Tori

 

     The sound of Trench and Clutch exchanging heated words in the next room made me uneasy. Well, that’s not exactly true. I had felt awkward since I first arrived. I was an outsider to these men, which meant in their eyes I was also a threat. It didn’t help that I brought unwanted attention on their club by simply staying here. I could relate because I felt the same way about each of them. I was no poster child for relationship building. I knew what it was like to trust someone only to have them burn you in the end. Having Preacher’s DNA marked me as a target whether I presented one to Pandemonium or not.

     It had been months since I’d last seen one of those pills, but I recognized it immediately. Crush. The same tablet that had been force fed to me for the last year would be etched in my memory forever. How could you forget the thing that took you to the brink of death more than once, only to be brought back to life kicking and screaming in agony.

     I still recalled the first time Aaron employed me to test it out.

 

     “No. I don’t even know what it is. You can’t ask me to do this.”

     “These little gems will make you feel so fucking good. I promise. Let go for once, Tori. Stop acting like you’re any better than the rest of us.” Aaron snickered next to my ear while his cold hand pressed the white pill against my lips.

     My lip quivered beneath his touch. Aaron wasn’t affectionate anymore. He could care less if I got pleasure from anything, including our physical relationship. We fucked, plain and simple, or rather he fucked and I lied there, waiting for the act to end. That’s what it was, an act to keep him from becoming angry and hitting me again. There was no kissing or foreplay involved and there were no more feelings except defeat.

     His hand cupped my cheek and squeezed painfully, forcing my lips to separate while my teeth remained clenched against taking the pill. The last thing I remembered was the sadistic smile on his face that said he was about to get his way, whether I contested or not.

 

     My response to Alexei was truthful. The second time. Trench spared me from reliving those moments in horrifying technicolor-esque detail out loud. I wasn’t protecting the Disciples. In fact, I could care less if the Russians wiped out the entire lot of them, but I knew the Feds had an insider in Preacher’s compound and he could be playing for both teams. I was still holding onto the hope that it was only a matter of time before the club was brought to its knees and every one of the murderous bastards would spend the rest of their miserable lives behind federal prison bars. That knowledge was the only thing that sustained me for the last year.

     I wanted the men of the Disciples to suffer as I had, now and for the rest of their fucked-up lives, but I didn’t want to be called to testify because witness protection or not, I would never be safe from Disciple reach if I took the stand. Even behind bars, Preacher would find someone on the outside to do his dirty work. It could be a Disciple from another chapter that owed him a favor, a hired man, or my next-door neighbor looking to score Crush. Preacher was a merciless man who would figure out how to make me suffer and I wanted to be free of him more than I wanted to face him in court.  

     I shook my head to clear the flood of ugly images. The part of me that died with my faith stayed hidden, but the new me, the woman who wanted to tell Alexei that Preacher was the ring leader in a full-scale drug operation that probably paralleled anything the Russians had, was itching to come out and play. Let the Russian mafia annihilate Preacher’s club. My conscience didn’t care if it was dirty anymore. It was probably bloodied and bruised a long time ago with the rest of me. I wouldn’t lose sleep over my father’s or Aaron’s death when the time came, but if I played my only available hand with the Russians I would inevitably lose. It didn’t take a genius to see Alexei would never leave loose ends and I held no illusions. That’s what I was to him. A loose end that was slowly unraveling and an easy target.

     Strangely enough, the thing that did upset me, was also the thing that should be furthest from my mind. Trench. Was he running the same type of shit that nearly ended me several times over? Maybe Pandemonium didn’t push the pills on the streets, but how many people had died because of their involvement? Struck with the sudden urge to get as far away from here as possible, I began to hyperventilate. Coming here with Trench was a mistake. How long would it be before Trench grew tired of me and passed me around to the rest of the club to be used up? Or better yet, tossed me on the street and gave the Disciples an anonymous tip that led them straight to me?

     I eyed the side door attached to the kitchen like a drowning woman eyes the shore. Desperate and hopeful. I needed more air than the stuffy space provided and for the first time I was grateful for the sweltering Georgia sun that assaulted me as soon as I pushed through to the outside. Anything seemed better than being trapped inside the clubhouse with angry men who decided your fate.

     I started around the corner of the warehouse, noticing the heavily tinted windows of a black Suburban parked up front. I had seen a couple cages around the lot earlier, the trucks sometimes used by club members, and I suspected Pandemonium kept them for the same reason the Disciples did. There was some club business that required concealment a bike could not provide.

