Dealing with the Devil (5 page)

“I’m not going to forget it,” Lucy pressed. “You said you wanted honesty, Gabriel. Now it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.” Lucy refused to back down. “You can barely look at me. You don’t come for the holidays anymore, even though Danny and I are the only family you have.” A decade of unresolved issues boiled over suddenly. “There’s still a room for you at our place even though you choose to sleep at the club every night. I know it was hard for you when my parents died, Gabe. I know you loved them too…but this started long before that. I want to know why.”

Anger welled in Archie’s gut. He did love the Hardings; they took him in and molded him into the man he was today. But he also loved Lucy…and it was
definitely
not in the way a brother was supposed to love a sister. The harder Lucy pushed, the harder it was for Archie to continue lying to himself. “It’s not that simple!”

Lucy cried in exasperation, “
What’s
not simple?”

“I’m attracted to you!” Archie thundered, his cheeks burning red. The truth was out in the open now. There was no going back. His stomach twisted into knots as he waited for her to respond.

There was a beat of silence before Lucy rocked back on her heels. “
So
?” She felt the exact same way about him. How could anyone
not
be attracted to Gabe? He was the fantasy of every woman in Washoe County…maybe even the world. “You mean to tell me you’ve been avoiding me for ten years because you’ve got a crush on me?” Lucy snapped. “For Christ’s sake, Gabriel, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”

Well, it made sense at the time
, Archie thought to himself. He turned away from Lucy only to find her in his face again. He rebuffed her, putting even more distance between them. “Cut it out!”

Lucy shook her head fiercely. “You don’t avoid someone you care about because of a little sexual tension! I thought I’d done something wrong, Gabe. I thought maybe I hurt you somehow…”

Archie did hurt…he came from a long line of drunks, junkies, and abusers. The Archers were the scum of the earth and no one felt that more acutely than he did. Lucy was incredible. One day she would be loved by a man who would worship the ground she walked on; she would have children with a man who adored them all. Archie wouldn’t give her those things…his blood was a curse. He was destined to become the same kind of scumbag his father was. If he let Lucy get closer, if he gave in just a little bit, he would never be strong enough to leave her. The cycle had to stop somewhere and Archie was determined it would be with him.

Archie turned his back, icing her out yet again. “I’m done with this conversation, Lucy.” The heavy knock of room service was a welcome relief from the heated argument they were having. He answered the door gruffly, but tipped well enough to make up for his sour attitude. His appetite was spoiled now but he sat down at the table anyway, stabbing at the steak he’d ordered.

Lucy grabbed her plate and plopped down across from him. Heavy silence hung between them, causing the tension to rise even further. Grabbing the remote, Lucy flicked through six hundred channels of nothing. “Saved by the Bell?” Archie didn’t look amused. She rolled her eyes pointed at the television mounted on the wall. “Do you want to watch it or not?”

“You’re purposely trying to provoke me.” Archie grabbed the bottle of champagne, fully intending to drown away his sorrows. He poured them both another glass and pounded it down.

They ate in silence, avoiding each other’s gazes. Lucy tried to focus on the television but the uneasiness between them was too much of a distraction. Finally, she was unable to hold back her ire a moment longer. “You know what I think?” Gabe opened his mouth to cut her off but Lucy was faster. “I think you’ve overestimated what you feel for me. It’s just a teenage crush. We just need to get past this and I think the best way to do that is to get it all out of your system.”

Archie mulled over Lucy’s words, searching for meaning but coming up empty. Food forgotten, he peered at her levelly. “How the hell do you propose we do that?”

“I think we should have sex.”

