RAGE: President & First Lady Of The Death Dealers MC (7 page)

I woke up this morning with a huge grin. I also had the best
night’s sleep in months. And it’s all because of Raven. I can’t remember the
last time I fucked a woman and felt this good afterwards. And I didn’t even
touch her. My dick twitches as I remember the way she said my name when she
came. I’ve made up my mind. No more staying away bullshit. The second she turns
eighteen, I’m hittin’ that. I just need to keep my hands to myself until then.
It’s going to be fucking hard after last night. She didn’t reply to my text
this morning, but I’m chalking it up to a little embarrassment.

I whistle a melody as I sit at my desk and go over the
Kitty’s accounts, pausing when there’s a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The door opens and Lonnie pushes her head in.
Great. What
the hell does she want?

“Hi, Gage.”

“Hey, Lonnie. What’s up?”

She steps in, closes the door, and strolls to the chair
opposite me, an extra swing in her hips. Honestly, it’s wasted on me. Even
before I met her sister, it wouldn’t have worked. I fucked her a few times when
she just came here but I haven’t touched her in a long fucking time. I wonder
if she knows what’s going on with Raven. Could it be some loser she’s bringing
home who’s putting his hands on her? I clench my teeth to keep quiet.

“I want to talk to you about something.”

“Yeah?”

Maybe she
does
know and is finally coming for help.

“I was thinking… I don’t want to be a Hound anymore.”

I should have known better. “That’s your choice. No one’s
keeping you here.”

“I know, but I want to be an old lady.”

Good luck. Who the fuck’s going to want you after you’ve
fucked every man in the club? Definitely not me.
The hopeful look in her
eyes makes me think she’s actually serious.

“Anyone in particular?”

“Yes.”

“Well, does he know?”

“No.”

“If the guy has no idea, don’t you think you should talk to
him, and not me?”

“I was hoping he’d realize on his own.”

“Nothing I can do there. You need to sort that out with him.
I’m not getting involved.”

Her face falls and she stares down at her hands in her lap.
If she thought I was going to talk one of my brothers into claiming her, she’s
insane. Maybe I should talk to her about Raven. She’s her guardian, after all.
Then again, she’s probably not in the most receptive mood right now. Fuck it, I
don’t need her. I’ll be around now, so I can figure shit out on my own. Whoever
the fucker is, his days are numbered.

“Is there something else?”

“No. I just thought you should know.”

“Okay. Close the door on your way out.”

She walks out, head down, dragging her feet. The hip swing
is gone. Who’d have thought Lonnie would want to settle down? Again, not me.
Raven though, she’s definitely the settling down type. I can see her wanting
the house with the picket fence, the kids, and the dog. Am I the man to provide
that for her? Hell no. But she’s young. She has time to work on her suburban
dream if that’s what she wants.

By the time I finish working, I realize I missed lunch and
I’m starving. Hell, it’s damn near dinnertime. Maybe I should go to Millie’s
and pay my little bird a visit. I lock the office door and head straight to the
bathroom for a shower. I can’t wait to see her.

I step out of the shower, singing “Sympathy for the Devil”
as I dry off. Fuck me, but I haven’t felt this good in a long time. After
dressing in a white t-shirt, straight jeans, and white Jordans, I stand in
front of the bathroom mirror contemplating whether I should comb my hair. Nah.
I put in some Bedhead molding paste and run my fingers through it. I decide to
leave my cut behind but not my Glock. I never leave home without it. A little
of my current, favorite cologne, Gucci Guilty, and then I’m out the door.

Out in the bar, I find Razor getting the guys together while
some of the girls are packing supplies. He’s a giant of a man, towering over me
and about three times my size. He’d intimidate anyone without even trying. He
got the nickname because he always had a disposable razor he would pull out at
random times and just start shaving. I’ve never seen him with hair on his face.
He’s a rock, though. I can count on him for anything, which is why he’s my
Sergeant. He’s a mean son-of-a-bitch and won’t hesitate to kill a man. He’s
good at it, too. Second to me, of course.

“Pushing out?” I ask him.

