BITTER SWEET CRAVINGS (The Kingsmen MC Book 6) (17 page)

“You listen to everything we told you.” I turn to face Vince, as he continues “I want you out in the same condition I’m sending you in.”

I don’t know what’s come over me, but I take a deep breath and lean forward to give him the lightest peck on the cheek. It’s stunned him, his body freezes. Hell, it stunned me even more.

I don’t give anyone a chance to say anything about it. I turn on my heel and walk down the block to my front door. I rehearse and review the plan over and over in my head.

I’ll knock on the door, get him to release Dana and then walk over in front of the main window so they can get a clear fix on him from their scopes. Then as soon as I’m ten feet away, I say the code word, conquistador, and drop to my knees as they shoot.

Again. I go over the plan again, all the way until I’ve reached the front door.

I fulfill the first step of the scheme and knock.

The door opens and Dana steps aside. “I wish you didn’t come, Charlie.”

I walk inside, slowly.

“Of course she came for you, Dana. She’s your big sister. She doesn’t want your blood on her hands.” Harris is cold, indifferent, completely unlike the Harris I’ve known.

“We had a deal. Let her go,” I shout.

He laughs. Like a sick sadistic asshole, he laughs. I reach for Dana’s hand and hold it tight, squeezing.

“But two for the price of one is so tempting.” He’s practically maniacal.

I call his bluff. “Well, then you’ll have none because you’ll have to shoot us both. I’m not playing your game, Harris. I’m not afraid of you.”

I lie. I’m very, very afraid of him. I just hope I’m convincing enough that I’m not.

He bites his lip, sizing me up. “Get out of here, he waves the gun at Dana.”

“No! No, I won’t leave you alone with her!” Dana protests both verbally and physically as I push her out the front door and lock it behind her.

She bangs on the door, begging me to open it. Every syllable, every word cuts deep. Eventually she stops, and I can only assume that T.J.’s come and taken her to safety.

“I’m here. Just like I said. What do you want, Harris? How can we end this?”

He breathes deep. “What do I want? Come over here and sit on my lap and I’ll tell you.”

My eyes dart to the main window. We’re nowhere close enough.

“How ‘bout we sit on the couch instead?” I suggest.

“I said, get your ass over here!” His face turns red. He’s crazy. He’s certifiable.

I hear the gun click, and realize he’s engaged a bullet.

I move close, slowly, but he pulls me in as soon as he can, pushing me down on his lap. I feel a raging hard-on under my legs.

Oh God!
I try not to panic
,
to stay calm.

“Why don’t you tell me what you think I want to do, Nurse Griffiths? How ‘bout we play doctor?”

“Why are you
doing
this? We can help you. You don’t need to get wrapped up in all of this, Harris.”

He points the tip of the barrel of the gun to my chest, using it to move the fabric of my shirt away until the cold hard steel is playing with the tip of my breast.

“You like that, Charlie? You seem to like it. I’ll bet you’re the kind of girl who likes it rough. Is that why you’re with that greased-up biker? He give it to you rough? I’ll best I can give it to you rougher.”

He continues to swirl the gun around my exposed nipple. I cry out, knowing that the weapon is inches away from my heart. He mentioned Clink. He knows about him. I try to turn the tables a bit.

“If you knew about the biker, then why did you pursue me?” I try to distract him, to buy some time.

“You stupid bitch. I didn’t know about the biker. Not at first, anyway. You were just some piece of ass that I wanted to tap. When you kept turning me down, let’s just say it made it more of a challenge. Then I find out your dad is the leader of the strongest biker gang around these parts and you become a whole lot more appealing to me. I could’ve done some pretty lucrative business with your dad’s crew. Could’ve made us all a lot of money. You could have been my way in.”

He’s finally beginning to talk. I need to keep it going.

“Maybe we can still do business. What kind? Drugs?”

Harris moves the gun down, tracing down my middle. “Don’t pacify, me bitch. I’ve looked into it. Once I found out about your dad, I did some research on the Kingsmen. No drugs. Pity.”

“If you knew the Kingsmen didn’t allow drugs then why did you even start this shit?”

He’s beginning to lose patience with me. “Supply and demand. This is one of the only towns that doesn’t have an active drug market going on. Now, knowing what I do about the Kingsmen, I can see why, but back then it just looked like a golden opportunity. No competition. Pure profits. My associates thought it was too risky, but I told them I’d prove them wrong.”

