Viper (18 page)

Words failed her. She couldn’t form a phrase if she wanted to. Her heart beat at the base of her skull as another climax rapidly approached. This wasn’t making love, nothing slow and gentle about the way Kane took her. No, he had been correct when he said he had wanted to fuck her.

And he was doing a damn fine job of it.

Their sweat-slicked bodies slid together as he continued to pump into her. Her mouth left his to nip his shoulder, giving him access to her throat. But instead of biting her like she desired, he ran his fangs over the flesh, teasing her with the points and causing a series of shivers to pulse through her, right before another orgasm slammed into her, rocking her to the core.

Not that the first one hadn’t sent her to the moon and back, but this … this she couldn’t even describe. Kane shoved into her one last time before his ass muscles tightened and he reached his own peak. She could feel his cock pulsing inside her as the last of her own tremors subsided.

No foreplay, no tender kisses, though she wouldn’t have had it any other way. After all, they were just two beings enjoying the moment, copulating due to the stress of being thrust together by some psychotic primordial vampire bent on sucking every last drop of blood from her.

Kane slowly released his grip on her backside and allowed her to slide down the length of him. Cara wasn’t so sure she was going to be able to stand, but her wobbly knees held up. She was just about to ask him, “Now what?” when he patted her rear and told her to head for his room.

“Lock the door this time, Mia Bella,” he said as she turned back in the doorway. She so wanted to invite him to join her but wasn’t sure she’d last another round. Besides, if the rest of the club members found out, Kane would suffer the fallout.

Kane winked at her. “You better do as I say, Mia Bella, or you won’t be getting any sleep this night.”

Cara smiled in return, then shut the door and turned the dead bolt. She leaned against the door for support. Had she really just given herself to her worst nightmare? Nope, she thought with a smile. She had just taken hold of a very sexy vampire and screwed his brains out.

* * *

“What have you gone and done now, dear brother?” Kaleb asked, his lips turned down as he entered the living area of the clubhouse.

His hands made tight fists at his side, telling Kane what came next wasn’t going to be pretty. So much for waking up in a great mood. Kane didn’t care one iota what Kaleb or Grayson might have to say about his late night activities and wasn’t about to make this easy for his twin. What he and Cara shared last night, well, that was their business. End of story.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kane said, pulling last night’s tee over his head.

He walked to the kitchen area, fetched a mug and poured himself a cup of coffee. He blew the steam across the surface before taking a healthy sip, feeling the answering warmth. The morning chill filled the air. This time of year, the nights cooled to the mid-thirties. Since he had yet to turn on the furnace or throw logs into the fireplace, the clubhouse was brisk. If Cara was going to spend her nights here, he’d need to change that. Kane took another sip from his coffee, and even though regular food didn’t do anything for him, he still enjoyed a good cup of coffee the way he did a shot of whisky.

“You fucked her. Don’t even try to deny it. I could smell her desire the minute you entered the bathroom.”

One of Kane’s brows quirked upward. “Listening against the door, were you? I believe that’s even beneath you.”

“Like I had to. You could have been in the next building over and I still would have heard the two of you. Maybe you ought to learn the word discreet.”

“With our close quarters and acute hearing, no way to avoid it. I’ve heard you and Grayson many a night, and you haven’t had to hear my opinion once on the matter. What you two do behind closed doors is no business of mine. Just as who I choose to fuck in none of yours.”

Kane took another sip and hoped Kaleb would take the hint and leave him the hell alone. He was in no mood to discuss what had happened between him and the detective last night. He held no regrets when it came to the great sex they shared. Hell, no—he planned a repeat performance. Had that been all there was to it, there wouldn’t be a problem. But he had drunk from her, taken communion.

Shit.

If Kaleb or Grayson even suspected as much, there would be consequences. There
should
be consequences. But as long as there was a primordial running loose, threatening to drain Cara of her blood, he needed her close. And he needed the clubs’ cooperation to take him down. He couldn’t do it alone, and the club turning their back on him now could only prove deadly to Cara. So for now he’d keep that particular activity to himself, just as he would his fangs. He couldn’t allow himself another slip, no matter how tempting.

Kaleb walked around the island, grabbed his own mug and poured himself a cup of coffee as well. Kane could feel him stewing beneath the surface. He knew his brother didn’t approve of his actions. Kaleb had never held his tongue before, and he doubted he’d start now.

After glaring at Kane over his coffee cup, he finally slammed it on the island, brown liquid spilling over his hand and onto the counter. Most men would flinch at the scalding liquid splashing onto their flesh. But then they weren’t most men.

“Just say it and get it over with, Hawk. My patience is wearing thin.”

