17. Tiberius

17

TIBERIUS

“Boss, what is going on with Kinsley? She won’t open her door,” Jock asks.

Nine stands looking out the window. I narrow my eyes and reply, “Ask Nine.”

Nine goes tense and turns slowly. “She should not have barged in!” He defends his actions. I wanted to kill him the second I saw him with Kinsley.

Jock tosses the tray of food out into the hallway. Food and cutlery crash all over the fucking newly polished floor. “What the fuck did you do?” he bellows.

Nine glances at me, which I ignore. Instead, I tell Jock, “He choked her.”

Jock growls and charges toward Nine. The man momentarily freezes, as though he can’t believe a friend is this pissed at him. Jock tackles him, sending them both crashing onto the coffee table. It buckles under their weight.

Fists fly. They curse and hurl insults at each other. Edgar runs into the room, followed by Salem and Saul.

“Break it up,” I say.

No one moves.

“Break it up!” I shout. This time, I get action. “Jock, go clean up. Everyone else, get the fuck out of my office.” Nine starts to follow. “Not you, asshole.”

Annoyed as fuck, I struggle to find words as my friend sits before me.

“You hurt her, Nine,” I growl. “Kinsley is mine. I’ve been slowly building her trust, so have the others. And now you come along and fuck it all up.”

“She’s an Edge!” He throws at me. “Why the fuck is everyone tiptoeing around that fact? I say we give her to Cannon.”

My fists clench as I slowly stand and lean over my desk. “In case you didn’t hear me, I will say it again. Kinsley is mine. I will kill anyone who harms her.”

Confused, he blinks a few times and frowns. “I’m missing something.”

“Never mind the something. I am telling you that if you touch her again, I will kill you my fucking self. Is that clear?”

“Crystal fucking clear.” He strides from the office.

I slump at my desk and rub at my aching temples.

“Beckett,” says a timid voice, “can I have a word?”

I wave Marie into the mess of my office. “What is it?”

“Please don’t be angry, no one told me it was a surprise.”

I frown and then it clicks. “You told her about the party?”

“That’s why she barged in here. She wasn’t happy about it.”

“And the day just gets better,” I mutter. “Thanks, Marie. Tell Jock I said he has to clear the mess in the hallway up.”

“He’s gathering supplies as we speak.”

I nod.

Twenty minutes later, I’m still sitting at the desk, staring at nothing, when Jock enters.

“That’s why she’s locked in her room? Because of that asshole?”

“It happened so fucking quickly. She came barging in after learning about the party.”

“Oh shit!” He sits opposite.

I look him over. He doesn’t look too bashed up.

“I can’t talk to her because she won’t open the door.”

“Nine hurt her after you promised her she would be safe. Talking isn’t going to change that.”

“Tell me something I don’t fucking know!”

“Kinsley has no friends to attend a party. She doesn’t yet know why it’s being held.”

“I’m losing control, Jock, and I don’t fucking like it.”

“Then it’s time to get it back.”

I hold his gaze and say, “Yes, it is. If she doesn’t appear by morning, I am going to break down her fucking door. In the meanwhile, I want blood.” I stand and grab my leather jacket.

“I’ll keep her safe while you’re gone.” He cracks his knuckles.

I struggle to move my gaze from the girl sitting astride my bike. She had six motorcycles to choose from and she chose mine.

“I thought you were locked in your room,” I say.

She doesn’t react to my presence, which tells me she knew I was here.

“I wanted some fresh air.” Her voice is huskier than usual. That asshole Nine really did a number on her throat.

Giving in to my need to touch her, I move in beside her and tilt her chin upward. Her sad blue eyes find mine. I let mine drop and curse like hell at the bruising on her delicate skin.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Kinsley. Seeing you hurt kills me.”

Her lips tremble and tears slowly spill down her cheeks. I move and sit astride my bike behind her. I balance us and turn her in my arms. Her legs are astride mine as I bring her close, wrapping my arms around her.

“I wouldn’t have had that happen for the fucking world.”

“I know,” she whispers. Pulling slightly away, she mops up her face with a tissue that she pulls from her pocket. “Will you take me out on your bike? I’ve never been on one before.”

I contemplate the wisdom of what I’m about to do and think, fuck it!

“I will on one condition.”

She nods and waits.

“You do whatever me or Salem tell you to do. We have a meeting.”

“I’ll follow your orders, Tiberius. I promise.”

Salem comes up behind her and plants a helmet on her head.

I laugh. “Let me.”

Removing the helmet, I wait until she’s gathered her hair in the back, and then place the helmet on her, grinning all the while I’m fastening the protection.

“Where are we going?” Kinsley asks as Salem helps her rearrange herself behind me.

“Den of Filth,” Salem says, and snorts.

“Oh, sounds kinky.”

Fuck me.

It’s fucking exhilarating having Kinsley on the back of my bike. Her tight grip around my waist, the way her legs press close to mine, and her excitement have given me one hell of a hard-on.

I will it away now as I take Kinsley’s hand. “Don’t let go.”

We enter the clubhouse. The wooden floor beneath my feet shudders as the loud racket they call music bounces off the walls. I squeeze Kinsley’s hand once more to reassure her.

Smoke fills the atmosphere from all the fucking chain smokers. Salem shoves a beer into my hand and a Pepsi into Kinsley’s before heading to the pool table. We make our way over to Prez. A couple of guys leave, and we take their vacated seats.

“What is a sweet thing like you doing with this asshole?” Prez tips his chin, indicating me.

“He’s my asshole.”

I raise a brow, and Kinsley smirks.

Prez laughs. “I like her. She will be safe here. I give you my word.”

“Appreciated.” I pause. “Edge.” I get the meeting on track.

