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Face/Noe
I woke slowly and groaned at the dull ache in my lower back. Damned bed. I would have to stretch my spine before I did anything else today. The bed was too damned soft and my back didn’t like it. Rolling over I shoved my face into my pillow and just lay there as I contemplated the day ahead.
Kid was arriving at ten to take me out on a ride. I knew I wouldn’t be able to ride my own bike because this was all for show. A show that would have me on the back of his bike, something I’m sure the badass never did. It was going to piss him off.
And it pissed me off too. I would much rather ride my own bike.
Rolling back over I sighed, slid my legs over the side of the bed and sat up. From sitting I went to standing and then into the stretches I needed. I heard the rumbling of voices and tipped my head to the side as I listened. It sounded like it came through my window, I peeked through the blinds at the neighbours that were way too close as far as I was concerned. They were having breakfast on their outside patio almost right underneath my window.
Voices explained.
Using the bathroom I quickly did my business, washed my hands and face and brushed my teeth then went looking for coffee. As I walked down the stairs I could still hear the voices of the damned neighbours.
Rubbing my hands over my face and into my bedhead hair I walked into the kitchen and came to a confused stop.
The rumbling voices weren’t the neighbours as I had thought, they came from our kitchen. Blinking to be sure I wasn’t dreaming I looked at the hot foursome around the kitchen island and Cuba serving them coffee.
I said the first thing that came into my head. “My alarm didn’t go off.”
Heads turned my way as I walked over to the coffee pot and grabbing one of the mugs standing ready poured my wake up juice. Leaning against the cupboard with my eyes closed I sipped then slowly opened my eyes.
I had four sets of laughing eyes on me and one set of pissed off ones.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” The pissed off man snarled.
I looked down at my favourite sleeping attire. “Stolen property.”
“And whose stolen property might that be?”
I didn’t get a chance to answer, Cuba did it for me.
“I think she stole it from Bruno’s office. He always has some in the cupboard for his guys.”
“You always walk around men dressed like that?” He just couldn’t seem to help himself, ass.
“My house, I can do what I want.” I huffed angrily.
Again Cuba interfered. “Face, shower, wake up and get dressed. The man came to pick you up for a day out on his bike. Move it.”
With that she started shoving me out of the kitchen and back up the stairs.
“Go, and hurry up
I left still grumbling about stupid men but I did sort of hurry. But I didn’t primp like last night. I moisturised and covered my face with sunscreen then slipped it into my small backpack. I would need it to keep all the shit I needed to carry with me. Rubbing my hands through my wet hair I grabbed a towel and quickly towel dried it. After running my comb through it I let it settle where ever it wanted to.
I looked in the mirror and grimaced. Nothing more I could do, this was it.
And if he wasn’t happy with the way I looked he could go fuck himself.
With that I clomped out of my room and down the stairs back into the kitchen. Evvie and Mads were now there as well and stood silently watching as Cuba and Rock verbally sparred. By the look in their eyes I knew they both enjoyed it.
Kid’s eyes glided over me, taking in my messy hair, the leather jacket, white tee, faded blue jeans and biker boots. He gave a little nod of satisfaction. Little did he know that if it wasn’t for my girls I would be standing here dressed in black from top to toe. Stupid ass.
Coming to me he took my hand and pulled me into his chest. “You ready to ride, Noe?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“Good.” Over his shoulder he spoke to his men. “Let’s ride.”
He led me out of the house to his bike where he took my backpack and stowed it in one of his saddlebags. It seems the man came prepared.
My girls stood on the veranda of the house and waved as we rode away. I was a little bit miffed that they hadn’t been asked to come with us but then I remembered that these men didn’t like to put women on the back of their bikes unless they were special. And anyway none of them had a seat available. All their bikes had only one seat.
Which made me appreciate what Kid had done for me. He had added a seat to his bike. For me.
