Enemy (The Aces Book 3) Read online

  “Brooks’s dad?” Kiera questioned.

  “Turns out the drug dealer was a rival to their MC. He’d been mugging people and taking the drugs their dealers had, and The Aces were out to deal with the problem. Didn’t have to because I had done it for them.”

  “The dealer didn’t survive, I take it?”

  “No, he had a hemorrhage in his skull. Died before any of the Aces had even said one word to me.” The memory was seared into my brain, everything crystal clear as I remembered that day.

  Dark red splashes coated my palms, the slick liquid shining in the slowly rising sun. Disbelief clouded my mind, and I fought the slight edge of panic that told me I’d blacked out again, that I’d lost control of myself. My brows drew down as I tried to remember what happened. Sitting against the alley wall, trying to get some sleep… until a scrawny man came up, I remembered. A knife, some crazy delusions that I had the drugs he was supposed to take. Glancing down at the ground, I took in what I had done.

  “Hey, kid,” a man called, startling me from my stupor. His graying hair was pushed out of his eyes, and a bushy beard covered his face. “You all right?” I tried to come up with a response, but my heart was pounding too hard to form a sentence. Glancing down at the man who had tried to stab me, I felt my adrenaline slow when I saw him unconscious on the ground. Or dead, my mind hissed.

  “Probably a few marbles loose, trying to fight him bare-handed,” another man stated with a scoff.

  “Military,” I ground out.

  “What?” the asshole questioned. I glared over, standing up the rest of the way.

  “Not stupid, I’m a vet,” I explained, growing angry that they just stood there during the situation. The third man of the group was younger, around my age in his early twenties, with golden blond hair and a short beard. He stayed silent, watching the interaction with sharp eyes. “Not exactly going to let some piece of shit stab me. That would be stupid.”

  “You got someone you can call or a place you can go to while we clean this up?” the older man questioned, stepping closer. Shaking my head, I held his gaze as he stopped in front of me. He was as tall as I was and reeked of cigarettes, but underneath that was the distinct scent of grease. “How would you like a new family?”

  I shook my head, pushing the memory away, and continued my explanation. “Asked me a few questions, ended up taking me as a potential prospect. The rest is history. Started doing odd jobs and bitch work, working through my prospect, until earning my patch. It didn’t take too long before he needed a new enforcer; the previous one was killed during a bar fight a few months after I patched in.”

  “Wow,” Kiera breathed, looking me over in a new light. “Guess that explains the trust issues.”

  “I learned a long time ago that it was better to be cold and wary than to be at risk for being hurt.”

  “Hm, sounds like something I would say.”

  We stood in silence for a while, each of us lost in thought as we drank the rest of our beers. Kiera’s expression flickered back and forth, no doubt mulling over everything I had explained.

  “For what it’s worth, if anything,” I murmured, “I am sorry.”

  “Yeah… okay, this whole talking thing is a bit weird for us,” she went off onto a tangent, grimacing a bit as she scratched her arm. “Can we go back to arguing for a while? Get back to normal?”

  “You’re a fucking brat,” I told her, smirking as I set my bottle on the counter. If she wanted to argue a bit, then I’d do just that. “You ask me all these questions and yet aren’t happy with the answers.” Her gaze lit up, the scratching slowing as she popped a hip out.

  “Maybe your explanations were just shit,” she sassed. “Out of practice with using your big boy words, Stone?”

  “Maybe you’re just high maintenance, ever think of that, Brat?” I towered over her, her tits rubbing against me as I stepped closer.

  Her hands grabbed the back of my head in response as she popped onto her toes. Moving at the same time, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled until her delicious curves were flush against my muscled torso. Our kiss was pure fire, both of us too focused on drinking each other in to think of everything I had just revealed.

  “We’re all bloody,” she murmured against my lips. “I think we need to get clean. Don’t know where that asshole’s blood has been.”

