Ripper's Torment (7 page)

“Who is Prue?” Curse asked.

“She’s something to do with Zero. Tiny believes one of
his boys is in danger. He’s asked for our help if it’s needed. At the moment,
it’s only Prue, and they don’t know much else.”

This was their time to bring ideas to the table and
handle problems within the club.

“I could do with a ride. If Tiny needs us I’d be happy
to back you and head to Fort Wills. I love watching The Skulls panic when we
arrive,” Curse said, speaking up first.

“The problem I have is Lexie. If shit goes down with
her pregnancy or with the Princess I need people here.” Devil looked around at
each of them.

“I’ll stay behind,” Ripper said, speaking up.

All of the men turned to him. “I get my shit from
driving up to the picnic space. I’m good to stay behind if you all need to get
your shit handled.” For an excuse it was a good one. He just couldn’t imagine
being away from Judi any time right now. Last night he hadn’t gotten her out of
his mind. This morning he couldn’t think of anything else but the feel of her
lips against his own.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Ripper said. “Someone needs to stay
behind, and I’ve got nothing pulling me away.”

Curse was staring at him without saying a word.

“Then it’s handled. If The Skulls need us then we go,
and, Ripper, you stay with Vincent and a few others.”

“I will.” He nodded his head and the meeting moved on toward
a drug deal with Jerry. Jerry was a pimp and drug dealer. He lived not too far
from Devil but they struck a bargain two years ago when they moved to Piston
County. They worked for each other and the profits were split fairly.

When the meeting was over he left to go to his room.
Curse grabbed his arm and led him outside for some privacy.

“What the fuck do you want?” Ripper asked, wanting to
get showered.

“We’re friends, Ripper. What the fuck is going on?”
Curse had his arms folded and wouldn’t budge an inch.

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Shall I go and tell Devil about the guy we buried then,
or have you forgotten about him?” Curse turned to go to Devil.

Shit, there was no
way he was going
to let that happen
.

“It was Judi’s kill, okay. She called me for help, not
fucking Devil.” Ripper let the words tumble out of his mouth.

“Judi?
What the fuck was she doing out?” Curse asked, looking angry.

“I don’t know. She wanted to walk and get some air or
some shit. I didn’t ask the bitch too many questions. I took care of it.”

“She killed someone, Ripper. Shit like that doesn’t go
away.”

“I’m handling it.”

He fisted his hands, and Curse kept staring at him.

“You better. Judi is precious to all of us.”

Ripper kept his mouth shut. If he said anything more
Curse would know the truth of his change of feelings toward the woman they
considered a Princess.

“Is there anything else you’re not telling me?” Curse
asked.

“Nothing.
I’ve got everything handled.” Ripper thought about the passion he
experienced from Judi’s lips alone. She felt the same way. He had seen the
budding of her nipples at their kiss.

The life she’d led before he turned up didn’t affect
him. Judi may have had over one hundred men, but no man ever got into her heart
or mind. The fact she’d remained whole throughout her experience was a
surprise. Many women would have broken a long time ago. There were strippers at
the club who were similar in age but looked years older than Judi’s twenty
years.

“If you need anything else, let me know. I’ll do
anything for our Princess.”

Nodding, Ripper lit up a cigarette looking for some
way to change the conversation away from Judi. “What was wrong with you
yesterday at the diner? Mia was taking an order, and you looked like she was
begging for your cock.”

Curse took his cigarette from him.
“Nothing.”

“Really,
nothing.
So you weren’t imagining your cock deep inside her
cunt?”

The other man shook his head. “Stick to fucking with
women. I’m out of here.” Curse left him alone.

Seconds later he heard the sound of Curse’s bike
purring to life. Leaning against the back of the wall of the club Ripper tried
to gather his thoughts together.

You should put an end to this shit with Judi. The club is far more
important than some bitch.

Taking a deep draw on his cigarette he closed his eyes
and rubbed them to try to clear his mind.

She’s not yours to have, to touch, or to fuck.

“I appreciate you staying behind if the shit hits the
fan,” Devil said.

Opening his eyes, Ripper saw his leader stood beside
him. “No problem. I don’t mind sticking around for the girls.” Staring down at
his feet, the torment started to build back up inside him. Judi was off limits
to men like him.

“I don’t want to ruin shit. Judi is happier than I’ve
ever seen her. Lexie is ill, but life still keeps on going.” Devil lit up a
cigarette.

Chancing a glance at his president, Ripper saw the pain
in Devil’s eyes.

“You’re not going to lose Lexie.”

“I know. Until you’ve got a woman pregnant, Ripper,
don’t say anything more.”

He wished there was something more he could say. At
thirty-three years old, Ripper had been through hell, but his loyalty to Devil
was absolute.

Your loyalty means shit. You’re going to fuck with Judi.

She deserves better than you.

“I can’t speak from experience of having kids. My dick
has always got a rubber on it, but Lexie will not let anything happen to her.”

Devil didn’t say anything.

“She became a stripper for Simon. If a woman who is as
reserved as Lexie is at times, still took her clothes off to earn money, she won’t
put herself in danger for your kid.”

“I don’t give a fuck about my kid. Do you think I want
any brat around me if they’re responsible for killing her?” Devil shouted the
words.

The sound of a gasp came from behind him. Lexie stood
there, pale, and stared at him.

