The Cut by Carol Lynne: Kings of Bedlam MC Series, Book One (18 page)

Santana fisted her hand and punched Tiny in the arm. “You do not get to apologize for trying to defend my honor.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave Stake a deep kiss. “Go have your meeting while I set my friend straight on a few things.”

Stake grinned. “I was dreading this meeting, but now I think I’d rather be me than you,” he told Tiny.

“Yeah, I think I might agree,” Tiny replied.

* * * *

Settled in twin lawn chairs on the outskirts of the party, Santana took another drink of her beer. She was already tipsy, and Tiny’s persistence that she share sips from his bottle of whisky would no doubt have her drunk in no time. She eyed her friend warily. He’d been quiet since they’d found the spot to sit, and she could tell something was bothering him. “Okay, I’ve been patient long enough. What’s wrong?”

Tiny upended his bottle and poured an ungodly amount of alcohol down his throat. “You’re leaving.”

“Yeah.” She suddenly understood. “I’m sorry, but this town, the people, they’ll never see me as anything but trash.” She reached for his hand. “I think it bothers me now more than it used to because Stake’s shown me what it feels like to be treated like I matter.”

Tiny opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she held up her hand. “I know it probably won’t last between us, so if that’s what you’re going to warn me about, don’t bother. I’m not stupid. I know a man like Stake could have any woman he wants. He’s with me because he feels guilty about what happened, and I think he has a misplaced sense of loyalty to take care of me because of my father.”

“You’re so full of shit,” Tiny cut in. “I don’t think you realize what he’s willing to do for you. Leaving Broken Ridge is a big move for him. If the Fayetteville chapter doesn’t accept him, he’ll be a man without a club. If that happens, he’ll no longer be allowed to wear his cut and he’ll have to remove his Kings’ tat. For a brother, that’s huge.” He cupped her cheek so tenderly it almost made her cry. “That’s not loyalty, squirt, that’s love.”

She lifted her cup to her mouth and held it there for several moments as she considered the prospect of Stake being in love with her. He’d said the words earlier, and she’d accepted them because they made her feel good, but she hadn’t genuinely believed them. The thought of him giving up his club for her started an ache in her chest. “He can’t give up the club. It’s his life.”

Tiny shrugged. “I doubt you can talk him out of it, especially after what happened yesterday.” He took another nip from his bottle. “I’m leaving for Oklahoma City tomorrow with Magic and Hog. There’s some trouble with rival club, and they’ve asked for our help. I don’t know how long it’s gonna take, so I might not be back before you leave.”

She blew out a breath and reached for the whisky. “You’re telling me this may be goodbye, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “I hope to finish in time to make the ride to Fayetteville. It’s always a good party when all the chapters get together, and this year, you’ll be there.”

After taking a drink, she passed back the bottle. She hadn’t confided her fears about moving to Arkansas to Stake, but she needed to tell someone. “What if…” She tried to swallow the lump of emotion that was slowly cutting off her air supply. “What if it’s not just Broken Ridge that sees me as worthless?”

“Huh?”

Crap. She tried again. “What if I move to Fayetteville and they treat me like the people here have always treated me? Maybe the problem is me and not everyone else.”

“Fuck,” Tiny growled, throwing the near-empty bottle as far as he could. “This motherfucking town.” He shook his head. “This town doesn’t know where to put someone like you. Everyone’s so busy trying to lump people into categories that when they get to you, they’re lost. You’re by far the prettiest, sexiest woman in Broken Ridge. Unfortunately, your kind and unassuming nature has allowed people to beat you down because they know they can. There’s not a goddamn man in town that wouldn’t love to fuck you, and every wife and girlfriend knows that.”

Although in her heart, she didn’t believe Tiny, she loved him for seeing the best in her.

“And as far as Stake?” He chuckled. “He’s the meanest bastard in the club, when it comes right down to it, but I’ve seen the way he treats you, and if I hadn’t witnessed it, I never would’ve believed that lion could be tamed.”

