Torched Page 17

  The air was getting stuffy, so Torch stepped outside to see what the rest of the boys were up to. Obviously, nobody gave a shit that they were supposed to be up early the next day to help the women set up at May Fair. Buddha had again warned them to take it easy, but with everything that had happened, their memories were short. Hell, even Pres was tanked and fucking his favorite crawler, Mirna, over the desk in his office. Torch made a mental note to install some blinds in there, he was tired of seeing that wrinkly old ass jiggling as he came.

  Out in the courtyard, Elf and Chew were boxing in the ring, neither of their wasted asses landing many hits. But it was just a cock-off for the girls cheering them on anyway. Retro, Monk, and Bird were standing around the fire pit smoking cigars.

  Out of nowhere, he got a whiff of a familiar, cheap scent and felt a pair of arms wrapping around his waist from behind.

  “Hey, sexy,” Nadia purred in his ear as her hands slid down into his jeans. “What are you doing all by your lonesome when I could be keeping you company in your room?”

  Nadia was a nice girl. Fucked in the head with daddy issues, but nice. And had a banging body to boot—huge tits, round ass, tiny waist. She was in his rotation and he probably screwed her a little more often than the other crawlers.

  He wasn’t an idiot, the girl was in love with him, always dropping the words “old lady” whenever he was within earshot. She’d noticed his thing for dark hair and dyed hers. She also regularly fucked Zed—sometimes they fucked her together—and some part of that batty brain of hers was convinced that three-ways would make him happy enough to claim her. But what the deluded bitch didn’t realize was that he’d never make her his. She was weak. All she’d done by changing her appearance was turned herself into a poor carbon copy of the woman he really wanted.

  Not that he’d make her his old lady either, but fuck if he didn’t want inside that luscious pussy again.

  Eight years. Christ, eight fucking years.

  He turned around and put his arm around Nadia’s shoulder. Her light brown roots were showing, just another reminder that she was nothing but a poser, a two-bit club hussy trying to be what she thought he wanted. Mostly for her own benefit.

  “Not tonight, Nad,” he said. Jesus, when the hell had he started turning down sex?

  “Aww, come on, baby,” she cooed, clearly drunk off her ass with the rest of them. “It’s not like you’re doing anything better out here.”

  Torch grimaced, more irritated than humored by her pathetic ass. “Go see what Zed’s doing. I’m good.”

  “Zed’s busy with Tess,” she argued.

  Was she deaf or just stupid? He didn’t want anything to do with her tonight. Or maybe any other night after this. She was getting on his last nerve. “Well then go find some other cock to suck on. There’s plenty around. Go.”

  She pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest. “Is this about that dumb bitch who showed up the other night? All the guys are talking about her like she’s some fucking trophy. They say that you have a thing for the cunt.”

  Stupid, she was fucking stupid. He wasn’t up for having his buttons pushed tonight, definitely not by her. Who the fuck did she think she was, talking shit to him? About Liv of all people.

  He reached around and angrily fisted her hair, pulling her head back so she had to look him in the eye. He was only going to tell her this once. “Listen to me carefully, Nad… I don’t want your nasty ass. Go find some other dick or get the fuck out of my clubhouse. I’m cutting you some slack for talking shit to me ‘cause you’re fucking blitzed, but this is your first and only warning. You ever step out of fucking line like that or I hear you running that goddamn mouth about Liv again, I’ll personally—and permanently—throw your ass out. We clear?”

  She inhaled sharply and looked like she was trying not to cry, but nodded. “Yeah… Sorry, Torch.”

  He let her go and took a step back, watching her scamper away.

  He hadn’t even noticed Biff standing a few feet away, a smug smile on his face.

  “Not feeling a knockoff when the real thing’s just a short ride away, huh?” Biff smirked.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Torched huffed, lighting up a cigarette.

  “Oh come on, everybody sees it. Your very particular preferences when it comes to women. Grimm filled me in on her looks. Liv’s obviously the original.”

