Property of Drex (Book 1) (Death Chasers MC Series) (11 page)

Her appreciative gaze meets mine. Normally when she’s stripping her panties down her legs, I’m hard as stone and ready to fuck. Not now. Not tonight. The fear in her eyes drowns out any sort of sexual air that might be here under usual circumstances.

I take my shirt off as she climbs into the bed, and I pull my jeans down, leaving on a pair of boxers.

I’ll let her sleep with me, because no way in hell is she sleeping on the couch after that.

As soon as I’m under the covers, her bare body is tangling around mine, wrapping up in me like she can’t get close enough. My arms go around her, tucking her against me, giving her the comfort she needs.

“Can I please sleep with you tonight?” she whispers, remnants of fear still shaking her tone.

I swallow thickly, feeling like the biggest son of a bitch in the world, because she feels like she has to ask. I realize I’m not exactly a good guy, but she should know by now I wouldn’t let anything fucking happen to her. I sure as hell wouldn’t shove her ass out of my bed after what she faced.

“You’ll sleep in my bed from now on,” I tell her softly, and she burrows closer against me, hugging me as though she has all the gratitude in the world for me.

This all started off with me wanting her more than I should have. It started with me lying to myself, telling my stupid, fucked-up mind that I wanted to make sure Pop was safe. When in reality, she’s been mine since I saw her.

After this, I should send her home. She’s not made for this shit. But I’m a bastard, and I can’t seem to allow myself to let her go. I just need to do a better job at making sure she’s safe in my world, because I’m not letting her leave any time soon.

“Thank you,” she finally says, her voice sounding stronger. She’s fucking thanking me. Now I feel like a bigger bastard.

Instead of saying anything, I start tracing lazy circles on her back as she slowly grows more relaxed in my arms. But just as she’s about to fall asleep, someone bangs on my door, and she stiffens so tight that I’m worried she’s going to break.

“Christ, baby. Nothing is going to happen to you with me right here,” I say softly, holding her a little tighter. She buries her head against my chest, and I pull the sheet up over her bare body, covering it from view before snarling at the door. “What?”

Eve jumps in my arms, and I inwardly curse. Just raising my own voice has scared her. Fuck.

“Coming in,” Pop says, and my eyes widen. I don’t want him seeing Eve.

Like a kid hiding a girl in my bed, I cover her up completely, blocking her from view. I don’t think he’d try to do something as stupid as deciding I suddenly don’t get to keep her. And I can’t believe that I’m considering kicking his ass if he tries.

The door opens as I sit up, leaving Eve under the sheet. I’d leave the bed completely if she wasn’t clinging to me so tightly.

Pop walks in, along with Sledge. Fucking great. But what has the hairs on my neck standing up is the fact that Rush walks in behind them.

The punk’s eyes dance with malice, and I swear I want to take out my murderous rage for Jessie out on him just because of that damn look.

“The fuck is this about?” I ask while also pulling the comforter up, shielding the outline of Eve’s body from sight better with all the fluff.

Rush’s eyes follow the movement, and a smirk appears on his lips. I really, really want to fucking hit him. But Eve is still clinging to me.

“Heard the details about what Jessie did,” Pop says with a tight expression. His eyes move to the comforter, as though he’s trying to see what I’m hiding.

“And?” I snap. It’s not my usual tone with him, and he startles because of it. Then his eyes narrow as though he’s about to lay into me.

“And I came to see if she’s alright. She’s Death Dealer property—”

“She’s mine,” I quickly remind him, daring him to say otherwise.

This feels like a barbaric dispute over actual property right now. It’s ridiculous, but it is what it is. Eve walked into this knowingly. And despite the mess it has become, the end result is final: she’s mine.

Her hands tighten on me, as though she’s suddenly scared. She doesn’t have to be. Pop knows better than to push me when I’m already pissed off.

“Fine. She’s yours,” he amends, his eyes narrowing on me again. “But she’s still part of us. Which means no one touches her without consent. That’s not how we treat our own. I’ll see to it that this is never again an issue.”

This isn’t the conversation I was expecting, but I’m thankful. I still don’t want him seeing her though. Hell no. He’ll see what he gave up, and he might change his fucking mind. He’s president. She’s not marked. But shit’s about to change.

“I’m calling Drake tomorrow.”

Pop’s eyebrows go up after hearing my words, and he frowns.

“Drake isn’t your favorite person. You seriously gonna let him mark your girl up? He might do something just to piss you off.”

Eve trembles against me, but doesn’t dare to make a sound.

“He’s not that stupid. Eve is still upset, and you all being in my room isn’t helping out. We can talk about this later.”

Before Pop can speak, Rush beats him to it, the smug tone ringing clearly. “Heard it was hard to speak to you without her. Considering you two are always locked up together.”

