Uncontrollable Temptations (The Tempted Series Book 3) (30 page)

Blackie’s eyes fluttered open, his head moving from side to side like he was trying to balance it on his shoulders.

“I’ll tell you whose life I’m going to take,” he slurred, closing his eyes before opening them again. His lips moved attempting to smile but instead only one side curled. “Yours,” he whispered.

“Feeling bold are you? Maybe we should fix that,” the maniac said cheerfully, lifting his eyes and signaling to one of the goons behind us to fetch him something. He smiled creepily and looked back and forth between me and Blackie. “Let’s get to know one another? How’s that sound?”

I kept my mouth shut because I did want to know him. I wanted to know who the fuck he was and why he kidnapped me and Blackie. I wanted a name to the creepy face I’d always remember.

“You,” he said, pointing a finger toward me as he pulled over a chair. He slowly removed his fur coat, draping it over the back of the chair neatly. He wore a wife beater tank top tucked into perfectly tailored pants and topped the ensemble with suspenders. His arms were covered in tattoos, not an inch of skin unmarked. He sat down, crossing one leg over his lap as he made himself comfortable and stared at me. “I never forget a face, especially one as pretty as yours,” he winked, and I wanted to vomit.

“Although I’m not really a fan of the scowl you’re giving me right now,” he continued. “I thought bringing one of your men here would make you happy. Or is his not the dick that gets you wet, sweetheart? Do you prefer Jacks?” His eyes widened and his grin spread as a light bulb went off inside of his jaded head. “I’ve got it. It’s neither of them, is it?” He leaned forward, reaching behind him and producing the shiny blade of a knife. “It’s the dead guy isn’t it? The Fed, Danny, that your pussy got excited for, right? Tell me I’m right.”

“How do you know about Danny?” I asked, swallowing hard as he brought the knife to the side of my face.

“Oh, Danny boy and I go way back,” he grinned. “In fact that is how I put two and two together. You see, the other day when I saw you, I knew I had seen that face before. Someone doesn’t forget your face, it’s that pretty,” he whispered. “Would be a shame if someone made that face ugly—for the sake of all the men who like looking at you let’s hope your boy Jack comes through,” he said, pulling the knife away from my face and cocking his head as he stared at me. “Seen you before, seen you with Danny a few times I followed him and I saw photographs of you decorating his house,” he offered.

“So when I saw you with this junkie’s dick in your mouth, I knew something wasn’t right. Your kind doesn’t go for the likes of us, the men who lie, cheat, and kill for a living. You’re more suited for a man like Danny, who tries his hardest to put the bad guys like us away. But your boy Danny didn’t know which side of the fence he wanted to stick with and thought he could jump from side to side.” He shook his head. ‘Major miscalculation on his behalf.”

I gaped at him, his words settling and realization dawned upon me. “You killed him,” I whispered. “Didn’t you?” He raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you,” I shouted, but he remained silent. “Who’s the pussy now?” I laughed in his face.

He was on his feet in a flash, rearing his hand back before slapping his palm against my cheek.

“YOU SPEAK TO ME WITH RESPECT,” he yelled.

“He will kill you,” Blackie slurred, from beside me. I turned my head, fighting to ignore the sting on my cheek, reminding myself it was nothing compared to the feeling of my skin melting.

Blackie fought to keep his eyes trained on our captor.

“Joke’s on you, Jimmy,” he managed.

“What’re you talking about?” Jimmy laughed.

“She’s not some whore we take a chance a piece on,” Blackie explained. “You just laid a hand on the president’s old lady.”

Jimmy looked back to me, narrowing his eyes as he did so.

“What’s he saying?”

I glanced at Blackie, watching as he tried to focus, giving me a slight nod. I turned back to Jimmy and smiled.

“He’s saying you’re fucked,” I offered, smiling. “Pussy,” I added for good measure.

“In case you haven’t realized you’re tied up at my mercy, the only one who is fucked is you,” he sneered, as his eyes traveled my body. “Well, maybe not quite yet but we can fix that,” he continued, before snapping his fingers. “And I know just the person to give you one last fuck,” he said, turning around and smiling as his eyes met Blackie’s. “It’s brilliant!”

He moved toward Blackie, kneeling in front of him, he cupped his face and forced him to look into his eyes.

“You want to play me, try to fool me? I’m no one’s fool. What was it you said? That you were just having a go at her before Jack came and finished her off? Yes, I believe that was it,” he said proudly. “Going to make your lies become your truth,” he warned. “And that’s how we’re going to deliver my demands to Mr. Parrish,” he dropped his hold on Blackie’s face and rose to his feet, eyeing his goons. “Let’s go boys, need to set the mood!”

He walked back to the chair in front of me, taking his coat and slipping it on as he smiled at me. “Yes,” he said, sweetly.

I squinted, confused but then before he could even speak the words it became clear.

“I killed Danny boy,” he winked. “Cried like a little bitch, too. Now, that’s a pussy,” he chuckled as he walked out the door, his men on his tail. The door closed and I heard the lock slide into place, securing us as his prisoners.

I looked back at Blackie and watched him fade out again, the tracks on his arms staring back at me offensively.

“Don’t lay down and die,” I whispered.

I must’ve dosed off because I groggily opened my eyes when I heard the harsh sounds of Blackie upheaving. I turned to him, watching as he violently thrashed while he vomited, trying his best not to do it on himself, but with the way he was handcuffed it was impossible.

“Blackie, look at me,” I pleaded. I wanted to reach out to him, to help him in some way but I couldn’t move, leaving my words my only source of comfort. “Look at me, damn it!”