  “One shower coming right up.” Reaching down, I picked her up in a cradle, her arms holding tight around my neck. The walk to the second floor was slow going, getting distracted every few seconds when she nudged my jaw for a kiss. When we finally reached my bathroom, I stripped the blood splattered clothes from her torso, my fingers trailing over her smooth skin.

  She stepped back briefly, turning on the water. As she did so, I shed my cut, t-shirt, and unbuckled my belt. When I went to shuck my jeans, I felt eyes on me. I looked over my shoulder to see a half-lidded gaze trail over my torso, landing on where my hands rested in my waistband. When her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip, my cock jumped.

  Fuck, I had missed her, my fiery thief.

  Kiera

  Stone’s deep skin nearly glowed in the overhead light of the bathroom, each dip of muscle holding my attention as he undressed. My core pulsed in excitement as he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his jeans. Licking my lip, I waited impatiently for him to undress, wanting to see all of him.

  Never thought I would say that ever again.

  I shoved the thought away, unbuttoning my own pair of pants. The motion caught his attention, his heated gaze watching with rapt attention as I inched the tight material down my legs.

  “I’m waiting, Stone,” I sing-songed, swaying my hips as I took off my bra and stepped into the billowing steam. “And we both know I’m not a very patient person.”

  “Brat,” he murmured, shoving his jeans off. I had just started lathering some soap over my skin when he stepped into the glass enclosure. Angling the water to cascade over me, Stone took the soap and started to run it over my skin before his own. A soft moan slowly built at the heat washing down me. Stone’s calloused hands massaging only made my blood pump faster. Each brush of his fingers had goosebumps rising and my skin tingling in anticipation.

  My eyes fell shut, letting my head tilt back as Stone continued to work the soap over each curve and plane. A sharp nip at my ear lobe wound me tighter, the sting mixing with the pleasure and making my knees weak. He let out a low rumble of appreciation as his hands cupped my tits, fueling the fire that was building.

  Reaching behind me, I wrapped my hand around his hard and ready cock. As Stone massaged, rolled, and pinched my chest, I stroked him. Thrilled by the power I held to make him feel so good. To let go. His hands shifted, leisurely caressing me until grabbing my waist and forcing me to turn. Without warning, my feet left the ground, and I scrambled to hold tight to Stone’s muscled chest.

  Capturing my lips with a searing kiss, Stone swallowed up the gasp that tried to escape, bracing my back against the side of the shower. My skin pebbled as the sensation of the cold tiles briefly banked the growing fire. Being trapped between the chill of the shower wall and Stone’s heated skin was a delicious contrast, only adding to the lustful fog I had started to drown in.

  A bolt of lightning seared me, a moan working its way through my throat. Stone’s hips surged forward, his cock rolling over my clit and making me want more. The next time he pulled back, I pushed myself up just high enough for him to line up.

  “Very impatient,” he chastised, holding me steady. A whimper accompanied my pouted lip as I shook my hips slightly. “What do you want, Kiera? I want to hear you say it.”

  “You. I want you,” I breathed, my body taut with anticipation. His lips curled in a cocky grin, finally letting me sink down. Stone didn’t rush, torturing me by only filling me up little by little. Once he was fully seated inside me, I was a puddle of need, dizzy with ecstasy.

  From where I was held, trapped between Stone and the wall, the most I co
uld do was hold tight and let him take control. Fingers dug into my ass; the fierce grip no doubt would leave bruises, but I didn’t care. I was lost, flooded with my quickly approaching release as Stone moved faster.

  When I was nearly engulfed in sharp tingles radiating through me, I leaned forward and bit Stone’s chest. My cry was muffled against his wet torso as my core tightened around Stone as he pistoned in and out. Another shocked gasp nearly escaped as he suddenly pulled me off and set me down. Despite my wobbly legs, Stone was able to turn me, maneuvering my body as I rode through the aftershocks easily.

  A palm nudged between my shoulder blades, folding me to lean against the tile wall I had just been propped up against. As soon as I was where he wanted me, Stone knelt down. Curious about what he was doing, I turned to look over my shoulder when a sharp bite stung the left side of my ass.