The champagne flute in Archie’s hand went flying, spilling its contents all over the table before it crashed onto the floor. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Come on, think about it!” Lucy pressed. “Half the time when you get something you really want, it doesn’t live up to your expectations. The novelty wears off and you move on. What’s between us is no different
…”
Or so she thought. “We have three days in this stupid hotel room. I bet by then you’ll be satisfied and ready to move on. Then we can pretend like none of this happened and focus on the club.” Lucy paused. “Besides, we’re
married
. It’s basically our job to do it.” There was a part of Lucy that was dying to know what it would be like to take him to bed. She, too, had nursed a crush on Gabe for far more years than she cared to admit. This would satisfy her curiosity, cut the tension, and Lucy had no doubt it would be incredibly fun.

Archie tried to come up with a viable argument against her proposal while he mopped up champagne…but he couldn’t think of a single reason. Maybe he
had
grown infatuated over the years. Maybe his raging desire for her only affected him because he’d denied himself for so long. Things would certainly be easier if he could clarify the situation and his feelings for Lucy. After a long internal debate, Archie sighed in defeat. “You’re serious about this?”

Lucy grinned triumphantly. She’d already won. “I think we
have
to do this, for both our sakes.”

“Well, when you put it that way…” Archie closed the distance between them. In one fell swoop, he dragged Lucy out of her chair and wrapped her tightly in his arms. The gasp of pleasure that tore from her throat sent shivers down his spine. Archie plundered her mouth, reliving every exquisite moment of this morning’s kiss as he eagerly free her dark hair from its tie. He tangled his fingers in the silky strands, wild curls spilling over her shoulders and framing her face. Archie’s blood sang in his veins, thundering through his body and pumping to fill the aching length of him.

Lucy had only been with one man in her life, a stupid mistake she’d made when she was nineteen. She thought the sex between them was good at the time…she had no problem admitting she was wrong. Wrapped in Gabriel’s tight embrace now, Lucy had never been so impassioned. Flames erupted in her core, slowly melting the iciness inside her. Her nipples tightened as they dragged against the hard plane of his chest. They were suddenly heavy and aching for his touch. Eagerly, she pressed against him, marveling at how he could be so thickly muscled and yet so tender at the same time. Lucy’s fingertips teased down his sides until she reached the waistband of his jeans.

Archie was already teetering on the brink of insanity. He’d never noticed how intoxicating the faint smell of lavender and lilac was mixed with the clean scent of her skin. When her hand snuck closer to his aching manhood, he was lost. Sweeping Lucy into his arms, Archie carried her to the bed. He pressed soft kisses to her lips before dipping lower. Pushing the oversized t-shirt up over her head, he couldn’t stop the hungry growl that emanated from his throat as the lace cups of her bra were once again within his sight.

Panting softly at the overwhelming rush of pleasure, Lucy’s fingernails trailed over Gabriel’s warm skin. He gazed at her like he was a wolf and she his prey, ready be devoured. Lucy arched against the roughness of his fingers on her newly naked flesh. Gabe must have read her mind as he dipped down, releasing one breast from her bra and sucking the hard bud of her nipple into his mouth. Lucy’s onyx eyes fluttered closed as he lavished his attention over sensitive skin. She was positive his only goal was to drive her mad with pleasure.

Archie was blown away at how infinitely responsive Lucy was to him. Every moan and whimper spurned him onward. Once he got his fill of her breasts, he kissed down the soft curve of her waist. He popped open the button on her denim shorts as he went. Archie teased the fabric down her hips, taking a moment to drink in the sight of her writhing in ecstasy. Lucy was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen…and she was
all
his.

It seemed wholly unfair that Lucy was bare while Gabe was still fully clothed. He reached for her again but she clucked her tongue, “Your turn.” Tearing at the fabric of his shirt, she grinned darkly at the muted sound of buttons cascading onto the floor. Next, she eased down the zipper on his jeans achingly slowly, pressing her fingertips into his hips as she uncovered his turgid length. Gabriel Archer was a god among men. Muscles bulged and glistened with a light sheen of sweat as their primal dance picked up pace. His eyes shimmered with need, mirroring her own desperation to take him inside her. Lucy yearned to reach out and explore every exquisite detail of Gabe’s body; but there would be time for that later. Right now, they both needed release.

