Reckless Temptations (The Tempted Series Book 4) (5 page)

“What? No!” I said, jumping to my feet and glancing down at the offensive computer for a second before ushering Blackie out of my room.

“You’re strange,” he said pointedly.

“Yeah and you’re grumpy,” I replied, slapping him on the back. “We’re one hell of a pair. So, tell me, any idea why Prez wants to see me?”

Jack ‘Bulldog’ Parrish, was the president of our club, a fierce leader and one badass motherfucker. Years ago, he lost his son, and the guys at the club, my brothers, say he hasn’t been the same since it happened. Word around the Dog Pound is that our president has a dark side, one that would terrify a serial killer. Blackie and Pipe keep him on a tight leash, stop him from losing control, but one day that man is going to break and God help the poor bastard on the other end of that.

“No fucking idea,” Blackie mumbled, as we walked down the stairs.

“Does that mean you assholes still haven’t voted on giving me my colors?” I asked, as we walked through the common room. Blackie paused, fixing me with a cold stare. Yeah, did I mention he was a badass too? Fucking man was what nightmares were made of.

“You want to rephrase that?”

“Can’t keep the president waiting!” I said, waving him off as I hurried around him and into the Chapel, closing the door behind me and leaning against it. I smiled sheepishly at Jack as Blackie pounded on the door behind me. “Should see about getting a lock on this thing and anger management wouldn’t be a bad idea for the big brute out there,” I suggested.

“I can hear you,” shouted Blackie.

“What’d you do to piss him off?”

“I don’t know…woke up this morning?” I said, kicking off the door and making my way toward the large wooden table that sat in the center of the room. “He’s always on the rag that one,” I added, taking a seat at the table. I turned to the man who beckoned me here and flashed him my signature grin. “So what’s the deal, boss man? Finally, going to patch me in?”

I looked at him expectantly, flipping my baseball cap around as he stared at me. His dark eyes studying me, burning a hole right through me as he chose the words he would deliver.

“I like you Riggs,” he said.

Gee, Prez. I like you too but not liking the warm fuzzy vibes.

“I like you a lot,” he continued.

Okay, weird moment.

“And I feel your loyalty to the club but I’m not sure what makes you tick.”

“I’m a real simple guy, Prez.
I get high off of power and pussy,” I answered.

His lips quirked momentarily. “Every man’s last words,” he said, leaning over the table and folding his hands. “Let me try this again,” he countered. “You show a lot of loyalty and you’re eager to be patched in—I have no doubt you’d wear your colors proud and live and breathe for your brotherhood. But we all got something in us, each member of this club, something else that drives us and that’s heart.”

“I’ve got a heart,” I defended.

“Yeah, you do but what’s your heart beating for? What inside of you is going to keep you level and keep you breathing? What’s the one thing that will prevent you from being reckless? Because at the end of the day whatever makes your heart beat will be the thing that keeps you alive. For me, it’s my daughter, for Blackie, it’s the fear of dying and seeing his wife’s tortured soul. Wolf keeps breathing for his boys and Pipe’s got a young wife he’s too jealous to leave behind. We’ve all got something,” he stated. “What do you have?”

Well, fuck. Talk about crushing a man’s dreams. What did I have? What would keep me from being reckless? My computer? No. I tried to think of something that would keep me from dying, something to live for. Definitely not my family, they probably thought I was dead already. I gave up. What the fuck is with this sentimental bullshit anyway?

“I don’t expect you to answer,” he added. “I expect you to find out what it is—when you know for certain, then and only then, answer me. I’ll be waiting,” he said, leaning back in his chair as he pulled a cigarette from his cut. “I’ve got a job for you,” he offered.

I raised an eyebrow, happy to change the subject.

“Lay it on me,” I said.

“I just came back from my visit with Victor Pastore,” he continued, taking a pull from his cigarette.

Victor Pastore, AKA “Tony fucking Soprano.” If I never heard that name or saw those people again it would be too soon. Crazy gangsters.

