Page 23 of Hidden Desires (Bikers of Mayhem #2)

BLADE

T he crew decided to hit a steak house for dinner—one that was conveniently located next to a casino. Brilliant planning? Or happy coincidence?

Marcus told the guys that they could hit the casino for a few hours, but couldn’t get drunk in case they had a break in the case.

Lucas and Cade opted to skip the casino and headed back to the motel, claiming they were tired and wanted to relax—code for they were horny and wanted to fuck like gorillas while no one was around to hear them.

The guys got the message.

Loud and clear.

“Where are you guys going?” Marcus asked when Blade and Ace began heading toward their bikes.

“There’s a gay bar I want to check out. Blade agreed to be my chaperone, just in case I get mauled by all the rich daddies.”

Marcus’s lips went thin as he weighed the truthfulness of Ace’s story.

While Marcus loved his brother and fully supported his brother being gay, he didn’t like going to gay bars with his brother.

He claimed that he didn’t want to get arrested for punching guys in the face when they tried to hit on his little bro.

Given Marcus’s protective nature, Blade could definitely see that happening.

“Fine.” Marcus pointed his finger at Blade. “You better make sure that he’s safe and doesn’t go home with any randos. We are here to work, not party, in Vegas. Anything happens to Ace, I’m coming for your ass.”

Blade nodded.

“Love you too, bro,” Ace called as Marcus turned and headed toward the casino with the guys.

Marcus flung his middle finger up over his shoulder in response to Ace’s declaration of love.

“So? Where are we going?” Ace asked, looking like an excited little chipmunk.

When they had finished dinner, Blade leaned over and asked Ace to go with him somewhere. The man refused to tell him where and seemed to revel in the fact that Ace was vibrating out of his skin with anticipation.

Ace had put on that show for his brother, knowing that he wouldn’t want to join if they were going to a gay bar.

“It’s a surprise. Follow me,” Blade said, hopping on his bike and giving him a smirk.

Fine. Late-night bike ride through the desert with a man who liked to play with knives. No, there was nothing strange or dangerous about that.

They rode their bikes down the Las Vegas Strip until they reached the area known as Fremont Street. It was where the original Las Vegas was first built, back when the mob ran Vegas, and the criminal underworld made the city fun.

“Wow, this place is awesome!” Ace gasped, taking in all the flashing lights and sounds of the pedestrian walkway.

Freemont Street was located toward the end of the Vegas Strip and was clear of auto traffic.

It was a six-block entertainment haven that allowed partiers to drink in the streets as they moved from bars to casinos.

It was lively and filled with music and had this amazing barrel vault canopy covered in millions of LED lights that allowed video shows to play over partygoers’ heads.

“Yeah, this is probably my favorite part of Vegas. It’s not as commercial as the Strip, and it’s closer together, so you can really let loose and party.

You’re always just steps away from temptation and debauchery .

Oh! And tacos!” Blade shouted, his eyes lighting up when he spotted a flashy takeout that claimed to sell authentic Mexican tacos.

Ace wondered how authentic they really were, set up in the middle of the “booze and bad decisions” avenue.

“Oh, check this out,” Blade said, pointing up at the video light show taking place over their heads.

Just as they were watching images of jets soaring across the screens, two young women strapped to cords went flying by them overhead.

Ace gasped. “Is that?” He turned to face Blade with excitement beaming off his face.

“Yup! Want to go?”

“Fuck yes!” Ace shouted, jumping up and grabbing Blade by the shoulder.

“Come. This way,” Blade said, grabbing Ace’s hand and tugging him through the crowds of people.

For the first time in his life, Blade wasn’t concerned with what people might think seeing two guys holding hands. He was too excited to be sharing this experience with Ace that he wasn’t even thinking about the consequences of his actions. Only the love and excitement he was feeling in his chest.

They finally reached the queue for zip-lining.

“Are you sure you want to do this? No judgment if you change your mind and say no.” Blade wanted to give the boy one last chance to opt out of this crazy adventure. The last thing he wanted was to force someone to do something that they really didn’t want to do.

“Are you kidding me? I’ve always wanted to go zip-lining, but could never find anyone to go with.”

Blade, of course, knew this.

Ace had mentioned it a few years back, when the crew was hanging out at a carnival.

