Trust (Trojans MC Book 6) (11 page)

“Do I look like a give a fuck? MC and mafia don’t fucking mix, you piece of shit. Is this for some fucking glory? To be the small town prick that did this?”

“This fell in my lap.”

Knuckles had to give Clinton credit, he wasn’t running away like a little bitch, screaming. He was facing Duke head on.

“It mysteriously fell in your lap?”

“I got a call from an old friend in the city. Said there was a woman, needed my help. Possible domestic dispute. I went to the hospital, and I was dragged in there, and then ordered to silence. Maya is in deep shit. The stuff she knows, she has the evidence that can put the Abelli family away for fucking life. You got me? Life. They’re trying to keep her quiet.”

“Do you want to know why the Abelli are still walking around?” Duke asked.

“They’ve got connections in high places.”

“Everyone and everything that touches so-called informants, or rats, end up fucking dead!” Duke slammed his fist down on the table.

“She’s innocent in this.”

“Innocent? No one in the mafia is innocent. They breed monsters.”

“Holy shit,” Pie said, looking up.

“What? What is it?”

Knuckles saw that he’d gone pale. “What?”

“Did you see the age of her?” Pie asked.

Duke frowned, and Pie slid the file across. Knuckles watched as Duke went pale.

“She’s fifteen years old, and those pictures were taken a year ago.”

Staring at the pictures, Knuckles took a long look, and he saw her immaturity.

“The Feds used a fucking girl!”

“It was some fucking rookie, okay?” Clinton said. “Why do you think I’m here? They’re trying to clean up their mess, or at least one good cop is.”

“Cop?”

“Yeah, my guy, he’s a cop from the city, and he’s the one that alerted me to all of this.”

“You can’t let her go to someone else,” Russ said. “She’s as good as dead.”

“She comes here, we put our women at risk.”

“The fact that Clinton is even here, we’re at risk. The Abelli will come, and when they do, they’ll kill everyone who ever heard of Maya. We’re dead either way,” Russ said, taking a seat. “I feel very old.”

Knuckles stared at Duke, who had turned toward the window. Even from the door, he saw the women outside. The moment Clinton accepted that client and walked into their clubhouse with that folder, he’d changed all of their lives.

“No one ever comes back alive from the Abelli,” Duke said. “I hate this.”

“You walk away, it may not come back,” Raoul said. “Get rid of Clinton, walk away.”

Knuckles looked toward Raoul, and saw that he couldn’t walk away.

“It’s a kid,” Crazy said. “What if it was Bell, or Matthew, or fucking Strawberry and Starlight? We can’t walk away, not with a kid.”

Knuckles thought about Beth. What kind of man would he be if he walked away, and allowed this girl to be hurt? He wouldn’t be good enough for her.

“I’m in,” he said, drawing the attention to him. “We can’t let her go. She’s a kid, and last time I checked, we were all fucking assholes, but not like that.” He pointed toward the file. “I can’t look at Beth if I let anything happen to that little girl.”

“She was only trying to do what was right,” Clinton said.

“You shut the fuck up.” Duke looked at the room. “The vote has to be unanimous. If one of you votes no, then it’s no.”

“What do we do with her when she turns up? She can’t have the same name,” Landon said.

“Her name’s going to be Winter.”

“Sheila and I can’t have a reason to call her ours,” Russ said. “We’re too old, and they know we wouldn’t abandon her.”

“Nor I,” Duke said. “I killed my fucking wife, and I wouldn’t leave a kid behind.”

Knuckles watched as they all had a struggle as to how Maya was about to fit into their lives. If she was to be protected they had to have a reason for her to be with them.

“Then she can be my sister,” Landon said, speaking up.

They all turned toward him.

“I’m not from around Vale Valley. I haven’t given much of myself away. I show up with a girl, treat her like a sister, no one is going to know the difference. She can stay at the club. We can make it work.”

“I don’t understand,” Clinton said. “You only need to protect her.”

“‘Only need to protect her’ is easy if you haven’t settled down, and have roots. We all have roots in Vale Valley. You tell me how we’re supposed to blend in a girl who just turns up one day. A sister will work. It has to.”

Chapter Eleven

One week later

Knuckles sat at the clubhouse with Beth by his side. It had been a week since Clinton’s visit. He rubbed at his temples as he cleared the sleep from his eyes. It was a Friday night, and they’d just returned from their drug run. He was tired, and wary. All of the brothers were. There was not the usual bravado, nor the same lightness within the club.

He imagined once Maya—or Winter, as they had to call her—came, they’d be tense for a long time.

“What’s wrong?” Beth asked.

Duke had ordered them to keep the information to themselves until he was ready for others to know. First, Duke wanted to establish Winter in the fold, and to make sure everything was safe and secure.

Knuckles had even gone with Duke to buy some weapons. They all owned their own, and kept a small supply in the basement, but with Winter came a threat, so it was time to start getting serious.

“Nothing, babe, I’m just tired.”

