Captured Devil's Blaze MC Book 1 (27 page)

Two Weeks Later

“Beth,
mi cielo
. I don’t want to leave you, but I can’t stay here. You’re everywhere. You’re in my bed, in my club… my dreams. Hell baby, I even feel you on my bike. I can’t breathe here. It’s too much. I want to join you. I feel like I’m dead already. I’ve thought about it, but something stops me each time. Hell if I know,
querida
. Something inside me says you don’t want that from me, so I’m going on. I know you wouldn’t want me to blame myself for your death, but I do. The guilt chokes me. Fuck. It’s because of me that all I could do was put another empty tombstone beside your sister’s. I’m sorry for that the most,
querida
. God, there’s so much I’m sorry for.” I sigh, looking over top of the tombstone. “I don’t want to be here. I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. I just couldn’t.”

I release a large breath, rub my hands together, then start again.

“I killed your father. I made a pact with Colin and Matthew. God,
mi cielo
, I hated doing that. I still feel like I let you down, but I’m fucking tired. There’s been so much blood…
your blood
. It had to end. Without you, none of it matters anymore. None of it. Part of me wonders how you’d feel knowing I took your dad’s life. Did you even know Redmond was your dad? Were you keeping secrets from me? I can’t keep going like this. So… I’m leaving.” My hand goes to her locket, still hanging around my neck. I hold it and close my eyes. It’s almost as if I can feel her with me, like I can smell her. Jesus, I’m going insane. “I’ll always love you,
mi cielo
.
Always
.” With that, I rise, placing the daisies I brought on top of the tombstone, then walk away. I know I’ll see her tonight in my dreams.

I’ll never let her go.
I can’t
.

Almost Eight Months Later

“I can’t believe we’re standing outside the theater like a couple of thieves casing the joint. You said he loves you? You… love him, or you wouldn’t be carting your pregnant ass all this way. Why can’t you just go up to him?” Katie asks.

She doesn’t understand. I wish it was that simple.

“It’s been almost nine months, Katie. What if he’s moved on? He thought I was dead! I can’t just walk up to him and say, ‘Oh, hi. I’m not dead. Here I am and, by the way, I’m having your baby.’”

“Why not? It’s the truth.”

“You’re really starting to annoy me.”

“It’s a gift,” she says, and I regret saying it instantly.

“There they are,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

I turn to watch as Skull’s crew comes out of the theater. There’s Sabre and Latch, Torch, and quite a few new guys I’ve never seen before.

“Oh, he’s pretty,” says my sister. “I wouldn’t kick him out of my bed. Well, at least not until I was done with him.” I can tell she’s looking at Torch. She’s probably not even kidding. My sister is nothing like me. I envy her sometimes. 

“That’s Torch. He’s kind of a player,” I warn her.

“He could play me like a deck of cards. Slam me down, flip me over and deal me all fucking night,” she says. I can see her licking her lips.

The first one to really catch my eye is this huge man with a thick beard and so much hair that it’s hard to tell if there’s a face under it. “Beast. Oh, God… He’s okay.”

“
Beast?
Well, that’s a good name for him, that’s for sure,” Katie responds.

She makes me want to giggle, and how that’s possible when we’re doing this, I don’t know. If she hadn’t been by my side all this time, especially after we escaped our grandfather, I’m not sure what would have happened.

I stop thinking about all of that at once, because I see Skull coming out of the theater. He hasn’t changed much. He’s still so beautiful, he hurts my eyes. His hair is shorter… a lot shorter. I mourn it. I want to move my fingers in it like I used to. He’s lost weight too, though his muscles are still amazing, especially his arms. I want to take off running to him. Even being this heavily pregnant, I probably would.

Except for one small detail. He has a beautiful blonde standing beside him. She’s got angles and curves I could never hope to achieve. She’s laughing at him and you can tell she’s enjoying being with him. He’s got his hand on her back, just like he used to do with me. He has his club surrounding them, protecting her.

I know that’s it, without a doubt. My heart feels as if it’s being squeezed.
Has he moved on already?
I almost whimper at the pain that fills me with that thought. My hand goes to rub my stomach. I was so young and completely out of my element. What if what I thought was soul mates was nothing like that to Skull? It’s only been months. Could I have meant so little? Oh, God… What if I have this all wrong?

“Beth, I’m sure it’s not what it looks like. We’re going to go over there and stick to the plan, right?”

“I don’t know, Katie.”

“Well, I do! We’ve been through too much not to do this. Where’s your balls?”

“My balls?” I shake my head, snapping out of it. She’s right. I’m just allowing all the things my grandfather said to fill me with doubt. Skull loves me. He’s flirting, but he’s not telling her he loves her. I can do this. “To the wall, right?” I look at her, trying to build up my courage.

“Exactly.” She holds out her hand. I take a breath and grab it, rubbing my stomach. I’ve been on my feet too much; my daughter is protesting. I smile at the thought of the child I’m carrying. Hand-in-hand, Katie and I step away from the bushes and go to give my husband the shock of his life.

