Revive (Storm MC #3) (18 page)

This was the Nash I wanted, and the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted him.

I’d Come For You ~ Nickelback

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N
ash

The cold wind whipped around me and the chill from it settled in my bones.  June wasn’t usually this cold in Brisbane, but this year we were having record low temperatures.  I pulled my jacket tighter around me and made the short walk from my bike into Blade’s warehouse.  He had information for me regarding Velvet’s ex and I hoped it would be enough to get the asshole to back off and put her mind at ease.  After what she’d told me about her ex this morning, that he’d bullied her, I’d do anything to get him out of her life once and for all.  I’d worked out her tough image was a mask she wore for the world.  Underneath it, she was vulnerable; not nearly as hard as she projected.  And I kinda fucking liked that.  It meant she needed me, and I hadn’t been needed in a long time.  And that felt really fucking good.

“Blade,” I greeted him as I entered his office.

He didn’t stand, just indicated for me to take a seat.  I hadn’t worked him out yet but Madison loved him and that was enough for me to go on.  He cut straight to the chase.  “James has his fingers in a lot of shit.  A lot of dirty shit.  If that got out, it would be the end of his political career and most likely would harm his father’s career too.”

“His father is the Minister for Defence, right?”

Blade nodded.  “Yes.  And James is running for a Federal seat at the next election.  He won’t want any of this coming to light so this is your best bet to keep him off Velvet’s back.”  He passed me a folder.

“Holy fuck.”  I whistled as I flicked through the documents in the folder.  Blade was right, James would shit himself if this stuff came out.  Corrupt deals and prostitutes tended to do that to a politician.  Especially married ones who professed to be Christian.

“Holy fuck is right.  When you talk with the motherfucker, mention my name.  That’ll help your cause.”

“Thanks, man.”  I was still reading through the shit in the folder and had no idea how or why Velvet would have mixed herself up with someone like James Worthington.

Blade changed the subject.  “Black Deeds giving you any grief these days?”

“Not that I’m aware of.  Their new president seems to be keeping them in line.”

“Good.”  He paused before continuing.  “I think Marcus has some shit planned; you need to keep your eye on that.”

My head jerked up at that.  “What do you know?”

“Still confirming information but my contacts tell me he’s looking to get back into drug distribution.  In a big way.”

“Yeah, it’s what we suspect too.”

“And Scott’s on board with that?”

“Fuck no.”  My voice reverberated around the room.

“Well thank fuck for that.  Marcus is an idiot for considering it.  Storm does well without the drugs.  The attention it will bring you from the cops isn’t worth it.”

“You’re investigating Marcus?” I asked.  Blade seemed to be on the ball with everything and everyone so I guessed he was.

“I’ve always kept an eye on my father.”  His voice turned cold while talking about Marcus.  He paused, thoughtful for a moment before pinning me with a hard gaze.  “I have increased my surveillance on Marcus.  Recently a name came up that I’ve never heard of.  You ever heard him talk about someone called Blue?”

“No.  What was the context?”  My interest was piqued and I waited impatiently for him to tell me more.

“All we know is that Marcus is looking for someone by that name.  And we believe that the Adelaide President is helping him do that.”

My mind was going in a million different directions trying to work out what this could be about.  But I came up blank.  “I’ll pass that information on to Scott,” I said, hoping he would know who Blue was.  We needed to figure this shit out soon because Marcus was moving fast with his plans.

“Tell Scott to contact me if he wants in on this and I’ll keep him up to date.”

I frowned at what he’d said.  “You two don’t talk?”

Blade fixed that hard gaze on me again.  “We’re not close, no.  My brother is stubborn where I’m concerned.  Seems to be a trait he shares with our father.”  His tone pricked my skin with it’s barbs.

He didn’t wait for me to say anything before he stood and made it clear I was to leave.  I held up the folder he’d given me.  “Thanks for this,” I said, and then turned and left his office.

Blade and his odd relationship with Scott was soon forgotten as I contemplated sorting Velvet’s ex-husband out.  My fists were itching to have their way with him, but I knew I had to tread carefully.  His connections meant I had to approach this from a different angle than I usually approached assholes.  Fuck though, I could go a round with him and be a very happy man.