The gun is now pressing in between my thighs, pushing its way in. I know if I resist him, he’ll have to push harder and could accidentally squeeze the trigger, so I don’t fight it.

“You don’t sound like a doctor, Harris. You sound like a drug lord.”

“Let’s just say I didn’t get through medical school by taking out loans. I met a lot of people. People who could get me what I need, like the little pills
you
needed. There’s a demand for it. I can open the channels to supply them. It’s a gold mine. Just like this little gold mine right here….”

He’s rubbing his weapon back and forth over me.

“So if you know the Kingsmen won’t allow it, then what are you doing, Harris? You’re digging yourself in deeper. There won’t be a way out, soon.”

The gun presses into me, right over the patch of fabric that covers the tense nub of nerves that are screaming silently in disgust at the foreign touch.

“The only thing I’m going to be digging, is my cock deep in your pussy, baby.” He licks my neck like a lollipop. “Maybe we’ll even play with the gun a little since it turns you on so much. And when I’m done with you, I’m gonna turn you over to my business associates to use as collateral to make sure your dad plays nice and doesn’t interfere in the new business ventures I’ll have convinced them are worth starting here in Chisolm.”

I try to wiggle free, fully aware now of his intentions.

“Wait!” I plead. “Not here. Please. My man has some kind of nanny-cam thing in the living room. Surveillance, for protection. He’ll hear. Please. I can’t do that to him.”

Harris laughs. “Oh, good. He’s been listening this whole time, he know’s what I’m about to do to his little
Ol’ lady
. Well, now he can see it, too. Get on the couch.”

I get up, moving in the direction of the living room, to my only hope right now. One step, two step, three step.

“CONQUISTADOR!” I yell and drop to the floor.

The bullets begin to spray into the house, and I scream out as I cover my ears and huddle in the fetal position, clenching my eyes tight. I feel bits of flying debris settling on me, as the bullets slow their pace before ending all together.

I keep my eyes shut tight, not risking opening them and seeing the carnage around me. I wait in agony for what seems like forever, my ears ringing violently from the barrage of deafening gunfire.

I begin to rock, back and forth, repeating to myself

It’s over. It’s over
.

And then I feel it. The strong hands, arms reaching around me and lifting me, carrying me. I can’t talk, I can’t cry, I can’t do anything right now except reach my arms around his neck and hold on tight.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THREE WEEKS LATER

“A little to the right. No, left. Perfect! Right there,” I yell out through cupped hands at the men standing on ladders.

“Hey, Clink! Is she this bossy in bed?” Blue’s struggling to hold the giant cupcake sign still as Dewey works the fastners.

“Every fucking night, brother. Jealous?” My man walks by, carrying a plastic five-gallon tub of paint. He playfully bites at my neck.

Dana follows him, carrying an armful of brushes and rollers staring at the new bakery sign. “What do you think?” I ask her.

She eyes the sign. “It’s very big.”

Blue can’t resist that one either. “Hey, T.J.! Is that what she says to you in bed?”

I take a paintbrush from Dana’s arms and throw it full-force at Blue, nearly causing him to lose his balance.

“Every fucking night, brother. Jealous?” T.J. shouts back, rummaging through the pile of supplies in the back of the pickup truck.

Dana rolls her eyes, “Blue has no idea…”

I playfully swat her. “Gross!”

She laughs as she walks carefully into the building. The two men on ladders seem to be struggling.

“Is this a job for three people?” I shout. “I mean it
looks
like this calls for three people.”

Blue stares at me. “Oh shit, you did
not
just hand me that on a silver platter. Hey, Clink! Is that what she says to you in-”

“Do
not
even think about finishing that sentence!”

Vince lifts his sunglasses in passing, glaring at the smart-ass he’s just reprimanded. He turns to me and winks before lowering his shades and disappearing into the workspace.

I smile. We’re nowhere near where most fathers and daughters are, but it’s damn nice not having a shouting match with him every time we’re together.

I grab the pile of drop cloths I’d been carrying earlier before getting distracted by the sign and finish the journey to where people are waiting for them.

The sound of electric screwdrivers and saws fills the rooms as the new cabinets and display case are being installed. Every Kingsman brother who’s not locked up is here today, getting everything ready for the grand opening in two weeks.

Jean is applying the custom decal over the back wall.

HAVE A LIL’ CUPCAKE.

Ha! Cute name. Every time I see it, I laugh. It’s perfect. A little bit of Lil’s and a little bit of Dana.

