Discovering Me (Breakneck #4) (6 page)

We notice three cars following us as we leave and you can tell my brother is losing his patience. He shakes his head back and forth as we ride along the highway. When Pyro and Smokey turn off to get Berry, one car veers off and trails behind them. The other two vehicles tail us all the way, until we pull in front of Sated.

Piper is walking a redhead out of the building when I turn my lady off. Prez, Rap, and I are all thinking the same thing as Piper hugs the woman. Her being friendly with whoever that is cost that redhead her freedom. If these cartel assholes think Piper is friends with this girl, they will go after her.

When I nod my head no, Piper tells the redhead to hold on a second.

“Club problems. Get your new friend, and let’s go.”

The redhead looks taken aback by my behavior and she should. I am the strange man who ordered them to follow us.

“My name is Jinx, and I’m sorry, but I won’t be coming along.”

Trying to apologize doesn’t cover the sassy from showing.

Piper pulls her aside and gestures with her hands. I can’t imagine what the fuck Piper is saying to her, but whatever she has said caused the redhead to stumble a little backward.

Whatever was said works because she follows Piper as she walks towards me.

“You’ve got some explainin’ to do to this lady,” she points, “when we get there.” She walks towards Tea’s car. I hope to fuck she is taking care of it because Piper tends to be a little messy.

“Frank, Piper won’t be coming back tonight. Make sure, if you need anything here, to call me and only me. Leave Piper and Winter alone. Shit goin’ down, and if you want to prove yourself, here’s your chance,” he threatens.

Thank fuck the redhead is out of hearing range because if she weren’t, she’d be running for her life, scared shitless if she isn’t already.

***

Chapter Seven

Piper

Beside me, Jinx shifts with nervous movements as I drive back to the compound. Me and my overfriendly ways cost her her freedom for a while. I am such a fuck up sometimes. The club has been quiet about business dealings, so I have no idea what the hell is going on, but if he made me drag a stranger back home, it has to be awful.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I wait for the large Breakneck gate to open. “I have no idea what is going on, but I feel like it has to do with those two cars following behind the guys on our way here. They don’t ask for anything that isn’t necessary.”

She leans her head against the window. “I won’t pretend not to be pissed, because I am, and where I am at now in my head… I wish I wouldn’t have applied for the job.”

If she thinks her saying so would make me angry with her, she is wrong. I wish she didn’t apply as well. She wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t.

“You deserve to feel the way you do. Honest to god, I don’t know what the hell is goin’ on, but Braxxon will let us know, especially since I have you with me. He won’t keep you in the dark.”

She turns her head away from the glass to look at me. “Who is Braxxon?”

“He is the club president. Also, my friend’s husband. A town badass.”

Jinx huffs and turns back to the window. “This is bullshit.”

Whoa. First curse word I have heard come from her mouth. “It is. Again, I am sorry. We’ll listen to what they have to say, and if you’re stuck with me for a bit, we will get fuckin’ wasted tonight,” I offer. She did say she likes to unwind after working. I think this is a worthy occasion.

“I hope to hell you have something strong then.”

Well, well. The sweet is gone. Damn. I liked that about her.

I change the subject from drinking to something we will have to know if she is stuck on the compound. “If you are stuck at the MC, is there anyone who you have to call?”

A laugh sputters from her mouth. “Yeah, right. It is me and me alone. My father died a few years ago, and who the hell knows where my mother is.”

Shit. “I’m sorry.” I hope she understands that.

“It was a while ago.”

Okay, then.

The gate opens and I pull in. When I park, I take a deep breath and prepare her.

“The guys look rough, and they are. Their looks don’t deceive you. Almost all of them are fine as hell, too. So if you are stuck here, at least you’re stuck lookin’ at sexy the entire time.”

The upside of lockdown and it’s the only enjoyable part about it all.

“I’m sure my husband will love that,” she says, and it throws me off.

“You said—”

“Gotcha!”

Damn her.

“When I am nervous, I joke. I shouldn’t, but it is a habit. It helps my moods.”

Maybe she is sweet and has a small, sassy side. I sure hope so. There are enough smartass bitches around us.

“You’ll definitely throw the girls off with that behavior. You gave me fuckin’ whiplash, chick.” I laugh and grab the handle. “You ready?”

She straps her purse to her side. “I have no choice, right?”

I give her a sad smile and shake my head no.

“Well then…”

I take that as my cue to open the door, and she does the same with hers. Once we are out and the doors of Tea’s car shut, I click the alarm, and we head towards the clubhouse.

“That large, tall building is the live-in. Basically, the slut free zone. The family area and that small building over there is the office, and you can tell what all the other small buildings are.”

Jinx looks around. “You can’t tell how big this place is from the outside. It is huge once you are inside the gate.”

She thinks it is big now, but she won’t be thinking that if she is stuck here with us. The guys throttle into the compound and linger behind in the parking lot as we walk inside.

“Whoa, cigarette and weed-filtered air.”

“Sorry.”

She will probably get tired of hearing that come from me, but I can’t help it.

“No biggie. I’m not a smoker so it is heavier on my senses.”

When we round the corner, I gesture for her to sit on a barstool. She does and she lays her bag on the bar counter. I want to scream, “Get your name brand purse off of there. You don’t know what disease infested shit will crawl up onto your bag,” but I can’t because the chick will be scarred for life.

“A stage and a stripper pole?”

I grab two shot glasses and some cheap whiskey and crack a real smile. “Don’t knock it. When you’re trashed, you won't believe what you can do with that there pole.” I point at her as I uncap the bottle, pour us some shots, and slide one towards her.

“Bottoms up,” she says and gulps down the shot. She didn’t ‘cheers’ me, and I can’t say I blame her.

