Soldiers of Chaos- Chaos Abounds: Book 1 in the Soldiers of Chaos series (18 page)

She'd slept with other people before and he'd never said anything about it before now. Tex took several steps towards her till he was right in her face then he took his hand and gently swept a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm worried about you and I thought that, before Sheila, we were done with all this back and forth bullshit." Wait. What back and forth bullshit. "What?" He hung his head. "Can't you see what's right in front of you?" "What are you talking about Tex?" His eyes came back to hers and they were hard, angry even. Oh shit this was about to get fucked up. Instead of explaining himself he leaned forward and kissed her hard. She went with it her body reacting without thought. He walked her backwards heading for her room. Somewhere in the back of her mind a little voice told her this was a bad idea, the marks on her body. Then they bumped the door frame with her ass and she cried out in pain. They both froze immediately. "What was that?" Tex stared at her waiting for a response. "Nothing I hurt myself the other day fell over, and it still hurts a bit." That was incredibly lame. "Nikki." Tex growled her name, a demand for the truth. "Leave it alone Tex." He grabbed her roughly turning her to the wall and pinning her hands behind her. God but wasn't this familiar. "Don't Tex." He grabbed the waistband of her leggings. Fuck. He was going to see the way Cole marked her and how the fuck was she going to explain that shit to him. "Tex stop now." It was Trace; fuck did she feel relieved to hear him. Tex paused his hand on her waistband. "You don't want to do that Tex. Let her go."

Tex let go of her leggings placing his hand flat on her waist. He pressed himself against her back making her wince. "Ask yourself why are you doing this Nikki? You couldn’t have done anything more to protect her. No one saw this coming not even dad or Reaper. And what you did to those guys was no more than I or Trace or any of the brothers would’ve done in your place in fact we probably would've done a hell of a lot worse. You don't need to destroy yourself like this. I can't stand watching it, we can't stand watching it." A tear rolled down her face then another. Fuck. Now she was crying. "You done?" She growled at him as the tears flowed down her cheeks. "I'll never be done" he stepped away from her. Nikki moved quickly into her room not looking at either of them and locked the door behind her. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the door trying to breathe through the pain. Was he right? Was she really punishing herself for no reason? She could've checked on her Mum more often. If she'd have been there earlier she could've done something, could've saved her, could've..... But she didn't. Tex was right they would've done far more than she had. She didn't do shit. She slid down the door onto the floor sobbing as wave after wave of guilt swept over her. After her tears dried up she picked herself up off the floor. She was going to find that bastard and make him suffer for what he'd done. She showered and went to bed as the sun was coming up.

Trace followed Tex out into the club house and watched him lose it. Punching the wall, swearing, throwing shit around. He waited till Tex had stopped before he spoke. “You need to back off brother. You’re not gonna make any headway with her using those bull headed tactics of yours.” Tex glared at him “Why did I not want to look at her ass Trace?” He shook his head he’d hoped Tex wouldn’t notice that shit at all. “That night you went off on her I noticed marks on her.” He watched Tex’s face as he spoke it was tight with anger. “Marks?” He nodded “Round her wrists. The kind that cuffs make when they’re on too tight.” Tex looked confused “I’m not following you.” Trace wasn’t sure if he understood what was going on either but he’d noticed things. The cuff marks on her wrist. The fact that she was lying about not riding her bike 'cause she was drunk, she wasn’t. The fact that she’d come home smelling like sex the other night. The way she’d awkwardly sat in the chair at the table earlier that night. He had a sneaking suspicion that whoever she was fucking was into more than handcuffs.  “Well she certainly didn’t get arrested dude and tonight she did not want you glimpsing any of the skin below her waist.” Trace watched as Tex’s mind worked over what he was saying. “Are you saying someone’s cuffed her and beat her ass?” “We know she’s sleeping with someone and she’s hiding it.” Tex shook his head “I’m not really sure what exactly you’re telling me brother so I’m gonna ask you straight. What the fuck are you saying?” “I’m saying I think she’s letting someone hurt her on purpose, that’s what I’m saying.”

King thumped across the clubhouse towards them. He grabbed a fistful of Tex’s shirt and slammed him up against the nearest wall “What the fuck did you say to that girl?” Silence followed. Neither of them wanted to have this discussion with King. “In all the years I’ve known that girl I never once heard her cry till just now. So I wanna know what the fuck you did?” “What I did? What I fucking did? That has nothing to do with what I did old man. That shit right there is all on you and Reaper and what you guys did. Not me and not Trace and not any of the other brothers. You.” King growled and shoved Tex harder pinning him with his forearm across his neck. Trace took a few steps towards them. They were going to kill each other if this carried on he could see it in their eyes. He had to be the voice of reason here “We don’t have time for this bullshit. Can’t change what’s been done all we can do is work to make sure it doesn’t happen again and we’re not gonna do that by fighting amongst ourselves.” King gave Tex another shove then stepped back. "You hurt that girl and I will make you live to regret it" with that warning King backed away. "She's too busy hurting herself" Tex's mumbled quip reached Trace's ears and his heart ached with the knowledge that it was true and right now there was fuck all they could do about it.

