Incandescent (16 page)

“What’s this, Kadence?” Zane yells out. For a second there, I forgot the asshole was here.

“You speak to me and only me.” Nix walks forward, getting into Zane’s space. Two guys wearing black walk out from behind some trees, closing in next to Zane. What the hell is going on?

“You wanna tell me why the hell you're talkin’ to my woman, Edwards?” Nix spits out, calling Zane by his last name. What the hell. How does Nix know Zane?

“Your woman? Guess you’d be the type to go for another man’s woman,” Zane fires back smiling.

“The fuck you just say?” Nix walks further up to him. Zane holds his ground, but I can see by the look in his eyes he’s holding back some fear. He must grow some confidence or have a death wish because he responds.

“What I should have said is that your ‘woman’ is my fiancée and that sexy mouth of hers has been around my cock plenty of times,” he smirks.

I don’t know what universe I’ve stepped into, but I’m standing frozen, listening to my ex-fiancé describe to my current lover, who is now looking every bit the scary biker dude, that I’ve had my mouth around his cock. Oh, shit.

“Kadence, get in the car,” Nix addresses me. His stare is still firmly on Zane.

“Nix—” I begin.

“Kadence, get in the goddamn car, now!” he bellows out, and I shrink back at his harsh tone. “Jesse, take her,” he demands, still not looking at me. Jesse grabs my hand and pulls me to follow him. Looking up at Zane, I see the bastard has a smile on his face, clearly enjoying the show.

“Bye, Kadence, it’s been great catching up. Shame you’ve turned into a biker whore—” He doesn't finish his sentence because Nix throws a punch, hitting him square in the jaw.

“Shut your fuckin’ mouth,” I hear Nix say as Jesse drags me further back to the car.

“Jesus, woman, what the fuck is that all about?” Jesse asks when he opens the car door for me, my hands too shaky to get the keys out of my handbag.

“I have no idea, Jesse. Zane is my ex; the one I told you about. He sent me a text and told me he needed to talk, threatened me if I didn’t come.”

“Sweetheart, you need to get it together and drive back to the compound now.” I shake my head, not liking that idea, with Nix and his anger.

“I’m not sure Nix will want that, Jesse,” I voice my concern.

“Kadence, I’m telling you now, it will be a whole lot worse if you don’t get your ass back to the club. Trust me.” I nod my head, not prepared to discuss with him.

“How does Nix know Zane?” I ask, afraid of the answer. My whole world feels like it has just been turned on its axis, and I feel like I’m missing something.

“You might know him as Zane sweetheart, but around here, he’s known as Edwards, and that bastard holds the second highest position in the drug cartel organization. In other words, your ex is a very dangerous man. Now go. We’ll explain it all when we get back.” I slowly nod and get into the driver's seat, hoping my shaking hands calm enough for me to drive.

“Straight back to the clubhouse,” Jesse repeats, leaning into the car.

He closes the door and watches me take in what he just told me. Zane Edwards, the man I was engaged to, wasn't a part of any organization; he was an architect. We lived in a four-bedroom home, and we were in the middle of planning our wedding. No way was he into drugs. I would have seen it
. Wouldn’t I?

Starting the car, I force myself to relax and keep myself together. The need to get away, away from Zane and away from Nix is too much to ignore. I know Jesse told me to go back to the compound, but facing Nix, knowing that he knows I was with that man, makes me turn home instead.

I need Holly.

I need her to tell me what to do. I’ve got bigger issues than I first thought. If Zane is this big drug thug who runs with bad people, why does he want money from me? He can’t be that hard up for money, could he? Or is he playing me for bigger things?

Driving past our old house, I have to wonder how it all came to this. We were in love. The man I saw today was not the man whom I was prepared to give my life to. That man is long gone. If only I had seen that sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have had to go through everything I had. The fire, the nightmares, it all comes back, and now I’m hanging by a thread and barely keeping it together.

I force myself to push the pain that I’ve long forgotten down, and not allow the darkness to creep in. When I’m back in the safety of my home, the safety that Holly gives me, only then will I allow myself to break.

Nix

P
ocketing my phone, I let out a frustrated sigh. Kadence was engaged to that fucking asshole? It’s too fucked up to process. Talk about twisted. This guy is dangerous, and as second to Gunner Jamieson, I have no doubt this little meeting was set up.

