A Rebel Love (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 7) (13 page)

Tread

I should have left to meet Liberty ten minutes ago. My head is fucked. I don’t know if I can see her. When she left me, it nearly killed me. I swore I’d never love again and I haven’t. I don’t know what to do with the fact that she is here now and needs me.  We meant a lot to each other once upon a time. I know I owe it to her, and myself, to see this meeting through. 

Christa comes down the hall looking embarrassed. “I’m just gonna use the bathroom and go. I think I understand what I need to do now.”

“I’ll follow you out. I got some place to be.”

I get halfway down the hall, about to tell Truth I’ll be back later, when I hear Amy moaning his name and Truth whispering ‘
I love yous
.’ I smile. I’m glad I don’t have to step in, seems they got their shit together on their own. I turn back around as Christa comes out of the bathroom looking so sweet.

She blushes hearing the obvious love making going down in the other room. “Nothing to get embarrassed about. Watching Truth and Amy is fucking hot.” I crack the door open. I shouldn’t be intruding on their moment, but watching Christa squirm is too tempting. And it gives me more time to avoid seeing Liberty.

She tries to back away from the erotic scene playing before our eyes, but I grab her hand, pulling her in front of me.

Tread has Amy on the floor, her head is thrown back as she arches off the floor. His head is between her legs, eating that juicy cunt. My mind flashes to his lips around the head of my dick. I shake my head. Amy’s words are fucking with me. Another image dances before my eyes. My hand is gripping the top of his hair as I nut all over his beard. Christa jerking on my hand brings me out of
whatever
in the fuck
that
was. Is it a fantasy or did it happen?

“I’m gonna do right by you,” he says, finger fucking her into a sated bliss. “I’m gonna make you mine Peaches. Everyone is gonna know,
you belong to me, and only me
.”

I whisper dirty things in Christa’s ear, loving the way she tenses against me.

“Does it make your pussy wet?” I growl in her ear and grab her cunt under her dress, only I’m thinking about Truth’s cock instead.
Goddamn it
.

“I don’t think we should be watching them,” she murmurs in fascination, turning her head, and squeezing her thighs together.

“They wouldn’t mind if we joined them,” I tell her knowing she’ll say no. Christa isn’t into this life and Truth is finally stepping up. My days of fucking Amy are over and a part of me is glad to see the cycle end.  And another part of me wonders what would happen if I walked into the room and fucked them both. Would he come for me? Something tells me he would.

Christa turns stiff. “Maybe not, but I’m not into that. Into all this. I need to go Tread. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll do what I promised. You just hold up your end of the bargain.”

I nod and let her go. Got somewhere I need to be. Christa will never accept my world and I won’t try to force it on her.

Time to go see the one woman who accepts me for
who
and
what
I am.

Chapter 15

Meantime in Miami

Elaine

“I don’t know what to do.  I am scared of my own shadow these days. I just know that the moment I stop looking over my shoulder Samil is going to show up.” I sigh twirling my straw in my cup.

“You’re safe here. Have you thought about where you want to go or what you want to do? You don’t strike me as the
hide forever
kind of woman,” Karly observes. She seems to know me well. I know she has secrets but I don’t pry. She’ll share if and when she is ready.

“I never thought I would leave him, ya know. We met when I was thirteen. I thought we would rule the world together. I thought we were
untouchable
.  How
dumb
is that?” I throw my hands up.

“It isn’t dumb. You were young and wanted the fairytale.
We all do
. Nothing wrong with wishful thinking,” my new friend muses.

I continue to stare at my soda as the bubbles fizz around the edges. “I just—I don’t know. I want more. I wanted more than this for Stacia,” I deflect.

“So give it to her. Don’t let a man hold you back.  Have you ever considered…I don’t know the witness protection program?”

She can’t be serious. Those people usually end up dead. Informants only have one future—death.

“No.” I shake my head. “He’d find me. I’d never make it out of this city alive. I have no choices. I should just pack up Stacia and go back to him. Most of the city police are on his payroll. It’s only a matter of when he’ll show up here and raise seven kinds of hell.”

