Leather for Two: Wings of Steel MC (18 page)

And neither did I.

I looked over my shoulder, seeing Blaze standing in the shadows by the doorway of the kitchen. Seeing him brought hope, but I couldn’t let him give the money away. “No, Blaze. They don’t deserve it.”

“You okay?” he asked, concern making his expression dark.

“I’m fine.”

“I knew something was wrong when I saw your note. I left the shop immediately. Thank God.” His harsh expression told of his inner turmoil. He moved closer, next to me.

“That’s far enough, Blaze,” Dog barked, aiming the gun at Blaze. “You really are a stupid man. No bitch is worth losing your life over.”

“You say that because your bitch isn’t worth the sweat off my brow.” Blaze sniffed.

Daisy stepped across the room toward Blaze. Her hand lifted with her palm open as she moved in. I grabbed her wrist tight. My patience was gone. “You lay one hand on him and you’ll meet a side of me that your mom didn’t even warn you about.”

“You fucking, bitch. How dare you threaten me.” Her mouth twisted as she bared her teeth.

“We don’t have time for a cat fight. Blaze already said he’ll tell us where the money is.” Dog held the gun steady.

“On one condition,” Blaze added.

“Friend, you’re not in a spot to be dishing out conditions,” Dog laughed.

“And neither are you, if you want the money.” Blaze was calm and collected, while every bone in my body shook.

Dog’s jaw tightened. “Name it.”

“Let Rena go,” Blaze said.

“That can’t happen.” Dog rubbed his bald head with his free hand.

“Then showing you green won’t happen.” Blaze’s jaw lifted in a challenging tilt. He looked dangerous and rough.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I interjected, meeting Blaze’s narrowed gaze.

“Yes, you will,” he whispered.

“No. I won’t leave you.” I remained steadfast.

“Fuck this lovebird shit. Neither of you are leaving this happy foursome, not yet anyway,” Dog growled.

He reached for me, pulling me hard against his side. His fingers gripped my flesh painfully. I cried out and Blaze dashed forward until Dog placed the gun against my temple. Blaze stopped, his jaw turned steely and his eyes were cold. “Let her go.” His words were low and threatening.

Dog pressed the cold nozzle harder. I closed my eyes, expecting this to be the end, but it didn’t come. I opened my eyes, but I couldn’t get my lungs to work.

“I bet you’d do anything to keep her safe, right Blaze? So, tell me where the money is and I’ll think about letting her live.” Dog’s sweat dropped on my arm. I didn’t move a muscle. His breath was warm against my cheek, smelling heavily of whiskey.

“Under the floorboards in my office. Move the desk and you’ll see where the board is loose,” Blaze said without hesitation.

I whimpered.

“Daisy, go out and get the rope,” Dog commanded. He pulled the gun away and held it to my back. I was able to breathe better. Daisy did as he requested. “You better hope I find it. If I don’t I’m coming back and killing you both, but Bambi’s death will be slow and torturous while you watch,” he snarled.

Blaze had his harsh gaze targeted on Dog and he looked like a bull ready to charge. I knew he wouldn’t take any risks though. Dog would shoot one of us before we could blink.

“You know you won’t get away with this,” Blaze growled.

“I’m already three quarters of the way there, buddy.” I could feel the shaking increasing in Dog’s hand. More sweat trickled onto my arm.

“Remove your hands from her now. You got what you wanted.” Blaze folded his hands into tight fists.

“And have you do something completely stupid? Not going to happen.”

The door opened and Daisy returned with a long rope swung over her shoulder.

“Take the gun so I can tie them up. Don’t take it off her, you hear?” Dog handed Daisy the weapon and took the cord. “Get on the floor.” Dog demanded of Blaze who didn’t move at first. “I’m losing my tolerance. Get on the floor or your girlfriend will pay the price.”