“Did you bite her?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that question myself,” Grayson said as he exited his room, buttoning the front of his jeans, though opting to go shirtless.

“Jesus, what the hell is it with you two?”

“You knew when you brought her here this wasn’t a good idea,” Grayson said. “Why not pick up someone from the Rave like the rest of us?”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you, Gypsy. You who gets tired of the same ol’ too often to count. If I recall, it was you who pitched a fit a few days ago.”

“I never said I only fuck girls from the Rave. I screw who I want and color their memories before I leave so that my appearance while fucking them doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Can’t very well conceal that. But communion? That’s another story. I may not like the rules, but I abide by them because I understand the need to keep our nature secret. Did you alter the detective’s memory from what she spied, Viper?”

“You both already know she’s aware of what we are. I didn’t have to change her memory.”

“And what happens should she decide she’s bored with you? Or better yet, threatens to tell others because you decide she’s not worth your time any longer? Bet you hadn’t thought of that.”

“I’ll take care of it if and when the time arises.”

“See that you do, Viper. I don’t care what you do, but we can’t risk her exposing us. Now stop dodging the real question,” Hawk said. “Did you bite her?”

“No,” Kane lied, taking a quick sip of coffee so that his brothers wouldn’t detect it. Besides, from where he had left the twin holes, they’d never spy them.

“Pray you don’t, brother.”

“Or what? Are you threatening me, Hawk?”

“You know the rules. You break them, I’ll see the entire club knows about your indiscretions. There won’t be a single Son who comes to your defense. She’s a cop, Viper. You best keep that in mind. She has the power to take us down. Can you imagine what would happen if she decided to take this shit to the media?”

“I’m well aware of what she does for a living and her power in this community. If she proves to be a threat, then I’ll take care of her myself.”

“What will you do to me, Kane? Kill me?”

Damn it, he couldn’t catch a break. “Cara—”

“No, Kane.” Cara glared at him, her gaze as hot as pokers. “I heard enough to know I’m not wanted here.”

“You can’t defend yourself against this threat.”

She laughed without humor, slinging her overnight bag over her shoulder. “It appears I cannot defend myself here either, nor can I trust you to defend me. I think I’ll take my chances with the primordial. At least with him, I know where I stand.”

Cara walked to the front of the clubhouse, where she turned on the trio. “Don’t worry, boys … your secret is safe with me. Hell, I don’t even believe this supernatural shit.” With that, she turned and stalked out, the door closing behind her.

“Great! That went well,” Kane grumbled.

Thankfully, Grayson and Kaleb remained remarkably silent.

Chapter 16

Kane had too much to do today to concern himself with what the hell the detective was up to or what she had been thinking following her untimely entry into the club’s main room this morning. He had received a call from Red and knew that the Knights planned to run guns around Pleasant’s borders once the sun set. And since Cara had stupidly refused to be in his company for protection, he didn’t have a spare man to track her down and baby-sit her either. The Knights needed to be given clearance. Kane had to make sure the Sons were onboard, so a church meeting was called.

This could be a very lucrative deal for them, income with little or no effort on their part. Plus, on the flip-side, he had to make sure he upheld his promise to the Sheriff’s Office and kept any violence out of Lane County. Knowing the Knights would likely try to run their guns under the radar, with or without the Sons’ approval, Kane wanted to spare the county the war that would surely ensue had he not agreed to the arrangement. By giving the Knights his backing, he ensured they wouldn’t go to battle over the needed route on the Knights’ end. Kane had chosen the path of least resistance.

Besides, an alliance with the Knights could be to their benefit. Having a puppet club in their back pocket meant they always had backup when needed. Should anyone have issues with the Sons, then the Knights would have their back.

Sitting at the head of the long table, Kane watched as each member filed in, Kaleb and Grayson sitting at his left and right respectively. He hoped to hell they kept their mouths shut about his late night activities, as Kane didn’t want to have to answer for his actions, at least not yet. Eventually the truth would come out and if need be, he’d step down as president. He had broken rules. Plain and simple. Being the president didn’t exempt him.

But for now he needed time to figure this thing out with Cara and where it was heading. Having the primordial in town and targeting her meant he needed to keep her safe. Resigning as club pres would take away any control he might have over finding this son of a bitch and could put her at further risk without the Sons’ protection. Kane was only one vampire. Against a primordial, like it or not, he need the power of the MC.

The door to the meeting room closed behind the last member. The large table seated fourteen with only one empty seat remaining, bringing Rosalee to the forefront of his thoughts. She had been responsible for the loss of Ion, his son, the empty seat he now stared at. His jaw ached from tension. No meeting ever went by without him feeling the loss burning a hole like acid in his gut. He should have taken her head and dealt with the repercussions of killing an original. Instead, he had turned his back and dismissed Rosalee from his life, leaving her no choice but to return to Italy and the rest of the primordials, as her stepfather demanded.

