CHAPTER FIFTEEN
——
ERIKA
WAKING UP IN our sex-scented and well-used sheets, I’m disappointed to see Dominic is gone. Rolling over, I lift my cell phone from the nightstand and read the text message he left me.
Didn’t want to leave your sexy ass this morning but had to take care of business. Be home late.
Bummed I won’t see him until tonight, I pad to the bathroom and draw a bath. After breakfast, I empty my duffle and toss it over my shoulder with the intention of refilling it with more of my things from home, my old home. That’s going to take some getting used to.
Worry grinds in the back of my skull. I can only imagine what it was like for Amberlee and Dori when Bronx woke up from his fight with Dominic. If he’s still there, I won’t be going in, but maybe Amberlee can get away and spend some time with me since it’s the weekend.
Locking the back door, I traipse to the Camaro. My footsteps slow when I see two officers stepping out of a police vehicle in Dominic’s driveway. They spy me and I freeze.
“Miss Daniels.”
Shit. I know this routine. Been down this road before with my father.
They approach, kind smiles, pristine uniforms. I have nothing against them but seeing them is never a good thing.
“Miss Daniels, is Mr. Xavier home?” The taller one with a handsome bearded face asks.
“No, he’s not.”
“Do you know where he is?” With darker features and a hardened expression, his partner comes off less congenial and more all-business.
“I honestly don’t know. He was gone before I woke up and he left me a message that I’d see him later.”
Vague is best. Never too many details.
“That’s fine, ma’am. We’d actually like to speak with you today. Would you mind answering some questions for us?”
“Am I being arrested or detained?”
“No ma’am,” the taller officer responds.
“Go ahead then.”
Leaning against the Camaro, I watch them take out their notebooks and pens. Next, I’m given my rights and right to refuse to answer any questions. All things I’ve heard before.
“Do you know what you were doing on the night of July thirteenth?”
“That was over a couple weeks ago.”
I was here with Dominic. It was the night…oh my God, it was the night he went out for Christian. The conversation I eavesdropped on.
“Yes, ma’am, it was. Do you remember what you did that evening?”
“I was here.”
“Do you remember where Mr. Xavier was that night?”
“Yes, here with me.”
“Did he leave that evening for any reason?”
Keeping my attention on them, I stand confident. “No, he was with me all night. We had sex a lot that night, so I remember it well.”
Cheeks blushing, the taller one scribbles in his notepad.
“Did anyone come to visit that night?” the shorter officer asks, brown eyes studying me closely.
Behind us, the engines of Harleys rumble down the road. Attention shifting, the officers briskly walk to their vehicle, and I follow. Four Harleys and their Serpent riders block the officers’ vehicle from exiting. Expression cold and deadly, Christian steps off his bike.
“Erika, get on.”
Glancing at me quickly, his expression brooks no argument. Moving with sure steps, I head to his bike. His gaze remains fixed on the officers.
“We’re not done here,” the shorter officer tells Christian.
“Unless you’re taking her in on a charge, you’re done.”
Climbing onto Christian’s bike, I watch the officers back down from the challenge. Christian climbs on his ride and leads the crew off down the road. This feels bad, real bad, especially with Dominic missing.
Pulling into the clubhouse, Christian cuts the engine and I hop off quickly. Snagging my wrist, he gets my attention.
“What’d you tell ‘em?”
“Not a damn thing. It’s not my first rodeo with the police, Christian. I assume you know who my father is.”
Christian clicks his tongue as he nods. “Yeah, I know. So what’d they ask you?”
“Where I was on July thirteenth and where Dominic was. I told them he was with me, fucking me all night.”
A smirk lifts the corner of his mouth. “Good girl. What else?”
“They asked if anyone came to visit that night?”
“And,” Christian’s gaze narrows.
“And you arrived, saving me from having to lie and tell them no one came to visit.”
Christian gives a nod of approval as he climbs off his bike.
“You did good.”
Looking around for Dominic’s bike, I don’t see it.
“Where’s Dominic?”
“He’s being detained at the station. They took him in this morning. Don’t worry though, he’ll be out by tonight.”
He must have read my expression.
“What do they have on him?” I ask, panicked.
“A couple witnesses, but we’ll take care of them.”
Following Christian’s back, I’m surrounded by Serpents as we enter the clubhouse.
“What are you going to do to them?”
The tall, ginger-haired man next to me snickers and I recognize him right away. “Mercy, right?”
“Yeah and don’t worry your pretty little head. Us Serpents take care of our own. You can hang with us today until Dominic is out. He asked us to pick you up as soon as he got rolled on.”
“He knew they’d come to his house looking for me?”
The men disperse in the clubhouse, leaving me alone with Mercy.
“Yeah, the police are predictable. You’re a fresh target. They don’t know how loyal you are to Dominic yet. They were hoping you could help them incriminate him.”
“There’s no way in hell I’d let that happen.”
Mercy’s thumb and forefinger swipe over his scruff as he licks his lips. “That’s what Dominic said too.” With a tilt of his head, he motions toward me. “Where’s your jacket?”