  Was everybody all up in his shit? Where the fuck was all this coming from? He still buried his dick in a blonde or redhead here and there. “I still have no idea what you’re talking about, brother, so shut the fuck up. What did you find out?”

  Torch had asked Biff to spend the afternoon digging into what Liv had been doing for the past few years. She’d proven herself reliable, but it was still one hell of a coincidence that she happened to end up less than fifty miles from him. Either there was something else she wasn’t saying, or fate was one hell of a conniving bitch. Maybe a little of both.

  “She covers her tracks, that’s for sure,” Biff said.

  Of course she did, she uncovered other people’s tracks for a living. Torch didn’t expect Biff to be able to get much on her—he was definitely no match in hacking skills—but while she had the computer know-how to operate anonymously, Biff had contacts all over the country he could call. No one could ever be truly anonymous these days. “Tell me you got something.”

  “A little. She’s been in the state since last fall. Must be paying cash for rent and utilities because the guy that owns her place has the electric and water in his name. She bought and registered her bike in Albuquerque six years ago under a different name. The address is one of those strip mall mailbox places and she renews it by mail every year. She’s never filled out background checks on any guns, so I assume her stash is black market.”

  “None of this is helpful—”

  “No, but Ty wrote down some credit card numbers while she was in the shower.”

  Ty had been at her house for days, of course she had to shower at some point. Still, Torch felt his fists reflexively clench at his sides.

  “They’re all those prepaid cards that aren’t tied to a name or bank account,” Biff continued. “I had a friend pull up the transaction records. Looks like she uses a card for a few months, then switches over to a new one. Not sure why she still had the old ones with as hard as she works to stay a ghost.”

  “Save the personal commentary, man. What did your friend find out?”

  “She’s used them all over. Nevada, Oregon, Nebraska, and Colorado. Those are just the four that she had on her, dating back three years. No interesting purchases though, mostly just living essentials.”

  Well, that was interesting. “Four states in three years?”

  Biff nodded. “Yup. Either she’s some sort of nomad that gets bored in one place, or she’s running from something. I’m thinking the latter.”

  Was she still running from that asshole who’d beat her up all those years ago? She couldn’t be. If she was, the shit between them ran a lot deeper than just some domestic violence.

  Then again, she’d mentioned doing some bad things to stay alive and she wasn’t a fan of the law, so maybe the cops were after her. What kind of trouble was she in, exactly?

  Fuck her privacy, she’d come to him. It may have been completely unrelated, but he figured that voided any agreement he’d made to leave her past alone. Torch patted Biff on the back. “Thanks, brother. I appreciate you getting all that.”

  “I know she’s allegedly smoking hot and you two have some kind of history, but be careful, man,” Biff warned.

  “Thought I told you to save the commentary.”

  “I’m just saying… If she’s running and you get tangled up, her problems become the club’s problems. I know we owe her big time, but you better get to the bottom of that shit if you plan on making her a permanent fixture.”

  Torch choked on his cigarette smoke. “Fuck, Biff. When have you known me to get in deep with a bitch? I can’t
even spell permanent. Tried that shit once with Penny, never again.”

  Biff smirked. “Never say never. From the sounds of it, one of the other boys might be tempted to if you don’t.”

  “Who the fuck is tempted?” Torch hissed, his nostrils flaring in rage. Grimm, definitely him. Mace, Squid, and Gauge were also on the list of suspects.

  “Every horny fuckface that’s seen her,” Biff laughed.

  He would fuck them all up. If they only ended up with broken bones, it would be a merciful beating. “I already said it once, but spread the fucking word… Liv’s off limits.”

  Biff threw his hands up. “Relax, man, I wasn’t there and I have a woman. You don’t have to tell me. I’m just saying that you need get a handle on the situation, whatever the situation is. Wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for you to… get in deep, as you put it. Maybe some solid pussy would keep you from being a grumpy fuck all the time. Just make sure she doesn’t come with trouble we don’t need.”

  “I’m the fucking VP, man. Not gonna let anybody hurt this club. And you can forget that dumb shit you’re babbling on about. I don’t need a bitch tying me down, when there’s plenty of variety at this clubhouse every night to choose from.”

