7. Cipher
CIPHER
P ort Townsend, WA -The Black Pagan Bar
December 1993…Present Day
I had become something different. Someone I didn’t recognize. And as I sat here, staring at her, I wondered if I had become as vile as the men I was chasing. Either way, I regretted my actions that night and I'd stayed away for as long as I could. Forcing myself to shut off the cameras, to simply make sure she was safe, to put an officer in her lobby.
I did the best I could, until tonight. Volkov was getting closer and according to Bulldog- Bear, one of our Founding members and VP of the Hellbound Lovers, had heard Volkov was in Los Angeles with plans on ‘resolving some unfinished business’ in Washington before heading back to Russia.
I could only assume Mila was the unfinished business.
She'd been escorting one of Port Townsend's Council Manager’s sons to several events, and I had her in close proximity for a little while. She was dressed to the nines for this putz. A red dress that literally looked glued to every one of her curves, her tits nearly spilling out, and her black leather, come fuck me heels, had me as hard as a rock.
Little Tommy Lingdale was, for a better lack of a word, a douche bag. A frat boy with a silver spoon in his mouth who was as selfish as they’d come. Tonight, he was drowning his sorrows of his failing investment at the only bar that was open late in Port Townsend.
And my charge, my sexy little kitten, was making sure this asshole would get home safe. I grimaced, disgusted as the pig reached out to pinch her nipples as she was clearly asking him to take her home.
“I’m pretty sure I heard the glass crack.”
I glanced at Silencer, almost surprised to still see him sitting next to me. He gestured at my fist curled around the whiskey glass and I quickly released it, stretching my fingers out.
“What’s she got on you?”
“What?” I asked, surprised.
“The woman,” he gestured to where Mila was looking slightly uncomfortable, her eyes searching the room.
“Who is she?” Silencer asked.
“Just a woman at a bar,” I stated, taking a swig of my drink.
“She must be somebody important. That’s the first time I see you take your eyes off that damn screen.”
“What the fuck is Tommy nobody doing with her?” I asked, taking another drink.
Silencer chuckled beside me, and the sound irked me. Even his chuckle was fucking dark. “Probably wanting the same thing you want.”
“And what is it you think I want?”
He raised a brow. “If you want to know what I think, son…”
“Nah, I’m good,” I brushed him off quickly before he started with his shit.
Silencer leaned in closely though, as I continued to watch as Tommy stumbled off the stool, hanging on to the edges of tables as he was barely able to walk toward the bathrooms. At one point, he slammed into Saddle, who looked his murdering eyes down at him, but the idiot didn’t even notice it.
“That girl is gonna get you into trouble, Brother.”
I spotted a member from another club making his way toward her and I slammed the laptop shut before shooting up out of the chair and shoving it toward him.
“Watch that,” I pointed to the machine and quickly intercepted the member and slid into the chair in front of her. The other man narrowed his eyes on me as he dodged the table and made his way toward another lonely female in another corner. My female’s bright blue eyes simply widened as they stared up at me.
At first, I thought she might recognize me. But after a moment I realized she was just surprised to see me there.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi,” I responded, my eyes taking in her pretty features, my groin reacting to the pink tongue that swiped across a red plump lip.
“Can I help you?” She asked, being so damn polite.
I didn’t know what to say to her, so I just smiled. “No.”
“You know my boyfriend will be back in just a few seconds.”
“I really doubt a woman like you would be dating a fool like that.” I smirked, knowing she was just throwing me off, so I'd know she wasn't alone. Her lips parted and then closed, not knowing how to respond.
“I'm not gonna hurt you. I’m just paying you a little visit until he returns. I doubt you want any of these fools at your table.”
She searched the confines of the room and lowered her head, knowing damn well this bunch wasn’t the gentlemanly type. Although we wouldn’t hurt a hair on a woman’s head, that’s for sure. At least I knew they wouldn't. I, on the other hand, just recently found out I was on another level of scruples.
