Sex & Mayhem 02 The Devil's Ride (49 page)

“Did you talk to your dad about us?” Tooth nuzzled
Luci’s earlobe with a sheepish smile, absent-mindedly stroking his
soft dick.

Luci smiled, looking down at the movement. “Yeah,
but it’s really awkward. He wanted to make sure you’re not abusing
me or anything. Anything more about sex makes him blush like a
virgin at a biker party.”

Tooth let out a rumbling laugh and nipped on Luci’s
lip. “I can imagine that. What did you tell him?”

The door slammed open and Luci’s eyes went wide at
the sight of the devil himself. He pulled a blanket over them in
panic.

“Dad!” he yelled in a pitch higher than he would
have liked to.

Tooth stiffened next to him, fumbling with his jeans
under the cover.

Priest faced away with his hand back on the
handle. Sadly, he didn’t
leave. “Christ, didn’t you tell me you were in too much
pain for this?”

Tooth let his head fall to the pillow. “Not for
jerking off, all right? Can’t you knock?”

“Dad, please come back in five or something?” Luci
moaned, pulling up his pants.

“No, this can’t wait. If you can do this, Tooth, you
need to come with us. We got a sniff of Rick. One of the guys has a
lead on where his house is.” Priest shifted his weight, looking as
uncomfortable as if he were standing on pins.

Tooth sat up right away, suddenly going into work
mode. “Where? Does he have other men on the premises?”

“Someone has been seen to come in and out, but
that’s it. His car was also parked there at one point.”

Luci swallowed. “Can’t the other guys go? Tooth is
still injured…”

But Tooth already slipped out of bed and buckled his
belt. “Most of us will go. I need to be there.”

Luci got out of bed as well. “But it’s not them who
could get internal bleeding.”

Priest spread his arms, clearly on the edge. Luci
could only imagine how badly Priest wanted revenge. “Nothing’s
gonna happen to him, but his experience
could be useful. We can’t just have him resting at
a time like this.”

“He’s right, Lucky.” Tooth put on a shirt and
collected his leather jacket from a hook on the wall.

Luci sighed just to hear his dad stir up another
issue yet again.

“Maybe you should live separately for a while after
all? Doesn’t Lucky need to learn to stand on his own two feet for a
while?”

“He’s been living on his own two feet for the last
few years, hasn’t he?” asked Tooth without even blinking as he
gently put his foot into the boot. It wasn’t all that easy without
using his hands, and he couldn’t really comfortably bend over
because of the injury.

Luci couldn’t bear looking at Tooth struggling that
much and quickly kneeled by his feet to tie his shoelaces. His head
pulsed, as it felt like seeing his man off to war.

“It’s different.” Priest groaned.

Tooth sighed, his free foot shifting slightly next
to Luci. “I really don’t mind taking care of him.”

Priest shook his head. “I’ll be waiting
outside.”

Luci took his time making the bows on the laces
perfect. He wanted to keep Tooth here with him, but he knew it was
selfish. His hand lingered on the polished leather, reluctant to
let go.

The moment they were alone, Tooth’s hand was back on
Luci’s head, gently brushing the hair away. “I’m sorry. I need to
do this,” whispered Tooth so softly Luci could barely recognize the
words.

Luci took a deep breath and looked up. “I know… It’s
just all too much.”

A gentle pull on Luci’s shirt was enough to make him
stand up straight into Tooth’s arms. The spicy masculine scent
enveloped him in a cloud of safety, but even with his lips pressing
against Tooth’s hairy jaw, he couldn’t stop thinking about the
danger. Sure, Tooth would be prepared this time, have more men, but
since Tooth thought Rick was behind Tracy’s death and out to kill
Luci, nothing could be predicted.

“It’ll be fine. I’ve been waiting for this for
twelve years,” muttered Tooth darkly. “Just keep safe in the
compound, yeah? There will be guards.”

Luci nodded, hugging Tooth as gently as possible. He
couldn’t shrug the feeling that avenging Tracy was more important
for Tooth than what they had now. Maybe Tooth could never love him
as much as he did Tracy? Not that Tooth ever said he loved Luci,
nor that Luci was expecting it, but it still hurt. “I’m scared,” he
whispered.

