Soldiers of Chaos- Chaos Abounds: Book 1 in the Soldiers of Chaos series (14 page)

She kept still, she couldn't move if she wanted to. She was tired her body ached and burned. She waited, for what she wasn't sure maybe that ugly dark to claw its way back into her body now the punishment was over. But it remained quiet, placated for now. Cole stood up taking her with him. Her knees were weak and she sagged in his arms. Her heavily whipped skin suffered with the change in position. In her weakened state she let out a slight whimper "Don't worry Angel we'll take care of that in a minute." Cole picked her up, one arm under her knees the other under her back. He carried her out of the room, out of his world and back into the real one. He moved through the large open living space and up the stairs. The light was muted enough for her to glance quickly out the wall of glass across the space, the city lights providing the glow across the landing. It had to be late or early or whatever. It had been close to midnight when she'd gone into the club and she’d waited for him for a few hours. Then there was the time they’d spent up here. It had to be at least four in the morning. He stopped at the last door on the landing and opened it carrying her through and kicking it shut behind him. He came to halt then she felt herself lowered onto a cool soft surface. A bed. He nudged her onto her stomach then disappeared. She lay on the cool surface of the comforter drifting lightly in and out of sleep. Then the bed dipped with his weight and his hands were on her rubbing some kind of soothing ointment into her thighs and buttocks. His touch stung at first then gradually became more bearable. "Sleep Angel" he commanded as he stroked her face. She caught one last glimpse of those beautiful green eyes before she drifted into oblivion.

Nikki woke the next morning to an aching sensation all over her lower body. Her skin was still heated and stinging where he'd smacked her with his belt and her insides felt swollen and probably bruised. She opened her eyes slowly to find herself laying on her stomach in a massive bed her head turned towards the same view she'd seen through the glass wall down stairs. She searched the room for any sign of Cole but she saw and heard nothing. She took a deep breath and got to her knees moving as carefully as possible. She tried to decide how she felt after last night. She'd felt many things last night. The pain he'd inflicted on her had fed her need for violence even if it was at her own expense and the pleasure was a punishment in and of itself. Right now all this just made her feel numb but numb was better. She got off the bed and spotted her clothes folded on a chair in the corner of the room along with her boots and her phone. She moved gingerly across the space and picked up her clothes. No panties oh well commando it was. She slid her legs inside her jeans the rasp of the denim against her skin causing her to wince and grit her teeth. It was a slow process but when she was finally dressed she checked her phone. There was a text from Tex.

*I know
you’re at the Mint. I also know you need to blow off steam so I'm letting this one go. Stay out of trouble and if you need to call us*

Letting this one go? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Fucking Slick had obviously reported to Tex her whereabouts and hopefully that was all. She quickly texted back to say she was fine and she was on her way back to the house now. She quietly opened the door to the landing and peered out. She couldn't see or hear anything out there either. She exited the bedroom and made her way straight to the door her heels clicking on the dark wooden flooring. She wished she'd have worn flats as her muscles protested at the steep angle of her foot. She crossed the space without detection and as she opened the door she nearly slammed into Roger. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this Miss Jones” he smiled gently at her. She couldn’t help but smile back. “Seems like every time we run into each other you’re on your way out the door.” “What can I say? I lead a busy life.” “Mister Cole’s just downstairs I can get hold of him for you if you like?” She shook her head she didn’t want some awkward goodbye “That’s not necessary Roger.” “A ride home then?” “No thank you I’ve got my Harley downstairs and I’m not leaving it behind.” His mouth crooked up in amusement “You are quite surprising Miss Jones.” “How do you mean?” “Well you’re beautiful, feminine, polite and yet you ride a motorbike.” It was Nikki’s turn to laugh, feminine and polite, who was he kidding? “Oh Roger if only you knew.”