Blaze’s jaw tightened and I swore I could hear his teeth breaking as he lowered to the floor. “There, now see how easy this can be when you’re cooperative. Now you.” Dog waved me over and pointed to the space beside Blaze.

Daisy gave me a hard push, sending me to the floor. I landed on my knees and slid into Blaze’s shoulder. A pain shot through my head.

“Back to back.” Dog had the gun again, pointing and waving it carelessly.

I quickly moved, pressing my back against Blaze’s. Dog bent close, twining the rope around us.

“Why, Dog? Killing one of your brothers worth that much money?” Blaze asked.

Dog chuckled and the hair on my neck lifted. “Brothers? Pfft. You want to turn the club into a bunch of pansy ass bitches who raise money for the homeless and bake cookies for the elderly. That’s not our style, bro. Diesel didn’t have the balls to take care of you long ago. You were a threat from the beginning with your modern beliefs of walking the straight line. If he’d stuck you in the grave, hell, he might be alive today. But his loss is my gain.” Finished with tying them up, Dog stood, his knees cracked. “Daisy, you stay here with them while I go and get the money.”

Her gaze turned to slits. “What? I’m not staying here. We both go,” she murmured.

Dog shook his head and rubbed his chin. “Don’t work that way, baby. Someone’s gotta stay here with them and make sure they stay in the rope.”

“It won’t be me. We both get the money, remember,” she argued.

“Are you saying you don’t trust me?” Dog frowned dramatically. “That hurts me. About as much as you fucking the gym teacher from that school.”

Daisy grimaced. “I’ll go find the money and come back and get you,” she offered.

Dog chuckled and he shrugged a broad shoulder. “You drive a hard bargain, baby.” In the blink of an eye, he turned the gun and shot her in the head. A look of shock spread over her expression as she fell to her knees, then onto her back with her legs wedged underneath her.

A scream sliced through the air and I realized it was me. I stared at Daisy, sprawled on the wood floor, her arms flung out beside her still body. Blood oozed from the gaping wound, quickly covering her face, then puddling underneath her. It flowed like molasses toward my feet. I pulled my knees against my chest, pushing against Blaze as fear and disbelief raged through my veins.  “Blaze,” I yelled.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s all right.” Blaze’s voice calmed me—some. He moved a few feet across the floor, taking me with him. “Turn your head and close your eyes.”

I did what he asked, squeezing my eyes shut. I could feel sticky wetness soaking into my socks. I whimpered and bit my bottom lip. I wanted to scream, but I knew Dog would shoot us faster.

“You bastard,” Blaze’s deep voice vibrated my back. “Why the fuck did you do that?”

I didn’t look. I remained still, fearing for Blaze’s and my safety. Dog was delusional and psychotic. I knew he’d do anything. He planned to shoot us.

“Any last words you two want to say to each other?” His bitter laugh made my stomach roll. “Sayonara, suckers.”

I heard a crashing sound, then a loud crack. I opened my eyes as Dog fell face first into the floor, a red patch on the back of his head.

Agent Peterson rushed into the room, his gun still drawn. “Good thing I’m a good shot,” Peterson joked. “I got your message that you needed to speak with me and I stopped at the bike shop. They told me you flew out, saying something about Rena being in trouble. I followed my instinct.”

“Could you have been any slower in helping us?” Blaze blew out a long breath. “Can you get us out of here?” Blaze demanded.

Peterson nodded. “I’ll get a knife…”

“Have one in my boot. It’ll do the job.”

I listened to rustling and felt the rope loosen until it dropped to my waist. Blaze pulled out of the rope first, dragging me into his arms. “You alright, baby?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes, I’m okay. Unbelievably okay now.” I leaned into his arms and there I found all of the safety I could ever need.

“You two will have to come with me. I have some questions I need to ask you both,” Peterson said.

“What’s more to say, Peterson? You have Diesel’s killers, dead. They found out I had them on surveillance tape. What they thought was a private conversation at the compound turned into a confession. They killed Diesel. They were going to kill Rena and me to get rid of any possible witnesses. You’ll find the tape, with the confession, on my desk at the bike shop.” Blaze still held me close.

