Us (6 page)

Chapter 8
– J

“
Ya sure know how to pick ‘em.”

I scowled at Dig. “You best watch your mouth, brother.”

“Relax, brother. It’s just taking me some time to get used to her. Most women I know don’t question me or my plans. Fuck, most don’t know my plans. Mallory isn’t even sure what’s going on or why she's in Little Rock.”

“Dad ain’t used to having to answer a woman. And yours is pretty hardcore, man,” Son laughed as he said this, probably trying to push the topic away from Mallory, his mother. He loved her, but their whole family situation could be tense at times. Fret’s wife
had passed away some time ago, but I’m sure she wouldn’t be too happy that her own son, Pole, was following in his father’s footsteps just like Son had followed Dig. But unlike Dig and Mallory, Fret had kept his old lady in the know. It was either all or nothing when it came to what we told our old ladies, or at least that is what Ratchet always told me. Elle was by default in the
ALL
category.

“Fret and Pole in place?” I asked Dig, wanting to get down to it
so I could get back to Elle and figure out where her head was at with all this.

“They are. Fret’s on the inside, Pole
’s on the outside.” Dig was still pacing. Fuck,
my
ass wasn’t getting out of this hotel room until
his
ass stopped pacing, which meant he was going to have to work through everything out loud.

“Brother, Son and I know how you work, but you might want to speed it up for Jorge’s sake.” Jorge
was patiently listening to us formulate our plan. Having said what he came to say already, he was now just waiting to hear how we were going to handle things on our side of the border. Fret, as far as we knew, was still at the St. Louis clubhouse with Burns. He’d gotten word to us that Burns knew Dig, Son and I were MIA, but didn’t know mutiny was in the works. At this point, it was too dangerous to call.

By the time Pole
was old enough to patch in, Fret had told him there was no way in hell he'd be patching into Burns' MM. I didn’t blame him. Were I in his shoes, I’m sure I’d have done the same thing. Once Dig got back to Missouri, he’d check in with Pole and explain our situation south of the border. It would be on Pole to get us the intel from Fret about what was going on inside the St. Louis clubhouse. Kansas City was another story.

“How you gonna get word to us about the situation in Missouri?” I was pretty sure once Dig and Son went back home, the plan would be throttled to full power. I doubted father or son would be returning to Mexico.

“Son?” Dig looked at the boy that was his mirror image, only twenty-some years younger.

“I’ll send a bird with a note.” I laughed. Dig didn’t. “Fuck
, Dad. You know I got this. Jorge’s gonna come with us. Once we figure out what’s up back home, Jorge will either come back and hip J to the 4-1-1 or he’ll be slangin’ swords beside us.”

I really wanted to bust out laughing at Son’s fucked up use of the English language, but whereas I found it hysterical, Dig found it aggravating. I knew the next words out of his mouth were going to be about the
4-1-1.

“Do
ya make this shit up? 4-1-1? Damnit Son, speak like a normal person.”

“Fuck old man, I ain’t speakin’ Spanish. The
4-1-1 is the fucking information. Damn. When we get this shit straightened out, your ass is on urbandictionary.com. I’m tired of translating into old man speak for ya.” Son was now up in his dad’s face, both were about eye to eye, and Jorge and I just stood back and watched. I’d been with these two for months now. I was used to them constantly going at it. Oddly, Son had no idea how much of his old man’s vernacular he used on a daily basis. I was keeping that to myself, though, as I wasn’t interested in being in the middle of those two.

“Just let t
hem handle this,” I told Jorge.

“I’ve been with you
gringos
long enough to have those two figured out. Really, I’m not sure what the boy is saying half the time, but I have a son and he talks some fucked up Spanish sometimes.” According to Jorge, father-son fights were universal, or so it appeared.

I let Son and Dig go at
it for awhile. I trusted Son had a plan to get Elle and me the information we needed. He’d proven himself enough for me to know he was good at what he did. Technology was his thing, and he did it well. Why Dig couldn’t let him be was beyond me. Normally I'd wait out their fight, but at some point I felt the need to put Jorge out of his misery.

“O
K you two fucks, Son is gonna get us the info. Moving on. What are we gonna do about Kansas City?” The six brothers working with us were from the St. Louis clubhouse. Burns and his brother Nick were also there. Although we had allies in KC, they’d been a small independent charter before Burns pulled them into the folds of MM. I was the only one who had any relationships over there since I was the middle man with the drugs and guns. I’d spoke to their president about working with Burns. He told me in not so many words that he hadn’t been given a choice of joining Burns MM. For the most part, Burns left their members alone, so long as they sold the drugs and got their taxes to Burns on time.

“What did Lincoln have to say when we
were there last week?” Dig asked, even though he knew the answer already. I humored him and repeated it.