“He delivered me something that has been tearing me up trying to get. He gave me a gift and in turn I gave him peace of mind,” Jack said, thoughtfully. “Man’s going to rot away in that cell so his family could be free of his sins and he’s still worried about them,” he explained.

“Sounds like a real gem,” I mumbled sarcastically. After that horrid night when I had to transport the Bianci family, a clan of nutcases, Victor turned himself in, confessing to a shitload of crimes. I didn’t feel sorry for the mob boss, he’s the idiot that turned himself in. Such an idiotic thing to do if you ask me. Man got away with every illegal thing he did for years only to confess like some sort of pussy. Word on the street is he did it to save his kids anymore pain caused by his lifestyle, they say it takes a lot of heart to do something like that…hmm.

Heart.

Then he delivered the blow.

“I need you to look out for Bianci, keep him and his family safe,” he ordered, blowing out a stream of smoke. “A lot of moves are being made, power is being transferred from Vic’s hand to his underboss, and with Bianci trying to be neutralized, he’s fair game. So is his wife and kid, and that shit ain’t going to happen on my watch,” he declared angrily, before pointing his index finger at me. “Or on your watch, because you will be there making sure harm doesn’t land on the Bianci’s door step. They will be your heart for now until you find your own,” he said.

“You’re kidding, right?” I asked. “You want me to babysit those lunatics?”

“I want you to keep them safe,” he corrected, flicking the ashes of his cigarette. “And don’t you worry your pretty little head, his mother won’t be around to fuck with you.”

I whimpered.

Bianci.

At least his wife was smokin’.

Oh shit, the kid. I forgot about the little snot.

His bat shit crazy mother.

His hot as hell, crazy sister. I wonder how the little kitten and her rack are doing.

“Riggs?”

I shook my head, clearing my mind of motor-boating my little kitten’s tits and looked at Jack.

“We good?”

Like I had a fucking choice.

“Yeah, Prez, we’re good.”

Anthony opened a boxing gym in his quest to become a legit, law-abiding citizen. What a crock of shit that was. The man had more ammo than I had underwear. I was a firm believer that underwear was overrated, just a nuisance really. Anyway, he spent most of his days at the gym trying to get it off the ground, so on my first official day reporting as Anthony Bianci’s shadow, I parked my bike outside of Xonerated.

My eyes worked the gym, taking in the abundance of women working out in tight gym pants. A lot of ass to be had here. Maybe this gig wouldn’t be so bad.

“Can I help you?” I dragged my eyes from the girl pummeling a heavy bag and focused on the blonde receptionist.

Why, hello there…the name tag plastered to her chest showed her name was Brittany.

I flashed her my smile and watched her eyes widen.

Yep, absolutely had its perks. Brittany would be riding my dick in the locker room by the end of the day. I was sure of it.

I winked at her, leaning over the counter.

“Hiya beautiful,” I crooned.

“Riggs,” a voice warned.

Fucking Bianci.

Add cock blocker to Mr. Legit’s extracurricular activities.

“Lay off my employees,” he growled, pulling me by the back of my vest like I was a little kid. I blew a kiss to Brittany and mouthed “later” to her.

I reached behind me, peeled his fingers from my vest and stood tall.

“Why the hell did you do that for? That was an easy score man!”

“Look, you and I are stuck with one another for a while which means we need to set some rules in place,” he said, crossing his arms against his broad chest.

“Rules?” I scoffed. Neither of us did well with rules. This was a joke.

“Rule number one, keep your dick in your pants around my staff and my clients,” he said.

I covered my mouth with my hand and tried not to laugh in the guy’s face.

“I’m serious, Riggs,” he grunted.

“I’ll stay away from employees but clients are fair game,” I said, eyeing the tight ass walking out of the locker room. “No negotiating,” I declared as she bent over to tie her shoelace.

Goddamn!

“Jack says you’re a loose cannon, that you fly off the handle,” he started.

“I am not,” I defended. “I don’t take shit from people is all,” I stated.

