Текст книги "Royal Savage"

Автор книги: Victoria Ashley

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Twenty months ago . . .

“WHAT THE FUCK, JAX,” I snap, when he pushes my door open, interrupting me for the third time in the last twenty minutes. “Can I finish this shit so I can get home to Olivia already? I’m tired of looking at you dickheads tonight.”

His face turns hard. “Nah, man. James is here again looking for Brian and he is fucking heated. He said he’s going to break everything in this fucking bar if you don’t come out and see him. Doesn’t look like he’s leaving.”

“Fuck!” Slamming the pile of twenties down, I stand up and point at the drawers of cash. “Watch this shit. Don’t walk away from it for nothing. I’ll be back. I’m going to kill that Brian fucker myself if he ever sets foot in here again. I’ve had enough of this shit.”

I walk out¸ slamming the door behind me. I look around the dark bar until I spot James and two of his guys going through my liquor stash.

“What the fuck can I do for you, Fuckers?”

James and his guys walk around the bar to meet up with me, one of his guys still holding a bottle of my whiskey. I watch him carefully as he tilts the bottle back and takes a swig of it, trying to intimidate me and show me he has balls. Fucker’s lucky it’s almost empty or he’d lose them.

“I need my fucking money; all twenty grand of it,” James barks out. “And since I can’t fucking find Brian, I’m getting it from the fucktard that allowed his dirty ass to fuck me over in his bar. That’s you my friend. Now where’s my fucking dough?” He grabs the bottle of whiskey from his friend and tosses it at the wall, breaking it.

Out of instinct, I grab him by the neck and slam him against the wall behind him. I squeeze, digging into his neck as I lean in close. “Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. Bar.” I squeeze tighter, knowing that this prick’s life is in my hands right now. One wrong move and I’ll take it. “I didn’t allow that fuck up to do shit in my bar.” I spit out. “Don’t expect shit from me. Got it, Bitch!”

I feel the barrel of a gun press against my temple, before I hear the hammer being pulled back. For a split second, I worry for my life, knowing what I have at home waiting for me, but still I test the water, hoping that they aren’t stupid enough to shoot me right now.

Growling out, I squeeze his neck until he’s fighting for air and pulling at my fingers with both hands.

“Go ahead . . . shoot me. I fucking dare you to. As soon as you do, you’re dead.”

James stops fighting me and lifts his hand up to his friend. I feel the gun disappear from my head and I release his neck a few seconds after.

He instantly starts coughing and fighting for air, bent over, grabbing at his neck.

“Fuck you,” James coughs out. “Crazy, Dick.”

Turning to the bigger guy that had the gun to my head, I lift up the bottom of my shirt, showing him that I too am packing. This isn’t some little kid shit that they’re dealing with. They’re not just going to walk into my bar and intimidate me. “Get the fuck out. If that fucker ever comes back . . .” I grab James by the shoulder and pull up, until he’s looking at me. “I’ll tell him you bitches stopped by.”

Turning around, I walk toward the front door and hold it open. “I said, get the fuck out.”

Grinding his jaw, James keeps his eyes on me while whistling for his guys to follow him to the door. Once his guys are outside, he stops and turns to me. “This shit ain’t over. Enjoy your fucking night.” A sickening smirk crosses his face that makes me feel sick to my fucking stomach.

An unsettling feeling sets in as he backs away with me watching his every damn move. His eyes stay locked with mine, unwavering until he laughs and finally turns around.

As soon as they’re through the parking lot and to their bikes, I slam the door closed, before punching it as hard as I can. I feel like a cannon ready to explode.

“Fuuuck!” I start pacing, while nervously running my hands through my hair. “That shit was not cool.”

Jax appears in the bar and looks at the dent in the door. “I had my shit ready if those fuckers tried making a bad move. Fuck, I’m happy I didn’t have to kill someone tonight.”

I let out a hard breath and grip my hair tighter, while stopping to look at him. “Me too.” I take off walking back to my office, in a hurry to get out of here now. “I’ll be finishing this shit up. You can go.”

“Nah,” Jax takes a seat at the bar and reaches for his half empty glass of vodka. He lifts it up. “I’m good for a while. I’m not going anywhere in case those dicks come back.”