“He’s on board. His club never wanted to run drugs. Sure, they like the money, but they were happy to just be a normal MC. Couple of the members got a construction business, and the rest got day jobs like
your average, everyday folks. Just like we used to be with Ratchet and his auto shop. The KC boys will gladly give up the cash to have their normal lives back, though they aren’t too keen on getting’ bloody. That was a hard sell, but I made it happen by saying that Burns would come to them demanding loyalty so they might as well choose a side. They knew which side to choose.”

“Fuck.” Dig ran his hand over the stubble on his head. It was getting longer than usual. All of us could use a razor actually.

“Brother, let’s handle St. Louis first. Once it’s done, I told Link we’d let him know how he can help us. They are just waiting this out. No sense worrying about it now. After Burns is six feet under, we’ll talk to Kansas City. They’ve lost members and will need money to regroup. It’s not like we wanted this for them, nor do we have the funds right now to bail them out, but we gotta help in any way we can. Like I said, let’s handle Burns and St. Louis for now, and worry about KC when the time comes.”

Dig nodded at me. “Yeah, you
're right. I just want this shit over. I’m tired of fucking planning. I want my club back.” Son had been laying on the bed, probably plotting his father’s death like a good son. Dig sank into the chair next to Jorge with an exasperated sigh. As soon as his ass hit the chair, Son shot up from the bed.

“We leave in the morning?” Son asked, taking his father’s place and pacing the room. We all looked to Jorge.

“I’ll arrange transportation for you, Dig. And a vehicle for you,” Jorge said turning to me. “I’ll let you know by sundown how you’ll be getting back to your home. Looks like you will be having a conversation with your lady,” Jorge said, and I could only imagine he meant Elle. “I see she has reservations about the boy. Let me know if your plan to stay with him changes.” With that, he got up. A round of handshakes sealed the deal, and Jorge took his leave, probably glad to be done with the
gringos
for the time being.

“I’ll be back at sundown.”
Dig and I both looked at Son like he was crazy.

“You’ll go back to your room.”

“I’m not gonna hide out in that room like a Jew during the Holocaust.”

I rubbed my hands over my face in
an attempt to shake off the shock of what Son just said. I knew what was coming.

“Your mother’s people died during the war and
ya best watch what the fuck comes out of that mouth of yours unless ya want to feel the sting of my palm against it.”

Dig and Son were toe to toe, Son an inch or so shorter than his 6’3” dad, though I had no doubt he’d catch up. They were staring hard into eac
h other’s eyes. I knew Mallory was Jewish, but I didn’t know Dig felt so strongly about her family’s heritage. I really didn’t care to hang around for what was shaping up to be World War III. Pun fully intended.

“I’ll catch you two later,” I told them as I slipped out
of the door. So I was going to be in Sabinas with Elle a bit longer. That was something I could handle. Despite the fact that we were in the middle of a war, I wanted to lie in bed and talk about nothing with my woman. I wanted to pretend like everything was OK, we were back in Missouri, and we were normal people enjoying life and one another.

I left Dig’
s room on a mission.

Chapter 9
– Elle

“Baby? It’s me.”
I heard J come inside the room. I was lying in bed reading on the Kindle, thanking the reading Gods I’d carried it and the charger in my purse. I was currently escaping into the world of Ryke Meadows and Daisy Calloway. Although their world was far from normal, there were no drug cartels or crazy old men who thought they were MC royalty and could tell me what to do. Yeah, I was still a little annoyed with Dig, but I’d get over it. I just needed a healthy dose of the Ritchie sisters. But now that J was here…

“I’ll call Fernie now. I didn’t get a chance to back at Dig’s.”

OK, so no bumpin’ and grindin’ for the time being.

“What happened over at Dig’s?” I asked him as he dialed.

“Fuckin’ father-son bullshit. I bowed out. There was nothing left to be said.” He turned away from me with the phone to his ear. “Yeah it’s me. Can you come by the hotel?” Pause. “Yep. That’s cool.” Click.

“Well?”

“He’ll be through this afternoon. He needs to finish up his chores ‘n shit.”

So back to that bumpin’ and grindin’. I se
t my Kindle on the nightstand, and rolled onto my side. Facing J, I had this sudden feeling of anxiety, realizing I was so deep in my book, sex, and a fictional world, that I forgot the
real world
I was really living in. Not to mention the fact that I was about to go all pervy on J despite even though I had to deal with Fernie in a few hours. I rolled onto my back and let out a long sigh.

I could pretend that my life had been “normal” before J, and I guess it was, more or less. It was
my
normal, even if it was void of true emotion. Since J, though, nothing had been close to normal. I mean, our time together in Missouri before he shot me was great, but I was in uncharted waters—not normal. Then I was Wallowing Elle for months, and now I was On The Fucking Run Elle. None of those Elles were normal. Fuckin’ A. What was I doing?

