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“What did they ask you?” Ruthie lights up a cigarette and takes a shot of liquor.
“I’m sorry. They made me swear that what was said in that room stays there.”
“Right.” She takes a drag off her cigarette. “Want one?”
“No. Thank you.”
“Want a drink?”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“Alexa, you don’t have to be strong with me. I know my father’s a bastard. I see a lot of myself in you. Why do you think I latched onto James so young and got pregnant with Rochelle? I wanted out of that house. I wanted him to pay attention to someone else if you get my drift. I knew if I got pregnant, he’d make me get married, and then I’d be free, but he...never mind. It’s in the past. It’s over. We’ll both be free. Cheers.” She holds an extra shot glass up to me, and I accept it.
“To freedom.” The alcohol burns down my throat. I glance around the clubhouse. This is my first and probably last time here. There are some couches pushed up against one of the walls. A stripper pole attached to a small stage in one corner. We’re seated at the large bar that takes up most of the room. On the wall there are framed photos of motorcycles and club members.
“I do have one question.” I look back to Ruthie. The way she is staring at me so intensely sets me on guard. “Something my father said...are you fucking my husband?”
My face pales. “What? No. No way.” I shake my head. “Why would you ask me that?”
“I’m sorry you’ve been through an ordeal. I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s been a long night. I should take you home.”
“No.”
Her gaze narrows on me. “Something wrong?”
“I can’t go back there. Not after tonight. I can’t do it.”
She starts to say more, but a man by the name of Reed comes for me. “Ruthie, you’re free to go on home to Rochelle. Alexa is wanted for more questioning.”
“But...where’s James?”
“Busy. Get on home now.” He gives her a look and grabs me at my elbow. “This way.” Ruthie scowls at my back as I retreat down a set of stairs that leads to the clubhouse basement.
It’s dark and cold down here.
Reed jerks me to a stop outside of a steel door. “Through there. Murder wants to see you.”
My heart hammers in my chest. He could be sending me to my death. I don’t know this man or what the club voted to do with James and Lion. Ruthie’s under the impression that they will side with her husband, but she wasn’t in that meeting with them. The tension in that room was so thick I could scarcely breathe.
I take a step back. “He wants to see me down here?”
Reed laughs darkly. “Sweetheart, you’ve got nothing to fear with me. I heard your story. No one here wants to put you through more pain.” He opens the door and lightly pushes me through. I jump when the door slams shut behind me.
I’m in a small, poorly lit room, but there is another door. I enter the next room, and that’s where I see him. James. Standing shirtless with his back to me.
“Hey,” I call to him. He turns slowly. At first glance he appears sweaty. Shiny even under the glare of the light bulb swinging from the ceiling over his head. “What is this place?”
“C’mere.” He extends a hand to me, and I place my palm against his. James curls his fingers around mine, pulling me in close. In this moment I realize he’s covered in blood when it rubs off his chest and onto my white tee. “Look at me, Lex.”
“Wh-wha-what is happening here? Why are you? Is that...is that blood?” my knees begin to buckle.
“Stay with me, baby. Got something I need you to see.”
“I don’t think I want to.” I attempt to break free from him, but he doesn’t let me go.
“You’re in my world now, sweetheart. There’s no backing out now. My brothers know all about us and who you are to me. No one will ever hurt you again or they’ll face Lion’s fate.”
“And what is his fate?”
He tugs me further into the room. Red. I see red liquid pooled on the floor in a puddle. It’s everywhere. On a steel table rests a single hand. A hand with a crowned lion’s head tattooed across the back. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“In through your nose and out your mouth, babe. Breathe.”
“Is that his...his hand?”
“I took his hands.” He pulls me flush against his body covering me with more of Lion’s blood. James’s erection presses into me, but I try to ignore the fact that he’s turned on. There’s a man’s hand on the fucking table. My head spins as I continue to take in the scene around me. There’s a wall to the right with any weapon you can think of on display. Swords, knives, guns, heavy tools. Whatever you can imagine it’s there.
“What do you mean you took them?”
“See that axe?”
I gulp then nod. I see it. Covered in blood.
“Wanted you to see with your own eyes that the bastard is never going to touch you again.”
“I don’t know what to say.” My heart races. He killed his father-in-law. He killed him for me. That’s two men who have lost their lives because of me and I’m not sorry. Should I be feeling guilt or remorse? Maybe. I only have relief.