“In my bag.”
“Put it on while you’re here. I don’t want any of these dumb fucks getting the wrong idea about you being here. One Daniels sister is enough.”
Pulling my jacket from the duffle, I look at him confused. “What do you mean one Daniels sister is enough?”
Mercy blows out a puff of air. “Your sister showed up here last night wanting to work herself back into our good graces.”
“And?”
“You’re a sweet thing, aren’t you?” he chuckles, clearly humored by something. “Your sister whored herself out.”
Vomit rises in my throat and I slap my hand over my mouth. Mercy puts a hand on my shoulder, stabilizing me.
“Ah, fuck, you look like you’re gonna be sick. Phil, bring me a bottle of water,” he shouts at another Serpent.
“She still here?”
“Yeah, she’s somewhere around here, probably with Christian. He took her up on her offer to satisfy him.”
“Stop fucking talking.”
Mercy laughs, his hand gripping my shoulder, keeping me from lunging forward and spilling my breakfast.
Phil joins us, handing the water bottle to Mercy. He slaps it into my open palm.
“There she is now.”
Walking out from the hallway that leads to Christian’s office, is Amberlee and Christian, his arm is draped around her shoulder. Purple marks of exhaustion are under her eyes, yet she seems full of energy, spritely even.
Christian slaps her ass in the little shorts she’s wearing and her braless chest bounces in her flimsy camisole. “That was fun last night, Red. We’ll have to do it again. Now be sure to give my boys some attention too.”
Phil eyes Amberlee’s ass and makes his way toward her as she watches Christian walk back down the hall.
“Hell no.” Intent on ending this shit show, I storm toward Phil and Amberlee. Mercy grips my jacket and yanks me back to him, whispering in my ear.
“Listen, sweet thing. Not every Serpent has a pretty woman like you to satisfy them, so that’s where your sister comes in. She’s keeping the men happy and she gets what she wants in return. Don’t get in the way. I told Dominic I’d keep an eye on you, and that’s what I intend to do, so don’t start a fight I have to end.”
Brushing him off my sleeve, I glare at him. “I’m guessing Dominic told you I’m a smart mouth who doesn’t listen to anyone and if he didn’t, he should of.”
I’m out of his reach before he can grab me again.
“Amberlee!”
Whipping around at the sound of my voice, her expression is horrified.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“Goddammit, Erika, what are you doing here?”
Phil, a shorter guy with a round belly wraps an arm around Amberlee’s waist.
“This your sister?”
“Yeah,” Amberlee replies, unfazed by his groping.
Mercy is at my back, breathing down on me like a freaking lion that’s just caught its kill. I need to tread lightly. I know I’m in over my head.
I look to Phil and put on the charm. “Thank you for the water. I appreciate it. Is it ok with you if I talk to Alee for a few minutes before you two hang out?”
Mercy’s heavy breathing backs off and Phil nods carelessly. “Sure, I’ll grab a beer.”
Taking Amberlee’s arm gently, I pull her away from the bar and restaurant part of the club and into the women’s bathroom.
As soon as the heavy gray door closes behind us, I lunge.
“What the hell is going on? Why did you come here last night after I told you to check into a hotel and what the fuck are you high on?”
“Face it, I don’t have the protection you do. Being Dominic’s girl, you’re untouchable. I have no rank in this club, but I still need their protection, so I’m making sure Christian gives it to me.”
“I don’t trust Christian. What’s to stop him from using you for sex, promising you protection, then not giving it to you when it’s needed?”
“That’s why I need to make sure I satisfy him and any of the other Serpents.”
Staring into her bloodshot eyes, I feel a mixture of sympathy, anger, revulsion, and disappointment.
“So that’s why you got high? So you can make it through fucking multiple men?”
“Well, you’re killin’ my buzz now. So…”
“So, what, you’ll need to take more E or more cocaine? When does it end? When does the meaningless sex and drugs end?”
“I don’t know!” she screams. “Ditch is threatening to kill me. I’m doing what I know to survive.”
“Christian is taking advantage of you. He could give you the protection without you having to sleep with the Serpents. You already gave him the house and I know you’re dealing drugs for him. You’re never without them, but with Ditch being kicked out of the Serpents that caused problems with your clients. Whoever you dealt with before probably doesn’t trust you now that Ditch is out. So now you’re of no use to Christian except to be his plaything. Am I getting any of this right?”
Shock is written over her fragile face. Slow to catch everything I’ve said, she takes a moment to absorb it all. I know she has when her expression changes, her eyes glistening with tears.
“I’m in so deep, Erika. I don’t know how to get out.”
Pulling her into my arms, I rub her hair and back. She’s lost weight. She feels so small against my chest.
“I’m going to help you. You’re done giving yourself to the Serpents. You’ve given enough.”
Pulling back from me, she wipes the stray tears from her cheeks. “What are you going to do?”
“Talk to Christian.”
“Erika, wait.” Grabbing my arm, she stops me from leaving. “Christian is conniving. His only concern is the Serpents. If you don’t have anything to offer him, you’re of no use to him.”