  Biff grinned. “Whatever you say, dude. You’re the one that pushed Nadia off you a minute ago and haven’t so much as looked at any ass tonight.”

  “Quit stalking me and keep this conversation between us, dickhead,” Torch huffed. He really was a grumpy fuck. “And keep digging. See if there’s a warrant out in Pennsylvania from around the time she left matching her description. You have the date.”

  “I’m on it. No worries, brother.”

  Biff may not have been worried, but Torch sure as shit was as. He wanted to fix it—whatever it was—despite every cell in his brain screaming at him not to open a Pandora’s box.

  Fuck it. He had to repay her for saving their asses. Maybe she’d be more receptive to his help this time around. He found himself walking toward his bike and hopping on.

  “Torch!” Buddha called out from the doorway, his jeans still hanging open and exposing his gut. “Where the fuck you going?”

  “Need to ride. I’ll see you in the morning,” he yelled back, over the grunting of his pipes.

  Buddha scowled, but Torch didn’t give him a chance to say shit else. He roared out through the gate and headed for the highway.

  : : : :

  He almost missed her driveway, the damn thing was so secluded. If it hadn’t been for that purple mailbox Ty had told him about, he would’ve sped right by.

  The prospect had also told him about her security setup, so he knew she’d see him coming. Screw it, it wasn’t like he was trying to surprise her. He wanted to get her story and get the fuck out of there, before she had a chance get his dick worked up.

  Crazy bitch.

  Crazy, sexy bitch.

  Fuck! Why was he doing this?

  Turn around, turn the fuck around.

  Who was he kidding? He didn’t just want to get her story and leave. He didn’t know what the fuck he did want, but it was too late now. His legs had their own ideas and were carrying him up the front stairs without his brain’s permission.

  It felt like walking a goddamn plank, the only thing missing was an ominous soundtrack that foreshadowed him jumping to his death. He just didn’t know whether that meant drowning or being torn apart by a shark. Make no mistake, Liv represented one of the two—choppy waters or a hungry shark—he just didn’t know which.

  On cue, her front door opened as he climbed the last step.

  Christ, why did it always seem like there should be a chorus of angels singing whenever she appeared? Well, maybe not angels. Did Hell have a choir? He was pretty sure the only thing that could come of this reunion was a whole hell of a lot of sinning.

  He was also pretty sure Lucifer himself had sewn the tight purple yoga pants she was wearing, along with the skimpy black tank top that hugged her tits and waist in all the right places. And what the fuck was this woman’s aversion to underwear? Once again, she was not wearing a bra.

  “Hey,” she greeted him. “What are you doing here?”

  “Just came to say thanks, darlin’,” he managed to get out. He was coming up short on words, distracted by those little nipples straining against her shirt, just begging to be sucked. Fuck, he wanted to rip it off and feast on them all night.

  If she sensed his spiraling loss of self-control, she played it down. “I take it you guys took care of the problem since Ty isn’t here against his will anymore?” she asked.

  “For now.” He was already lost in those big, beautiful eyes again. Those goddamn eyes that he’d never forgotten. He forced himself to look down and cleared his throat. “Listen, babe, can I come—”

  The door creaked open a little further and out from behind her leg, a little girl with a pink hat covered in plastic flowers and fake feathers poked her head around curiously.

  Liv smiled down at her. “Chloe, this is my friend, Torch.”

  Did Ty forget to mention she had a kid? That would’ve been a big fucking omission on his part.

  “Hi Mister Torch.”

  “Well hello, sweetheart,” he replied, taken aback. She looked nothing like Liv. Then again, maybe Liv was a natural blonde. He wouldn’t know. “That’s a very pretty hat you got there, Chloe.”

  “Thanks, we made them!” From behind her back, she pulled out a bigger version. It was just as ridiculous. “Auntie Livie, our tea’s getting cold,” she whined, holding out the hat to her.

