Burn: Outlaw Romance (Hotter Than Hell Book 3) (9 page)

Even her name sounds good on my lips when I whisper it. “Sofia,” I say again and fuck me if my dick doesn’t jump. This woman will be the death of me.

I finally pull my pants up and secure my belt. When I turn away from the grimy toilet, I slam my fist through the wall by the door. I need the pain. One fucking day as president and this is what I get. A hand job, a pissed off Latina woman, and an ex-junky who needs a lesson in keeping her fucking trap shut.

I leave the bedroom and find Skull standing in the hallway with his arms crossed. He glares at me and shakes his head. Yeah, he knows exactly what I was doing. Fuck, I’m a sicko. I brush past him and enter the small room. Sofia’s fury greets me. I stop a foot away from her and move the wild hair covering her face behind her ears so she can clearly see what’s about to happen. Her glare burns brighter, and I’m surprised I don’t combust on the spot. Shit, my dick is already hardening again.

I drop my hand to the sheath at my waist, unsnap the top strap, and slide the knife free. Her eyes follow the knife as I walk over to the other chair. Red surprises me when she makes a high-pitched keening noise. Either she’s playing my game or she’s actually afraid.

Here goes every karma point I gained by saving Kiley.

I grab a fistful of Red’s hair. “You betrayed our club and placed every member in danger.” Red tries to look at Sofia, but I force her attention back to me. “It’s just me and you, Red. Nothing she can do. Every man in this club needs to hear you scream.”

Red actually rolls her eyes. “Just fucking do it.”

Keeping my fingers gripped in her hair, I move slightly behind her and slide the knife up to her cheek without breaking skin. I need this to bleed and it needs to scar. If the brothers think I go too light, it’s all for nothing.

“You fucking bastard,” Sofia growls.

I offer a tight smile. “Who else knows about Fox’s death and where you are?”

Sofia presses her lips together and turns her head away. Red remains quiet when I add more pressure with the knife. “Skull, see that she watches this.” I nod to Sofia.

Skull has an old lady he cares about. The two of them had planned to rescue Kiley, but I stepped in before they put their plan into action. Now he’s my VP. Whether he likes it or not, this is part of his job. I hope he understands this is the only way to save Red. Fox would slit Red’s and Sofia’s throats without a second thought.

Skull moves behind Sofia and grabs her head between his large hands forcing her to look in my direction. I left the door open so the brothers would know what’s happening in here. I want them to hear Red scream. “Make it good, Red, and the second cut won’t be as bad,” I say as I make a precise, three-inch cut down her face. Her scream startles me even though I asked for it. Perfect. I sheath the knife and walk over to Sofia. In one strong tear, I rip her shirt open, take my knife out, and cut it all the way off. She still refuses to speak and her eyes continue shooting fire. The rapid rise and fall of her breasts is the only other sign that this is having an effect on her.

I carry the shredded material over to Red and press a section of the shirt to the wound. She hisses when I do it. The cut will require stitches and it’s exactly what I intended. She’s breathing hard. I give her a moment to calm down. There’s a steely light in her hazel eyes when she looks up at me. I palm the uncut side of her face and force her head in Sofia’s direction.

“Who knows you’re here?” I ask again.

Sofia remains stoically quiet.

I force myself to smile as I trail the dull side of the knife ever so slowly down Red’s throat until I’m at the top of her breast. She’s wearing a low-cut black tank top. I turn the knife. This cut isn’t as deep, but Red lets out a bloodcurdling scream all the same. I’m at my limit for this and hope like hell it doesn’t show in my expression.

Sofia’s face remains equal parts fury and hatred. “No one knows I’m here, you fucking bastard,” she sneers. “You want to cut someone up, try me. I’ll scream all you fucking want. Does that get your dick harder, asshole?”

Relief slides through me. Hopefully what I’ve done will save Red’s life. The cut on her breast won’t require stitches. Red knows she’s getting off easy even if Sofia doesn’t realize it.

“Why should I believe you?” I ask as I run the dull side of the blade back up to Red’s unmarred cheek.

Sofia’s angry expression stays in place. “Because I don’t have a fucking person in this entire goddamned world who gives a fuck about me. No one. I’m a byproduct of a drugged out mother and the asshole you killed.” The desolation rolls off her in waves. I believe her. I glance at Skull and he nods.

My attention returns to Red. “Some of the brothers will still want you dead. Lay low for a few days. Skull and I will have your back. I’m doing everything I can to save your ass, Red, so in the future, keep your fucking mouth closed about club business. Do you feel me?”

“Yes,” she replies quietly.

“Your punishment’s over as long as the princess cooperates.” At a nod to Skull, he helps me untie Red from her chair.

I address Skull next. “Red stays at the clubhouse until we know things are settled. Only put men on her that you trust. Take the first aid kit with you and lead her past the men before cleaning her up. They need to see the blood.”

Skull gestures with his chin to Sofia. “What about her?” he asks.

“We’ll have church after we eat and the new board will decide.” I run my hand across my stubbled chin. I need to shave, I need to eat, and most of all I need a strong drink.

Skull keeps his voice low when he says, “You may get away with this for Red, but they’ll want the woman dead.”

“I’ll handle them,” I say with more conviction than I feel.

I shift my gaze to Sofia. Her hands clench in and out. My fucking cock likes her attitude. There’s no way she would have survived killing Fox. It’s just like me rescuing Kiley and challenging him. A suicide mission. We’re both fucking crazy and because I survived Fox, maybe she can survive a vote.