The ride showed me how very different the area was to what I was used to. We rode through undulating hills covered in tall grass, thorn trees and aloes. And then finally we came over a rise and the Hartebeespoortdam lay glittering in front of us. It looked blue and with the mountain and red roofed houses somehow reminded me of Italy, or more specifically of photos I’ve seen of Italy.
I always wanted to travel but I was imprisoned before I could realise that dream. And now I was too damned busy but maybe I should seriously start thinking about making some time to travel. While I had been dreaming about travelling the world on my bike we had arrived at a restaurant. A biker restaurant judging by the amount of bikes parked outside.
Kid parked and I immediately got off and undid my helmet and set it next to his on the bike seat and shoved both hands through my hair lifting it from my skull. I still had my hands in my hair when he stepped close and his hands went around my neck and tied a bandanna around it.
“Is there a reason for the bandanna or is it just for decoration?”
“It will show all those fuckers checking you out that you belong to me and the Iron Dogz MC.” The grumpy asshole growled at me.
“Not for long.” I muttered as I bent to extract my backpack from his saddlebags.
“What did you say?” His voice was soft but deadly and I looked over my shoulder at him before I slowly straightened. The man was seriously pissed.
“What?” I pretended I didn’t know what he was asking.
Grabbing me by the sides of my open jacket he pulled me close and his lips slammed down over mine. The kiss was hard and punishing but I still enjoyed it and my hands crept up and around his neck. One hand at the back of his head as he furiously ate at my mouth. He had one hand on my ass the other in my hair dominating me and my mouth. And then the kiss slowly changed, becoming soft and wet and I moaned as he dragged me over his thigh and I almost, almost detonated at the pressure against my aching clit.
An amused voice dragged me out of my kiss fog.
“Damn, brother, can we at least have some brunch before you fuck your woman on your bike?”
I tried to rear back but he held on to me keeping my pussy tight against his thigh. He looked down at me with lust blazing from his eyes. A smile slowly crept over his so serious face and I was entranced by it. It changed his face completely.
“That’s better.” He muttered against my lips. “Now no one will doubt whose woman you are. You look fucking good with your lips all red and puffy from my kiss, baby. Can’t fucking wait to do the same to that hot little pussy of yours.”
I was stunned silent and just stared at him and he gave me another quick kiss before pulling my backpack out of my hand and throwing over his shoulder then picking up our helmets. Somehow he managed to carry both in one hand and hold onto my hand with the other as he led me towards the restaurant where several bikers were avidly watching our approach.
“As long as you don’t feel the need to piss on me to mark your territory we’re all good.” I snarked and Kid came to a sudden stop and burst out laughing as did the men with us. With one arm he pulled me in and hugged me to him while laughing and shaking his head.
“Fuck, babe, the shit you say.” He let me go, grabbed my hand again and continued up the stairs into the restaurant with our audience still watching.
A rotund copiously sweating little man was waiting and seemed to almost hop in place in his eagerness to lead us to our table.
“Good to see you again, Kid. I have reserved your usual table as instructed. Anything you need just ask the waitress and it’s yours.”
At our table I unzipped my jacket and hung it over the back of my chair then took my backpack from Kid and hooked it over the back as well. I didn’t say a word as Kid talked to the funny little man who spoke as if he was from way back when knights and fair maidens existed. Our table had a perfect view over the water that sparkled under the bright sun. It was beautiful.
I had my phone out and was taking a photo when Kid’s hand clasped around the back of my neck to get my attention and I turned to look up at him.
“Baby, this is Wimpie, the owner of Zeffers.”
“Hi, Wimpie.” I greeted him and gave a very small smile that I knew wouldn’t pull at my scars.
“Hello, my lady, welcome to my humble establishment. What can I get you to drink while you have a look at the menu?”
“Water would be great, thanks.”
“Sparkling or still, my lady.”
“Still, thank you.”
And with that settled the little guy scuttled off. He didn’t ask the guys what they wanted so I suppose he knew what to bring them.