Nikki woke slowly the evening sunset casting an orange glow around the room. She shifted rolling from her stomach to her side and her stinging skin reminded her of the events of last night. She threw an arm over her face and tried to stave off the awareness spreading through her. She wanted to go back sleep but that darkness held just as much pain as her reality. The dreams of that night hadn't come back since her first encounter with Cole instead she dreamt of him. A weird mash of images him fucking her and beating her and her always tied up accompanied by a mix of pain, guilt, ecstasy and satisfaction. Always it ended with his green eyes and that intense look he gave her, the one that emulated love but something more. It left her confused. Things were simple without that look. Without that look it was a simple exchange she got what she deserved and he got what he wanted. But bring that look into it and it got complicated. Maybe dinner was not such a good idea blurring the lines too much. Could she get out of it? She highly doubted it. Marcus Cole was not a man to give up easily or tolerate being stood up she was sure. Maybe they should've discussed the particulars like the fact that this was not in any way anything other than what went on in that room. At least she wasn't dreaming of her mum or creepy guy and roach. Her gut twisted as the thought sat in her mind. She still hadn't made any headway on the Bridges front. The thought occurred to her that maybe Cole might know something about him. Bridges owned half the city and she was sure that meant that Cole would've had to have some kind of dealings with the guy. Maybe if she buttered him up enough he might give her something that would set her on the right track.

She could hear voices in the hallway and she knew while she slept her pretty little head on her pillow the brothers probably didn't sleep much because of her shit. A knock sounded on her door. The boys didn't usually knock "Yeah." Her voice was husky from sleep. The door opened but she didn't bother to move "So I hear we have a date tonight?" Slick's voice came from the doorway. She could hear the smile in his voice. She rolled over to see Slick leaning against the doorway. She could hear Tex and Trace arguing in the hallway behind him. She raised her eyebrows at him "They're arguing over who's gonna give me the shakedown before we leave. Just like the good old days." She smiled at him. "Who's winning so far?" "Not sure but I hope it's Trace he'll go easier on me than Tex." She drew herself up into a sitting position wincing as her skin stretched and her lower half took her weight. "What the fuck?" Slick quickly came away from the door frame shutting the door behind him. He reached out and pulled the shoulder of her singlet aside. Shit the bite mark she quickly brushed his hand away and covered it back up. "He fucking bit you
? Like some fucking animal? What else did he do to you?" He looked genuinely concerned. "Nothing I didn't want." He frowned at her, a lack of understanding clear on his face "You Ok?" She nodded "Just a bit sore but I'm fine no serious damage." He sat down on the bed next to her "You sure about that?" She nodded again there really wasn't any permanent damage Cole was too controlled for that "It's fine Ethan seriously."

"I meant what I said last night you know, about Cole. He won't ever love you Nikki not like they do, not like anyone else would. You're a play thing and nothing more." He spoke softly and she knew he wasn't intent on injuring her with his words but for the reminder of how Tex and Trace felt about her. "I know it is what it is." "We're not really going out tonight are we?" She shook her head "Sorry but no." He sighed "So you are using me as cover?" She was. "Yes." He looked rather concerned "Do you think it's a good idea so soon after" he gestured to her lower body "I mean if you're still hurting." "Relax its just dinner and conversation." He scoffed "Dinner and conversation? I'm pretty sure Marcus Cole has never done dinner and conversation unless it was a business meeting." That's exactly what she thought which is why she wasn't sure it was a good idea "Well apparently he does now." "And if I don't want to cover for you?" She should've been expecting that. "It'll make it awfully difficult for me, listen Slick I know you think you're trying to protect me but the safest place I could be right now is Cole's penthouse. I doubt Lenny is going to follow me there and if he does all the better he'll be easily recognized and taken care of. Plus I need to have a chat with Cole about a few things, important business related things." The business of their arrangement and the business of Bridges. "Fine. How long are we going out for and where are we going?" She shrugged "I figure we keep it simple and go with the Mint and it might be an all-nighter. I'll pay for a room for you and you can do what you like with it." He shook his head "They find out I'm telling them you ditched me." She nodded, it wouldn't come to that.