“I know some people, if you ever change your mind. But no matter what you do Elaine,
don’t go back
. I know all too well what can happen.  My sister…” she pauses with a sad sigh before continuing. “I don’t talk about her as often as I’d like, but her memory brings up painful thoughts.  She was married to a criminal and it cost her, her life. She left once, but dumbly came back for me, and now she’s gone. She was murdered in retaliation. I won’t watch it happen to someone I care about again.”

“I appreciate the sentiment and honesty, I do.”

“But…,” she hedges with a curious brow.

“He’s Stacia’s father and I can’t sell him out. He was a good man, once. I won’t be his downfall.”

“I understand more than I would like to. I’ve done things, horrible things, and let me tell you, you aren’t protecting him. You aren’t doing either of you any favors by staying quiet.”

“I hear what you are saying, I do.” I grin and look around the room at the other women seeking refuge here. I can’t hide here much longer. I can’t live in the shadows, even if I think it is for the better, Karly has a point. By staying quiet, I am only enabling Samil.

“My break is over. I’ll check in on you before I go home.”

“Okay, later.” I watch Karly exit and as she walks out of the cafeteria, sex in a suit comes strutting in, taking a double take at her as she retreats. I laugh silently. Karly is a gorgeous woman, whom I am sure turns many heads. She also happens to be very happily married.

I can’t help but stare at the man as he scans the room looking for someone.  His blue eyes are fevered with determination when his gaze comes to a rest on me. I nearly squawk at the unwelcome attention.

I’ve done well to keep my head down and not make friends other than my chats with Karly. I can’t risk anyone knowing who I am. My name isn’t even Elaine, my real name is Genesis, and I am one of Samil’s many whores. That is the second reason I left him. I found out that he had three other families, outside of the one we made when I gave birth to Amaris. Her name means ‘
given by God
.’ I thought I was special, I thought so many dumb things. And then I found out that Samil wanted to sacrifice our daughter, said doing so would bring him closer to his father—the devil.  Him and his mother Lilith are insane. I feel bad for lying to Karly, but my identity would only put her in danger.

The suit stops at my table and pulls out the chair Karly had occupied. My eyes graze over his tattooed knuckles and up to his menacing snarl. This man has seen a lot of battles.  A devil emblem covers the side of his neck.
Shit
, I just know Samil has sent him for me.

Running wouldn’t deter this man. He has the look of sex and danger. A hired gun no doubt.

“You’re a hard woman to find, Genesis.” He grins proud, as my hands tremble under the table.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about. My name’s Elaine.”

He pulls a file from inside of his jacket and slides it in front of me. “Go ahead, take a peek inside.”

Hesitantly, I flip the manila folder open. Bile creeps up my throat as I see photo after photo of Samil’s victims. I know he is responsible for these deaths.  They are all marked with his trademark, a five pointed star, with a cross through the center and the numbers
666
, are carved into their foreheads.

Detective Jacob ‘Lucky’ Mitchell

I have been tracking Genesis for months and I think I
finally
have a hit on her. There is a woman under the name of Elaine, living at
Hope’s Haven
, a Woman’s Shelter, who meets her description perfectly. I’m running out of time. This
sadistic
bastard Samil, thinks he’s a son of
Satan
, and that if he sacrifices enough of his enemies, he will be reborn as his reincarnate.

I’ve been trying to gain entry into his circle for two years. I head a special gang division.  We implant ourselves where needed inside of notorious gangs, motorcycle clubs, and sometimes, the mob. I’m damn good at my job. I only ever fucked up once when I got too involved with a mark. Her name was Baby. We were a disaster waiting to happen.  I almost ruined my career and her life.

I walk into the cafeteria in search of Genesis when I cross paths with a woman who seems vaguely familiar. I do one more take as she walks past me without a hint of recognition.  I shake my head; I think I try to find Baby’s face in every redhead I meet.  She is my one regret.

I scan the room and my eyes land on the face I have been searching for. The picture I have ingrained to my memory is staring back at me. Her photograph doesn’t do her justice, she is even more beautiful in person, and she also happens to be deadly. I can’t forget that.

I smile, taking the chair across from her. Her black hair veils her face until her brown eyes lift to my piercing blues.  She chews on the inside of her mouth, hinting at a smile. Her doe eyes widen in surprise when my eyes lock on her. That’s right sweetheart, I found you.