I signaled to Buzz for two more drinks, and he gave me a quick nod, sending out one of our waitresses to bring me what I asked for.
A pretty brunette, who had bent that pretty ass over for me more than a few times in the past, swayed those hips over to the table, and I cursed under my breath.
“Your drinks…Sir,” that word dripped off her tongue like honey as she leaned her tits on my arm and set the drinks down.
“Thanks, bunny,” I smirked, knowing damn well what she wanted.
They all wanted the same thing, but lately they just didn't do it for me. Instead, my eyes were on the woman in front of me, and they weren’t about to leave her pretty face.
“Did you need anything else from me?” She trailed a hand up my thigh and I quickly grabbed it, halting her.
“That’ll be it for now, bunny.”
She pouted at me, her eyes angrily narrowing on Mila before she sauntered off.
Mila smiled. “Guess she didn’t like you sitting with me.”
“Guess not,” I grimaced as I took a sip of the strong alcohol.
I watched her just swirl the contents of her drink and I frowned. “You don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that. Just wondering if she spat in it.”
Her eyes met mine and I let out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess I can’t blame you. But don’t worry about her, most of these women here just want a piece of a Royal Bastard.”
“You’re one of them ,” she pointed at some of my brothers playing pool at a corner table. Our patches were emblazoned on their vests. I’d left my jacket hanging on the back of the chair next to Silencer and Virgil, whom I knew was watching my every move, although he’d backed up into that damn corner where I couldn’t see him.
“Yeah, I’m one of them.”
“Wow,“ she whispered in awe.
“You know of us?”
“I’ve seen you around. Sabrina Well…” She paused before saying her full name, correcting herself instantly. “My boss, she’s told us to stay away from you.”
“And why is that?”
“Because she says you’re all a bunch of heartbreaking fools.”
I gave out a hard boastful laugh. “I guess she’s gotten the back end of a deal.”
She nodded and smiled. “Probably.”
Taking a sip of her fruity drink, she turned in her seat, her eyes glancing back toward the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, gaining back her attention.
“My boyf…” she caught herself again, not wanting to repeat the word. “The man I was with. He’s taking so long.”
“You mean old Tommy boy?”
“Oh, you know Tommy?”
“Hard not to. Especially when his father is pushing to get us out of his town. I wonder what dear old dad would have to say to his son when he finds out Junior probably fell asleep on the toilet of the bar he’s trying to close down.”
“He’s trying to close you down?”
I nodded. “You could say that.”
“That’s horrible,” she whispered, and I shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
We stared at one another for another moment and then I leaned in. “What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Ki…” she stopped herself again, and I kind of liked that. Instead, she gave me a completely different name. “My name is Mindy.”
She reached out her hand and I slid my hand around hers, bringing it up to my lips for a kiss. “It’s a pleasure, Mindy .”
“I should be going,” she slid off the stool as I assisted her.
“Do you have a ride?”
“I don’t, but I’m sure I could walk or grab a taxi, I’m not far.”
I looked out the window and raised a brow. “Honey, not in Port Townsend, and not in this weather. Where are you staying?”
“A hotel in Silverdale.”
“Well, shit,” I uttered, pretending I had no idea where this asshole had taken her. It was a hotel about an hour away, far away from anyone here so that no one would notice his seedy liaisons.
“You’ll be staying here for the night.”
“Oh no, there’s no need.”
“I can't drive you out there tonight. There's a snowstorm coming. And it's as bad as it gets.”
“I live in Seattle, I honestly have no idea where I am. I was supposed to spend the weekend with Tom…” she stared back at the bathroom once more and sighed.
I slid off the stool and hovered over her. Gently, I slid my fingers beneath her chin and raised her head until her eyes met mine.
“No arguing. I’ll take care of you from here.”
“I…”
“I said no arguing,” I pressed a finger to her lips, lost for a moment in her softness.
