Twisted Asphalt (Asphalt Outlaw Series Book 1) (8 page)

Demon rose  to his feet, moving toward Mace. “I think I’m
smelling a crock of shit, Mace. I think you’re a fucking cop. You haven’t done
anything that the rest of us have. You haven’t proved your fucking worth yet.
If you expect to get patched in, you better start acting like you’re a
brother.”

That was a load of crap, he had proven his worth the moment
he stopped Demon mid attack on Amy. He pushed out of his seat, meeting Demon
face to face once again. One day he was going to put the cocksucker on his ass.

Romeo must have thought that moment was going to be now; he
moved closer to the two. He was just far enough away, he could intervene if
Mace ripped Demon’s head off and decided to shit down his throat.

“Everyone here knows I’m not a fucking cop. I refuse to get
high when someone needs to watch your dumb asses and make sure that no one
OD’s. Saber is the only other sober one here, and that’s because he’s a medic
and can treat one of you idiots if shit hits the fan. You want Stone, who is
my
sponsor, to kick your ass for offering me that crap? Go right ahead.”

“You think you’re tough shit? You want a piece of me, boy?”
Demon stepped closer, invading Mace’s personal space.

Romeo chose that moment to pat Mace on the back. “That’s
mighty kind of you, playing nurse maid for all us drunk asses. Bad news though,
bro. Our drinks are dry.”

Mace never moved from his spot. He didn’t blink at Demon’s
challenge. If he swung, he could kiss everything goodbye. All of his work would
go down the toilet, along with his career. Taking in a deep breath and counting
to ten, he backed away from Demon, who smiled, assuming he won.

Maybe today. There wouldn’t be a next time.

CHAPTER 11

The morning brought no reprieve from her father’s ill mood
over the Mace issue. It wasn’t like she was going to marry him, but she was
very much interested in seeing where it went. Stone would barely say two words
to her, causing Romeo to start asking questions.

Amy had to escape and the shop was the only way. Grabbing
her things, she jumped into the Jeep and got away from her house as quickly as
possible. The only good thing that came out of this, was Stone wasn’t going to
stop her. He’d object the whole damn time, probably pout and make her life
miserable, but he undeniably gave her permission, and promised he wouldn’t
interfere. That was enough for her.

Making her way into the shop, she heard Antonia’s horrendous
rendition of Cher’s “Believe” being belted at the top of his lungs. Snickering,
she made her way toward the off pitch sounds of her friend. “Dear God, did I
miss Mardi Gras?”

Antonia was decked out to the nines. Purple and gold tulle
short skirt, matching purple hooker boots with a purple corset inlaid with
golden threads. What really topped it off was the micro-braids in dazzling
purple and gold. “No, why?”

With a slight twist of her head, she over exaggerated
looking him over, and motioned with her hand. “Am I missing something here?”

“What?” Antonia did a slow spin like he was Wonder Woman. “I
am dressed to impress. Can’t a diva look good?”

“Oh yes, by all means, sweet thang. Get your groove on.” Amy
giggled, leaning against a shelf. “Did Maggie come in today?”

“Ugh, yes.” Sarcasm was his forte in that moment, along with
an over the top eye roll that made his gold feather falsies flutter. “Please go
tell that hooker to quit feeling sorry for herself. That is a one woman pity
party back there.”

 “Great,” she sighed in exasperation. She knew Maggie held
grudges. What Latina didn’t? But this was ridiculous. Taking her time walking
to the back, she pushed through the swinging door to the storage room. Maggie
was right where Amy thought she would be, unpacking the newest shipment that
had arrived that morning.

Amy approached with caution, rolling her bottom lip between
teeth. “Maggie?”

Maggie never looked her way. She snorted, continued
unpacking and checking in items against the shipping list. “Here to rub more
salt in my wounds? Because if you are, you can keep it to yourself. I’m not
interested.”

Ouch.

Amy cringed, mentally kicking her own ass for hurting her
best friend. “Look, Maggie.” She raised her hands, only to drop them against
her thighs, defeated. “I only want what’s best for you. I’m sorry if I hurt
you. I honestly wasn’t trying to.”

