Nothing Lasts Forever (Battle Born MC Book 2) Read online

  Opening my box, I inhale the awesome aromas and feel my mouth watering. Like Vegas, it’s my first time eating too since the whole mess from yesterday. I’m feeling happy, but also sad for my friend. Vegas is a strong woman, but I know she needs a little time to process her feelings. Wouldn’t any one of us?

  “Hey, Vegas, you call me when you need me. It’s always been us against the world, and always will be.”

  “Always, Dana, there isn’t anyone I love more than you and Jenn. Just sitting here is all I need.”

  We sit in silence and munch on our lunch. Talk more about Kat and the bar. All of us are looking forward to the holidays and being together.

  Just as we finish, her mom comes barging in, with tears in her eyes, and pulls Vegas into her embrace. She whispers promises of her love and strength. I give Cindy a quick hug and leave so they can have some privacy. James, Jenn and I head out to get ready for work.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  It’s a few hours later when I pull up at The Black Rose and see that there’s a considerate number of cars and bikes in the parking lot. Smiling, I walk into the tattoo shop first.

  Battle Born Tattoo is hopping with new business. The new girl they hired as a receptionist is a beautiful, young, twenty something, brown haired, brown eyed girl. She’s always happy, and we all took it upon ourselves to call her Sunshine.

  “Hey, Sunshine, is Axl busy?” Even though I can see he’s cleaning his room, I still like to ask.

  “No, his client just left. His next one isn’t due here for another thirty.” She smiles back at me while picking up the ringing phone.

  As I walk toward his room, my stomach drops at the sight of him as I inch closer. His calm presence makes me feel comfortable, but at the same time so anxious.

  He hears me nearing him and turns around, his eyes doing a full scan of my body. I’m so happy that I wore my tight jeans, loose sweater and ankle booties. This morning, he left me with a kiss before he went to the club. We’ve never done the morning after thing. Not that I’ve ever had or felt so off around a guy either.

  “Hey, princess, you gonna hover outside my room? Or are you going to come in and say hi?” Axl leans his head to the side, enjoying my indecision.

  “I, uh, brought you some tacos for lunch. I know it’s late and they are cold by now, or, if you’re not hungry, you can always give them away.” Taking a few more steps inside, I stand at an arm’s length away from him.

  Axl takes a step forward and runs his hand up my forearm, hooking my elbow and pulling me into his hard body. His gaze is focused on mine as he takes the bag from my hand and sets it on the table next to us. My breathing deepens as his touch runs from my arms to around my back and waist. Embracing me into his hold, Axl kisses my lips, and my arms snake around his neck.

  “Thanks, Dana,” he says and kisses my forehead. “Perfect timing, I’m having a late lunch today. Why are you so worried?” He rubs his thumb between my eyes where I can feel a crease forming, then shows me his perfect white teeth in a bright smile.

  “I honestly have not a damn clue what you and I are doing. Are we seeing each other, or what is this?”

  “You planning on seeing someone else, Dana? I thought I made that pretty clear over the last few days. So, I don’t know why you’re worried…”

  I try to pull back a little and he doesn’t let me, so I continue, “I’m not used to all this. The changes… Doesn’t feel real yet I guess. I’m not used to having someone around, my mom picked drugs over me and my papa picked the club. I’ve never had a steady family life or a guy to count on. It’s all a little weird for me. I’m not seeing someone else. I’m not okay with being open to you seeing other girls either. Let’s get that out there too while we’re talking about this.”

  “Damn, woman, you really need me to lay it all out there. Would you feel better if I gave you all the words while our clothes were on?” Axl says while rubbing my back and pulling my body tighter against his.

  “Yes.” I can’t help the smile as I beam up at him.

  “Okay,” he feigns as if he’s thinking hard over it. “My princess only gets Axl, and Axl only gets his princess,” he says kissing my lips again. “I only want you, Dana, just you and me. We are a long-term thing. I want to have it all with you, but let’s see where we go. I’m definitely in your bed as much as I can.” He gives me his best predatory smile. “But I’m starving for food right now, so sit with me for a few while I eat?”