"If you want intel on Edge, then you're going to be disappointed. I can't figure the bastard out these days, but I will tell you that I don’t think it was Edge’s men who showed up last night.” He lets that sink in, and says, “However, I will agree that something is going on with him.”

"Why?"

"I'll tell you why. Word on the street is that he wants to bring his sister into his family, and that he will kill anyone who touches her. That’s why I don’t think Edge has anything to do with either ambush. It sounds like he wants her alive, not dead.”

I glance at Kinsley, who frowns.

I sit back in surprise, a scowl on my face. "Since when has he cared for anyone but himself?" I knock my drink back, wondering who the fuck is after us.

"Like I said, I don't know anything, which means others don't either. So, my guess is whatever he does want her for, he hasn't spoken a word to anyone about it. Not even his mother or Cleo. Xavier, he would never confide in."

"There is more to it. There must be. Cannon Edge is pissed as fuck that his father betrayed his mother. Kinsley will not be safe anywhere near Edge."

"Hmm," Prez mutters. "I have something for you. But it will cost you."

"You know I always pay."

"I'll give you ten minutes with the guy in the basement." Prez smirks. "Tell Sparky I said ‘Bastille.’ That's the password."

"Who do you have?"

"Oh, you'll recognize him." He laughs. "Well, providing Sparky hasn't messed up his face yet."

“Look after Kinsley.” I stand.

“I’m going with you.” She grabs my hand while I sense Prez watching us with avid interest.

“Fuck! You stay behind me but close.” I grip her hand and head toward Salem. “We’re going down to the basement," I inform him.

"Got it." Salem may be my extra set of eyes, but he knows when to listen and when to push. Now is the time to listen, even though he doesn’t appear happy about it.

We head into the back hallway, where one of Prez's crew opens the door for us. As we descend, it takes a moment to adjust to the dim light.

I shout, "Bastille."

"Join the party, Beckett," Sparky shouts in response.

When we round the corner, I do recognize the man tied to a chair. "Wayne Jubal, what a surprise finding you here."

"Beckett, help me," he begs. "I didn't know. I swear, I didn't know. He told me to do it, but I didn't know. You have to believe me."

Sparky passes me a pair of silicone gloves. Reluctantly, I release Kinsley, tug the gloves on without questioning him, and take the offered knife.

"He cut the brakes on Jude's car,” I tell Kinsley.

She gasps. “He killed my parents!”

Sparky chuckles. “Oh, Jubal, you get two for the price of one.”

“Kill the bastard,” Kinsley hisses, looking directly at me. She reaches for the knife, but I pull my arm away in surprise.

“Trust me.”

She nods.

"Beckett, please," Jubal snivels, his voice trembling. "I didn't know."

"He cut the brakes on Pierce Edge's vehicle too."

"Oh God!" Jubal loses control of his bladder.

"You killed my brother and his wife. They were her parents.” I move closer, playing with the knife.

"No! No! It was Cannon. It was him. He killed them and his father.”

"I'm aware he is behind it all."

I flick the knife and bring it down on his hand, pinning it to the chair's arm. He screams. I remove the knife without care. A glance at Kinsley tells me she’s enjoying the show.

Fuck me!

"You left their daughter grieving for good parents. You left me angry and pissed that someone would dare kill my brother, knowing that I believe in an eye-for-an-eye."

I move behind Wayne and grab his hair, holding his head in position.

"Any last words?"

"Fuck you! It wasn't”—I slice across his throat—“Edge,” he gargles the last word.

I frown and let him go.

He's dead.

"What did he mean?" Sparky asks. "It wasn't Edge. You heard him, right?"

"He wanted to change his story in the hope we'd let him go."

"Whatever. He's dead now. I have a scene to clean up."

I wince. "Sorry about that," I say as I hand him back the knife and remove the gloves.

"The blood missed you. See you again,” Sparky says.

I grab Kinsley’s hand and bring my face close to hers. “Are you okay with what you just saw?”

“I wanted to kill him, Tiberius.”

I can’t decide whether she’s in shock or not. I lead her out of the basement and then out of the clubhouse.

“Give us a few minutes,” I tell Salem, then I tug Kinsley into the shadows. “Talk to me.

She doesn’t say anything, but she untangles our hands, grabs my face, and yanks me to her mouth. I take over the sensual kiss when her tongue probes my lips. I grab her ass and lift her. Those long legs of hers wrap around my hips as she frantically starts rubbing her jean-clad pussy on the ridge of my cock.

I go fucking hard in seconds. I try to pull away from her mouth.

“No,” she hisses. Her breathing grows heavy as she rides my dick.

I’m fucking lost.

Suddenly, she goes rigid in my arms. I capture the sound of her release in my mouth.

“Motherfucker!” I gasp. “You horny girl,” I groan, desperate to plunge my cock into her soaking cunt.

“Is there something wrong with me?”

“No way in hell. You just rocked my fucking world.”

“You’re still hard.”

I smirk. “I’ll take care of that in the shower.”

She goes quiet. “You killed the man who killed your brother, my parents. I witnessed you do that. All I wanted after that was to be close to you. My breasts felt heavy and tingly, and my pussy throbbed. I know that isn’t a normal reaction.”

I press a kiss to her sweet lips and set her back down on her feet. I don’t miss that her eyes land on my erection.

“I don’t give a fuck what is normal, but I sure as fuck am not complaining about having your horny body rubbing all over me.”

A blush deepens her cheeks. “I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. I loved every fucking second of it.” I grin. “Any time you want to get off, just climb on me. My cock is always ready when you’re around.”

She laughs. “Maybe there is something wrong with the both of us.”

“Nothing wrong with either of us, sweetheart.”