I nod my head, thankful for Jax. “Thanks, Man.”

My mind is so fucked up after James and his minions left that it takes my ass another thirty minutes to finish with my closing shit. All I’ve been able to think about this whole time is how I want to kill those fuckers, and it was pretty close to coming down to that. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone in my damn life.

Locking up all the cash and downing the rest of my whiskey, I walk out and lock my office behind me.

Jax stands up and slips on his leather jacket. “You good, Man?”

My nostrils flare in anger as I pull out a cigarette and light it. “I’m good. Let’s just get the fuck out of here.”

I know some shit is off as soon as I turn down my street to see three Harleys parked at the nearby park. My heart instantly stops and I know that I’m fucked, because I’m most likely going to be taking a few lives tonight after all.

Present

“FUCK!” I SIT UP IN bed and run both of my hands over my flushed, sweaty face. I can never fucking sleep. This shit happens every damn night, and I find myself drowning in a bottle of whiskey until I’m close to waking up in a hospital with a fucking IV in my arm.

Taking a few deep breaths, I reach beside me for the bottle I keep close by and toss the cap across the room. It’s the only way I’ll be able to close my eyes without feeling as if I’m dying from the memories; the fucking images in my head that haunt me until I can’t breathe, almost making it easy for me lay down and just let it fucking take me.

I’m doing my best to fight it, but someday I need to realize that my best isn’t good enough. That shit will never go away.

Throwing my feet over the edge of the bed, I stand up and strip out of my boxer briefs, before grabbing the bottle of whiskey and heading for the shower.

With the door open, I keep the light off and turn on the shower, hopping in. With one hand pressed against the shower wall, I let the frigid water pour over my heated flesh, while holding the bottle to my lips and taking a desperate swig.

My body is freezing, but my insides are fucking burning, feeling raw from the warm whiskey. It’s a fucked up combination, but at least I’m feeling something.

Anything at all . . .

I’M JUST WALKING OUT OF the salon when I get a text from Colton. Today’s only a half-day for me, so it’s nearly three o’clock. It’s not very often that I have the pleasure of getting off early.

Seeing his name flash across the screen causes my body to flood with anxiety and lose that small bit of freedom that getting off early brought me.

Exhaling, I open up his text and read it, hoping that it’s not about his family dinner tonight.

Colton: Tonight is dinner at my parents’ as usual. You’ll be there, right?

Avalon: We’re on a break, Colton. Remember?

Colton: Yeah . . . but my parents don’t know that and I don’t want a reason to alarm them if we’re only on a break. Please come.

Avalon: Idk . . .

Colton: Please. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s only dinner and you don’t even have to sit next to me. They’re expecting you and will be disappointed. I’m only asking this and then I’ll give you your space.

Feeling guilty, I know that I’m going to end up agreeing to go. It’s not that I feel bad for Colton, but his parents have been nothing but good to me. They’re going to be expecting me, and it would be rude to stand them up.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Avalon: I’ll be there . . . for them, Colton. Nothing is changing between us so please don’t push it and make me uncomfortable.

Colton: You have my word, Marie.

Colton: Shit!

Colton: I meant Avalon.

Avalon: See you around 5:30.

Shaking my head, I get ready to shove my phone into my purse when it vibrates again.

“Dammit, Colton.”

I unlock the screen, expecting it to be Colton, but it’s from a number that I don’t have saved in my phone.

Unknown: Avalon . . . come to my house tonight. I’ll be set up and ready by 6.

Avalon: Umm . . . who is this and why am I going to your house tonight?

My heart jumps to my throat when the next message comes through.

Unknown: Royal . . . that tattoo.

Avalon: Did you ask for my number? And I can’t.

Royal: Yes . . . And why not?

Avalon: Well . . . your damn brother guilt tripped me into going to your parents’ house for dinner tonight.

Royal: Even your text messages are tense. Didn’t my brother ever fucking relieve your tension? And just fucking tell him no. You don’t owe him.

Avalon: Hah! I’m not even going to answer that. And I know I don’t owe him. It’s out of respect for June and Ken.

Royal: I knew that stiff asshole wouldn’t know shit about pleasuring a woman. I’ll see you later.

