Property Of Drex #2 (Death Chasers MC #2) (2 page)

Chapter 2

DREX

“Doc’s letting you go,” Axle says four—yes,
four—
hours later. “Feds and cops are still clueless that you’re here. Our guy in the local PD station let me know that they didn’t know the house we torched was yours. So all’s good.”

I glare at him. “All’s not fucking good. We still don’t know where Eve is.”

He purses his lips before sitting down in one of the chairs on the far side of the room.

“We’ll find her. Drake will eventually answer one of our calls.”

I start to object, but my phone rings in my hand. I jolt when I see it’s Drake’s name flashing across the screen.

“Drake, where the fuck are—”

“Thank God you sound okay.” Eve’s voice shocks me into silence, and I sag in relief.

“It wasn’t me. I know you don’t believe this, but I’m not some kind of spy—”

“Eve, where are you?” I ask, interrupting her.

She gets quiet for a minute, and that’s like a slap to the face. Not that I blame her for thinking the worst.

“You sound good, but are you okay?” she asks instead of answering.

Out of everyone who has been in and out of here today, she’s the first person to ask that. “No. I won’t be until I get you back from Drake. Where are you?”

She sighs as though she’s torn about what to do.

“Drake went to get us something to eat. He left his phone, so I sort of took advantage. I didn’t know your number, or I would have called you sooner from the landline here. I didn’t grab my phone from your house before… well, you know. I just needed to know you’re alright.”

I groan while glaring at Axle. “Eve, I heard what happened. No one is going to hurt you. It was a major misunderstanding. Have Drake bring you to the warehouse.”

Silence. Motherfucking silence.

“Eve,” I warn, trying not to lose my temper, but it’s really hard to do right now. “I said I won’t hurt you. You should be able to trust me by now.”

She laughs bitterly, which surprises the hell out of me. “Like you trust me? Drex, anytime something goes wrong, I’m suspect number one to the Death Dealers. I have bruises on my arm from where your
friend
tried to drag me away for a death sentence.”

My jaw grinds. “Which one left bruises?”

“Doesn’t matter. The point is this thing between us will never be anything more than it is. I’ll always be under a microscope, and you’ll never trust me. I’m just the expendable toy, and what happens when you’re done playing?”

Fuck me. I’ve never heard her pissed, and right now she sounds like she’s furious.

“If you were some expendable toy, I wouldn’t have put my name on you. I’d have stuck the traditional DD tat on you. I don’t foresee me being done anytime soon, but if I ever am, then you can go home. No strings attached. And I can promise I’ll keep Benny off you if something like that ever was to happen. As for the trust, you have to earn that. Everyone does.”

Pop was once the person I trusted the most, and now… I don’t even want to think about it. It’s not easy to be betrayed by the only family you have.

“I can’t earn it if you don’t give me a chance. And why does it matter? You can find anyone to do what I do.”

She’s fishing, and I really hate that she’s the one with the power right now.

“If anyone could be you, I wouldn’t be making an ass out of myself by essentially begging you to tell me where you are.”

That silences her for a moment. But the silence is brief.

“I haven’t heard any begging,” she says dryly, but I hear the smile in her voice.

Like an ass, I smile back, even though I’d love nothing more than to throttle her.

“This is me begging. Well, as close as I can get. Where are you?”

She sighs and drags out the suspense for a really long time.

“You promise not to do anything to Drake? He was only trying to protect me, which is more than your
friends
were trying to do.”

I glare at Axle, who averts my eyes. It can’t be hard to overhear her, since the volume on my phone is cranked up to full blast.

“Drake is safe. As for the rest, I’ll make sure that doesn’t become an issue
ever
again.”

“You keep saying that. Yet everyone around you keeps trying to hurt me.”

Yeah, I deserve that stab.

“Eve, where are you?”

She groans as though she doesn’t really want me to know, and I stand, pacing the room as she takes her sweet fucking time debating what to do.

“Eve,” I say softly, prompting her to hurry.

“One more thing,” she says hesitantly.

Biting back the curse that is on the tip of my tongue, I fist my free hand, growing more impatient by the second. “And that is?”