His smile grew broader “I’m quite sure there’s more to you than meets the eye. If you don’t mind me saying so I think Mister Cole has chosen well for himself this time.” That comment took her aback. Roger was clearly assuming there was something more going on between her and Cole than there was. “Sorry I’ve overstepped the mark” he looked suitably chagrined. “No that’s fine Roger I’m flattered but I think it’s a little early to determine who’s chosen what.” He nodded and apologised again. Roger’s pocket buzzed “I best be getting back to it.” Which reminded her she still had no idea exactly what he did for Cole “What is it exactly that you do?” “I’m Mister Cole’s head of security. Not quite so glamorous as the secret service but it pays very well.” Nikki laughed at the reminder of her groggy question. “I’ll get the elevator for you” He scanned his card and pressed the button for the lobby. “Bye Roger.” “Goodbye Miss Jones. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.” Nikki knew in the back of her mind he was right about that. Her mind was on the ride home as the car descended and the pain and discomfort that was bound to plague her the whole way there. She stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby awareness prickling her skin. She knew straight away it was him. Nikki turned her head slowly towards the interior of the lobby. Intense green eyes stared back at her. She shivered and on cue he licked his lips. She could become addicted to that man so damn easily and it scared her. One of the staff interrupted their little moment by speaking to him and he looked none too pleased. She dragged herself away from him and outside to her bike. She retrieved her face mask glasses and helmet then she cautiously straddled her baby and brought her to life. She looked up at the main door and could see him watching her, his expression unreadable. What did he think of her on her bike? She grinned behind her mask and pulled out roaring past him and back to her own world.

She pulled into the driveway of their house and parked her bike in the garage. She'd barely got off her bike and closed the garage door before Tex had the door to the house open. "So how was the air at the Mint?" He leaned one shoulder against the door frame hands in his pockets the opposite knee cocked to one side. "Hot, sweaty and smoky" she moved slowly towards him trying to make her movements seem as normal as possible in spite of her injuries. When she reached the doorway he moved slightly so she barely had room to squeeze through. She got half way past him when he shifted pressing her against the door frame with his body weight. She bit her lip as the wooden frame dug into her sore cheeks and her body lit with anticipation. She was a slut and a sick one, hours after being with Cole her body wanted Tex. Tex dipped his head down slightly and he breathed her in then his body went rigid. He pulled back slightly either unable or uncaring he didn't hide the anger in his face "Did you?" he paused. She didn't say anything couldn't look him in the eye. He could smell the sex on her. He stepped back from her his head dropping his hand balled into fists at his sides "Never mind." She knew she should say something but she was too numb to care. "I'm going to bed. See you later" she turned and walked away.

She reached the safety of her bedroom closing and locking the door behind her. She slowly stripped her clothes from her body sighing with relief as her burnished skin was released from its denim casing. She moved towards her bathroom, the mirror calling her name. She had to look she had to see the damage done even as she wished she didn't. She turned her back slowly to the mirror and winced at the sight. Angry red welts still marred her ass and thighs and she could see faint shadowing under her skin in places giving the hint that perhaps a bruise was forming. It looked nasty but it felt satisfying, this was what she deserved, to be marked and marred and ruined. Then she caught sight of the back of her shoulder Cole's teeth clearly visible on her skin. That was sure as hell going to bruise. She ran the shower cold to help take the heat out of her injuries and slowly washed the traces of sex from her body. While gingerly drying herself Nikki's phone buzzed on the bathroom counter. She picked it up the display read 'Sir'. A moment of confusion passed until she realised Cole must've entered his number into her phone under Sir. She opened the message.

*Hello Angel. I enjoyed our time together last night. I put my number in your phone so that you can contact me should you wish to continue with our arrangement. I'll speak to you soon.*

He was so sure of himself, of the fact that what they did was the answer to her problems and she wasn't so sure he was wrong. In spite of her physical pain she felt settled, content inside. Marcus Cole. What sort of fucked up situation was she getting herself into? She put the phone down on her bedside table and crawled into bed falling into a dreamless sleep.