Avalon: I can’t come . . .

A wait a few minutes for a response from Royal, before putting my phone away and heading home to get ready for this awkward dinner that I really don’t want to go to.

All I really wanted to do when walking out that door was to go home, eat junk food, and watch reality TV.

Now . . . all I really want to do is take Royal up on his offer for that tattoo. He just has this weird way of making me want to drop everything and have this crazy little adventure that being around him always seems to bring.

Instead, I’ll be spending the night feeling awkward at a family dinner that I really don’t want to be at, and pretending that everything is normal when it’s anything but.

COLTON IS SITTING ON THE front porch when I arrive at his parents’ house. He immediately stands up and puts his phone away.

“Hey, baby. Thanks for coming.”

I nod and turn my head to the side when he leans in to give me a kiss. “Hey . . . Sorry I’m a bit late.”

He clears his throat and loosens his stiff collar. He never wears a damn shirt without a collar and it drives me nuts. “No worries. Mother is just setting the table and I was finishing up some business.” He pauses for a second and stares at me, taking in my yellow dress. “How have you been? We haven’t talked in days. It’s weird.”

I smile small and answer him honestly. “Good. I’ve been pretty happy.” And I have. I’m happier than I have been in a while now.

His jaw ticks in anger, before he turns away and opens the screen door. “Good to hear,” he says flatly. “Let’s get this over with.”

Walking into the kitchen, I’m greeted by Ken, who is already seated at the table. Just like his son, he’s dressed in a blue, collared, button-down shirt.

“How are you, Marie? It’s a pleasure seeing you, as always.” He stands up, flashing a stiff smile. “Please, take a seat.”

Waiting to see which side Colton’s going to sit on first, I take a seat opposite of him after he sits down. “Good to see you too, Ken.” I glance at Colton from across the table. “I’m doing well. Just keeping busy at the salon.”

Ken nods his head and looks at Colton, but doesn’t offer a response.

A few awkward minutes later, June walks in carrying two huge bowls of pasta and sauce. “Hey, kids. Hope you’re hungry.” She smiles at me and then over to Colton, looking confused to see us across the table from each other. “Alright, this is different. Let’s eat before it gets cold. There’s plenty, so dig in.”

I wait for June to take a seat, before saying my usual thanks; the one I give them every week at dinner. “Thanks for having me for dinner again. I appreciate your hospitality and the food looks delicious.”

“Oh, honey. We’re always glad to have you.” She peers over at her husband. “Right, Ken?”

Ken nods in agreement and places his napkin over his lap. “Of course.”

We all start digging into our food, eating in this awkward silence that we’ve all grown accustom to, until the front door opens, surprising us all.

We all look over at the doorway, at the same time, as Royal walks in dressed in a white V-neck shirt, showing off all of his glorious tattoos and a pair of ratty old jeans.

My heart begins to palpitate, practically leaping out of my chest when his eyes meet mine and he runs his tongue over his lips.

Without saying a word, he walks into the kitchen and then returns with a plate and silverware, taking a seat next to me and digging into the food while everyone at the table watches him uncomfortably.

Ken clears his throat a few times, trying to get his attention, but Royal just ignores him and starts eating.

“Royal,” Ken says tensely. “What are you doing here? A little notice would have been nice. What if we had not made enough dinner? We have a guest.”

Royal looks up from his plate and shoves a bite of spaghetti in his mouth.

“Your father is right, Royal. We weren’t expecting you. It’s rude to just drop in unannounced.” She makes a disgusted face at his long hair falling to the side of his face. “And it would’ve been nice if you had at least pulled your hair out of your face. We don’t want it getting in the food. It’s unsanitary.”

Tilting his head, Royal gives his mother a dark look, before brushing a hand through his hair and slicking it back. “Ken is not my fucking father.”

Feeling uncomfortable for Royal, I turn to him and smile. I’ve never seen a family treat their son as if he’s unwelcome, and it makes me sick to my stomach to witness Royal in his position. “Nice to see you, Royal.”

He smiles back and then looks across the table at Colton, cocking a brow. “How’s it going, brother?”

