Wicked Nights (23 page)

He slid his hands down her body and into the water. He cupped water in them and splashed it up on her chest. Rivulets trailed down her breasts, leaving a small amount of suds behind.

“Matty’s sister had trouble attaching to people.” He focused on washing her. “She was scared, hurt and alone. Her mother had men in and out of their home and Matty didn’t want them to take advantage of her. So he asked me to watch over her for a few nights. Just while he tried to find a facility to take the little girl. She evidently attached to me because of her fascination with my tattoos.”

Mason smiled, recalling the event. “She became my best friend. She didn’t want to go live in St. Petersburg, but Matty and I both promised her that we’d come to visit often. And we do. Matty usually spends every weekend there and when he can’t go, I make sure I do. She sees her family at least two days out of every week. She always has an art project in progress or some kind of picture she has drawn. I have a few at the club. Lila put them on the fridge in the backroom. I have one of my favourites hanging in the meeting room.”

He slid his hand between her legs, meeting her eyes as his fingers brushed her folds. “But how I treat family is not relative to our conversation. It doesn’t make me a good person to treat my family well.”

Addison wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re a good person because you care. I’ve seen the way you act around people. Even with me. You care about others and the overall outcome of a situation without even thinking about how it affects you and your life.”

He reached for the soap. “It’s that so?”

She played with his hair. “You have a way of making people feel special. Making them feel wanted. It’s a rare gift.”

Mason felt his chest tightening and decided too much sentimental talking would lead to nowhere good. If Addison thought such things about him, then he’d let her. No sense in arguing with someone who saw something in him that he’d never seen. He dropped the topic and slid his soapy hands down her back.

“I think
you
are a rare gift.” He leaned in to kiss her, clutching her ass in both hands. “I’ve always wanted you. Why else would I beg and basically offer my soul to you if you’d take my case?”

Addison rubbed against his cock. “You wanted me?”

Mason laughed and smacked her ass. “Like you even have to ask.”

* * * *

When they pulled into the parking lot of the Wicked Angels MC, Addison immediately spotted a police car at the rear of the lot. Mason drove to his spot and backed his bike in before shutting it off.

He stood and searched the area before holding his hand out to help her off the bike. She had a feeling he knew why they were there, but she didn’t know for certain, and that scared her.

Mason led her inside the building and found Jesse, standing with his gun drawn, the rest of the MC kneeling on the floor. He glanced over at her and shook his head, obvious disgust showing in his expression. Before she could say anything, he grabbed Mason and shoved him to the ground next to Jack, gun pointed at him.

“Lemme guess. He fucked you and you rode off on the back of his bike last night? That’s why you weren’t here for the lockdown?”

Staring at him, she sucked in a calming breath. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you will not talk to me that way.”

Snarling at her, he grabbed her arm and pushed her up against the wall. He kept his gun on Mason while he spoke to her. “It seems you don’t quite understand what the fuck your little boyfriend has been up to.”

He kicked her legs apart and ran his hand along her arm. Before he even began, Mason spoke up. “Get your fucking hands off her.”

Jesse moved away from her and pointed his gun at Mason’s head. “Oh, yeah. Or what? What are you going to do about it?”

Meeting his gaze, she pleaded, “Mase, don’t.” She didn’t want him dead or in prison. Whatever he’d done, she was confident that she could get him out of it. He just didn’t need to fuck up over something stupid.

“Listen to your girlfriend,
Mase
. You’ve got fifteen counts of murder going up against you. Arson. Criminal mischief. I’m sure you don’t want to add assaulting a police officer to your rap sheet.” He indicated that Mason get on the floor, then smoothed the gun along Mason’s temple. “I should do the great city of Tampa justice and blow your fucking brains out right now.”

“What fifteen counts of murder are you talking about?” Addison asked.

The crazed cop turned to face her. “Oh, he didn’t tell you, did he? It’s not good for a relationship to keep secrets from one another. He orchestrated the fire at the Skulls MC in Clearwater yesterday. It seems your firebug boyfriend has a knack for using the same method to start his fires. A quick glance at the fire marshal’s report from years ago and I put two and two together. He’s going down for first-degree arson with the consequences of fifteen dead bodies on his hands, and I hope to God he gets life or the death penalty as the state allows.”

