Hard Roads (11 page)

She was quiet for a moment, most likely considering what I’d said. “Who’s Bandana and Bandit? I’ve never heard of them. Are they new?”

Relaxing back into the seat, I kept my eyes on the road, my mind flashing through memories of what they’d done to one of the club sluts when she’d pissed them off a few months prior. The girl would never walk right again and after that night, I heard she dumped her love of bikers and moved halfway across the country to go back to her family. Big John let it slide because, in his head, she deserved it for trying to play the twins against each other.

“They’ve been around for about two years.” Allowing my eyes to glance in her direction, I looked back at the road before adding, “They’re not all there in the head, Munch, so treat them like they are just as bad as Gunner. Stay quiet, don’t fight, just go along with whatever they want and you should make it to Washington in one piece. They’re under orders, so I’m certain they’ll leave you alone as long as you do as you’re told.”

We turned a sharp corner and the road narrowed to a single dirt lane, the gates of Diablo’s compound finally coming into view. The tops of palm trees could be seen above the terracotta colored walls and I remembered the lush, tropical feel of his place. He had to put tons of money into pumping water in to keep everything green in the middle of the Nevada desert, but if he had it to spend, that was his prerogative.

After pulling to a stop on the side of the road, Holly and I looked at each other, both of us stuck too far deep into our own concerns to say much more than had already been said. I reached into my back pocket, pulling my blade out and nodding in the direction of her shirt. “Let me see your wrists. I’ll cut you loose, but please, if your life matters to you at all, please behave. You have no idea what you’re about to walk into and I’d hate to see you become a memory before you ever had the chance to live. You get me?”

She nodded in acknowledgment, her mouth refusing to open for her to voice her understanding. When her wrists poked out from beneath the shirt, I cut the rope away and she immediately pulled them back in to bring them up and out of the sleeves. Angry red lines marked where the bindings had been and she rubbed at them while keeping her eyes glued to the compound gates.

Returning my attention to the road, I tapped on the gas and we drove the several hundred feet we had left. When we approached the gates, cameras noticeably turned in our direction and I pulled up to the speaker box on the left side of the driveway.

“You lost?” The unidentified voice crackled as it sounded from the box and I grinned.

“Nope. Looking for Diablo. Big John sent me.”

Silence for a few seconds and then, “Where’s your bike? Didn’t know John dealt with anybody besides dirty fucking bikers.”

Considering I had no idea who the fuck I was talking to and I wasn’t sure about how high he was on Diablo’s ladder, I snapped back at him, tired of his bullshit stalling.

“Tell Diablo that JD is here.”

The connection silenced and Holly and I waited without speaking. After a few minutes, a click sounded in front of us and the gates slowly crept open, revealing the lush gardens inside.

“What the fuck is this place?” Holly’s head rotated slowly as she took in the ‘paradise’ that Diablo had created in the middle of what felt like hell.

“It’s Diablo’s compound. Pretty ain’t it? The man is not what you would expect a drug lord to be. He’s a sneaky bastard so just keep that in mind while we’re inside. Do NOT give away who you are.”

She blinked, the small motion indicating to me that she understood the seriousness of my words.

Pulling up to the large mansion, I watched as four men in suits exited the front doors, taking positions in a line in front of the entrance. My eyes flicked to Holly and I could see the terror written across her face. It appeared that she was trying to control her breathing, attempting in vain to hide the emotions ravaging her system. I reached over, grabbing her hand in mine and squeezing. Her eyes met mine and I gave her a small smile.

“It’s going to be okay, Munch. Just follow my lead. Don’t speak unless spoken to. When the brothers get here, you’ll be able to leave. I won’t take off until you’re in their hands.”

She nodded, swallowing hard to force down the knot of fear in her throat.

After turning off the engine, I jumped out of the truck, circling around to open Holly’s door. She hopped down without speaking a word and we walked hand in hand up towards the men waiting for us by the front entrance.

“Diablo’s expecting me.” I kept things short-winded. There was no need for small talk when you were in the company of killers and that’s what these men were. None of them attempted to hide the fact that they were armed and I took comfort in the feel of my .45 tucked into the back of my pants.

