RISEN
Doll is spectacular tonight. Her black blown on leather pants, soft white, open back halter, and sexy as fuck pumps make me want to take her on the table. But not just yet.
Trailing fingers up and down her neckline, I tease the nape where her soft hair meets strong muscles. Nipping the cords at her neck, pulling her long dark hair into a loose tail, I feel her soften. We’ve spent a great deal of time together, thrust that way because of the courts, but it’s brought out something I never thought would happen. I feel for her. Not in a desperate, I feel bad for her sadness or loss kind of way. I need her to breathe. When this is over, I don’t know if I could leave without a part of me being left behind.
The party is in full swing, the Crown house is packed. Standing beside her as she talks to some so and so, China lights up, talking about Harriet. She’s worked diligently on that bike, spending every waking hour on it and it’s done.
I’m excited to see it. China’s excited to show me, and I want to race her ass badly. I’ve stayed out of the garage for the past twenty-four hours as she finished it off, giving her space to enjoy the accomplishment alone.
“Will you race me tonight after the party? I’ll ride you after.”
Laughing halfheartedly, she melts into my touch. “Risen, you keep doing that and I won’t be riding the bike for a week.” Walking in step with me at first, China’s steps have shortened as we get closer to the shed. “I have to say, you were unexpected, but I’m glad.”
“Me too.” Stopping our pace, she turns toward me. “Even if I didn’t have this as a job, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Princess.” Watching her, I’m hoping for a response, so I wait.
“Thank you, Ri. I was afraid. You pushed me to work on the bike, dealing with my grief in a way I wasn’t. It’s not that I was fearful of riding. I’ve been afraid of the ghosts that roam here. Dad’s, Mom’s, and even to a point those of Wyatt’s that chase me. Until he returns, it feels like I’m riding over the damaged souls that pummel the pavement.”
Watching tears threaten that sexy face, I can’t be held responsible for what I do next. Pulling her tight and lifting her up, I set her beautiful ass on the cement stanchion of the track. Kissing her forehead, hugging her tight, we laugh as she grips me around the waist. Exploring the skin just above her ass, she breathes deep. I feel her relax into my touch.
“Risen, I’ve never had sex on the track, and no one can see us behind the barrier. What do you think?”
Kissing her, as if it’s the last thing I’ll ever do, our tongues meld, vying for the internal war we wage. Pulling her hair tighter, I bring her close enough that more of our skin touches than isn’t. I feel her groan and shudder, and I relish the way she melts into me. Reaching down inside her pants, gripping her ass, her skin shivers. Pulling tightly on my shirt, dragging me closer, she reaches for the button of my jeans as I anticipate the contact.
That’s until a roaring voice rings out, breaking our heated moment. “China!” Turning from me quickly, she steps away abruptly, looking like she’s been caught with her hands in a cookie jar.
Watching as the hulking mass pounds down the back steps, missing two at a time, Trellis walks with devilish intent, flying through the partygoers. Fuck, I see this going wrong. The last thing I want to do is fight at the Crown house during her birthday celebration. With every passing step, though, it feels inevitable. This fight between me and Tre has been coming for a while. Seeing him at the show that night reminded me of how we’d left things in the past; we never fixed them.
Scowling at me, reaching for Doll to pull her away, Trellis stares me down, daring me to do something. Fuck it, I might as well be an asshole and start this off right. “Trellis. Great to see you,” I say, super cheery.
“Step away from her, Mason.”
“What’s wrong, Tre?” Facing off, China quizzes him while pulling herself in closer to my chest.
“Mason. I won’t be asking again, asshole. Get back.” I don’t take orders well on a regular day, and now that an Anchor is telling me to do something, there’s no fucking way I’m moving. We may have a history, but China has nothing to do with that. He’s about to start something he doesn’t want to finish.
“You know, I’ve had about enough of everyone telling me what to do,” China states very emphatically. Not needing to look down, I know she’s tensing at this show of dick sizing.
Trellis is only a few feet from me, held in place by China’s petite hand. At this point, if he moves closer, I might just take that swing he deserves.
“Doll, I told you to keep your distance from this guy, and you’re cuddled right up?”
I’m pissed. He had the gall to tell China to stay away, from me? “What’s your problem, Anchor?”
“Mason, you know why I don’t want her near you. Back the fuck off.”
“Watch it, Anchor.”