“Here you go,” I drop the pile of cloths at Leo’s feet. “These floors are brand new.” I point to the shiny wood. “Please don’t get paint on them.”

“Hey, Dana! Looks like you got your first customer! A little early, though.” Trojan points out the window to the black Mercedes that carefully pulls into the lot.

Oh. Fuck.

I step closer to get a better view, although Dana’s beaten me to it. “That’s not a customer. That’s my mother!”

Every hammer, every paintbrush, every screw gun stops, with each pair of eyes darting to the woman dressed in a perfectly tailored pair of dress slacks and a matching cardigan set who exits the car.

Her designer shades hide her eyes, but I know her well enough to guess exactly what those eyes look like right now.

“Sugar, what color did you say Dana wanted the kitchen?” Clink enters the room holding a pair of color swatches, completely shirtless, bearing every single tattoo from the waist up. “What’s going on?” he continues, taking in the work stoppage.

The sudden quiet and stillness alerts him that something is off.

I point to the door.

“Fuck,” is all he’s able to muster. “Should I go warn Vince?”

I shake my head. “No time.”

My mother carefully steps over the scattered supplies until she’s fully entered the building.

“Mom!” I call out as cheerfully as I can. Dana just stands stunned. “Wha-what are you doing here?”

She politely takes her sunglasses off and tucks them properly into her specialized case.

“I could ask you the same thing, Charlize.”

I swallow hard.

“Dana, dear, whatever is going on here?” She turns to her youngest, like a predator picking off the weakest one first. “What has Charlie gotten you into?”

“Uh, how did you find this place, Mom?” Dana replies, still stunned.

Mom tucks her bag under her arm, lifting her chin, acting as sophisticated as she can, sending subliminal messages to everyone around her that she is better than them.

“I received a call from a realtor, looking to verify your employment. You had apparently applied for a lease,” she scans her eyes over the construction space.

“Shit,” I whisper under my breath to Clink.

He leans forward and kisses me on the cheek. “It was bound to happen sooner or later, Sugar. Face it like a big girl.”

He then smacks me on the ass and yells out to everyone in the room. “Break time! Everyone get the fuck out and get some lunch!”

Mom jumps a little bit at the loud announcement.

“Regina,” Clink nods his head to her in passing. “Good to see you again.”

Mom does a double take. “Brian?”

He smiles. I see mom turning to watch him walk away, the full tattoo of the Kingsman patch sprawled out on his back, moving with him.

“Mom?” Dana brings mom’s attention back from following my man as he walks away. “We should talk.”

Mom looks like she’s seen better days. “I should say so.”

Dana helps her, grabbing her arm for support as the expensive heels step between the landmines of tools.

“Did someone say lunch?” Vince wipes his forehead, no idea what the hell he’s just walked into.

I freeze. I literally freeze, that is until I decide it’s a good idea to whip my head back and forth between the two of them, waiting for someone to speak. Someone other than myself, of course.

“Regina.” He acknowledges her. I can hear the restraint in his voice.

Mom tries to look as stoic as she can but I see the little cracks in the façade. “Would you please excuse us? I need to speak with my daughter.”

“
Our
daughter, “ he corrects her, not nearly as experienced as she is when it comes to hiding his emotions.

She stares at me. “Charlie?”

I turn to Vince and take a deep breathe. “It’s Okay. We should probably have a few minutes.”

“You sure?” he asks.

I nod, “Yes, of course.”

He turns and heads back the way he came, avoiding having to cross paths with my mother. Probably a good idea.

“Have a seat,” I offer her one of the customer booths.

“I’ll stand, thank you.” She’s firm.

I roll my eyes. “Jesus Christ, mother! Can you just stop acting like a royal bitch for one moment?”

Her eyes open wide. She’s speechless. So is Dana.

“How do you want me to act, Charlie? Hmm? Like- like one of
them
?” Something’s switched, very quickly. She’s now on the verge of tears.

I feel sorry for her, realizing just what it must have done to her pride to come back here, to face all this again. To see me as part of it.

“Mom…” I try.

She waves me off. “No. No. I’m all right. You’ve made your choice. I see that now.”

I’m exhasperated. “I’m not choosing. I don’t have to choose! No one does. I’m trying to do what’s right for me, Mom. Just because this isn’t the life you chose doesn’t mean it’s worth any less.”

“You promised me! You promised me you would never come here, you would never try to find him. I never should have told you.” She begins to reason with herself.