Bile rose in her throat. He set the Skulls MC on fire? She moved away from the wall. “Really? How can that be so, Jesse? I was with him yesterday. The whole fucking day. Your investigation skills need some work.”

He stared at her. “You were with him?”

“Yes.” She glanced around the room. “I was with the majority of these people and can vouch that you’re barking up the wrong tree with these allegations.”

He pointed the gun at her, which only caused Mason to squirm on the floor. “Why do you have a soft spot for this prick? He goes around killing innocent people and you’re standing there defending him.”

Addison’s heart thumped against her ribs. Her mind raced as panic flowed through her. How did she talk to a lunatic pointing a gun at her? Her mouth went dry as she tried to swallow. Somehow, she had to muster up what little courage she had left. She glanced towards Mason and saw someone hand him what looked like a gun. Shit was about to hit the fan if she didn’t find a way to control the situation. “I defend him because it is my job. I am his lawyer.”

Jesse scoffed. “No, it’s more than that. You’re fucking him, and I don’t know why. You must be like all these other tramps who will give it out to anyone who fits the label of bad boy.”

“And that really bugs you, doesn’t it? It’s because I’ll give it out, as you put it, to anyone but you.” Addison’s temper rose the longer Jesse stood there with his gun pointed at her. She didn’t care. She was tired of being harassed and watching him harass Mason too. “I have a restraining order against you. Even if you are wielding a badge, coming near me, pointing a gun at me, is a serious offence.”

“I’ve done nothing but be there for you for every fucking thing!”

“You’ve done nothing but stalk me since you met me. I’ve reported you numerous times to your supervisor and yet you still come around.”

“Yeah, I caught hell for that. I was suspended because you called in to complain about my concern.”

“Your concern,” she yelled, “involved you sleeping in front of my house and following me everywhere I went. That’s not concern, especially when I told you to leave me alone.”

He stared at her completely dumbfounded. “Why are you doing this, Addison? You will never have a good life with him. Do you really think you can be a criminal judge while you’re dating one of the most notorious criminals in Tampa? The whole club is bad news. Do you think your father would approve of this scumbag? Mason has a criminal record a mile long. Your daddy, I might add, does not approve of gangs. If I remember correctly, as a state attorney, he spent his career fighting gang activity in Palm Beach. Some of those gangs being MCs and I’m sure Wicked Angels was on that list.”

The amount of information he knew about her and her family spooked the hell out of her. She knew he was a loony, but his obsession with her had crossed the line of irritating to creepy nearly four years ago. She thought the department had got him psychological help and she’d known he’d been forced to take some time off. She had no idea how he’d got reinstated for his career, but the man had.

“Do you really think my daddy would like you pointing a gun at me?” She narrowed her eyes. “You have no business being here.”

“I have every right to be here.” He grabbed her arm hard enough to leave marks.

“Get your fucking hands off her.” Mason’s voice stayed calm, though the tone suggested his patience had grown thin.

“Your daddy wants you to marry a lawman. He wanted you to pick someone who followed the rules and brought justice to the city. That’s what your daddy
wants
. You should marry someone like me.”

“But that’s not what is going to happen, Jesse.” She struggled in his vicelike grip. “You don’t know my father. You only assume what you say.”

“I’ve met Judge Pierce. I know him quite well.”

Addison went still. How the hell did had he met her father? Jesse must have seen her confusion and decided to elaborate on his statement.

“About two years ago, when I was forced to take a leave of absence, I drove to Palm Beach. Your father welcomed me with open arms. I told him that we were dating and that I was transporting a prisoner to Martin, and I thought I’d stop by to introduce myself. I told him that you didn’t want to make a big deal about our relationship, afraid I’d lose my job and whatnot, so that’s why he never mentioned it to you. We became close. He showed me his sword collection and I spent the night in your childhood room. It was quite cosy. Your father gave me his blessing to date you. I called him the other day, told him about your potential promotion and asked for his blessing to marry you. He said it would be an honour to have me join your family.”