     I realized far too late I’d wandered closer to the front and the Suburban sitting nearby. The rear passenger window of the truck rolled down slowly and I was met with Alexei’s dark eyes. He smiled, but it did nothing to silence the warning bells going off inside my head.

     “Milaya moya, please, come here,” he beckoned through the open window frame.

     I hesitated for a moment before resigning myself that Alexei would not get far if he hurt me within the gates of the compound. For now, at least, I was under Trench’s protection and that seemed to mean something to this man. I approached the side of the truck, leaving a couple feet of space between myself and the passenger door.  

     “Why do you look so afraid, beautiful? I promise, I mean you no harm,” he clucked his tongue as though scolding me.

     “No, but you have no issues with them harming me.” I pointed towards the driver and front passenger, the one who put his hands on me earlier. Alexei chuckled.

     “Ah, yes, but in my line of business I cannot afford to be as trusting as Trench. You’re good for him though,” he motioned towards the building. I shrugged at his observation, not exactly sharing his sentiment. “You do not agree?”

     “The jury’s still out, but I’ll let him know you give your blessing,” I smirked.

     “I admire your feisty spirit. Make sure you use it well, milaya moya,” he winked at me and nodded to his driver in the rear-view mirror. “I think we will be good friends one day, Tori. Until then, you’ll be doing me a favor if you have more information about what you saw earlier.” Alexei reached out his arm and presented a card with his name and number neatly scrolled in elegant design. I accepted it. He nodded as the window rolled back up and concealed him again.

     “Tori!” Trench’s voice rang out as the front door slammed against the building.

     I spun around to find him, fists balled at his sides and a large, pulsating vein that looked ready to burst on the side of his neck. His booted feet landed hard against the asphalt until he was standing mere inches in front of me, chest heaving from labored breathing.

     “What part of wait for me in the kitchen was unclear,” he gritted through clenched teeth.

     “I did wait, but then -,” I recoiled from his harsh stare. No flinching, Tori.

     “Yeah? Cause the kitchen doesn’t extend to my fucking front yard, sweetheart.” Trench was pissed. “What did Alexei say to you?” He nodded in the direction of the truck that was nothing more than a blip on the highway now.

     I shrugged and then goaded him. “Something about liking my feisty spirit and being good for you, though I’m seriously questioning the last part.” If Trench was going to act like a barbarian, then I was going to reciprocate with sarcasm. It was stupid and I knew it. I’d made the same mistake with Aaron a hundred times before and paid dearly for my sass.

     “Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you to be out -,” Trench started, but his rant was cut short by the sound of motorcycles approaching. “What the fuck is it now?” The rumbling noise was familiar in a disturbing way. I had been woken too many times by that same cacophony of exhausts.

     The prospect manning the gate motioned with his hands to Trench that there were at least ten approaching. Trench pulled his weapon from the waistband of his jeans and grabbed my upper arm, shifting me behind him. The idea of more unexpected company sent shockwaves of fear up my spine. He released me and used his free hand to grab his phone and sent out a quick text. I couldn’t see the recipient, but the response was almost instantaneous. The front door of the club flew open once again and several armed men spilled out.

     The roar of bikes stopped just outside the gates, settling to an idle. Through the fence my eyes found him and my heart seized at the sight. Aaron dismounted his bike, one I had been a passenger on far too many times. I swallowed hard as his eyes locked with mine and a familiar cruel smirk crossed his face. He could taste my fear from here and it was an aphrodisiac to a sick bastard like Aaron. Castro, my father’s right hand and the Disciples’ VP, stood next to him, seeming equal parts amused and deadly when his gaze landed on me too.

     “We’ve come back for the bitch, Trench!” Castro shouted through the chain link and motioned in my direction. “Let us take her off your hands now and save the trouble later.”

     Trench nodded to one of the men behind us and big hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to the building. I struggled for a moment, scared that Trench would do as they asked, especially since I was no longer on his good side. He knew I was holding one of his guns in my waistband, but so far, he had not taken it. I guessed even with a loaded weapon, I didn’t pose any real threat to these men.

     LoJack spoke calmly beside my ear. “Relax, darling. This is club business. Let Trench handle it.”

     I watched as Trench and Clutch walked towards the gate together, their weapons held at the ready by their sides.

