn’t. But we also jammed any cameras that might be around.”
“Yes, but how did they know Viper and all of them were going to that specific one?”
His frown deepens and I can see his mind working. “I don’t know, but you’re right. They knew we found this one close to us. The only thing I can think is that we got close one time and they didn’t want to chance us finding it and getting in so they rigged it in case we did.”
I nod slowly. “That’s plausible,” I agree, but I also don’t feel like that’s the entire answer. There’s something niggling at the back of my mind, but I can’t seem to grab it. “Either way, it’s not good he was anticipating this, because the next one, you might not be so lucky.” And I really don’t like the panic that settles in my gut at that.
There must be a change on my face because Sniper holds me a little tighter and reassures me, “I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, baby girl. I promise. You and me, we have too much to figure out for that. Don’t forget we’re ready for this. We won’t be caught unaware again. We’ll make sure to take every precaution possible. Besides, you know what I’m capable of and I might have been out of the game for a bit, but I still know how to play.”
“Oh, I remember hearing all about how well you played when I was with my team,” I inform him wryly. “Our team lead hated that you were doing better than us, and most of the time on your own. And then when you did your assassin work, and long-range sniper hits, he was really pissed. Because that was what he wanted to do and he knew deep down he was never going to beat you.”
“Surprised he was able to find out anything about it in the first place,” Sniper answers with a scowl. “That shit was so full of red tape very few people knew where I was and what I was doing.”
“He had an ear to the ground for everything, and I think he was close to some of the real high-ups. Or maybe one of them was his family member. I can’t quite remember, but I just know none of us should have known the things he told us about.”
“What was his last name again?”
“Weaver. His full name was Ian Arthur Weaver, but his code name was Aim. Because he had the best shot in our team and in the entire Forces other than you at the time before you were discharged.”
Sniper’s eyes sharpen. “I wonder if he’s related to General Arnold Weaver. He’s top brass, and if anyone would know where I was, then it would have been him. And it also explains why they didn’t deal with him properly after everything he did.” There’s dark venom in his voice at that.
That definitely does make more sense. I never paid much attention to the generals since they never had anything to do with me directly. “I’m not dwelling on it,” I remind Sniper firmly. “I’ll just take satisfaction that I’m now sleeping with his mortal enemy and call it good,” I joke with a teasing grin.
He smirks. “He’ll be pretty pissed that I still hold the record for the farthest range shot. I heard from someone on my old team that someone was trying to beat it, but never got a name.”
“Yeah, that sounds like him.” We’re quiet for a moment, and I finally ask, “When you were out on those missions, were you always alone? Or did you have a team with you?”
He’s quiet for a moment, but I feel the tension building. I turn myself so I can throw my legs over his and wrap my arms around his middle, resting my head on his shoulder in silent comfort. I won’t push him to tell me what he’s not ready to share, but I want to understand him. I want to understand what he was doing in the ten years since I last saw him.
Finally he answers, “Most times I was on my own. Not because I didn’t work well with my team, but because I was constantly pulled away to handle one target or another. It got to the point that my team rarely used me on any of their missions because the upper brass wanted me elsewhere. Only, they couldn’t not have me connected to a team otherwise I would just be an assassin. They wanted the appearance of me being a team player who was a really good shot. But when you don’t work with your team often, you don’t gel as well. They almost didn’t seem like they knew what to do with me. At first, I was a bit put out, unclear on why they couldn’t understand that I had no say. I was just following orders, but that didn’t mean that I was any different than before.” His face goes dark and almost self-loathing at that.
“But you were,” I murmur, understanding dawning. “Doing that, being that person and constantly on your own changes you.”
He nods. “I didn’t see it, but my team did. They saw I was changing into something colder, harder. I wasn’t the man that helped them through so many missions, or sat back and had a beer when we had rare down time between missions. And I can’t blame them, because they were right. If they wanted someone watching their backs, sure, they wanted me, but it’s not the same as working with your team every time. You develop your own rhythms, and mine wasn’t gelling with theirs anymore.”
“So you just accepted working on your own?” God, he must have been so lonely.
He shrugs. “It was better for everyone and I was good at what I did. And it also meant I didn’t have to worry about anyone but myself. I could focus on my assignment, and when I was done, I was done.”
“And what did you do on your downtime?”
He winces at that and I instantly know what he’s about to say. I tamp down the jealousy, reminding myself I have no right to be upset that he had a life during the past decade. It wasn’t like he was pining for me. “I really don’t want to talk about other women when I have you in my arms and in my bed,” he says gruffly.
I’m a little relieved by that, but at the same time, I remind him, “I’m not going to be upset that you slept with other women, big guy. We’re both adults, and we’ve had relationships or hook-ups since we met. But you’re right, let’s leave that alone. No point in adding salt to the wound.”
