by Vi Keeland
The words sting, but I know he’s right. I left at the hardest time in their lives. Just vanished without so much as a goodbye. I made sure no one would be able to find me. I had to, though, it was the only option.
“You think I wanted to leave?” I slam my hands into the station in front of me before swinging my arm across it, knocking everything to the floor. “If that’s what you believe then maybe you’re right. I should just stay away.”
Phoenix flares her nostrils, looking as if she has something to say, as another tear rolls down her cheek. A tear that I wish I could just reach over and wipe away like old times.
Instead, I lower my head to my hands and lean against the station. “I’m sorry,” I say defeated.
“Bye, Kellan,” Phoenix whispers. “I just. I just have to go. I can’t stay here any longer.”
By the time I look up again, they are already out the door, walking over to a silver truck.
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” I reach for Adric’s binder and sling it across the room into the glass display. Grabbing the drawer full of ink and equipment, I throw it across the room towards Tyler’s station against the wall, causing ink to splatter. Still full of anger, I turn and punch the mirror above my station, shattering it to the floor.
Tyler walks in wide eyed and throws his hands on the top of his head. “What the hell, Kellan?”
Ignoring him, I reach for my leather jacket and run out the door for my motorcycle; my only escape.
* * *
I pull my bike into the driveway and push down the stand. Throwing my leg over the bike, I pull my helmet off and sling it down onto the blacktop. The hurt and anger that is burning through me right now is almost enough to set the world on fire and leave it in a pile of ashes.
How the hell did they just come out of nowhere and mess everything up? Things were going fine. I was getting by fine all by myself. They just had to walk through that door and kill the little bit of me that was left, leaving my world in shambles.
Reaching in my pocket, I push the button on the garage door, watching as it slowly opens, wishing with everything in me I could just turn back time and make everything right. That won’t happen though, because that would make me a dreamer, hoping for the impossible.
Knowing there’s no use in going back, I get ready to step inside the garage, but am surprised when I see two shadows approaching from the side of the house. Even though I know it’s impossible that Kade and Phoenix have found me, I still can’t help that little part of me that wished it were true.
“Hey guys… “
My words trail off as two ugly as shit men round the corner, one holding a chained wallet in his hand and the other licking the spit from off his crusted lips. I would recognize those assholes from anywhere. How could you miss a six foot five beast with long, black stringy hair and so many scars you can barely recognize a human face under all that shit? Not to mention his little sidekick, a short, fat fuck with his stomach hanging so low to the ground you would think his knees would get stuck in his gut when he walks. I always knew it would only be a matter of time before they found out I was back. Again, I just didn’t expect it. I guess today is just full of surprises.
“What do you two sorry fuckers want?”
I stand up straight as they both launch at me, the short fat one fighting to keep his pants up.
“Whoa now boys.” I throw my arms up in surrender as they corner me inside of the garage. “I didn’t realize you missed me that bad.”
I can smell the heavy stench of Whiskey and weed that linger from their dirty clothing and I know they’re not in any kind of mood to take my crap.
Larry, the giant, grabs for shrimp dick Kenny’s wallet and wraps the chain around my neck as Kenny holds my arms back, pulling tightly.
“What are you doing back, huh?” Spit flies in my face as he leans in close and pulls the chain. It’s hard to breathe, but I’m not letting these two jerk offs leave happy. “You know you’re not allowed anywhere near here. You didn’t think we wouldn’t find out, did you?” Thank fucks sake that damn tattoo shop is so close to our new favorite bar. “Guess we’re pretty damn lucky, right?”
They both laugh as I cough, gasping for air. “Fuck you,” I choke out.
I must’ve pissed them off more because Kenny twists my arms into an uncomfortable position before kicking my legs out so I’m down on my knees now, my head being forced backwards by Kenny’s elbow. “Cape sends a message.”
A fist connects hard against my right eye sending me backwards, the chain digging even deeper into my neck, before a knee slams into my abdomen, causing me to spit out a little blood. It hurts like hell, but I won’t give them the pleasure of knowing.
“Would anyone else like to take a swing at me today? I don’t think I’ve had enough,” I choke out as the chain unwraps from my neck, causing Larry to push me to the ground so I’m lying with the heel of my boots digging into my back.
He leans in close and smiles, revealing his blackened teeth and I flinch at the foul smell that lingers on his breath. “You have three weeks to leave or you’ll be getting another visit and next time you won’t be so lucky. You’re lucky you’re even getting that and that’s only because Cape wants to see you suffer for a little bit. You know how that brings him pleasure.” He winks and gives me one last shove, before turning to leave. “Enjoy your time, mother fucker.”
I roll over, cough a few times and spit as they hold the wallet up, and laugh to each other. “Anything else that bastard wants to say that he couldn’t come say himself?” I growl out, pushing myself back to my feet and spitting out more blood.