“Yeah. Talked to Mission. Everything goes okay, we should be
back by this time tomorrow.”

Mission is the President of our Jacksonville charter. They
run pain meds—Oxy, Vicodin, Percocet, you name it. They’re setting up a new
base of operations and I’m sending some of my guys down there to help with
securing the location. 

“Cool. Let me know when you get there.”

“Yeah. Where you off to, pretty boy? Hot date?”

“Nah. Just to get some food.”

Lonnie saunters over, slips her arm around mine, and smiles
up at me.

“Want some company?”

This is the chick who wants to be an old lady? Yeah,
right.
I brush her off and turn back to Razor. “Nah, I’m good.”

Razor chuckles and shakes his head.

“All right, Prez. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. You know what? Take some of the girls with you. Give
Mission’s boys a taste of Georgia.”

“Sure thing. Lonnie, you’re rolling with me, sweet cheeks.”

I watch them leave and then grab the keys to my Mustang from
behind the bar. Maybe Raven will let me give her a ride home. I get to Millie’s
and I have to stand there for a minute and just watch her. What a difference a
day makes. She’s smiling and moving around animatedly, chatting with the
diners. She’s fucking beautiful. Since it’s not too busy, I take a seat at a
table in her section. The moment she sees me, her smile fades.
Okay, not the
reaction I was expecting.
She walks up to my table slowly.

“Hi.”

“Hey, baby doll. Not happy to see me?”

She nervously tucks some stray hair behind her ear.

“Don’t call me that,” she whispers, handing me a menu.

“Why not? You didn’t object last night.”

“Shh! Do you want everyone to hear you?”

Damn, this girl can put a smile on my face. I flip through
the menu even though I already know what I want.

“Are you ready to order?”

“Yeah, let me get the fried chicken with potato salad and a
biscuit.”

“And to drink?”

“Coke.”

“I’ll be right back. And stop smiling at me like that.”

I chuckle as she walks away, willing myself not to look at
her ass. This is one of those times I wish I had a time machine. I don’t need
much; just two months into the future, that’s all. She returns with my drink,
and as she places it on the table, I let my hand brush hers before she releases
the glass. She gasps and yanks her hand away. The fire in her eyes doesn’t
escape me, but she quickly blinks it away.

“Stop it,” she says through clenched teeth and leaves again.

I watch her with a grin. My poor, little bird, she seems so
frustrated. I need to do something about that. When she returns with my order,
the diner is practically empty. There’s only me, and a couple at a table in
Sheila’s section. She sets the plate on the table and slides her palms down her
apron.

“If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Join me.”

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

“I’m working.”

“Doing what? I’m your only customer.”

“Gage.”

Her tone is laced with warning, but all I can think of is
how much I like hearing her say my name.

“You need to stop. Whatever
this
is… it needs to
stop.”

She marches off and I turn to my food.
Stop? I’m just
getting started.

***Raven***

Hot, bothered, horny beyond reason—just a few words to
describe how I’m feeling right now. How I’ve felt since I saw him sitting at
that table. When his hand touched mine, I thought back to last night, only it
was his hand between my legs and not mine. And the way he smells… Jesus. I need
to get a grip. I grab a towel and start wiping down the counter just to keep
myself occupied. The couple at Sheila’s table leaves, so now he’s the only one
here. And he seems to be taking his own, sweet time. Not that I’m watching him.
Okay, I’ve glanced over there a few times. Each time our eyes have met, and
each time he gave me a dazzling, crooked smile. That smile makes me want to leap
over all these tables and land right on his lap.

Suddenly, a hand slides around my waist and I turn to see
Chris smiling down at me. Fuck. I’ve been so consumed by my thoughts I neither
heard him enter nor saw him approach.

“Hey, beautiful.”

I return his smile, lean in, and give him a quick kiss.

“Hey, handsome.”

His face lights up even more, the way it does anytime I give
him a compliment. It’s like it means more to him coming from me. This is what I
need. This is what I should be focusing on. I have a great guy with a bright
future who is truly into me and who doesn’t just want to get in my pants.