In her own way, he knew Rosalee had loved him deeply, and he supposed he had felt much the same way at the time. But Rosalee had been a selfish bitch, not considering the possible ramifications of her cavalier actions. Actions Kane had forbid. With one single act of defiance, she had managed to destroy everything he had ever felt for her. In the end, Ion had lost his head because she hadn’t used hers. She had thought herself far superior to even Kane, that she was somehow untouchable. The cartel funding the rival MC had wanted restitution for the loss of one of their own.

Yes, Rosalee was a powerful, ancient vampire.

But taking on the drug cartel was pure idiocy on her part. The cartel wasn’t of the forgiving kind, and Ion had been the one to pay the price for Rosalee’s arrogance. Kane had warned her that the Devils of East L.A. were backed by a Mexican cartel and were not to be toyed with. Regardless of his charge, she had set out to teach the MC and the cartel a lesson for daring to cross state lines with their drugs, for trying to take over the entire west coast, therefore disrespecting the Sons.

Setting out with Ion in tow, she took matters into her own hand. She had killed one of the heads of the cartel, sending a message loud and clear to his troops. His brother, not cowering from her actions, had given the order to take a Sons’ life.

A life for a life.

Kane would’ve rather given his own life.

Rosalee had tried to get Kane to see reason that she, too, had suffered. But an agreement had been made with the cartel, Kane banished Rosalee not only from the Sons but from the States as well, sending her back home to Italy, leaving her no choice but to return to her stepfather. In the end, her stepfather had agreed that Rosalee had acted recklessly and forbade her to leave Italy ever again as punishment. When Mircea II of Wallachia spoke, all of the vampire community listened … including his wayward stepdaughter. Over ten years had passed, but he still felt the betrayal like it was yesterday.

Kane raised the wooden gavel, tired of reminiscing, and slammed it against the sound block. Conversation ceased as one by one all eyes trained on him.

“I called this meeting to inform everyone that the Knights intend to run guns tonight through Lane County. I’m sure you’ve heard by now of our deal with the MC from Washington.”

The room remained quiet, no one pointing out that aligning themselves with the rival group had never been taken to a vote. Kane was sure there were those who opposed. Grigore cleared his throat, toying with the black rubber bands circling his left wrist.

After all the members looked in the muscular man’s direction, he raised his chin a notch and leveled his gaze on Kane’s. “I don’t believe we ever voted on this alliance, Viper. Can I ask who took the liberty to make the deal without the full club’s approval? There are those of us who don’t feel an alliance is in our best interest.”

Kane’s face heated in his rising ire. As president, no one should ever question his decision once made, even if the issue at hand had never been voted on. And Grigore knew damn well who made that decision. By asking the question, he forced Kane to bring it to the table.

“I made that decision and I didn’t ask, Wolf, because it was a good one. We stand to make a good deal of money off these runs.”

“Allowing another club to run guns through our state makes us look weak,” he pointed out. Several members nodded their heads in agreement.

“We can use the Knights as a puppet club. They will answer to us. Sometimes it’s best to take the road of least resistance. We give them a lending hand from time to time, and when we need help, they’ll be there for us. We already know that going up against an opposing club can cause us more trouble than we’re willing to take on at the moment.”

No one had to voice Ion’s name, but everyone in the room knew Kane spoke of him. Not to mention the drainages in their county now causing them unwanted attention from the law.

“So what do we get out of this deal with the Knights—other than them being our puppet club?” Grigore asked.

“We get forty percent of their cut, Wolf. Pretty lucrative deal for doing nothing more than allowing them to skirt Pleasant on their way to Florence and back. Not to mention we have their backs should they get any grief from the law in Oregon. They’ll run under the cover of night. If the state catches on or tries to stop them for any reason, we’ll create a diversion.”

“Are we just watching out for them as they pass through Lane County? Or are we following them through the entire state?”

“Two of us will follow them to the Washington border. Make sure they don’t run into trouble, as well as keep a close eye on their activities while in our state. The rest of us will just make sure they get clearance through the county. Any questions?”

Nicolas rubbed a hand down his banded beard that nearly reached his chest. “What kind of diversion are you talking about?”

“Anything that will cause us the least amount of trouble, Wheezer. I’m not willing for you guys to do jail time over something that isn’t our gig. The Knights know that. So you do whatever you have to, within reason, to draw the heat from the Knights.” Kane shrugged. “Cut off the cop car. Get them to chase you. Worst we get is a traffic violation. Am I clear?”