They didn’t respond, just stepped aside as Holly and I entered the house. As if on cue, Diablo came strolling down the long entry hallway, his arms spread to his sides in greeting. The heels of his polished leather shoes clicked rhythmically against the tile floors. He was dressed in white linen pants and a white shirt, black suspenders pulled up and over his shoulders. His hair was greased back and styled.

He had the bright smile of a predator with prey in its sight.

“JD, long time, no see, brother. You’re a little later than I expected. I hope your trip here was an easy one.” He approached, taking my hand in one of his and placing his other on my shoulder. “I’d kiss your cheeks, but I know you bikers aren’t into my ‘customs’.”

No. It wasn’t a cultural thing for Diablo. His customs were just habits and behaviors he’d picked up over the years that he believed made him more refined.

“Good to see you. Not sure if you heard, but Bandana and Bandit will be rolling up soon enough to take my girl off my hands.” As soon as the words left my mouth, his eyes glanced over at Holly, a sly smile creeping over his lips as he took her in.

“And what an absolutely breathtaking girl you have.” He tsked. “Well, if she were dressed properly, but I know how you bikers are, so I won’t hold style against you.” He winked at me when he returned his attention to my face.

“She’s not a biker … just a groupie of sorts.”

“Of course.” Nodding, he let go of my hand and shoulder and turned to Holly. “What is your name, beautiful?”

“Her name’s Munch.” I interrupted before she could respond. We’d never discussed what name she’d go by, so I figured I’d just throw it out there to cover that base.

Diablo’s eyes flicked to me, humor dancing behind the brown-gold color. “Can she not speak for herself?”

He turned his attention back to her. “Munch? Such an awful name for such a beautiful woman.”

Clearing her throat, her eyes glanced between me and Diablo before she responded, “Uh, yeah. It’s short for Munchkin.” When Diablo didn’t respond, she added, “My parents were assholes.”

Laughter, dark and cruel, flowed over his lips. “I would say so. Well, come in.” He indicated to the interior of the house with a dramatic sweep of his arm. “Can I get you anything: water, wine, some new clothes perhaps?” Chuckling to himself, he strode in front of us, leading us into a large common area with a bar set off to the side. As soon as we entered the room, the junkies and sluts that were a permanent feature of Diablo’s compound could be seen sitting around in sofas and chairs arranged throughout the space. Like ghosts, their eyes slowly looked in our direction, noticing our presence, even though their drugged minds didn’t necessarily comprehend if we were real or an illusion.

Holly looked suddenly nervous, stepping into me as if my body would protect her from the odd expressions of the people in the room.

“Don’t mind them, beautiful. They don’t bite.” Diablo stepped behind the bar, pulling out crystal cups and placing ice inside. As each cube fell, it tinkled against the glass and echoed through the unusually quiet space. “These are just friends who like to hang around for the parties I throw quite often.”

Holly forced a smile and we sat down on the wood and leather barstools as Diablo looked back in our direction.

“Water? Soda? Something stronger, maybe?”

Clearing my throat, I answered for both of us. “Water will be fine. It’s hot as hell out there and I think both of us could use the fluid refill.”

He smiled, the light glinting off his perfectly white and straight teeth. “Water it is. We can always switch you to something stronger once you’re rehydrated.”

“I’m not sure that’ll be necessary. I have to take off for Washington once the brothers arrive to grab Munch from me and I need my mind intact for the drive.” I tried to keep my tone as friendly as possible, not wanting to insult him for refusing his hospitality. Diablo was weird like that; his suggestions or offers coming out more like an order or command.

He smiled like a viper. “I understand completely. I hear John is organizing a run. I have your supplies ready for when you leave. Payment has already been arranged, so all you need to do is pick them up on your way out.”

“That’s what John told me, so thanks for that.”

His smile never faltered as he quickly turned his attention back to Holly. “So…Munch. Tell me how you came to be in the company of such a rough group of men.”