She scoffed at Amy’s apology, turning around to face her.
“Big girls like me don’t exactly get the cream of the crop, Amy. We get the
leftovers. And the way I see it? Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Amy was mortified by how Maggie thought of herself. She
wasn’t fat by any means. Voluptuous, she had curves, and she could kick
someone’s ass if it came down to it. What had caused her to feel this way about
herself? Had that piece of shit, Demon, wore her self-confidence down that
much? “Oh my God, Maggie. Why would you say that about yourself? You are not
fat. I wished I looked like you instead of a bean pole. Do think it is easy
being so flat you make walls jealous? I can’t find a bra that fits, and if I
do, it sure as hell isn’t the pretty stuff you get to wear!”

“Whatever.” Maggie shook her head, returning back to her
work, sending out the message loud and clear that she was unimpressed with
Amy’s apology.

The tip of her tongue played with edge of her canine tooth as
hands rested on hips, to stare at Maggie’s back. What the hell else did she
want? She apologized! “Fine.” Amy blurted out and shrugged, looking at the
ceiling. She couldn’t believe she was about to give in to Maggie’s temper
tantrum, especially when Demon was abusive and she knew he wasn’t going to
stop. “If you really like the jerk that much, I’ll stop. But I swear to
everything holy, Margarita, if he hurts you, I will kill him.”

Amy moved over to Maggie and pulled her into her embrace,
hugging Maggie tightly to her. “Can we quit fighting now?”

Maggie nodded with a wipe of her eyes, moving over to the
counter for a tissue.

Antonia peeked his head into the back where the girls were.
“Is it safe now?”

Amy and Maggie laughed in unison, both girls agreeing it was
fine to come into the back.

The diva sashayed into the stockroom, giving it a once over,
nose wrinkling up. He then turned cat-gold eyes onto Amy. “So, how’s the stud?”

Amy’s mind flitted back to the memory of his lips against
hers, the way he tasted of cinnamon gum and Dr. Pepper.

She blushed.

Antonia squeaked at the reaction, and clapped his hands
together. “This calls for our annual hot chocolate and gossip! I’ll go start
warming up the water and you, Miss Thang,” he waggled his fingers at Maggie.
“You get the marshmallows, and you go sit in the spot.”

‘The Spot’ was a set of cushiony oversized and overstuffed
couches that tended to swallow people whole when they sat in them. They were
the couches someone would want to laze around in on a cold winter’s day and not
come out until summer. And when Maggie and Antonia showed up with a tray of
cups and marshmallows, and a plate of cookies, Amy wiggled deep down in one.

Amy blew on her hot chocolate when Antonia came out with it.
“Well, spill it.”

“I’d rather not. That might burn.” Amy wasn’t going to
indulge in their curiosities about her nonexistent love life.

Maggie popped a marshmallow into her mouth, wagging a finger
at Amy. “Oh no. You will tell us all about the prospect.”

“I don’t kiss and tell.” Amy stared at the two, trying to
get her point across.

Antonia’s well-manicured brows shot up, his neck moving his
head back and forth as he asked, “Did you kiss?”

Amy offered Antonia a lewd grin, “Can’t you tell?”

Between Maggie and Antonia, you’d think Michael Jackson was
discovered alive at Graceland. Whooping and cat calling, they unmercifully
teased Amy.

“Well, how was it?” Maggie finally gasped for much needed
air.

Pursing her lips, Amy’s right shoulder lifted and fell. “It
was nice. Unexpected.” She desperately want to tell them about how Mace came in
when Demon attacked her and took care of her after Mace chased Demon out of the
house. She had no idea how he did it, but whatever he did, worked. She couldn’t
hurt Maggie any more than she already had though. They had just made up and she
didn’t need Maggie feeling like she was gloating or putting Demon down after
she just promised she would stay out of it all.

“Are you going to see him again? Or are you planning on
raping him?” Antonia coyly asked, batting his false lashes at her.

“You can’t rape the willing.” Amy’s mouth lifted into a
teasing grin.

“That’s my girl.” Antonia purred, turning his attention to
his drink.

Maggie nibbled on the edge of a cookie, stopping long enough
to tilt her head and stare at Amy. “What about Stone? Does he know?”

Amy rubbed her free hand over her face, burrowing back into
the cushions of the couch. She confirmed with a nod. “He knows. He’s unhappy
with it. He’s pouting, not talking to me, but he’s not going to stop me … if that’s
what I want.”

“Wow, I’m impressed.” Maggie hmph’d and looked between
Antonia and Amy. “What about the party? What have you got planned?”