***

N
ash 

A couple of hours later, after dealing with Storm business, I walked into James’s office ready to do battle with him.  His secretary was reluctant to let me in but when he’d opened the door to find me waiting, he hadn’t wasted any time letting me in.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he drawled as he sat behind his desk.  The arrogance was dripping from him and I squeezed my fists to settle them.

I threw the folder Blade had given me on his table and nodded at it.  “Take a look, asshole.”

His brows raised.  Patronising.  Again, I reminded myself to ask Velvet what attracted her to him.

He opened the folder and I watched the flicker of surprise cross his face.  After he’d flicked through some of it, he looked up at me.  A cold stare emanated from his eyes, and he attempted to call my bluff.  Throwing the folder back across the desk at me, he said, “You’ve wasted your time coming here, Mr Walker, if you think any of this worries me.”

He’d looked into me.  Interesting.  “I think that if any of that doesn’t worry you, you’re a bigger dickhead than I gave you credit for.”

He contemplated my words.  “Where did Velvet drag you from?  Actually, don’t bother answering that.  You’re exactly the type of man that is about right for her.”

I fought the desire to introduce him to my fists.  “Where the fuck did she drag
you
from?  It’s beyond me what she saw in you.”

“I can assure you that I had a lot more to offer her than you do.  I can see exactly what she sees in you; she sees her father.”

What the fuck? 
I didn’t want to get into that with him so I left it alone.  “She’s a lot fuckin’ better off without a man who screws around on his wife with prostitutes.”

A harsh laugh escaped his lips.  “And you’ve never cheated on a woman?  I find that hard to believe; you bikers are neanderthals.”

I didn’t answer him because I would have to admit an indiscretion.  Guilt sliced through me at that thought and then the pain hit; the pain I’d managed to bury lately. 

Fuck.

He kept at me.  “Thought so.  Velvet’s found what she deserves.”  He stopped talking but then looked at me thoughtfully.  “You do know that she’s damaged goods, don’t you?”

I’d heard enough from this motherfucker.  “I don’t want to hear any-fuckin’-thing else you have to say about Velvet.”  I picked up the folder and threw it back at him.  Pointing at it, I said, “That shit will become public knowledge if you don’t back the fuck off her.  She’s not going to talk about you to the media but she’s also not going to sign your dirty deal.”  I turned to leave, but then faced him again, and added, “Blade has more shit on you than what’s in that folder so don’t fuck around with this.  Let Velvet know you’re dropping it otherwise I’ll be back.”

There was more than a flicker of surprise when I mentioned Blade’s name; there was fear, and that made me a happy fucker.

Thunder ~ Jessie J

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V
elvet

I eased into the chair and let my body relax.  It had been a busy week of work and study, and I was exhausted.  Sex with Nash had also taken it out of me; he was insatiable.  I’d actually told him I needed a night off from him last night and as much as I’d missed him, the sleep I managed to get had been worth it. 

My Saturday had been a lazy one so far.  I’d slept for most of the day, having only gotten out of bed at two in the afternoon.  Nash came over and woke me up, and although I could see the desire in his eyes, he hadn't pushed for sex.  Instead, he made me coffee and waited patiently while I showered and dressed.  Madison had invited us for dinner; she said she had a surprise for us which made me nervous.  I wasn’t a fan of surprises.  It also kind of felt weird to be going to dinner with Nash.  This was the first time we were going to something together, and although we’d spoken about us working towards something, our relationship wasn’t clearly defined.  The idea of turning up to an event together where our friends would be was a little intimidating.  I wasn’t ready for all the questions they’d be sure to have.

“You alright, sweet thing?” Nash’s voice dragged me out of my restful haze.  He was standing behind me and was gently massaging my neck and shoulders.  I could grow used to this kind of attention.

I sighed deeply.  “Nash, has anyone ever told you how amazing your massages are?”

He didn’t answer me and his hands slowed down.  “No,” he said before adding quietly, “I’ve never given massages to anyone else.”

My heart rate sped up, and my body tingled.  Nash shared pieces of his heart with the most simplest statements.  I wondered if he realised what they meant to me.  “Well I’m telling you that your hands are magic.”