The door to the compound opens, and Pyro’s voice echoes to the bar area. “Yeah, brother. She packed her bags, and she’s at the live-in. No, Berry was very pissed. She screamed that she was too old for this shit. Next time, you can give the low down to your mother. I ain’t ever listenin’ to her scream like that again.” He rounds the corner. “Look, I gotta go,” he says to who I think is ZZ. “We got a straggler,” he smarts off as he eyes Jinx.

“Asshole,” she murmurs low for me to hear.

When Pyro hangs up the phone, he can’t help himself. “Piper, what did we tell you about bringin’ strays home. Just because they’re hot, doesn’t mean bring them home. You’ll never learn,” he jokes.

“First off, asshole with no manners, my name is Jinx, and I’m not a straggler or a stupid stray,” she yells and I pour another shot for her. “I happen to be here against my will.”

Pyro turns his attention to me. “Truth?”

“Yeah,” I answer. “I gave her a friendly hug, and the men went red, and here we are.” I move my hand around in the air. “No idea why. Still waitin’ on answers. Guys still outside?”

Pyro doesn’t answer me. His attention goes right back to Jinx. “Well, aren’t you unlucky,” he teases as he takes a seat next to her.

What. In. The. Fuck?

The guys coming in interrupt my thoughts, and the older brothers come out of the church room.

Braxx walks towards me and leans on the bar. “Scared yet?”

Could he be any more of an asshole?

“No, but maybe you should get yourself a breath mint.”

Wow!

“I like her,” Sniper jokes from the couch. I didn’t even see him sit down. My Sniper blinders are disappearing again. Hell yes!

“Little lady, I believe you’re probably right. Smoked a fat joint outside before coming in here.” Braxxon moves closer to her. “Are my eyes tweaked, too?”

She leans backward. “No offense, but I don’t care.”

Pyro scrubs his face to hide his smile. Interesting.

“All right, enough fuckin’ round. Move to the chairs and couches. I’ll tell you guys what the fuck is happenin’, and then I got to explain this shit storm to my wife,” he orders us.

We walk over to the sofas, and Jinx sits next to Sniper and me.

“Club is on lockdown, and other charters are coming in. It will get crowded as hell, but with the live-in, we’ll make it work. Parties are to be kept at a minimum with no outsiders allowed in. Ol’ ladies, girlfriends, current muffler bunnies, and that’s it. Understood?” Braxxon orders and explains to us.

Sniper lights up a joint, and Jinx flinches. I sigh loudly.

“And what’s your name, sweetheart,” Braxx questions Jinx.

She folds her hands in her lap. “Jinx Kay. I was applying for a job at Club Sated, and now I’m here. I have no family and no one that will be looking for me. No worries.”

She is a quick learner.

“Obviously, while you’re stuck here and we take care of the situation, we will cover your expenses. Get them to that fat guy over at the computer. His name is Max. And that includes your bills for your home or a car.”

Jinx says nothing.

“Piper hugged you in front of some enemies,” Braxxon says. “Here is how serious that is for you. If they remember what you look like, and see you out around town, they will kidnap you, rape you, drug you, or kill you. Or all of the above. She was too friendly, yeah?”

I’ll never repeat that mistake again.

“I get it. I like breathing. I think I’ll stay awhile,” she smarts off.

“Great. Piper, you both need to help Berry with the cookin’. I’m sendin’ the prospects to buy a deep freezer and two more fridges. With all the help comin’, we won’t have enough room in the spaces we got.”

I throw my hand up in a salute motion. If they want me to poison them with my horrid cooking, that’s on them.

“Pyro, with the prospects out shoppin’, I need you to get one of the air mattresses and shove it in Piper’s room for Jinx. Oh, and call Akela and tell her to get her ass back here. She is close to the MC now, and I am done takin’ chances.”

Pyro jumps up to accept his orders. “C’mon, little lady. I’ll show you to your dungeon.”

Seriously? What in the hell. Where did this happiness sprout from?

Jinx timidly gets up and trails behind him.

“Don’t say a fuckin’ word, Pipe. Maybe he’s startin’ to live again. Don’t look in disbelief. We may be assholes, but we aren’t all the time. He’s just being nice. Shut your mouth,” he growls. “Flies are gonna get in.”

I turn and slap him hard on the arm. “Shut the fuck up. It’s weird is all.”

Pyro’s been catatonic for what seems a lifetime.

“How’re you doin’ with…”

I curse under my breath before giving him an answer. “You’ll be happy to know you’ll be pickin’ my trashed ass up and carryin’ me to bed tonight.”

Sniper hands me the joint, and I take a long pull.

“I figured, babe. I won’t apologize for wantin’ ya safe, though.”

I exhale. “You don’t gotta.”

When I hand him back the joint, I lean against his arm and rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m wishin’ I would have gone with Storm or Tea. You know how I feel about bein’ confined,” I whisper. No one, not even the girls know this hang-up about me. After being in captivity, and then sold off to a sex farm, I am a little fucked in the head.

“I’ll sneak you out, and we’ll go shoot guns when we can,” he says to try and make it up to me.

“We’ll probably have to take Jinx with us. This won’t be easy on her. Strangers and being locked down. I predict some nasty arguments to come from her.”

My mind travels to Winter. She is on bed rest. Her day spa construction has been put to a halt. She has to trust us with Club Sated and rebuild a BDSM club to keep the locals that practice happy. A doctor is not needed to know that she will be stressed the fuck out.

I wish Storm were here to take care of Winter. She is more the supportive type. I don’t do well under stress. I joke around entirely way too much and hide my worry behind closed doors.

“We got shit to take care of, babe, but I’ll check on ya later,” Sniper huffs, irritated he has to leave me while I am in such a rotten mood. “Love ya, darlin’,” he whispers against my forehead after he pecks it.

“You too.”

***

Chapter Eight