Staring daggers at Royal, Colton slams his fork into his plate, stabbing at his food. “It’s funny how you decide to show up for a family dinner for the first time in two years. Don’t you have better shit to do, like break up a bar fight or drown in whatever poison it is that you drink at that dirty bar?”

Royal lifts a brow, but just shrugs off Colton’s words as if his opinion doesn’t matter. I don’t blame him. Who is Colton to judge, just because his brother doesn’t live the same lifestyle as him?

“Marie, honey,” June says. “Why don’t you move across the table by Colton? Sorry for the interruption.”

I sit up straight and look around the table, making sure they all see my disgusted face at their behavior. “I’m good. I’d rather sit here, thank you.” I turn to Royal. “Would you like more noodles? Here.” Without waiting for a response, I fill his plate back up with noodles, showing everyone that I’m in no hurry to get rid of Royal.

Assholes . . .

Royal’s hand grips my thigh from under the table as he slowly pulls me closer to him. I don’t think anyone else seems to notice, except for maybe Colton, who growls under his breath while watching his brother’s every move.

Ken looks up from his plate a few times to watch Royal as he eats his spaghetti. His eyes widen as Royal smiles at me and then reaches over to my plate to take a bite of one of my meatballs. “You should move across the table, Marie. Royal here doesn’t have any manners.”

“Her fucking name is Avalon,” Royal corrects him.

Picking up the meatball that Royal bit off of, I place it in my mouth and chew slowly. “It’s fine. I don’t have a problem with sharing. I have too many meatballs anyway.”

I jump and grip the edge of the table when I feel Royal’s hand glide up my leg, pulling my skirt up along the way.

A shaky breath escapes me when I feel him spread my legs open with his pinky and thumb and cup my mound in his rough hand.

“You okay,” Colton questions, looking as if he’s about to stand up.

“I’m fine, Colton.” I hold up my glass of ice water. “I just spilled a few drops of water on my legs. It was an unexpected sensation. That’s all.” That’s no lie.

Royal growls next to my ear and quickly slips two fingers inside of me, causing me to moan against my fork and almost drop it.

I feel as if I’m about to come if he makes any movement. A part of me wants him to stop, while the other part has needed release for a while.

Looking across the table at Colton, Royal starts pumping his fingers in and out, going harder each time Colton gives him a dirty look and grinds his jaw. Being quiet has never been so hard.

Within minutes, I’m clenching around his thick fingers, my intense orgasm sending a surge of heat shooting through my body and a tingling sensation begins in my feet.

“Royal, your plate is empty. I’m sure you have business to take care of,” June says, while looking between the two of us with suspicious eyes.

Taking a few quick breaths, I look the other way and try to catch my breath, hoping that his parents didn’t catch on to what just happened under the table. It was so quick that I’m hoping it went unnoticed.

“I think that means you can fucking leave now,” Colton spits out, while locking eyes with Royal. “You haven’t been welcome here for years, so say goodbye to my girl and leave.”

Royal pushes his fingers in me as deep as he can and smirks, before pulling out of my throbbing pussy. Then he stands up and sucks his fingers into his mouth; the ones that were nowhere close to the food . . . but maybe no one noticed. “Fucking delicious. Thanks for dinner.”

Ken and June watch hard as Royal pushes his chair under the table, locks eyes with me, and then turns and walks away.

I sit here with my heart pounding and my pussy shamelessly throbbing as he disappears out the front door.

Making a quick decision, I stand up and push my chair in. “Thanks for dinner, but I have to run.”

Colton stands up fast as hell and rushes over to stop me, with his parents watching us in confusion. “Don’t fucking leave. He wasn’t even invited. Stay.”

I let out a small laugh of disbelief. “I can see what a great family you all have here. Thanks for having me, but unfortunately I don’t think I fit in here. We’re just different people. I think I’ll leave with my friend. Have a nice night.”

With that, I rush out the door to find Royal leaning against a huge black truck. He lifts a brow and bites his bottom lip as his eyes roam over my heated body. “Follow me.”

Pulling his eyes away, he hops into his truck, watching me from his rearview mirror as I jump into my jeep and prepare to follow him home.

I have no idea what the hell just happened in there, but I think I liked it . . . Shit!