Blade didn’t offer to go with him at the time, as the construction of the zip line looked a little suspect.

He had spent his youth traveling with the circus, so he knew solid construction when he saw it.

And that rushed slapstick of a construction had Blade so worried that he actually stopped a police officer to voice his concerns.

The ride was closed down twenty minutes later.

“I know. I’ve been dying to check this ride out since we got to Vegas. Figured you’d want to give it a go as well.”

Stepping forward, they both took a breath while the operators fastened them into their harnesses.

“You know, my brother is going to kill you when he finds out about this,” Ace shouted at Blade from where he was standing, all harnessed, with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.

Facing Marcus’s wrath was worth it if it brought this much joy to Ace’s face. He never wanted to see Ace without this much joy in his eyes ever again.

The man was gorgeous when he gleamed with excitement and smiled.

The operators helped them into position, locking them in and raising the cord until they were both side by side and in position.

“It’s worth the risk,” Blade called back, just as both of their straps were released.

Ace let out a high-pitched scream as they both began their flight across Fremont Street.

The flight was exhilarating.

Wind rushed against their faces as their bodies sailed high above hundreds of laughing people, some staring up, some minding their business.

“Woo-hoo! This is amazing!” Ace shouted as he stole a glance over at Blade.

Blade couldn’t stop smiling. Getting to experience this with Ace and seeing the pure joy and excitement on his face made all the threats of violence coming his way totally worth it.

Gliding across the open air gave him a sense of peace and tranquility. It was the type of peace that he often experienced when throwing his knives.

Was it the freedom? Or lack of control? Or perhaps it was the smoothness of the flight that had Blade’s mind relaxed and taking in the endorphins.

Or perhaps it was a smiling twenty-five-year-old with golden-brown skin and an ass that wouldn’t give up.

Flying next to Ace, Blade knew the answer to his question. It was only when he was with Ace that he truly felt at peace. He might appear all cheery in public, but most of that was an act, trying to fill a void left by a father who turned his back on him and abandoned him.

Parents were supposed to protect their kids. Love them unconditionally, no matter who they choose to love.

But for Blade, that privilege was denied him. He was cast aside and left in the gutters to die.

It was only through Marcus saving his ass that he was able to discover the true meaning of family.

Families were not born into. They were created through love, respect, and compassion.

Most are fortunate to receive that from the families they are born into, but others must discover those qualities in the people they encounter along their journey through life.

The Shadow Vipers were that family.

“Wow, that was amazing!” Ace exclaimed, waiting impatiently as the worker helped him out of his harness. “I can’t believe we flew over all those people. That feeling of soaring through the air is something I will never forget.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed. Zip-lining is something that I’ve always wanted to do with you.”

Ace looked up at him with a look he had never quite experienced before.

Was it love? Adoration?

There was something shining in those baby-brown eyes that made Blade’s heart expand in his chest.

He wanted Ace to always look at him the way he was looking at him that very moment.

“Thank you. This really was amazing.” Ace smiled up at him.

Blade extended his hand. “Shall we go get one of those big-ass slushies? I’ve been dying to try one ever since we hit the street.”

Ace nodded as he gripped his hand tightly.

Blade knew that he was in trouble.

He was heading down a path that was going to bring him face-to-face with the man who could take away the one thing that he always craved—a family.

On their way back to the motel, Ace signaled Blade to follow him on his bike. They traveled west, away from the busy downtown strip, until they came to hills and desert.

The area was dark, isolated, and creepy as fuck—the perfect place to bury a body.

“Did you drive me all this way just to murder me and dump my body where no one will find it?” Blade asked, hopping off his bike and stepping up next to Ace’s, whose bike was facing the opposite direction.

“You were supposed to park your bike the other way.”

“Huh?” Blade asked, turning around to see what Ace was looking at.

Before them were the downtown lights of Las Vegas, shining like a beacon calling out to all sinners and addicts.

It drew them in.

The good, the bad, and the wild.

This was their playground.

The city had a flavor for every appetite.

Leather? Lace? Bondage? Vanilla? Whatever your preference, Vegas could make it happen.

From this distance, the lights of downtown Vegas were more of a hazy glow. The desert around them was still dark and quiet, and so empty.