He nods, his dark eyes flashing with relief before it’s gone. But then he gives me a rueful smile. “You always seemed to pop into my thoughts at the weirdest times. I’d hear your sassy remarks in my head, or wonder where you were and who you were driving crazy.”
“Really?” I’m surprised at that.
He nods. “It wasn’t all the time or anything but enough that I felt like an idiot. I was just another CO to you, and one that pushed you hard. I said things to you I realize I probably shouldn’t have, but I wanted you to push yourself. I wanted you to be all you could be, especially when I thought you were going to give up.”
I cock my head at him. “I’m not going to lie, I was really pissed at you for a long time. Especially after you told me I wouldn’t amount to anything and that I was just going to drop out like the rest. But now, I’m grateful you told me that, because you’re right, I was about to quit. I was so tired, and so angry that everyone around me never seemed to care or want to help me like they did the rest. A lot of the men in our group only saw me as a pretty face and they were sure I wasn’t going to last so they made their stupid comments about my body or how weak I was. The women weren’t much better. There wasn’t a girl power, hurrah, kind of thing going on between us. Most of the time it was a competition. We wanted to show we were as strong as the men, but also that we could be better than each other. There were times we were friendly, but those were few and far between. And I had enough that day. My mother called and told me that Theo had been home for a visit and she missed me. I was so homesick. I had no friends there and I wanted to curl up in bed and cry. But that was a weakness I couldn’t allow myself. So I went to work, and I didn’t give it my best. If you hadn’t talked to me the way you did that day, if you hadn’t made me so angry, then I probably wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have taken the steps to prove you wrong.”
“You’d have gotten there on your own,” he says confidently. “I might have given you a push, but you had to take the next steps.”
I smile. “Though I have to tell you, after you left, I didn’t get away with half the shit I used to. I ran more laps and scrubbed more dirty things than I can count. The new CO that took your place hated me with a passion. Though I’m not surprised considering she didn’t like how much attention I was getting from the upper brass on my skills as they got better. I think she was worried I was going to take her job.” I smirk. “Unlucky for her, I surpassed her, and I don’t think she ever got over that. Every time I saw her from then on, she glared furiously at me.”
“And you probably waved and gave her a sunny smile just to piss her off more,” he chuckles.
“That I did.” I grin proudly. “Nothing better than proving people wrong. Especially bossy bitches that have no sense of humor.”
“That’s my girl,” he praises, and the sound of him saying it in that low, rumbling voice of his, has a small shiver running down my spine. Damn, who knew that those little words would be so hot?
We don’t say anything for a few more minutes, seemingly content to just relax and hold the other. It’s nice, and while I like being around the women and most of the guys, having moments with just us is definitely something to appreciate.
Finally, Sniper leans down to press a kiss to my nose and says, “I need to shower and get the scent of the smoke off me. What are the chances of you joining me?”
Desire quickly replaces contentment. “Considering you got me smelling like smoke now too, pretty damn high,” I inform him as I pull away. Then, because I can’t resist, “And I noticed you have no support bar in the shower, so me being in there with you is for the best so that I can make sure you don’t slip and break something.”
His eyes burn as he climbs off the bed after me. “You and that sassy mouth, baby girl, I think we need to do something about it,” he tells me as he heads for the shower, grabbing my hand and pulling me along behind him. Not that I put up much resistance.
“Oh, yeah, and just how do you plan on doing that, old man?” I taunt.
Which is exactly how I end up on my knees in the shower as he fucks my face. He hits the back of my throat over and over again, and I’m helpless to do anything but take it. I love it. His hand grips the back of my head to keep me steady, and he stares down at me, eyes wild and burning hotter than I’ve ever seen before. “Every time you run that sassy mouth, baby girl, you’re going to end up having it fucked just like this,” he grits out, keeping up the steady pace. “But I think that’s exactly what you want, isn’t it? You run that pretty mouth and hope that I’m going to punish you. Isn’t that right?” His grip in my hair tightens, but considering I’m not exactly able to answer, I just hold his gaze. The heat in his eyes is scorching. “Fucking beautiful,” he gasps as he stares down at me. “Your lips are so nice and red around my cock, stretched wide to take me. Makes me want to take a picture so that I can see it all the time.”
Yeah, no, not happening. I’m all for giving him blowjobs, but he is definitely not carrying that around with the chance of someone else finding it or seeing it.
It’s not long before his movements become jerky and he’s swelling in my mouth. I try to move my head to take as much of him as possible, but his grip on my hair keeps me in place. “Fuck,” he grunts, even as I see his thighs tense, and his abs clench when he tries to hold himself back. “I’m not going to last much longer, baby girl. Do you want my cum down your throat?” I tug my head forward, even at the pain it causes, and he must realize what I want, because he thrusts a few more times before he’s coming down my throat. Thankfully he pulls back just enough that I don’t feel like I’m suffocating as I drink him down, until finally, he slowly eases out of my mouth, and releases my head.