“It’s basically going to be your typical Santa Maria Style
BBQ. Romeo will work the grill, and I’m supposed to make Mom’s dirt cake. I
know some of the Nomads are coming in, but that’s about it.” Amy wanted to
spill that it was also Mace’s birthday, but she was going to keep that to
herself. She had a gift for him, something that was going to surprise him.
Hopefully.

“Boring.” Antonia’s nose crinkled, he waved a hand in front
of his face. “Do you need me to let you borrow some of my games?”

Amy burst out laughing, “I don’t think the guys would like
to play Pin the Penis on the Male, but thank you anyway.”

“You gonna tell me, that those nasty ass hos those men have
up in there, won’t play that game?” Antonia quirked a single brow, chin jutted
out with his head cocked to the side.

Maggie grunted in a very un-ladylike way, “Puhlease. They’d
rather play Hide and Seek the Penis.”

Amy giggled, setting her drink to the side. “I’ve got to go,
but I’ll text you all with my clothing choices.”

“You better, girl. We can’t have you looking like you
stepped out of some second rate orphanage.”

Maggie was quick to agree with Antonia. “You want to look
good, but with an edge at the same time.”

“I think I can handle that.” Amy shook her head, pushed up
from the sofa. “I’ll call you later with my plans.”

Saying her goodbyes, she headed back to the barn and made
sure Little Joe was ready for a ride.

CHAPTER 12

“Look, I’m taking a chance calling you.” Mace hissed into
his phone as he looked around the barn to make sure he was alone. The voice on
the other end asked him what he wanted. Mace pinched the bridge of his nose,
squeezing his eyes shut. “I need you to set something up for me.”

Staring down at his boots, a sound caught his attention.
Looking up, he spotted Amy headed right for him. Shit. Telling the person he’d
call back later, he hung up and stuffed his phone in his pocket. She was a
welcomed sight. Ripped jeans, boots, tank top and hair pulled into a baseball
cap, she was ready to ride.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything?” Amy stopped short of
him, rocking back on her heels.

“The call? Nah. I was talking to Saber.” Grinning, he
thumped the brill of her cap. “You look like you’re ready to rock and roll.”

“I live to ride.”

Mace cracked a wide smile at her innuendo, walking over to
the tack room to grab bridles. “Is that so?” Looking back at her, brows shot
up. “Quit looking at my ass.”

“I was so totally not looking at your ass.” Amy blushed,
glancing away.

“Yes, you so totally were.” Mace mimicked her, shaking his
butt. He grabbed the bridles and handed one to her. He got the prize mare
today, Phaedra. She had foaled six months prior and needed exercise. Mace was
more than happy to oblige. The colt Amy had was a palomino paint with starlight
eyes. He had grown fond of the colt and was going to hate it when the case was
over and he had to leave Amy and it behind.

They saddled up the horses and mounted, Amy took the lead
toward the woods. The horses were chomping at the bit, trying to break free of
trotting. They kept the horses reined in, giving the two a chance to chat.

“When is your birthday?” Mace glanced at Amy, her posture on
the stallion impressive.

“I am a Valentine’s Day baby, hence how I got my name. Dad
wanted to name me Valentina, and my Mom vetoed it. I got Amethyst instead.”

“You act like it is a horrible name.” Chuckling, he gave
Phaedra more lead for her to catch up to Little Joe, who tried to stay ahead of
her. “At least you weren’t named after a mason jar.”

Amy burst out laughing, looking over to him. “There are a
ton of good drinks that have come out of mason jars.”

“Oh really? That’s great. So now not only will you be
staring at my ass all the time, now I’ll wonder what kind of drink you’re
imagining me as.”

“I think a tall drink of water is good enough for me.” Amy’s
brows wiggled.

“That was just … horrible.” He chuckled, tightening the
reins on the mare. “Just for that, you can eat my dust.” Spurring Phaedra’s
ribcage, he let her have full rein, urging her to a hard run.

He heard Little Joe coming up quick behind them. Mace looked
around for a perfect spot to stop. Darting into a section of trees, he was
shocked to see a small lake ahead. There was a soft patch of grass, a good
place to dismount.

“Shit!” Mace let out a holler, let go of the reins and
kicking his legs out of the stirrups. He took a dive off the mare, tucking into
a roll on the soft grass. Rolling twice before he came to a stop, he remained
completely still. He felt bad for all of two seconds when he heard her panicked
scream, saw her dismount Little Joe and the crash of boots in the tall grass.

It was difficult to keep from smiling when she dropped to
her knees, her hands gripping his shoulders and shaking him.

