Chapter 9

Dalton

"Axel," I beckon my club brother over as I wrap my hand with tape and watch him excuse himself from the sweetbutts surrounding him. "Who am I fighting?"

He grins like a little shit and claps my shoulder. "Lug. Godspeed, soldier." Axel chuckles as I clench my teeth together.

"Well, fuck." I finish wrapping up my knuckles and crack my neck while jogging in place. "Watch out for my girl, yeah?" I order as I whip my shirt over my head and throw a few punches in the air as a warm-up.

"Of course, but I highly doubt she'll need it. I have never seen a group of men more pussy whipped than the five of you. She'll be just fine. A queen on a pedestal surrounded by her protective, batshit crazy men. I'd just focus on the fight because you know Lug will rearrange your pretty face." Axel pats my shoulder again and shoves his hands in his jeans pockets while rocking on his heels.

"I don't know why I put up with you, but good to know you think my face is pretty." I laugh as I put him in a headlock and ruffle his perfect hair. I know for a fact that he takes nearly an hour each morning to style his hair to perfection.

"Not the hair, man! The ladies love these golden locks. Now, go fuck up Lug, so he stops walking around like a cocky fucker," Axel says with a grin and struts away toward his fan club of ladies with a merry whistle.

I can only shake my head and try to focus back on the fight as I shuffle my feet on the gravel of the parking lot. My boots are covered in dirt and dust since they are easier to move around in when I'm fighting Lug.

Why does it have to be Lug of all my club brothers? The guy is a fucking giant with a meat-hammer fist. I wince, already knowing I'm going to be covered in bruises by the end of the night. Shaking my head, I glance around and notice the parking lot is now packed with my brothers in arms, all huddled around rusty bins burning with fire to see into the night as a circle starts to form around the makeshift fighting ring.

It's just a bunch of them standing around in the gravel parking lot at the compound, drinking beers and cheering on with bloodlust for fight night.

Cracking my neck side to side, I walk into the middle of the circle, clapping club members on the shoulders in greeting as they cheer in a chant of my name.

"Dalton."

"Knock his fucking teeth out, Prez."

"Hell's Devils, Prez."

I need this. Fuck. We all need this tonight to blow off some steam. Pops always said that there will always be someone out to get you; see you knocked down off your throne. Sometimes you have to let go every once in a while, or you'll just do the same thing every day until you're six feet under. What did you really live for?

I miss my old man, but I know he's watching over me and drinking a beer as he cheers for me to beat the shit out of someone to let off steam.

I stop at the edge of the makeshift ring, the shadows of the bonfires casting a glow over all of us. We look sinister and dangerous, as if the club belongs in the night. Already, my chest is coated in sweat from the heat of the California night, burning barrels of fire, and my club brothers gathered around in black leather vests as they stomp their feet in anticipation.

"You know the rules. Anything goes, but killing is off the table, gentlemen. Hell's Devils fight with honor and bloodshed!" Axel shouts off to the side with glee at the attention and waits for everyone to shut the fuck up as they cheer loudly. "Our Prez will be fighting none other than Lug! May his big fists not end up killing you, and his monster cock doesn't end up pinning you down in a chokehold."

Everyone laughs as I roll my eyes, yet still grinning until my lips turn down as Lug steps out behind some of the guys and strides cockily into the middle of the circle with his fists in the air. He fucking towers over all of us, huge and stacked with muscles that have muscles until it looks like he'll pop if he flexes.

I'm not a little guy, being over six foot four and having bulging muscles of my own, but goddamn, Lug had to hail from giants in a past life.

I do have speed and focus, something that's been programmed into me at a young age as my pops trained me. I don't charge into a fight. I assess and watch every movement and twitch of my opponent until I know their weaknesses. That's one thing Lug doesn't have. He counts on his weight and charges his headfirst, always without thinking.