“Why?” I challenge her. “So I wouldn’t find out the truth? So I wouldn’t find out what really happened?”

She throws her bag down. “You have no idea what really happened!”

Dana steps back, shocked at the very uncharacteristic display of fury from our mother.

“I do know! I know how you were young, and stupid, and carefree for probably the only time in your life. I know how you fell in love, hopelessly in love. I know how it hurt you when he didn’t return that love, when he chose someone else. I know how you thought you’d hurt him, how you thought you’d erase him from your life for doing that to you. And I know, how everything turned out the way it was supposed to be.”

She’s silent, doesn’t refute any of my claims, and for the first time I actually believe Vince and what he’s sworn to me. That he didn’t know about me, that he never would have abandoned me if he had.

I see the tears and the hurt in her eyes and I can’t be angry at her for it. I astonish myself by finding forgiveness for the scared young girl who did the only thing she could think of.

“Don’t you see, Mom? If you hadn’t done those things, then you wouldn’t have found daddy. You wouldn’t have given me the most amazing father a girl could ever ask for. And then there wouldn’t have been Dana.”

I reach for my sister’s hand and squeeze it. “I know things worked out the way they were supposed to, but that doesn’t mean that I have to write off this part of my life like you did. This is where I belong. And that doesn’t mean that you don’t belong in my life, too. There’s room for everyone.”

She swallows hard.  “And you?” she asks Dana. “Is this the life for you, too?”

Dana looks unsure of how to answer the question.

“I don’t know, Mom. I don’t know what life has in store for me. But I do know that it’s my journey to make. My decisions, my mistakes.” She looks around the messy room. “This is good for me. This is where I belong right now. But Charlie’s right. There’s room for you, and I want you to know that. We have our grand opening soon. It would really mean a lot to me if you came.”

I know Dana’s asking a lot, probably too much. This is going to take time.

“And do you have a biker, too? An
Ol’ man
?” Mom asks her.

Dana shakes her head. “No. There’s someone I really like. I might even love him one day. But today… today I have a boyfriend. And I have a great relationship with my sister, and that’s enough for me. I hope it can be enough for you, too.”

“I see.” Mom picks up her bag from where she’s thrown it, dusting off the white coating. “I have a dinner meeting. I should get going.”

She turns and steps over the nail gun blocking her path. She stops short and admires the stenciled wall.

“Have a Lil’ Cupcake?” She chuckles. “I like it.”

Dana and I both turn to each other behind Mom’s back and stare in amazement at the compliment.

“Make sure to have a thermometer in the cold case, otherwise your frostings will wilt.”

And…
there’s
the mom we all know and love.

“Wait!” Vince calls out. I hold my breath as he passes me. “I have something to say to you!”

Oh, fuck!

Mom turns around, fear in her eyes. Fear that she’ll be held accountable for what she’s done. Fear that she’ll have to accept the true reasons behind what she did… hurt, rejection, heartbreak.

Vince stops short about a foot away from my mother. “You can’t leave here without me saying this.”

I’ve never seen them next to each other before. I try to imagine the love-struck young girl who once looked at him with adoration. I try to picture him younger, too, maybe with a kind face and some sweet words.

He holds out his hand.

Mom stares at it as if it could be a loaded weapon.

“I want to thank you. For raising her to be the remarkable woman she is. I want to thank you for that. You and your husband were really good parents.”

Dana wraps her arm around me to hold me upright as I nearly faint.

Mom looks past him to me, and we lock eyes. For the first time ever, I see her. I
really
see her. And she sees me.

“Thank you,” she shakes his hand delicately. They remain silent, letting go of the past that’s haunted them both. She reaches into her bag for her eyecase and shields her eyes with glasses before any more emotion is displayed.

Once she’s nearly to her car, the loudest cat-call is whistled. Blue admires the woman, my mother, from afar. Mom jumps a bit and moves to shield her ass as if she knows the pervert is staring at it before entering the safety of her car.

“I should probably find T.J.,” Dana is quick to abandon the father-daughter awkwardness that’s justsetting in.

“That was really nice of you. To do that. To say that to her.” I speak quietly.

He nods, shifting his eyes from mine so I don’t see the small tear in the corner. “Meant every word. I’m- I’m not sure I could have done as good a job. I don’t ever want to take the place of your pop.”

I swallow the lump at the base of my throat, nearly choking on suppressed tears. “I know. But… maybe there’s something else that you can be.”

His eyes widen, showing me the glimpse of hope they hold.