“Mace!” Fear and desperation filled her voice when she shook
him.

Before she smacked him, which he figured was coming next, he
opened his eyes, wrapped his arms around her and flipped her onto her back. His
eardrums exploded with her shriek of surprise, his chest assaulted with her
fists.

“You ass! I thought you were dead!”

He laughed, grabbing her hands and pinning them over her
head. “If you thought I was dead, you better learn what breathing looks like or
learn how to check a pulse.”

Amy writhed under him, hooking her leg around his, pinning
him against her. “You are still an ass! What if you would have—“

Mace’s lips crushed against her, tongue diving into the well
of her mouth, drinking his fill of her. She responded in kind, arching her
back, forcing her chest to his. Her moan spurred him on to let go of her
wrists, trailing his fingers lightly down her arms, only to cup her face as
their tongues battled each other.

His pocket vibrated against his lower hip bone, causing him
to gasp in surprise and jerk against her. Amy didn’t seem to mind the movement
by her whimper. Nipping her bottom lip, his tongue swept over the bitten area
before his lips settled on hers once again. Her response was unexpected, her
fingers tangled in his hair with a grind of her hips against his own.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz
.

He was going to murder whoever was calling him right now. He
tried to ignore it, but it wasn’t happening. Growling, he rolled off Amy,
pushing his hips up to get his hand in his pocket and dig out the constant
vibrating phone.

“What?” he snarled into the phone, pissed that the tender
moment with Amy was being ruined. “Oh hey, no man. That’s ok.” Pause. “Yeah,
that shouldn’t be a problem.” Pause. Sigh. “Now? No, no. I don’t have a problem
with that.” Damn it. “I’ll be there in an hour.”

Hanging up, he draped his arm over his eyes, silently
cursing Romeo. Feeling Amy rolling onto her side, he moved his arm to look at
her inquisitive face. “Your brother. He needs me.”

“Now?” She stuck out her lower lip.

“Looking cute is not going to save me from the wrath of your
brother if I don’t go and take care of him.” It was still adorable and got her
a couple more kisses before they headed back to the barn.

* * * *

Showered, shaved and ready to rock and roll, Mace slipped
his cut over his shoulder holster, hiding the Kimber .45 he carried. Romeo
wanted to go out prowling, and he didn’t feel safe, with the rival club showing
up like they had been, not to carry.

Meeting him at the end of the ranch’s driveway, Romeo’s eyes
were glazed over. The ass was high. This wasn’t going to be fun. He wanted to
go to the Spearmint Rhino, or as Mace nicknamed it, the Peppermint Hippo, pick
up a couple of girls and bring them back to the clubhouse and party. Mace
didn’t mind strip clubs in the least, but Romeo being high before they left?
That meant trouble.

They sped down S. Broadway; the Rhino was across town. By
the time they parked the bikes, Romeo’s eyes had cleared up enough to ease some
of the edge Mace was on. Once inside, he hoped Romeo was quick finding whatever
girls he wanted.

No such luck.

They sat near the stage, Romeo stacked with a hundred one
dollar bills and a coke. Mace was ever thankful they couldn’t serve alcohol.
He’d hate to take Romeo down because he’d try and ride on two wheels after
drinking. That was a strict law in the club. No drinking on two wheels.

The one dollar bills lasted all of thirty minutes. The girls
knowing Romeo, pushed him into the back room for private lap dances. Mace opted
out on that, not interested in getting his ass kicked by Stone for not keeping
his head in the game and his eyes open for trouble. He sat outside on his bike,
keeping an eye out for possible problems.

Romeo eventually came stumbling out over an hour later, with
two girls, all three laughing at some private joke between them. “You ready to
go?”

Mace grunted, swinging his legs off the back of the bike and
standing up. “Yup. Let me get out my extra helmet.”

The two girls cozied up to Romeo, biting and kissing him,
Romeo wasn’t being discreet about his PDAs with the girls. Ass grabbing, breast
fondling. You name it, Romeo was all up on it.

One of the girls paused to look at Mace. “I charge double if
he’s joining us.”

Mace’s brows shot up, lifting from his saddlebag to look
between the three of them. “Sorry ladies, I’ll take a rain check. You can have
Romeo all to yourselves.”

Romeo shook his finger at Mace. “I think he’s got an Ol’Lady
on the side, girls.” He flicked his wrist like he was cracking a whip, making
matching sounds. “When we were in Bakersfield, he was a pimp. You couldn’t keep
the ladies off of him. Now he’s on lockdown.”