I'm not really worried; it's just going to suck when one of those meat fists knocks into me. Taking a deep inhale until it feels like my lungs will bust, I exhale loudly and look around until I spot her.

My little bitch. Princess.

Logan and Dom are on the other far edge of the crowd, farther back from everyone else, and my club brothers respect them enough to give them breathing room. My brows furrow in puzzlement and worry as I notice Tillie huddled into Dom's side as she grips Logan's fist like a lifeline. She looks pale and dead on her feet, although she still offers me a small smile when she catches me looking at her. It's almost a grimace, and her lip trembles before she bites it. I start over to her with purposeful steps but stop as she shakes her head no and nods over to Lug, who's waiting for the signal to start the fight.

I arch a brow, confused and concerned for my princess. Still, I do as she silently says because she's giving me one nasty glare that kind of impresses me and makes me want to shove my cock into her tight pussy until that blissed-out, tortured expression overcomes her face every time she orgasms. Something's happened, but she doesn't want me to step out of the ring. Maybe she just needs to think, because she'll know I'll demand to know what's wrong with her until she gives in. I'm relentless like that. Especially when I'm worried.

I shake out my fists and try to concentrate on the fight as I look away from my girl. Lug's beady black eyes are narrowed at me as he cracks his knuckles and dances on his feet in a warm-up.

"Let's watch these two pound each other with their fists until blood flows from open wounds and soaks our grounds. Now, hurry the fuck up so I can drown in pussy afterwards. Begin!" Axel shouts, moving out of the way from the middle of the circle as my brothers yell for blood like a pack of animals on the sidelines.

As I predicted, Lug charges headfirst without hesitation and aims low toward my stomach. I brace my feet and tense my muscles as his shoulder collides with my torso, trying to knock me to the ground with his body weight. I'm ready for him, my body absorbing the impact with a grunt as I slide across the asphalt on the balls of my feet.

Without wasting time, I go for his exposed sides with my fists repeatedly and wrap my arms around his waist as we skid to a stop. Muscles straining and sweat already coating every inch of my body, I make sure to have a tight grip on him and lift with a heavy grunt as I tip us backwards. I move at the last second, making sure he is flipped over my shoulder and doesn't land on top of me as I twist to the side while rolling back to my feet. He flies over my shoulder, landing with a thud and a painful exhale. I crack my neck side to side, jogging in place as I wait for him to slowly climb to his feet. He's hunched over and cradling his arm to his side as he glares at me.

"If you call for mercy, I'll happily let you walk away still conscious," I offer, grinning cockily to get a rise out of him and chuckling when someone says ‘Oh snap' from somewhere in the crowd.

Rather than calling it quits, Lug charges forward like an angry bull with a yell. Sometimes, people never really learn from their mistakes, and I'm the one who will show them a different path they can take. It's why I'm the president of Hell's Devils. I'm a leader and will make sure my club brothers will fight more than just with their fists.

Assess.

Think.

Focus.

And for God's sake, stop letting your anger control you.

I hold perfectly still, seeing Lug's eyes fill with glee as he thinks he can take me down, only that hope dies when he's inches away from me. I duck to the side as he swings his right fist, leaving him predictably with which arm he will use. It was almost too easy to avoid and to alternate with a solid left hook to his jaw with a swiftness he didn't see coming. Everyone goes quiet, likely seeing the outcome as Lug's face twists with the punch, and he shakes his head as he stares back at me. However, I'm not sure if he is actually seeing me since he's blinking really hard. It happens in seconds, and I imagine it's like watching the leaning tower of Pisa go down as he sways on his feet until he tips forward. His face kisses the ground, and he doesn't get back up.

"Oh fuck. You really knocked him out cold, Prez!" Axel shouts with a whoop and crouches down to stick his finger under Lug's nose to make sure he's still breathing. "He'll live. Undefeated President of Hell's Devils! Fuck yeah!"

