Chapter 24
Ember
Tico freezes, his muscles tense against me, and I can feel a slight tremor move through him.
“Say it again,” he replies, his voice gruff with restraint and emotion.
His chocolate brown eyes are darker than normal with desire and my core pulses as heat moves through me.
“Yes, I’ll be your Ol’ Lady.”
A second later, his lips crash down on mine as cheers go up around us.
The kiss is raw, passionate, and hungry.
He pulls me tight against him and my core throbs when I feel him hard against me.
I moan in response but his kiss swallows it.
When we pull apart, we’re both breathing heavily and someone nearby clears their throat.
Heat rises up my neck as I try furiously not to blush, but I’m pretty sure I fail when I see Daemon smirking at me. Thankfully, neither Sofia nor Xochitl seem upset with our little make out session. Daemon wiggles his phone and I remember we were talking about Sunny a moment ago.
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly.
“I want to talk to her, to gauge how she took the information I revealed last night. If she’s still confrontational or tries to claim you again, then we’ll take it to the mats where I’ll pound the truth into her.
If she still won’t stop, then she’s gone.
I refuse to let her disrespect me and therefore, disrespect you, Tico. ”
Pride shines through his eyes and he gives me another quick kiss. Sofia, Xochitl, and Poison also give me looks of approval. A little tension bleeds out of me at that.
“Alright. Daemon, tell the Prospect to inform Sunny that we’ll talk to her in a few hours. We have something else to deal with first.”
Xochitl grins at me. “Congratulations and welcome to our crazy assed family.”
“Thank you,” I say as I try not to laugh at her description of her family.
Then Sofia’s hugging me as she whispers her own welcome in my ear that has me fighting back tears.
“You might want to change before we head outside, though,” Poison tells me and I grimace when I look down at my t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops.
“I was waiting to change because of the friction burn on my leg. Just in case it was vetoed.” I pause, leaning up to kiss Tico’s cheek. “I’ll go wrap it and change. Be back in a few minutes.”
I quickly climb the stairs and then unlock Tico’s, I mean our, room.
That’s going to take a bit to get used to.
Along with a few other things. I strip out of my shorts and t-shirt before digging in my duffle bag for my med kit.
I wrap my leg and then quickly change into a pair of black jeans and a fitted black t-shirt before slipping on my boots.
For my hair, I had already braided it this morning out of habit, but now, I wind it into a bun at the base of my head and secure it.
With a final look in the mirror, I lock back up and head downstairs but pull up short when I see both Pyper and Rochelle waiting for me at the base of the stairs.
Pyper squeals and hugs me hard. I have to bite my cheek hard to keep in my groan of pain.
“I knew you were going to say yes!”
I laugh, trying not to let the pain bleed into it, but Rochelle sees it over Pyper’s head. Thankfully she doesn’t say anything about it—I don’t want Pyper feeling guilty for hurting me. Rochelle steps forward as Pyper steps aside.
“Are you sure?” she asks me hesitantly.
“Yes,” I reply immediately. “You’ll find out they are nothing like the Chrome Vipers. And regardless of if you decide to stay or not after this is all done, I’d still like for you to be in my life.”
“Our lives,” Pyper adds as she gently takes one of Rochelle’s hands in hers. “I don’t remember Mom much, and I barely remember Erica, but you’re the Mom I remember the most. Please stay or at least, stay close.”
Rochelle’s eyes shimmer with tears and she gives a shaky nod. “Okay. I’ll stay. I’ve always seen you both as my daughters, too, even though you aren’t mine biologically.” She pauses and looks at me. “If he makes you happy, then I’m happy for you. Congratulations, Ember.”
She hugs me, making sure to keep it gentle, and I whisper a thank you to her.
Pulling back, she turns away slightly to wipe her eyes, and I pretend not to notice. Tico comes over, grinning that sexy, half-grin of his, and hands me a box.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
I take it from him, opening it, and a gasp slips past my lips. Logically, I knew Ol’ Ladies got cuts, but for some reason, my mind didn’t connect the dots that I’d actually get one. My gaze flies to his and his eyes soften.
“The lady that does our cuts worked through the night when she realized it was for my Ol’ Lady. I wanted to have it for when you were ready.”