Larry laughs sadistically, turns back around, grabs me by the jacket and slams me against the wall. “You think this shit is funny, don’t ya, you stupid fuck?” He turns around as if he’s about to walk away, but then stops when Kenny pushes his elbow into my neck, holding me against the wall. “Oh. He has plenty more to say.” He spins around and swings his fist, connecting it hard against my jaw. The same damn spot that Kade packed a good punch at just about twenty minutes ago.
Fuck! I’m going to be sore tomorrow.
“Come on Kenny. Let’s get the hell out of here before we kill this shit head.”
“Next time you’re going to wish you had.” I bend over, placing my hands to my knees and spit a few times from the blood pooling in my mouth. I watch the assholes walk down the street and hop into a tiny Mazda, beat to hell and back.
Seeing them two is a sure sign I’m going to get my ass killed. I should’ve been smarter and stayed away like I promised. A promise made before the two most important people waltzed back into my life. How can I leave now? I can’t, not after seeing her and as selfish as it may be, I won’t. At least not yet.
I have barely been inside long enough to strip down to my briefs and get an ice pack, when the doorbell rings, causing Rayne, my chocolate colored beauty, to growl. She’s standing at full alert, her pink lips back, exposing her sharp canines and staring over at the door.
“Down, girl. Shh, take it easy.”
I pull the icepack from my face and stand up, placing my hand on Rayne’s collar. “It’s okay, girl. Stay here and let me see who our visitor is.”
She lets out a whimper and plops back down to the ground while watching my every movement. She’s had my back since I found her two years ago, injured. Someone abused her and left her to die. She’s really protective, but I have trained her well enough for her to know her place. Most people take one look at this well-muscled Pitt and make a run for it. Deep inside, though, she’s a softy, just a big ol’ teddy bear.
Running my hand over my chest and stretching, I look through the shades to see Maxine standing there in a long black jacket and a pair of red heels, looking seductive and ready to pounce.
Usually, I would welcome a little surprise visit like this, especially after the day I’ve just had, but right now, I’m just not feeling it. Even sex can’t fix this disastrous day. Even if it could, after getting a look at
Phoenix only half naked, I knew Maxine wouldn’t compare. I’m in deep shit after seeing her that way.
Exhaling, I reach for the door and pull it open, my eyes landing on her breasts that are popping out of the top of her jacket. “I see you remembered where I live,” I say calmly.
Twirling one of her red curls, she leans into the doorframe while unbuttoning the top buttons of her jacket, exposing more of her plump breasts. “How could I forget?” Her head turns up, her eyes meet my bruised face, and she suddenly looks terrified. “Holy shit! What happened?” She takes a step forward and reaches for my face. “Was it Nathan? Did he-”
I push her hand away and huff, while placing the icepack back to my face. This girl is crazy if she thinks that pussy could have caused this kind of damage. “No sweetheart, it would take more than that scared little pussy to throw me around,” I say sarcastically.
I turn and walk through the house with Maxine’s heels echoing off the hardwood floor behind me. Rayne gets ready to stand up and growl, but I place my hand up, stopping her as I plop back down onto the leather couch and throw my icepack on the coffee table. Maxine stops dead in her tracks when she notices Rayne for the first time. “Whoa, is your dog going to bite me?” She takes a step back, almost tripping over her own shoes.
“No, she’s fine.” I snap my fingers and point down the hallway. “Go lay down, Rayne.”
Rayne scrambles to her feet, panting, before taking off down the hallway and turning right into her bedroom.
Pain is shooting through my face again and throbbing almost as if I can feel the bruise spreading over my eye and it’s beginning to swell shut. It hurts like hell. I just want to take some painkillers and go to sleep, but now I have to deal with this shit.
Maxine is standing here in front of me practically naked as she gets down on her knees in front of me, but all I can think about is what Phoenix and Kade are doing.
“It looks like it hurts.” She runs her hands up my thighs slowly, kneading as she goes. She leans in to run her tongue over my abs, her warm breath causing my dick to get hard. “Let me make it feel better.”
Something inside of me wants to push her away, but yet, for some reason I don’t. There’s no denying the fact that my cock could use some play time and as she said, she wants to make it feel better. So why not let her?
She runs her hands over my briefs before placing her fingers under the band so she can pull them down. I lift up allowing her to pull them down, my cock springing free. She grabs it in her hand and looks up at me with hooded eyes, licking her lips. It looks so big in her tiny hands and I’m wondering what she expects to do with it. Most girls take one look at its size and shy away, but she looks un-phased.
“It’s so big and hard for me.” She moans. “I want it in my mouth. Deep in my throat, baby.” She starts stroking her hand up and down my length with one hand and she sits back to unbutton the rest of her jacket with the other. She lets go long enough to slide it off, then takes hold of it again. I lean back, resting my head against the back of the couch. She runs her tongue along the length of my shaft, then swirls it around the head of my cock. She then wraps her warm lips around it, sucking it half way in before swirling her mouth around it.