Tooth bit his lip, not letting Luci go. “I’m so
sorry.” He turned his head to press a kiss to Luci’s jaw. “But you
will be safe here. It’s so important to me. It’s why I joined the
Nails in the first place. I need this closure,” he whispered.

Luci quickly nodded and took a step back. The last
thing he wanted was to stand in the way of something so important
to Tooth. He still remembered first learning bits of this story
from Tooth and how hard it was for Tooth to tell it, how raw that
wound was after so many years. “I understand.”

“Baby?”

“Hm?” Luci ran his fingertips over Tooth’s chest.
The large, strong hand curled around his wrist.

“As soon as it’s over, it will be like a new
beginning.”

Luci nodded and kissed Tooth again. “You can’t
abandon Manson after all,” he tried to joke to make the atmosphere
less nerve wracking.

Tooth chuckled and gave Luci a final kiss before
stepping back and opening the door. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Luci watched Tooth leave, and it felt like being
half-empty. Anything could happen, and as much as Luci knew danger
was a part of being a Nail, Tooth didn’t have a fair chance like
everyone else, he was injured. It wasn’t right.

Even in the room he heard the roar of all the
bikes leaving the compound. Manson started meowing about it, so
Luci put on what was becoming his cat-hoodie and put the kitten
inside. He lay down on the bed in Tooth’s spot and curled up under
the blanket, trying not to look around too much. The room seemed
too big, blown out of proportion, and ready to explode around him.
Manson, the tiny furball
, was his only consolation whenever he thought of Tooth
getting injured again.

It was only later when the need to occupy himself
became so strong he crawled out of bed and took his kitty on a tour
of the area. Manson was curious, but didn’t run off when Luci kept
an eye on him, so he was increasingly sure that it
had been Dolly who’d put him
into the trash. Especially since she’d brought him Manson with the
carrier a few days before. She must have had the key to Tooth’s
room, which was truly disturbing. They needed to change the
locks.

The club was empty like a ghost town, and Luci
walked around aimlessly before he figured he could go visit Beast.
The goat’s silly wonky eyes always cheered him up.

On the way downstairs, he waved to Blitz and two
other guys who
’d stayed
behind to guard him, and went down the corridor to the back exit.
The setting sun blinded him when he went out into the courtyard and
stepped toward the pen.

A dark figure stood next to Beast, holding something
that reflected the light.

“Asty?” Luci cocked his head to the side and walked
up closer.

She spun around, facing him with wide eyes. She
had no trace of makeup, which made her look vulnerable and tired.
No, she didn’t look tired, she
was
tired. Dressed in a long black cape with a velvety hood,
she was like a haunted woman. “Luci?”

Luci walked up to the fence, but his jaw dropped
when he saw a large kitchen knife in her hand. “What are you
doing?” He slid into the pen, and Beast instantly moved close to
sniff his hoodie. He’d always do that when Manson was in there.

“
I...” Astaroth looked at the huge knife before
hiding it in her cape. “I should have done this when Bell was still
at the
coroner’s
office... even if I succeed transferring Beast’s energy, he’s six
feet under...”

A sinking feeling squeezed Luci’s heart. “Asty…
You can’t be serious.” He walked up closer and pulled out the
kitten, so he could hug her. He put Manson in the hood and grabbed
her hand. “You don’t want to hurt Beast. You
love
this goat.”

She scowled and averted her eyes to look at Beast,
whose muzzle was suspiciously close to one of the flaps of her
cape. “That’s why... It doesn’t count when you don’t feel anything
for the animal.”

Luci rubbed his forehead. This had to be one of the
saddest things he’d ever seen. “Asty, he’s not coming back,” he
whispered and squeezed her hand.

She slowly filled her lungs over capacity before
slouching against him with a low sob. Something fell to the ground,
and Luci could only assume it was the knife. He hugged her in a
heartbeat and gently stroked her back as she cried on his shoulder.
Over the whole ordeal of
Bell’s death and the funeral, he’d never seen her break
down. He was feeling pathetic for his own tears, but it was obvious
just how much she wanted to let go. They hadn’t even talked much,
she’d kept her distance from everyone. But this? Thinking that she
might bring Bell back through some ritual? He doubted she believed
it herself.

“I’m here for you,” he whispered, trying to be
strong.

