Burn: Men of Inked Heatwave #2 Page 17

  He slides his fingers across my cheek until they’re in my hair, my face resting in his palm. “Don’t ever be sorry.”

  My lips find his wrist, one of the only places on him that isn’t busted. “I just love you so much.”

  “Come here,” he orders again, digging his fingers into my neck. “I want to hold you.”

  I don’t argue this time, needing the skin-on-skin contact as much as he does. I press my chest against his side, the one without the broken ribs, and place my head on his shoulder.

  “We need to talk,” he says with so much seriousness, I gaze upward into his green eyes, quickly sobering.

  “What’s wrong? Am I hurting you?” I start to move, but he holds me down with his hand on my shoulder.

  “No, you’re not hurting me.”

  “Then what?”

  “When I was lying there, sure I was a dead man, I did a lot of thinking.”

  “Yeah?”

  Oh my God. Is this the moment? The one every girl dreams about? The one I’ll tell my children about someday?

  “If I were to die…” he starts.

  So wrong, Gigi. So fucking wrong.

  “Stop,” I whisper and push myself upward and away from him. “I don’t want to hear anymore.”

  “If I were to die…” he repeats.

  I shake my head and close my eyes. “It’s not happening.”

  “Darlin’, listen.” His touch is whisper-soft but unmistakable. “I need to say this.”

  I take a deep breath and open my eyes again, knowing it’s only fair to let him say whatever’s on his mind. He almost died, for shit’s sake, and no matter how badly I don’t want to hear what’s about to come next, I have to let him say it. “I’m listening.”

  “I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon, but I need to know that if something happens to me, you’ll keep on going. You’ll find a husband, make babies, grow old, and be happy.”

  I twist my lips, blinking at him. “Are you for real right now?”

  He nods.

  “If I were to die, would you ever be happy?” I question him.

  “Well, no,” he confesses without batting a fucking eyelash.

  “Neither would I. So, can we talk about something else?”

  “Only if you lie down again.”

  “As long as you don’t talk about dying anymore.” I place my hand on my chest, trying to calm myself down. “My heart can’t take it.”

  He nods, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward him. “It’s the last thing I want. I don’t think I can ever have enough time with you.”

  I curl into him and press my lips to his shoulder. “I know this is a strange thing to say, but I feel like I’ve known you my entire life.”

  “I don’t want to remember what life was like before you.” He runs his fingers through my hair, and I can’t hold back the moan. “I wasn’t livin’ until you came into my world, darlin’. I was existing. There’s a difference.”

  “I can’t imagine my life without you, Pike.”

  “I love you,” he whispers.

  I gaze up and smile. “I love you too.”

  We lie there in silence, lightly touching each other.

  If I didn’t know better, I’d swear I was dreaming.

  20

  Gigi

  Two months later…

  I turn in my seat, Pike’s warm hand resting on my knee, to glare at Austin in the back seat of my pickup. “If you say a word to our parents about our first stop, you’re not going to make it to your eighteenth birthday.”

  Austin swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Come on, ladies,” he says, sliding his arms behind Lily and Tamara. “Would I do something like that?”

  “Yes,” all three of us answer in unison.

  Lily elbows him in the ribs. “We may not kill you, but I’ll hold you down and let Tamara pull your fingernails out.”

  Austin pales, and I bite my lip to stop myself from giggling. Lily’s hard-core and gives zero fucks. I adore the bitch so much and wish she’d gone to college near us instead of venturing out on her own. Fuckin’ scholarships.

  “You wouldn’t do that.” Austin’s voice cracks, but he keeps on rolling. “You love me.”

  Tamara runs her palm across his hand. “That’s why we’d only do your fingernails and leave you alive, Aussie. We’d never kill you, but we’re not above torturing you.” She smiles, and it’s so beautifully wicked, my heart grows three sizes like the Grinch at the end of my favorite Christmas movie.

