Down and Dirty (Sons of Sinners Book 1) (10 page)

“Shall we take a dip in the water?”

Zoey smiled and quickly removed her clothes. For the next few hours they played like kids in the cool water. Jace and Stone would take turns splashing her and pulling her in the deep water with them. They all had fun, acting like kids again, with not a worry in the world.

As they sat naked in the sun along the bank of the water, drying their skin before they put their clothes back on, Zoey enjoyed this quality time they had shared with her. She loved that they brought her there, showing her their most private escape.

Stone stood up and pulled her to her feet. Her body slammed against his, causing her to look up into his eyes. “We should get going before Jace and I feel the urge to fuck you here out in the open. God, you make me crazy. I can’t seem to get enough of you, Zoey.” He pressed a soft kiss against her lips before pulling away and staring tenderly into her eyes. “Let’s get going now.”

On the way back to the compound, she rode on the back of Stone’s bike, holding him firmly against her body as he maneuvered his way on the road. Today was a good day, one she would remember for a long time to come.

****

A
week later, Stone and a handful of his crew showed up outside of a large estate just outside of Las Vegas. As Stone followed the large U-Haul truck he’d rented for this job, he couldn’t help but to notice that the grass and flowers surrounding the manor were deader than dead. If he’d known any better, he would have thought the house was vacant.

Stone and his men, Jace, Saxton, Roc, Burke, and Bear stood outside of the house and looked from one to another before Stone took the lead, walking towards the front door.

Saxton was the first one to ask, “Are we at the right house?”

Stone wondered the same thing, but before he could answer Sax, the front door opened and there stood a brunette woman looking scared as could be.

“Umm, Ms... I only know your first name, Jill is it?”

The woman nodded and opened the door a little wider. “Yes, I’m Jill. You must be Stone?”

“I assume Linc notified you about me and my MC arriving to pick up the things for us to take off your hands.”

“You mean you’re here to take the last of what I can sell?” She opened the door all the way and stepped aside for them to walk in. “There are more of you than I figured would come. Linc only said a couple of you would show up today. The only reason I am letting you inside is because you know Linc. I don’t normally let strange men in my house. So please be quick about it.”

Stone wasn’t sure what the hell she was talking about. All he knew was he was there to load and transport these gaming machines. Whatever Jill and Linc had agreed upon wasn’t any of his business. It wasn’t unusual to come across skittish females when they encountered their MC. Something bad must have happened to this woman for her not to trust men in general.

“We’ll try to be quick. We have a schedule to keep and won’t be here very long.”

As Stone glanced at his men who had followed him inside, he noticed Saxton and Bear staring at each other and then at Jill. They couldn’t seem to take their eyes off her. It was as if they forgot why they were here. It appeared the pretty lady had captured their attention. The woman must have sensed their obvious staring, because she looked away, trying to avoid eye contact with the two. Stone cleared his throat and the two were mentally with him again.

“Just point us in the direction we need to go and we’ll start moving them.”

As Stone followed her through each empty room, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. He wondered what had put her in this situation where she had to sell all her belongings, especially to a man like Linc.

Stone stood outside and supervised as his men carried the heavy machines, slot chairs and tables from the playroom. Jill had brought a pitcher of tea out to serve them.

“I thought you might want something cool to drink, since it’s a hot day today. I’m sorry I was so curt with you when you first got here. I had a bad experience not too long ago and I have been paying for it every day since it happened. That’s why I have to sell everything that was left to me when my father died and soon I will have nothing but the clothes on my back.”

Stone nodded. “It’s none of my business, but I am sorry to hear you are in trouble.” And then he took a glass from the tray she was serving from. She went to each of the men and did the same. When she got to Sax and Bear, he watched as she kept her eyes downcast and her hand was shaking a bit when she lifted the tray. Bear didn’t get his nickname for being a tiny guy by any means. He was six-four and almost three hundred pounds. And with his thick beard, he resembled the Brawny man. Even though the man was a beast, he was as gentle as a kitten. Stone watched as Bear wiped the sweat from his brow, smiled and thanked Jill for the cool drink. Saxton was Bear’s best friend. He was shorter than Bear, and not as built, but he was the smooth talker when it came to the ladies. They liked the same type of women and right now it seemed like they both liked the looks of Jill.

