Tess
“Sorry, Tess.” Venna, the only trustworthy friend I had left in this house, gave me a grim frown. She turned the computer around and showed me I had a four p.m. client this afternoon. I broke out in a sweat.
Somehow, I had managed to avoid being booked by complaining about the pain I was in from my stomach, and threw in being on that time of the month. Plus, Rachel still worked the front desk, and when I showed her my bruises, she felt bad for me. Of course, I kept the truth of what really happened quiet and only gave a vague story, which seemed to work better. Everyone loved a little mystery.
“You see who booked it?” She tapped the screen, her expression pissed off. “Seems kinda fucked up, if you ask me.”
I glared at my mother’s name. “She never thought of me as her daughter, anyway, so this doesn’t shock me. All I am to her is someone she can pimp out to make money.”
Venna’s hand landed on mine. “Least you’re getting booked. Felicia has me on probation for leaving.”
“This is my punishment for coming back.”
She bit the inside of her lip, thinking about something. Before she could say it, she stood a little straighter and tapped the keyboard to make the schedule disappear.
“Clark,” she greeted him before she checked her phone.
“Ven, you look lovely today.”
She blushed.
“That’s right, you’re a fan of red.” Her fingers brushed down the front of her red corset. “I really need a new one. This is getting old.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” He glanced over at me. “I see you picked the blue one. Nice choice.”
Internally, I rolled my eyes, but decided to treat him as I would any other man here. “Well, let’s hope my four p.m. agrees.”
His brows pinched together as he swung the computer screen to face him and hit the keyboard.
“Felicia booked it.” I pushed away from the desk. “Time to pop the house cherry.” I snickered as I left the two of them alone.
I heard him whisper, “That’s not entirely true.”
It took everything in me not to waver my step.
Wow.
Back in my room, my hands shook, and my heart beat to an unknown rhythm as I watched the time tick by. I didn’t think I could do this. My stomach ached, and my ribs were on fire.
“Tess?” Venna slipped in and closed the door behind her. “How hard would it be to convince you to let me take your spot, and you can dance tonight?”
I nearly fell forward as I grabbed the post at the end of my bed.
Someone is looking out for me somewhere.
She came closer and noticed my pale face. “You okay?”
“Ven, I’ll take any spot you want to trade with me.”
“I need the money, Tess. I need to get the fuck out of here.”
I so wanted to repeat her words back at her, but I would rather take a little more time making the money dancing than have someone stick their pencil dick in me.
“The appointment is all yours.”
Her face lit up, and a sense of relief spread through me. “Just keep it quiet, okay?”
“Trust me.” I waved her off and eased back on the mattress. “If my mother thinks I’m working here the way she wants, she’ll leave me alone. My lips are sealed.”
A knock at the door brought us both to our feet. Venna grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. “Get him set up, and once he’s ready, I’ll step in.”
I nodded, and she disappeared into my bathroom. I walked on shaky legs to meet my client.
My fingers brushed my bracelets to remind myself to stay strong, and I took a deep breath and opened the door.
“You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this moment, Tessa.” Bret flashed his million-dollar smile at me then reached out and fingered the lace between my breasts. It was difficult to hold my tongue, but somehow, I managed. “Let’s see if you’re anything like your mother.”
I want to puke.
Bret had been a member of the house for seven years, and had his eye on me for the last five. Of course, his wife and three children had no clue their daddy wasn’t at the office. Bret loved the chase, and he continued to chase me because I sure as hell would not let that man poke me with anything.
I stepped back and motioned for him to enter. He slapped my ass as he strolled in and removed his jacket and tie.
“Top or bottom?”
My mouth went dry, but I managed to speak as I moved to my dresser and pulled out a blindfold. “I had something else in mind.”
He reached out and hooked my waist, pulling me to him.
Don’t slap him, don’t slap him.
His long, bony fingers dug into my hips, bordering on painful rather than sexy.
“The kinkier the better.”