His body lurched but nothing came out, he turned his face into his shoulder, an attempt to wipe at his mouth before lifting his eyes to mine.

“You’re okay, you just need to remind yourself you’re okay,” I said, softly.

He closed his eyes momentarily before blinking at me.

“I’m not a junkie,” he said, defeated.

“I know,” I replied. “Why is he doing this to you?”

“Because I deserve it,” he answered simply. “Listen, Reina, you need to keep your head because as long as he keeps feeding me that shit, I’m useless. Jack’s on to him so it’s only a matter of time before he and the club gets to you.”

“To us,” I amended. “He will not leave you behind, you’re the closest thing he has to a brother. A
real
brother,” I whispered.

“Right,” he replied, closing his eyes. “Reina, do me a favor?”

“I’m kind of tied up right now,” I said, trying to make light of our shitty situation. He smiled faintly and my eyes filled with tears. Ironic isn’t it?

“Oh God,” he moaned. “I need to throw up,” he mumbled, hanging his head waiting for his body to convulse or for the moment to pass.

“Blackie, focus, if you let that shit control you, then the poison wins,” I pleaded, having no fucking idea what I was saying. Could he really fight against drugs? I don’t know but I couldn’t watch him anymore. “Tell me your real name. Blackie is your club name, right?”

“Road name,” he corrected.

“Cut me some slack, I’m new to the old lady status,” I said, my voice shaking. “Tell me your name,” I repeated.

“Dominic,” he said finally.

“Dominic,” I gulped, twisting my face as he looked at me. “I like Blackie better,” I stated, and he smiled weakly at me.

“You’re good people, Reina,” he said. “We will get the fuck out of here,” he declared. He cleared his throat, swallowing, probably trying to rid the foul taste of his own vomit from his mouth. “Jimmy blew up my truck,” he informed me. “After I dropped you off I made a stop, must be when he planted the bomb,” he added.

“You don’t think he planted it while I had the truck?” I asked. I had taken Blackie’s truck to drive to Jack’s and it remained parked in his driveway for hours, anyone could’ve tampered with it and we wouldn’t have ever known.

“Jack’s house is covered with cameras, anyone watches him, and it’s obvious Jimmy’s been watching us, wouldn’t be stupid enough to plant a bomb with the camera rolling,” he explained.

“So where did you go?” I questioned as I flinched, my body aching from being in one position and my legs tingling.

“We being real with one another?” He asked.

“Yes,” I affirmed.

“You about over the whole Jack being Danny’s brother thing? I mean when you get the fuck out of here you’re not going to hold some sort of grudge over the man’s head are you?”

I squinted at him, confused as to what any of this had to do with where he was before the truck exploded but I played along.

“I’m over it,” I admitted. “I don’t like being lied to, but…” I shrugged my shoulders to the best of my ability, “I love him,” I glanced down at my lap and couldn’t help but wonder if I’d truly survive this. What I wouldn’t give to look him in the eye and tell him how I felt. I didn’t really get to do that. I blurted out I was in love with him but never looked into his dark eyes to whisper the three words we all liked to hear now and then.

“Hold onto that, what you feel for him, it’ll help,” he said.

I stared at him for a moment.

“What are you holding on to?” I asked hoarsely.

He looked away. “Which question do you want me to answer? Where I went after I dropped you off or what I’m holding on to?”

I studied him, even in the state he was in there was something he was focusing on, something he was holding onto or at least trying to. It wasn’t his deceased wife either because then he would just succumb to the fate that Jimmy had planned for him. I wondered if Blackie even realized that he was fighting against the path he originally thought he was meant to follow. There was someone pulling Blackie back, someone giving him purpose. Maybe he found his sunshine.

“Something tells me both questions have the same answer,” I said softly.

“Yeah,” he agreed. He diverted his eyes to the floor and I swear I saw the faintest hint of a smile but as I blinked his lips set into a thin line again. He turned his head, his eyes focusing on the leather cut that covered his shoulder. “Leather and lace,” he whispered.

The door opened, jarring the both of us and we turned our eyes to one of Jimmy’s men. He carried a leather pouch tucked under his arm and knelt in front of Blackie. I watched him unzip the bag and pull a vile out, followed by a syringe. He roughly grabbed Blackie’s outstretched arm and tied a band around it.

“Don’t,” I yelled. “Can’t you see he’s not a threat to you people? Why are you doing this to him?”

He ignored me and Blackie turned his head to me.

“It’s all good, Reina,” he struggled, biting the inside of his cheek. His eyes glazed over as he stared at me.

“Leather and lace,” I reminded him as the menace pushed the needle into his skin. I kept repeating the three words, chanting them almost, until the henchmen pulled the needle from his arm and tucked it into his leather pouch.

Blackie continued to stare at me with hooded eyes as the heroine swam through his veins.

“Leather and lace,” he slurred. The man rose to his feet and snickered before turning around and walking out the door. I heard the lock click and knew I’d always remember the sound, just like I’ll always remember Jimmy’s face. The same way I’d never forget Blackie’s eyes or the tears that fell down his cheeks when they closed. How do you forget Hell?

I walked into the clubhouse with Lacey tucked against my side and stared around the packed room into the eyes of all the people waiting on me to make sense of the situation we all found ourselves. Wolf and Pipe rose from their barstools and walked toward me. Wolf slapped Riggs upside the head who was sitting at a table, staring across the room at Anthony Bianci’s mother and the girl I assumed was his sister. Riggs stood up and followed suit, joining the brothers as they stood before me.