Page 14 of Pain (Kiss of Death MC #6)

Pain

The Next Day…

The rumble of our Harleys echoed off the warehouses as we rolled through the gates of the Kiss of Death compound.

I felt Nadine’s grip tighten around my waist and knew likely she was scared to death.

Much as I loved the place, it had to be intimidating to her.

Part of me wanted to turn around and take her somewhere else, somewhere normal.

The other part, the much, much bigger part, knew there was nowhere safer for her than right here with me.

Surrounded by my brothers inside this compound.

I guided my bike through the maze of camo netting that covered the pathways between buildings, acutely aware of how this place must look to Nadine.

The compound sprawled out in a perfect square, massive warehouses forming the outer perimeter with smaller warehouses and various structures nestled inside like a castle fortress.

It was impressive as hell, but also intimidating.

Exactly what we wanted outsiders to think.

But Nadine wasn’t an outsider. Not now. She was mine to protect.

Venus pulled up beside us on her pink Harley, with Piston’s bike flanking our other side.

Mama and Pops pulled up alongside with Tiny and Griffin to complete our little convoy, their engines rumbling to a stop as we parked near the main entrance.

The sound of our arrival brought several prospects jogging out to handle the bikes.

I held out my hand for Nadine. When she took it, I placed her hand on my shoulder. “Hold onto me to brace yourself, baby, and be careful of the pipes.”

“OK.” Her voice trembled, as did her hand on my shoulder.

Once she was off, I took her hand again, this time, lacing my fingers through hers as I got off my bike. She looked up at me, meeting my gaze. I could see her nervousness. And Goddamn if she didn’t stick the tip of her tongue out to moisten her lower lip.

I groaned, leaning in to capture her mouth with mine because I absolutely had to taste that intriguing lower lip myself. “You’re killin’ me, woman.”

Her eyes were now glazed, half lidded as she lost herself in my kiss. Which, I wasn’t too proud to admit, made me want to puff out my chest, give my brothers a big thumbs up, and shout, “I’ve still got it!” at the top of my lungs.

When she finally let herself drift out of the moment and back to reality, she frowned at me, narrowing her eyes. “Are you managing me?”

I almost barked out a laugh. “No. But if kissing you is the way to get your attention, I’ll gladly do it all the damn time.”

Her gaze softened and she reached up to stroke my beard with her hand. “I should be careful around you. You’ll take me over if I let you.”

“No. I don’t want to control you or anything, Nadine. I want you happy. Right now, you’re nervous.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” she muttered.

“You’d be crazy not to be. I trust these men with my life, but you barely know me, let alone them.”

“I know you.” Her smile was soft and almost reverent. “You’d never put me in danger intentionally.”

“I’m not the same person I was before prison, Nadine. You realize that, right?”

“Yes. But you’re still protective. Not just of your family and friends. Everyone around you.”

“I think you’re seeing more than is really there, honey. I’m an asshole on the best of days. Especially when men get hurt doing something stupid.”

“Oh, yes. I know. But pointing out someone’s stupidity doesn’t mean you still don’t try to take care of them.”

I started to refute what she said, but I stopped and really reflected on her words.

Was she right? I mean, she was definitely right about me pointing out people’s stupidity.

I’d had enough of holding back my opinions working at the hospital.

Instead of arguing, I turned it back to her. “What makes you say that?”

“Chuck and Jermaine.”

I blinked at her. “What do you mean?”

“I have no doubt you have men inside the prison. It was hinted at, and I overheard things some of the guards said. I also know that you’re not operating a prison babysitting service.

Assuming you told me the truth and you had someone keeping an eye on them, you’ve taken that person from a task they would normally be doing.

Because, while multitasking is a thing, I imagine it’s much, much harder to do that kind of multitasking while in prison.

Guard or prisoner.” When I gave her what must have been a blank look, she lifted her chin. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

I shook my head slightly, then stopped. Was she right? “I mean, you saw their files. They didn’t need to be there. The system failed them both.”

“So you made it your responsibility to protect them?”

“Not in so many words, no. I just felt sorry for them.”

“Uh-huh.”

I frowned at her, taking a step back, but retaining hold on her hand. I pointed at her. “You’re trouble.”