All heads nodded in unison and thankfully no one argued. Kane wasn’t in the mood for opposition.

“Good. I want Kaleb and Grayson to follow the Knights back to their home state on this run. Everyone else, just be on guard and make sure this goes smoothly as they pass through our county. I’ve already cleared it with the Sheriff. He’ll see to it we have no trouble from him or his deputies on duty. Any objections?” When no one spoke, Kane slammed the gavel back on the sound block again. “Then we’re done here. I’ll see everyone back at the clubhouse at dusk. No exceptions.”

Everyone began filing out of the meeting room one by one. Kane grabbed Kaleb’s wrist and indicated that he shut the door behind the last of their brothers. Kaleb did as instructed and returned to his seat. The club meeting room had been soundproofed for confidential meetings. Kaleb’s expression told Kane he still wasn’t too happy with his twin’s late night activities.

“Thanks for keeping this morning quiet. I appreciate you and Gypsy not saying a word.”

Kaleb leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his head. His booted feet stretched out in front of him. “Telling our brothers about your indiscretions wouldn’t do any of us any good at the moment. We have bigger issues to deal with.”

“Agreed.”

His brother leaned forward, the legs of the chair scraped the wooden floor. “Make no mistake, Viper. I’m not agreeing with what you’re up to. I think you ought to throw that bitch out and make her fend for herself. We shouldn’t care one way or the other whether she gets her throat sliced and drained from this primordial.”

Kane’s jaw ached from tension. He wanted to rip his brother’s heart from his chest for speaking so callously. But putting the boot on the other foot—he might have felt much the same. He’d known getting involved with the detective would not sit well with any of his brothers. Besides, after this morning, she wasn’t about to return to the clubhouse willingly any time soon, no matter what he had to say about the matter. Kane didn’t plan on giving her a choice once his job here tonight was finished.

“Look,” Kaleb continued, “I know she’s your type, but so are a lot other women out there. Can’t you—”

Kane interrupted, “I know getting involved with the detective isn’t good for the club. No one, especially you, has to point that out to me. But I can’t change what happened. I fucked her last night.”

“We heard,” Kaleb grumbled.

“And all I want to do is fuck her again. Damn, Hawk, she’s got me by the balls.” He ran a hand down his face and sighed heavily. “Maybe, you’re right. I should stay the hell away from her. But I can’t honestly sit here and tell you that’s going to happen.”

Kaleb stared at his brother for long moments before he whistled low, leaning back in his seat.

“Jesus, Viper! You didn’t just fuck her, did you? You drank from her.”

It wasn’t a question, but an accusation. Kane couldn’t hide the truth if he wanted. His brother would spot the lie. “I hadn’t meant to.”

“No one feeds from an outsider. That rule is in place for a damn good reason, Viper. If she tells anyone—”

“She won’t.”

Kaleb leaned forward, anger evident in his darkening black as coal eyes. “How do you know?”

Kane massaged his forehead between his fingers. Damn, if he hadn’t gotten himself into deep shit this time. “Look, Hawk, give me your word this is between us.”

Kaleb shook his head and slammed both palms on the wooden table. “You have my word, brother … for now. But you hear me, you best make sure she keeps her big mouth shut. For if I even think she’ll tell anyone about this—I’ll take her life myself. You won’t have to worry about the damned primordial.”

* * *

The door cracked open and Cara offered a feeble smile. No doubt Suzi wondered what she wanted this time. The suspicion on her face said as much. Cara had left the clubhouse and headed for the S.O., but after spending a few hours pouring over the files in the nearly empty station, she decided to call it a day. Being Sunday, the deputies on duty were out in the field, leaving her alone with the dispatch. She hadn’t been able to keep her mind on business, not after last night’s festivities and Kane’s telling admission this morning.

Cara sighed. She had been nothing more to him than a piece of ass. But what did she expect? By Kane’s own admission, he didn’t have girlfriends. Although some sort of compassion would have been preferable to threatening her life should she get chatty. She needed someone to talk to, a friend. Something she suddenly found missing in her life. That’s where Suzi came into the equation. She was likely the only person who would understand what Cara had gotten herself involved in. Besides, not only would she be thought of as a quack, she wasn’t willing to put Kane and his club in jeopardy. Kane and his brothers had a right to be paranoid. If word got out about the vampires, the public wouldn’t understand and they would be hunted to extinction.

Cara wasn’t callous enough to allow that to happen.

Regardless of what his twin, Kaleb, or Grayson thought of her, she wasn’t heartless. She might not understand what they were or how vampires existed, but they were still … what? Human?