My club brothers step forward, smacking my sweaty back and congratulating me on winning once again. Someone shoves a beer in my hand, the lip hanging loosely from my hand as I swagger over to Lug and crouch down next to him.

"Hey, brother, wake up and have a drink." I smack his cheek a few times, tipping the beer to his mouth as he lets out a pained groan and swallows until the bottle is empty.

"Shit," he grunts and shakes his head as I hold my hand out for him to help him up.

He grasps my palm, and I heave him to his feet while he sways for a second before clapping me on the back with a grunt.

"Good fight, Prez. I'll be sure to mess up your pretty face next time." Lug laughs but grimaces in pain and limps away while our brothers hand him more beers in congratulations for lasting as long as he did in the fight.

"Baby! That was amazing. I knew you would win," a high, whiny voice says to my right just as an arm wraps around my bicep, breasts pressing against my side.

I turn my head and look down with wide eyes as one of the club's sweetbutts, whose name I honestly can't remember, runs her long, pink nails down my sweaty chest.

"Oh hell," I grumble in annoyance, hating when people think they have a right to just touch me when I never asked for it to begin with.

I try to retract my arm, but she's latched herself onto me like a spider monkey.

"Let's go somewhere private, baby. I can congratulate you, and I'll do anything you want. I mean, anything." She blinks her fake, long lashes up at me, not fucking noticing I'm trying to separate from her without causing a scene or accidentally hurting her.

Can't she take the hint that I'm not interested? I lean my head away as she presses closer still, until I can see the clumps of makeup on her eyelashes.

"I'm sure Lug could use some love. Why don't you go find him?" I say, gripping her wrist as she starts to drag her hand down my abs without my permission.

Why do people think they can touch anyone without asking first?

"I don't want Lug. Didn't you hear me, baby? I'll do anything for you, even let you fuck my ass," she whines up at me, making my nose scrunch like I smell something bad.

"He doesn't need to fuck your ass when he has mine always open for business for him. He's not interested, so move along," Tillie's voice comes from behind me. Her tone is dark, and it sounds like she's grinding her teeth.

I turn my body, and the sweetbutt moves with me, sticking to my side like gorilla glue, which annoys me to no end.

"You heard her." I bite my lip, stifling my smug laugh at how possessive my little bitch is being.

I tilt my head, taking her in slowly to appreciate what's right in front of me, from her long chocolate hair in waves to her red-painted toenails. Her high heels look deadly but make her smooth, golden legs seem to go on for miles. The sundress she's wearing flutters around her upper, toned thighs. The color of her dress is red and bright, bringing out the light caramel of her skin and making my mouth water to lick every inch of exposed skin. It cinches in at her waist and molds to her perfect fucking tits. If I squint hard enough, I can make out her hard nipples through the material. Well, I could until she crosses her arms and makes my gaze jump up to her eyes to see her glaring at me with her red lips twisted into a scowl.

Well. Fuck. Am I in the doghouse?

I start to take a step to Tillie, completely forgetting about the woman clinging to me like a leech until she's yanking my arm back and rubbing her body against me. Is she humping me?

I snap my head down and to the side in a ludicrous fashion. Does this chick have a death wish? My little bitch is going to mark her territory since the sweetbutt can't take the hint. I can't say I'm upset or anything if Tillie wants to show everyone who belongs to her, but at the same time, I don't want her to get hurt in any way.

"Are you seriously going to let her talk to me like that, Dalton?" Kelly? Stacy? Whatever her name is, she whines up at me and glares back at Tillie while tightening her grip on my arm.

I glance at Tillie, seeing her lips curl in a snarl. I clear my throat because it all comes down to this. I can't fuck up, or I'll probably be punished with no sex for a week.

"Yes." That's all that comes out of my mouth, and I beam at my girl as she rolls her eyes at me before gazing back at the sweetbutt with a menacing step forward.

"If you don't let go of my man, you're really going to regret it," Tillie says in an almost bored tone while inspecting her nails like she doesn't have a care in the world.

