Chapter 9 Notch
NINE
NOTCH
Feeling that woman slide off me was the most destructive thing I could have ever encountered.
Her lips tasted like candy, and her tongue taunted me with all the things it could do.
The way it twisted and caressed left behind a soft trail of lust for me to follow with every pucker of her lips.
And the way her small hips fell into the palms of my hands effortlessly made my cock throb.
It ached against my jeans as her feet hit the floor.
I growled in frustration as my phone continued to vibrate.
The squirting of a bottle hit my ears as I swallowed down my want for Maya and put on my game face.
Because I knew who was calling.
“After you’re done talking on the phone, I’ll get you rung up and checked out,” Maya said plainly.
As if shit wasn’t just about to go down with us.
I stood up from the chair and eased my shirt back over my head. She wanted to help, but I knew if her touch fell against my body again, the crew would have to suck my dick. I slipped my leather jacket over my shoulders as my phone rang and rang, going to voicemail only to strike back up again.
I watched Maya’s petite form disinfect the entire room as I stepped out.
“This better be important,” I said as I picked up the phone.
“How many fuckin’ times I gotta call you in order to get you to pick up?” Stone asked.
“What is it? Why are you interrupting my tattoo appointment?”
“A three-hour appointment? Must be a hell of a tattoo.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the clock. Holy fuck, it had been three hours.
Which meant Maya was late opening her shop back up.
“Yeah, I’m having some fill-in work done on my right arm sleeve. What gives?” I asked.
I strode down the hallway and unlocked her front door. I turned the sign around, letting the public know Maya was open for business. Fuck. I’d have to tip her very well for the hour and a half she lost with me.
Good thing I had the money to do so.
“Asher has more information for us. You need to get back here,” Stone said.
“Already? He’s only been out there for a few hours,” I said.
“Yeah, and there’s a reason he’s the president of the longest-running club out there. Get back here. We’re having church.”
“Let me pay and I’ll get my ass back,” I said.
“Good. And next time? Don’t make me call your ass four times before you pick up. I was about to send a horde of men out looking for you. We’re in a time of war. You have to be careful.”
“Ready to check out?” Maya asked.
“The fuck is that?” Stone asked.
“That would be my tattoo artist, asshole,” I murmured.
“She sounds cute. You sure she’s not jumping up and down on another needle?”
I bristled at his comment, but I wasn’t sure why.
“I’m paying then leaving. Goodbye,” I said.
Then, I traded my phone for my wallet.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes,’” Maya said, giggling.
Fucking hell, I wanted so badly to turn those giggles into moans.
“How much do I owe ya?” I asked.
Her nimble fingers flew across the keyboard of her computer before she turned the screen around.
Just under three hundred. Not bad for the incredible work she had completed.
I pulled out my card and swiped it and then doubled her payout with an equal tip.
I submitted it before she had a chance to look at it, signing away my life on her screen for the money.
“Do you want a receipt?” Maya asked.
“No, I don’t. But I do want you to know something,” I said.
Her eyes looked at her computer screen and they widened.
“Notch, that’s too—”
“I will be back in this shop soon. And we will finish what we started,” I said.
Her eyes slowly panned back over to me, and I watched them flutter down my body. I stood there, waiting for her to protest. Waiting for her to tell me to get the fuck out. But instead, she licked her lips and grinned before nodding her head.
“I look forward to the knock on my door,” she said coyly.
“Good.”
I was frustrated beyond belief as I rode back to the clubhouse.
My cock ached. My boxers were sticky. And my arms fucking burned.
I needed to tend to the tattoos as soon as I could.
Get them undressed and covered in some healing solution I’d concocted years ago.
It took away the sting, numbed the burn, and helped with the swelling.
It made the healing process of the tattoos more bearable, especially since I was prone to scratching them whenever the itching became too much.
I’d had to redo so many fucking tattoos I’d destroyed with my fingernails.
I parked my bike, and the front door to the safe house burst open. Stone beckoned me inside, his face twisted in all sorts of ways. Whatever had happened, it was big. And I knew it wasn’t good. I rushed inside and closed the door behind me, watching as all the men turned to face me.
“I’m here. I’m good,” I said.
“Tell ‘em,” Stone said.
Asher cleared his throat. “I found them stocking weapons.”
“What?” Texas asked.
“Excuse me?” Bronx asked.
I stood there against the front door, locking it out of habit.
“The Chinese are stocking weapons,” I said.
Asher nodded, and the entire world stopped.
“And you’re sure of this?” Texas asked.