“Ahh... Jill, we’re about done here.” Stone had the money in his satchel to give her from Linc.

Jill looked away from Bear and Saxton and nodded towards Stone. “Thank you.” She then took the tray of empty glasses and disappeared inside the house. Stone caught a glimpse of her before she took off inside. She looked sad. For someone who wasn’t thrilled to see a bunch of mean looking bikers show up at her front door, she sure did look unhappy to see them all leave so soon.

Saxton and Bear loaded the last of the chairs and closed up the back end of the truck. The two stood before Stone and Jace as Stone sent a text to Linc letting him know they were about to leave.

“What’s her deal?” Saxton asked, nodding to the woman standing in the window of the empty living room. She was standing behind the curtain, but they had all caught a glimpse of her before she ducked away.

“Yeah, I mean, did her husband die and leave her with nothing? Or does she have some serious gambling habits that she needed to sell everything she owns?” Bear questioned.

Stone looked to Jace and shook his head. “I have no clue. But if I’d taken this job before I met Zoey, I wouldn’t give a shit. Now that Zoey has wiggled herself into my heart, I feel sorry for this woman and want to help her.”

It was true. Stone felt like a new man. One who actually had a softer side to him since Zoey came into his life. Seeing this woman looking like the world had beaten her so badly, with no fight left in her to give, made his heart break a little. Because of Zoey, he knew what it felt like to fall in love with someone and want to take care of her for the rest of his life. He and Jace would do anything for her.

Stone watched as Jill stood by the front door and waited for them to leave. He then walked up to her with Bear and Sax hot on his heels.

Stone handed her the envelope containing the money. “Ma’am, I know it’s none of my business, but are you in some kind of trouble? Maybe there’s something we might be able to do to help?”

She looked down at her feet. Stone could see her hands trembling before she hid them behind her back.

“No—” Her eyes were glossy, as if she were on the verge of crying. “I’m fine. After my father died, my husband left me and took everything I had in the divorce. I have until the end of the month before I have to evacuate the house I was raised in. There’s nothing you can do for me. No one can...” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she looked away.

Saxton cursed from behind him and Stone thought he heard a growl coming from deep within Bear’s chest.

Saxton reached inside his leather cut and pulled out a piece of paper and wrote something down on it. He handed her the paper and said, “I’m sorry to hear this, Jill, but if you ever are in any trouble and you need anything, call me. I left you my number and Bear’s.”

As they drove off, Stone had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time Sax and Bear would be seeing Jill. God help Jill if she knew what was in store for her by getting mixed up with these two alpha males.

Stone was ready to get home as soon as possible to his woman. He felt the urge to hold her and tell her how much he loved her.

W
hile the guys had been gone all day, Zoey made the best of her surroundings. This was going to be her new home and she thought it would be nice to get to know everyone who was going to be a part of her new family, as Stone and Jace pointed out. All the members were very nice to her, as were the new club girlfriends she made as well. Zoey was trying to break the members of calling them club whores. She asked that any members who asked for them at least call them club girls.

While most of the club members were still sleeping, she took it upon herself to pick up the common area, since by the looks of the place, most of the MCs picked up after themselves. She decided to turn on some music and clean to the sound of easy listening, as opposed to the hard rock they usually played. She wiped down the bar top, placed clean glasses behind the bar and even put out some pretzels she found in the kitchen pantry for them to snack on. After wiping down the tops of each table and placing the chairs on top when she was done, she swept the floors and mopped them clean, bringing them to a miraculous shine.

“Wow. This room looks too clean for me to even step foot in. Are you sure you want anyone in here? I haven’t seen this place this clean since I first came to the club,” Marx said from behind her.