Sledge growls something to him as Pop talks over him, drowning out the words. “Drex has completed a big deal and set up many more. It’s fine if he’s fucking his old lady on the side.”

So it’s official. She’s mine on the serious level. That’s a good thing for them to think, because it makes her family.

“Let’s see this girl so I can personally apologize. I’d rather not speak to a lump of blankets,” Pop says, and I stiffen again.

Rush turns his attention to me, ignoring his father and mine. Eve shifts, growing rigid against my side. Shit.

“Fine.” My lips tighten as I pull the covers back just a little.

Eve pops up quickly, but holds the covers against her chest as she leans into me. Her hair is a mess, hiding most of her face, but I see Pop’s eyes widen as though he just realized how fucking perfect she is.

Rush’s lips curl in a smile that I want to punch off his face. Sledge crosses his arms over his chest, unaffected. He’s seen her numerous times. Hell, he’s been at the table while I fucked her.

Eve gingerly tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing more of her face. Her plump lips are even plumper, thanks to all her tears, making them look like a fucking wet dream. Shit,
she
looks like a fucking wet dream all mussed up.

“Damn,” Pop mutters, then cuts his eyes toward me. “No wonder you’re so hell bent on keeping her locked away.”

My arm goes around her shoulders, and she leans into me even more, as though she knows I’ll shield her.

“Regretting your decision now, Herrin?” Rush says.

“Shut the fuck up,” I snap, and then grimace when Eve gets even more rigid.

My anger only seems to goad him, but Sledge speaks to him in a low rumble again before Rush can pop off like a petulant teenager.

Rush glares at Sledge before walking out, mumbling something about priorities and pussy before his footfalls catch my ears. Stupid ass.

Here I am, trapped in the bed in my motherfucking boxers, while Eve holds herself against me.

“Done?” I ask, daring Pop to comment on Rush’s question.

I’ve rarely ever challenged Pop. Usually I’m as loyal as a man can be. But I’d raise hell if he decided to take her back. Judging by the look in his eyes, he knows it.

A slow, lazy grin blooms across his face, and I immediately relax. However, Eve doesn’t take the same comfort I do, because the girl feels like she might snap in two at any moment.

Chapter 20

EVE

This night is more traumatizing by the second. Drex, oddly enough, is the only thing keeping me together right now. My salvation is in the arms of a self-proclaimed killer.

I’m twisted.

And fucked up.

And naked in a room with men I don’t want seeing me naked.

Drex relaxes as his father grins, but it’s a creepy grin if you ask me.

Herrin is a nice looking guy for a man who is old enough to be my father, but I’m so freaking glad Drex wanted me instead. In fact, it makes me want to kiss him right now, because Herrin looks like a nightmare on legs.

He’s just as tall and tatted as the others, but it’s the unsettling way he looks at something, as though he’s calculating its value—my value in this case.

His eyes… I’ve never seen eyes so cold. The other guy’s eyes were the same—the one who asked Herrin if he regretted his decision. And I know Sledge called him
son
when he was scolding him, even though I didn’t hear all of what he said because he was talking so low. Surely that can’t really be his son. Sledge is the nicest guy in the club.

It half makes me wonder if Sledge and Herrin didn’t somehow trade sons. I’ve seen Drex cast cold glares to many people, but he has a warmth to his gaze when he looks at me. It’s reserved for me and me alone.

Or maybe I’m just crazy enough to hope for something like that.

The silence stretches on, and I grow all the more uncomfortable. The thick air is almost suffocating me.

Herrin’s eyes hold mine, and that dirty, gross feeling invades. “You can have fun, son, but don’t forget what we originally discussed.”

Something about that has Drex tensing again, and I really don’t like that.

“We’ll talk about it later. But trust me, she had no idea. Tonight should be an indication of that. You didn’t see how scared she was.”

Sledge looks over at Herrin and grunts, “I’m with him. Girl is clueless about all that shit.”

Clueless sounds about right. I have
no clue
what they’re talking about, but I know
who
they’re talking about:
me
. I just don’t know why.

Herrin frowns, then he looks at Drex. “Coincidences are rare. Keep that in mind.”

Normally, that would make me curious. But tonight, my head might explode. In fact, I honestly don’t give a damn what they’re speaking in code about. I’m sure it’s another “spy” conversation.

Herrin and Drex speak for a minute longer, but I tune them out. Until Drex nudges me, acting as though I’m supposed to respond to something, though I have no idea what.

I look up to see two pairs of eyes staring expectantly—Sledge’s and Herrin’s. When I don’t respond, Herrin apparently realizes I’ve not heard him.

“I said I apologize for Jessie’s behavior. It won’t happen again. We take care of our own.”

