Payback (Dueling Devils) (5 page)

“I know a girl who…
has a special relationship with Louis. If anyone knows something, it’s her. But you have to give me time to sober her up. You barge in and scare her half to death she’ll clam up, maybe even go straight to him.”

Demon clenched his jaw.
He could give a fuck about scaring some whacked out of her mind bitch.

“Trust me D. I wouldn’t fuck around with the kids’ safety, you know that.”
She lowered her voice and met his gaze.

“I’m trust
ing you with this.”

“I know. I’ll have everything you need by noon today. I promise.
Now, let me get you guys something to eat before you hit the road. I have some Johnny Cakes I baked last night.”

Demon’s mouth watered at the thought of the sweet flavored bread. His stomach growled.

“Drink the Cappuccino. You look like you need it.”

Any other bitch he’d call out on semi bos
sing him around, but he liked Gia. They had an understanding when it came to important shit. He’d bought into her club and took it to another level. It’s how they met in the first place. He curled his hands around the warm cup, mentally plotting his next move once they left. It was time to head to the warehouse and take stock of their equipment. Some of the sister chapters should be rolling in soon.

A key sounded in the lock and Ardy stood from her seat at the kitchen table.

“Daddy!” Harley squealed, hopping from her chair.

Rocket stood seconds
later. His face clouded with concern.

Ardy grabbed Harley around the wais
t and lifted her into the air. “Let’s give him a chance to get in the door,” she said playfully.

Rambler and Mumble
glanced back at them.

“We’re good. I can see Pres on the monitor.” The door swung open and Ardy
exhaled when Demon’s dark head came into view.

“
I know I’m the President, but you don’t have to greet me on your feet.”

Rambler and Mumble laughed.

“We’re all a little on edge,” Mumble defended in his gruff raspy voice.

I
wonder why he sounds like that?
She’d never seen him smoke and he was too young to have his voice altered that much by cigarettes anyway. He couldn’t be much more than twenty-two.

“I figured. That’s why we’re getting
out of here for a while. Ardy, I want you to take the kids into their rooms, pack a bag for a week or so and then pack your own.”

His voice sounded
level, but the wildness in his eyes frightened her.

“Now.”

The barked command made her jump.

Harley sniffled and Rocket
’s eyes went wide.

“Come on guys. Let’s go get ready for our trip.” Keeping her voice light she cuddled Harley to her chest. “Daddy’s grumpy. Let’s give him some time to put his happy face on.”
Demon always took care to make his kids feel comfortable and loved.
Something is horribly wrong.

“Ardy
where are we going?” Rocket asked as he trailed her into Harley’s room.

“I don’t know. Somewhere fun I’m sure. Where do you think we could be going?” Ardy set Harley on the
bed, walked to the closet and pulled out her pink camo luggage.

“Maybe to Dime City!” Rocket said suddenly excited.

“The arcade would be fun. But I don’t think we’d need clothes to go there. What do you think Harley?” Ardy set the roller bag on the bed and began to fill it as quickly as possible with everything the Harley would need for a week.

“Umm
… Daiwy Queen?” She shrugged and wrinkled her tiny button nose.

“Why are you so cute?” Ardy teased
, tucking her under the chin.

Harley giggled.
“I bet if we ask nicely, Daddy would take us all there.”

“That would be awesome,” Rocket said.

“I agree. I’d love a sundae about now.” Ardy zipped up the suitcase. “Hop down honey, time to pack your brother’s bag. Why don’t you go ahead of us and pick your favorite socks and shorts, Rocket?”

“Okay.” He took off like a shot.

Thank God for misdirection.
“Come on little lady, I’ll push this and you can follow me.”

“
Otay.” Harley beamed up at her as she slid from the bed and followed behind like a baby duck. They entered Rocket’s room and she found a small pile of t-shirts and shorts waiting to be folded.

“Did I do good?” Rocket asked. His eyes were full of hope she didn’t dare crush in any way.

“You did great, buddy. Want to pick out seven pairs of socks? We can count together.”

“I can do that!”

They continued playing mini games until they were packed.

“How we doing here?” Demon appeared in the doorway.

“The kids are all set.”

“I’ll take them into the living room
, so you can get your things together. Come on guys.”

The kids started to walk toward him.

“Wait, don’t you need something too?” Ardy asked.

“No.” He shook his head

Her stomach plummeted.
He’s pawning us off.
“Okay. I’ll meet you guys out front in a few.” Ardy walked around the kids toward her room without making eye contact with Demon. Without a word about where they were going or why he expected her to blindly follow him. Tradition or not, she needed more to feel halfway secure right now. They’d narrowly escaped bodily harm. He had to realize inside she was still reeling. Inside their room, she pulled out the duffle bag she’d originally moved in with and began to go down her list of things, starting with underwear.

“
You’re pissed.”

His
gravelly voice drew her attention to the door. Demon walked in and closed it behind him, leaning up against the wood.

“
I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to babe, it’s written in those killer eyes of yours.”

“A lot’s happening. I’m dealing the best I can.”