     “I thought I made myself clear before. She’s not going anywhere with you.” Trench’s voice was barely loud enough to make out.

     “I didn’t know Pandemonium took in strays.” Aaron stepped closer to the fence and Trench. I tried to shake off LoJack again with no success.

     “The fuck are you?” Clutch shot back.

     “Aaron, and that right there,” he pointed to me, “is my wife.” Aaron’s amused eyes locked with mine in challenge, a smug grin suggesting he had won with that bullshit declaration.

     “You lying asshole!” I screamed and fought against LoJack’s hold, kicking backwards with my booted heel and finally connecting with his shin, the delivery hard enough that he released me.

     I marched towards the gate before anyone else could stop me. I doubted members of the Pandemonium MC cared one way or the other about my fate. Less trouble for them.    

     Trench didn’t turn to acknowledge my approaching footsteps, remaining focused on the threat in front of him instead. The muscles in his shoulders tensed and his spine straightened as my boots clicked along the asphalt. Aaron’s presence, coupled with my newfound protection, encouraged me to fight for the first time in my life, and I found myself releasing all the rage I’d been holding back for Aaron. It’s been said that everyone has a breaking point. I’d reached mine.

     I moved to stand in front of Trench, an instinct to shield him from the maniac on the other side of the chain link fence. I reached around and pulled the gun from my waistband before aiming it at Aaron’s smug ass grin. There was a pregnant pause. The flicker of fear in his eyes disappeared as quickly as it came, but I’d seen it and it only empowered me more. I was expecting a reaction on my own side of the gate from the men of Pandemonium, but I was met with no resistance from Trench or Clutch, which confirmed my earlier thoughts. I didn’t intimidate these men.  

     Clutch chuckled behind me. Trench’s VP probably thought I was off my rocker. He had no idea how close I was to plunging over the edge of darkness.

     “Seems the lady disagrees,” Trench replied while Castro looked to Aaron.

     Neither man made a move for his weapon, though the outlines were clearly visible beneath their cuts. I knew exactly where Aaron carried. Left hip with a fixed blade tucked in his right boot. The tables were turned in my favor for the moment and if he so much as flinched or reached for either I would start unloading into his crotch first.

     “I. Am. Not. Your. Wife.” I ground out every syllable to drive my point home.

     “Semantics, Tori. Common law marriage is still alive and well in this part of the country. I fed you, clothed you, and housed you. As far as the Disciples are concerned, you are mine. Now, put the gun away and let me take you home. Keep making a scene and you’ll have more trouble when we get there.”

     Did Aaron just threaten me? The lady holding him at gunpoint? He talked as if I was a child being scolded, acted as though the gun in my surprisingly steady hands was not trained to take him out with a simple pull or a fucking wayward sneeze. I’d never held the power, until now, and it felt fucking fantastic. There was no way I was relinquishing control to him ever again.

     “I’m not going anywhere with you, Aaron, and I swear to all that I believe in, if you take one step closer to this fence, even bleach won’t wash away the stains I’ll make when I put a round through your fucked-up head.”

     My voice was eerily calm and though I saw movement behind me, I wasn’t afraid. I knew who was standing close by and in one day, he’d earned more trust than I held for anyone else. Trench’s hand slowly covered the top of the gun, pushing the barrel down towards the ground. He leaned in close and his rich voice hummed in my ear so low I was sure no one else could make out his words but me.

     “I got you, sweetheart. No one is taking you anywhere, but I need you to let me handle this my way. Feel me?” Trench’s voice was like a soothing balm to my raging nerves.

     I took a steadying breath and relaxed my stance, but I didn’t give up the weapon. I simply returned it to my waistband. When I finally chanced a glance at Castro and the rest of his crew I took in their threatening glares, throwing back one of my own for a change.

     “Too bad for you, common laws don’t apply here. Tori is under Pandemonium’s protection now. Looks like you need to find another woman to keep you warm at night. Maybe next time you’ll be more careful with your valuables,” Trench addressed Aaron.

     “It isn’t that simple, Trench. Her father won’t let this rest,” Castro finally spoke up.

     “I didn’t think he would, but Tori stays.” Trench answered Castro, but his eyes never left Aaron. The message was intended for him as well. Trench’s free arm wrapped possessively around my hip, pulling me into his front as he leaned down, inhaled the scent of my hair and kissed my head. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed making Aaron squirm.