What am I supposed to say? It’s fine that the big son of a bitch tried to rape me? It’s fine that you’d allow that if I wasn’t Drex’s girl? What the fuck happens when I’m not his girl? Because, it’s not like Drex is going to keep me around forever.

The grim reality is swift and ugly. There’s no way I’d survive in this group without Drex’s protection. Even with it, I still almost ended up… I can’t even think about it.

When I still don’t speak, Herrin frowns. I really don’t give a damn if I’m somehow insulting him. He’s a sick, twisted son of a bitch to think a simple apology somehow makes it all better.

A knock at the door makes me jump, and Drex curses while tightening his hold on me. Sledge opens the door, and Axle steps in.

He’s monstrous and scary as hell. Even without the snake tattoos that line his arms and neck, he’d be scary. A scar runs from his hairline down his face in a vertical line, barely missing the outer corner of his eye, and it curves and angles until it meets his chin, stopping just under his bottom lip.

But he saved me. He’s still scary, but at least he’s not a sick bastard.

His eyes scan over me briefly before he offers me a tight smile. I almost feel bad for how I reacted earlier when he tried to speak to me. But damn, I needed a second.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Axle says gruffly, “but the guys downstairs are getting restless over the mess I made. Sorry.”

He doesn’t sound sincere in his apology. I don’t know what he’s talking about, but he seems more proud than apologetic.

“I’ll handle it,” Drex says, shifting, and my heart sinks as I cling to his arm, halting him from sliding out of the bed.

By some miracle, I manage not to lose the sheet that is hiding my very naked body.

His lips tighten as he looks at me, but I don’t care how pathetic I appear. I refuse to be left alone right now. I really refuse to be left with any other man but him. No, he doesn’t make it all better, but he’s sure as hell stronger than I am in case that ape comes back for round two.

“We should get downstairs, boss,” Sledge says to Herrin as he studies me. “I doubt they’ll listen to anyone but you right now.”

Herrin doesn’t take his eyes off me.

“I just want to hear her speak. I apologized. She needs to acknowledge that.”

Sledge makes a noise deep in his throat. Apparently he’s the only one who understands this is a seriously screwed up situation.

I try to speak, just to appease him.
Let them win the battles so you can endure the war.

No words come out. My lip merely trembles.

“You want to press her about this with me in the room?” Axle’s tone is like an electrical charge that forces all three men to bristle. A chill spreads as he glares at Herrin in challenge.

Surprisingly, Herrin—the biggest alpha dick in the room—actually seems a little scared of Axle. Not that I blame him. Herrin is a tall man, but Axle is taller, and he’s nothing but a solid sheet of muscle, even though he’s not bulky.

I know he handled that muscled-up barbarian with little effort. Maybe Axle is even safer than Drex, considering Herrin seems to waver. But it isn’t Axle’s arms I want around me.

“I’ll let the dust settle,” Herrin says, acting as though he’s no longer interested in hearing me
acknowledge
his bullshit apology.

Axle nods to Drex, who settles back down as the three men walk out together, leaving us alone. I shiver as the door shuts, and Drex wraps me up against his side, pulling me back down as he gets comfortable on the bed.

I wish the light was off. Tears are trying to leak out, and I’m fighting hard to keep them back. One thing is for sure, I have to get out of here before it costs me my life. Even if I’m breathing, I’ll be dead if Drex ever decides he’s done.

“Ignore Pop. You’re barely a blip on his radar. He just likes feeling in control.”

“And you just give him that control,” I say before I can think, and I immediately wish I could suck the words back into my mouth.

To my surprise, he doesn’t get pissed.

“He’s my dad. And he’s President,” he says as though that explains everything.

Because I’m overwhelmed and suddenly finding my voice again, my need to endanger my stay in his bed persists. “Axle didn’t seem to give a damn about who he was.”

I don’t look at him, but this time he does tense.

“Axle has my back. He knows he can cross lines that I can’t. He didn’t interject for you; he did it for me. I’m the one who brought Axle in. One day, he’ll be my right hand man.”

I don’t point out the fact that Herrin seemed afraid of him. But he seems to feel the need to elaborate.

“Axle is unpredictable, or so my father thinks. He doesn’t like him. Doesn’t want him here. And though he won’t admit it, he doesn’t want to cross Axle. But I got to choose a crew. I wanted guys more my age, which is why I chose Snake, Axle, Dash, and a few others. Some of them you’ve met, some you haven’t. I wanted guys I could trust and guys who weren’t stuck in the old ways.”

I just nod, not really understanding this complex life he lives.

He starts tracing imaginary lines on my body, and I battle with the internal war going on inside me. It’s no longer living from day to day… It’s worrying about the future.

And an eventual escape plan.

As much as I want to stay with Drex, I don’t belong in this world.