  Axl kisses my lips one more time before he turns to sit at the table next to us. Just as he has a taco halfway eaten, we hear Vegas slamming the door in as she and Blade walk in. Why are they here? Then, I hear her yelling at him, “I CAN. NOT. Believe you just asked me that!” She shrieks her disbelief and stomps down the hallway toward the back where she bangs the door closed in his face.

  “For FUCK’S SAKE, Vegas! I’m not accusing you of purposely taking too many pills! I was checking on you that you didn’t accidently take too many!” Blade yells through the door, then pushes it open and storms behind her as they continue their fighting now outside in the back parking lot. Where everyone can see and hear. Lovely.

  Axl menacingly chuckles around another bite, so I ask, “How is this fight funny, Axl?”

  “Ever since this whole thing went down, Vegas’ hormones are all outta whack. She’s fucking batshit crazy and giving Blade so much shit.” He takes another bite and continues to talk with his mouth full of food, “I love the drama, shit, it’s fucking entertaining to watch Blade squirming like a worm on Vegas’ hook.”

  I have no words. Did he just call my best friend batshit crazy? I know I should be pissed at him for talking shit about her. On the other hand, his little nosy personality is kind of cute too. I’m in so much trouble of my own here.

  Chapter 4

  Axl

  Blade sits at the head of the table, waiting anxiously to start Church as the brothers file into the room. After Cowboy shuts the door behind him, he slams the gavel on the table. The haunted and angry look on his face quiets down the noise, blanketing the room in an anxious energy.

  He looks around until he’s ready to address the issues we have. “You all have heard that Tanya and Johnny are dead. Stryker is back down south in Las Vegas, while Fuego rushed back to California to handle some urgent business. Snake stayed back along with Vegas’ mom, Cindy. Snake is staying with them when I can’t. If he can’t, Tank, you have Vegas’ watch.”

  Tank answers, “Anything for my little ninja, Prez.”

  Blade pushes on, not really hearing anything other than Tank’s confirmation. “With the fucked-up mess those two got our club involved in, we are left cleaning the shit up, so there is no blowback on us.”

  A chuckle from the back of the room interrupts Blade and has the brothers looking over to Hitch, as he says, “Vegas sure did fuck those two up the best she could. Too bad Tanya got her fine ass caught up in…” He chokes on his words as Blade abruptly stands and rushes over to stand right in front of him. His fist grabs a fistful of his cut and slams him against the wall.

  He pulls a long-bladed knife from under his cut, behind his back, and holds it up across Hitch’s face. Blade’s body is vibrating with his demon coming forward. “You wanna talk over me, Hitch? You think the shit coming outta your fucking mouth is funny?”

  He waits as Hitch denies with a shake of his head. “You also think it’s fucking smart to bring that dead as fuck cunt into the same thought as Vegas? She not only played my woman, she disrespected and sold out our club, you motherfucker.”

  He drags the blade slowly across Hitch’s face who, in turn, groans as he takes his earned punishment from the Prez. Blade drags his knife diagonally from under Hitch’s eye, down across his cheek, and stops at his chin. “Get the fuck out of here, your stupid ass is on probation, motherfucker, till you can show me some goddamn respect, to me and the brothers. Go!” Blade shoves at Hitch as Cowboy opens and shuts the door behind him.

  Blade sits back down next to
me, placing his dirty knife on the table. He’s looking for me to continue the meeting, to keep our Prez from cutting more brothers up.

  “The information we got from the dead bitch is this. She was helping Johnny all along, even in Las Vegas. She was feeding him info when she had any and was able to share. Until she got a cut in on the action. She and Skid were working together. Johnny had a gambling debt when he went to Bear a while ago and used the club to pay off his debt. Bear and Skid fucked us over in many ways. Our main concern is getting in contact with the boss of the underground at the casino, Tony Riva. That twisted fucker is going to want payment for his debt. Since Bear and Skid were in on it, Tony will more than likely see it as our problem too now that Johnny is out of the picture.”