“Are you OK, baby?” J crawled into the bed next to me. I was so caught up in my mental melodrama, I missed J stripping down to his boxers. It wasn’t until I felt the heat of his skin pressed up against mine that I realized what I had.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart, but what’s going on in that ogre brain of yours? You seem to be spinning on high speed.” He
lay on his side, head propped up on his hand, and stared at me with the most loving eyes I’d ever looked into.

I scanned my eyes lower, taking in the nearly naked form in front of me.

“You’re sweet. And hot. Really fucking hot. And I’m a mess,” I told him. He broke out into laughter. I narrowed my eyes at him, unsure what was funny.

“Baby, you’re not a mess. You’re fucking perfect. I don’t even know where to start.” I looked at him, lost as to where he was going with all this. My bewildered look must’ve prompted him to continue. “We’re in this fucked up situation, and you’re reading—in panties and a
barely-there top no less, yet you’re telling me I’m hot. You’re the one that is so sexy I can barely keep my hands off you. On top of that, your little speech to Dig back there had me about nutting in my jeans. So let’s just say that any word you could use to describe me, I’m sure I could use on you times ten.” My jaw was about to hit the floor when he added, “And you’re mine.”

His grin went from ear to ear, while I sat there bewildered that this sexy giant of a man could feel those things for me.
And my tank top wasn’t barely-there,was it?

“Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Fuck.” I threw my arm over my eyes. “I feel like I'm living this fucked up life, and I can’t remember when it was normal. Even before we met, my shit wasn’t normal. All I want is to get back to Missouri, and try to have normal with you, but I don’t know what normal is, so how can I make it happen with you? Fuckin’ A.” I groaned into my arm, and it wasn’t an
oh my God I’m about to come
groan. It was a
what the fuck is going on with my life
groan.

“Things will get better. I promise.”

I pulled my arm away, only to be met with a set of cloudy black eyes that were aimed at the sky. I put my hands on either side of his face.

“Now tell me what you’re thinking.”

“That it’s my fault.” He wrapped his giant hands around my wrists, pulled them way from his face, and took turns kissing each palm. When he was done, he looked back up to me and the storms were in full effect. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

“No. You saved me from a life of emptiness. I finally have you, and now I want to start our life together. I didn’t mean to go on and on about
the neurotic shit in my head. I know why we're doing this. I know what the club means to you, and I’ll be right here by your side while you handle business.”

“You wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for me,” he whispered. I had a feeling he was going to carry this guilt until Burns was out of the picture—shit, I hoped he would let go of it then. I also knew there wasn’t much I could say to ease his mind, but there was something I could do.

I lay my head against his and put my hands back on either side of his face. “I wouldn’t be in love if it weren’t for you. I wouldn’t be wearing Gram’s ring if it weren’t for this mess.” Putting my lips against his, I whispered, “I wouldn’t have a life to fight for without you. Now let go of that guilt and fuck me before we’re stuck at Grandma’s house.”

He may have still felt guilty, but that was all the encouragement he needed to press his lips firmly against mine. As always, he devoured me, and it was the most sublime feeling possible. Our bodies moved in sync, a rhythm well established. His hands went into my panties, immediately finding my throbbing clit and rubbing it.
Moans erupted out of my mouth, and I forgot for a moment where we were. He had a way of making me forget about everything but his mouth on my skin and his hand between my legs.

My eyes were closed, but I felt him move down my body, and soon his tongue replace
d his hand. He licked the tips of my folds, sending shivers coursing through my whole body. He feathered it up and down my slit, killing me with the softness of his touch. I suddenly wanted to ravage him, or have him ravage me—either one would do.

“Fuck me, J. Stop torturing me, and fuck me.” I could barely get the words out through gritted
teeth, I wanted him inside me so bad.

He rolled to the side of my body, and began making a trail of kisses up my stomach.

“Baby, I’d never torture you.” I felt his smirk against my skin. He was right, he wouldn’t torture me.

I sa
t up and shoved him to his back. Climbing on top of him, I sunk down onto his cock, a sigh of contentment rippling through me.
This
is what I wanted. I rocked back and forth, my eyes closed and oblivious to the world. I clenched my walls around him as I moved up and down his length, savoring the feeling of being filled by this man, my man.

“Look at me, baby.” I opened my eyes to peer
down upon him, realizing the corners of my open mouth were turned up. I’d been lost in his touch, his cock, and the physical pleasures he offered through his body.

“You love me?”

“Of course,” I told him.

“Then stop torturing
me
.” With those words, he flipped me on my back. Taking one of my legs on his shoulder, he sped up his thrusts. Shit, but it felt good. I was so anxious to have him inside me, I had barely been moving, just savoring the feeling of him. Now, having him set a quicker pace, I realized I was torturing him, but if this was my punishment, I’d fuckin’ take it.