He chuckled and then I felt his warm breath next to my ear as he whispered, “I’ve been told that before, sweetheart, but it means more coming from you.”

And I tingled again.

His hands kept working their magic and I closed my eyes, letting his touch ease the tension out of my body.  I was sure we could have happily stayed in our own little bubble, however Madison interrupted, dragging us out of it.

“You two going to come inside and join us?”  The way she asked made it sound like she almost expected us to say no.

Nash gave my shoulders one last squeeze before taking his hands off me.  I missed  his touch instantly.  “What’s this surprise you’ve got?” he asked her.

She grinned.  “She’ll be here soon.”

“She?” 

Madison winked at him and nodded.  “Yes, she.  I think you’ll love the surprise.”

My mind was racing trying to figure out who and what Madison was talking about.  Nash appeared to be doing the same.  I gave him a questioning look but he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Got no idea, babe.”

We followed Madison inside.  Her house was buzzing with people; Scott and Harlow were here with Lisa, J’s sister, Brooke was here with Crystal, and Griff was here too.

Brooke gave me a warm smile.  “Hi, Velvet.  It’s good to see you again.”  We’d met at J and Madison’s wedding, and had spent a lot of the night chatting.  She was lovely and I was really happy to see her again.

“Hey, Brooke.  You too.  How’s that hot fireman treating you?”  When I’d met her, she had just started dating a fireman.  The photo of him on her phone she’d shown me was hot and I could only imagine what he looked like in real life because photos taken with  mobile phones didn’t do anyone justice.

She blushed.  “He’s good.  I just dropped him at work, otherwise he would be here tonight.”

“I think I’m going to have to meet this man.  Anyone who can make you blush the way you just did must be a man worth knowing.”  I winked at her.

Nash’s hand slid over my ass and he pulled me close.  “You don’t have any free time to meet another man, sweet thing,” he murmured.

Brooke watched us with interest; clearly surprised.  “Yeah, I don’t think I’ll introduce them, Nash.  Velvet’s stunning, and I think she’d steal his attention.”  It was her turn to wink at me now.

Nash growled, and his grip on my ass tightened.  “She’s busy for the rest of the fuckin’ year,” he said, and I had to stifle a laugh at his possessive attitude.  Definitely not the Nash I was used to, but damn it made me glow.

Harlow joined the conversation.  “Nash, you’re not going all territorial, are you?” 

I wasn’t sure how he would handle this now, but he surprised me yet again by saying, “Yeah, babe, I think I am.  And if anyone’s got shit to say about it, I don’t give a fuck.”

He’d managed to surprise Harlow too.  She sighed, a dreamy look in her eyes.  God help us; Harlow was a born romantic.  “I knew it would just take a good woman to make you change your ways.”

Harlow had a way of making you feel good about yourself.  Calling me a good woman touched me in unexpected ways.  I’d struggled with my self worth growing up and marrying a man who took every opportunity to tell me how worthless I was, hit me even harder.  Over the last couple of years, I had dealt with a lot of my issues and was a much stronger woman, but there were days where I questioned myself.  Being told I was a good woman by another woman meant a lot.

Nash was amused.  “Let’s not get too excited, Harlow.  A woman won’t make me change my ways completely.”

She grinned at him.  “And we wouldn’t want that, Nash.  But I have a feeling that Velvet’s going to change you in all the right ways.”

I was growing uncomfortable with this conversation now.  Changing a man was never a goal of mine, and I disliked women who fell in love with the idea of a man only to then spend the rest of their lives trying to change him to be what they wanted.  Also, Nash and I were still getting to know each other; I didn’t want to make this out to be more than what it was yet.

I smiled at Harlow, and then looked up at Nash.  “I’m going to go and help Madison in the kitchen.”

He nodded, and let me go. 

A moment later, I breathed a sigh of relief when I hit the kitchen and found Madison on her own.  She looked up at me, and caught the look on my face.  Frowning, she enquired, “You okay?”

“Yeah.  It was just getting a little intense in there with Harlow and Nash.  I needed some space.”

“What?  Are they arguing?”

“No.  Harlow’s going on about me changing Nash in all the right ways or some shit.  I love her, but damn, she’s a hardcore romantic, isn’t she?”