“Why, officer? Your job has nothing to do with fucking the person in your care.”
“If you knew the truth, you know things would’ve been different, brother.”
“No, it wouldn’t have been. You lied, and everything happened because of you!” Spitting the verbal diarrhea that is total bullshit, I glare at someone I thought was a friend once.
“You fuckin’ kidding me? Get over yourself, Tre. That was fucking five years ago, and you’re still not over fuckin—”
“Don’t say her name! You don’t have the right to say it.” Fucking prick wants to hang that shit over me forever? Screw that.
Flames are visible in Trellis’ eyes, and mine probably look the same. I see us going toe-to-toe any moment now, and poor China has no idea what she’s involved in. It’s not her fault or problem.
“Fuck you, Trellis fucking Anchor. You’re no knight in shining armor. Your wings are fuckin’ blacker than mine. At least China knows my past, asshole.” Thank fuck I told her about it. Well, some of it. She knows about the gang, what I did for them, and who I was. I highly fucking doubt he’s told her shit about what dirty crap he and the perfect Anchor’s are in to.
“Boy, oh boy. I thought I had fun with my brothers. You two take the cake. I’m not a pretty bauble to argue over, so please back the fuck up, Trellis.” Pushing against his chest, she then turns to me. “And you. Back it down, Officer.”
The two of us back away from China before we crush her in testosterone. But one more word from him, and I’m settling this once and for all. Being the bigger man will take ounces of patience I don’t have today for Trellis. But I’ll try to talk myself out of knocking his block off, for her.
“China, I’m sorry, but I just can’t see you fucking around with this lying piece of shit. Mason’s no angel. There are dark fuckin’ devils residing in that soul.”
“Screw you, Anchor.”
Trellis knows the same devils that I do. We’ve both fought them daily to keep our cool. He’s no different, maybe even worse. I dealt with mine years ago, trying to be the better man. The Anchor’s? They still dabble in the darker parts of the world that I have nothing to do with anymore.
“That’s the way this is goin’, is it?” I spit out, full of venom.
“Bet your ass it is, Mason.”
Staying on guard, I ignore the angel on my shoulder and allow the devil to have his say. Moving a step around China, I take a swing, hitting Trellis in those perfect fuckin’ lying teeth. Damn, it feels good.
The red splashes against his pressed shirt, staining the purple color an ugly black. Smiling with a mouthful of blood, Trellis’ teeth are stained as he licks his split lip. Grinning excitedly, anticipating for the toss up we’re about to have, it’s easy to see the two of us are both happy this is about to go down. It won’t make a difference what China says now. This is happening.
After one swing, the whole of the house empties to partake in our nightly entertainment. Do I care that there are people here who could video us and ruin what’s left of my job further? Fuck no. Watching Trellis, I know there’s nothing stopping him either. Video be damned.
“Guys, come on. You both have big dicks, no one needs to provide evidence.” China’s words are heard, but not registering as we face off, readying to beat each other to a pulp.
Taking a swing, Trellis aims for my face. I duck, swinging and hitting him in the side. A perfect fucking crunch can be heard as his ribs crack. Relishing the damage and enjoying the sting to my knuckles, I wait as I don’t want this to be a quick dance. Stumbling for a second, Tre stands back straight, shaking off the knock, letting out a heavy breath. It’s not our first time squaring off, and we both know it’s going to take a great deal to put one of us down, but we’re not opposed to doing it.
“You’re a real piece of work, Mason.”
Swinging, hitting me in the jaw, I feel it rattle against my cheek. Fuck me, I didn’t see that left coming and it smarts. Stepping in close, I connect a heavy hit to his jaw. Spluttering out blood, he laughs as I do the same. We’re staining the ground, giving the ghosts their dues. Taking a few more swings, avoiding and blocking until I connect once more, caving a hard blow to the side of his head, it rings his bell. Trellis shakes it off. He’s holding his own better than he used to. Maybe after the years, he’s learned a thing or two, and his criminal dealings might have left him at the end of a fist once or twice.
“Good hit. Don’t expect another, asshat,” Tre sneers through a mouthful of blood with slightly crazed eyes.
“I have more where that came from, Tre.”
Five years ago, I wasn’t as well-trained as I am now. Sure, I knew how to hold my own after being a criminal sort, but with police training, I could take him down without a second thought. Problem is, I want to kick his ass. No way is this going to be over quickly.