  “Turn back around,” Stone murmured, his low tone filled with command. Two ebony pools stared at me, waiting until I did as he said. Nibbling my lower lip, anticipation wound through my lower belly, and I re-braced myself against the wall.

  The first lick came as soon as I was facing forward. My moan echoed off the surfaces of the master bath making me think, for just a brief second, about whether anyone else would be able to hear us if they had come home yet. Fuck that. Stone swirled his tongue around my entrance, dipping in ever so slightly. My toes curled, my hands clawing the wall as he teased relentlessly until I finally couldn’t take anymore. Reaching behind me, I tugged on his arm, silently telling him what I wanted.

  Stone didn’t need any more of an invitation, standing quickly and lining up. With a single strong thrust, I was filled once more. This time though, he didn’t tease or work to slowly bringing me to come. His pace was forceful, dominating my senses. I didn’t know what fell from my lips, or what was up or down; all there was in that moment was Stone.

  A shiver worked its way down my spine. The wave of bliss shot straight to the crest between my thighs, and I fell into that pit of release. Gripped by the sensation, my legs shook. Everything tensed before the world around me dimmed. Stars flared in the darkness, and when the light returned, I found Stone holding me up as he reached his own release.

  Panting, I struggled to catch my breath, the steam billowing around us as I leaned forward against the tile. Stone’s hands were still holding onto my hips despite having slid out already, his thumbs rubbing gentle circles on my lower back.

  My mind raced, warring with my heart and my contentment and satiation. The tiniest crack formed. A small sliver of peace was breaking down the hatred that had built over the months. My anger and hurt were slowly starting to crumble as even frustrating Stone wormed his way back in. Standing in the hot stream, for that moment though, it didn’t seem to matter how irritating he was. I would enjoy this small sliver of time with Stone until rationality kicked in. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long. My mind screamed at me for giving in, but I couldn’t stop the seed of hope that had bloomed. I washed quickly, turning back to Stone before getting out.

  “Don’t think this changes anything,” I tried to warn, shoving away the nagging sense of empathy that Stone seemed to make me feel. When it came down to it, when I couldn’t hide away from the truth any longer, I had to admit that I saw the most of myself in him. But don’t let that get you too carried away, Kiera! He may have gone through hell, learning quickly that people aren’t worth the pain just like me, but I couldn’t let myself forgive. Not yet, no matter what his story was, until he truly earned my trust back. My chest squeezed slightly when Stone’s tiny smile appeared. I had been angry for so long, hurt and aching for months, but standing here with him, I realized that I had missed not just the others, but him as well.

  Don’t tell the bastard I said that though.

  “I know, I didn’t think it would be that easy,” he told me, cupping the back of my head and kissing my forehead gently. “Don’t worry though, I’m willing to put in the effort.”

  “Good, because you’ll have to do better than that,” I whispered before turning and stepping out of the shower.

  If we make it out of this alive, that is.

  Chapter 13

  December 20th

  Friday Late Night

  Chase

  Happy. I was so incredibly happy that I could barely stand still. Val and Kiera hit it off, Kittycat was getting her revenge, and everything seemed to be going smoothly with getting everyone to get along. Smooth enough now that the situation between Elliot and the Aces has been dealt with, I mentally corrected, but I’d take it.

  “Do you always move so much?” Garrett grumbled next to me. “Can’t you stand still and at least pretend to be normal for once?”

  “Of course not,” I scoffed. “That’s boring and lame. Why be those when I could be awesome?” Nudging him with my elbow, I tried to bring him out of his growly mood, but nothing seemed to work. Huh, and I thought that getting Elliot and them on good terms would really work out but apparently not.

  Unless, that wasn’t what was bothering him, seeing as how the thief had left to go get a drink at the bar twenty minutes ago.

  “What’s up?” I asked, not wanting to beat around the bush. Garrett’s brow raised slightly, confusion obvious in his gaze. “You seem even more irritable than normal.”