Only we all know shit is about to go down when a woman starts taking out her hoop earrings. It goes so silent as everyone pauses to watch Tillie hold her arm out and drop her earrings into Dom's waiting palm.

"Oh, shit," Logan curses, yet wisely rocks back on his heels and doesn't try to stop our girl.

"I'd listen if I were you. I'm not interested. I have her to fill all my needs, and she's all I want," I address the sweetbutt while staring at Tillie the whole time as she kicks off her heels and cracks her neck.

"Not one scratch on you, Mama," Dom threatens and steps back out of swinging distance.

"I'm trying to decide if I should be offended if you think I can't slap a bitch around without getting hurt," Tillie mutters, flipping her hair over her shoulder with an annoyed huff.

"I say a hundred bucks on Prez's old lady."

"You're on. Make that two hundred that she knocks her out in less than a minute."

Whispers from my club brothers reach my ears as everyone watches with bated breath and exchanges money with bets. Not one of them puts money down, with Tillie losing. That makes my chest puff up with pride for my little bitch.

"Oh, please. As if Dalton would ever lower his standards for a skank like you. He needs a real woman, sweetie, and that isn't you." Brittany? Monica? She says with an ignorant smirk while looking Tillie up and down like she's lacking.

"After she's done with you, don't come back. You are no longer welcome at Hell's Devils," I say calmly, trying not to chuckle as the sweetbutt gapes up at me in shock and finally lets me go to screech in outrage as she sets her eyes on Tillie.

"You bitch!" Lucy? Shella? Whatever her name is, she screams at Tillie and lunges to her with fingers curled like claws.

I step back next to Logan, folding my arms as I watch our girl stand still until the last minute. She moves to the side with her leg kicked out to trip the sweetbutt and avoids getting sharp nails gouged into her face. I smirk as Tillie reaches out and grabs a chunk of blonde hair, tugging hard as the sweetbutt goes flying past her. Hoots and hollers rack up the night air as Tillie flings the other woman's head back and literally starts to slap the crap out of her without any emotion.

"She seems tense. What happened?" I comment to Logan, noticing Tillie not letting up, even as the sweetbutt starts to cry.

"Franco is dealt with. Everything went according to plan, but something came up at the last second that none of us saw coming." Logan's voice is strained, like he's in physical pain.

I tear my gaze away just as Tillie starts lecturing the sweetbutt in a stoic voice, opposite how she's bitch slapping the woman around.

"Whatever happened to girl code? I don't fucking understand why you think it's okay to go after a man who's obviously not interested and taken."

I look at Logan's worried face, peeking around him to see Dom watching Tillie's every move with furrowed brows.

"What came up?" I ask, my body going tense as I turn my head when the slapping sounds start turning into crunches of something breaking.

"Cruz has Rig and sent Tillie a gift," Logan's voice comes out strained, tension seeping through his tone and anger.

"Okay, this isn't going to help," I announce and walk into the circle to pull Tillie off the sweetbutt as she starts to swing her arms, fists connecting over and over until the woman under her is sobbing. "That's enough, Tillie."

"Who's the bitch now? Huh?" Tillie yells, kicking her legs as I carry her away with my arm around her waist.

"Damn, killer. Those are some fighting words. Who are we murdering?" Tey appears at my side with a skip in his step as I head toward the club side door.

"Not now, Tey. I'm calling a church meeting with just us," I say loud enough for my club brothers to hear so they know not to disturb us, just as I swing the door open with Tey right behind me.

Logan, Dom, and Nicky follow seconds behind us with hissed whispers being exchanged, except I block them out as Tillie keeps struggling in my grip.

"Put me down, Dalton! I'm not done!" she yells again, gripping my forearm until I can feel the imprint of her nails breaking my skin.

I don't say anything as Tey runs ahead and opens the meeting room with a pained expression. He stares at Tillie when we walk by him. I get it. If our girl is hurting, we are all hurting. Logan must have given them the shortened version like he did with me about what happened at Franco's.