A month from now, after the club dust settles, this would be far easier to pull off. Right now is not the time for her little plot. Doesn’t mean I don’t respect her. I just want to know why she aimed that gun at me. Won’t matter to the men that she didn’t shoot me. She’s a liability we can’t afford.

Sofia

THE ANGER BURNS LIKE
a red hot swell of molten lava.

I thought I could do it. If Dagger cut me, I would have embraced the pain like I do when I fight. Putting the pain on someone else is different. I couldn’t watch Lorene…Red…suffer and now Dagger knows my weakness.

The bottom line is I’ll be dead tomorrow. If I’d had a gun a few minutes ago, I’d have shot Dagger and Skull both and then taken out as many Desert Crows as I could before they took me down. That’s what the anger does. When it takes over and rage fills me, I need blood.

Anger management issues is what the high school counselor said in one of the many meetings my mother and I had with school officials. All I know is that something happens and I have little control when it does. I actually envied the emo girls who cut themselves back then. It relieved whatever demons they carried. Funny, I’d have cut them if they asked. The only relief I get is from fighting and doing damage to my opponent or getting my ass kicked. Seeing Dagger cut Red didn’t bother me. Seeing her helpless and hearing her scream did.

I’m not sure if I believe what Dagger said about saving Red from his men. She knew the consequences if anyone ever found out about her helping me and my mother. This is the price she pays. I owe her, though. It’s a debt I’m willing to pay with my own life. If Dagger is right and a few cuts will do the trick, my debt will go to him. That sucks balls. He’s a fucking skinhead and I can’t ever forget it. Doesn’t matter that he’s sexy as hell. I noticed the bulge in his pants when he tied me up. I also know why he left the room, the dirty fuck. I’d have liked to watch him jack off. I look up from the floor and see that he’s still staring at me. I wonder if he has any idea what I’m thinking.

He closes the door behind Skull and then walks over and turns my chair toward the cot. He sits down and I notice another bulge in his pants. He doesn’t appear to give a fuck that I know he’s turned on. He reaches down and adjusts his cock and then goes back to staring at me.

“What?” I finally snap as my irritation rises.

“You’re not in control, Sofia, and I’m guessing that’s the hardest part for you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Even his chuckled huff irritates me. “You’re actually easy to figure out. Your shirt’s torn off, you have a nice sized bump on your head, and you’re knocking on death’s door. Doesn’t matter; you sit there like a princess on her throne. That’s control and you reek of it. So my guess is losing your power makes you angry. Anger makes you want to kill someone.” He leans in and places his elbows on his spread knees. “Is that why you wanted to kill me? I…” he moves even closer, “took away your chance to kill your father.”

He can’t fucking read me this easily. I don’t think about what I do next. I spit full in his face. I expect him to slap me. He rears back. Anger flashes in his eyes before his expression changes. Very slowly he smiles. Not a small one or with lips tight—an all-out
happy
smile. He wipes the spit from his cheek and brings the tip of his finger to his lips.

“You even taste good,” he says with the smile still in place.

God, fuck, now I’m the one turned on. “You’re fucking crazy,” I reply.

His eyes crinkle when his smile widens further. “Why did you want to kill me, princess?”

All I want to do right now is fuck his brains out. “Untie me and I’ll tell you,” I say in a soft whisper.

He enjoys this game. “I don’t think so. You see,” he looks at my cleavage before lifting his gaze, “I’m in charge and you’ll play by my rules. I’d really hate to bring Red back in here. I think she’s suffered enough, don’t you?”

I try to fight the spell he’s casting over me with his soft, coaxing voice. If my hands were untied, I would place my fingers inside my pants and get myself off. It would serve him right. I squeeze my legs together and try to relieve the heat that’s growing hotter.

He’s right, though. I hate not having control. It brings back memories of going from one foster home to another. I need to be thinking about escaping this hellhole. I’m not above using my body to do it. I’ll try sympathy first, though.

I unclench my teeth and lower my voice. “From as far back as I can remember, I’ve hated Frank Tison and wanted him dead.” Dagger’s smile disappears. “He got my mother addicted to drugs and made her life a living hell. Even after she escaped, she lived in fear that he would find us. She never managed to beat the habit he started.” I look down at my lap and take a slow steady breath so I’m able to continue in the same soft tone. When I look up, the compassion is back in Dagger’s expression and I know I’m getting somewhere. “I’ve had one goal for as long as I can remember. Kill Frank Tison.” I bite out the last sentence.

“So why me?” Dagger whispers.

I shrug even though I give him an answer. “So simple really… you took my revenge from me—destroyed everything I’ve lived for. So…” I let it hang before continuing, “what’s one less racist in this world? I don’t think anyone would cry if you died.”

He leans back suddenly and his expression goes blank. The words hit him hard and I wonder about the secrets he keeps buried. He stands and walks over to the wall and grabs my purse. He rummages inside and removes my phone. He looks at the call history. One number, three phone calls. Doesn’t surprise me that he checks.

I lick my dry lips. Dagger misses nothing. He grabs the water bottle from the floor and tips it to my lips so I can drink. “Thank you,” I mutter.

He gathers up the items in the room—my purse, phone, travel bag, and bloody shirt. He doesn’t look at me when he walks to the door. “Some major shit will go down because of you and Red. I’ll have one of the men check on you.” Without untying me, he closes the door. I hear the sound of a key and know I’m locked in.

What the hell did I expect? They’ll kill me soon. I don’t feel sorry for myself. Relief maybe. I brought this shit down and now it’s time to pay up. I close my eyes and try to relax. Maybe this would be a good time to start meditating. Years ago, a therapist provided by social services recommended it. I laughed at her while I screamed inside.