“Remember that when you try to manage me again.” Nadine took a breath and looked around her, taking in everything in the immediate area. “Looks like something out of Mad Max ,” she muttered under her breath.

I chuckled. “Come on.” I tugged her after me. “Let’s get inside. You can shower or take a soak in the bath if you want. It wasn’t a long ride, but if you’re not used to it, you can be a bit sore.”

“You call two and a half hours not a long ride?” I just grinned at her. Which made her scowl at me. “Fine. But please, let me work my way up to rides that long next time, huh?”

I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’ll look forward to it.”

“I’m hearing a double entendre there.”

“Not denying it.”

I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as I led her through the compound and toward the inner warehouse that housed most of the living quarters.

Venus and Piston had said their goodbyes outside the gate while Mama and Pops had stayed to see Gunnar for a while, which left us alone when we reached the apartment Knuckles’ wife, Hannah, assigned us.

“It’s got two bedrooms and two bathrooms, so you’ll have as much privacy as you want.” I opened the door and let her go in ahead of me. “If you’re not comfortable with me staying with you, I’ve still got my old quarters. I didn’t let Knuckles order anyone to move my shit.”

“No! I want you here!” She slid her hands up my chest to circle my neck and pull me down for a kiss. “I’m nervous, but I trust you and I’ll feel better with you here.”

“I know this is a lot for you to adjust to in not a lot of time. But you saw how everyone worked at the Iron Tzars while we were there. Right?” When she nodded, I continued.

“It’s the same here. We support each other no matter what.

Probably more so here because of our shared experiences in prison and our respect for Knuckles. ”

“Yeah. I could see that. I only saw part of how things were for you, but I saw enough. While there were some inmates I thought deserved everything they were getting, the whole process just seemed a bit dehumanizing. Treat someone like an animal long enough and they become one.”

“Knuckles helped all of us at some point while we were inside. So, yeah. I guess what you said is true, but it’s also paying it forward.”

Nadine smiled at me before turning to take in the room which ended up into an airy living space with floor to ceiling windows along two sides.

There was a couch that had seen better days, but was clean.

A sturdy coffee table sat in front of the couch and a flat screen was mounted on the wall.

The kitchen was small but functional with dark wood cabinets and stainless-steel appliances that gleamed under the overhead lights.

Two doors led off the main room, one to the bathroom, the other to the second bedroom.

“Two-bedroom suite,” I told her as she walked around, opening a closet door. I shoved my hands in my pockets. “There’s a bathroom through there.” I gestured toward the hallway. “And the main bedroom is at the other end with its own bathroom. You can have that room.”

“Aren’t you sharing it with me?” She turned back to me, meeting my gaze from across the small distance.

“If you want me to. But I want you to know that’s your space. I’ll be there if you want me, but only by your invitation.”

Her expression relaxed. We’d only had the one interlude together before we’d slept, and then we’d left to come here.

I knew she was still unsure about me, but I thought it was in the sense that she was afraid I was playing with her somehow.

It might be easier on me if I was, because I could see her unease with my club.

The difference in her body language at the Iron Tzars compound and here at Kiss of Death told me a lot.

I was sure she was trying to reconcile the fact that everyone here had served time in prison for one reason or another and that none of us were truly bad men.

We defended those we loved to the death, but we had our own code and we stuck to it.

“Well, you have an open invitation. If I decide I don’t want you there, I’ll rescind that invitation.”

I leaned down to kiss her, needing to taste her one more time before I left. “I’ve got to meet with Knuckles,” I said. “Club business. Won’t be long.”

“Are you sure about this, Pain?” Her voice was steady and there was still a sweet smile on her face, but there was an edge to it. Maybe a hint of fear.

“Yeah,” I said with complete confidence. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. I’ll be back soon. Soak in the bath. Then get some rest.”

“Thank you, Pain.” She rested her forehead against my chest briefly before looking back up at me. “Thanks for coming for me. I can’t even think about what would have happened if you hadn’t.”

“Honey, I’ll always come for you. Always. No matter what, I’ll always find a way to get to you.”

After I left our apartment, I went back to the main clubhouse in the compound. I pushed open the heavy door to Knuckles’ office.