     Aaron’s jaw ticked and his palm slammed into the chain link gate, rattling the fence. He sneered at Trench and shot me a warning glance. One that made me cringe inside, but with Trench’s hand anchoring me, I did not flinch. If Aaron ever got his hands on me again, I was as good as dead. He would make it slow and painful, but he would rather end my life than allow another man to touch what he considered his property. Aaron spit on the ground in front of us before turning and climbing back on his bike.

     “You really want to wage an MC war over sloppy seconds, Trench?” Castro offered a last opportunity to hand me over, but Trench refused to bite.

     “Preacher’s been looking for a reason to start a war with us for years. If it wasn’t over Tori, it would be something else soon enough.”

     To the credit of the men behind us, none of them argued in favor of tossing me over to the Disciples, though I heard a few growls. No matter their opinion of me, their loyalty remained with their club president and his word was Pandemonium law.

Castro glowered at me for a moment and then nodded his disbelief to Trench. A war was on the horizon and I was at the epicenter. The rumble of bikes shook the ground as the Disciples spun around and took off down the highway, sealing my fate with Preacher.

     “Church in five,” Trench shouted as he turned to his men.

     As the group filed back inside, Trench’s hand moved to the small of my back, urging me forward towards the clubhouse, while simultaneously removing the gun from my waistband. He transferred ownership of the weapon inconspicuously as we walked together. When we reached the row of bikes near the front he placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me to face him, his lips crushing mine with the force of the kiss.

     I had no time to react, no time to talk myself out of what was happening, only time to feel. His warm tongue licked at the seam of my lips, requesting entrance. I gave it freely. I opened to him and was rewarded with a low growl that rippled through his mouth to mine and woke up parts of my body that had been closed off for months. Aaron was the only man I’d ever kissed before. It always felt rushed and void of emotion, even in the beginning of our relationship when he was pretending, placating me to try and win over my father’s approval. This kiss was like nothing I’d ever experienced.

     Trench’s hands moved to cup either side of my face, his long fingers pushing back my loose hair. He slowed down the pace, inching as close as humanly possible to me so that we were pressed against one another in the middle of the parking lot. There could have been a hundred men watching us and it wouldn’t have mattered. His tongue swept over mine slowly and methodically in a never-ending dance between us and I couldn’t contain the soft moan that rose up from my chest. My hands gripped hard at the front of his vest and when he finally pulled back I felt dizzy.

     That sexy grin greeted me as my eyes blinked open and I stared at him. The kiss left me speechless.

     “What was that?” I whispered.

     “That was me showing appreciation,” Trench chuckled.

     “If that’s my reward, tell me what I did again so I can do it more often.” I blushed, but held his gaze.

     “You’re beautiful. Do you know that?” My hands fell from his chest and I searched the ground. I didn’t know how to take compliments. They made me uncomfortable. One of his hands made a home on my hip while the other tucked beneath my chin, directing my eyes to his again. “You don’t, do you?” He placed another gentle kiss on the corner of my mouth. “Then, I’ll be the one to show you from now on. You deserve to hear it every day.”

     “Huh?”

     He smiled. “We’ll talk more later, but without the guns. Okay?” I nodded. “If you’re with me, you will be safe, Tori. I promise. We’re going to talk about what you saw earlier. The drugs, but first I need to handle club business.”

     “You’re not mad at me anymore?” I swallowed hard. Why did this man’s feelings matter so much?

     “Mad? No. Turned on? Fuck, yes! What you did, standing up to the Disciples like that. Babe, that was erotic as hell.”

     “Really?”

     “You have no damn idea, but I’ll be changing that real soon,” he winked and I felt the tell-tale burn of another blush creeping its way up my neck. “Now,” he turned me around to face the door, “I have work to do.” Trench swatted my ass and I squealed like a teenager at the pleasurable sting.  

     Trench opened the clubhouse door and barked his next order at one of the probies. “Follow Tori to our room and wait outside the door.” His tone brooked no argument. Gone was my seductive sinner and firmly in place was the President of Pandemonium.

     He’d called it our room. I wondered how many of the men standing close enough picked up on that. As I walked up the stairs, I looked over my shoulder, seeking his comfort, the kind of reassurance only Trench seemed to be able to offer, and felt a thrill when I found he was already watching me. His eyes tracked my every movement like a lion carefully watching his prey.

     Only time would tell if I was leaping from the frying pan into the fryer, but hell if I didn’t want to enjoy the heat while it lasted.