I pushed out of his hold and patted the mattress. He complied willingly and obeyed my instructions.
Yuck. I hated a man who wanted to be told what to do. I wanted to be thrown up against the wall for passionate, animal sex. Trigger’s face flashed in front of me, and I tried to shake the memory away.
He doesn’t want you, Tess.
The cuffs snapped over his wrists, and satin ties held his ankles in place. I straddled his waist while I slipped the blindfold over his hungry gaze. Turning up the music, I whispered, “Let me grab the oil.”
He thrust his hips to grind his erection into my leg. I hopped off and hurried into the bathroom where Venna was prepping herself. Thankfully, we had the same length hair and were pretty much the same body shape.
“He’s all yours.”
“Is he big or small?”
I shrugged. “Depends on what you call big. Just be sure if he’s in or not before you fake anything.”
She laughed then headed out to the room, and I sank to the cool floor with a disgusted huff. It wouldn’t always be that easy to avoid clients. I inched toward the counter and grabbed the phone Brick had given me. It was turned to airplane mode so it couldn’t be tracked. My finger hovered over the photo app, and after a moment, I tapped the screen, and a ton of pictures flashed in front of me. I scrolled through and stopped at my favorite, Trigger standing next to his bike, reading something off his phone. I took it one morning as I rounded the corner to the clubhouse. He looked so real at that moment. The darkness that normally surrounded him wasn’t there. He was just a man leaning against his bike before he started the day. Hell, I missed him. I closed my eyes as the pain lashed at my raw memories.
After I got Bret out of my room and had wiped his long kiss goodbye off my mouth, I hurried down to the back yard. I raced through the maze of high shrubs, down the little hill to the building where the strip club was nestled in a sea of greenery.
Dirty Promises was built twenty years ago and was one of the most prestigious strip clubs in Vegas. The membership alone cost more than most homes there.
I wiggled a pebble out of my shoe as I knocked twice on the big industrial door. Music, cigar smoke, and booze blasted me like a gust of wind as it opened in a hurry.
“Oh, shit, look who came back.” , the doorman, laughed and gave me a hug. “They always come back to the pole.”
“Thanks, Jarmon,” I muttered but surrendered to his hug. He was a good guy and always had our backs.
“Are you filling in for someone?”
“Yup, Venna.”
He didn’t ask any questions, simply pointed to her locker and told me to help myself.
The perks of having Mommy own the place.
I opened the door to her locker and sighed. “Really, Ven?” I grabbed the outfit and reached for the hook in the back of my corset when I felt someone bat my fingers away.
My gaze flashed to the mirror, and I yelped.
“You look like you saw a ghost, sweetheart.”
Squinting to be sure I was right, I slowly lowered my arms. “Sean?”
“It’s now.” He—or rather, she—made duck lips in the mirror, admiring herself. She was stuffed into a shiny gold dress with a rack that would make Pamela Anderson self-conscious. A straight brown bob lined her jaw and made her silicone-plumped lips pop. Sean was never small as a man, and now that she had transitioned, she had lost some weight. I had to say she was now quite stunning. “Turns out Felicia has quite the homosexual client list. So, naturally, I stepped up and took one for the team.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Not shocked. You always were good with weird.” She pulled my zipper down, freeing my ribs. I heaved forward with a wince.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
“Yeah.” I felt around, curious to know if I did any more damage to them.
She pushed my hands away again and leaned down to examine the injury. Her drawn-on eyebrows rose in speculation.
Just when I thought I was going to be drilled with questions, she leaned back, grabbed her designer purse, and handed me a pill bottle.
“Take two now, two at bedtime.”
“What are they?”
We both went quiet when I was paged that I was up next.
“Does it matter?” She snatched them out of my hold, dropped two in my hand, and gave me the glass of gin and tonic she had been nursing.
“Thanks.” I tossed them back and pulled on the ridiculous outfit.
“Tess,” she called out when I hit the first step to the stage. “I hope whoever did that to you got his ass handed to him.”
