Betrayed (Soldiers of Darkness MC Book 2) (13 page)

‘I need to know whose side you’re really on, son.’

I light up a cigarette and draw hard, inhaling the smoke deep into my lungs. ‘You wanna know which daddy I love the most, huh?’

‘Quit being flippant, it don’t suit you.’

I take another drag and look around me. We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere, with nothing to see but this delapidated old clubhouse and miles of desert. And it’s fucking hot today, I can feel the sweat already building on the back of my neck. ‘What d’you want, Kes? ‘Cause I’m a busy man.’

He looks at my hand as I push it through my hair, catching sight of my wedding ring. ‘You married now?’

‘Yeah. And you don’t get to go near her, you got that? My wife, this ain’t her business. And she ain’t yours.’

‘Pretty, is she?’

I ain’t doing this…

‘I never thought I’d see the day one woman was enough for you.’

‘You know shit about me.’ I throw my cigarette onto the dusty ground and stamp on it. ‘You gonna tell me why I’m here or not?’

‘My brother wants me dead.’

‘Yeah, I know all that crap, I don’t need reminding.’

‘And now
I
want
him
dead.’

Jesus fucking Christ!

‘And I need
you
to do that for me, Zeb.’

Is he fucking kidding me?

‘This is bullshit…’

‘This is real. He started this, Zeb, he changed the game. And whether you like it or not you’re stuck in the middle. He wants you to kill me, I want you to kill him. So, I guess it’s time to see where your loyalties really lie.’

Izzi

Six
is packed to the rafters again. Seems this place really is raking in the money for the Soldiers in the same way
Laney’s
does. And I kind of like hanging out here, I like the music and the atmosphere that always seems to verge on something slightly dark. Besides, I’ve just spent the best part of the day hanging out with toddlers and babies while the other old ladies bombarded me with questions about when me and Zeb are going to try for a baby. I don’t even know if we are, going to try, I mean. All I know is after a day of kids and baby talk I’m ready for
Six
.

‘So,
are
you and Zeb gonna be a mommy and daddy any time soon?’

I look at Cora, and now I’m wishing I hadn’t told her about my day at the compound. ‘No.’

She smiles and slips out of her dress, and I watch as she strips naked and applies lotion to her tanned skin. She’s getting ready for another night at
Six
, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with tonight, because she’s one hell of an inventive lady. You could never accuse her of being repetitive when she’s out there doing her thing.

‘You never thought about being a mom?’

I drop my gaze and close my eyes because, yes. I
had
thought about being a mum. When Aiden had been alive. We’d been planning on getting pregnant as soon as possible, a honeymoon baby, that’s what we’d wanted. But Viper ripped that dream from me, and even though he paid for that; even though it’s been a little over two years since Aiden died the memories still come crashing back, at times, to swamp me with a pain that’s still as raw now as it was back then. Have I even given a moment’s thought to having
Zeb’s
baby? No. I haven’t. ‘I don’t think I’m ready for all that just yet, Cora.’ I look back up and she’s in her stage outfit now, a tiny black and silver bikini and killer heels that make her legs look endless. ‘Not sure if I ever will be. I mean, do I really want to bring a child into this world we live in?’

She stops what she’s doing and comes over to me, stroking the hair from my eyes. ‘I think you’d be a great mom. A little twisted, maybe…’

I laugh, and she smiles again and I’m so grateful to have her around. ‘You look great, by the way. That weight training you’re doing at the gym’s really paying off.’

She flexes her biceps and I’m in awe of the delicate muscle she’s beginning to build. Her body’s becoming so toned and taut and I wonder if I should start visiting the gym myself. After all, the Soldiers own it, so I should be taking advantage of that.

‘One of the guys from the club is giving me some personal training,’ she says as she admires her physique in the mirror. ‘Nate. He’s been
very
useful.’

‘Oh yeah?’ I smirk, reaching out to run my fingers over her arm. ‘He been flexing more than his muscles, huh?’

She looks at me and winks. ‘You bet your perfect ass he has. And believe me, darlin’, there’s plenty of cardiovascular exercise you can do that
don’t
involve a visit to the gym.’

Her eyes lock with mine and the connection we still have; that pyhsical connection that was so strong when we worked together, the one we never did take to a personal level even though we came very close, it’s still there. But we both know neither of us is going to act on it now. It’s too dangerous.

‘You seem different, Izzi.’

‘Different?’ I frown, because I’m not sure what she means by that.

She leans back against the countertop and folds her arms, her eyes still locked with mine. ‘That hard edge you had back in North Carolina, it ain’t there no more. You seem calmer.’

I break the stare and drop my gaze again, smiling slightly. ‘I guess I must be settling down, huh?’ I look back up, and she’s smiling too.

‘Good. You deserve to be happy.’

‘I’m really glad you’re here, Cora.’

‘Yeah.’ She reaches out and gently strokes my cheek. ‘I missed you, Izzi.’

The air’s suddenly filled with a heady atmosphere, and for a few, loaded beats neither of us say anything, but our eyes are back locked together, her hand still resting against my cheek. And then the moment passes and she drops her hand, turning to look in the mirror as she fluffs out her curls. ‘I’m playing with Holly tonight.’