  “You bitches are vicious,” Austin groans, pulling his hand back and tucking his fingers between his legs. “So fucking vicious. I won’t say a word. Jesus, give me some credit. I memorized the story, practicing it and spitting it back perfectly when they questioned me at the shop.”

  It’s not like they can tell us no. We are all adults after all, living on our own. And even though our families are nosy, they don’t have the right to tell us what to do.

  But that doesn’t mean any of us want to hear their shit either. God, if my dad found out we were stopping by the compound for a night, I’d get a freaking earful until I went deaf. He’d probably still keep yelling, figuring his deep, husky voice would penetrate somehow.

  Lily winks at me, knowing just like I do, there’s no harm in scaring the piss out of the guy. We’ve learned one thing in our two decades together—we never snitch on each other.

  “Loosen up, Aussie. This is going to be a fun weekend.” Tamara reaches up and pinches Austin’s cheeks, trying to get him to relax.

  He shakes his head, digging his fingers deeper. “I just wanted to see some T&A. Someday, you’ll trust me.”

  Lily drags her finger down his other cheek, smiling when he starts to squirm. “You’re going to see some T&L, and that’s about it, li’l guy.”

  “T&L?” Austin asks.

  “Tamara and Lily,” Lily laughs.

  Austin rolls his eyes. “You two are like my sisters.” He pretends to gag, but I know he’s lying. The horndog hasn’t let up, and even though he’s nervous as fuck between the two of them right this second, he’s loving the attention they’re giving him.

  “Here’s the rules,” Pike tells us, glancing in the rearview mirror and squeezing my leg. “This is for everybody and not just Austin, ya hear?”

  “Yes!” the four of us groan, knowing Big Daddy Pike is about to lay down the law and it’s going to be boring as fuck.

  “I lived with these people. I know their ways. This is one of the tamest parties of the year. The kids will be there, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t bad shit happening if you go looking for it.”

  “Oh yeah?” Lily asks, scooting forward. “What kind of shit?”

  “You won’t go lookin’ for it, so don’t worry about it, Lily,” he tells her before bringing his eyes back to the road.

  “Drugs?” Austin asks with a little too much enthusiasm.

  Pike’s steely gaze slices to the mirror. “If you go within so much as five feet of drugs, I’m cutting your dick off and shoving it down your throat.”

  I wince, imagining the horror and pain. Pike can say what he wants, but I know he’d never lay a finger on his brother…drugs or not.

  “You’re just as bad as Gran,” Austin mutters.

  “That goes for all of you. No drugs. No hard liquor. I don’t want to be dragging your sloppy asses out of some asshole’s room or rescuing you from a crazy gang bang that sounded like fun because you were too drunk to realize they weren’t talking about pounding rocks.”

  “What?” I ask, glancing at him, so fucking confused.

  He shrugs but keeps on rolling. “Don’t embarrass me, and for the love of God, don’t embarrass yourself.”

  “You have a way with words, Shakespeare,” Lily teases, covering her mouth immediately to snicker into the palm of her hand.

  “Sure thing, Joe. Whatever you say,” Tamara adds because she’s a shithead and loves pissing off Pike.

  Pike wrinkles his forehead. �
�What did you call me?”

  I place my hand on his forearm, somehow managing not to laugh. “We hear you, boss man. Calm down a little. It’s Labor Day weekend, and we’re supposed to have fun.”

  “Fun,” he mutters, glancing toward the top of the truck cab. “I don’t care about fun, Gigi. I didn’t even want to go to this damn party, but you just had to jump at Morris’s offer.”

  I bristle at his choice of words, tightening my grip on his arm. “These people were your people once, Pike. They saved your life twice,” I remind him. “Relax a little. We had fun the last time we were here. Remember?”

  He turns his head so slowly, eyes so icy, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, looking for a quick exit. “Last time we were here—” he points toward the compound “—we almost died.”

  I nod, remembering it well and still happy as shit we lived. “But we didn’t.” I put a smile on my face, hoping to make him chill out. “We were whisked away without even being able to say thank you to the men who put their lives on the line to save us. I think we could at least have a beer with them and let them know their bravery didn’t go unappreciated.”