Holly looked up at Diablo, a fake smile plastered once again over her beautiful face. Shrugging, she played stupid and I grinned at how well she pulled off the act. “Oh, I don’t know. I just have a thing for bikers, I guess. Get it from my momma, although she’s never been able to keep one interested for too long.” She looked over at me and winked. “I hope to hang on to this one longer than a few months. Possibly even get him to go down on one knee or somethin’.”

Diablo grinned wider. “Well, I wish you luck in that endeavor. Although, a beautiful girl like you could do so much better if you found the right man. Don’t you agree?”

Every muscle along my spine stiffened at the underhanded insult. Holly didn’t seem fazed.

“Oh, he’s the right man alright. Big and rough, just like I like them.” Elbowing me in the side, she asked, “Isn’t that right baby?”

Diablo’s voice lowered an octave when he replied, “You like them rough? That’s a good quality in a woman. But I hope you realize, a man doesn’t need to be a biker to be rough.” His head tilted to the side with his words.

Placing our glasses in front of us, he refused to take his eyes off of her. If I had hackles, they’d be raised up in irritation at this point. The fucker was pissing me off. His expression gave away the fact that he was doing horrible things to Holly in his head and I didn’t like the sleazy look he was giving her.

I wanted to gut him right then and right there, but it would fuck everything up that I’d worked for. The only thing I could do was continue playing this out until the brothers arrived to escort Holly away from the compound. After that, she wasn’t my problem anymore.

And for some fucked up reason, the thought didn’t make me feel better about any of this.

Chapter twelve

~ Holly ~

He wasn’t as beautiful as JD, but damn if Diablo wasn’t a close second. He moved with feline grace and his light colored clothes worked hard to hide the natural tan to his skin. Black hair adorned his head and brown eyes with large gold flecks peeked out from beneath thick black lashes. His shoulders were broad and his abdomen dipped down into his narrow hips. I couldn’t find a single flaw about him. Charming was the perfect word to describe him, the kind of charming that could seduce you into walking towards your own death just to be near him.

The man was a predator, plain and simple. My eyes ran the cut of his cheekbones along his face and glanced down to admire the most perfect smile I’d ever seen.

“So, Munch. Tell me about yourself.”

I could tell that JD wasn’t comfortable with the attention that Diablo was paying me and I sank against him when he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me and my stool closer to where he sat. I glanced at his face, noticing the slow anger that burned behind his eyes.

“Um, there isn’t really much to know. I’m from Arizona, raised by my mom, didn’t really know my dad. He came around every so often when I was a kid, but that stopped when I turned 12.”

JD squeezed his hand on my hip and I took that as a sign to shut up. The thing about lying is that you need to keep it simple. Too many details and eventually you’ll forget the story you’ve told people.

Diablo leaned against the counter behind him, his eyes unmoving from my face. “So you were abandoned by a biker, I assume, since that is what you said your mother liked.”

“Uh…” I wasn’t sure how to answer him because it seemed like every question he asked was just another way for him to lead me further into whatever trap I assumed he was setting.

He smiled. “I only ask because I find it odd that you would so willingly go running into the same type of life. A father should never abandon his daughter, if for nothing else but because he can’t protect her from a man just like him.”

Taking a drink from my glass, I sipped slowly, relishing the feel of the cool liquid sliding down my throat and also taking the time to formulate my response.

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t a bad life. Even though it was just mom and me, we made it through and had a good time doing it.”

“I see.” His stare was molten metallic, the light filtering in through the windows glinting off his eyes as they burned into me. “I’d like to give you a tour of my house.”

The offer came out of nowhere and JD’s hand gripped into my side, the fingers digging painfully into my skin. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing. However,
nothing
was not a response suitable to Diablo.

“Cat got your tongue?”

JD cleared his throat and, thankfully, answered in my place. “I’m not really comfortable letting my girl leave my side, but if you don’t mind taking both of us, I’d love to look around. I’ve never really seen more than the hallway and this room.”

Annoyance flashed behind Diablo’s eyes, but a sly grin slithered across his face immediately afterwards.

“When will your brothers be arriving? I’d hate to be lost in the many halls of the house and not have a chance to greet them when they get here.”