Slick left her room moments later. She slid out of bed and moved into the bathroom locking the door behind her, the last thing she needed was one of the boys stomping in here and seeing the marks on her body. She glanced at the mirror. Her ass and thighs were striped with marks red and darkening with bruising already. At least he hadn't broken the skin. The bite mark on her shoulder was clearly defined individual teeth marks being obvious. Well that was going to limit her wardrobe choices for tonight. She slipped into the shower and as the water washed over her skin her mind began to drift to the night ahead. She wondered how she'd broach the subject of Bridges with Cole. Nikki didn't know if he'd be willing to discuss business with her, hell, they hadn't really discussed anything except maybe the whole safe word thing. Shit, she'd chosen the name as her safe word for crying out loud. She was seriously messed up. She'd just straight out ask him. She wasn't one for beating around bush and what's the worst that could happen? Now there's a question. The worst thing that could happen? She'd end up never finding Bridges, never freeing herself of this ugly dark need inside of her. She wasn't gonna let that happen one way or another she'd find him. Lenny was another problem. She hated that it had fallen in the club's lap but she knew the brothers would die for her and kill for her the same as she would for them. She had to deal with that shit and fast. She hadn't even asked Cole how he knew Lenny had called her. She'd just marched, or crawled rather, straight through that black door no questions asked. He had a hold on her and she couldn't explain it if she tried. She knew it wasn't love. Her heart wasn't in that shit, it couldn't be, but her body was and so was that darkness buried deep down inside her.

She slid from the shower not having achieved much other than washing herself. She wrapped a towel around herself and went in search of something to wear. She had no idea what she had at the clubhouse it'd been a while since she stayed here and most of the time her wardrobe was pretty casual when she was here. She rifled through the closet and came across a tight black jersey dress she'd bought but never worn tucked in the back. It was high necked, sleeveless and it reached her knees so it'd cover all the necessities. Satisfied she returned to the bathroom to do her hair and makeup. She pulled her hair up into a high bun and stuck with fairly natural makeup. She paired it with some blue pumps and some dangly blue earrings and a blue bracelet she'd worn at a party once. She could use the clutch she bought to match the shoes. She stopped to check herself in the mirror and didn't recognise the person standing in front of her. She looked sophisticated and not at all the bike mechanic that rolled with outlaw bikers, worked protection for prostitutes and killed men. She looked like someone a rich guy might date rather than just fuck. A guy like Marcus Cole. She shook her head at that, they were not dating they were fucking and not just normal fucking but twisted fucking. She turned away from the mirror and grabbed the clutch heading out of her room.

As she hit the main room all eyes were on her and an instant hush settled over the space. She hadn't realized there were quite so many people in there. King and Reaper plus some of the other brothers were sitting around the bar. She looked over at Trace and Tex. Their eyes were bugging out of their heads and their mouths were hanging open. For Christ's sake you'd think she'd never dressed up before. Then the lust kicked in. Tex's eyes swept her hungrily and his tongue swept out across his lips making her whole body tingle. Trace smiled gently as he took her in his eyes softening in that loving way of his. Slick broke the silence standing up and taking a few steps towards her "You look amazing, perfect." As he placed his hand in the small of her back she couldn't take her eyes off the boys. Both their faces changed as they took in her and Slick. Disappointment? She wasn't totally sure. They probably thought she went to all this effort for Slick little did they know it wasn't him they were losing her to. Then the cat calls started from the brothers. She smiled and shook her head "You boys really need to get out more anyone'd think you'd never seen a woman before." "They haven't until now, at least not one as beautiful as you." She smiled at King as he crossed the room giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Now you kids have a good time ok" he turned to Slick "and you keep an eye on my girl. I know she can handle herself but anything happens to her on your watch I'm holding you personally responsible got it?" The way he looked at Slick told her he was not joking. She'd really dragged Slick into deep shit here if things went wrong. King stepped away and Nikki glanced at the boys. They were both ignoring her now and she wished she could tell them it wasn't what it seemed. She'd never lied to them before not ever and now it seems that a chasm of lies stretched between them. "You sure you don't wanna tell them the truth?" Slick whispered in her ear. "No, let's go." As she headed for the door she heard King grumbling at the boys.