  He groans. “You know I love these guys. They were my family for years, but damn, Gigi. They’re not the fun-loving bunch you think they are. They’re one-percenters.”

  “Damn,” Lily squeaks, “they’re that rich?”

  “You seriously need to get out more,” Tamara tells Lily, leaning over Austin, giving her a you’re a freaking idiot stare.

  All I can do is roll my eyes, ignoring the cute, clueless bitch in the backseat. She’s such a brainiac; she knows her chemistry way better than her MC lingo. Poor, poor Lily.

  “What?” Lily asks, glancing around the truck like we’re supposed to clue her in, but I don’t have time for all that.

  “Don’t worry, babe,” Austin tells her, finally removing his hands from his legs to tap her hand. “I got you.”

  “Now,” Pike barks, turning around, facing the three goofballs in the backseat. “Am I going to have to go into Gallo witness protection after this trip because one of you assholes has to act like a tool?”

  Three headshakes are immediate, and then he brings his eyes to me. “You going to behave too?”

  I smile and shrug. “Don’t I always?”

  Pike blinks, but the corner of his lip twitches, and I know I have him.

  I lean back in the chair, comfortably sandwiched between Pike’s thighs, gazing up at the sky. “I take back what I said before.”

  “What?”

  “About this place being like Disney World for crack whores and criminals.” I laugh, resting my head on his shoulder as he strokes the bare skin of my shoulder with his fingers.

  “What do you think now?” he asks in a husky voice, and my skin tingles with each pass of his fingers.

  “This—” I lift my hand, pointing toward the bounce houses and all the other family shit all over the compound’s yard “—is totally the Disney World for them bitches. Before was more like Chuck E. Cheese.”

  My body shakes as Pike laughs, the deep, rich sound sending shivers down my spine. “Darlin’, you’re beyond fucked up.”

  “But you love me?” I ask, turning my face to look up into his beautiful green eyes.

  He nods without hesitation. “More than breathing,” he tells me, and my stomach flutters.

  I snuggle into him as he drops his hand, sliding his arms around me. “Are you relaxed yet?” I ask, watching as the club whores prance around, showing their goods to whoever will look. “You were wound pretty tight before.”

  His lips brush the skin near my ear, and I close my eyes, getting lost in his touch. “I’m just scared,” he admits, and my eyes snap open.

  Pike rarely says those words. He hasn’t uttered them since the last time we were here.

  “There’s nothing to be scared about.”

  He tightens his hold, his warm breath skidding across my neck. “Any time we’re here, we’re a target. They’re an MC, Gigi. This isn’t a hobby. Bad shit happens all the time.” He exhales, pulling me with him as he leans back into the chair. “There wasn’t a day when I lived here that something crazy didn’t happen. And just being here with you guys has me on edge. I won’t relax until we’re at least thirty miles away from the gates.”

  “We can go now,” I offer.

  “We’ll stay. It’s dark, late, and I’m tired as fuck. We’ll crash here tonight, but we’re gone first thing in the morning.”

  “I asked for an early check-in in Daytona.”

  “Good, darlin’. I could use a little downtime. We’ve been going nonstop for what feels like an eternity.”

  “Pike?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m about to sweat my face off, so do you mind if I have a beer since we’re all about relaxing now?” I smile into the darkness.

  “Beer’s fine, but not tequila,” he teases with a hint of laughter.

  I push myself up, leaving the safety of his arms, and roll my eyes as soon as I turn around to face him. “Don’t forget, without the tequila, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

  He’s out of his seat, hands on my hips, before I have a chance to react. A slow, small smile crosses his lips. “Darlin’, you were mine the moment I laid eyes on you. Tequila or no tequila, we’d still be right where we are now.”

  I gulp, taking in those endlessly deep eyes. “Yeah,” I whisper, knowing what he’s saying is true.

  “Yeah,” he tells me, gripping my hips rougher. “I wasn’t letting you walk out of that bar without me.”