  Blade, who’s still looking like the shell of a killer that’s holding on by a thread, turns to address Tank. “Get us a meet for as soon as possible. Tonight. If the fucker doesn’t respond, we are going after him. One way or another, I’m done. This shit ends soon.” With that, Blade hits his gavel to the table. Church is done, assholes.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The Battle Born brothers walk out from the clubhouse to their bikes. One by one, each man kickstarts the engine to their bike, the loud roar exciting the wolves that we wear on our patches and in our souls. I tie on my red bandana and put on my leather gloves, ready to roll out. The club is on a mission to fuck up anyone who dares to get in our way.

  We head out down the dark freeway. Most people are at home at this time at night, leaving the road open to a bunch of wolves and thieves. Our Prez rides out front, Tank and I follow behind him. Two by two, the club brothers back up our Prez and our club. Solo and Pawn, our number one prospects at our backs, down the freeway we roll, our momentum eating up the road.

  Walking up to the back doors of the casino, we go in from the back alley. Blade looks up into the camera as the doors unlock and slightly pop open. Blade, Tank and I are the only ones permitted into this club. A handful of brothers stay put with our bikes while another handful are watching the main floor of the casino where the tourists gamble on dime machines.

  We walk into the real part of the casino, the part the tourist never sees, where the real deals and gambling go down. High stakes and fat stacks of cash sit on the tables. Bitches in only thongs and bras wait on tables. Others strip down for high profile gangsters and business men in private show rooms. Security guards with AK’s and plenty of clips stand guard by the boss himself. Tony Riva. His black hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a black shirt and suit and tie. Over the top motherfucker.

  A couple of beautiful bitches sit at his sides, smiling at all the men who are gambling at the tables. The men in suits are smoking cigars while holding up their cards. Tony’s loud, boisterous laugh echoes around the room as he tosses his cards down and taps the blonde girl on her ass. She stands and walks away with one of the men, heading down together to one of the private rooms.

  Blade nods over to Tony, catching his attention. Tony drops the face he uses to entertain his “guests” while taking their money. He stands and hands the cash over to a guard after which he walks over to us. “Blade and the boys are here. I told Tank over the phone that we could meet later when I didn’t have so many guests in town.”

  Tony gives off a nonchalant comment, but his jaw grinds at the movement, giving away at his true emotion. The fancy suit wearing gangster is pissed because we don’t scream the high-class dollars his glitzy pussy lifestyle sells. “Since you came all the way here, let’s move our meeting to the office.” Tony walks in the direction of his office as the men gambling on the floor turn their attention back to their tables.

  Barging through his office, Tony glares over at the three of us while his guards check us for guns but miss the knives in our boots. His eyes gleam like the sadistic fuck he can be to ask Blade, “Tell me, how’s Vegas doing these days? From what I have been told, she gave as good as she got. I always loved that tough bitch, send her my regards, Blade, won’t you?”

  Blade’s fake smile comes across his own face. “No reason to make any of this shit here today personal. The ex-club president and member are both gone for the shit they got wrapped up in with Johnny. We cleaned up their shit. I’m here as a courtesy to clean this bad blood up. We are done here.” Blade turns to leave, but Tony halts his movements.

  “Not fucking likely I’m going to leave a couple million hanging out there, Blade. Johnny had a deal that associated with your club. Word gets out I let a bunch of assholes slip out on payment, then I’m fucked. Also, there won’t be a fucking man who will do business with you as soon as your name gets out for not paying the debt off that’s now on the club. You know I’m right.” The dick chuckles at the end.

  Blade straightens and turns back to face Tony. “You must be high on your own supply if you think I’m going to be selling kids for cash. Don’t give a fuck, start running your mouth about non-payment, and I’ll pass around these pics of you shaking hands with the men you bought and sold the kids from. I think we were able to find you with a few young girls yourself. You like them barely legal and no experience.” Blade’s face flashes a big fuck you in return.

  Tony takes a moment to think over what Blade said, and comes back with, “No one said we had to deal in the skin trade, kids or otherwise. The raw diamonds were easier to transport and sell. We also have a fight club, Saturday nights. I assume you would have some men to knuckle it out, fists for dollars? Each fight pays fifty grand if you win, if you lose, you get nothing.”