Lucy’s fingers tangled in his hair as she kissed him again. She used the vantage point to tug him between her legs. It was all the encouragement he needed. With infinite care, Archie pressed Lucy against the mattress. Her nails scraped down his back as he slipped between her legs, pausing at her entrance. “Are you ready?” He ground out.

“Yes.” Lucy threw her head back, drawing in a ragged breath as Gabe finally filled her. Pleasure coursed through every cell in her body, launching her into a higher plane of existence. She was lost to him and he hadn’t even begun to move yet. The first stroke dragged a cry from her throat as she clung to him for dear life.

It took every ounce of strength in Archie’s body not to lose control right then and there. Lucy was warm, wet, and willing in his arms. She accepted him so wholly that he nearly wept with the pleasure of it. Kissing her brutally, Archie arched his back to press deeper into the heart of her. Her soft cries of pleasure only fueled his desire and he rewarded her by increasing the pace. Lucy’s nails sunk into his flesh and he groaned; the pain-pleasure of her clawing his back was all he could bear. Without hesitation, without fear, Archie unleashed ten years of pent up frustration and need into her womb.

Lucy rode wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure as Gabe treated her to the most intense release of her life. Every touch, every stroke, every breath was meant to drive her beyond the brink of human experience. There was such blessed relief as his warmth curled in her belly. It was the singular most beautiful moment of her life.

For several minutes after, Archie remained joined with Lucy. His eyes were firmly shut and he knew without a doubt this marriage had been a mistake. Making love to Lucy tore something open inside him. He couldn’t risk falling in love with her anymore than he already had. But now that he had a taste, he wasn’t sure he could stop. Archie rested his head against her shoulder, occasionally pressing soft kisses to her warm flesh. “Well, that was a miserable failure…” He murmured. “You are not out of my system.”

Lucy chuckled throatily. “Beginner’s luck?” Her fingertips traced over his bicep. “I think we should keep at it. The novelty will wear off eventually, right?” Or maybe it wouldn’t. Either way, Lucy was deliciously sated right now and she wasn’t ready to let that feeling go just yet.

“Mmm…” Archie replied, “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Pressing a soft kiss to her lips, he finally disentangled himself. “
After
we eat. I’m suddenly starving.” Archie was glad they’d ordered plenty of room service.

“Me too,” Lucy laughed and grabbed a robe from the armoire. She tossed him one before settling down at the table. Things were comfortable again. Lucy and Archie laughed at some stupid sitcom on television, ate their tepid meals, and finished off the rest of the champagne before falling into bed again. Before the night was through, they made love twice more. Exhaustion eventually won out and they both fell into a deep sleep, happily tangled in each other’s arms. It was bliss.

Three days sounded like such a long time at first, and yet Lucy marveled at how quickly they passed while she was wrapped in Gabe’s arms. Their first meeting of the day was set for noon, which should have been sufficient time to get up and out of the hotel, if they hadn’t been up all night…

When the alarm went off, Lucy warred against her instincts and forced herself to get out of bed. Gabe must have sensed her disdain because he joined her in the shower and spent their remaining time alone making love against the cool marble tile. If there was any question of Gabe and Lucy being newlyweds it was most certainly dispelled when they hurried into the dingy bar wet, disheveled, and murmuring apologies for their tardiness.

Peter “Pip” Reardon had been a member of the Black Jacks since he was eighteen years old. In his youth he might have been handsome, but now he was wizened and gray. His hands were gnarled from holding onto the handlebars of his bike for so long. Not to mention his skin and teeth were yellowed from years of drinking and smoking. Pip’s anger at the Black Jacks stemmed from the fact they had stripped him of his patch. After a minor stroke in his seventies, he wasn’t allowed to ride with them anymore and, eventually, became obsolete. An orderly guided Pip’s wheelchair to the table. Bitterness exuded out of his every pore. “There’s no respect anymore. I dedicated my life to the Black Jacks and they screwed me over!” Pip’s voice was raspy and harsh. Even talking made him short of breath and he descended into a terrible wheezing cough.