  “You’re really cocky.”

  One corner of his mouth moves higher. “I got my girl, didn’t I?”

  “Mr. Cuervo got you this girl,” I tease.

  Pike slides his hands to my ass, pulling my body against his cock. “Keep lyin’ to yourself, beautiful.”

  “Pike!” Austin’s voice comes from behind me.

  Pike lifts his head immediately, eyes searching through the crowd to find his brother.

  “Over here,” the same pain-in-the-ass teenager says again.

  Pike dips his face, bringing his lips so close to mine, I can’t breathe without taking him in. “Promise me we won’t have kids for a few years. I don’t like dividing my time.”

  My belly flops again because, holy freaking hell, he’s talking about babies. “I promise.” I nod.

  “Pike!”

  “Jesus Christ,” Pike growls, turning me around and tucking me under his arm, resting his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go see what he wants.”

  “Dude.” Austin runs his hand through his hair, eyes wide and panicked. “I can’t find Tamara. She was here one minute, talking to some guys, and then…”

  Oh. Freaking. Hell. Pike’s body stiffens, and my eyes widen. “I will fuckin’ kill…”

  “Baby,” I beg, grabbing his hand before he has a chance to curl his fingers into a fist. “Tam’s a smart girl. I’m sure she’s just using the bathroom or something.”

  I’m lying.

  I know that little badass-biker-seeking whore is off sucking face with some guy who, no doubt, has a death wish.

  Heaven help us all.

  21

  Pike

  “Where the hell is Tamara?”

  Lily’s eyes widen as soon as she turns around to look at me. “Um…” She looks everywhere but at me, twisting her hands in front of her body. “Around,” she lies.

  Gigi’s hand tightens around my bicep. “Calm down, baby. She’s just having fun.”

  “Fun?” I snap, sucking in a breath as I turn my face up to the sky, growling like a wild animal.

  “People are looking at us,” Gigi whispers.

  “I don’t give a shit who’s looking,” I tell her, bringing my gaze back to her face.

  “Lily.” Austin steps between Lily and me. “Which way did she go?”

  Lily points toward the clubhouse and stands on her tiptoes, casting her gaze over Austin’s shoulder. “Just do
n’t freak out on her, Pike.”

  I run my hand through my hair, concentrating on my breathing because I’m already freaking out. I’m responsible for these women. It doesn’t matter how old they are; they’re still here with me. I can’t go back to Tamara’s father and say “She’s a grown woman” if shit goes bad. They’re going to blame me and only me for anything and everything.

  “She alone?” I ask, somehow managing to speak without sounding like I’m ready to murder someone.

  Lily’s fingers twist around a few strands of her hair as she eyes me. “No,” she squeaks, “but she’s safe.”

  I bite out a bitter laugh.

  Safe? There’s not a man in this compound I’d call safe for a girl like Tamara Gallo. I don’t care how wild she is; there’s a difference between college boys and biker badasses. She’s never waded into this territory, and no matter how sweet a brother can be, he’s always after the same thing.

  “Maybe Lily and I should go find her,” Gigi offers when I don’t give a reply. “It’ll only take us a few minutes.”

  “No.” My response is immediate. “I’m going in there, and the three of you—” I sweep my gaze around to them “—will stay here and not move.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on them,” Austin promises, trying to be the man.

  He has a good heart. My parents didn’t fuck him up, thank god. And when he actually becomes a man, he’s going to be the best one in the family. But for now, he’s still a kid.

  “Doofus, you’re, like, ten.” Lily rolls her eyes at Austin.

  Gigi’s hand is on my arm again, holding on tight. “We won’t move, baby. But promise me something.”

  “What?” I growl, unable to unclench my jaw.

  “Don’t kill her. Don’t start a war about whatever’s going on in there.” She throws out her hand toward the building. “She’s just being Tamara, and she’s an adult.”

  I grit my teeth, trying to give my girl a smile but failing miserably. “It’s not her you have to be worried about.”