Not giving her a chance to run, I stride to the head of the table and collapse in the chair with her breathing hard in my arms and her long locks of her hair blocking our view of her face from us.

"Take some deep breaths, pet. Watch me; breathe with me." Nicky crouches down next to my chair and gently sweeps her hair out of the way as we see her chest move too fast with each choked inhale.

She's on the verge of a panic attack.

Leaning my head around her shoulder so I can see her face, my breath halts in my chest as I see silent tears cascade down her cheeks. She stares at Nicky, watching his chest move up and down as he takes deep breaths until her exhales are less shaky.

"Talk to us, Tillie. Please," Tey pleads with his fists gripping the chair in front of him, his own eyes watering as he watches our girl stare silently up at him across the table.

"I've had so much taken from me. I keep telling myself I'll be stronger, that I won't cr-cry anymore. But how much can a person take? How much pain? I don't know if I can do this," she rasps, her voice quiet and defeated, making my chest ache.

"You don't see it, do you?" Dom asks, his tone low, as he leans against the table on my other side to look down at Tillie.

"See what?" she asks, looking upside down at him, confused.

"What an incredible woman you are," Logan speaks up, his voice hard and angry but coming from a good place.

"Courageous. Beautiful. Inside and out," Tey chokes out, not looking away from Tillie when she peers over at him.

"Strong. Independent. Stubborn," Nicky states, his voice deep yet soft as she gazes down at his kneeling position as more tears leave her eyes.

"Sometimes stupid but brave. Sexy. Smart," I say this into her ear, nuzzling the space between her neck and shoulder.

She snorts at that, a hiccup leaving her as she tips her head back to stare up at the ceiling as she swallows hard.

"We'd do anything for you, mama. Fucking anything. You don't have to do this alone. Just lean on us because we aren't going anywhere without you." Dom only speaks the truth, saying what we are all thinking as he places his palm on her head and strokes her hair until her eyes drift closed at the feeling.

She doesn't say anything; she just rests against me with her eyes closed until she stops crying.

"He has Rig. He's baiting me to play a game that only Cruz can win," she eventually says, keeping her head tilted back on my shoulder with her eyes squeezed tightly closed. "Show them, Logan."

My brows scrunch together as I glance over at Logan, my body tensing as he pulls something small out of his jacket pocket and walks to the table to set it down in the middle so it's in plain view for all of us. I feel like we are all holding our breath, wondering what gift Cruz has sent to Tillie.

It's a finger.

"Is that-?" Nicky's voice trails off at Dom's nod, confirming whose finger it is.

"Rig. That's his ring," Tillie states in an emotionless voice.

"It's fresh. Probably a few days old," Tey says, moving to pull the chair out and taking a seat while reaching for the finger to examine it.

"Jesus Christ, Tey." Logan pinches his nose and drops heavily into the seat across from him.

Nicky sighs loudly and stands up to walk around the table until he's next to Tey. He grabs a glove from his back pocket and wraps the finger in it before heading to the wastebasket. Nicky throws it away, opens the door, and places it outside in the club bar before closing it again. He strides over to sit next to Tey and collapses into the chair without another word.

"I'm not fucking stupid. I know that sounds bad, but Tillie?" Tey asks, his voice pleading for her to look at him.

She takes a deep breath and opens her eyelids, staring straight at Tey with deep, hurt chocolate eyes.

"I'm not mad, Tey. You're only stating the obvious." She knows how morbid Tey is and how gray he sees the world.

"It means he could be alive, peaches. This gives you a chance to get him back." Tey's voice comes out with so much conviction and hope that I could almost believe that it's possible Rig is still alive even though he's in Cruz's care and missing a finger.

At least it shows that he hasn't been dead this whole time.

"He didn't leave you by choice, Tillie," I grumble softly, tightening my arms around her waist to hold her as close as possible.