“Shit, baby, I’m so sorry.” Devil went to Lexie, who
turned to walk away. Rubbing at his eyes, Ripper knew he’d fucked up talking to
his boss. Shit, he shouldn’t have said anything, and Lexie shouldn’t have
turned up. Leaving the clubhouse, which reminded him a lot of the building in
Fort Wills, he rounded the building to see Lexie shouting at Devil. In all
fairness, Devil looked ready to pick her up and take her away like some kind of
caveman.

“I’ve got morning sickness, Devil. When are you going
to get it through your thick fucking skull?” Lexie asked, shouting.

“You were not this way with Elizabeth.”

“Newsflash, jerk, I’m not pregnant with Elizabeth.”

Ripper climbed on his bike leaving them to their
argument. Several of the women were laughing. The last thing he saw was Devil
shutting her up with his mouth. Yep, that’s the only way to keep a woman silent
these days.

He entered town going to the library. The librarian
clucked her tongue at him. Chuckling, he looked through the rooms until he
found Judi sitting at one computer typing away. For several minutes he stood
watching her with his arms folded. She looked distracted reading through each
line then checking out some fact in one of the books. Two guys close to her age
were chuckling and pointing over at her.

Ripper didn’t like the look on their faces and took
the seat beside her. “Hey, Princess,” he said, raising his voice so all could
hear.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Her cheeks went a beautiful shade of red. Leaning
forward, he brushed a strand of hair out of his way to watch her. “I thought
I’d come and see you. Devil and Lexie were arguing about her morning sickness
when I left them at the club. I thought I’d come and see what you’re doing.”
Ripper wanted to do so much more than touch.

“I should be getting my course books in the post in
the next couple of weeks. When they turn up I’m good to go. I just need to get
this assignment done and I can have a few days off.”

Getting to his feet, Ripper smiled down at her. “Then
go ahead, write. I’m going to look around.” He was going to threaten the two
dipshits with his gun, but she didn’t need to know that.

“Okay.” Her attention was already
back
on the computer.

Now, he could go and take his anger out on the two men
who were pointing at his woman.

****

Typing the last few sentences, Judi rubbed the back of
her neck working out the kinks. She’d been staring at her computer screen for
the last couple of hours, and she was feeling the strain on her eyes. Ripper
still hadn’t left. Lexie and Devil phoned her earlier to make sure she was
okay. They told her to get her assignment finished before returning home.

“Are you done?” Ripper asked, suddenly appearing
behind her.

She’d been aware of two boys pointing and giggling
hours earlier, but something must have happened because they left the building
looking pale.

“Yeah, I just finished up.” Judi stretched out, her
muscles moaning. Pressing the necessary keys she stood up going to the printer.
She would have to read through it before sending it back to her tutor. Filing
the assignment away, she pushed some hair out of her face then closed the
computer down. “I’m so tired.”

Her stomach chose that moment to growl.

“Hungry as well,” Ripper said, chuckling.

“Are you laughing at me?” She tensed, feeling her
cheeks heat at the noise her body made.

“No, I’m not laughing at you. It’s a good job I’ve got
plenty of money to feed you.” He took her hand as she placed the strap of her
bag on her shoulder. Before she said anything he was leading her out of the
room toward the diner opposite the library.

“Are you always this bossy?” she asked, getting annoyed
at him taking charge.

Not annoyed, turned on.

Cutting the thought off, she followed behind him with
no choice as he held her hand. They were seated in the back of the diner and
looking over the menu within seconds.

“Yes, I’m bossy. I like shit done my way. Besides,
what would you have done for food?” he asked.

“I’d have gone home to eat.”

“Yeah, probably waited until dinner and survived on a
piece of fruit.
Women, fucking lunatics.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she asked.
Her anger sparked at his condescending attitude.

“We live one life, and you’re always so fussy about
what goes in your mouth. Food is fucking food. Enjoy it and relish it.”

“It’s easy to say coming from a guy who can eat
whatever the hell he wants.” She folded her arms, glaring at him.

“I take great pains to keep my body in shape.”

“Fucking every woman you come across, I’m surprised
you’re not anorexic.” There was a time before Lexie when she’d been slender,
underweight even. Now she had curves in all the wrong places.

“Are you jealous?” he asked. There was a wicked smile
on his face. She hated him.

“No, I’m not jealous. You’re a walking, talking advert
for sexual diseases.” She picked up the menu, lifting it in front of her face
so she didn’t have to look at Ripper’s smug looking bastard face. In that
instant she hated him and everything he stood for.

Ripper quickly moved, sitting beside her. She was
trapped against the wall and his hard body. “What’s the matter, baby? Do I get
you all hot?” He placed a hand in between her thighs right against her pussy.

She gasped. The heat of him landed where she most
needed him. “What are you doing?” she asked, glancing around the diner. No one
was paying them any attention. No one would even know his hand was on her
mound.

“I’m looking at your menu. I shooed the waitress away.
There’s only me and you.” He didn’t move his hand away.

Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on something that
wasn’t him. “This shouldn’t be happening.”

Her panties were soaking wet against her skin. She was
sure of it. The torture of his hand was driving her insane. His lips were so
close to her neck.

“I love your curves, Judi. You were too fucking thin
when we first met. This is much better. I will boss you around because
it’s
fun and I enjoy it. I imagine there is going to come a
time when you will, too.”

Suddenly his hand was gone, and she was left alone
where he had sat once before. Licking her lips, she tucked some hair behind her
ear as the waitress approached. Mia smiled at each of them. “What can I get you
both?”

Ripper ordered for both of them. Smiling, Judi closed
the menu and waited for the woman to leave.