Lucy watched Pip with concern as he struggled to breathe. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get you some water,” She offered. Despite being in the throes of hacking, Pip smiled. Lucy’s fingertips slid over Gabe’s shoulder as she headed toward the bar.

“Girls like that don’t come around too often. Hang onto her,” Pip managed to squeak out between coughs. Grabbing his oxygen tank from beneath the table, he tugged the mask over his face and inhaled deeply. “Ah, that’s the stuff…” He murmured. Although his words were still punctuated by labored spurts of breath, Pip regained his bearings for the moment. “Let’s get down to business. I’ve got dialysis in an hour.”

Archie pinched the bridge of his nose to stem the throbbing of annoyance creeping toward his brain. He never expected Pip Reardon to be so frail. Archie remembered hearing stories about how fierce Pip had been back in the day. It also didn’t help the old fool’s case that he stared at Lucy lewdly. Pip’s wrinkled hand lingered over hers as he accepted the cup of water. The possessiveness that rose up in Archie was wholly unpleasant. He had always been driven to protect Lucy but now rage speared through him if anyone so much as looked at her sideways. Jealousy was not a good look on him. Archie cleared his throat loudly. “So, you told me there has been a shift of power? A new leader who’s changing the way the club works?” The things Pip had told him were terrifying, to say the least. The sooner Archie was able to stop the Black Jacks, the better.

Pip took a long drink of his water before he nodded. “When Sal took over, everything changed. The Black Jacks used to be about glory! We were feared and respected…and we could take down anyone who got in our way. All this dumb bitch wants to do is deal cards and call in loans. There’s this compound built out in the desert where they got a whole army a’ people locked up for safe keepin’ but I kept tellin’ ‘em they ain’t worth nothin’! The Black Jacks are better than that!”

Disgust churned in Lucy’s veins as she listened to Pip bemoan the fact that there had been a decrease in violence and raids since ‘Sal’ took over. It was that kind of violence that got her parents gunned down in the street without mercy. Pip could’ve been the one who killed her parents. He certainly seemed to enjoy boasting about his bloody triumphs.

Archie could feel the anger radiating off Lucy in waves while Pip was rambling on about his glory days. Archie reached over, grasping her hand tightly. As respectfully as he could manage, Gabe cut off Pip’s longwinded story about shooting up a strip club. “What can you tell us about where the Black Jacks operate? They must have a setup somewhere in the city.”

“You ever heard of the Aces High?” Pip leaned in. “It’s a crumbling piece of crap casino on North Virginia Street. Place has been bought and foreclosed three times in the last fifty years but Sal refuses to let go. Says there’s charm in the old place!” He snorted disdainfully, “Sentimental bitch…”

Archie furrowed his eyebrows. “What kind of security have they got?”

“The usual stuff, security guards, guns in the back, cameras.” Pip shrugged, “But anybody can walk in there. It’s a workin’ casino. They’ve got a few slots that are rigged to lose.” Pip folded his hands on the table. “Everybody knows you go to the Ace if you want to play cards. Sal will take a bet on anything, whether it’s the deed to your house or a rare parakeet. No other casino within a hundred miles of here takes those kind of bets.”

“So people bet whatever they have and Sal cheats them out of their livelihood?” Lucy frowned markedly. During prohibition, the Devil’s Own had earned their reputation by moving illegal booze countrywide. When the law was repealed, the Devils branched out into auto parts and stolen cars. These days, they made their money doing legitimate repairs on bikes and cars, plus had a side business running the bar at the clubhouse. Other branches of the Devil’s Own were still notorious for their crime but in Errol, the novelty wore off long ago.

Pip snorted derisively. “That’s the worst part. We’ve been sayin’ for years to stack the deck. Easiest way to make money! But Sal says business will die off if people smell cheatin’ at cards. It’s bullshit if you ask me…” He cursed bitterly until he dissolved into yet another fit of coughing.

