Viper's Kiss (13 page)

“
Good
to know. Since you
’
re new,
I
’
ll explain this once. You
step in Frelen, you die. You think you have us figured out, right? Watching
from the outside. I get that. You have plenty of your own.
”

“
Some
of our business has traveled into your town,
”
Levi said.
“
Safety reasons.
But they still need their supply.
”

“
We
don
’
t deal drugs.
”

“
Too
bad.
”

“
You
try to push anything, Levi
…”

Two other men came forward.

“
Anderson,
Victor,
”
Miller said.

“
Good
for you,
”
Anderson said.
“
You know who we are.
”
He reached into his back pocket
and took out an envelope.
“
This
is for you.
”

“
What
the fuck is this?
”
Gaige
asked.

“
A
cut,
”
Victor said.
“
Our offering for the little
border situation we have here.
”

“
You
’
re paying me to let you deal in
my town?
”
Miller asked.

“
That
’
s a good deal you
’
ve got,
”
Levi said.
“
We
’
re not here to stir up old shit,
Miller. All the old guys are in the ground now. Except you.
”

“
Call
me old one more time,
”
Miller said.

Levi laughed.

Blaine saw it happening a second
before it did.

Miller took out his gun and put it
to Levi
’
s forehead. He
grabbed Levi by the throat.

Anderson and Victor had their guns
pointed at Miller.

Blaine came forward.
“
Hey, hey, hey. Come on. Put all
the fucking guns down.
”

“
Who
the fuck are you?
”
Anderson
asked.

“
Ah,
shit,
”
Blaine said.

He put his head down and rushed
forward. His shoulder hit Anderson. Anderson flew into Levi who flew into
Victor. Blaine kept going, digging his boots into the ground until the four of
them were on the ground. That neutralized most of the gun threat.

Blaine started swinging his fists,
knowing it was three on one.

The rest of the guys hurried off
their motorcycles and a street fight was underway.

Victor grabbed Blaine by the arm.
Blaine slammed his head into Victor
’
s
face, breaking his sunglasses and spraying blood everywhere. Anderson was on
his hands and knees. Levi kicked back to get out of the way.

Blaine kicked at Anderson, sending
his face right between Levi
’
s
legs.

“
There
you go,
”
Blaine said.
“
Now you
’
re home.
”

A second later a fist connected
with Blaine
’
s right cheek.
Then a second, a third, a fourth.

He was quickly lifted to his feet
and Levi took out a gun and put it to Blaine
’
s
head.

“
Enough!
”
Levi yelled.

That ended the fight.

Gaige had a gun on his knees, a
fist cocked back.

Miller had two guys in a headlock,
their heads red, looking ready to pop.

All the Back Down Devil guys backed
away.

“
Don
’
t!
”
Blaine yelled.
“
Don
’
t listen to this fucking pussy.
”

Levi swung with his free hand and
sucker punched Blaine in the jaw.

“
How
’
d that feel, pussy?
”
Levi asked.

“
Do
it again,
”
Blaine said.
“
Come on. Do it again. I love it.
”

Levi swung again. Blaine took the
punch with a smile on his face.

He spit blood on the ground.
“
There you go. I
’
m starting to get hard now.
”

“
What
the fuck
…”

“
We
have company,
”
Gaige said.

A black car came up over the
horizon. The Eight Under crew suddenly looked relaxed. Relieved. Like they were
expecting a visitor.

“
What
the hell is this?
”
Miller
asked.

“
The
reason why I
’
m not worried
about you,
”
Levi said.
“
The reason why you need to take
that money and understand what it means.
”

The envelope had fallen on the
ground in the scuffle. Miller pointed his gun to the envelope and shot over and
over.

“
That
’
s what I think of your dirty
money,
”
Miller said.

“
You
’
re a fool,
”
Levi said.
“
Good luck.
”

The black car turned and stopped.
The driver rushed to open the back door. Two feet appeared and a man climbed
out.

Blaine strained himself to be able
to see who it was.

“
Don
’
t fucking move,
”
Levi said.

“
Levi!
Let our friend go.
”

Blaine heard the voice and quickly
threw an elbow. He hit Anderson in the gut and was broken free. He pushed at
Victor and Levi.

That
’
s
when he saw who had climbed from the car.

“
No
fucking way,
”
Blaine
whispered.

Blaine wanted to grab his gun but
he was frozen. Everything around him disappeared. He had tunnel vision to the
figure approaching.

The son of a bitch smiled.

The son of a bitch tugged at his
suit jacket.

The son of a bitch looked right at
Blaine.

“
Surprised?
”
he asked.

Blaine started to retreat.

I need to get to Jessa
…

He bumped into Gaige and Miller.