My fingers tremble slightly as I lift the cut from the box, and I huff out a small laugh when I find his nickname for me, Vicious, sewed onto the cut.
Then I freeze when I see ‘Queenie’ stitched into a patch where the ranked club positions are normally sewed on.
I run my finger over the patch and feel something shifting in my chest.
“Some of the guys asked if we should give you your title on the cut, and after last night, we realized what it should be.”
Turning, I scan the room and it lands on Taco, the man who gave me the nickname.
He gives me a chin lift and the corner of his lips twitch, something I’ve started to realize is his version of a smile.
I dip my chin in return and look back down at the cut.
Turning it over, I run my hand over the rocker proclaiming me as ‘Property of Tico’ and my chest warms.
I slip it on and cheers once again fill the room.
“Tonight, we’ll have a party to celebrate, but for now, let’s head out back,” Tico says, his voice hard as he looks in the direction of the dungeon.
I follow his line of sight and my fingers go to my patch, Vicious. My spine straightens as resolve fills me.
It’s time my dear old uncle Ryan realizes he has absolutely no control or ownership over Pyper or me.
Poison steps up next to me. “Now knowing your history, I’m going to take a stab that you won’t need any advice, but if you do, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m sure between Daemon and me, we’ll have you covered,” she tells me with a wink and I huff out a small laugh, smiling as I nod.
“Thank you.”
We head outside, Xochitl and Poison included. As we descend the stairs the first thing I notice is the smell—unwashed bodies, piss, and I can damn near taste their fear.
Tico presses his thumb to the thumbprint reader and then punches in a code.
When the door unlocks, he holds it open for me.
As I step through, my gaze locks on my uncle Ryan who is hanging from chains in the center of the room.
There are three bodies hanging on each side of him with a plastic sheet underneath them.
I recognize all but two of the men—Rover, the Road Captain for the Chrome Vipers and three of their Prospects, Bones, Rail, and Spike.
As for the other two…I wonder if they are part of Oasis?
Uncle Ryan glares at me and sneers. “Well, look who finally showed up,” he pauses as his gaze locks on my cut and his sneer deepens.
“Wearing that fucking cut will do nothing and it means nothing. You’re worthless, girl, and the sooner you realize you need to return home to your owner, the better.
Wouldn’t want anything to happen to your new friends, now would you? ”
I don’t reply, which only irritates him more.
Instead, I look around the room, taking in the various cabinets where I’m sure Daemon has his toys stashed away and then I lean against the wooden table, taking a front row seat to watch Uncle Ryan’s demise.
Though, I really should stop referring to him as my uncle.
Especially one that wants to exploit and sell me.
Tico steps up beside me and takes off his cut before handing it to me.
I drape it over my arms. Surprisingly, he cups my cheek and gives me a quick kiss before turning back around towards the men.
His eyes harden as his gaze roams over Ryan and the others before focusing back on Ryan.
He takes the knife Daemon hands him and approaches Ryan.
“So, you’re the güevón (asshole) who thinks he can get away with putting his hands on mi mujer, my woman, my Ol’ Lady.”
Ryan scoffs, but fear sparks in his eyes for a moment at my new title. Even he knows what it means when you mess with another person’s Ol’ Lady.
“She isn’t your anything. She’s Chrome Vipers property—nothing more.”
Tico taps his knife against Ryan’s cheek. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, güevón (asshole). She may have been born into your worthless fucking club but that does not make her your property.”
Without another word, Tico starts cutting off the patches of Ryan’s cut. Ryan tries to thrash his body to stop Tico, but Rocket and Gorgon step forward, steadying Ryan’s body. A dark part of me relishes in seeing him like this because I know he’s not getting out of here.
Not in one piece at least.
He won’t hurt me, Pyper, Rochelle, or anyone else ever again.
When all of his patches have been severed from his cut, Tico slices his knife through the leather and then he cuts down the front of Ryan’s shirt before cutting two more slices at the arms and ripping everything off him.
My lips twitch when I see Ryan’s club tattoo on his chest and I secretly hope Tico fucks it up.
As if he’s thinking the same thing, Tico grins darkly at the sight of the tattoo. But then he surprises me when he turns to me.