I tried to force a smile. I pictured those green eyes staring at me from his cut. “He will.”
“Glad you’re back.”
That comment had my stomach in knots. I didn’t want to be back.
Dressed in a skimpy business suit and tie, I stood behind the curtain and waited for Justin Timberlake’s “Drink You Away” to pound through the curtains.
I couldn’t help but scan the crowd for his face, but he wasn’t there. Of course, he wasn’t. Trigger didn’t even know where I was.
***
Trigger
I flipped the joint back and forth through my fingers like a drummer would his stick. My skin ached, and it aggravated my nerves. The smallest thing would set me off. I needed a reason to hurt someone.
Brick finally joined us in the meeting room. He mumbled something about not getting enough sleep. Gus glanced at me, and I knew what he was thinking. We needed to get past this shit if the club was going to continue to run smoothly.
“Anything?” I barked out at the guys. They all leaned back in their seats and looked around the room.
“My guess would be back in Vegas,” Brick finally said, but he wouldn’t look at me.
“I was referring to the asshole who rose from the grave,” I shot back.
His head came up, and he held up his phone. “I need to make a call.”
I nodded for him to leave, but it was a shit excuse.
“It’s like he dropped right off the grid again.” Morgan tugged at his beard as he thought. “You think you can get some help from Blackstone?”
I was debt clean with the Blackstone guys, but given the situation, I might consider the idea.
“Gus,” I turned my attention to him, “spread the word to the VPs. I want all the eyes I can get.”
“Okay.” He left with the phone to his ear.
“What about Fox? Are we all still lookin’ for him too?” Jace spun his paper cup between his fingers.
I wanted Fox’s head mounted above my office door for what he did to Tess in the desert. It took some digging, but the jackass was runnin’ his mouth at a bar about how he beat up Tess. Once the word was out, I knew he’d disappear. Coward.
“Yeah, but I better be the last fucking face he sees.”
“Got it.”
Twenty minutes later, I shut down the meeting, not wanting to hear petty shit about Tammy being back. I’d deal with her myself when I saw her.
“Trigger,” Jace stayed behind as the rest filtered out, “can I steal you for a moment?”
I lit my joint and swiveled my chair to face him. The smoke hugged my lungs while the THC absorbed into my system. I welcomed the hit as it momentarily tamed the demons. My mind played with the image of them as they hunkered down at the door of their cages, eyes wary.
“I know I’m overstepping here, but I want to look for Tess.”
I sucked in a tight breath that came with the mention of her name.
He lifted his hands when he sensed my mood change. “Look, that girl was there for me when others didn’t see me slippin’. Let me do the same for her.”
Fuck. I rubbed my brow, more out of sexual frustration than anything else. I would give my left nut to have that chick back, but with my father back in the picture, it was a whole new level of dark.
“Trigger,” he stepped closer, but I could tell he was scared shitless, “just let me make sure she’s all right until you decide whatever it is you’re doing or not doing with her.” His gaze moved away from mine. “She’s my friend too. I just wanna know she’s okay.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply to take a moment to think this shit through. I wanted her here, next to me, safe. However, history had proved itself to be a bitch, and when I was near anyone I remotely cared for, they became a target.
“Jace—”
“Please.” His shoulders tensed when he realized he blurted that out, but he went on. “Just let me see if she’s okay.”
I swallowed back the lash of words for interrupting me. I could see he was genuinely concerned for her.
I gave a slight nod, and that was all he needed before he broke out in a boyish grin and bolted from the meeting room.
Fuck me. I hoped that didn’t backfire. I would be annoyed if I had to kill Jace too.
***
Sweat poured down my face, my hands ached, and my knees were like rubber by the time I finished my workout on the rooftop. I popped off the cap and downed my third beer and leaned over the edge to where Tess’s old apartment was.
“Hey, man.” Brick stopped me at my bike. “You know how Tess is coming in next week?”
I shrugged and clipped the buckle to my shell cap helmet.