  “Just the memories of this fucker, of Kiera’s life before she got away,” he told me softly, for once choosing to engage in conversation instead of storming off like a child. “Worried about how this may affect her in the long run.”

  “How so?” Brooks stepped closer to us from where he had been eavesdropping by the door. “Isn’t this going to be good for her?”

  “Yeah, I mean Frankie, Jace, and the mob won’t be an issue anymore, but she’s been in a good place for the last few years, and I worry if she gets close to all of these men again, it’ll dredge up some old shit. You saw how she was when she had her PTSD attack after the Alloy Kings and the video. Also a bit worried about what she’ll do when this is all over. This has been her entire life goal. Who will Kiera be when she realizes she doesn’t have something to work toward?” Sighing, I tried to rationalize that Kiera would be okay both during and after this, but I couldn’t stop the ‘what-ifs.’ I don’t like admitting it, but Gar is bringing up some good points.

  “This will be the closure she needs, though, and there’s not much we can do to stop her,” I muttered. Running a hand through my hair, I mussed up the strands until a portion of it flopped into my eyes.

  “I didn’t say I would stop her,” Garrett snapped. “I just worry, all right? You’re the one who asked.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean for it to come off like that.” I grimaced. “I think we’re all worried and trying to help the best we can, but ultimately it’s up to Kittycat.”

  “How’s Ciar handling everything?” Brooks questioned. “I’m sure he’s ready to go on a murder spree.”

  “Ha, that is an understatement.” Right as I finished my statement, Ciar’s coldness brushed up against me, an icy reminder of what we intended to do to Frankie and anyone who had ever laid a hand on our little Kittycat. Before anyone could say anything else, the thunk of the metal door opening pulled our focus away from the conversation and to Val’s bloody face as it appeared in the opening.

  “I’ve got something. Call your girl, Chase.”

  Kiera

  The engines of the cars and bikes pulling into the garage and drive were loud as I sat at the kitchen counter flipping through some information I had scoured for on my laptop. Try as I might, after hearing that Valerian had gotten information from Lorenzo, I couldn’t focus on anything else. Glancing over my shoulder, I watched everyone file in, Chase bringing up the rear as he closed the garage door behind him.

  “What’d you find out?” I immediately asked, closing my laptop and conceding that any attempts to work on it were useless.

  “Kittycat, let’s head to the basement. We can do some planning,” Chase directed softly, his smile small.
r />   He knows how much I’ve been waiting for this. Needing this. But a hesitant glint gleamed in his steel irises.

  “Ugh, fine,” I groaned playfully, trying to convey that I was okay as I hopped off the stool. “Someone grab Stone, he’s upstairs somewhere.”

  “I got it,” Brooks offered, breaking away from the group to head to the stairs. I led the way, Garrett, Chase, Elliot, and Val all trailing behind me as I made my way through the living room to the hidden door.

  “Very nice work,” Val murmured, looking over the security room and door on his way down the stairs. I turned to look at him as I reached the bottom step, chuckling as his eyes widened when he saw the workspace we had here.

  “Only the best for my girl, Val,” Chase told him.

  “So I see.”

  As much as I enjoyed getting to see Chase interact and be lively with someone who wasn’t one of the Aces or me, I was growing impatient. Thankfully, Stone and Brooks came down the stairs as we gathered around the worktable, so I didn’t have to wait long.

  “Mr. Bianchi gave up the date of when they’re going to be moving a large batch of merchandise, money, and men to California,” Val explained. “There will be two smaller movements, one to Colorado and one to another portion of Nevada a week after, but Frankie ‘Smokes’ wants to solidify his position in this expansion before moving forward with the smaller moves.”

  “When is this?” I asked, my blood running cold at the looming countdown over us. We had to move before this happened, meaning we only had so much time.

  “On December 31st.”

  I sighed, rubbing the ache that had started behind my eyes.

  Ten days to be exact.

  “Fuck me,” I muttered. “Well, that gives us time to get in, take the mob down, and celebrate the new year all before Venry decides to call me back in for a little chat.”