Madness Ends (2 page)

“You are now in the employ of Romeo Barrigan,” her grandfather signed. “If you wish to decline the work, come with me.”

Shock swarmed through her, and she blinked, unsure if she’d only imagined the freedom that he offered. Chloe had always been protective of her, ever since she’d gone deaf at the age of ten. What had her cousin given their grandfather in order to get him to let her go?

“Do you wish to stay or leave?” he demanded.

Kaiya got to her feet to face him. “I wish to stay.”

Her grandfather drew his shoulders back, causing him to stand ramrod straight. “If you do this, I will not protect you anymore.”

She bowed at the waist, showing respect. When she stood again, she signed, “I understand.”

Weariness appeared in Hiro’s eyes, causing the fine lines around them to tighten. He suddenly seemed to age right there, looking far older than his seventy some years. “Chloe will need someone to take care of her until she is on her feet again. I am unsure if these men are able to perform that task.”

“I will help her.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but a second later, closed it just as fast. He flexed his jaw angrily.

She held his stare unflinchingly.

“
Sayounara
, Kaiya.”

Although he had spoken it aloud, she understood him. She bowed again, then he was gone, walking swiftly away while flanked by two lackeys. Hiro Matsumoto wasn’t a good man. He’d made many enemies over the years, so his need for bodyguards was constant, even in the small town of Bair.

Gabby tapped her shoulder to get her attention and she read his lips.

“So you
are
our new accountant,” he said.

“So it seems,” she signed. Knowing that she wouldn’t be returning to Japan caused happiness to bubble up inside her. “I am free.”

“You weren’t free before?”

She shook her head. Then she grinned, and she knew she probably looked like a crazy woman, but for the first time in a very long time, the shackles constricting her broke free. She felt…limitless.

“I’ve just received a get out of jail card,” she signed.

Gabby chuckled. Or at least, she saw that he did. She couldn’t hear him, of course, and a small pang hit her heart that she’d never know what his laughter sounded like.

He broke off when another person entered the waiting room. Kaiya felt his presence and turned to see a man dressed similar to Gabby with the same leather jacket and cautious expression. His short hair was just as dark, and he stared at her intently. She realized this must be the man he’d been talking to earlier. He didn’t seem as hard-edged as Gabby, but that didn’t make him any less tough or dangerous. His gaze met hers, and again, she had a sense that she’d just met her destiny. Fanciful, perhaps, but maybe it was time for her to believe in fairy tales again.

Chapter Two

“You had something to do with this, didn’t you?” Kaiya asked, speaking aloud to her cousin. Chloe was the only person she talked to. Since she couldn’t hear herself speak, she had no idea how her voice sounded, although she suspected she sounded like a screeching hyena.

Her cousin lay in a hospital bed, surrounded by machines hooked up to her in one place or another. Kaiya couldn’t hear the beeps and whistles, but at least all the graphs and numbers suggested Chloe was doing well.

“Boone will help you get started,” Chloe signed. Since her lung had collapsed, it was a good thing she didn’t have to talk and waste breath.

“I met Boone in the lobby. And Gabby. I like them.”

Chloe smiled. “I like them too.”

“Good. You almost died for one of them.”

Chloe shrugged. “The Men of Hell are my family now. I want them to be your family too.”

“Family. That would be nice, considering we haven’t had that in a while. What did you give Grandfather to get me away from him?”

“I forgave him.”

Kaiya closed her eyes. For her cousin to grant
that
humbled Kaiya in a profound way. She might have been a doll all her life, but Chloe had fought tooth and nail against the rage and darkness inside her.

“Thank you, cousin.”

Chloe took hold of her hand and squeezed. “You can live your life now, Kaiya. It’s what I’ve always wanted for you.”

* * * *

Visiting hours were short because Chloe still needed around the clock care, and as Kaiya left the room, she saw Romeo and Dax waiting for their turn to say goodnight. It had been over a year since Romeo had helped rescue her from being kidnapped, but he looked exactly as she remembered him. From her purse, she pulled out her notebook and pen, the one she kept ready for moments just like this.