Kid sat down next to me then dragged my chair closer to his and threw his arm over the back of mine. His elbow was propped on the back of my chair and his fingers played over the back of my neck as he chatted with his brothers. I sat with my chin in the palm of my hand listening to them but at the same time watching the men and women in the restaurant watching us. Some of them were civilians out for the day but there were several clubs represented, and no tension at all. It seemed the restaurant was neutral ground. Interesting.
The brunch was huge and so damned tasty I scoffed almost all of it. But eventually I had to give up and sat back so full it felt as if my tummy was going to pop.
“I can’t eat another bite.” I moaned as I leant back and put my hands on my stuffed belly. “And it’s all going to settle on my ass, I just know it.”
The men snickered and I gave them the evil eye. “You can laugh but it’s the truth. Ask any of the women you know and they’ll tell you. Shit like this always settle on our asses. I’m going to have to work out twice as hard tomorrow.”
“Noelle, your ass is perfect but a little bit extra here and there will only make it more biteable.”
As Kid teased my mouth fell open in shocked gasp. He didn’t dare, but he did, he so did.
“I worked damned hard on this ass and there will be no extra bits added.”
Kid held his hands up with an easy grin. “Baby, before we get into an argument about the delectability of your ass let’s get out of here and ride. Okay?”
“Yes, because you’re not going to win an argument about my ass anyway.” I said with a little shrug.
Rock laughed and shook his head. “Face, babe, you have the best ass I’ve seen on a woman in a very long time but Kid is right, a little bit extra wouldn’t make it any less spectacular.”
“Men.” I muttered as I stood and gathered my phone and slipped it into my back pack. “Always telling you they won’t mind some extra on your ass and when it happens they complain to their friends that their woman has a fat ass.” I dragged my jacket off the back of my chair but Kid took it from me and dropped it on the table.
The laughing ass pulled me into his arms and rested both hands on my ass and squeezed. “Baby, this ass is sexy as hell and right now it’s mine, so let’s not argue about it, hmm?” He whispered against my ear then turned his head and kissed the skin just behind my ear and I shivered in reaction.
He hummed in appreciation but stepped away. “Let’s get out of here, Noe. If we have time I want to stop by the clubhouse and introduce you to Hawk and his old lady.”
Shit. I wasn’t expecting that to happen today but I nodded and allowed him to once again grab my backpack while I shrugged into my jacket then followed him out of the restaurant.
But this time instead of just striding out the door he stopped several times to greet men who stood as he approached. The fisted hands, slap on the back stuff seemed to go on and on while I stood and watched. Not that he forgot about me, not at all. He introduced me as his woman to all of them. And not as Face either, he introduced me as Noelle. Seems like he didn’t like my nick name. But whether he liked it or not Face would always be one of my names.
After a lot of head nods and handshakes we were eventually out of there and back on the road. We rode over the mountain and through the town of Brits before heading back around past the dam back towards Joburg. I enjoyed the ride until we hit the road towards their compound. I wouldn’t say I was afraid of meeting Hawk Walker, more cautious than anything else.
Their security was formidable. It started even before we got near the compound itself. Cameras followed our progress up to the high white walls with men in small watchtowers following our progress towards the gate. It was a heavy steel one with the Iron Dogz MC’s emblem on it. There were guards in a guard house with bulletproof windows and an intercom who controlled the access to the grounds.
Kid slowed and slowly idled forward as the gate opened and we rode through. I stayed silent as he parked then held his hand out for me to take. I took it and swung my leg over to stand next to his bike. Undoing my helmet I set it on the seat, unzipped my jacket and ruffled my hair to try to make it look more presentable.
When I was done my hand was grabbed in a big rough one and I was unceremoniously dragged after him as he strode towards the front door. I had to almost jog to try and keep up.
“If you don’t slow down I’m going to kick you in the ass.” I threatened when I almost face planted.