I absorbed the information, but didn’t say a word.

Peterson shrugged. “I hear you. But I still have to ask Miss Rose some questions.”

“Tonight? Hasn’t she been through enough?” Blaze wasn’t easing off.

“Fine. I’ll catch up with you two tomorrow, you hear?” Peterson shook his head and took out his cell, calling someone and dishing out a number of commands.

I practically ripped off my blood-soiled socks, tossing them to the side. “Can we get out of here now?”

Peterson nodded and mouthed, “Tomorrow.”

”You didn’t tell Peterson about the money?” I asked once we were in my car and headed toward the shop.

“No, and we won’t. It’s Tia’s money.”

“Do you think he suspects we have it?”

Blaze shrugged. “There’s no paper trail. He can suspect all he wants.” He looked at me. “Now don’t cry. Remember how I am about tears. I’ll have to lick them. One by one. As desirable and tempting as that sounds, we can’t do anything until we take a shower and wash this evening from our bodies.”

“You saved my life, Blaze. I knew you would.”

“I think we owe Peterson,” he said.

“Sure, but if you hadn’t shown up, I’d be dead now. I know I would be.” My throat hurt.

“If anything would have happened to you…” His voice hitched.

“It didn’t. And that’s what matters.” I lifted his hand and kissed the back of his knuckles.

“We have a lot to talk about. I think you should take the job in Italy. I don’t want you to miss out on anything.”

My heart slammed into my stomach. What was he saying? He wanted me to leave.

I turned my cheek and stared through the window at the lights twinkling in the dark night. “I was thinking the same thing myself.” A single tear fell to my cheek and I swiped it away.

EPILOGUE

Two months later…

I relaxed into the wicker chair on the patio and stared into the rain as it pelted the small town of Poppi. I could see the landscape for miles from my position in the quaint villa I rented when I got to Italy. 

I placed my book on the small glass table next to the chair. I liked my job at the private school, and Poppi too, but I missed home, especially Blaze.

I laid my head back and my mind wandered to him. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen him in eight weeks. Eight long, hellish weeks. Loneliness had set in. I wanted his arms wrapped around me.

I understood that he had a business, a life back home. We had decided to try a long distance relationship, but I was failing, miserably.

My cell chimed and I reached for it. A text message.

I hurried and pushed the view button.

“Rena. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to answer your call earlier. I’m swamped here at the shop. Miss you. Blaze.”

Tears filled my eyes and I sniffed them back. I hovered my fingers over the keyboard, planning a perky message, pretending I was doing fine.

Movement through the rain caught my attention. I could see someone walking along the grassy knoll. Who would be taking a stroll in this weather?

The silhouette got closer and his walk looked familiar.

I held my breath. It couldn’t be possible. Could it?

I jumped up from the chair, going to the edge of the flowerbed, staring through the rain.

Blaze.

I dashed down the pebbled walkway, running across the wet grass. He held out his arms and I jumped into them, wrapping my legs tight around his hips. I kissed every part of his face—his eyelids, his forehead, his cheeks, his chin and lips. It had felt like forever since I’d seen him.

“Hi, baby,” he said happily.

I unwrapped myself from his body and pulled back an inch. His hair was a little shorter. His goatee was gone, and so was the leather cut, exchanged for a nice button down and a pair of dark jeans. He looked like a tourist. He was heaven to my eyes. I never wanted to be apart from him again.

“You’re here,” I whispered.

“Did you doubt me?” He threaded his fingers through my hair.

“You did text me seconds ago and pretended you were at home, busy with work. That’s a terrible joke.” I playfully pinched him on the arm. “And what are you doing here? What about the shop?”

“Forgive me for the text? I had to try out my international texting plan.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “And I wanted to come sooner, but the sale of the shop got caught up in paperwork. But I’m free now.”