Days had passed since Nikki's encounter with Cole. She'd managed to function like a normal human being for the first time in a while. She'd joked around with the boys at work, she'd hung out at the clubhouse after work, and she’d chilled at the house with Tex and Trace. Tex was still being distant with her although he'd warmed as the week had gone on. But that itch was somewhere below the surface still and it grown as time passed. She'd felt it at odd times a flash of dark and ugly thoughts but she'd shake it off and get back to her life. She was beginning to think maybe she should call Cole; maybe she did need his particular brand of medicine? Tex and Trace were pulling garage duties with her today. The garage was pretty popular they did good work not just repairs but builds as well and they had a wide range of customers from other chapters and MC's to the average joe with a bike. It was popular enough that it made it a little harder for them to keep a low profile when it came to the MC's not so legit business. Most of the guys pulled shifts in the garage off and on. Nikki had always loved her job, no office politics, no bitchy coworkers, she could pick her hours, she got to be in charge of burly bikers, joke around and listen to tunes while she worked and as long as the work got done and the money was coming in nobody said shit. King pretty much left her to be responsible for the joint with the occasional debrief on how things were going unless there was trouble with a customer which was usually never and only because some guys had a problem taking mechanical advice from a woman at which point he'd proudly tell them he taught her everything she knew and if they wanted the run down they'd have to deal with Nikki. Today was one of those awesome days the time had flown even though they'd had a mountain of jobs and had to work late, the boys had been relaxed and joked and sang and talked shit. They were just packing up pulling the last of the bikes inside when her phone rang.

A private number again. She slid her thumb across the screen to answer the call and lifted the phone to her ear. "Hello Nikki." She frowned at the voice "Who is this?" "You don't remember me?" The voice was vaguely familiar but she couldn't place it "No should I?" "Think about it?" She tried to recall where she'd heard the deep voice before "Sorry no idea." The boys looked at her curiously and she just shrugged at them. "That's disappointing. You broke my fucking nose and because of you my boys are dead so I won't forget you bitch.... Ever." Fuck. The guy from the alleyway. Tex and Trace saw the change in her face and stepped to her straight away "Listen to me you fucking asshole you deserved the broken nose I fucking gave you and a lot worse and as for your boys I don't know anything about it but I don't give a fucking shit because as far as I'm concerned the world is better off without a bunch of sick rapists walking the streets." The guy laughed at her "You act all brave with your boys standing beside you right now but they won't always be around bitch." He could see her. She looked out through the open roller door trying to spot him. "That's right bitch I can see you." That boiled her blood him hiding in the shadows waiting for his chance like a fucking coward. Tex reached into the toolbox near him and pulled out a pistol concealed in one of the draws. She could hear Trace on his phone calling some of the brothers out from the clubhouse. "Well if you can see me why don't you come and get me asshole." Where was this guy? She searched the street looking for movement. There were a few cars in the street an old white ford, a dark coloured pickup, a little red hatchback and a blacked out BMW. She was distracted for a second by the BMW it was a bit flashy for this section of town but then some of the businesses round this area did quite well. She got the feeling as she stared at it that there was someone inside and they were focused on her. "Because I'm not that fucking stupid, bitch. But I'll get you sooner or later." Her phone started beeping to indicate an incoming call. The brothers started to file out through the gate and the garage some on foot, some on bikes. Tex grabbed her and began to drag her back inside. She shook him off. "I'll be waiting asshole and this time it won't just be your fucking nose I break." She hung up the phone.

Her phone began to ring again "Hello" she yelled angrily into the phone. "Where are you Angel?" Cole's deep growly voice demanded down the phone line. They heard a car engine start and everyone turned towards the sound. "I'm kinda fucking busy right now." "I know he called you. I heard it. I know he's there. Now where the fuck are you?" The car suddenly launched down the street toward them. Tex grabbed her and tried to drag her to the floor as shots rang out around her. The bullets weren't aimed at her they were aimed at the brothers lined up at the gate. They ducked and scrambled for their own weapons. No way was she going to let this guy shoot at her family while she hid from him. Nikki dropped her phone and wrenched the gun out of Tex's hand pushing him off her. She whirled around and pointed the gun at the car just as it passed the nearby gate. She fired several shots at the car. The rear window blew out, the tail lights and one of the tires, bullet holes scattered across the car. No one could tell who was hitting what but she knew at the very least the rear window was hers. She wasn't aiming for the car she was aiming for the driver. The car floored it around the corner already some of the brothers were tearing out after it. Movement to the left of the road caught her eye. Tex ripped the gun from her hand "What the fuck is wrong with you? You could've been shot!" She shook her head at him "He wasn't aiming for me." She pushed past him and stomped to her phone picking it up. She could hear Cole was swearing and yelling orders to someone.