He abruptly stopped and turned. He was back to being the cold and emotionless ass I had met in Cape Town and I immediately ripped my hand from his. I did not want to be attached to the asshole in front of me.
“I don’t need to be dragged inside like a bitch on a leash. I can walk by myself thank you very much.” I snarled as I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Fine. Suit yourself.” He barked at me, looked me over coldly then turned and stalked into the clubhouse.
The other two men followed him inside after giving me a quick look but Rock stayed with me. “Fuck. I don’t know what his fucking problem is but I’ll stick with you, I promise.”
“If I ask will you take me back to the house?” I gritted out. Then tightly clenched my teeth before I said more than I should. I didn’t want to go inside that damned clubhouse but I knew I needed to keep up the pretence in case someone was watching. Plus I needed to meet Hawk Walker.
“Yes. I will. You ask me to take you and we leave immediately.”
I nodded then went back to the bike and dug my back pack out of his saddlebag and slung it over my shoulder. I left my helmet where it was, I’d get it before we left. I knew we would be taking a car to get home because Rock would not put me on the back of his bike and no way was I riding his fender anyway.
“Right. Let’s get this shit over with.” I rolled my neck and listened to the clicking of my tense muscles. Damn it to hell.
Rock stayed right next to me as we walked through the front door into the common room of the club. It was full of men and women hanging out, drinking and laughing. As we walked towards the bar a tense silence fell over them. The two of us were very obviously out of place.
Kid leant against the bar, a beer in hand and a small smile on his face chatting to some of the men. He pretended not to notice me which was fine with me. I wasn’t here for him anyway. I gave him one quick sideways glance then searched for the man I had come to meet. Hawk Walker.
“I’m going to see Hawk before we go, okay?” I said to Rock but he was staring at Kid with a pissed off look on his face and didn’t respond. Leaving his side I walked towards the boss of this place.
He watched me as I walked over, stopped in front of him and waited. I didn’t have to wait long.
“You are fucking tall.” He said as he looked me up and down.
“I am.” I agreed then held a hand out. “Face Murchison.”
He took my hand and gave a short hard clasp and immediately let go. “Hawk Walker. We have some things to discuss. Grab a beer and follow me.”
“No thanks on the beer. Let’s just get this done so I can get back to my people.” I said coldly.
He narrowed his eyes then looked from me to the bar and back again. “He’s already fucking up. Fine, let’s sit down and discuss the way forward.”
I followed Hawk out of the common room and the voices that had picked up after we started talking fell silent once again. I heard boots behind me and assumed it was Rock following me into the office. I should have checked because if I had I would have refused to talk to these fuckers. Kid came storming into the office behind me and tried to put his hand on me and I whirled away from him ready to put him on his ass if he touched me.
“Get the fuck away from me, asshole.” I gritted out as I moved to a chair in front of the desk, ignoring him and focussing on Hawk.
“War’s nonsensical plan is very obviously not going to work. We’re following my plan from here on out.” I unzipped the side pocket on my back pack and pulled out the USB. “This is what I’m going to supposedly steal from you. I’ll be in and out of your compound sometime within the next week or so just to make it look real. I want to get this done as soon as possible and get back home.”
“No.” Kid snapped. “We stick to the original plan.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Man, you have some balls on you. You think I’ll let you make me look like a pussy in front of your club? Not going to happen. You set me up by taking me to that stupid restaurant and introducing me as your woman to those fuckers just to bring me back here and treat me like I’m some slut you picked up on a street corner. Fuck you.”
“Noe.” He growled as if in warning and I again shook my head.
“The name is Face, Face Murchison.” I informed him coldly.
He was about to say something when my phone started ringing with the ringtone I had assigned to the asshole in Cape Town. I peremptorily shushed him as I took my phone out and answered the call, putting it on speaker.
“What do you want?” I growled.