“Thank you,” she wrote and held it up for him to see.

“For what?” he asked.

She wrote more. “For saving me. For loving her.”

“For saving you, you’re welcome. For loving her, well, Chloe’s hard
not
to love.”

She smiled and nodded, then she went to walk past them when Dax held out a hand to halt her. She looked at him inquiringly.

“Where are you staying?”

She shrugged. A big hand pressed against her back, and before she even looked, her sixth sense told her it had to be either Gabby or Boone. Her heart rate sped up at the idea of either of them being near her, and her belly quivered with excitement. She glanced up. Boone stood behind her.

“She’ll stay at the clubhouse,” he said, catching her gaze and holding her, mesmerized.

Something electric arched between them.

“Gabby and I will take her back.”

She wasn’t aware of anything else as Boone pressed his hand over her lower spine and guided her away from her cousin’s hospital room. The heat of his hand burned through her clothing, warming her—turning her on. She’d had sex before, in a concentrated effort to be normal, but she hadn’t enjoyed it. Probably because she hadn’t had someone arouse her with a single touch. Something told her Boone and Gabby were different and would know the right way to handle her, make her scream with passion. Oh, they were still dangerous, still had that cold streak that ran in their eyes and a roughness that only living a tough life could instill. The way they moved, the way they studied everything around them showed they had grit and strength that couldn’t be faked.

In contrast, she couldn’t have been more different. A fraud. She’d been sheltered from a young age, made worse when she’d gotten sick and lost her hearing. She was tall, reed thin and weak. The complete opposite of Chloe, of these men, of their lifestyle. But she had lots of kinky ideas she’d love to play out. If she dealt her cards right, she may just have found two men to help her live out the fantasies she’d gathered from her beloved books.

Boone didn’t stop at the waiting room. Gabby met them, and they left the hospital together, walking out in the cool evening air. A row of motorcycles sat lined up in the parking lot, and a few bikers in leather and chains stood around smoking. They greeted Boone and Gabby, trained curious eyes on her.

She read each of their lips.

“Who’s the chick?”

“How’s Chloe?”

She didn’t know what Boone and Gabby said, because she didn’t look at them, but their responses must have been brief since they didn’t stop. Boone guided her over to a motorcycle.

Gabby got on before he signed, “Climb on.”

She eyed him dubiously. “Behind you?”

Gabby nodded. “Trust us, Kaiya.”

She took a deep breath and decided now was as good of a time as any to let loose. She wanted to find out if the vibration of a motorcycle between her legs would really stimulate her clit like she’d read.

With Boone’s help, she learned how to mount the bike and where to put her feet. He handed her a helmet, which slipped too far over her forehead to be comfortable, but at least she had some protection. A few seconds later, the big machine rumbled to life between her thighs. Good God! It
was
a gigantic vibrator. The reverberations echoed up through her sex and she rolled her hips forward a little to press her clit firmly against the seat. She wrapped her arms around Gabby’s waist, and he looked over his shoulder to smirk at her as if he knew what she’d done. Kaiya didn’t care. As they sped through the parking lot with a thunderous roar, Kaiya couldn’t help but gasp with sheer pleasure.

Her expensive pantsuit did nothing to fend off the cool night wind, but she’d be damned if she’d complain. The ride exhilarated her, her heart thumping with excitement and her blood pumping with endorphins. The air rushing by was a freedom all in itself. She was terrified and thrilled all at the same time, like jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Only she knew she was safe. Gabby was with her and Boone rode next to them. Not caring who heard her twisted version of a voice, she laughed.

They flew past the interstate and headed toward farmland. The rows of corn zoomed by so fast that they looked like rippling water. Then all too quickly, the ride ended, and Kaiya got her first glimpse of her new home. At first, she thought she was right back in prison again. High concrete walls surrounded the place. Turrets held men who surveyed the perimeters. But once they entered, the warm lights of the house beckoned them closer, although the bullet holes in the wood had her wondering about safety. Men smiled and waved. A campfire with men sitting around drinking beer looked inviting.

