CHAPTER EIGHT
2014 – Santana
I sway my hips to the song. My mind is a haze of alcohol and happy thoughts from the amount of it I’ve had. The party is in full swing—bikers are drinking, whores are doing what they do best, and Ash and I are swinging our butts on top of the table. My leg is numb, which I’m not entirely sure is a good thing because I could be doing serious damage, though I am only swinging my hips, not parading around flicking my legs out.
Krypt and Maddox are watching us, smirks on their handsome faces. No one tries to interfere. We sway and sing, our drinks sloshing about in our glasses as the music carries us away. “Play it again!” Ash squeals when her favorite song ends.
“Noooo,” I groan. “Another one.”
I take a step back, a little too far, and with flailing arms I make my rapid descent towards the floor. I never make it, of course—my knight in shining . . . errr . . . leather . . . catches me. His arms wrap around me and he scoops me up, holding me close to his chest.
“Time to get you home,” he murmurs.
“Aw, Maddox,” I complain. “I was having fun.”
“A little too much, it would seem. Time to go.”
“Fun spoiler,” I murmur as he carries me out the door. “Bye Ash!” I call before we exit.
“I’m coming to see you tomorrow, Tana!” she squeals. “I need to know more about that kiss.”
I flush and giggle as Maddox carries me outside to his truck. He opens the door and shoves me inside. I land awkwardly, my legs sprawled, my dress sliding up way too high.
“Jesus, Tana, I can see your fuckin’ ass.”
“It’s a nice ass.” I laugh.
He yanks my dress down, muttering a curse before slamming the door. By the time he gets into the driver’s side, I’m up and already fiddling with the radio.
“Stop it,” he growls, smacking my hand away.
“No,” I protest. “I want to listen to this song.”
“Santana so help me God, I’ll tie your fuckin’ hands together.”
“Bite me, Maddox.”
“With fuckin’ pleasure.”
I laugh again, and start singing loudly to the song as he pulls out of the compound. We cruise down the highway, headed for home, when the shots come. Out of the blue. Right into the tires of the truck. They come so suddenly, it takes me a moment to realize what the loud cracking sound is.
Then it clicks.
“Maddox?” I cry, holding onto the door as the car lurches to the side.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. Find my phone, Santana.”
“What’s happening?” I cry.
“Find my phone,” he barks.
“W-w-w-where is it?”
“My pocket, right.”
I reach over to his pocket, shoving my hand inside his jeans to bring out his phone just as another shot fires, smashing the windscreen. The car swerves again, and I scream as bits of glass explode into my face.
“Fuck,” Maddox roars. “Tana, are you hurt?”
My face stings, and my arms burn, but I’m okay. “I think . . . I’m okay.”
“Call Krypt or Mack.”
I open his phone with shaky fingers as he speeds up. The car is bumping and grinding against the road, but it doesn’t stop him. He swerves to the right, down a busier street. We’re closer to town, and the closer we can get, the safer we are.
“Mack.”
Mack answers his phone on the first ring.
“Mack, it’s Santana. We’re being shot at.”
“What?” he says, his voice hardening. “Where are you?”
“Maddox,” I say quickly. “Where are we?”
Maddox glances at me and his eyes widen. “Motherfucker, you’re hurt.”
I don’t have time to process that before he barks, “Main Street.”
“We’re nearly at Main Street.”
“You got a visual?”
“Visual?” I ask Maddox.
“Nothin’. It’s too dark.”
“No.”
“We’re on our way.”
I can see the lights as we near Main Street, but not before another shot rings out, hitting another tire. The car swerves again, but Maddox refuses to let it stop. It grinds against the pavement, the blown tires no doubt destroyed, and the metal carving a path as we move. We skid onto Main Street and whizz past cars, causing horns to honk.
Maddox doesn’t stop until he reaches the back road to Krypt’s house. He skids down it, pulling over on a large grassy patch. He is out of the car in a split second, swinging my door open. “Get out and run.”
“Where?” I gasp.
“Over Krypt’s fence. He’s got thick bushes running alongside of it. Get in them, and don’t fuckin’ breathe until I come to you.”