“What’s happening, boss?” Brooks asks, and I turn looking at him and Sy. I sent Jesse to follow Kadence ‘cause I knew she wouldn’t go back like she was told.
Stubborn-ass woman.

“The damn woman didn’t go back to the clubhouse.”

“Figured,” he smiles, shaking his head. “Get used to it, brother. Been with Kelly for ten years, and the wife still doesn’t listen to me.”

I shake my head, not thinking of the next ten years. I don’t know if I’ll last a month without that woman doing my head in. That’s a lie; the thought thrills me. What pisses me off is knowing that the asshole has had her. Had what’s mine.

“You stupid fuckers are mad, thinking you can’t control a woman,” Sy informs us. He doesn’t normally give us his opinion, but lately I’ve noticed a slight change in him. I’ve grown to like the silent Sy. This new one is a little strange to get used to.

I shake my head knowing he’s right, but even if I never control Kadence, even if I have to give her my balls on a silver platter, I know it would be better than anything I’ve ever had. When I ended things with Addison, I never thought I would find myself wanting a relationship again. Kadence is different. Her fucking mouth is always fighting me, pushing me, and pulling me. I can’t get enough.

I nearly killed that asshole for speaking that way about Kadence. He had it coming, but calling her a whore, fuck. I turned red with fury. No one calls my woman a whore. After Jesse pulled her away, the asshole Edwards took the blow I delivered. He stood there with a smile on his face as he wiped the blood trail from the corner of his mouth; the guy is whacked. After telling him to not contact her again, I made it very clear where we stand on territory. Letting him know about our meeting with the Mayhems earlier, he didn’t seem so smug. The fucker is trying to play us and knowing that alone gives us a one up. Something about the club has him running scared. I only hope he doesn’t grow some balls and come running back. We gave him a message to send along to his boss, Gunner: under no circumstances will we ever allow their business to hit our streets. I don’t give a fuck what I have to do, even if we have to go above the law. This bullshit territory war they’ve got going on with the Mayhems needs to end.

“Want us to follow you?” Brooks asks, knowing I’m in for some fun.

“Fuck no. I’m not ready for my boys to see me get my balls handed to me,” I tell them, watching them laugh. Fuckers have no idea. “Head back. I’ll stay with her tonight, or head back to mine. Either way, she’s with me.” Brooks and Sy nod before taking off on their Harleys. I don’t know what fucking game Gunner is playing, but using me as a pawn in his war with the Mayhems is one thing. Using my woman is a whole other story. Pulling out onto the street, I make my way to Kadence's house. I need answers to why she ever thought meeting with Edwards was a bright idea. Surely, she knows how dangerous and crazy the fucker is?

***

“O
pen the goddamn door, Kadence” I bang for the fucking tenth time. The woman is stubborn; I’ll give her that.

“Go away, badass biker daddy. She doesn’t want to see you,” her friend Holly calls back.

“Swear to Christ, woman, open the damn door or I’ll kick the fuckin’ thing down,” I yell out, my patience wearing thin.

“Nix, can you just give me tonight? Please,” Kadence calls through the door, her voice soft and quiet, letting me know she’s right there at the door. So close, yet I can feel her already pulling away.

“Babe, whatever you’ve got goin’ on in your head, get it out.” I move to the door, resting my forehead on the dark wood. “Let me in, Kadence. I’m not leavin'.” The silence is deafening before the latch on the lock clicks, and I step back waiting to see her. The door opens enough for me to walk through, and I enter, kicking it shut behind me. Not noticing the apartment around me, my eyes zero in on her. She stands in front of me, her dark hair in a knot on top of her head. Loose strands hang free, framing her face. Even in a tight cami with matching pajama bottoms, she looks amazing. Every bit of her screams sexy and fuckable. I walk forward, but her hands come up, stopping my pursuit.

“Don’t,” she orders me, but it’s not the command that stops me. It's the tone in her voice. I’m taken back by the coldness of it, of her. Looking into her eyes, I see the same look of vulnerability I witnessed when she showed me her scars back at my house.

“Don’t what, Kadence? Don’t comfort you when you’re standin’ over there all in your head, overthinkin’ some serious fucked-up shit? If you think I’m gonna let you push me away, you got another thing comin'.” I move forward and pull her into my arms. Her vanilla-smelling shampoo invades my senses, reminding me of her scent on my pillow back home. Her body sags against me, the fight in her escaping.