Gabby drove the bike into a garage and shut down the thrilling stimulation, much to her disappointment. He helped her off the motorcycle. She wobbled due to quivering knees and unsteady legs. The bike ride had done more to her body than just exciting her. He hauled her in close to his body, keeping her from falling. The overhead light bulb gave off a muted, sickly glow, but it was enough to see the desire in Gabby’s honey-colored eyes. An answering need throbbed through her pussy, shocking her. She’d only had sex with two men in the past, men who had worked for her grandfather, and neither one of them had ever made her juices run like she’d read in the romance books. The chemistry between her, Gabby and Boone, however, made her think she was finally going to know how fulfilling sex could be. Before she could blink, Gabby covered her lips with his. Her thoughts scattered to the wind when he ran his tongue across the seam and she parted her mouth. He plundered her depths, and she moaned at the fire that licked through her. His grip on her hips tightened and he bent her back slightly as he rubbed his hard cock against the spot that still tingled from the motorcycle ride. She gripped his shoulders, needing something to hold onto. Thick cords of muscles bulged under her hands. He was big and solid and so damn hot he made her burn. When he broke the kiss to trail small kisses across her cheek, she drew in great gulps of air. Oh, yes. This was it. This excitement was what she’d been searching for.

Slowly, he pulled back and took her hand. She had to bite back a groan of frustration since she wanted more, but apparently, he had other ideas. He led her from the garage toward the house and Boone waited for them at the door. The smirk on his face told her he’d seen the kiss. She probably should have been embarrassed, but she wasn’t. That kiss had been the equivalent of a nuclear bomb blowing her dormant life apart, and she resolved to experience it again.

Soon.

* * * *

Gabby adjusted his dick in his now too-tight jeans. He caught Boone’s knowing look but ignored his friend as he marched into the clubhouse. Men and club whores filled the den, getting it on. Heavy metal music blared from speakers, the thumping a bit too loud to be comfortable. He grimaced. He couldn’t hear in one ear because of trauma, and he didn’t relish losing the other side because of acoustics. He stepped up to the bar and gestured for a beer. The prospect behind the counter handed him a cold bottle. Kaiya stepped forward from the shadowy doorway, and one by one, the men stopped what they were doing to study her. He had to admit her silk clothes and doll-like features looked out of place among the leather and chains that were the normal attire. She smiled at everyone as if she personally knew each of them, and damn if his dick didn’t get harder at how beautiful she was. Boone stood behind her, his hand in the small of her back, his protective stance marking his territory. Gabby felt something dark twist inside him. They’d just met and already there was an easy vibe between her and Boone that Gabby knew he’d never feel. He wasn’t a soft or kind man, which was what Kaiya deserved. Hell, he’d known her for five seconds and could already tell she was a lady with a capital L. The silk covering her body was a neon sign blasting her refinery. He shouldn’t have kissed her. Christ, one taste and he wanted more. He turned away from the sight of Boone and Kaiya standing close, drained his beer and gestured for another.

A small hand slid over his shoulder, and his libido went into overdrive. No club pussy had ever caused such a fire in his body. Gabby turned. Kaiya stood next to him, head cocked with a tiny smile gracing her lips. His heart thumped heavily at her nearness. He may not be the right man for her, but damned if he cared about doing the right thing.

“Will you and Boone show me around?” she signed.

He glanced at Boone before looking at the men who stared at them as if they were some type of interesting
telenovela
. Fucking Burrito got most of the men hooked on his favorite show, even though no one else spoke Spanish. Well, guess his secret was about to be revealed. He sighed.

“Sure,” he signed back. The more he practiced with her, the more he remembered. “I suppose you’ll be staying here while Chloe is in the hospital?”

She nodded. “Yes, if that’s okay with the club.”

He thought he heard someone say something, but the music drowned out the words. He glared at the speaker, and suddenly the sound died, leaving a roaring of silence in his one good ear. He frowned at Boone.

“You know sign language, Gabby?” Hook asked.

Gabby turned his head so his good ear could hear anything else asked. As soon as he figured out Kaiya would be at the club, he knew the questions would be coming. He nodded.

“He’s deaf in one ear,” Boone replied.