I nod and turn, running with everything I have towards the fence. My heart is pounding, and my legs feel numb as I near my destination. I trip three times because of the alcohol consumption and my aching calf. When I reach the fence, I hear another gun shot. I make a strangled, gasping sound as I throw myself over. I land on the other side with a thump. I don’t hesitate, diving into the trees.
Branches scrape up my arms, and I grit my teeth to stop from shouting in pain. Tears leak out of the corners of my eyes as I wait, the eerie silence making me feel ill. I wrap my arms around myself and I sit, waiting. The rumbling sounds of Harley Davidson’s in the distance have me crying with relief.
Voices, the sounds of the bikes starting again, and then the sounds of doors slamming in Krypt’s house drift out to me. The back door swings open and Maddox barks, “Tana? Are you there? Shit.” His voice is frantic, so I push to my feet quickly, shoving out of the bushes. The moment he notices me, I see him visibly relax.
“Thank fuckin’ God,” he murmurs. “Come inside, darlin’.”
I follow him inside and the moment we’re in the light, he turns to me, his face scrunching in pain. “Shit, your face is bleeding. Come and sit down.”
I don’t argue, still too shaken up. I sit at the table as Krypt, Ash, Mack and Tyke come inside. Ash sees me and rushes over, sliding into the seat beside me. “Are you okay?”
I nod weakly. “I’m okay, just shaken.”
Maddox returns with a first-aid kit. I catch a glimpse of his face and see he’s got a few cuts of his own. I point to his cheek. “You’re bleeding, too.”
“I don’t care, honey,” he murmurs. “I’m goin’ to fix you first.”
“Are we safe?” I whisper.
He looks to Mack, who walks over and puts his hand out. “Let me fix her. Make some calls, Maddox.”
Maddox hesitates, but he hands Mack the wipe and disappears down the hall with Krypt close behind. Mack sits in front of me, his eyes studying my face as he wipes the drying blood off. “You know how to get them all wound up, don’t you?”
“This is my fault?” I gasp.
He stops. “No, God, fuck no.”
I sigh, and close my eyes. Ash takes my hand “We’ll be okay,” she assures me.
“They shot at us, with no hesitation at all,” I point out. “This is the second time. Someone wants to hurt me.”
“Maddox has got this,” Mack says.
He finishes cleaning my face, and Maddox returns. He’s angry, I can tell, so I don’t push. He’ll tell me what happened when he’s ready. I’m suddenly tired, having sobered up too quickly. Maddox takes Krypt’s keys and turns to me. “We’re goin’ home. Come on.”
I stand, not arguing. My leg aches, but I ignore it. There more pressing issues right now.
We live around the corner from Krypt, so it’s not too far to have to drive.
“Mack will follow, make sure we aren’t bein’ trailed.”
I nod, not bothering to speak. I hug Ash, and then follow Maddox out to Tyke’s car. We pass the truck on the way, and seeing it bullet filled has my chest clenching. Maddox stops, too. He stares at it, and then over to me, and his hand comes out in silent comfort, squeezing mine. So close...it was so close.
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“Come on,” he says, his voice low. “Let’s get you home.”
The entire ride home is silent, and my face is starting to ache. I wait in the car while Maddox and Mack check out the house, and then I’m allowed in.
I go right to my room, holding my emotions in the best I can. Maddox is talking to Mack downstairs, so I figure I have the chance to change and have a shower. It’s an awkward shower, too. I have to lean forward so my face doesn’t get wet. My leg surprisingly didn’t bust open with my running, but it’s pounding now. When I’m clean, I change and slide into bed.
Tears come spilling out the moment that my head hits the pillow, and I sob, loudly and freely. I vaguely hear the sounds of my door opening and then my bed dips. I don’t bother to fight as Maddox curls his arms around my weak body and pulls me into him. His skin is warm, hot even, and completely bare. My face presses against his chest and I breathe him in, just needing someone.
We say nothing—there's really nothing to say. I think he needs my comfort as much as I need his. Maddox and I have always had a strange, quiet connection. We fight a whole lot, but when it comes down to being there, we’ve always had each other’s backs. I nestle in closer, his heart steadily pounding against my ear.