He smirked.

“What?”

He shook his head, his smirk firmly in place.

“Don’t go there, bro,” I said. “Your mother is the exception, that bitch is certifiable.”

“That’s my mother you’re talking about,” he said, his smirk faltering.

“Well if it’s any consolation your sister is hot as fuck,” I offered. “Makes up for your mom being a crackerjack.”

His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened as he advanced toward me making it obvious that Anthony had a soft spot where my kitten was concerned.

“Only gonna say it once,” he said gravely. “Rule number two, the only one you better pray you follow,” he added, backing me up against a wall. “Stay the fuck away from my sister,” he growled.

Whoa. I held up my hands in mock defeat.

“Relax, bro, she lives in the sticks for crying out loud,” I argued.

“She’s visiting,” he ground out.

My eyebrows raised and my cock perked up. Kitten was in town? Wonder if I can get the little kitten to purr.

“Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. Lauren.” He warned.

“Or what?” I taunted. “You’ll sic your mommy on me?”

A vein bulged at his temple.

Okay enough poking the beast.

He’s going to blow.

“Don’t worry, she’s not my type, and to be honest she’s got the crazy streak you Bianci’s all seem to have. Thanks but I’ve had enough crazy to last a lifetime,” I patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Now, step aside big boy,” I clasped my hands together and rubbed them excitedly. “Time to help hot pants over there with her work-out.”

An hour later, two sets of digits and only one slap across the face, I was loving my new job. And Brittany? Well, she was dumb as a doorknob but she played drop the pencil a few times with me. I was about to drop it again, prepared for her to bend over and pick it up but I was distracted by the front door opening.

The pencil remained poised in the air as I locked eyes with Lauren.

The girl next door not the naughty school girl.

My kitten, not every man’s pussycat.

I dropped the pencil for Brittany to fetch and rose to my feet, walking around the counter before leaning my back casually against it and shoving my hands in my pocket.

“Well look who dropped in for a visit, “nurse feel good,”” I quipped.

Her eyes widened, and she slapped my chest.

“Shh!” She hissed, looking around the gym for her brother. Guess she was still busy living a lie after all these months.

“Don’t worry, kitten, your secrets safe with me,” I promised, taking her hand in mine.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, pulling her hand free and dropping her pocketbook onto the counter.

“I work here,” I said proudly.

“Of course you do,” she said sarcastically, huffing and blowing the fallen strands of hair from her eyes. I reached out and tucked the crazy hairs behind her ears.

“Stop it,” she hissed.

I traced my finger down the bridge of her nose before tapping the tip of it.

“Cute as a button, you are,” I teased.

She rolled her eyes and smacked my hand away. She was a feisty little feline.

“Where’s my brother?”

“Riggs, I found the pencil,” Brittany cheered behind me.

I kept my eyes on Lauren, taking in her wide eyes as she looked over my shoulder at the dope holding a pencil.

“That’s great sweetheart, but I dropped a pen this time,” I said.

Go away, Brittany.

Blue eyes framed by those sexy fucking glasses met mine again and I grinned at her. The thought she was about to speak lost its way on her tongue and she snapped her mouth closed.

“How’s school treating you? Bang any hot doctors lately?”

“You’re despicable,” she hissed, pulling her bag from the counter and throwing the strap over her shoulder.

“Oh baby, I love it when you talk dirty,” I whispered against her ear.

“Kiss my ass,
Riggs
!” My name sounded like a curse on her tongue as she turned and stalked toward her brother’s office.

“Anytime, kitten, anytime,” I called out to her, eyes glued to her perfect ass and the way it jiggled in her jeans.

Yeah, this gig wasn’t so bad.

“There’s no pen under here,” Brittany said, disappointedly. “Oh, but your friend left her phone here,” she said, holding Lauren’s phone in her hand.
      
I glanced over my shoulder at the phone and a mischievous grin worked its way across my mouth as I plucked the phone from Brittany’s fingers.