Santana blushed. “Thank you,” she whispered, reaching for his hand again. “Do you think you could visit us more than just once a year? I’m sure my ego’s going to need regular doses of Tiny to get me through.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Now that I have you back in my life, there’s no fuckin’ way I’m going to let you go again.”

* * * *

Stake had no doubt Cecil wanted to discuss the confrontation he’d had with his mom, but no amount of talk was going to rebuild that bridge. He found Cecil, Hog and Magic seated in their usual spots around the large table they used for club business. He stopped in the doorway and stared at Hog and Magic. “I wasn’t aware we’d have company.”

“Sit,” Cecil ordered.

Stake took his chair as far from the others as he could get. “I know I have two weeks left on our agreement, but in light of what happened yesterday in town, I’d like to get Santana out of here as soon as possible.”

The three men exchanged glances. “That’s what we want to talk to you about,” Cecil replied. “The girls are having a fit, and disgruntled whores don’t make as much money. We need you to stay a while longer. If you want to send Santana to Arkansas do it, but we need you here.”

“No,” Stake refused. “We had a deal. I’ll ride out the two weeks I have left and keep Santana at the house, but I’m not staying.”

Cecil narrowed his eyes. “Are you challenging me?”

Stake knew he needed to tread lightly, but he wouldn’t back down. “I’ll find someone the whores will be happy with, but as soon as that’s done, I need your word that you’ll let me go,
and
you’ll put a call into Digger on my behalf.”

Cecil scowled, but before he could say anything, Stake continued. “Smash saved your life and it cost him his own. Getting Santana the hell away from Broken Ridge would clear that debt.”

Stake could tell by Cecil’s expression that he didn’t like being reminded of the debt he owed Smash for killing the cop, but a debt was a debt.

“The girls have to be satisfied,” Cecil finally replied.

“They will be,” Stake promised. Tiny was the first person who came to mind, but he wouldn’t give Cecil a name until he discussed it with his friend. He left the clubhouse and found Tiny and Santana laughing their asses off. He stopped and drank in the sound of Santana’s happiness. After everything she’d been through, he hated to pull her away from Tiny. As he crossed the distance between them, a plan began to form.

Chapter Nine

By the time Stake carried Santana to the pickup, she knew she was shit-faced. “I shouldn’t have drunk that whisky.”

Stake smiled over at her as he climbed in the truck. “You’re not planning to pass out on me, are you?”

“Nope.” She giggled. “Although,” she began as she hiked up her short dress, “you could keep me awake while we drive home.”

With a deep groan, he unzipped his jeans. “Come closer, babe.”

She licked her lips as she slid across the seat. “I love your cock,” she slurred as she reached for him.

When she leaned down to plant her face in his lap, he grabbed her hair. “Touch me with those gorgeous fuckin’ lips, and I’ll explode.”

She looked up at him. “I thought that’s what you wanted?”

He shook his head. “My dick wants to be buried inside your pussy.”

Score.
She knelt on the seat and pushed her dress higher before moving to straddle his lap. The steering wheel bumped against her spine, but it wasn’t enough to deter her from riding her man. “I love it when you talk dirty to me,” she confessed, lowering herself onto his cock. She moaned as the bulbous head stretched her inner walls, sending sparks of pleasure through her body.

“Fuck, babe,” Stake groaned. He squeezed her bare ass and lifted her up before letting her sink back down.

Each time he repeated the action, his fingers moved closer to her asshole. She’d become accustomed to his anal play while they fucked, but he’d never taken it beyond a finger or two. On more than one occasion, she’d almost asked him to take her there, but she’d always been too embarrassed to admit she wanted it. With the booze coursing through her blood, however, her inhibitions fell away.

“When are you going to fuck me there?” she asked when his finger penetrated her.

“Soon,” he growled, pumping his finger in and out of her ass as he continued to fuck her pussy. “It’ll take patience. I’ll have to go slow with you, and I can’t because every time you’re naked in my arms, all I can think about is fucking your cunt.”