“I’m scared, Maddox,” I finally whisper.
“Ain’t no fucker touchin’ you, do you hear me? Tomorrow you’ll move to the club; you’re safer there. Tonight, I’ve got a watch on the house.”
I nod, pulling back so I can nestle up into his neck. He makes a throaty sound, and his arms tighten around me. Desperate for comfort, I lift my lips and kiss his cheek. It’s innocent, it truly is, and yet it quickly changes. Like a flash, Maddox turns his head and his lips capture mine.
I’m frozen in shock for longer than a minute, our lips locked, our bodies still, the air around us crackling.
Then he moves, and he changes everything.
His lips don’t force, no, they coax mine apart in a gentle caress that has all the breath leaving my body. His mouth is rough, yet soft, a perfect combination of dark and light. His tongue slips in and fireworks explode in my body, from my head to my feet.
And I finally understand his words.
When you get kissed for real, in the way that involves passion, you feel it right to your toes. My sex clenches, and a moan is wrenched from my lips as his mouth continues it’s slow, agonizing torture, exploring me until my fingers are clawing at his naked back.
He pulls away on a pant, and in the darkness I can hear nothing but our breathing.
“That,” he growls, his voice low and husky, “is how it should feel when a man kisses you.”
I have nothing to say. He just blew my mind with one simple connection of our lips. Maddox and I have always had some sort of sexual attraction, but for me he’s always driven me too crazy to ever act on it. I thought I could get through my life and never need him the way I need him right now.
“Stay with me,” I whisper. “Please, Maddox.”
“Wasn’t goin’ to go anywhere, babe. Go to sleep before I change my mind and kiss you again.”
He curls his arms around me once more and we fall into a relaxed position that feels just too perfect. I close my eyes, trying to push that kiss from my mind but failing miserably. Eventually, though, exhaustion takes over, and I slip off into oblivion.
CHAPTER NINE
2014 – Santana
I wake from a nightmare I can’t remember; sweating and grabbing anything I can curl my fingers around. That happens to be Maddox. His hands go over the top of mine, prying my fingers from his arms. Shit, I didn’t realize I had latched onto him so hard. I pull back suddenly, nearly falling from the bed. It’s only his hand shooting out and catching me that prevents that.
“You’re okay,” he murmurs. “I got you.”
I don’t say anything as he rolls me back towards him. My face presses against his chest, and I take a moment to breathe him in. God, his skin is hot, so hot. My heart begins to slow and I part my lips, pressing my open mouth to his hot flesh. My mind spins as my tongue slides out and across his hard, muscled chest.
“Fuck,” he hisses. “Santana, stop lickin’ me.”
I stop what I’m doing, but not before I feel the little bumps break out across his flesh from my tongue. I just need to feel okay. I know I’ll wake in the morning, and I’ll regret this, but lying next to him like this . . . it feels so good.
“Santana, honey,” he rasps. “You either stop, or I’ll flip you over and fuck you so hard you’ll never forget me.”
I flush and swallow, moving my mouth from his flesh. Maddox doesn’t know I’m a virgin—no one does. It’s something I hold close, not ashamed for a second that I haven’t given it away, even though I’m twenty-one now.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “I just . . .”
“I know,” he rasps, rolling and using my hips to pin me to the bed.
I’m half on my side, half on my back. His body presses against mine every inch of him. Every. Inch. It’s when his . . . cock . . . presses against me that I realize the position we’re in. I’m reminded of Alec, and my heart begins to pound. I stiffen.
“Don’t,” Maddox warns. “Push me away. Tell me that Pretty Boy is what you want. But don’t, I swear to fucking God, don’t tell me that you regret my mouth on yours, Santana.”
My heart pounds. He knows me so well.
“I’d never regret you, Maddox,” I whisper. “No matter how angry you make me, I’d never . . . not for a second . . . regret you.”
“Then go back to sleep and let me lay here, feelin’ somethin’ I’ve been waitin’ so fuckin’ long to feel.”
