Page 19

We reach Tony’s car, and he shoves me inside without a word. He sprints around the hood, then drops into the driver’s seat, slamming the door shut. That’s when I spot the baseball bat—no doubt the one he used to smash the kidnapper’s window. He tosses it into the back seat like it’s nothing.

“You’re a pain in my ass, you know that?

” he mutters, stomping on the gas. He runs a red light, the roar of sirens rising in the distance.

We cut through backstreets and tight corners, avoiding the main roads.

Every few seconds, Tony glances between the rearview mirror and the road, jaw tight, eyes sharp.

“What the hell just happened?” I ask in a panic.

“What happened is you didn’t wait for Royce to walk you to your car like I said, and you got yourself kidnapped. Royce and Journey saw the whole damn thing. Saw that son of a bitch stun gun you and toss you in his car.”

“You say that like I wanted this to happen.” I narrow my eyes.

“No, I say that like you’re a pain in my ass because you’re a pain in my ass . And you don’t listen .”

“Whatever,” I grumble. When I notice Tony is taking us back to the club, I add, “Shouldn’t we go to the police?”

Tony shakes his head. “Not my call.”

“Then whose call is it? Because you’d think when a person is kidnapped and stun-gunned, the only call to be made is to the cops.”

Tony pulls up to Pink Paradise and twists in his seat. He gives me a look I’m not sure I like. “You’re gonna be pissed but know I did this because I care about you. And right now, some serious shit is goin’ down. I also know once you’re done being pissed, you’ll realize it was the right move.”

Confused, I shake my head. And before I can open my mouth, a familiar rumbling sound echoes in the distance. The sound draws closer, so close that the windows on Tony’s car begin to rattle.

Panicked, I ask, “Please tell me you didn’t, Tony.”

“London, the shit goin’ down is not good. You could have been killed tonight.”

Turning back to Tony, I shove the car door open and jump out, jogging across the strip club’s parking lot toward my vehicle, but stop when I realize I don’t have my keys or purse. Dammit!

Before I can think of an escape plan, six Harleys roll into the parking lot of Pink Paradise.

A gamut of emotions washes over me, shame being one of them.

These men are like family. Nova is married to my best friend.

Everest is… well, I don’t know. I just know I don’t want them seeing me here, and I don’t want them in my business .

I have struggled for months to ensure this part of my life didn’t bleed over.

I feel Tony at my back but refuse to acknowledge him. Instead, I watch Riggs, along with Everest, dismount their bikes. Riggs keeps his focus aimed at the man behind me. However, Everest locks eyes with me.

“You, Tony?” Riggs asks. Over his shoulder, I notice Wick, Nova, Fender, and Kiwi standing beside their bikes, each man on alert and ready for anything.

“That’s me,” Tony replies.

“Well, Tony. You mind tellin’ me what the fuck is goin’ on and why our girl is standin’ here with you outside a titty bar?”

“I called you because I know what London is to the Kings,” Tony boldly admits.

“Again, you wanna tell me how it is you know that, seeing as I don’t know you?” Riggs counters.

“It’s my job to know everything about my girls. Knowin’ means I can do my part in keepin’ them safe. Keepin’ them safe means when London gets stun-gunned and kidnapped on my watch, I call you.”

Everest’s back goes ramrod straight. “The fuck you just say?” he spits, his tone lethal. I also notice the other guys' demeanor shift.

Tony switches his attention to Everest. “That’s right. Shit went down about fifteen minutes after you dipped.”

Stunned by his last statement, I whip around and snap, “What are you talking about, Tony?”

Tony nods toward Everest. “Your man. He’s been here every night.”

My mouth falls open. Everest knows . And just like that, I see red. Stomping over to Everest, I point my finger at his chest. “Have you been following me?”

Everest grinds his jaw but doesn’t say anything.

Tony, however, does. “A man has to keep an eye on his woman. That’s the way of things. I don’t like boyfriends hangin’ at the club while their girls work, but I was makin’ an exception.”

My head rears back. “I am not his woman,” I shout at Tony.

Tony doesn’t look convinced. “She yours?” he asks Everest.

“Yes,” Everest answers at the same time I say, “No.”

“Are you high?” I gape at Everest.

Again, Everest ignores me. Instead, he demands more answers from Tony. “Where the fuck was Royce when London was taken?”

Tony’s expression turns to one of guilt. “He was handlin’ somethin’ for me. I told the girls to wait before leaving, but I should have known London wouldn’t listen. She’s good at not listenin’. I take full responsibility.”

“You know I am right here, and I am a grown-ass woman who’s responsible her own actions,” I interrupt.

“Now is not the fuckin’ time to be throwin’ your personal brand of sass around, London,” Everest growls.

My fists ball up at my sides. “You’re not the one being talked about like you’re not standing right here, Everest. And you are not the one who was stun-gunned and kidnapped tonight either. So, excuse me for being just a tiny bit pissed off.”

“That’s enough!” Riggs barks. “Tony, I want you to brief me and my men on what you know so my club knows what the fuck we’re dealin’ with.” Riggs looks at Everest. “Brother, go sort your woman out.”

“Prez.” Everest jerks his chin.

Without another word, Tony leads Riggs, Wick, Kiwi, Nova, and Fender inside the club, leaving me standing here with Everest. “I don’t care what Riggs said, I don’t need to be sorted out. As soon as I find my keys, I’m going home.”

“The only place you’re goin’ is with me,” Everest informs.

“Go to hell,” I sneer, fully aware I’m being a bitch. I can’t help myself. I’m embarrassed, scared, and confused. Being a bitch is all I have to hold on to at the moment.