Archie was sick of listening to this doddering old fool. He wasn’t telling them anything worth their time. Standing abruptly, Archie pulled an envelope with a few hundred dollars in it and threw it down on the table. “We appreciate your help.” He managed a gruff goodbye before grasping Lucy’s hand and pulling her out of the bar and away from that horrible man. Lucy said nothing as they headed down the sidewalk toward their hotel. The smell of cinnamon and freshly baked bread wafted in front of him and Archie realized they hadn’t stopped to eat anything yet today. “Come on, I’ll buy you breakfast.”

“I’m not really hungry,” Lucy shrugged. “But I could use a cup of coffee. There’s a café up ahead.” The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans fortified her as they stepped over the threshold. Gabe stood so close that his chest kept bumping against her back. Usually, Lucy would find a gesture like that to be overbearing but given the fact they had the most amazing sex of her life, all awkwardness was gone.

Archie couldn’t keep his eyes off Lucy. She seemed a little off kilter since the meeting with Pip. “Are you alright? You seem a little flushed,” He pressed. These last three days had not exactly had the effect that he’d been hoping for. Archie was still waiting for the part where he stopped craving her like she was a drug…

“I’m fine,” Lucy brushed off his concern. She ordered herself a hazelnut latte and, at Archie’s behest, grabbed a croissant from the display case. Padding over to a booth near the back, she smiled as he sat across from her with a large black coffee in hand. “So, was the meeting everything you hoped?”

Archie tore a piece off Lucy’s croissant and popped it into his mouth. “Some of it was helpful. I think our first step is to check out that casino.” He smirked. “Danny told me you used to clean up at the card tables.”

“Mom loved cards. She taught me how to play hearts, blackjack, and poker.” Lucy smiled nostalgically at the memory. “When mom and I would visit the family in California the days were filled with swimming, touring vineyards, and sightseeing but every night we’d sit around on the patio and play for hours.” Inexplicably, tears built behind Lucy’s dark eyes.

Archie was shocked by her sudden display of emotion and reached out instinctively to comfort her. “Luce…” It tore a hole in his chest seeing how distraught she was. He suddenly felt like the most callous jerk who’d ever lived. “I didn’t stop to think about how hard this was going to be for you. I’m sorry.” Archie’s thumb stroked over the back of her hand. “I know you miss your parents. Especially your mom…” There was no mother and daughter closer than Lucy and Louisa Harding.

Lucy’s attempts to rein in her emotion became futile. A sob escaped her throat and she covered her face, desperate not to let him see her crumble. Anger quickly replaced her grief but it did nothing to stem the flow of tears. If anything, her rage deepened the chasm of hurt swirling inside her. Lucy didn’t want to cry in front of anyone, let alone Gabriel and the patrons of this little cafe. “I can’t believe I’m doing this
now
.”

Something broke inside Archie. He stood and moved to her side of the booth, wrapping his arms around her. For once, Lucy didn’t fight him. She allowed him to hold her in his strong embrace. He pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head and cradled her tighter. “It’s okay, let it out,” He murmured softly.

Burying her face in Gabe’s shoulder, Lucy felt as if ten years of pent up frustration and tears poured out of her. He rubbed her back and murmured soft words of comfort in her ear. For the longest time, Lucy allowed him to simply hold her until the tightness eased from her throat. Lucy grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her eyes before she turned away again. “I’m so embarrassed,” She whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion.

“Why?” Archie furrowed his eyebrows. He cupped her cheek, brushing away a stray tear. “It’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes.”

“I just had a meltdown in public over
nothing
.” Lucy scoffed, shaking her head. She turned away from Gabe and took a long sip of her latte. It was tepid now, but the caffeine was very welcome.