“Wanna tell me why you’re meetin’ with your asshole ex in the middle of fuckin’ nowhere?”

“Nix, it was fine.”

“No, Kadence,” I warn, my tone leaving no argument that I want the details.

“He’s in bed with a fuckin’ drug kingpin, babe. You weren’t fine,” I tell her, stepping back to look at her face creased with concern.

“Nix, I didn’t know that. I swear. He wasn’t selling drugs when we were engaged.” The words leave her mouth, but with her teeth biting down on her bottom lip in worry, I know she’s starting to question it.

She has every right to question it. That asshole has been around for the last four years and has only recently worked his way up to be Gunner’s right-hand man.

“What did he want?”

“What did you do to him?” She ignores my question, asking her own.

“What did he want?” I repeat, not prepared to let her know I used my fists while he ran his mouth. I already know her feelings on using your fists.

“He wants money. He lent me money to put into the house, and now he wants it back.”

“He doesn’t want your money, babe. He has plenty; he's just testin’ the waters. His boss controls the drug trade in two counties and is movin’ in on ours. He has the Warriors of Mayhem in his sights. If he gets their territory, then we got major problems here in town.” I feel myself getting worked up at the thought, but I don’t miss the ghastly whiteness spread over her face. “What is it?” Her body stiffens at my question.

“Do you know the Warriors of Mayhem?” The question comes out like she’s shocked.

“Yeah, babe, I do.” She pulls back abruptly, moving out of my arms.

“What is it?” The color of her face makes me uneasy. The fear and anger mixed in with a tortured look doesn’t sit well with me.

“Are they your friends?” She takes another step back further away from me, like she’s frightened.

“I wouldn’t call them my friends. We keep out of each other's business. We have an agreement and sometimes have to do things for each other, why?” She shakes her head, not letting me in.

“What is it, Kadence?”

I’m starting to wonder if she knows someone in the club. The anger in her eyes tells me it’s bad.

“They were responsible for the fire,” she says quietly before continuing, “Zane owed them money, and he didn’t pay. That’s what the police told me. I lost my home because they wanted their money.”

Fuck me. My day just got a whole lot more messed up.

“He owed them a lot more than money. He used their money and tried to set up his own distribution in town. That is a big fuckin’ no,” I try to explain the situation. “The Warriors of Mayhem and our club have an arrangement: no drugs in Rushford. We’ve kept it clean for the last five years. Edwards has been around that whole time, tryin’ to break through that law.”

She shakes her head not accepting what I’m telling her. She walks over to the living room, planting her ass down on her leather sofa. “I’m serious, Kadence. He started out small time, got into some serious shit with Gunner and fucked with the MC. I’m tellin’ you now that shit falls back on him settin’ up in town.”

“It doesn’t matter what it was, Nix. They are responsible for what happened to me.” I walk toward her, squatting down in front of her.

“I don’t doubt your anger, Kadence. Knowin’ they did that makes me see red, but that anger and that fear needs to be directed at your ex.”

“So you think it’s okay that they set my house on fire, just because it was a warning?”

“Fuck no,” I quickly reply, sensing things are getting way out of hand. It’s not fucking okay, but fuck, I have to explain how dangerous these men are. I have no doubt the Mayhems threatened her; this is how they run. I feel conflicted in wanting to agree with her, but at the same time, I don’t. “Kadence, just let me get my head around the fact that you were even engaged to that asshole.”

“Don’t bother. It sounds to me like you’re defending them. Is that what sort of club you run?” She’s not listening to what I have to say and I have no idea how to get through.

“Kadence, don’t fuckin’ put words in my mouth. All I’m sayin’ is you obviously don’t know the truth. All this anger should be directed to your ex. Goin’ to a fuckin’ secluded park with a man like Edwards is not smart. What were you thinkin’?”

“He’s my ex. I was fine,” she dismisses my concern, pissing me off.

“Yeah, so I’ve been told. That and how much you loved working your warm mouth on him. No wonder you’re so good at it,” I lash out and regret the words before I finish saying them. Her hand comes across my face, the slap stinging my cheek, the sound echoing in the quiet living area, shocking both of us.