PARKING MY TRUCK IN FRONT of the lake, I turn off the engine and wait for Avalon to make her way down the winding dirt path.

I wasn’t planning on bringing company here tonight—or ever really—but after what happened at dinner, I couldn’t just leave her and pretend that what she did for me didn’t have some kind of an effect on me.

Going to my family’s house is never easy. That’s why I stay the fuck away, but after watching Riley being lowered into the ground earlier today, my heart ached to see something beautiful, so I went where I knew she would be.

My plan was to keep to myself, but when she opened that beautiful, sassy mouth of hers, I fucking reached under the table and allowed myself to show my appreciation.

Taking a deep breath, I jump out of my truck and lean against it, as Avalon parks her jeep and kills the engine.

Not bothering to look at me, she grips onto her steering wheel and leans over it with her eyes squeezed shut. She looks as if she’s struggling with something and I have a feeling I know what that is: me.

Hell . . . I struggle with my damn self.

A few minutes later, Avalon jumps out of her jeep and slams the door shut behind her, walking at me fast. “What the fuck was that, Royal?” She shoves my chest, completely out of breath. “Did you seriously just finger fuck me in front of your family to piss your brother off? Huh?”

I lift a brow and watch her plump breasts as her chest quickly rises and falls with each heavy breath she fights. With one hand, I reach out and grip her hip to keep her from backing away when I sense she’s going to run. “That’s not the only reason. Fuck, Avalon.”

She brushes her hair out of her face and takes a deep breath. “Seriously!” She yells. “Please do tell me.”

I look her dead in the eyes and speak the fucking truth. She may not like it, but . . .”I’ve been thinking about finger fucking you for days and hearing you stick up for me turned me the fuck on.”

Her nostrils flare, as she looks me up and down. I prepare myself for another shove, but instead she just removes my hand from her hip and takes a step back. She looks a bit surprised by my answer and her demeanor calms a bit.

Swallowing, I reach into the back of my truck and pull out a twelve-pack of beer, before walking over to the water and taking a seat on the huge rock.

I stare out at the murky water and tilt back a bottle of beer, knowing exactly how I’m going to feel as soon as the emotions of being here take over. It’s been exactly one year since I have been here. I had been coming here for eight years and up until two years ago; I always had the company of Olivia. Now I come here alone in hopes to get away and remember the good moments, but they always seem to hurt me more by the time I leave.

Taking me in with soft, understanding eyes, Avalon takes a seat beside me and reaches her hand out. “Can I have one of those?”

Looking straight ahead, I reach beside me and grab a bottle, twisting the top off and handing it to her.

We sit here in silence, both of us enjoying a few beers, before Avalon finally speaks, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Do you come here often?”

I shake my head. “Not anymore.”

“Oh . . .” She takes a sip of her beer and shivers from the coldness of the drink and the wind blowing over her bare shoulders.

I stand up, take off my jacket, and drape it over her for warmth. “You’re shivering.”

She watches me as I take my seat next to her again. “Thank you.”

Seeing her beside me, draped in my leather jacket, makes my cock hard, just thinking about her wearing that and nothing else. She looks so badass in it that it really makes me fucking curious about her and Colton.

“How long have you known Dickhead?” I question in between drinks.

She lets out a long sigh. “For a little over six months. Not too long.” She empties her beer and hands it to me. “He came into the salon one day and was really charming; not so much anymore.”

I can’t help but to laugh at someone even considering Colton as a charmer. “That fucker . . . charming? Nah. I may be far from Prince Fucking Charming, but I know how to take care of a woman a hell of a lot better than that selfish prick.”

She erupts in laughter and covers her face with both of her hands. “He’s such a dick, Royal.” Her words come out a little slurred now that she’s on her forth beer, but seeing her smile is a small relief to the pain I’ve been feeling all day. “I can’t believe that I even went for him in the first place. He was just so different than the other jerks I dated. I actually thought I hit the jackpot with Colton, but then I realized that he’s more of an expired lottery ticket that I never cashed in on.”

I’m not sure if she really knows what she’s saying at this point, but it’s kind of fucking cute to see her babbling on about my idiotic brother.