They said something but Blaine
couldn
’
t hear them.

For the first time since he could
remember, Eight Under was officially a scary threat. Because they had a fucking
ghost leading them.

Blaine looked back one time just to
make sure his eyes weren
’
t
messing with him.

They weren
’
t.

It was him.

The man who killed Meghan and
Janey.

The man who was supposed to be
dead.

It was Vin. And he was very much
alive.

sixteen.

Jessa touched the round belly of
the Yellow Lab. The dog - beautifully named Daisy - looked back and showed her
teeth. No growl though, just teeth. A silent warning as she wanted to say,
“
I don
’
t like
this
place,
Doc.
”

“
It
’
s okay, sweetie,
”
Jessa said.
“
I won
’
t hurt you. I promise.
”

Daisy looked at her owner, a woman
named Deb.

Jessa was checking for anything
abnormal. Lumps, bumps, sensitive spots. Other than being a little overweight,
the dog was perfectly healthy.

She had her hands down Daisy
’
s belly again and had the image
of doing the same to herself too. Sooner than later her belly would start to
swell. She
’
d be showing any
day now and that would be the end of her big secret.

“
She
’
s perfect,
”
Jessa said.
“
A little overweight, but
perfect.
”
She turned and
washed her hands briefly before getting a treat and offering it to Daisy as a
peace offering for being so invasive.
“
She
’
s so beautiful, too.
”

“
Good,
”
Deb said.

“
We
just need shots and blood work and you
’
re
all set. Are you okay with being in the room while I give her the shots and
take blood? I know some dogs tend to get protective of their owners.
”

Deb put a hand to Daisy
’
s head.
“
Of course I
’
ll
stay in the room with her. She
’
s
my baby. I could never leave her.
”

Jessa brushed a hand to her own
stomach.

My belly
…

Twenty minutes later she was back
at her desk. Hands at her face, she took deep breaths, waiting to throw up. The
last two days it hadn
’
t
happened though.

Lucky me.

There was a knock at the door and
then Dr. Ashland poked her head in.
“
Minute?
”

“
Hour?
”
Jess said with a smile.
“
Everything okay?
”

“
You
tell me,
”
Dr. Ashland said.

Jessa felt herself start to blush.
“
I
…”

“
You
can tell me anything.
”

“
I
’
m just still rattled by that
situation here.
”

Which wasn
’
t a lie. That situation - meaning Vin showing up -
led right to Blaine and that led to
…
my baby.

“
That
was weeks ago, Jessa,
”
Dr.
Ashland said.

“
It
just
…”

“
You
’
re making excuses.
”

“
I
’
m sorry. Is something wrong with
my work?
”

“
Professionally,
you
’
re on top of it all.
But personally
…”

“
I
’
m sorry. I
’
m just tired.
”

“
That
’
ll pass with the first
trimester. At least that
’
s
what I
’
ve been told.
”

Jessa
’
s
face burned.
“
Wait, what?
”

Jessa felt her jaw almost hit the
desk.

Dr. Ashland then produced an
ultrasound picture of the baby -
my baby
- growing inside Jessa
’
s body.

“
How
…”

“
You
left it in Exam Room 4. You
’
re
lucky one of the girls didn
’
t
find it. You know how they like their gossip.
”

“
That
’
s
…
not
…”

Dr. Ashland put the ultrasound on
the desk and point to the corner where it had Jessa
’
s name.

“
Don
’
t say this isn
’
t yours.
”

Jessa looked up at Dr. Ashland. Her
eyes filled with tears as she nodded.
“
I
’
m pregnant,
”
Jessa said.

Dr. Ashland touched her mouth.
“
Is it that friend of yours, Mike
’
s?
”

The easy answer would have been
yes
and lie to just get it out of the way. But Jessa didn
’
t want to keep lying. She was going to need help
with the entire situation.

She shook her head.
“
Not Mike
’
s.
”

“
Oh,
”
Dr. Ashland said.

“
I
’
m not a whore.
”

“
Of
course not. I would never think that of you. So
…
you had to get away right after all that happened here. Wherever you went
…”

Jessa sighed.
“
It
’
s
hard to talk about right now. I
’
m
kind of in shock.
”

“
I
could imagine. You
’
ve been
to a doctor. Everything okay?
”

“
The
baby is fine. Me? Not so much.
”

A tear fell from Jessa
’
s eye. She hurried to wipe it
away.

“
Oh,
Jessa,
”
Dr. Ashland said.
“
I know everything I
’
m going to say is all wrong. But
don
’
t cry. There are women
who can
’
t have babies.
”

“
I
know that,
”
Jessa said.
“
But this
…”

“
Well,
then tell me who the father is. How bad could it be?
”

The office door opened and Terri stood
there. She put a hand out.
“
Sorry
to just burst in. Um
…
there
’
s a few motorcycles out front.
The guys are all dressed the same. One guy is looking for you, Jessa.
”

Jessa looked up at Dr. Ashland. She
whispered one word.
“
Bad.
”

Suddenly, she had to throw up.