‘Holly?’ I pull my knees to my chest and hug them tight against me.

‘New girl. Late twenties, auburn hair, body to die for…’ She looks at me, and I’m shocked at the pang of jealousy that shoots through me at the thought of Cora getting it on with another woman. I know she was still doing all that stuff at
Laney’s
, it’s just that I haven’t seen her, out there, with anyone else. And I’m not sure how I feel about that. Not that I’ve got any right to feel anything. I’m just being irrational now. ‘You gonna stick around and watch, honey?’

‘Yeah. Yeah, of course I am.’

She moves in front of me, pulls my legs down and steps between them, tucking her finger under my chin and once more planting one of her super-light kisses on my slightly parted lips. ‘She ain’t gonna be anywhere near as beautiful to touch as you, Izzi,’ she whispers, and I feel that tingle in my groin start to build again. ‘So, when I suck on her tits and push my fingers inside her, I’m gonna pretend it’s you.’ She steps back and I exhale slowly, because I feel like I haven’t actually taken a breath for a good few seconds. ‘A girl can dream, right?’ She looks at me, and it’s a look that’s full of everything from regret to promises I wish she could keep. ‘If that’s all I’m gonna get to do.’

Zeb

That fucked-up meeting with Kes lasted all of half an hour but I been riding most of the day, just out on my own, trying to get my head around the messed-up situation I’ve been thrown into. I don’t want none of that shit. They’re pushing me into the middle of some family war that’s got fuck all to do with me, yet I’m the one who now has to find a way to deal with it. And right now, I got nothing.

‘Hey, Zeb. Mack’s back.’

I look at Jet as he pushes a glass of bourbon towards me. ‘Where’s he been?’ I down the bourbon and push the glass back for a refill.

‘Dunno. Just said he had something to sort out.’

‘And? Is it sorted?’

He shrugs and hands me my drink. ‘I’m guessing so. He’s organized a meeting for tomorrow, though. Says he needs to see us all. Got something to tell us, apparently.’

‘And he’s telling
you
this shit? Not the fucking brother who’s had to deal with his crap while he’s been away doing Christ knows what?’

‘He said he’s been trying to get hold of you all day but you not been answering your phone.’

Shit!
I’ve had the fucking thing switched off ‘cause I didn’t want no distractions. I pull it out of my pocket and switch it back on, and Jet’s right. There’s a barrage of missed calls from Mack. I down my second whiskey and rake both hands through my hair. Mack can fucking wait ‘til tomorrow. ‘Izzi here?’

Jet jerks his head at the stage where Cora’s about to do her thing, and I see Izzi looking on from the sidelines. And I keep my eyes on her more than I do Cora, watching her reaction as Cora peels what little shit she has on off; watch Izzi’s breathing change as Cora welcomes another girl on to the stage, a new girl who only started working here a few days ago.

I indicate to Jet to get me another drink, and I take my eyes off Izzi for a second and watch as Cora strips her companion naked and pushes her into a chair, spreading her legs and crouching down to lick her pussy, and the brothers in here, man, they love this shit. And as I glance back over at Izzi, yeah. She likes this shit, too. I mean, this is what she used to do. She used to be up there, with Cora, back when they both worked at
Laney’s
. They used to fuck each other and play with each other and let everyone watch, and I never saw none of that. By the time I got there Mack had pulled Izzi outta any girl-on-girl action. But I’m looking at her now, and I know she misses that. Would I let her back up there? No, she ain’t giving no-one a free show. Those days are gone. She can watch, I’m fine with that. But she ain’t playing in public no more.

I down my drink and head over to my wife, coming up behind her and kissing her neck as my hand slides down over her thigh.

‘That better be you, Zebrowski.’

‘You expecting anyone else?’ I murmur into her neck, breathing in her perfume.

She leans back against me as her fingers intertwine with mine, and I feel all the crap I’ve had to endure today fade away. For now, anyway, but I ain’t gonna let it ruin my night.

‘You miss that?’ I ask her as she reaches back to touch my cheek. ‘Dancing. Making out with another woman while all those horny biker bastards watch?’

She turns her head to look at me, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. ‘And if I was? Missing it, I mean.’

I turn her around and pull her against me, kissing her quickly. Man, she tastes of beer and bourbon and I just wanna take her home and get rid of all this fucking frustration Sam and Kes have laid on me. I don’t wanna be feeling that shit. What I wanna be feeling is her, riding me hard and fucking me fast. ‘What d’you miss most, though, huh? The dancing? Or the making out with another woman?’

She pushes herself against me and my cock reacts, come on! What the hell else was it gonna do? ‘Definitely the making out with another woman,’ she breathes, and I crush her body harder against mine, kissing her long and deep, her fingers threading into my hair as I push her back against the wall.

‘So why don’t you and Cora get it together, huh?’

She looks at me with an element of surprise, but I can already feel the excitement rising up in her. Her tits are heaving and her breathing’s all heavy and uneven. ‘And you’re OK with that, are you?’