He tugged her down into his lap, kissing her neck.

“You can tell me anything,” she said.

“I know.” As a way to let off steam, Knuckles had taken her to his old club where he’d trained with the best Doms around. Beth had been a little uncomfortable at first in the club. Knuckles hadn’t made a move for more to happen. He wanted her to watch, and to also see how she responded to certain scenes.

“Everyone is tense,” she said.

“It’s okay.” He breathed in her scent, trying to fill every single sense with her. She was his entire world.

“So, when are you guys going to make honest people out of yourselves?” Raoul asked, sitting with Zoe at his side.

“Huh?” Beth said.

“In the eyes of the club, you going to take her as your old lady or what?” Raoul put his arm around Zoe’s shoulders, and Knuckles wanted to hurt him. With everything going on around the club, the last thing he needed to deal with was Raoul.

“Seriously, you’re talking about that with my sister.”

“She knows about it. I’ve seen her watching that when she lived here.”

“Please kill me now.” Beth buried her face against his chest.

“What the heck are you doing?” Pie asked.

“Everything is supposed to be normal right?” Raoul asked, giving them all pointed looks. “I’d say right now we’re looking at little out of place for our regular Friday night.”

“Speaking of, where is Landon?” Zoe said. “He told me there was someone he wanted me to meet. I’m going to be totally surprised, and blown away.”

“I’ve got to get a beer,” Knuckles said. He got to his feet, and made his way into the clubhouse. Raoul followed him in. “This isn’t a laughing matter.”

“Dude, I already spoke to Duke and the others. We all look ready to fucking pounce. This is supposed to be a house of protection. This is about us looking fucking normal. Do it, otherwise we’re going to look suspicious.”

“You expect me to take Beth as my old lady with this shit?”

“That’s precisely my point, Knuckles. What shit? To everyone else, Landon’s sister is here to visit, and nothing is out of fucking order. You’re acting like we’re about to die, and maybe we are. We’re not supposed to know.”

Knuckles saw his point, so he nodded. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, fuck. I know it’s hard, and it’s tense, but we got to try, you know?”

Taking two beers out, Knuckles paused as he saw Landon had his arm thrown across a woman’s shoulders. She had dark brown hair, so dark it looked almost black, and she looked slender.

Showtime. Moving toward his woman’s side, Knuckles handed her a beer and tugged her close.

“Knuckles, this here is my sister. I tried to keep her away, but Winter didn’t want to be left alone anymore.”

“Nice to meet you, Winter,” he said.

“You as well.”

She didn’t have an accent, and she smiled at him. He saw she looked nervous.

“I can’t believe Landon never talked about you,” Zoe said. “Didn’t you say you were an only child?”

“He wishes he was. Clearly, he’s not. He doesn’t like it that I’m way smarter than he is,” Winter said.

“She seems nice,” Beth said.

“I know.”

“I read her file,” Beth said quietly, startling him.

“What?”

“This is what has you stressed out?” Beth asked.

“Beth, babe, I don’t—”

She stood up and held her hand out, which he took. He followed close behind her as she took him upstairs toward his room. Knuckles closed the door, and turned toward Beth.

“You don’t what?” she asked.

“We shouldn’t be talking about it.”

“Orders from Duke to keep it silent?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I’m not mad at you,” she said. “I read the file, and I knew why you couldn’t tell me. Abelli.”

“You didn’t research the name, did you?”

“No. I didn’t. I didn’t have to. They’re in the newspaper. How did she stay out of it?” Beth asked.

“They kept her hidden. The Abelli know how to keep their secrets. I wanted to tell you.”

“You couldn’t. I can keep a secret, Knuckles, and I don’t blame you.”

He cupped her face, staring into her blue eyes, and he sighed. “I’m in love with you,” he said.

“What?”

“You’re a witch, there’s no doubt about it. You’ve gotten under my skin, and into my heart. I don’t know how you did it. I don’t want to live without you.”

She giggled. “That’s good, because I love you, too, and I don’t want to live without you.”

He slammed his lips down on hers, and she melted against him.

“How about we go back home?” he asked.

“Or we can stay right here,” she said, moving toward his closet.

Knuckles watched as she pulled out one of his boxes. She opened it up and retrieved a pair of cuffs.

“It’s not much, but it’s a start. What do you think?”

“You want me to cuff you?”

“You can do whatever you want with me,” she said.

She was so much temptation wrapped in a beautiful blonde package. “Get naked.”

Beth removed her clothes, and Knuckles watched.

What he didn’t expect was for her to sink to her knees before him, submitting to him.

Moving forward, he stroked his fingers through her silky strands. “You’re so beautiful, and pretty. Look at me.” She tilted her head back, and he smiled. “Get up.”

She got to her feet, and he spun her around, securing her hands behind her back. “Do you trust me?” he asked.

“Completely.”