“Ready?”

“I just have one last customer, and then I’m all yours.”

He looks around the diner and his smile disappears. He
narrows his eyes and I see the muscles in his jaw working. Shit. I turn toward
Gage and he has a mirrored expression. I
do
not
need this right
now.

“Chris.”

He turns to me but keeps throwing dirty glances in Gage’s
direction. I cradle his face in my hands. “Don’t. Just sit here and wait for
me. Once he’s done, we can leave.”

He drops down into the chair, still fuming.

“You want some dessert? Millie made apple pie.”

“I don’t want any damn pie. Just hurry up.”

Usually, I would get into a guy’s face for talking to me
like that, but I understand how he must feel so I let it slide. I gather my
wits and leave him to check on the other angry bird.

“Everything okay? Can I get you anything?”

“No, everything is
not
okay. What the fuck is he
doing here?”

“He meets me here every day and we go home together.”

“Get rid of him. I’m taking you home.”

“No, you’re not. If you don’t understand the concept of a
boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, I suggest you do some research.”

He leans forward, lowering his voice to a whisper.

“Where was your boyfriend last night when you were calling
out my name?”

He’s right. I’m sending mixed signals and I need to stop.

“It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

He slides out of the booth and reaches into his pocket.
Pulling out a few bills, he drops them on the table, all the time staring into
my eyes.

“Bullshit. Get rid of him, Raven.”

He turns and heads for the door, calling over his shoulder, “See
you around, baby doll.”

I can feel Chris’ eyes boring a hole in the back of my head.
Asshole. He just had to have the last word.
I try to be as nonchalant as
possible as I clear the table. I also avoid looking at Chris as I pass by.
While taking care of the bill, I realize he left entirely too much money. Then
again, he didn’t even count it. A twelve dollars and fifty cents bill and he
leaves a hundred and fifty dollars.

“You all set to go, sweetheart?” Millie asks.

I show her the money and the bill with a helpless look. She
takes a twenty-dollar bill and smiles at me.

“I guess the rest is yours.”

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can. Aren’t you the one saving up for an
apartment? Trust me, honey. He can afford it.”

I sigh, stuff it in my pocket, and brace myself to face
Chris. He’s out of his seat, pacing the diner, and muttering to himself. The
moment he sees me, he stomps over and grabs my hand.

“We need to talk.”

He pulls me along behind him all the way to the bus stop.
Despite his need to talk, he remains quiet. I can only think that he’s waiting
until we get home. I leave him to his thoughts and anger, while I just stare
out the bus window.
How did my life get so complicated?
I pull out my
phone and text Toni. I need to talk to someone and I definitely can’t talk to
Chrissy. It would be too weird.

Raven: Need to talk to you. Need some advice.

Toni: Sure, babe. You know I got you.

Raven: Call you later. Can’t talk right now.

Toni: Are you ok?

Raven: Yeah, just too many ears around…on the bus.

Toni: K. Later.

“Who are you texting?”

“Toni.”

“Toni, huh?”

I give him my don’t-be-a-dick look but he doesn’t back down.
Men. And they think women are jealous creatures. As soon as the bus stops, I
push my way past him and start walking home.

“Raven, wait.”

“Leave me alone. Don’t bother following me home, either.”

By the time I get to the house, my anger has diminished
because I know he’s been walking at a distance behind me the entire time. I
stand on the porch and watch him as he approaches.

“Is this our first fight?”

“You’re the one who wants to fight, Chris. I don’t even know
why.”

“What’s going on with you and the Dealer?”

“Nothing. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve
spoken to him.”

“He’s very protective of you for someone you’ve only spoken
to a handful of times.”

I step forward and place my hands at his sides. He gazes
down at me, his eyes searching my face.

“Don’t worry about him. I’m with you. Only you.”

He cradles my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

“
No te quiero perder
.”

“You won’t lose me, Chris.”

As he presses his lips to mine, I curl my fingers in his
shirt, and pull him closer. I need to assure him I’m not going anywhere. The
problem is how can I do that when I’m not sure myself?