  Blade’s heated gaze meets mine, our signal for me to take over before his psycho tendencies take over. “We’ll fight our way through our debt. We will not take a dive for a fight. If we lose a fight, then we make nothing. But we won’t stack the odds for you either to make cash off one of us taking a beating. We’ll be in touch after we get our contacts set up with the diamonds. And, Tony?”

  Tony laughs at me and answers, “Yeah?”

  “We only owe you half, motherfucker, half of what those two assholes got into. One million for the club, in diamonds, or fists for cash, you hear me?”

  “In six months then, half the cash, then half the time. Or you owe me the other half within a year.” The devil smirks at us.

  Blade steps closer to Tony, causing the guards to raise their guns at us. Blade’s blood thirsty eyes watch Tony not flinch. “You fuck with me and my shipments, or with the men fighting, I’m coming for you, Tony. Debt or fucking not, you’re fucking dead. Don’t think I didn’t figure out you had Tanya selling out Bear too. Scamming their loads right out from under them. I smell your stench close to any of my deals, you’re fucking taking a ride with me to the mountains.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Dana

  “Hey, Tami, what’s going on?” I ask, hoping today is better than it’s been for her lately. Tami stops sweeping the floor to look up at me. She catches me off guard when I see her beautiful face and the makeup she has on that’s making her hazel eyes pop.

  “Wow, your eyes are so pretty. I love your eyeliner. Did you and Kat run to the makeup store at the mall today?” I’m genuinely interested in her day, in her new little spark.

  She looks at the floor for a moment, then back up at me before saying, “Yeah, we went shopping, and I picked up this outfit too.” She smiles before her attention is caught at the door where Solo is just walking through. He sees her before he finds her eyes just as Pawn runs into his back. Tami’s face reddens, then she looks back down to the floor, finishing her task and wanting the attention away from her.

  Kat calls from across the floor, “Hey, pups, over here.” She whistles at them like they’re little puppies. Pawn laughs and Solo glares her way. “Take this box that came for Vegas out to the brew house, and then your Prez wants you to report back to the clubhouse.”

  Solo picks up the box and looks at Tami one last time, when their eyes meet. He smiles and, nodding at her, says, “Catch you later.” He takes the package and Pawn with him out the back do
or.

  “That’s my girl!” Kat yells out pumping a fist into the air. She walks over to Tami and gives her a high five. “You have those two-pound puppies drooling over you. But, I have to warn you, if you pick a brother to make a go with you, only get one.” Kat holds up a finger lecturing her. “You’re not the kind of girl they would share.” Then, she holds her at arm’s length and says, “Good for you! I’m so excited, I am making you into the hottest little woman those little man-tards have ever seen.”

  Tami’s horrified face stares at Kat, not knowing what to say back. “Kat, I would never sleep with two guys at the same time. I am still, you know...”

  “I know, babe, and just wait, when Solo pulls his head out from licking his own balls, and figures this out, he’s going pack-man on you.”

  Tami’s face bugs out. “He’s going to eat me?”

  Kat and I roll with laughter. “Oh, honey, I certainly hope he eats the shit out of your girlie parts. But I meant, ‘pack man’ as in a wolf that protects his family. He’ll claim you. P.a.c.k. man, not p.a.c. man. Well, both actually.” She laughs out at Tami’s innocence.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Finishing up my bills on the desk, I realize that I haven’t heard from Vegas all day. Instantly, I feel like crap for not checking in with her sooner, so I send her a text.

  Me: Yo, hot pants, are you home? I’m coming over.

  After about fifteen minutes, I get a text back.

  Vegas: I’m about to watch Judge Judy without you, bitch. Hurry your ass up.

  Me: I’m going to do something to get you spanked by Blade. I’m leaving now. Pause that shit or you’re dead to me!!!

  I race over to her house in my little Volkswagen GTI, aka Rabbit. It’s normally a twenty-five-minute drive, but I make it in about fifteen. I skid into my parking spot, that’s now Blade’s. But it was mine first. Rushing through the door, I find Vegas sitting on the couch with the remote in hand. She pushes play just as the door slams shut. Laughing at me, she says, “I should text you that more often when I need you STAT!”