This is going to be hard, but then I pull out the file I have on her man, and a few of his recent crimes. The pictures spread out before us only serve to remind me that this woman is dangerous, and the key to cracking the case of a lifetime.

She fingers through the photos appearing unaffected but why should she be. She has helped him with much worse.

“Genesis, I’m Detective Jacob Mitchell. I’m here to offer you a deal. Help me bring down Samil and his followers and I will secure your future, yours and Amaris’s.”

“If I help you, he’ll kill me.”

“He’ll try either way, but you and your daughter stand a better chance of survival under my protection. I expect an answer by tomorrow. If you try to run, how long do you think you’ll last out here with Samil looking for you?” I close the file and give her my card. “If you have any questions, you can reach me at this number.”

“Wait, can you promise me he won’t get near Amaris?”

“I wouldn’t bother if I couldn’t. Look how easily I found you, it won’t be long before Samil comes for you. Both of you,” I warn.

Karly (Baby)

I’ve spent a good portion of my day worrying about Elaine, along with trying to set up something special for the ladies. The salon I frequent to keep my hair dyed auburn, has volunteered their services to give the ladies new haircuts and makeup tips. I also managed to snag a deal with a clothing outreach to set each lady up with a professional outfit for an interview.

I’ve scheduled for a temp agency to send a manager over to interview the ladies, to give them a little push in finding work. The woman setting it up is going to give the ladies pointers for a successful interview.

I want them to see they all possess beauty and talent. It’s getting late and I need to sign Sara out of daycare. Thankfully Nash and little man are handling dinner. I really did get all the luck with Nash. After we rededicated ourselves to making our marriage work, he has been wonderful.

He’s the best father and the most attentive husband. He’s always doing small things to make my day easier. He loves to spoil me.

I couldn’t believe he thought I would be upset about the unveiling for Daytona. I am so proud of him. He has worked so hard to get this far.
We both have
.

I just hope he forgives me for bringing Liberty home with me. I hope she finds the peace she seeks with Tread. I hope she arrived there safely. Nash has a PI keeping tabs on her dick of a husband so we will know if he goes in search of her. I’m not sure what we can do if he does, but Nash will think of something.

I am balancing Sara on my hip while juggling my purse and my ringing cell phone.

“Let me take Sara so you can get that,” Elaine offers with a man on her heels.

I hand my daughter over, highly suspicious of this man. I can figure him out in a minute. My husband is calling.

“Hey honey,” I answer while looking this visitor over.  There is something about his eyes that seems so familiar.

“Do you want Mexican or Italian?” Nash has to repeat his question three times as I get lost in a memory from my former life.

It's the last song of the night, 'You have been loved', is playing. Lucky takes my hand and leads me to the center of the dance floor. "Baby, tonight has been perfect, except for one thing."  He tilts my chin and angles his mouth centimeters from mine. "I love you," he says looking me straight in the eyes before sealing the end of a perfect date with a kiss. And not just any kiss, this is the kiss of all kisses we have ever shared. This is a kiss that doesn't lie, Lucky loves me, but can I confide in him with my heart? The song has ended but we are still in the middle of the floor locked in our kiss, his hands travel down my arms reaching around my back, he lifts me up, breaking our kiss and spins me around.

“Italian,” I reply as recognition sets in.

Elaine is oblivious to the predicament I’m in. She’s tickling Sara and not paying me any mind. I end my call and decide to play dumb. If he knows who I am he isn’t showing it.

“My name’s Karly. I am the social director here. I don’t believe I’ve seen you around.”

“Name’s Jacob.” He holds his tattooed hand out and then I see his Devils Reject emblem peeping out from his collar. It’s Lucky without a doubt. I guess I’m not the only one who can fake their death.

The words, “
It will be as if I never existed
,” echo in my head.

He smiles awkwardly as he continues to hold my hand a bit too long for comfort.

“Have we met before?” He questions a bit guarded.

“Don’t think so,” I tense, taking my hand back.

“Elaine, can we continue our talk tomorrow. I need to get home.” I want to ask her what she is doing with him, but I can’t risk it. I need to go.

“Sure.” She smiles, and places my daughter back in my hold.

I scurry down the hall before he realizes who I am.

Nash was right, we can’t escape our pasts, no matter how hard we try.