“
I’m sorry,” she whispered, pressing her nose to
Luci’s neck, her petite body shaking. “I don’t know what to do.
Everything’s out of order. Mom’s not speaking to me,
Dad shut me off... Why did he
have to die?”

“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Luci
felt responsible for making her feel better. He was her only
brother now, and he had to make up for Bell being gone. “I was only
getting to know him. It felt so good to have a brother. Don’t do
anything stupid, we’ve got each other.”

Astaroth sniffed and held on to him, suddenly
jumping with a yelp. “The cat,” she uttered with tears still in her
eyes.

Luci smiled when he noticed Manson climbing off his
shoulder and onto Astaroth’s. “He likes you.”

She let out a mixture of a sob and a chuckle and
held the kitten in the cradle of her elbow. “He’s so cute. Cuter
than Beast,” she sniffed and slowly turned to face her goat.

Beast was chewing on her cape to show his contempt,
no doubt. She stared at it for the longest time before getting a
hold of his horn and trying to push him away. It wasn’t easy with
the kitten in one hand, so Lucifer helped her, holding back
laughter. He felt guilty for being able to smile so quickly after
Bell’s death.

“You know what we should do?” he said, pushing Asty
out of the pen, so the cape wouldn’t receive any more damage. “We
could go visit Bell’s grave next week. Just the two of us. What do
you think?”

She hung her shoulders and kissed Manson between the
ears. “Yeah... I think that would be great. Thanks,” she said,
slowly raising her eyes. She squeezed her slim hand on his
wrist.

“Promise me you won’t kill Beast?” Luci stroked her
hair.

Asty groaned and looked back at the goat. “No... it
was just a thought...”

Luci raised his eyebrows. It seemed pretty planned
to him. “Do you actually do… I dunno, rituals and shit?”

Astaroth’s eyes darted to Luci. “Why, you want to
learn?”

Luci hesitated for a moment. “I’ve got these teeth I
would like to curse before I bury them. I want the person who they
belonged to to suffer in hell.”

Asty’s eyes darkened. “Done.”

Luci couldn’t help a groan of satisfaction. He
walked her all the way to her scooter, feeling a bit better. It was
amazing to have a sister. “Say hello to Behemoth from Manson.”

Asty gave him a small smile. “They should meet, you
know.”

“You think Manson’s gonna be gay like his daddy?”
Luci took the kitten back into his hands.

Asty gave him a peck on the cheek and mounted her
scooter. “Sure he will. You’ll awake one night to wailing, and
he’ll have a gay orgy in your bathroom.”

“Not on my watch,” he said in the best impression of
their dad he could muster.

Asty snorted and brushed away a tear that spilled
down her cheek. “You need to help me get laid.”

Luci laughed and gave her one more pat on the back
as he walked her to the gate. Prospect looked through the door.

“Hey, only Astaroth can leave!”

Luci rolled his eyes. “Duh. I know, no worries!”
he yelled back. All he got in return was a
thumbs-up and a slammed door.

Asty said her good
-byes and drove off, leaving Luci all alone again.
He wondered when Tooth would be back, but as soon as he turned
around and started walking to the compound, he heard Suzy’s voice
from the gate.

“Hey! Lucifer,” she said so quietly it was weird.
She was usually the loud one, flashy with her blue hair and
colorful dresses. Then again, the kidney thing must have really
shaken her. Only now it occurred to Luci that it had to be Rick who
fucked her up like that. She was lucky to be alive.

Luci quickly turned around to the gate. “Suzy!
What are you doing here?” She looked like shit. With her hair
washed out and with dark roots that had to be a month old, not to
mention the bags under her eyes, she looked like someone severely
ill
.

She swiped her gaze over the dirt before looking up
at Luci. “I just found out about Bell...”

Luci sighed and walked up to the gate. “You were
close, weren’t you?”

Suzy bit her lip and nervously looked around, as if
she had just heard something suspicious. “Yes, but that’s not why I
am here,” she eventually said, holding onto the thick bar of the
gate. “I know where Rick is.”

Luci nodded, his adrenaline levels spiking in an
instant. “Come in, I’ll call Tooth,” he said and reached
for his phone, pressing the
code on the buttons to the gate. In the corner of his eye he saw
her squeeze through the opening as soon as she could.