That sickening laugh of his had my gut clenching and I gritted my teeth not to say anything. I had to wait him out.
“Scarcely engaged and already cheating on your man.” He virtually crowed with glee.
“I needed a way to get inside and the biker was easy meat. I use what I have to, Murchison, you know this. What the fuck do you want? I’m busy working here.”
“I’m thinking I want the information sooner rather than later. I was just informed he took you to the clubhouse. Get me what I want, today or there will be consequences you won’t like.”
I snorted in disgust. “Tell your little spies to get their facts straight, asshole. I might be inside but I’m surrounded by Dogz. Only a fool will try to pull a job right under their damned noses. And I’m no fucking fool.”
“When you get back here I’m going to delight in cleaning that filthy mouth of yours, Noelle. Once I’m done with you you’ll never swear again. Get me what I need and do it soon or else.” With that last threat he ended the call and I turned my phone off and slipped it back into my back pack.
“Right. So, as you heard I’ll be doing the supposed job sooner rather than later. Suits me just fine. I need to get back to Dom anyway.” I looked right into those golden predators eyes of Hawk and was surprised when he smiled then burst out laughing.
I didn’t get it. At all, and it pissed me off even more, but somehow I kept my mouth shut.
“Fuck, you remind me of my old lady, the same pissed off vibe.” He tipped his head to the side as he looked at me. “Did you ever meet her when she worked with Pixie?”
I shook my head. “No, never had the honour.” I wondered where the hell he was going with this.
“At first she told me to fuck off as well, didn’t last though.” He swung a finger between Kid and I. “There’s a fuckload of tension here between the two of you. What gives?”
Snorting I gestured towards the ass in the chair next to mine. “You mean you didn’t notice how he scraped me off the minute he got back on his home turf? Strange, I thought you were observant.”
He laughed even harder then slipped his phone out of the pocket of his kutte and dialled. “Baby, can you come to my office for a minute?” He listened and smiled, ended the call and dropped the phone on his desk.
We sat in silence as we waited for Jasmine “DC/Demon” Michaels. I had watched her fight a few times before my life imploded but we had never met. And when I got out and returned to the underground fights she no longer lived in Cape Town, so again, no chance of a meeting.
She came barrelling into the office and came to a stop next to my chair. I slowly stood and looked down at her. She had aged since the last time I had seen her but for the better. She was all woman now and comfortable in her skin.
“Noelle Gunderson, as I live and breathe.” I cringed as she called me by that name. I hadn’t heard it in a very long time. “I watched you fight a few times but never had the chance to meet you. I know it is old news but I’d still like to pay my respects. I’m sorry for your loss. I heard that Olaf was a great guy. His death was unexpected.” She took my hands in hers and I nodded in acceptance.
A heavy silence fell after she dropped that piece of information. I was well aware that their guy would never have found anything about Olaf Gunderson in my background. Star had swept it clean and my involvement with his death was nowhere to be found. For the most part I had shoved the memories down so deep I didn’t think about it either.
“What. The. Fuck. Who the fuck is Olaf?” Kid snarled viciously.
Before I could answer DC did. “Shut up, asshole. She married her bodyguard and then he was murdered and she was sent to prison. You back off her, right now.” She warned coldly.
“Hold on, hold on, now, little bird. None of us knew anything about this. There’s nothing in her background check about it. How is that possible?” Hawk soothed and demanded answers at the same time.
“Star cleaned it while we were in prison.” I avoided looking at the asshole as I answered Hawk.
“How did he die?” The fucker just wouldn’t shut up. He kept on stirring shit up and I lost it.
“Murchison murdered him, he had us strung up opposite one another, I think. I was roofied so all I have are flashes of what happened. He did it because Olaf dared to fuck and marry me without his consent. He had the marriage annulled, then set me up and that’s the end of the story. It’s done.” I swiped a hand through the air to indicate how done I was only to have the fucker grab it in both of his.