Addison felt bile rise in her throat. He’d gone to her parents’ house? He’d spent the night in her childhood room? Her legs wobbled as her knees threatened to give out.

“You’re sick.”

He stared at her. “Now, why do you say that?”

She sucked in a breath, trying hard to force her lungs to work. How the hell did this happen? How did she not see this happening?

Jesse snaked his arm around her, the gun still pointed in an uncomfortable position towards her. He blindsided her by pressing his mouth against hers, his tongue desperately trying to force its way between her lips. She whimpered and pushed at him, trying to keep her attention on the gun.

“You know what, you sick fuck?” Mason spoke up in the silence.

Jesse turned, gun pointed down. “What? I thought you liked to share your women.” He stared at Mason a second before reaching out to cup Addison’s crotch. “You don’t like me touching your old lady?”

“I’m tired of you and your mouth.” Mason pulled out a pistol from behind him and took the shot.

Addison screamed. Her legs gave out and she crashed underneath the weight of Jesse’s corpse. Warm, sticky fluid spilled out of him onto her, the scent nauseating. Her whole world started to play out like a slow, silent movie. Mason yelled at someone to help him and along with a few other MC members they dragged Jesse’s body off her. Next, he bent to scoop Addison up into his arms. She felt her chest constricting as he moved her to the back of the club. He carried her to the bathroom and sat her on the vanity.

“Breathe, Addy.” He put his hand on her sternum. “Take a few deep breaths. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

She sucked in a few breaths and her head only grew lighter. Blood soaked her borrowed tank top, covering her face, hands and chest. She glanced down and started freaking out again.

“Addy.” He pulled her chin up so he could see her eyes. “Look at me. You’re okay.”

She panted. Whimpered. Her hands shook in her lap as she kept her eyes on him. He moved briefly to the shower and turned it on full blast. He pulled her boots off and lifted her, walking into the stall completely clothed.

The rush of warm water did little to ease her mind. She puffed a few breaths of air, reminding herself that breathing was a necessary function of life. He tugged gently on her hair and she dropped her head back.

She closed her eyes as the spray washed away the majority of the blood. She still smelt the copper essence and it made her want to gag. Mason must have sensed it since he slid his hand along her back and pushed her forward. She stared into his eyes. Breathing ceased to be necessary. Her mind went into panic mode and her body started to pay the price for it. She sucked in shallow breaths as she replayed the event over in her mind.

Mason shot Jesse.

Mason killed Jesse.

Mason killed a police officer.

It was a felony, one that the general public did not easily forgive. The more she thought about it, the more she shook. Mason had admitted to her before that he’d killed people. She knew he’d killed the majority of the Skulls MC, all of which she had a hard time processing, but ultimately determined that it was necessary. She didn’t know about his past, but taking out the Skulls meant that she could live another day.

Jesse didn’t fall completely into that category. She didn’t even know how to process the event, much less find where Mason’s actions fit within the scope of things. She knew he didn’t back out on his word. He’d told Jesse that if he touched her again he’d beat his skull in. In a way, he’d held true to his word.

“You’re okay, Addy.” He pulled her to him then wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.”

She clung to him and felt the first burst of emotion leave her body. With her face pressed to his neck, she didn’t know how to stop the water works. He cupped the back of her head with one hand while his other arm held the brunt of her weight. He didn’t complain about it either. He didn’t make a motion to set her down or move to clean her. He simply held her, letting her cry against him because that’s what she needed most.

She had no idea how long they stayed that way. She had drained her tear ducts of their last tear. She pulled back, eyes puffy and ironically dry. He stared at her with the sweetest compassion she’d ever seen. She frowned, growing even more confused.

“I need some soap.”

He sat her down then handed her a bottle of body wash. She gripped his arms, still feeling weak. There was no way she could clean herself up. She clutched his arm and handed him the bottle.