“London, if you don’t get your ass on the back of my bike, I’ll put you there myself. The choice is yours.”

Everest and I stare at each other in a silent battle. The truth is, I know he’s not bluffing.

“Fine,” I concede, snatching the helmet from his grip before climbing on behind him. “I hate you,” I mumble.

Everest calls me out on my lie. “No, you don’t.”

He fires up his bike, drowning out my racing thoughts and leaving no more room for argument before he peels out of the parking lot.

Rather than taking me home to my apartment, Everest brings us to Twisted Throttle, where he parks in the alleyway behind the bar. Wordlessly, Everest grabs hold of my arm and leads me up the stairs to his apartment.

“I can walk on my own.” I try to wrench my arm away. “And I told you to take me home.”

“You’re not goin’ home. You’re stayin’ with me so I can keep an eye on you.”

Everest walks through the door of his apartment and flips the light on.

I take in the apartment—it’s an open-floor concept with a small living room and kitchen.

To my right is an open door that leads to the bedroom, and off the living room are double doors that lead out to a balcony.

Surprisingly, the place is clean and tidy.

There are no dirty dishes in the sink or clothes strewn all over the place.

Beside the sofa is an end table and a stack of worn paperbacks.

“Time to start talkin’,” Everest says, drawing me out of my perusal of his apartment.

“About what?” I ask.

“Now is not the time to play dumb, London. I want to know what the fuck you’ve gotten yourself into that would cause some motherfucker to stun gun then kidnap you.”

“Fine. But why don’t we start with why you have been following me and why you have been coming to Pink Paradise?”

“We’re not talkin’ about me.” Everest starts to lose patience.

“Oh, I’m talking about you.” I throw attitude back.

“Goddammit, London,” Everest growls. “Why are you always a pain in my ass?”

“Why have you been following me? What makes you think anything I do is your business? Hmm?”

Everest takes two long strides across the living room, stopping within inches of my face.

His intoxicating scent surrounds me. The man is two seconds away from losing his shit, and for some reason, it’s doing funny things to my stomach.

Not to mention, other parts of my body are suddenly waking up.

His gaze flicks down to my chest as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

I mentally curse the fact that I’m not wearing a bra because my nipples are rock-hard.

Just like that, the fury in Everest’s eyes turns heated.

My breath hitches, drawing his attention away from my breasts to my mouth. “Everest,” I breathe.

“Fuck it,” he says then his mouth is on mine.

The instant his lips collide with me, I lose all resolve.

All of a sudden, Everest breaks the kiss, and he’s dragging me to the bedroom.

We clear the doorway, and the next thing I know, my back is against the wall, and his rock-hard body is flush against mine.

Before I can blink, he rips my shirt off over my head, exposing my bare breasts.

I grab a fistful of his hair, forcing him to look at me. “To be clear, I still hate you.”

Everest smirks. “Let’s see how much you hate me when I’m making you come all over my cock.”

“I like it better when you don’t talk.” I push his cut down over his shoulders. “I can think of better things you can do with your mouth.”

“I better get to work then,” he says, then drops to his knees.

In the next second, my pants are shoved down over my hips, and Everest’s mouth is on my pussy. “Oh, God,” I gasp.

He runs his tongue along through my slit before his mouth latches onto my clit, causing my toes to curl.

His hands glide up over my hips, along my belly, until they reach their intended destination.

Large palms cover my breasts, his thumbs brushing over the tops of my nipples, making me toss my head back on a moan.

Everest continues to eat at me like a man starved.

My lips part in a cry when he takes his mouth away.

“Your pussy tastes like fuckin’ heaven, but right now, I need to fuck you. ”

“Good,” I pant. “Because I need to feel you inside me.” At my confession, I fumble with the button of his jeans while he rids himself of his shirt.

Everest is all broad shoulders, tanned skin, and six-pack abs.

He has an array of colorful ink covering both arms, but the skin on his chest remains bare.

With hooded eyes, Everest watches me take in every inch of his body.

Once I have my fill, I lean in and run my tongue along his corded neck.

Using the wall as an anchor, Everest grips me under my thighs, lifting me off the floor.

In one fluid motion, his hips shift, and the head of his cock nudges my entrance.

Eyes locked on mine, Everest slams into me.

There’s nothing gentle about it, and no taking it easy.

What it is, is utter bliss. The moment he’s in, Everest buries his face in the crook of my neck and lets out a strangled curse.

Threading my fingers through his hair, I dig my nails into his scalp, press my lips against his ear, and whisper, “Fuck me.”

Chest heaving, Everest tears his face away from my neck. He presses his forehead against mine and begins to move. He gives me exactly what I asked for. My back hits the wall with each powerful thrust.

“I knew it,” he says, his tone low and husky.

“Knew what?” I ask.

“That tasting your pussy would be my undoing. And now that I’ve had a taste, my decision is cemented.”

I bite my bottom lip. “What decision?”

Everest thrusts, knocking a cry from my lungs. “That you’re mine .”

A shudder passes through my body when he says those three words. Everest must feel it, too, because all of a sudden, his movements intensify. “You like the thought of being mine, don’t you, baby?”

The voice in my head screams yes , but when I open my lips, a lie escapes. “No.”

Everest smiles in a way I have never seen before, and it is beautiful. “Liar.”

Damn. How does he do that?

“You’re mine , London, and one day soon, you’re going to admit it.” Everest slips his hand between our bodies and presses his thumb against my clit, making me see stars. “Now be a good girl and come for me. I want to feel your pussy drench my cock.”

My words are a lie, but my body knows the truth because as soon as the command is spoken, the most intense orgasm wracks my entire body.