There was an uneasy silence between her and Slick as they drove into the city. Nikki was preoccupied with the strange sense of foreboding that had slid slowly through her as they got closer to the Mint. "The way you look I'm seriously disappointed we aren't actually on a date." Nikki glanced down at the dress and shrugged "It was the only thing I could find that covered ....." She trailed off realising that she was about to say far more than she should. "That covered what?" Shit. "That's not the only mark you've got is it?" She shook her head. If he asked her any more she'd get out and walk. "Well you look stunning. Tex and Trace got one look at you and I thought they were gonna kill me and steal you away from me." The image of the two of them eyeing her flitted through her mind. She wished she could go back to that but she wasn't in that place anymore. Slick kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye like he wanted to say something. "Just say it Slick." He looked at her again "Why?" "Why what?" "Why Cole?  I mean the shit he's into goes far beyond the odd tying up and spanking right? So what is it about him that makes you want to do that shit?" Nikki didn't think this was about her. "You wouldn't understand Ethan." "I want to understand. Explain it to me." "It's not about him. It's about me, what I need, what I deserve." She hesitated, could she really tell Slick about it. "What you deserve? Are you saying you feel you deserve to get the crap flogged out of you?" How could she explain it so he understood "I told you, you wouldn't understand?" "Of course I don't understand why the hell would you feel like that?" Because she failed to keep her mother alive, because she still hadn't found that bastard and because of this ugly dark hatred that filled her and called to her do things she shouldn't and wouldn't normally do. "Just leave it Ethan. I can't give you the answers you're looking for." He stiffened slightly at having been found out "So it's not about him." "Not for me it's not but I'm not Lucy." The silence returned.

Slick parked out the front and they both headed inside. "Where are you meeting him?" She never bothered to ask. "No idea I'll just call him." Nikki opened her clutch to retrieve her phone, she couldn't shake that feeling. "Miss Jones?" Nikki turned to find a tall, slim, red haired woman in a pants suit staring at her. "Yes." The woman eyed her up and down and clearly found Nikki lacking. "Oh well, Marcus, um, Mister Cole is busy he got held up with some business and sends his apologies. If you'd like to come with me he's reserved a private booth for you at Azure." She was taken aback by the rude tone and clear disapproval on this woman's face. "And you are?" Nikki couldn't hide the ice in her voice. "I'm his personal assistant. Carla Ross." The way she said his made her blood boil, if she was staking her territory the bitch could get a life she wasn't gonna claw up the woman's face over Cole. Carla smiled the fakest smile Nikki had ever seen. She might however fuck her up for being a judgmental snobby cow. "Well Miss Ross while I'm sure the private booth at the Azure is wonderful I'm not in the habit of sitting around twiddling my thumbs waiting for any man so I think my friend and I will go to the bar and Marcus can come and find me when he's ready." The woman did not look happy about her refusal to comply "Mister Cole insisted that I show you to the booth and that you wait there for him." Oh dear, this woman was pathetic. "As Mister Cole's employee I would expect you might need to follow his every insistence I on the other hand am not his employee and therefore may do as I please so I thank you for your time but I'm sure you have some other errands to run for Marcus. Shall we Ethan?" Slick smiled at her and Miss Ross's rising annoyance "I think we shall. Tell Mister Cole he can find Miss Jones and I in the Dragon at the bar." Then they stalked away.

"What a high handed bitch!" Nikki flagged down the bar tender for a drink. "She was only doing her job." Slick shrugged but the devilish smile on his face told her a different story. "I didn't realize part of her job description was to eye people up and down. God if she'd looked anymore disgusted I would've sworn I was a turd on her shoe." "She was just jealous. I mean you walk into the place, a private booth in the most sought after restaurant in town and you arrive for a date with a hot guy with another extremely hot guy on your arm." He was coming back to himself cocky and flirty. "Although I must admit I enjoyed her face when you told her you were sure she had some other errands to run for Marcus. She looked ready to spit venom. I thought I was gonna have to start selling tickets to fight night any minute." Nikki ordered them a couple of drinks. "I think your customers would've been sorely disappointed she would've been out like a light in seconds." "I don't doubt it." The bar tender handed over the drinks and Nikki held out the money but the bartender waved her away. "That's not necessary Miss Jones, Mister Cole has it covered." Did everyone know who the fuck she was? She looked up to see Miss Ross with what looked like the bar's manager. So obviously Nikki was this woman's errand for the evening. "Well in that case keep 'em coming." "Yes Ma'am." Nikki wondered if he treated all the women he fucked like this. Slick was still watching her "What are you thinking?" "I'm just wondering if he tries to buy everyone as a matter of habit or if it's just me?" Slick nodded "He's generous with his money no doubt, just not his time or his emotions." Back to that old subject again so he keeps them rich in material things but poor in everything else. She wasn't poor, she wasn't exactly loaded, but she earned enough to buy her the things she wanted out of life and she wasn't one to be bought. She glanced around the Dragon. What the hell was she doing here?