He hauls me up, and with a strength that surprises me, lifts me until my back is against the cool shower wall, my legs are over his shoulders, and my pussy is directly in front of his mouth.
I have never been so grateful that he has a non-slip mat in here because otherwise I would be worried about both of us breaking something.
But those thoughts immediately vanish the moment his mouth is on me. I wrap my hand around the back of his head, my fingers weaving through the strands as he tastes me and drives me insane. The things this man can do with his mouth should be illegal.
His tongue thrusts inside me, filling me up and making me cry out. Then he pulls away and moves his lips to my clit, sucking on it with the right amount of pressure that has me rushing toward an orgasm. Damn, he knows how to play my body.
Before long, my knees are pressing tight to the sides of his head as he continues to work me closer and closer to the edge, my hands desperately clinging to his hair, and my upper body pressing back tight against the wall, as I try to escape the sensations, but also use it as leverage to press my center tight to his mouth.
“Sniper,” I moan, my body shaking with need to come; straining for it. “Please. Please, let me come.”
He pulls his mouth away, and looks up at me, his beard soaked from me, and I shudder at the sight. That’s so hot. “When we’re alone, I want you to use my name, Athena,” he rasps. “I want to hear you scream it like I dreamed about, before I became what the Force made me.” Then he gets back to work on driving me to the brink.
When he finally pushes me over the edge, I give him exactly what he wants. “Grayson!” I scream, my body feels like it’s been sucked into a vortex as it convulses.
When I finally start to subside, he carefully eases me down, holding me tight so my legs don’t give out. I lay my head against his chest, waiting for my legs to stiffen back up from their current jelly-like state. After a moment, I croak, “Okay, maybe you’re not as old as I thought, but you had me worried there for a second when you had me up so high. So I think we can lower you from geriatric to just plain senior now.”
He lets out a husky laugh, and I lift my head to look up at him. He grins down at me. “Brat,” he growls, slapping my ass and making me laugh. “I don’t think that sassy mouth of yours has learned its lesson. Give me a few more minutes and we try again.”
Oh, now, he’s just making this too easy. “A few minutes? You got some little blue pills around here, huh?” I laugh again when he slaps my ass again, turning me so that I’m directly under the spray.
I sputter but I’m grinning. “Get showered, baby girl,” he huffs. “Then I’ll be happy to show you just how much I don’t need them when you’re around.”
I set to work on washing my hair, but then stop when he decides to take over, making me groan at the delicious feeling of his hands working through my hair and massaging my scalp. By the time he’s done and I wash it all out I’m even more relaxed than I already was. Damn, the man not only has a magic mouth, but he’s got magic fingers too. I’ve struck gold in the lover department, and the after care is damn good too.
I turn around, ready to repay the favor, but I let out a startled yelp when I hear the bathroom door open and someone say loudly, “I’m sorry, brother, but we need you out here. Now. Vlad’s men struck the garage and security company. Both of them are on fire. We ride out in five minutes.”
Sniper stiffens, and instantly he’s on alert. “On my way,” he tells them. We hear the door shut and I move out of the way as he curses and quickly washes himself and his hair.
“Should have fucking known,” he grits out. “We pulled our men off watching the businesses to try and find these locations.”
I climb out of the shower as he finishes. My gut sours, thinking of the losses the club is about to face. I fight back the fear that it won’t be just the businesses they lose, but their own lives. War is messy. The Russians are trained as machines, and they will not stop until whatever is in their way is obliterated.
I squeeze water out of my hair as much as I can before I braid it, and rush to get dressed. Sniper is right behind me. Neither of us speaking, even as we rush downstairs.
The common room is pure chaos, men running and moving everywhere, people barking orders and bikes roaring to life outside. I see the women are staying out of the way. Well, other than Rose, who is moving around with a determination that is written all over her face. She’s barking orders right along with the men, telling them where to go and what to do. Clearly the men respect her because no one argues.
The moment we reach the bottom of the steps, Bullet is moving toward us. His gaze locks on to me. “Club business be damned, can you decode these?” he barks, showing me two journals. I nod and take them. “Good. Get them done and give them to Cryos when you’re done.” Then he looks at Sniper. “We’re leaving. You and I are taking our group to the security office, and Arson and Torque are heading for the shop.” Then he looks back at me. “We’re leaving your brother, the other Prospects, and a few of the Misfits here to watch over you and women, but I need you to be on alert too.”
“I will,” I promise.
He nods, before he turns and stalks away. Sniper looks down at me, face grim. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, baby girl,” he tells me in a low voice. Then he kisses me hard before moving away.
The man moving across the room isn’t the man who gave me a piece of himself in his room. No, he’s back to being the soldier that everyone fears, and if they plan on winning this war, Sniper is going to be a key player. I just have to hope it’s not going to send him back to being what they created, instead of the man that’s worming his way under my skin.