“So . . .” She stands up and spills her bottle down the side of her leg as she starts talking and swinging her bottle at the same time. “The more I think about being with him, the more suffocated and nauseated that I feel. That’s not how being with someone should feel. You should be dying inside to see that person and be willing to give your last breath just to touch them and hold them near. I can’t breathe when I’m around him, but it’s not because he takes my breath away. It’s because I’m dying inside to run away.”

Her face scrunches up as if she’s just figured it all out. “So then tell him to fuck off and go out and find that shit.”

She lets out a saddened laugh. “Yeah . . .” She quickly runs her hand over her face and flares her nostrils as if she’s fighting back tears. “Maybe someday. I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

I stand up beside her and grab her almost empty bottle out of her hand. “Leaving my brother?”

She looks down at my hand and then up to meet my eyes. “Finding someone that falls in love with me for who I truly am, and me loving them back so much that it fucking hurts. The one man I thought I truly loved only wanted me for my fucking tits and ass. That jerk.”

She shakes her head as if waking up and realizing that she’s talked too much. “Never mind that. I’m just babbling now from the damn beer.”

I close my eyes for a second and feel the overwhelming sensation as her words hit me like a fucking freight train. I found that once, but it was fucking ripped from me.

Pulling Avalon to me by the front, bottom part of my jacket, I reach into the inner pocket and pull the single white Calla Lily out and walk over to the water.

My chest fucking aches so bad that I can’t even breathe as I close my eyes and listen to the water.

“What’s that for?” Avalon asks softly from beside me.

My heart stops. “For my fiancé Olivia. It’s her birthday.”

I can hear Avalon’s breathing pick up as she prepares to ask the question that I know is coming next. “Where is she?”

I drop the Lily into the water and turn around, looking her in the eyes. “Dead.”

I catch the sight of Avalon’s mouth dropping before I brush past her and hurry back over to my truck. I get ready to jump inside and drive off, but stop when I look back over to see her face buried in her hands.

I may not know much about Avalon, but I know for a fact that she’s buzzing and a bit overly emotional at the moment. I can’t fucking just leave her here. The thought makes me feel guilty, which is an odd feeling for me these days.

“Get in my truck.”

She looks up from her hands and covers her mouth as if fighting off what she truly wants to say or ask. “What about my jeep?”

“I’ll bring you back to it. No one will mess with it here.”

She’s hesitant at first, but then slowly walks over the passenger side of my truck and hops inside as I open the door for her.

Once we’re back on the road, I can feel her eyes watching me. I glance over and witness the hurt and sympathy in them. It’s the first time that I’ve gotten that look since Olivia’s death. Everyone else looks at me with something different in their eyes: Fear. I’ve gotten used to it and have learned to live with it. It’s part of who I am now, and as soon as she finds out the truth of that night she’ll be looking at me in the same way they do.

Avalon doesn’t speak the whole car ride back to my house. Instead, she asks for a beer as soon as we walk inside.

Knowing that we both just want to get lost and forget, I walk to the kitchen and pull out a handful of beers, motioning for her to follow to me out back.

Getting a comfortable chair for her to sit down and relax, I grab for a beer, twist the top and take a seat next to her, just enjoying the night sky.

“I’m telling Colton that it’s over in the morning. I should have just done that in the first place,” she admits.

“Yeah . . .” I take a sip of my beer and close my eyes. “Good.”

“Colton was the good guy. The clean-cut one without a record that my uncle always said I should go for. Back when I lived with him and my aunt . . .” She pauses to finish the last bit of her beer and sets it down by her feet. “I was always getting in trouble and letting them down. Running the streets late at night, and not coming home for days. Dating guys in and out of juvie. My mom couldn’t handle it, so that’s why she made me move in with her brother: my uncle. Believe it or not, I even landed in the back of a police car a few times.” She lets out a sigh and stops talking.

It’s quiet for a while.

By the time I look over again, Avalon is fast asleep, curled up into my big jacket.

“Thanks for the chat.” I whisper to myself. “I guess I know why the fuck you gave that douche a shot now.”

Closing my eyes again, I allow myself to just enjoy the peace and quiet of the night, hoping that this odd fucking calming feeling of having her near drowns out the rest of the noise in my head for a while.

Maybe I’m just an idiot for having any hope . . .