“Good afternoon, big brother. And did you sleep well last night?” she asked as she placed the bucket around the corner.

“Nothing a little too much alcohol and a good woman can’t remedy.” He winked. “I was going to get a cup of coffee in the kitchen and something to eat. Want to join me?”

“Sure.”

Zoey was feeling domesticated and decided to make her brother some eggs and pancakes. As they sat at the table, she sipped her coffee and watched him eat two helpings of her pancakes. Marx was a big guy and she couldn’t help but laugh at his healthy appetite.

“Thanks, sis. That was perfect,” he said after he wiped his mouth with the napkin. He sat back in his chair and stretched his arms. “I could take a nap after that meal.”

“I’m happy to cook for you. I missed having someone around that I could take care of. I have been lonely for so long. Now that you’re a part of my life, things are going so good now, especially with Stone and Jace. I couldn’t be happier.” She couldn’t contain the smile that was plastered on her face. She was thankful for finding her brother and meeting the two loves of her life.

“Are you happy with them? I feel as if things don’t work out, that it’ll all be my fault for letting you stay.”

Zoey reached over and patted his hand, which rested on the table. “It’s you I have to thank for making me the happiest I have ever been in my life. Yes, I have to admit when I first came here I never expected to meet two bikers and fall in love with them. But like they say, love does work in mysterious ways.”

“I’m glad you’re happy, sis. And I’m glad to have my sister back in my life again. For so long I felt as though a piece of me was missing. Now I can honestly say I can rest easy knowing you’re here safe with me, and that Jace and Stone are going to do everything they can to love and protect you.”

“I still have my days where I see and hear things that I’m surprised by...”

Marx belted out a loud laugh, causing her to giggle.

“I have to remember to keep my sexual activities in the bedroom, if you’ll do the same. I sure the fuck don’t want to see you having sex with Jace and Stone.” He made a face of disgust, causing his body to shiver in discomfort.

“Sounds good. And maybe someday you will meet someone who will make you as happy as I am.”

Marx frowned. “Not likely. You’re thinking
way
outside the box if you think I will settle down. I can’t satisfy any woman.”

“Someday, big brother.”

Marx snorted as he stood from the table and cleaned up after himself.

“I almost forgot, did Jace mention to you that I needed a lift into town because I have an interview at Patty’s salon?”

“Yes, I was going to ask you about that. When did you want to get going?” he asked after he finished washing his hands in the sink.

“I can be ready now.”

“I’ll get my bike ready and meet you outside in ten.”

Zoey felt the butterflies stirring in her stomach. She was nervous about her meeting with Patty. It had never occurred to her that she could possibly do something that she really enjoyed. She knew she had to find a job sooner or later, but when she spoke to Jace and Stone about it they told her not to worry, that she didn’t need to work if she didn’t want to.

She’d never planned on being lazy, not finding a job. They kept her busy around the clubhouse. Stone and Jace told her they liked having her around all the time. When she had mentioned getting her own place, the two of them threw a fit and told her to get that thought right out of her head. They wanted her living there with them, and sleeping in their bed with them every night. Stone and Jace even showed her the blueprints for the master suite they were currently building in the new wing of the clubhouse. Stone wanted her to decorate it any way she wanted, just as long as they took the big bed. The club was growing on her, and she was slowly finding her place as their old lady.

Zoey rode on the back of Marx’s bike on the way into town. When he pulled up alongside the curb in the front of the shop, Zoey carefully got off.

“I have to grab a few things and then I’ll head over to get some gas in my bike. I’ll meet you back here after I’m done.” He nodded before he took off down the street.

Zoey could hear the rumble of his bike as he gave it gas, disappearing around the corner. She stepped inside the shop and found Patty waiting for her.

“Oh, good. I’m glad you made it. I took all my polish off my nails and I don’t have any appointment for another hour. So you can take your time with my nails.” As Patty walked her back to one of the nail areas, Zoey noticed how friendly all the hairdressers and employees were as she passed by.