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
“Good kitten,” I winked at her as I made my way through the crowd toward Silencer and Virgil.
“You work fast,” Virgil said as he watched me grab my jacket and steal away my laptop.
“Gimme your keys,” I waited with my hand, open palmed, reaching out at him.
He narrowed his eyes on me. “I don’t lend my baby out to anyone.”
“I’m not anyone. Besides, you're a Preacher, I’m doing a good deed here. Unless you want me to leave her to walk alone? In the dark? In the snow?”
His eyes glanced behind me toward the door where she waited for me.
“I ain’t no preacher,” he reached in his pocket and deposited the keys in my hand. Just before I pulled away, he gripped my wrist.
“You take care of her like she was your child.”
I never understood the obsession with cages, but I guess it just wasn’t my thing. Instead of arguing, I nodded. “I got you, brother.”
Pulling away I turned to Buzz at the bar. “We’ve gotta rich boy, fell asleep on the toilet.”
The guys around us started to laugh.
“Ahh shit,” Buzz uttered, slamming his bar towel on the counter before taking off toward the bathroom. He’d ask a prospect to take the fucker home.
I, on the other hand, headed toward the pretty blonde waiting for me at the door. “Ready?”
She looked up at me, biting down on her lip. “You really don’t have to.”
“I really do.”
Placing my hand onto her lower back, I led her out the door, directing her to the only car parked right up front. A midnight blue 1970 Oldsmobile Convertible. It was a damn antique, and it felt like one. I opened the door for her and couldn’t help but take a nice long look at those legs as she slid into the passenger seat. I cursed the wind before sliding into the driver’s side.
I drove her up the mountain to Soul’s bed and breakfast, at least I knew she’d be safe there. Soul was Brim's, our Tail Gunner’s woman, and she looked every bit of six months pregnant while she had an eye on a googly-eyed five month old in the crib behind the front desk. Let’s just say the couple had stayed busy the last couple years.
We hadn’t said a word to one another during the ride up to the Inn, and she only gave me a whisper of her name as I registered her into a room. Soul looked up at me and gave me a lop-sided smile as she handed me the key.
“Do you mind?”
I smirked. “You know, babysitters exist in this world.”
She lifted the little boy out of the crib and sighed. “When you find a good one, please let me know. But for now, take our guest upstairs please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I murmured, guiding Mila up the stairs to her room.
As soon as we got to her door, she turned to look at me. “You really didn’t have to do all this. I didn’t mean to be a burden. You can come in. I’ll pay you back for your efforts.”
I looked past her into the dark recesses of the bedroom. The four poster bed loomed in the distance, and I knew exactly what she was offering. God, she tempted me in ways no other woman did. She also angered me in ways I didn't think possible.
“You're not a burden, Kitten. Soul’s part of the family and this comes at no cost.”
“Oh please, I can pay you back.”
“I said no! ” I snapped. I didn’t like how she was offering herself as payment. I hated thinking she was used to being treated this way.
I leaned in, closing her in between the doorframe and the hard planes of my body. “If I wanted that type of payment, Kitten, it would come in the form of pure pleasure. Not because you need to pay back a favor but because you willingly want to give yourself to me.”
“Willingly,” she whispered, her hot breath tickling my lips.
“That’s right. You don’t ever have to pay me back for anything. Ever.”
I pushed back on the doorframe, creating some distance between us. “I’ll pick you up early tomorrow, Kitten.”
“Are you sure?” Her eyes wide and uncertain as she stared up at me.
“Oh I’m sure. I’ll take you back to Seattle and make sure you’re safe.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Giving her a quick nod, I strode across the hall and down the stairs, making sure she didn’t see me release the breath of air I was holding.
As I got back into that damn cage, I sat there for a long minute watching the snow fall onto the hood of the car. I’d taken the damn step I always told myself I wouldn’t and now I’d gotten too close.
Starting up the car, I gave out another curse as I headed back to the bar. I was in for a shit ride and I knew it.