Firefight: The Soul Scorchers MC (The Scorched Souls Serial-series Book 2) (6 page)

Doc shot me a questioning look.

Ignoring him, I stared out the window. It didn’t matter how much I liked
or
loved anybody or anything. Nobody made fool of me. I’d keep up the Sally-charade until it no longer served my purposes. In the end,
Olympia
would emerge victorious. I always did.

Boone

The minute we entered the compound, the kids were surrounded by their friends. I wasn’t surprised. Everyone was up late, one of the many issues with lockdowns. Schedules were pretty much shot to shit. A few of the old ladies wandered over to greet Olympia, who was at least friendly, if not a bit reserved. I couldn’t expect more. I was lucky she wasn’t hunting for a meat cleaver.

I had no idea what memories had surfaced, but whatever they were had thrown a wrench in the progress we’d made at the cabin.

Keeping her in sight, I found Spyder hunched over his laptop, fingers flying.

“Boone, what’s going on?” He paused to look up at me.

“Thanks for the pictures, man.”

“No problem. They looked just like the real thing, huh?”

I couldn’t complain about his talents in the realism department. He had a knack for all things computer related, including mad design skills. It was the addition of one picture he needed to explain. “Why the cheerleading photo? That one got her all riled up.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

I explained, and Spyder was clearly puzzled. “I never put that photo in the envelope.” He eyed the room suspiciously. “Someone added it. They must have.”

Following his gaze, I scanned the large recreation area. The room was slowly emptying as families headed off to bed. A few of the brothers were slamming straight shots with Twila and two other club girls, at a table in the far corner.

“No way,” Spyder said, shaking his head, noticing where my gaze had landed. “None of them had a clue what I was working on. Unless…”

“Unless what?” I didn’t like the sound of that.

“Twila has been getting pretty cozy with Crusher this week, and he’s been unhappy with you. He’s gotten a ton of random calls from fighters wanting to face
the champ
. You heard he got in the ring again, right?”

Not sure where Spyder was heading with his explanation, I nodded for him to continue.

“What you might not have heard…he didn’t last long. Lost by TKO, in less than two minutes.”

That didn’t sound like the Crusher I knew. The man might not be the best negotiator outside the ring, but he was one hell of a fighter, or he had been. “He’s a brother. He wouldn’t share our business with a whore. He knows better.”

“You’d think so, but he’s been drinking heavy again and sleeping with Twila most nights. He’s even hinted at making her his ol’ lady.”

Shit. I can’t go away for a minute.
And Bones wonders why I don’t take vacations.

I didn’t plan to deal with the situation right now, but it would have to be addressed sometime, and soon. We couldn’t have private club matters gossiped about like front page news. That was the type of thing that got people hurt, thrown in jail, or put in the ground.

Seeming to sense my scrutiny, Twila glanced my way but immediately lowered her gaze. Gripping Crusher’s arm, she giggled at something he said, shrilling louder than necessary.

I hated to make the comparison, but sometimes it felt like we were in the middle of a perverted high school drama. Now was one of those times. If the implications weren’t so serious, I might have found the situation amusing.

“You okay?” Olympia’s soft voice startled me. She was the last person I expected to be concerned about my wellbeing. “Hey, Spyder,” she added.

His cheeks reddened and his top lip curled up.

What the fuck?
I wanted to knock the silly grin right off his face.

“Where do we sleep tonight?” Olympia asked, not waiting for me to answer her first question.

“I have another room down here. And no, I’m not well. I’ve had better days and nights; but you already knew that.”

For a second I thought she was going to smart off, but she managed to keep whatever thoughts she had to herself. I had no doubt she’d give me a piece of her mind, once she got me alone.

“Spyder, see what you can dig up. I don’t want to accuse anyone of something so serious, but I’ve got a bad feeling.” I was getting pretty fucking sick of all my ‘bad feelings.’

He just nodded and focused again on his computer, a sure sign he was done with the conversation.

Spyder preferred computerized communications over talking. Sometimes I couldn’t blame him. Talking and dealing with people was no simple task. Olympia was teaching me that on a whole new level.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” she said, shocking me. “I’m not sure what exactly I remembered. I guess I overreacted.”

“Come on. Let’s go to bed.” I didn’t know how to respond to her apology. She’d thrown me so far off track; I was almost afraid to say anything at this point.

I was relieved when she let me guide her by the elbow down one of the two passages, leading to the bedrooms. Mine was near the end of the corridor, by the tunnel we’d escaped through. I hoped we wouldn’t be crawling through the dirt again anytime soon.

She cast a wary glance toward the exit, her thoughts mirroring my own. At least we agreed about something.

Once inside, I kicked off my boots and yanked my shirt over my head, desperate for a shower. I still hadn’t responded to her apology, and she watched me expectantly.

“So, I wanted to be a cheerleader?” She gave me a sweet smile, breaking the silence.

Taking a deep breath, I launched into a longer version of the lie I’d told earlier, explaining how she’d dropped out of school in ninth grade, and we’d stolen a cheerleading uniform so she could do a photo shoot. This time she soaked in the story and didn’t argue at all, much to my surprise.

Olympia was full of surprises tonight.

I’d expected a barrage of questions and accusations. Instead, she was demure and trusting, not at all like the Olympia I was used to. Even the Sally version was inquisitive and suspicious, not so easy to give in and give up. Only when it came to sex did she give me complete control.