“Good.” He pushed her down to the bed, and ran his hands down her back. “Are you ready to be my old lady?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you thinking this has a get out clause. It doesn’t. Once you’re mine, and declare us to the club, that’s it. No second chances.”

“I want to belong to you, Knuckles, so much.”

“Good, because there’s no doubt about it, baby, you’re mine.” He ran his hand down her back, and she wriggled, trying to get closer to his hand. Smiling, he slapped her ass, then slipped his hand between her thighs to find her soaking wet already.

“Please,” she said.

“I love it when you beg.” He thrust his fingers inside her cunt and started to pump in and out.

“So good,” she said.

Releasing her hands, he put her into position on her knees, and made her stay there so that he could see.

Releasing his cock, he tore into a condom, and slid it over his length.

Moving behind her, he gripped her bound hands and lifted her up. Finding her entrance, he slammed home. They both cried out together.

“Who’s in control of you, baby?” he asked.

“You are, always you.”

“Good. No matter what, I’ll always take care of you.”

“I know.”

He loved her even more for her complete faith in him. Knuckles would go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. No matter what threat came from Winter, he’d protect the club, and his woman.

Pulling out of her tight heat, he slammed back home, fucking her with a force that startled them both.

All the fears leaked out of him, and he claimed what was his, the woman that belonged to him.

“I love you, Beth, so damn much.”

It was quick, fiery, and shocking as they came together. Knuckles kissed her neck, putting his mark on her for everyone to see.

****

Life remained normal for the Trojans in Vale Valley. Beth didn’t see anything go awry, and she never let on that she knew about Winter’s true identity. Clinton continued to work, and Winter actually enrolled in the school. Daisy and Knuckles stopped fighting, and her parents even accepted Knuckles into the fold, which was a welcome relief. She couldn’t have handled her parents not liking him.

Maria and Daisy were also expecting a new baby, and Matthew was home for the fall vacation. It was getting cold, and because of how crazy life had gotten, Knuckles hadn’t initiated the old lady claiming, which seemed totally wrong to her, but who was she to judge?

It was a Friday, and she’d finished work early, and was heading out of the office when Knuckles startled her from behind.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“What are you doing?”

“Well, I was surprising you.”

“This is kind of scary. It’s not a nice surprise at all.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“You scared me a little.”

He leaned forward, nibbling her neck. “Sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He released her eyes, and he smiled. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Beth, I know you, and something is wrong. What is it?”

“Do you want me to be your old lady?” she asked, feeling stupid.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” She walked past him, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

“No, it’s not okay, and you’re going to spoil my surprise. With the club, life has been pretty hectic, and I haven’t been able to do everything that I’ve wanted to do. Also, Daisy hasn’t exactly made life easy either, and I’m not going to fight your brother.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“However, I’ve told the guys that tonight is the night. I’m claiming you, and I don’t give a fuck what Daisy thinks.”

“I’m going to be your old lady?”

“To me, you already are, but the club has this tradition. I think it’s crazy, but it makes sense.”

She squealed, wrapping her arms around him. “I never thought I’d be this excited for exhibitionism.”

“Haha, they’ll only see what I want them to see.”

“I love you, Knuckles.”

“Baby, you don’t have the first clue how I feel about you, but that’s okay, I can show you in time.”

She did know, and now that she was going to be his old lady, she was more than happy to wait till tonight. She was nervous—who wouldn’t be?—but she was also looking forward to it. Finally, she was going to belong to him.

“What changed your mind?” she asked.

They walked hand in hand toward his bike. Beth had been for many rides on his bike, and it had to be one of the most amazing experiences of her life.

“With everything going on, I didn’t want to have you commit to me if something went wrong.”

“Like what?”

“Like me dying. I want you to be able to go, to leave, and not have to worry.”

She paused at his bike and turned to cup his face. “Knuckles, I’d never run from you or away from you. I’m in this for life.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“So? I lived my life trying to be safe once, and that didn’t work. I want to be wherever you are.”

Knuckles stroked her cheek, and she held onto his hand, smiling. “I’m never letting you get away.”

“Besides, you’ve still got a challenge right now.”

“Oh yeah, and what’s that?”

“You’ve still got to go all Dom on my ass. I’m hoping it will be real soon. I want to see what all the fuss is about. My own brother warned me against you. It made me wonder if you hadn’t taken a whip to him.”

“Ha, you’d think it.” He handed her the helmet, and she stuck her tongue out. Once it was on, Knuckles smiled at her. “How do you know I haven’t been going all Dom on your precious ass?”

“I’d know.”

“I once told you there was more to being a Dom than whips, leather, and chains. You shouldn’t believe everything you read.” He climbed on his bike, leaving her with a lot more questions than she had answers.

Straddling the bike, she wrapped her arms around him and held on tightly. Where had he been going all Dom on her? Besides the time in the bedroom where she’d handed him the cuffs, there hadn’t been much else.

The ride to her apartment was short, and she wished she didn’t have to wear the damn helmet. She always found it way too constricting.