“Stop watering it down and say what you want to say.”

“Its bullshit for you to come in here, demand we pack, snap at the kids and not tell me shit. I don’t give a fuck about the rules. If I’m not okay, how can I make sure they’re okay?” She gripped the shirts in her hand and bowed her head, taking a deep breath.

“You’re going to
another property I own in a remote location. This one has been compromised. I’ll do my best to travel back and forth, but the truth is I’m going to be busy doing that shit I won’t tell you about.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest. “I’m doing what it takes to keep all of you safe. You realize that, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I’ve never been the type to sit at home and wait.”

“You’re not. You’re taking care of the most precious things to me in this world. It keeps my head clear. That’s important in this life. I make the wrong moves and I might not be coming home.”

His word
s settled in her belly like ice “God, if anything happened to you. “

“Hey.” He wrapped his hand around her neck and tilted her head back. “Ain’t shit keeping me away from the three of you. Feel me?”

She licked her lips. “Yes.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You bullshittin
g me beautiful? ‘Cause you don’t sound very confident in your man.”

Your man.
The words melted her insides and she leaned all of her weight against him. The hard planes of his body and the heat pouring off him eased her apprehension and made her feel protected. “My man?”

“You forget I claimed you?”
He caressed her throat with his thumb. He moved his other hand up her along waist to cup her breast. He pinched the swollen bud through her clothing and nuzzled her neck. “This is mine.” He slid his hand back down her body and cupped the heated area between her legs. “And this is mine. I’m not doing this shit again Ardy. You run and I’ll chase you. You freak out and I’ll tell you to sit your ass down and chill the fuck out. We can hash it out as much as you need, but that sweet ass of yours ain’t going anywhere. Your place is beside me. You put your big girl panties on and made that decision, so you best believe you’ll be sticking to it.”

His breath caressed her ears
and his words inflamed her. Her panties were soaked, but a part of her wanted to cuss him out. He pressed his fingers into her seam and she moaned. “How do you do that?” Ardy felt more than annoyed with the act of betrayal her body was committing.

“Do what?” he asked nipping at her flesh.

“Make me want to slap you and jump your bones at the same time.”

His body shook and he chuckled. “God given talent. I think I know what your problem is, you need to relax.”

He removed his hand from her shorts and she whimpered.

“Don’t worry babe, I’m going to give you what you need. Trust that I always know how to take care of you.”
He popped the button on her shorts and slid his hand down into her panties.

The feel of his calloused fingers on her bare parts had her spreading her legs.

“That’s it baby. You let me take care of you.” He dipped his fingers into her entrance and retreated, circling her clit. “So wet for me already.” He plunged two of his thick fingers inside and she bit her lips to muffle the cry threatening to explode from her lips. “Knock that shit off. I want to hear it. Every sound you make when I’m pleasing you.” He bit the back of her neck, hard. His stubble brushed her skin, pushing her closer to the edge. “I don’t give a shit who hears.”

“B—
but the kids.” She struggled to maintain some sense of propriety as lust clouded over her brain.

“Are out back with the boys, now let me hear it.”
He adjusted his angle, thrusting hard and fast.

She moved with him, savoring every ounce of pleasure he created with his talented
fingers. Resistance worn down she gripped the arm wrapped around her waist for leverage and rolled her hips.

“That’s it, baby, let go.”

Heat swept through her body. Her stomach muscles tensed. Breath stuttered in her lungs and the bomb he’d disarmed detonated. Her pussy tightened around his fingers as she came apart in his strong arms.

Removing his hand
, he cradled her to his body while placing gentle kisses on her cheek. “I got you, Ardy. I will always have you.”

Her brain began to function properly once more and she caught her breath. “Why?”

“Why what baby?”

She tilted her head up and peered into his dark brown eyes. “Why me? Why now?” She shrugged.

“ ‘Cause from the moment I saw you, you’ve been all I can think about. You treat my kids like they’re your own and you fit me seamlessly. At this point, I can’t remember what life was like without you. I never believed in that bull shit about
the one
. Not even with Natasha. I wifed her because she was the mother of my child. You were different. That shit is fireworks, magnetism and possession. From the minute that rich fuck tried to push up on you, I knew I was a goner. I just didn’t want to admit it. You don’t belong here. You should be living in some cookie cutter house with some hack, working a nine to five and doting on you every chance he gets. Luckily, for both of us I’m not a good man. “

“You’re the man I want.

He grinned and for a moment, she saw the hint of a dimple in his right cheek. “Make sure it stays that way.”

An expression she couldn’t
place moved into his eyes, then it disappeared.
Is he worried I’ll change my mind?
Guilt about her previous thoughts flooded her. She reached up to run her hand over his scruffy cheek. Seeing a glimpse of the vulnerability, that lie beneath his hardened exterior pulled her deeper under his spell.  “I think I know why they named you Demon.”

He snorted. “I doubt it, but let me hear your theory.”

“Because you get people to make deals before they know what they’re really offering up and then you hold tight and guard their treasures.”