I jerked around and snarled at him like a wild animal but he didn’t pay any attention. The bastard was going down, that’s all I knew and as I moved to take him down he slammed me up against his chest and tightened his arms around me. My feet were still free and I was going to kick him until I broke his damned shins, and then he started apologising and I froze.
“I’m sorry, so incredibly sorry. I’m a fucking ass and I know right now you want to kill me but I need you to hear me out. Please.”
I dropped my forehead to his shoulder so I didn’t have to look into those damned eyes and stood quietly as he talked. Telling me he had a hard time trusting females and he was trying to put some space between us because I was making him feel shit he shouldn’t be feeling.
Boo-hoo-hoo. Cry me a damned river.
“No problem with giving you space. You’ve got it, so much space we don’t have to see each other ever again, asshole.” I snarled as I extricated myself from his arms.
I turned to DC and held out my hand towards her. “Pleased that I got to meet you before going back to Cape To...”
“Wait, wait, wait.” She had both hands up in the air. “Are you in training?”
I shrugged. “I’m always in training.”
She grinned and bounced in place. “I have a favour to ask, a huge favour. I have a fight coming up but I don’t have anyone scheduled for the opening fight. Would you be interested if I can find you an opponent?”
“If the fight is within the next week or so I might be able to do it but no longer than that. I need to get back home soon. And in all fairness, there’s only one person I’ll change my arrangements for and I doubt you’ll be able to organise it at such short notice.”
She got a very sly look on her face. “What if I tell you I can get you Delia Savage?”
With that she had my full attention. “You get her and I’m there. How far am I allowed to go?”
The demon she hid behind her smiles surfaced and grinned at me and the evil bitch in me grinned right back. “Permanent disfigurement and incapacitation. Will that satisfy you?”
“Absolutely, I’ve been waiting years to get my hands on her.”
“A vengeance fight, perfect.” She rubbed her hands together with glee.
“What the hell are you two cooking up?” Hawk growled at us.
I answered while still looking at DC and saw the knowledge in her eyes. Somehow she had known what that bitch had done. How?
“Delia Savage is a fight club slut and the reason Olaf was murdered. She went to Murchison and ran her mouth about us because he wouldn’t fuck her. No one is going to fuck her ever again once I’m done with her.” I said in an even tone.
“Be at the Warriors Gym tomorrow morning at eight. We’ll train with Grizz and Alien to get fight ready for Friday. The Road Warriors can get the buzz going and the place will be packed. Phoenix and Demon on the same bill, we’ll drive the punters crazy and make the club plenty of moola.” She laughed with glee when I nodded in agreement.
Snapping her fingers at me she demanded my phone and I gave it to her. Tapping her number in she called her own phone and handed mine back to me.
“There, I’ve got yours and you’ve got mine. I’ll call you later to keep you in the loop of developments. A bit of information I found for you, Delia Savage moved up here shortly after Olaf’s funeral and she’s a friend of this one’s sister.” She nodded towards Kid. “She whores between all the clubs and fights at Underground. The only reason the Warriors allow her to fight is because she draws a crowd and apparently she gives great head. As we both know, men are dogs who think with their dicks. She makes her money fighting but she’s getting sloppy. Does she know you as Face?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I was given the name in prison. I only fight now and again and Rooster insists that I wear a mask and use the name they gave me. As if I was some fucking WWF wrestler or something.”
DC smiled and shook her head. “No, he’s protecting you, that’s why he insists on the mask and the name. You have no idea how many people have your back, Face, no idea.”
I frowned but let it go. I would think about it later.
All I could think about was that I had a vengeance match I had been trying to arrange for the last five years set up within minutes because of DC Michaels.
For the moment I no longer cared about Murchison, Kid or any of their shit.
My focus was solely on getting Delia the Savage in the octagon and taking her down. Permanently if I could get away with it.
And with DC’s help I knew I would get away with it.
I couldn’t bloody wait.