“I found a perch and watched them for a while. Got some recordings on my phone. Yes, they’re unloading weapons. Semi-automatics. Grenades. Smoke bombs. The fucking works,” Asher said.
“They’re prepping for reinforcements,” I said.
“And for war,” Bronx said.
“I think the police department is the least of our worries at this point,” I said.
“You and me both,” Asher said.
“Have you been able to study the pictures you took yet?” Stone asked.
“I took as many as I could without being seen. Crept a little closer. Kept myself quiet and unnoticed. I couldn’t get very far in without risking being seen, but I got some decent pictures.
Many faces of those unloading the guns. Those coming in and out of the new building space they have.
Pictures of the guns and weaponry. The crates they came in,” Asher said.
“Maybe we can figure out where the guns are coming from once we study those pictures. Maybe one of your shots has some shipping information on it or something,” Bronx said.
“Do we have anything on the police? What that detective might be doing and whether or not he’s involved with any of this?” I asked.
“Like a dirty cop?” Bronx asked.
“Hayley’s been staying away from his phone calls, but they’re pouring in by the handfuls every day. Eventually, she’ll have to pick up the phone before he puts in a missing person’s report,” Stone said.
“Maybe we can use Hayley—”
“No,” he said harshly.
“Look, Stone, I know you aren’t a fan of dragging Hayley into any of this but look around you. All of us—including those we love—have been dragged into this. There’s nothing we can do at this point except utilize what’s at our disposal,” Texas said.
“Hayley isn’t at anyone’s disposal,” Stone growled.
“Well, she’s our only link to the detective, and if that man files a missing person’s report, we’re fucking screwed. She has to do something, whether you like it or not,” I said.
Everyone turned and glared at me, but for once, Stone faltered. I knew he heard me, and he knew I was right.
Whether or not he liked it.
“I have been keeping tabs on her father, but his relationship with the police department is wearing thin. I think the idea of his daughter missing, so to speak, is eroding at his ability to work. I really don’t think we’ll have an issue with the police coming after us because he’s losing his credibility and his sanity, day by day,” Stone said.
“You think we could use his eroding relationship with his own police department to take him out?” Bronx asked.
“We aren’t killing the detective. That’s Hayley’s fucking father,” Stone said.
“Yeah, but he’s also the man that chased us out of town,” Asher said.
“And lied to his own daughter about her mother,” I said.
“Which led to keeping Freya away from her sister,” Bronx said.
“Enough!” Stone roared.
“No, not enough. Look, I know you don’t like that idea. I know you’re trying to preserve everything in Hayley’s world. But sometimes? That isn’t possible,” Texas said.
“You better watch where you step. Because if you’re talking about me betraying the one I love, that doesn’t bode well for what I think you might do to my fucking sister and niece,” Stone hissed.
“I mean, let’s think about it logically. Is it really possible to not take out the detective? Do we even have a choice in the matter?” I asked.
Everyone paused at my question as Stone’s nostrils flared.
“Even if the Chinese stop and Hayley goes back out into the real world, her father isn’t going to stop pursuing us. If anything, he’s already under the assumption we have her and will stop at nothing to take us down. That’s how an obsessive mind works,” I said.
“He’s got a point,” Asher said.
“Whose side are you on anyway?” Stone asked.
“The side that doesn’t get us all fucking killed,” Asher said curtly.
The Celtic Riders mumbled in agreement, much to Stone’s dismay.
“My guys have only been out of Terry’s crosshairs because he kept Rose a secret.
But now that we’re out in the open? Now that we’re back?
It’s only a matter of time before Terry figures it out and comes after us too.
We have just as much of a stake in this fight as you guys do.
I knew that coming in, and so did they. But we’re still here.
Helping. Awaiting instructions. But I won’t give instructions that will get my men jailed or killed. Are we clear?” Asher asked.
“No, we’re not clear. You’re here under my discretion.
I had no obligation whatsoever to call you about your little runaway rebel daughter.
But I did. You’re here because I fed you information you wanted, which means you owe me one.
And big time. Bronx, especially, for saving her ass time and time again,” Stone said.
“Don’t you dare drag me into that fight,” Bronx said.
“Why? Because you don’t want to betray the woman allowing you to get your dick wet?” Stone asked.
“That’s my fucking daughter you’re talking about,” Asher growled.
“Yeah, just like you want to protect yours,” Bronx said between gnashed teeth.
And as everyone erupted into an all-out brawl, another church meeting came and went without any answers.
I was getting tired of these fucking things.