***

When Jessa looked to the counter
she didn
’
t see Blaine. For
a second she hoped it was all a bad dream or a bad joke.

Then she heard his voice.

“
That
’
s a good girl
…”

Jessa felt a rage of jealousy and
rushed to the waiting room. She couldn
’
t
believe how she felt.

Jealous? Because of Blaine? Didn
’
t he fuck ten women a
night?

Jessa then did feel like a whore.
Because she had let him inside
…

She opened the door and saw Blaine
on one knee, petting a dog. It was a beautiful German Shepard with a dark coat
and rich brown spots. The dog was on its back, leg kicked as Blaine rubbed her
belly.

“
That
’
s good,
”
Blaine said.
“
You
like that, don
’
t you?
”

“
You
certainly hit the right spot,
”
a woman said, sitting with her legs crossed. She had an engagement ring the
size of a boulder.

Blaine looked right at her and
stood up.
“
I always hit the
right spot, beautiful.
”

Jessa felt her blood boil.
“
Blaine?
”

His head snapped around.
“
Oh, Jessa
…”

He came running right at her. A
second later his hands were at her waist, pushing her back. Jessa thought
Blaine was going to put her against a wall and kiss her.

“
You
’
re okay. You
’
re alive. You
’
re
…”

“
What
are you doing here?
”
Jessa
asked.
“
Who is with you?
”

“
A
couple of the guys. We need to talk.
”

“
Not
right now.
”

“
No,
sweetheart, right now. Take a sick day. Right now. You
’
re sick.
”

No, Blaine, I
’
m pregnant.

“
Just
come in my office.
”

Jessa shut the door and asked,
“
How did you find me?
”

“
I
have ways,
”
Blaine said.
“
That doesn
’
t matter. You
’
re a doctor?
”

“
Veterinarian,
”
Jessa said.
“
Was going to become a doctor but
after what I saw
…
I couldn
’
t do anything with people again.
”

Blaine leaned against her desk. He
acted like he owned the place. She hated the way he made her feel on the
inside.

“
Vin
isn
’
t dead.
”

“
What?
”

“
Vin
…
isn
’
t dead.
”

Jessa gasped.
“
Who told you that?
”

“
I
didn
’
t need anyone to tell
me. I fucking saw him with my own eyes.
”

“
Jesus,
no,
”
Jessa said.
“
You said he was dead.
”

“
My
information was fucked. Vin is back and powerful, sweetheart. You have to leave
right now and come with me. You
’
re
safe at the clubhouse and with me.
”

“
I
have a job here,
”
Jessa
said.

Blaine pushed from the desk.
“
You won
’
t have a job when you
’
re
dead.
”
He got closer to
her.
“
You seem different
than last time.
”

Jessa opened her mouth. This was the
moment. The right time.
The now.

Instead, she said.
“
Because I
’
m not swayed by your bullshit.
”

Blaine smiled.
“
You
’
re still sexy as hell though.
”
He touched her cheek.
“
You have to come with me. I
’
ll drag you out of here in front
of everyone.
”

“
What
do I say? I have patients
…”

“
What?
The Shepard out there is going to write a bad review online?
”

“
Don
’
t be an asshole about my job. At
least I don
’
t kill people.
”

“
I
’
m trying to save one right now,
”
Blaine said with a growl.

Jessa shuddered. She hated that he
was so fucking sexy. She hated even more that she had seen him naked and felt
all of him. Her mind wouldn
’
t
stop replaying the images in her mind.

“
Blaine,
I have to talk to you
…”

“
Not
right now,
”
Blaine said. He
grabbed her arm.
“
We
’
re leaving. You can pack a
couple bags and then you
’
re
gone. Do you have any commitments here?
”

“
No,
”
Jessa said.
“
Just my job.
”

“
Okay.
You leave with me and then when we get to the clubhouse you can call whoever
you need to. I don
’
t care
what you say. You just can
’
t
be alone.
”

Jessa got close to Blaine.
“
He
’
s
really alive?
”

“
I
saw him. He
’
s been funding
another MC to come after us. Shit got bad after you left, sweetheart. Between
everything that went down
…”

“
No,
”
Jessa said. She touched Blaine
’
s chest, inside his cut, feeling
the perfect muscular shape of his chest.
“
Don
’
t talk about what happened.
”

“
He
’
s going to come after the club
hard. He
’
ll want you dead
too. I
’
m going to protect
you.
”