“Look, I think she should have her own place. I wanted to rent out the room across from your building. You know, more eyes on her and shit.”
“Yeah, fine.” I started my bike, not thinking more of it.
“I think you’ll like her.”
“I don’t really like anyone.” I tossed the bike into gear and roared down the open road.
I dropped my bottle and watched how it shook from the wind and exploded in the garbage bin below. I wanted to know what she was up to, but at the same time, I didn’t.
During the ride home, I couldn’t get Tess off my mind. Jace’s absence didn’t help me keep my head on straight. I noticed his bike was gone when I arrived at the club. Just as I backed in, Big Joe was at my side with his phone out. He handed it to me and stepped back.
I hated that my body jerked with amusement when I scanned the encrypted email. To anyone else, it would look like a jumbled mess of codes, but to me, it was a second language.
First prize—a hundred grand
Second prize—fifty grand
First and second place winners will move on to the semifinals. Location revealed when winners are announced.
I was intrigued, but fucking irritated he would hand me the one thing I promised I’d never do again.
“What, you think we need the money?”
“Nah, boss, I think you need the outlet.”
Fuck!
I jammed the phone in his hand and went inside. Morgan had a full bar, and it was only eight p.m. Nice to see the business was picking up.
“Brick?” I shouted when I came behind the bar for a water.
“Out back in the gym.”
Minnie blocked my path.
“What?” She had fire, but not the kind I liked.
Her arms folded over her chest, and she cocked out her hip. “When are you going to fix whatever the shit is between you and B?”
“Not now, Minnie.”
“Yes, now. And go get Tess so you can get laid again, because honestly, you’re a huge asshole without her. And why the fuck is Tammy back? She could be the damn mole, for shit’s sake.”
Closing my eyes, I tried to calm my temper, which proved harder than I thought. When I opened them, I saw she had walked away.
Good.
The gym was stuffy and hot. We hated to use the AC when we worked out. Living in the desert, you needed to have stamina when it came to the heat. Couldn’t fight if you went lightheaded. Shit happened, and you died.
Brick was bouncing around in the ring with Rail, who looked to have gotten hit in the face a few times. It wasn’t a fair fight. Brick was stronger and leaner.
“Rail,” I called out. He dropped his arms and ducked under the ropes.
I hopped in and raised my fists to spar.
“No.” Brick sighed.
“Didn’t ask.” I smacked his shoulder and then his cheek.
“Why?” He flinched when I punched his arm.
“Fight back.”
He rolled his eyes and took a punch at my face, but I ducked and kicked his knee. He yelped, but it fed his fire.
About fucking time.
He swung again, and I let him smoke my face. He saw through me and cursed. Physical pain was my drug.
“I hate that you made her leave.”
“Wasn’t my intention,” I grunted. Dodging his hit, I sent a blow to his chest.
“You tossed me under the bus.” He kicked my ribs hard.
“I did, but it was either that or have my father sink his claws into her.” It was hard to hold back when I nailed him in the jaw with my foot.
He stepped back and spat blood from his split lip. He pointed his taped-up hand at me. “You know she loved you, and you fed her to the wolves like just another pussy that got too close.”
I lunged and grabbed him around the neck, slamming him into the corner of the ring. A few of the guys rose, but Rail raised his hand to tell them to back the fuck off.
My fingers curled into stone as I drew my hand back. My heart pumped at a dangerous rate, and my vison clouded. My switch begged to be flipped, but I held it down. What he said sank in, and he closed his eyes with a frustrated sigh. I waited a beat before I let go and dropped my arms heavily to my sides. The demons screamed at me to rip his head off. Fucking animals wouldn’t let up.
“She is at the house,” Brick muttered, which made me whip around. “I just got a call from a friend who still lives there. You were out, and I needed to process it.” He waved around the ring.
Jesus Christ.
“Tell Jace.”
“He knows. He was there when he called.”
I turned to leave when Brick stopped me.