She braced her hands on his shoulders and took over, riding his cock as fast as the tight confines of the pickup allowed. She wanted all of him. Every drop of seed, every look, touch and ounce of love he could spare for her.

Panting, she threw her head back. “I’m close.”

Stake’s entire body went rigid and she thought he’d come, but when she looked at him, his focus was on the road off to the left.

“Stop,” he told her, lifting her off his cock.

When he set her on the seat, she groaned in frustration. “What the hell?” God, she’d been too close to be denied. She reached for her pussy to finish herself off when Stake stilled her hand.

“Cops,” he warned as he stuffed his cock back into his jeans.

Her attention snapped to the line of police vehicles speeding towards the parking lot with lights flashing. Oddly enough, their sirens weren’t blaring. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” He reached over and helped her pull her dress down. “Whatever it is, it’s not good.” He eyed the hidden compartment where he kept his gun.

“No,” she warned.

Stake met Santana’s gaze. “I love you,” he whispered as the police surrounded the pickup.

“What have you done?” she asked. Dammit, she’d wanted to kill Gordon before Stake had a chance to get to him.

* * * *

“Get your hands up in the air where we can see them!” a deep voice shouted.

Still staring at Santana, Stake tried to figure out what the hell was going on. It wasn’t the first time the local cops had tried to make a bust at one of the club gatherings, but they didn’t appear to be after anyone but him. “Say nothing, but do what they ask,” he ordered as he raised his hands into the air.

Santana nodded and lifted her arms. “I love you,” she said as their doors were thrown open.

Stake was jerked from the truck and pushed to the ground. The gravel bit into his body when three of the cops fell on top of him. What the fuck? He wasn’t even resisting. “What’s this about?” he demanded to know.

One of the cops wrenched Stake’s arms behind his back. “Motherfucker!” Stake yelled when the cop pinched the skin of his wrist with the cuffs. “What the hell is going on?” He tried to turn his head to find Santana, but a knee against the side of his face kept him in place.

Cuffs in place, two cops jerked Stake up by his arms. “You’re under arrest for the murder of Peter Gordon,” one of the local cops hissed in Stake’s ear.

The blood drained from his face as the charge sank in. He hadn’t killed Gordon.
Fuck.
He frantically searched the growing crowd for Santana. When he spotted her, bile rose in his throat. Robby had her pressed against his patrol car, running his hands slowly up her bare thighs. “Langers!” he screamed as he fought against the cops holding him.

Robby turned his head and grinned at Stake as his hands disappeared under the short hem of Santana’s dress. “Just frisking her,” Robby yelled back. “Doing my job.”

With her forehead rested on the hood of the car and her arms handcuffed behind her, Santana’s entire body shook with wracking sobs.
Oh. God.
He fought again, knowing Robby’s treatment would send her back to the night of her attack. “No!” he screamed as he kicked out against the men wrestling him to the ground.

“Help her!” he shouted to the crowd of brothers witnessing the event.

A kick to his ribs knocked the breath out of him as a punch landed against the side of his face. Never had he felt so goddamned helpless. Tears filled his eyes as he continued to stare at the love of his life.

A SUV pulled up, siren blaring. It cut off with a chirp as Jack Boone climbed out of his vehicle. Stake prayed the Texas Ranger would help Santana. When Jack made his way toward Stake, Stake shook his head. “Santana!”

Jack stopped and glanced around, his gaze finally landing on Santana. “What the fuck!” he yelled, marching over to Langers. He pushed Robby away from Santana and immediately pulled out a set of keys to release her from her cuffs. With a nod to Stake, Jack turned Santana around and pulled her against him. He spoke to her, but they were too far away for Stake to hear what was being said. It didn’t matter to him. All that he cared about was keeping Langers away from her. He stopped fighting the cops and laid in the gravel, his entire body on fire from the blows and scrapes it had suffered while trying to get to Santana.