  Auntie. So it wasn’t her kid. Thank fuck, because for a minute he was sick with thoughts of another man shooting his seed in her. Why the hell was he doing this to himself again?

  Liv ruffled the kid’s hair. “I’ll just be a minute, lovebug.”

  “Mister Torch? Can you come to our tea party?” Chloe asked, her blue eyes twinkling up at him.

  Jesus Christ, a tea party? He didn’t even know what that entailed, but it didn’t sound like some shit a grown man should be caught doing.

  But fuck, little girls. Who could say no to them? This was kiddie blackmail, plain and simple. He’d look like a total jackass if he said no.

  “I don’t think Torch does tea parties, baby,” Liv said, obviously trying to help him out. Chloe started pouting and he felt even shittier for wanting to bolt.

  He liked kids—other peoples’ anyway—he just hadn’t been expecting to be cock-blocked by one when he’d stupidly decided to get on his bike tonight. Maybe Chloe was doing him a favor though, because his dick was no longer trying to poke out of his jeans.

  Fuck it. The kid had to go to bed sometime soon, right? It was almost ten. And they were out in the middle of nowhere, so this shit wouldn’t get back to his brothers. “Alright, sweetheart. I’d love to come to your tea party,” he said, trying to sound enthusiastic. “If it’s okay with your aunt, that is.”

  “Yay!” she shrieked. “Auntie Livie, can Mister Torch stay?”

  Liv grinned at him, but it wasn’t one of those thanks-for-playing-along grins. The sneaky bitch had something up her sleeve, he could just tell. “Of course he can. But…”

  Oh, here it came. She took the bigger hat from Chloe and plopped it on his head. “He needs a proper hat, don’t you think?”

  Was she shitting him?

  Chloe giggled. “It looks pretty on you!” She yanked on his hand. “Come on. We have cookies too.”

  Torch growled his disapproval at Liv, but got distracted by the feeling of her tits brushing against his arm as he got pulled by.

  Sorry, she mouthed to him. Yeah, sorry his ass. She was loving every minute of this shit.

  : 15 :

  Torch didn’t strike me as the kind of man who’d be good with kids, but Chloe took a complete shining to him the minute he sat down and scarfed down the cookies she offered. The cinnamon apple tea wasn’t as big of a hit, he grimaced with every sip that tasted nothing like beer. Out of pity, I added some whiskey
to his mug when she wasn’t looking. He hadn’t even tried to lose the obnoxious pink hat, but scowled at me every time one of the ugly feathers fell off and landed in his beard or stuck to his lips.

  I could think of something else I wanted to stick to those lips.

  Fuck, I had to stop staring at them.

  After about an hour of talking in terrible British accents—at Chloe’s insistence—she finally got bored and asked to watch a movie. I didn’t know if Torch had been willingly emasculating himself for my benefit or hers, there had to be something more exciting going on at the Serpents clubhouse on a Friday night, but it was endearing to watch this enormous hunk of muscle and testosterone let a little girl call the shots.

  We spread out on the couch, Torch and I on opposite ends with Chloe between us. He flipped through the channels and landed on a cartoon, but the stubborn child voiced her disapproval and claimed she wasn’t a baby anymore. I didn’t know shit about kids except for this one, but I figured it was just some kind of phase that had developed since the last time she visited. I didn’t see what the problem was, I still liked cartoons. As long as they didn’t feature glittery princesses or some other over-the-top girly shit I that couldn’t relate to. Torch seemingly didn’t get it either, he quickly gave up and tossed me the remote.

  Ten minutes later, she finally gave her thumbs-up to Harry Potter. Probably not the best choice considering she still believed that monsters lived under beds and witches hid in attics, but better than that blood-fest she’d been trying to sneak a peek at earlier while the adults weren’t watching.

  It didn’t take long before she was out cold, her mouth hanging open. Torch noticed and carefully scooped her up, asking where he should put her to bed. I wanted to tell him to leave her there, scared of being left to my own devices with him, but I knew he’d see right through that. So, I led the way as he carried her up the stairs, her head resting in the crook of his tattooed neck.