“It’s not as easy as going in there and getting her back. If she went home, it means she went back to him.”
“You ready to tell me who him is now?”
***
Allen
My hands flexed over the sides of the pulpit as I felt the connection with those below me. Power traveled through the soles of my feet. I envisioned myself like a tree, absorbing it through my roots, and the heat of it flooded through my soul. I inhaled deeply with my eyes closed.
Slowly, my eyes opened, and I gazed down at the twenty pairs of ears waiting for me to speak.
“Today, we talk about sacrifice and how the Lord wants you to do him justice.”
Two hours later, I packed up my things and shook many hands before I loosened my collar and downed a bottle of Jack from under the dusty organ. This gig was pretty damn good. I could really get off on this whole preacher in the pulpit thing. It suited me.
“Alle—” Zay, one of the oldest members of my family, cleared his throat when I glared at him. “Father, we have a new development.”
“Which is?” I cleaned the dried blood off the ridges of my knife with my jacket. The edge of excitement I had experienced earlier after disposing of a local was only now beginning to dull.
“We found the girl.”
That piqued my interest. Trigger had never given a shit about anyone before, but for whatever reason, he cared enough to make that blonde woman leave. I couldn’t get my head around it. Far as I could see, broads like her were a dime a dozen, nothing more than a warm, wet hole. Love was a conspiracy that was beaten into our brains by society, like we needed an old lady to make us feel complete. I snorted out loud at the thought. All you would be left with was a bitch to nag you and suck away all your money. If the common man could step back and look at our history, they would see that feelings like love were nothing more than lust. A few hip thrusts and a spent dick, and that was it.
Like that old saying goes, fuck and chuck.
“Where is she?” He looked over his shoulder and handed me a folded piece of paper. That was why I kept Zay around. He was loyal, discreet, and could find anyone. He was, after all, the one who came up with the idea to win over the Stripe Backs.
I glanced at the address and smiled. “Put fifty on blackjack for me.”
He nodded. “I’ll report in tonight.” With that, he left.
The rest of the men started to bring in the shipment of guns that arrived last night. I moved to the table and relished the smell.
“What do we have here, Father?” My potential buyer was practically salivating.
I pointed to the far end of the table. “AK-47, ML 18 inch 5.56, and this.” I picked up the sexy, sleek weapon and looked through the scope. “This is the Black Mamba.”
“Which is what, exactly?” He eyed the rifle and ran his tongue over his lips. I slipped it back into the soft velvet case.
“Custom made. It’s a cross between both of those weapons. Sniper approved.”
His eyebrows rose and he shook his head, clearly not interested in my specialty. “I won’t lie. I was surprised to hear you were dealing weapons.”
I flipped a bullet between my fingers. “Actually, I’m not looking to sell. I’m looking to build an army.”
His face fell, and he flexed his jaw. “Army? Who exactly are you fighting?”
“Devil’s Reach,” I said bluntly as I eased into a chair.
He stepped back and held his hands in the air. “Fuck, man, I don’t know why you’d go up against someone as crazy as Trigger, but I want no part in it.”
“Scared?” I taunted.
His fingers ran along the Black Mamba before his gaze flickered over to mine. “I watched him screw up my nephew’s eyeballs with a fork because he caught him skimmin’. Then he tore out my uncle’s fuckin’ kidneys because he defended him. I lived, but those images are burned in my brain.” He rubbed his head. “I don’t know what was worse, watching that or living with it.” He closed the lid on the gun. “I was fine with buying guns from you, Father, but if you’re looking for an army, my men would rather off themselves than go up against Trigger.”
I hated that my son had such a reputation. If I hadn’t gone into hiding, I’d be more feared than he was by now.
“Suit yourself.”
He looked away, his face growing paler by the moment. Fucking pussy. “When are you planning to move on him?”
I tilted my head as I studied his face. I wondered what his motive was. “Why?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Because I want to be as far away from you as possible when it happens.”
I grinned, excited to know the war would be epic.