“Vicious? I think this honor should go to you.”
I stare at Tico for a moment, surprised, but then a dark smile tugs at my lips.
I set Tico’s cut carefully on the table behind me and then take off my own cut.
Chief hands me some gloves that I put on.
To my left, Daemon opens up a cabinet and I look through the collection of knives before choosing a blade with two edges—one that looks razor sharp and the other, serrated.
I walk over towards Ryan, but my first cut isn’t to mar his club tattoo. It’s a diagonal slash five inches long over his ribs.
“Payback for the scar you gave me,” I tell him, loving the sight of him clenching his jaw in pain. I raise my knife to the top of his tattoo.
“You worthless little—”
A scream rips out of him, cutting off his insult as I make a deep, angled cut just above his tattoo so that a flap of skin flips forward. Then his scream cuts off again as he clamps his mouth closed, most likely biting his tongue or cheek to keep another scream from escaping.
That won’t do at all.
Gripping his skin, I shave off his club tattoo, piece by piece. It isn’t long before his screams echo off the walls. In a few places, I cut a little deeper than needed, but for the most part, I keep my cuts shallow since I don’t want him to bleed out before we get our answers.
Section by section I work.
Cut.
Shave.
Violently sever it.
And finally, drop the skin on the plastic mat below us with a satisfying splat and start all over again.
By the time I’m done, Ryan is sweating profusely but the fight still hasn’t drained out of him. And he still hasn’t given us anything useful.
“What was the purpose of last night’s attack?” I ask, even though I’m almost positive I already know the answer.
Ryan grins, his teeth bloody from biting himself earlier.
“Like I said. You’re club property and your owner is quite displeased that you’ve left.”
My body bristles at the word ‘owner’. “Who is my supposed owner?”
When he doesn’t answer, I step back. “Daemon? What other toys do you have?”
Daemon chuckles darkly, which has a few whimpers escaping from some of the men hanging as they await their fate. He brings two things over to me—an acetylene torch and a whip that looks like it’s been modified to have several barbed tips along the vast majority of it.
Ooooh. That’s perfect.
I hum in approval and cut off Ryan’s pants, leaving him in his dingy boxers as I have no desire to see his dick. I want nothing cushioning what’s about to happen. Tico and a few other men step forward and cut off the clothes of the others.
Taking the whip from Daemon, I hand him the knife but then, I look at each of the men hanging in front of me.
“I can’t speak for Tico and the others, but when I’m asking the questions, those that answer me will get less of a punishment.
Those that don’t… Well, let’s just say you’ll feel my wrath.
” I pause as I look back at Ryan. “Who is my supposed owner? And I don’t mean Scooter.
I mean who bought me for a month before I was supposed to be handed over to Scooter. ”
Ryan glares at me and I smirk—a dark part of me pleased that he’s resisting.
“I was hoping you’d be stubborn.”
I walk around behind them and everyone, including Ryan, tries to keep me in their line of sight.
I expertly roll out the whip without hurting myself which earns a few more whimpers.
Both Daemon and Uncle Marcus taught me how to handle a variety of weapons while growing up so that if I ever did get into a sticky situation, I would be able to use almost any weapon in sight.
And right now? I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am for their foresight.
The first crack of the whip against Ryan’s back tears an enraged scream out of him, but I don’t stop. I keep going. Crack after crack until his head drops and his body goes limp.
Tico looks over at Psycho who grabs a bucket, lifts the bag of ice out of it and a moment later, dumps it over Ryan’s head. I walk back around to the front as Ryan sputters.
“It would be wise to answer me, Ryan.”
Still, the asshole refuses to talk.
Another whimper slips out from one of the men at the end, Bones. I walk over to him and stop in front of him, cocking my eyebrow.
“Care to share with the class, Bones?”
“S-Shut the f-fuck up, Bones!” Ryan stutters out.
Bones hesitates but eventually nods, ignoring Ryan’s threats. “I don’t know his real name, but he goes by the name ‘the Collector’.”
A chill goes down my spine as my muscles lock up and I struggle to keep my face neutral.
I know exactly who he is talking about.
And there never would be a ‘handing me back over to Scooter’ scenario.
No, if the Collector ever got his hands on me, I’d never see daylight again.