So long? He’s waited to feel me like this? I try to push that from my mind as he moves me over him, resting my cheek against his chest. I try not to think about his words, but I know, I just know they’re going to consume me.
~*~*~*~
When I wake in the morning, I’m alone.
I slide out of bed, my face burning. I haven’t got any cuts big enough for stitches, thank God, but there are a few achy gashes on my cheeks and forehead that hurt when I move my jaw. I also have a few on my arms. I pull on a pair of shorts and walk out of the room, towards the stairs.
I hear voices as I near and I stop, listening.
It’s Mack and Maddox. I shouldn’t be listening in, but I can’t help it. They’re talking about last night, and I’m curious to know what went down. I press myself against the wall and tilt my head to the side so I can hear them more clearly.
“Howard’s in prison, but the fucker still has a solid club. He’s pissed, and he’s going to make me pay by hurtin’ her.”
Mack grunts. “You sure they knew Tan was in that car with you?”
My heart stutters.
“The shot came through her side, Mack,” Maddox mutters.
“Fuck. As I suspected.”
My stomach turns. I feel a little ill.
“Gotta be revenge?”
“You sent her into his club, and fucked his plan. It’s absolutely revenge,” Mack grinds out.
“I gotta figure out how to keep her safe. Right now, I’m not sure how I’m gonna do that.”
“Bring her to my new house. It’s unknown, because most people don’t know about me,” Mack suggests.
No. No way.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Maddox says, though his voice sounds grumbly and not entirely convinced. “They’ll be watchin’ the club and this place. You’ve only just leased a joint – it’ll work.”
“I’ve yet to move in—I have the keys, no furniture, but I can make that happen. We’ll make sure I’m not bein’ followed at any time, and we’ll get her over there and keep low.”
“You know I’m not overjoyed with the idea of you bein’ alone with her, Mack,” Maddox grunts.
I hear a snort. “Not goin’ to do anything, boss man. Wouldn’t wanna piss on your shoes.”
Maddox laughs. “No, you better fuckin’ not. Right, it’s done, then.”
I push off and continue down the stairs. Both men turn when a creak fills the room. Maddox lets his gaze travel over me instantly, checking if I’m well. Mack simply smirks at me, as if he knows. My cheeks heat as I hurry past them towards the kitchen.
“You hear that, babe?” Maddox calls out.
“Yes.”
“You goin’ to fight me on it?”
I hesitate, but say, “That depends.”
He makes a displeased sound in his throat. “It ain’t negotiable. I was only hopin’ you wouldn’t fight because it makes it easier for both of us.”
I pour a coffee and turn to him. “Can Alec still visit?”
He looks as if I’ve just slapped him. His face turns hard as stone in seconds, his mouth tight, his eyes flashing with rage and pain. I didn’t mean that to sound so cold, but Alec is in the picture, even if Maddox and I did spend a night kissing. I can’t just forget about him.
“Is Alec the pretty boy from the other night?” Mack asks.
I’m almost certain I can hear Maddox’s jaw grinding with rage. Jesus. I look away; I can’t stand to see that expression for a moment longer. I don’t understand why he’s so angry. Yes, we kissed, but in the end he’s going to find a piece of club pussy soon, and fuck the shit out of it. I don’t see why I can’t have what he has.
“He’s not a pretty boy,” I snap.
Mack laughs. “He is a pretty boy, but if you’re seein’ him and he’s a good man, then I’ve got no problem with him comin’ around.”
Maddox shoots Mack a scathing look that has even me flinching. “She ain’t riskin’ bringin’ that piece of shit around when she’s in danger.”
“Maddox,” I protest. “I’m not going to stop seeing him because I’m in danger. I’ll be careful, sure, but I’m not going to stop.”
Maddox turns back towards me and stalks over. The moment he reaches me his hand lashes out and curls around my shoulder. He pulls me in close, bringing his mouth down to my ear. “Did I have my tongue in your mouth last night?” he growls.
I swallow. “That doesn’t matter . . . it doesn’t because . . .”
“Because why?” he snarls, his breath hot against my skin.