Romeo was right. Mace had sowed his oats while they were on
the run in Bakersfield. He hadn’t known Amy then, but he had never given any
other women in the clubhouse the time of day. He had a rep to keep up and he
was doing a damn good job at it too, until Amy came along. He was scared of
losing himself and forgetting what exactly he was there to do.

He had made himself a promise. He would never forget who he
was, but Amy made Mace want to forget. He was Sam Dean, agent of the ATF, out
to shut down the Six-Gun Outlaw Orcutt chapter, which could lead to shutting
down the whole National Club. Mace had to keep reminding himself of that, but
every time he was with Amy, he wanted to forget himself and let Mason Younger
take over his life completely.

He was going to destroy Amy’s world, crush her and her
family. It was all she had, and he was going to be the prick to take it from
her by putting Stone and Romeo behind bars, along with every other member that
had their fingers in the club’s illegal activities. She was going to hate him
and could he blame her?

No.

He needed to end it between them before it got too deep. But
it already had. He was falling for her. Screw that, he had already fallen. He
had fallen in love with her the moment she knocked him flat on his ass in the
clubhouse. The thought of losing her, of letting go, suffocated him. Unable to
breathe, he unsnapped his vest, blinking when blinded by blue and red blinking
lights, followed by a chirp of a siren.

“Fuck me.” Romeo swore as the two girls bolted, running for
the cover of the club. Romeo had a wad of cash in hand, getting ready to pay
the girls ahead of time.

Mace looked back at Romeo as he heard the police car door
open. This was his third strike. If he was arrested, he was going to prison.
Mace knew Romeo probably had enough pot on him to get nailed for intent to
distribute, on top of the wad of cash he held. And fleeing girls? It wasn’t
going to be good.

Romeo was sweating. He knew that look. It was the fight or
flight look. Mace snapped his head back to the officer drawing his gun on them.

“Freeze!”

Mace threw up his hands, stepping to the side, using his
body to shield Romeo from the officer’s view. “What’s the problem officer?”

He heard Romeo fumbling with his helmet, then it hitting the
asphalt.

“Freeze or I’ll shoot!” The officer yelled at Romeo.

This was not supposed to happen this way. Mace was going to
take the club down, not this cheap ass pig. This was the moment in any law
enforcement officer’s life where they must make a decision in a split second.
To draw and fire, or take a chance, and end up a bloodstain on concrete.

Everything was in slow motion. It felt like he moved in
water when he dropped his helmet and reached inside his cut. Pulling the Kimber
free of the rig, Mace blinked, raised the gun, let out a slow breath and fired.

He heard the body hit pavement. Closing his eyes, Mace silently
prayed. This changed the game. In order to become a club member, you had to
prove your worth, and that meant in most outlaw clubs, taking a life. He had to
deny the drugs—the bylaws clearly stated that no drug usage was tolerated by
Prospects. It’d get your ass kicked and to the curb you’d go. He denied the lap
dance—he was on babysitting duty. The only thing he could do, to step over the
precious line of law vs club, was take a life that threatened a brother’s.

There ya go.

“Mace, whoa! What the fuck? Holy shit!” Romeo yelled, shock
and adrenaline making his voice high pitched and excited. Hands hit his bald
head, green eyes wide as he looked to the cop on the ground and back to Mace.
“We got to go, bro! Before more show up!”

“Get the bikes fired up.” Mace ordered Romeo, not giving a
shit right then if he was a prospect or not. He was rattled and had to check to
see if he killed the cop or not. He never missed and he was praying he missed
this time. “Holy fuck me. I can’t believe I just did that.” Mace yelled, his
heart hammering in his chest.

Hearing his bike’s engine roar to life, he knelt down next
to the body of the fallen officer. He was sick to his stomach. He had just
fired at a brother in arms and took him down like he was nothing more than a pile
of shit to be discarded like trash. Gritting his teeth, his vision blurred,
forcing him to blink several times to clear the water that threatened to spill
over.

Letting out a shaking breath, he looked down at the officer.
A pair of brown eyes stared back, the slightest nods given.

There was a God.

He missed just like they had planned.

Mouthing ‘sorry’ to the officer, he collected his wits and
rose up. Turning back to Romeo, he broke out in a run toward the bike. “Bone
out, Romeo. He’s not breathing and there’s a lot of fucking blood.”