“No other girls. If you want me, then I need to be enough.” She says the words in a rush, as though she can’t get them out of her mouth fast enough.

“That’s not an issue,” I say without hesitation. It’s not like I’ve even looked at anyone else since she bounced into my life. “Now where are you?”

She’s killing me with these long pauses.

“I’m trusting you, Drex. I’ll text you the address.”

Even though she hangs up without saying anything else, the weight on my chest leaves. I walk out the door, ignoring the doctor who is speaking, ignoring my father as he calls for me, and ignoring everyone else as they chatter and ask questions.

Axle is on my heels, but I ignore him too. Dash walks out from an adjoining hallway, almost colliding with me, but I don’t ignore him. I give him one hell of an acknowledgement by landing a punch to his face.

When he goes staggering backwards, he curses, spitting out the blood that has pooled in his mouth.

“The fuck, Drex?” he snaps.

“You’re walking with a limp because of Eve. I can only imagine you’re the one who bruised her arm. Touch her again, and I won’t stop at a busted nose.”

The anger in his eyes dies, and he has the decency to show some shame. I just walk off, tearing away the hospital bracelet as I go.

“You can’t drive yourself,” Axle says as he follows me onto the elevator.

My phone chirps in my hand, and I look down to see the address she promised to send. She didn’t even have my motherfucking number. Obviously I never foresaw anything like this happening, but I still should have given her my number.

I text her back, telling her I’m on the way, but she doesn’t respond to it. Can’t say I blame her.

Chapter 3

EVE

“I can’t believe you told him where we are,” Drake groans. “I was going to speak to them after the heat had cooled down for a few days.”

Yeah, I’m nervous about the impulsive decision myself.

I eye his arm, since he’s shirtless. He’s covered in tattoos, so it’s hard to see the fresh stitches some girl did. I hope she used sterile tools for that. Not that I could watch.

“He promised me nothing would happen to either of us. I think he just wants to… I don’t know.”

Even I realize how ridiculous it sounds to say Drex just wants me back. What was I thinking?

It’s hard to believe he’d ever hurt me after all the times he’s protected me or tried to protect me. He covered my body with his when those bullets were flying in.

I haven’t even had time to process the madness inside his house. I’ve been too focused on avoiding the Death Dealers. Now I’ve invited them over.

Drake groans while grabbing a beer. “I’ve known Drex longer than you. Drex is cold. They didn’t make him VP just because he’s Herrin’s son, even though that did play some part in it. They did it because he’s the one who will obliterate anyone who crosses them. He’s trigger happy. Hell, even Herrin has said Drex is too bloodthirsty, and that they’d always be in a war if he doesn’t get his temper in check before he takes over.”

Hearing it said aloud makes me really regret telling him where I am. I’m that damn turtle or frog or whatever it was that let the scorpion ride its back across the pond.

“How do you know all this?” I ask him, deciding not to share that childhood tale of instinct versus intentions.

He shrugs while propping his feet up, sitting down beside me on the sofa.

“I was their go-to guy before my fallout with Drex. Cecil wouldn’t have ever touched their ink if it hadn’t been for that. And when someone is getting ink, they usually like to talk. I’ve always been smart enough to keep my mouth shut when I hear something that could get me killed. Hence the reason I’ve earned their trust.”

I eye him, finally getting curious.

“What happened between you and Drex?”

He cocks an eyebrow. “He fucked my girl. Claims he didn’t know she was mine. But he didn’t exactly feel bad about it even when he found out. I told you; Drex is cold. I learned we’re not friends, but I also never want to be his enemy. Drex doesn’t let people close enough to hurt him. Not even his own dad.”

I’m sure he’s trying to dissuade me from my interest in Drex, but it does the opposite. I almost feel… sad? Drex doesn’t even kiss women because he doesn’t like the intimacy of it.

And yet I can’t seem to push him away. He’s coming for me. I might have misconstrued everything he said, but he almost sounded desperate to have me back.

“Drex won’t kill you.”

He smiles grimly. “Yeah. I know. He’s cold, but he’s not that damn icy. He will, however, probably punch me a few times. It’s you I’m worried about. After everything you’ve told me, you’re a target. You’re the center of too many coincidences. You sure Drex cares enough about you to believe you?”