Too tired to worry about her sudden surrender, I found a towel and strode to the bathroom, but only after planting a long wet kiss on the lips I had come to love. She tangled her hands in my hair, almost making me forget my shower. If I hadn’t felt so filthy from fishing and touching a body, even with gloves, I would have fucked her then and there. Make up sex could be so satisfying.

Shit, sex with Olympia was always satisfying. She was perfection in that department. She might be a horrible cook and difficult to deal with, but her combined innocence, enthusiasm, and desire to explore while pleasing me, had my dick alert and ready.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I called over my shoulder before shutting the door.

Olympia

Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. My acting job is just beginning.

That thought prompted a shiver of anticipation. Playing Submissive Sally would be an Oscar worthy role, one I’d play with perfection.

What wasn’t perfect was my make-believe, Boone-assigned name.
Why the hell did he choose Sally?
Couldn’t he have at least come up with something more modern?
The only Sally I’d ever known was my third grade, classmate’s pet pony.

Too bad we couldn’t do a reality TV show.
Move over Kardashian Clan!

I realized just how ridiculous my line of thinking was when I heard voices raised outside our door.

This lifestyle was dangerous and unpredictable. Something I’d be wise to remember. There was a fire-fiend ready to burn down our town, a biker war brewing, and earlier we’d fished a body from the river. We were on lockdown, for God’s sake. I needed to get a grip and keep my mind focused on surviving.

“Boone! Get your ass out here!” A fist thudded against the door. “Now! You motherfucker!”

I backed against the wall, my heart stampeding, and all thoughts of my scheming replaced with adrenaline-laced alarm.

Bursting from the bathroom, with a towel slung around his hips, Boone looked like a rampaging warrior. His long hair, wet and loose, streamed over his shoulders. It took me a second to notice the gun in his hand.

“Who is it?” I hissed.

Instead of answering, he pulled on his jeans and stomped to the door.

“You need to back the fuck off, man!” someone shouted from the hallway. “You are way out of line.”

“No, he needs to get that bitch out of here! He’s out of line!”

Oh no. They’re talking about me.

Boone shoved the pistol in the back of his jeans and flung the door open. Everything became a blur of fists as he pounded the man who’d dared insult me.

I couldn’t make out who it was, but considering Boone was using his hands and not the gun told me this wasn’t an actual enemy or even a real threat. I recognized Bones, Grinch, and Leg as they struggled to separate the men.

With professional precision, Boone landed an uppercut that connected with his attacker’s jaw. The man tumbled back, hitting the floor with a sickening thud. I realized then, it was Crusher. He’d been hanging out with Twila earlier. It served him right.

“What the fuck was that about?” Boone demanded. His fists remained clenched.

Grinch answered first. “We tried to stop him. He started drinking Tequila again. You know what happens…”

“I don’t give a fuck. He’s not supposed to touch that shit,” Boone cut him off. “And why the hell was he insulting my girl?”

His girl?

As furious as I was over his betrayal, those two words still did funny things to me. He sounded so sincere. It wasn’t a stretch to think of him as
my man
. For the past two weeks, he’d been that and so much more. My protector, my friend, my lover…my everything.

Being with Conner Mills after him wouldn’t be easy, more like impossible, if the way I felt now was any indication. Boone had ruined me for anyone else.

Having someone with his sexual prowess as my first lover, made the idea of anyone else pale in comparison. There truly was no comparison when it came to Boone; and the reality was, I couldn’t think of anything more repulsive than my fiancé trying to please me with his practiced and predictable lead-ins to the sex we’d never actually had.

Conner had put considerable effort into wooing me, but I’d never once been tempted to falter from my no-sex-until-marriage commitment. Unlike other women, I remained immune to his charms. Even before my memory loss, I’d wanted Boone and had fantasized about him as my first.

The men continued to argue, offering a reprieve from my unsettling thoughts. I had way too many questions, and I didn’t want to deal with the answers.

After a few agonizing minutes, writhing on the floor, Crusher clamored to his feet and apologized to Boone, who accepted his handshake. Once the men were finally gone, Boone shut the door, his attention drawn to me.

I was still huddled in the corner like a tiny field mouse facing a feral cat.

“Come here, babe.” He opened his arms.

Without hesitation, I rushed into his embrace, breathing in his masculine scent. He smelled like soap, tinged with sweat from his skirmish. Clinging to him, I let myself get lost in the moment, forgetting my get even plans and his lies long enough to realize how right I felt molded against him. Now that I understood the power he held over my body, I found him impossible to resist.

“Crusher and Tequila do not mix,” he said more to himself. “That was fucked up. Fighting another brother is counterproductive in the worst way.”

“He didn’t really leave you a choice,” I soothed, running my fingers through his hair, enjoying its thick, smooth texture.

“You keep doing that and we won’t be sleeping anytime soon.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Sleep? I hear it’s overrated anyway.” I couldn’t stop myself from teasing him. I needed his touch.

Who was I kidding?

I needed him.

Boone

“Sleep may be overrated, but I still gotta finish my shower,” I ground out. “Join me?” As attentive as she had been since our return, I still expected her rejection.

Instead, she surprised me with her response.

“Are you saying I’m dirty?” Her anxiety over Crusher’s impromptu assault was evidently forgotten as she gazed up at me.

With the adrenaline from the fight coursing through me, and Olympia looking at me like I was her savior, my cock stiffened.