“Don’t say anything. Gimme’ that mouth.” Touching his mouth to mine, James consumes me with his kiss. Stroking my cheek, he smears blood along my jawline. “I’m going to fuck you right here covered in his blood. This is my oath to you that from here on out you’re mine, and I’ll kill any motherfucker who dares to come between us or touch what belongs to me. Make no mistake, Alexa. I protect what’s mine, and I’m a territorial son of a bitch. Lion said he fucked you. That you moaned for him. Now the last thing he will ever hear are the sounds you make for me.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, but I already have my answer. Strapped to a chair unable to move or look away because his eyes are being forced open with some metal device connected to his face to pry them open, Lion stares at me. Where his hands should be are bloody rags that’s soaked through wrapped around the stubs of his arms. I don’t know how he is still alive. There’s so much blood.
Oh God. I’m going to faint. My eyes roll back, and I sway on my feet. James catches me. “I know you’re freaked the fuck out.”
Freaked doesn’t quite match what I’m experiencing. Hell, I don’t know what I’m feeling but when James comes at me again, kissing me deep and wet all the crazy and the blood seems to melt away leaving the two of us in a space in time where there is only us. He lifts me onto a table with my back to Lion thankfully.
“Need inside you, baby.” He tugs on my shirt, yanking it over my head. Lips trailing along my neck he sets me on fire. “Want you crying out my name.” He nips at my collarbone. I come alive for him.
Only him.
My biker.
My killer.
My man.
Rolling my nipple between his thumb and finger, he teases my sensitive skin until it hardens. I cry out when he grabs hold the waist of my pants and practically rips them off me, tugging them down my legs as though they burn him to the touch. “This is going to be hard and fast, but I’ll make it up to you later.”
Shoving my knees apart, he moves between them, sliding my ass to the edge of the table. I wrap my legs around his hips. Leaning back on my elbows using the table to support me I watch him guide his thick cock inside me. The sight is carnal, filthy even, but beautiful.
“Always ready for me,” he mutters. Gripping my hip, he pulls out then slams back in with brutal force. The walls of my pussy contract and stretch around him, greedily. Murder fucks hard. That’s who he is right now. One man but two different identities. James is soft and sweet. His biker side though is a rough and savage killer who takes what he wants. Right now, he wants me. I belong to him. Both sides of him.
“Uh. Uh,” I pant out as he thrusts deeper and harder. My ass slides in the blood on the table. It should turn me off, but when I’m with my man nothing else matters.
“Fuck yeah, Lex. Take it.” His hand slides up my throat and gives me a squeeze, then moves to my chin. His thumb rubs blood over my lips but right now I don’t care. We’re animals fucking in his kill. Stripped bare and raw, covered in blood like demons. I suck his thumb between my lips and moan, giving that bastard forced to watch a show.
Murder fucks me like tomorrow may never come. He leans forward to kiss me, surging further inside me. So deep, I swear he’s rooted there. My stomach drops and my knees shake. My sinister killer sweeps his tongue inside my mouth, and I fall apart at the seams unable to hold on any longer. My body jolts, and I cling to his shoulder for assistance.
“I’m gonna come, Murder.”
“That’s it. Come all over my cock.” He slides in and out at a slow pace, staring down at his dick as he moves in and out.
Body quaking, I cry out his name, “Yes, Murder. Fuck me, baby.”
“Never felt anything better than you, Lex.” He jerks inside me, finding his own release. Murder separates from me, and his essence runs down my thighs. I’m bruised and dirty, but I’ve never felt more alive. “There’s one thing left to do.”
I watch in both horror and fascination when he takes possession of the axe.
“You can go to the other room and wait, or you can watch this piece of shit leave this world. Your choice but you got about ten seconds to make your choice.”
“You said I was part of your world. I see that it can be ugly. Scary even. But it can also be beautiful. You gave me that. You gave me your love too even if you never say it...I can sense it in your actions and your touch.” If I ever want to be his Old Lady, I’ve got to prove to him that I’m strong enough. That fail or fly I’m going to be his ride or die. Even if I’m not sure I have the strength for this, I know how to fake it till I make it. I’ve been doing it to survive my whole life. “I’m staying. I want my face to be the last he sees.”
Murder’s gaze meets mine. Filled with fury but I see resolve there too.
Filthy, naked, and possibly deranged I force myself to keep my eyes on Lion up until the moment his head rolls across the floor.