We get just behind them, and this big pain hits me in my back. It’s so hard that I have to stop and catch my breath. I breathe through it and concentrate on the sound of Skull’s voice. I can hear him now. Somehow, his voice is different. It doesn’t have the same depth to it as it used to. He almost reminds me of Torch; laidback, always happy…
Is he happy?
 

“A pity, but yet you have not seen what I have to offer. Perhaps I may yet entice you,” Skull’s saying, and that pain in my chest increases.
Entice her?
Oh God, has he really moved on?

“You get an A for effort, but don’t bother, and save us both some trouble,” the girl says, but she’s laughing at him. They look good together. They look like they
fit
.

“I think I might be able to surprise you,
querida
,” he tells her.

And with that one word, it feels as if he’s destroyed me. I think, for a moment, my heart actually stops. The pain is so bad, I can’t breathe. I feel it
everywhere
. Tears fill my eyes. I just hold my stomach and try to sort through this, trying to bear the pain.

“Bethie?” Katie looks worried. She should be. I think I’m dying. There’s so much pain.

“He called her
querida
,” I tell her. He called me several things, true. But, most of the time, he called me
querida
.
Dear one,
he told me. It sounds like something an elderly grandmother would say, but not when Skull said it. When he called me dear one, I felt like I was dear and precious to him. “That’s what he called me…” I whisper.

I might have underestimated my sister because she gets such a look of anger on her when she looks at me. “Right. I got this, Bethie. Don’t worry,” she tells me. “I’m going to tear his balls off. We can put them on a chain and hang them in the baby’s room as a mobile,” she growls.

I want to yell at her—to either tell her to quit or to cheer her on—but right then, another pain hits my back and squeezes around my stomach. It’s so strong it nearly brings me to my knees. Then, I feel it. Warmth spreads from my legs and, in an instant, Skull isn’t on my mind.

“Katie!”
  I cry, my dress soaked.
“My water just broke!”

The End.

Turn the page for an excerpt of Book 2 of the Devil’s Blaze Trilogy, coming your way on February 25. I’ve also included the first story in the Devil’s Blaze: Craved, a novella, right after it! Then, keep going for news on upcoming books and exciting excerpts of books from some of my favorite authors!

Burned

Torch

“I like women. I like all women.
I like them more when they have
a little fire inside them.”

1 

I kick my feet up in the seat across from me. The chair scoots on the wooden floor, tilts, then rights itself as I cross my legs. Sabre and Latch are going on about some damn trip Lucy wants to go on, a semester at sea or something. Annie is adamant that it’s a great opportunity. Those two are like old married men now—even if it is to the same woman. I tune them out.

I
should
be tracking Beth and her sister Katie down. That’s what I’m in this blink-and-you-miss-it town for, but hell, I needed a day off. I’ve been working with Diesel and his crew nonstop trying to find these bitches, but they were covering their tracks—and that’s putting it lightly. I don’t know who they’re getting help from, but whoever it is, is damn good. Skull has me, Sabre, and Latch tracking down leads in Tennessee which, according to the latest intel we have, is where the Donahues have spotted Katie. Skull is looking at other states too and called in some markers. My brother is in bad shape at just the thought that Beth is still alive and has been lying to him this whole time. If it’s true, and so far everything we’re learning says it is, then I kind of pity her.

Skull will destroy her.

I’m not thinking about that shit. Right now, my eyes and attention are elsewhere. Specifically, on the woman sitting with her back turned to me at the bar. She’s got curves to make men fall down on their knees and worship at her feet. Her ass is this perfect pear shape that draws a man’s eye and makes him want to dig his hands in and hold on for the ride.

“I bet you a C-note you can’t tap that,” Sabre says, reclining back in his seat.

“You make it too easy. It’s like taking candy from a baby,” I tell him with an easy grin.

“I don’t think so, Torch, brother. Something about that woman says back the fuck away,” Latch warns me.

“You see
that
, and all I see is the warm pussy I’m going to bury myself in for a couple of hours,” I tell him.

“Just a couple of hours?” Sabre teases.

“Yeah. After that, I’m coming back to collect your money.” I get up and saunter over to the lady in question.

“Crash and burn, Torch!” he yells out, and I hold my hand over my shoulder and flip him off.

I lean against the bar, standing beside little Miss-make-my-dick-cry-mercy. She’s the hottest thing I’ve seen in a while, which is good because I’d never admit it to those sad fucks back there who are basically sown up over one woman. I haven’t found a woman my dick has been interested in for freaking months. Two, to be exact. That might not sound like a lot to some people, but for me, it’s a freaking lifetime. My cock is all-in with this little number, though.

She’s a gorgeous brunette. Hell, even with the smoke in the bar and the dim lights, the color glows. It falls in waves down her back and over her shoulders, and I literally ache to wrap my hands in it. Her skin is tanned, and I’d love to lick every inch and see if it tastes half as good as it looks. She’s squeezed into tight jeans that hug that ass that I’ve been memorizing to jack-off to later.