Before I can answer, there’s a pounding at the door.
That was fast.

“Open the fuck up, Drake!” Drex demands, sounding pissed. “Or I’ll kick in the door.”

Oh no. No. No. No. He wasn’t supposed to sound pissed.

My palms are sweaty as I rake them over my jean shorts, standing up and taking a deep breath. Drake hesitates, but the loud pounding starts back up.

He tucks his gun in the back of his jeans before walking over and opening the door, using his body to block the path.

“Listen, she didn’t—”

“Move,” Drex growls, then suddenly he’s shouldering by Drake—who is a wall of muscle—and stalking toward me.

My heart flips when I see him, especially the relief that seems to cross his eyes. His head has stitches, starting just above his eyebrow and almost going into his hairline.

He’s a little bruised, but other than that, he seems fine.

Of course, my inner appraisal is cut short when he comes at me faster. I try not to gasp when he grabs me at the waist and jerks me to him. But my breath is gone when he crushes his lips to mine.

I definitely know the definition of melting now.

One hand goes to my hair as he angles my head, giving his tongue access to thoroughly explore me, kissing me stupid. It only takes a second for the shock to wear off so that I can react.

I kiss him back, hungrily searching and seeking, exploring and needing. He grips me tighter, pulling me off the floor until my legs are forced to wrap around his waist.

It’s the only kiss he’s ever initiated. It’s the only kiss he’s ever pushed for more. And it’s the hottest kiss I’ve ever had in my life. I’d almost forgo sex to continue kissing like this.

Almost.

He finally breaks the kiss, and I’m left panting for air like I’ve just run a marathon. His forehead presses against mine, while he tries to breathe as well.

“Alright. Guess that means he’s not killing you,” Drake says, a smirk in his tone.

Drex glares over his shoulder at him, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, his lips graze my forehead with a sweet touch that conflicts with Drex’s hard nature. Drake walks over to us until he’s beside us, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at us like he’s amused.

“Let’s get back to the warehouse. We have a mess to sort through. Drake, you’re coming with us.”

Drake tenses, narrowing his eyes. So Drex adds, “You’re holding out on us. I get why, but now the Hell Breathers are under the impression you’ve joined us, since my arrival at your place seemed so abrupt. Now there’s nothing to lose.”

Drake curses, running a hand over his hair. “Why can’t I just tat and stay out of this shit?”

Axle’s laughter startles me, and I look over Drex’s shoulder to see him in the entryway. I tense against Drex, who is still holding me.

“Ain’t no one gonna hurt you, baby. Relax,” Drex says before running his nose along my jaw, gently kissing a spot near my ear.

Axle’s laughter dies, and he seems to sober before giving me what resembles an apologetic look. As if that makes everything okay.

Then again, he did let me go with Drake instead of insisting I go with them to the executioner’s lair.

“Come on. We have shit to go over,” Drex tells the other two.

He carries me as though he’s worried I might run away if my feet hit the ground. His arms are locked around me as he climbs into the SUV, keeping me strapped to his waist.

“No bike?” I ask, mostly to distract myself from reading too much into his actions.

“Concussion,” he answers, pointing to his head.

“That explains the unusual greeting,” I mutter dryly.

He softly laughs, but it tapers off quickly. “Don’t run away again.” The seriousness is edged with a hint of warning in his tone. I swallow hard, suddenly not feeling so safe.

“What happens if I do?” I ask hoarsely.

He leans forward, letting his lips almost brush mine, close enough for us to exchange breaths.

“I’ll find you.”

A shiver slides down my spine, but he starts kissing me, and I drink in the effect he has on me. His hands slide into my hair so that he can properly devour me, but he pulls back, leaving me leaning in and hungry for more.

“I’ll end up fucking you in the car if I keep kissing you,” he murmurs before pressing one last chaste kiss to my lips.

For a man who claims to not be a fan of kissing, he’s damn good at it, and I’m left reeling from the rush.

“But when we get back,” he whispers, still keeping his lips close to mine, “I’ll kiss every inch of your body. When I get done, you’ll never want to run again.”