Looking over at China costs me another shot to the head, but it’s worth it as I see her annoyed with this man posturing. I almost want to stop, but it’s amazing how much harming someone feels. Not to mention, I’m getting to take shots at his head for saying shit about me that isn’t true. Prick. I’ve had enough of him and his perfection.
As the crowd watches on, we banter, hit, and enjoy the crunching of bones as our pain is taken out on one another. Taking another shot, Trellis rounds a left that I block, then another right at my solar plexus, but missing. Sloppy. Bending away and blocking, taking my own shots to his sides and a couple to his head, the two of us are trading hit for hit. A few hurt like ass, but we’ve been needing this; steam had to be let off.
Pushing all the power I can into the next hit, I clock him hard. Stumbling a few times before falling to one knee, I hope he stays down.
I yell, slightly out of breath. “Stay fucking down, Trellis. I didn’t ask for this, but I ain’t about to quit.” My one eye is slowly closing up, my jaw fucking stings, and I can feel the bruise travelling along my side. But it feels good.
“Can you two please tell me you’re fucking done? Because this is bullshit, boys. I don’t care what the fight was about, it makes no difference to me.” China steps up between us, places a hand under Trellis’ chin and turns his face up to meet hers. “Trellis, you’re better than this shit.” Bent down beside him, she raised her face to me with a pleading look. “I thought you were too.”
“I thought he was better too, then it all went down. Don’t trust him, Doll. He’ll just disappoint.”
“You are such a piece of shit, Trellis.” I rake my hands through my mussed hair. “I…fuck, there’s nothing I can say that’ll ever make you believe I wasn’t what caused it.”
“Caused it?” Standing back up, the fire I thought that was extinguished burns deeper and harder in his eyes.
This isn’t over yet.
“I never said you caused it. What happened was worse; you didn’t stop it. That was unforgivable.”
I’m taken aback by that. He thinks it’s my fault that it happened, and that I could have stopped it? I swear, if he takes another shot, I’m knocking the fucknuckle out.
“I didn’t cause it, and I sure as fuck didn’t have a chance to stop it. Now, back off before I put you down for good.” Looking over at China, I see she’s confused about our whole bust up. I can’t explain it all, and I wish I could, but it’s unfair to tell her. Trellis and I fucking swore we wouldn’t tell it, ever.
Taking another swing at me, I wind up hard, pounding a stiff left to his jaw. As Trellis collapses to the ground, passed out, I know there’s nothing I can do to fix this.
I wipe my mouth on my shoulder. “Fuck. Sorry, Princess.” Straightening out my twisted shirt, I stick my hand out to help Trellis up, while she looks at me as if I’m made of molten lava.
She smacks my hand away. “I’ve got him, Officer.”
“China, I’m sorry.” Touching the side of his face gently, China waits for Trellis to come to.
Spitting a mouthful of blood to the stones, I doubt it’s a first for the grounds around this track. But I bet it’s one of the first times it’s because of a fight that involved someone other than a Crown.
“Mason, I’m still not happy you’re here.” Licking blood away from the edges of his mouth, Doll turns his face side to side, inspecting it. Smiling that knowing fucking grin, he rises off the ground. Kissing her on the head, he says, “I’m fine, Doll. Don’t fucking worry about me, love.”
Giving him a hug around the middle, I wince as a sharp pain lances through me. It’s my heart fluttering to the floor as the prick gets the attention I’m hoping for. Picking up my wounded pride, I turn to walk toward the house, beating a path between the shocked attendees. “I’ll leave you to it then.”
Hugging Doll tight, Trellis spits out again, “Yeah, that’s a good choice, Mason. Off you run.”
I stop in my tracks. Anchor really makes me want to plug him just one more time, but I hold off. Keeping my composure, I continue my way toward the house with my tongue in knots. I’m holding in the biting words I wish to spew. If I’d thought something was going to happen with her and I, right now is the perfect example of how it could never be. Someone like Trellis will always see me for what I was, not what I am. Those of the circle she walks with, they’ll always see the past too.
“Fuck.” Muttering as usual, I strip off the damaged shirt and wipe the blood from my face. I’m not a fucking love sick pussy, and I know when I’m just a fuck of convenience.
Only one more week, then I’m gone. I can make it here, even with the distraction of her so close.