The top is just as good as the bottom. She has the sexiest little black top I’ve ever laid eyes on. Small black straps caress her shoulders, and silky fabric hugs her breasts close and draws attention to them. Fuck me, they are easily a D-cup or bigger—years of experience makes me feel comfortable enough to say that. Still, what really makes my balls heat up is the way her tits keep trying to bust out of that top. Those breasts are made for a man’s dick to slide in between. My eyes drink it all in. I have to move my hand down to stretch and shift my cock.
Sweet mother of God.
Yeah, he’s more than standing at attention for that thick ass, fuck-me tits, and climb-me legs.

She’s yet to notice me as she chats with the bartender. It’s enough to give a man a complex. I’ll have to punish her for that later. The bartender’s eyes are glued to her breasts, and I think it’s about time that stops. Those are
mine
tonight. He can try again tomorrow.

I lean down against the bar, look directly at her instead of him. “Jack and Coke,” I order, waiting for her to say something.

She stops talking to what’s-his-face and turns her attention to me. Green eyes. I don’t ever remember having seen eyes this particular color before. I don’t think I’ll be able to ever forget them now. The color of a murky sea, they draw me in. She looks me up and down while sucking on a straw. She slowly puts her drink back down and tilts her head to the side to get a look at me.

I speak first. “Can I buy you a refill?”

She shrugs. “If you want, I won’t stop you.”

“What are you drinking?”

“White chocolate martini.”

“That’s not exactly a manly drink to order—”

“I’m not a man.”

“Oh, I noticed, girl… I noticed.”

“Here’s your Jack and Coke,” the bartender grumbles over my shoulder. He slams the drink down beside me in a thank-you-for-cock-blocking-me kind of way.

“The lady here will have another martini,” I tell him while taking my drink and sliding onto the stool beside her.

She watches me drink and shakes her head.

“Something on your mind?” I ask, studying the look in her eyes.

“Just appreciating the fact that my drink wasn’t manly enough for a Jack-and-Coke kind of guy.” She leans in, smirking. 

She’s more than a little drunk, which is kind of a shame, but not a deal breaker by a long shot. She has sass and, fuck, I can definitely appreciate that.

“Don’t dis the Coke man. It lets me stay sober and still get a kick from the Jack so I can admire your fine ass longer.”

“Did you just say
fine ass?”

“Oh, yeah. You have one very fine ass.”

She takes her drink from the bartender without acknowledging him. I can’t help but shoot him a look of victory. Fucker wants to deck me right now.

“Do these lines actually work for you?”

“They’ve been known to,” I answer honestly.

“Damn. I thought I was, but apparently I’m not drunk enough, because so far they’re not working at all on my
fine ass
.”

“Ouch,” I say with a smile, taking another gulp and enjoying this conversation way more than I would have thought.

“In fact,” she adds, leaning in closer to me, and I can only hope her breasts come out to play as she leans further—surely another inch and nipples will be visible. “You could even say I’m kind of…
bored
.”

Those words would chill a lesser man, but the light in her eyes and the smile on her face tell me different. I put my drink down and move my finger along the side of her face.

“I sure wouldn’t want to bore you. How about we leave this place and go play Barbie?”

She looks at me, genuinely confused.

“Barbie?”

I lean in close to her ear, inhaling her scent. Sweet and sugary like cookies. Damn... just
damn
.

“Yeah. I’ll be Ken, and you can be the box I come in,” I whisper against her ear. I mean, really, can I help it if my lips graze against it?

She grows still, then pulls away from me.

“Did you really go there just now?” she asks like she can’t quite believe it. She’s shaking her head and laughing, and she does
not
look bored.

Score one for me.
“Figured I better come at you with my A-game,” I joke, taking another drink.

“Good plan, Romeo. Not sure this romance could survive your B-game.”

“What’s your name, pretty girl?”

“Oh man, you are cheesy.”

“I do try. Come on, give me your name.”

She stops and looks at me for a minute, and it’s almost as if she’s trying to place me, but then shrugs it off.

“We won’t know each other long enough to have to worry about using names.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s a fact.”

I lean in to whisper for her ears only. “My name’s Hunter. You need to remember it so you can scream it out later,” I tell her.

She leans in to me, and her sweet scent claims me. “I’ll do that very thing, Hunter. I’ll scream it so hard my landlord will think someone is killing me.”

“Now, we’re talking,” I tell her, my dick rock hard as she gets up. She starts to walk around me and I grab her arm, unable to ignore the way her warm skin sends an electric current through my body. “Where are you going?”

“I figured I’d better hurry before the store closes.”

“The store?”

“Yeah, Hunter. I’m all out of batteries. I’ll need them tonight when I’m in bed alone, but don’t worry, I’ll remember your name when I make myself come.”