"I-I can't think about this right now. Please make me forget. Please," she pleads with a broken whimper, leaving her mouth as she turns her head to bury her face into my neck.

I glance around at my brothers and see the worried expressions directed at our girl. Logan looks away from her while running a hand through his hair with a sigh, and he meets my gaze as I arch a brow at him. He stares for a second longer, seeming to struggle with what to do before he makes up his mind with a sharp gaze over his features.

"Baby girl," Logan addresses Tillie in a demanding tone that right away catches her attention.

She sits up straight, staring at Lo with wide eyes, and shivers in my lap at the command. I love that she's submissive, needing to be told what to do so she can escape everything else that is fucked up.

"Yes?" she asks in a shaky voice, soft and quiet.

"Get up on the table and lay back." Logan smirks at her, crossing his arms over his chest as she squirms on my lap.

"Do as he says," I tell her, placing my hands on her hips to stop her shifting over my dick.

I quickly stand and lift her in my arms as a small inhale of shock leaves her mouth when I place her in the center of the table. She looks around at us with wide, brown eyes and bites her lip as she slowly lowers herself flat on her back.

"Good girl. So quick to follow orders," Nicky drawls in a purr, smirking devilishly when she turns her head to the right to look at him.

"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to take off your underwear and show us that pretty, wet, tight cunt," Logan orders her, his chair squeaking as he leans back in his chair while rubbing his mouth to hide his grin from her as she leans her neck back to look upside down at him.

I stare away from him and take in the view before me. Her tan legs are slightly parted, and the hem of her red dress is pooling around her waist, so I can see her damp underwear. My cock grows harder when the material of her underwear clings to her puffy lower lips as she shifts her hips a little on the table. I groan as she grabs the waistband of her panties and lifts her ass to slide them down her legs. She dangles them on her finger and turns her head to look at Tey just before she flings her underwear at his grinning face. I shake my head as he grips the material and brings it up to his nose with a big sniff.

"How's she smell?" Dom asks in a deep voice, his accent growing thicker.

"Like something I can't wait to taste. Pure sweetness." Tey chuckles in delight at the collective moans of agony from us and pockets her panties with a wink.

"Spread your legs, baby girl, and show us what's ours," Logan demands from behind her, his knuckles gripping the edge of the table as if he's trying to hold himself back.

I feel like I'm dying, starving for her. I place my hands on the table by the outside of her bent knees and bow my head with a deep inhale, practically tasting her on my tongue already.

"And then?" she questions, biting her lip as she peers up at me.

"Ever played Russian roulette?" Tey asks, rubbing his hands together, and then produces his unicorn from god knows where, placing the stuffed animal on the table in clear view of Tillie.

"No," she responds breathlessly as I lean farther down until my shoulders bunch together beneath my leather vest and skim my nose up the soft skin of her left leg.

My eyes roll in the back of my head at the intoxicating smell of jasmine, mint, and slight hints of vanilla from her body lotion. If I didn't sound like such a creep in my own head, I'd sniff her all day like a drug addict.

"One of my favorite games of life and death. Are we doing what I think we're about to do?" Dom's lips twitch as he steeples his hands together on top of the table and watches our girl tremble when I blow hot breaths over the small crease of her knee.

"Yes." Nicky chuckles deeply and leans forward in his seat to grasp Tillie's upper thigh. She's spread out like a butterfly with the sides of her legs flat on the table.

"What are you going to do?" I watch her body break out with goosebumps as she asks that loaded question.

"We are going to see how many orgasms we can get out of you. It might be painful, but you'll come for us. Won't you, baby girl?" Logan raises a brow, almost daring her to say no.

"I'd be careful what comes out of your mouth next, little bitch. Five men to please you; we could do this all day. You have to know we don't back down from a challenge." I love seeing her dark eyes staring down at me between her legs and mouth, hanging open in shock.

This is going to be fun. I'm very competitive.