“Losing your parents isn’t nothing, Lucy. I can see how listening to Pip recount war stories of destruction and violence during his years as a Black Jack could dredge some things up.” The icy façade she put up to keep everyone out was cracking and he was in awe of the woman beneath. Lucy had been so strong for so long; how she managed it, he wasn’t sure. “You went from being a teenage girl with two parents to having to raise Danny all by yourself.”

A sharp bark of laughter emanated from Lucy’s throat before she could stop it. No one had ever acknowledged that before. Everyone commended Danny for taking custody of his little sister and raising her in their parents’ absence. But the truth of the matter was it was Lucy who kept Danny from self-destructing, even after all these years. She smiled blearily, “You caught that one, did you?”

Archie shot her a sympathetic grin. “Danny’s got a lot of great qualities but responsibility has never been one of them.” He sighed heavily, “I think that’s why he goes home with a different girl every night. He wants the physical comfort of being with someone but doesn’t want to open himself up to getting hurt.”

“Whoa,” Lucy raised an eyebrow. “When did you become Dr. Phil?”

Archie scrubbed a hand over his stubbled chin. Lucy shared a lot about herself today and he decided it was time to return the favor. After all, he had promised her honesty…it was time to hold up his end of the deal. “Do you remember when we were kids? On Thursdays, your mom and I used to drive into Sun Valley.” Curling his hands tighter around his cup of coffee, he gritted his teeth.

“Yeah, that was the night you went to karate,” Lucy replied blandly. Where was this going?

“I don’t know karate, Lucy…” Archie nervously picked at the Styrofoam cup. “I was four years old when I came to live with your family. At first, I was a wreck. I wouldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep.” He let out a shaky breath, “The doctor recommended I see a psychiatrist.” Every word of his confession was like tearing up a wound stitch by stitch. Archie shifted uncomfortably, “I started seeing someone every week. Slowly but surely, things started to improve.” He licked his lips. “Your mother thought it might be embarrassing for me to admit that I was in therapy so she fibbed about where we went. For the longest time, I
did
feel ashamed. Maybe I still do? I’ve never admitted this to a single person, Lucy…except for you.”

A feeling of warmth spread over her as she gazed at Gabe. The fact that he trusted her enough with something so personal made her heart soar. “You’re the bravest person I know.” Lucy knew all too well that Gabe and his mother had been abused by his father. “What you went through as a kid was awful. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be hurt by someone who’s supposed to love you unconditionally.” She saw Gabe’s jaw tighten and, this time, she reached for him, “Do you still go?”

“Not since high school. Hopefully thirteen years of therapy was enough.” Archie was on solid ground now and felt as if he’d worked through his issues with his father. Still, there was a niggling voice at the back of his head that told him he was still bad and he’d turn into an abusive monster eventually. It was better to keep Lucy at arm’s length than to fall into the same cycle as the rest of the men in his family.

Lucy nodded slowly. She took a long swig of coffee, memorizing the expression on Gabe’s face. He was so handsome that sometimes she didn’t look past his sharp features and shimmering cobalt eyes, but there was so much more to him. His features tightened when he was angry, his eyebrows furrowed and his nostrils flared. When he was sad, there was slackness to his jaw and a slight downturn of his lips—that was the expression he was wearing today. Lucy ached to kiss him until that sultry look of joy and satisfaction was the only one they remembered. A change in subject seemed necessary. “Do we have any other meetings today?”

“Nope, I didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention. Too many people coming in and out would tip the Black Jacks off.” Archie replied. “But in light of this new information, I was thinking we should get dressed up and hit the card tables. It’ll be a good way to gather intel. Hey, maybe we’ll even make a few bucks.”

“Let’s not get carried away,” Lucy teased, grabbing her coffee and wrapping the half-eaten croissant in a napkin for later. She found herself glancing over at Gabe as they walked back toward the hotel. His hand slid around her waist, comforting her immensely. Lucy found herself wondering if this little gesture was part of the act or if he just wanted to touch her? She didn’t have the courage to ask…