His hand went to my clit again, and I was exploding around him within seconds. I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him through my orgasm. I knew the moment he started to come because his mouth went slack, allowing me to suck his lower lip into my mouth. I sucked it in the same rhythm that he pumped in and out of me, filling me with his seed. He grunted his release, finishing with a long, slow moan. He grabbed me, rolling us both to the side, his cock still semi-erect and firmly planted inside me.

“Fuck, I love you.” His eyes were closed as he said this, our roles having been reversed.

“I know I can’t magically take away your guilt, but there is no need for it. I love you back.” He opened his eyes to see my hand held up in front of him. “See,” I said in reference to the ring on my finger.

He grabbed my hand and kissed the ring. “I’ll try. Keep shoving this ring in my face so I don’t forget you accepted, OK?”

“You crazy man. I’ll do whatever I have to so you know
that I love you.” His eyes got wide. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I’ll do
a lot
so you know I love you,” I amended. There was no way in hell I was taking his giant cock up my ass. Not that we’d discussed that, or that it was even on the table, but it was the first thing that came to mind. A finger? Maybe. The magnum between his legs? Doubtful. There wasn’t enough lube in the world to take that snake in me.

As if sensing the path of my thoughts, J broke out into laughter. He held his side and heaved breaths. When he composed himself, somewhat, he turned to me with the biggest smile I’d ever seen.

“Shit, sweetheart, I don’t know where your mind went, but I would love to hear about it.”

“Pass.” I shoved him in the shoulder.

He was still inside me, and laughing, when we both heard someone knocking.

“Hello?”

“Fucking A,” was my only response to Fernie on the other side of the door while J was still balls deep in me, and I was still shaking off thoughts of anal sex.

“Give us a minute, kid,” J shouted.

"Kid's got impeccable timing, just like your boy, Son," I told J while getting out of bed to grab some clothes. "Here." I tossed him his pants. "Get un-naked, why don't ya?"

Once we were both decent, more or less, I let Fernie in the hotel room.

"Sup, Elle? J." He waved at the giant pulling a T-shirt over his head. My eyes may have lingered a little longer than appropriate, but with a chest like J's it was hard to tear my eyes away. It'd be hard for any straight woman to not see the beauty of J's chest, and fuck, maybe a few lesbians too.

"So you guys wanted to talk?" Fernie shook me from my lusty thoughts.

"Yeah. So, Dig and Son are going back to Missouri, but J and I are going to hang here in Sabinas a little longer. You cool with that?"

"Of course." Fernie was nonchalant in his response, almost like the reason why we were staying in Sabinas was lost on him.

"You know why we're staying?"

"Cuz it's not safe for you in the States yet?" I n
odded. "You wanna stay with me and Abuelita? Tío Oscar is in Aguascalientes for a month doing work with some of his friends."

I shoved my hand in my hair and pulled. Fuck. I was working my way up to asking him if we could stay with him, but he just busted out with it. Again, like he didn't get why we were in Sabinas in the first place.

"Fernie, do you get why we're here? Like, really why?"

"People are after you. You need to hide out."

"So you get that this shit is dangerous. I hate having you be a part of it. There are some really bad people out there who want to hurt me and J. If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself. Yes, we would like to stay with you, but I need to know that you understand the seriousness of this situation."

I looked over my shoulder at J. Standing behind me, he was letting me be the mother lion to my cub, and I loved
that he recognized my need to protect Fernie. His eyes shined with love, and I couldn't help but love him back. A man who would kill for me, laugh with me, and die for me. Nothing about our relationship was normal, yet for us, it was perfect. José might have been right about me being safer with him. There was no denying my life had been in a state of chaos since the man I loved shot me, but I could never have with José what I had with J. The love between J and I was indescribable. I could spend a lifetime trying to come up with a word that defined the inexplicable connection we had, though I'd rather spend a lifetime loving J instead. There was no need to find a word for us. We were just that—us, and we were imperfectly perfect together.

I turned back to Fernie. "
You get the gravity of the situation?"

"Uh, sure, whatever gravity means."

"Serious, Fernie. It means it's fucking serious. You get that?"

Fernie straightened his back up
and went into defense mode. "Yeah, Elle, I get it. That's why I'm trying to help you."

I went to grab my hair, only to fi
nd my hand still in it, so I pulled. God, how could I be a loving, caring, mother figure and a bitch all at the same time? Shit, was I becoming a version of my mother?

I shook off all thoughts of the mother figure who really had no idea what was
going on in her daughters' lives, and turned to Fernie.

"Sorry, Fernie. I didn't mean to insult you. It's just that I care about your well
-being, and want you to be safe. But, yes, we would like to stay with you if that's cool."

"Of course. Come over just before sundown and Abuelita will be cooking."