A deep growl sounds in my chest as I grab the back of her head and slowly move it up and down at a steady pace before pushing my hips up, hitting her in the back of the throat. I can feel her spit dripping down my balls.
“You like the way my dick tastes?” I pull her head back and she suctions until it pops free. She slowly runs her tongue over her lips as if savoring the taste.
“It tastes so fucking good. The best dick I’ve ever tasted.” She grips my thighs before placing her mouth back over my cock, sucking, and moaning so hard it almost makes me lose my control for a minute.
I hold back knowing she won’t be able to handle it. She can barely even fit half of it in her tiny mouth and I’m lucky she’s even giving it a shot.
Wrapping her hair around my hand, I stand up and pull her head back slowly, before pushing my way back into her mouth again, this time causing her to choke a little, but she seems to like it.
She picks up pace and after about ten minutes of her sucking and swirling her tongue around my cock, I finally feel a tug on my balls. I can’t help but to push up with my hips.
“I’m about to blow,” I warn her, giving her one chance to stop. She sucks harder and that’s all it takes before I feel the pulsing through my dick, emptying my load in her mouth. She sucks one last time, up the shaft of my dick, licking me clean at the head like a pro.
I moan, it’s such a turn on. “I guess you really did like the taste,” I say, raising an eyebrow as she stands up and wipes her mouth off.
“It was delicious.” She runs her hands up my chest and leans in, pressing her lips against my neck. “I want you inside of me, I need more.”
Although I’m thankful for what she just did, I just can’t bring myself to have sex with her. Maybe I’m just tired or maybe it’s the throbbing pain in my face. Who knows, but I have a feeling it’s neither. Whatever the reason, it won’t be happening tonight.
I reach for my briefs and look back at her, waiting for me to give her approval. I place my hand on her chin and pull it up so she’s looking me in the eye.
“I can’t tonight. It’s not a good night.”
A look of disappointment takes over her soft features.
“That’s okay.” She smiles trying to hide the rejection. “Maybe another time.”
I reach out and extend my hand to help her up. She takes my hand and puts on her jacket before buttoning it back up. Then she places her hand on my cheek, reaches in and kisses me by the mouth. Giving me one last look, she turns heading for the door but pauses, looking over her shoulder. “You’re going to make someone extremely happy one day.” She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “She’ll be one lucky girl. You try to be tough, but I see how you treat me and I’m not even your girl, you’re one of the good guys and that’s a rare find. If you change your mind, my number’s on the table.” She reaches for the handle and opens the door.
Yeah, she might’ve been right eight years ago, but not so much now. That person died along with my best friend.
She starts to walk out the door. I smile at her while leaning against the side of the couch. “Take care, Maxine.”
The door closes behind her and I almost want to punch something at the first thought that runs through my head. What if Phoenix is doing the same thing to Kade right now?
Dammit, I’m fucked.
Chapter Seven
Phoenix
It’s been two days since stepping foot into that tattoo shop and still, I can’t seem to get the image of Kellan out of my mind. Seeing him was like walking off the deep end of a pool and not knowing how to swim. It felt as if I were suffocating, drowning in my own emotions with no escape route. I wasn’t sure if I should’ve been angry, sad, confused or happy; therefore, I settled for all of the above.
As soon as I set sight on those amber colored eyes and that dimpled smile, I knew there was something familiar there, like coming home. To be honest I had given up hope years ago, thinking I would never see that face again. That’s the one thing that keeps me from being angry, though I know I should be. I know he’s alive and that means something. It’s really amazing how eight years really changes someone. I almost didn’t recognize him.
He’s no longer that charming twenty year old with the spiky hair, clean shave, and fancy clothing I used to daydream about. Now he’s sexy as hell, manly, muscled and inked with eyes that scream pain. I remember that scar through his eyebrow and the unfamiliarity of it. It was what was missing all those years ago. It leaves me with so many unanswered questions, such as, what has he been through over the years or where has he been? I wonder what kind of person he was or who he’s been with. Could he have changed that drastically, from the boy that used to protect me and make me laugh at my lowest? Is he still that boy that used to st
and up for Adric and take blame for his wrong doings? Who is this new Kellan and do I want to find out? Will I even get that chance, or will he run again?
I still remember the day he disappeared, also the day that Adric died. My parents got a phone call from Dale saying Kellan’s car was found smashed up on the side of the road about three blocks away from my house and he was nowhere to be found. The cops, his parents, family and friends searched for him for days without any luck. No one knew if he was dead or alive. Hell, he could’ve taken off and bled to death somewhere with no one to help him.
I took off running the streets, barely keeping my sanity while searching for Kellan with the belief that if anyone could find him, it would be me. I searched everywhere that I could think of: The park, their secret place in the woods, the school, the old hangout spot. You name it, I went and looked. When every place came up empty, I had a nervous breakdown. Rumor was he couldn’t handle living without Adric and went crazy, crashing his car to take his own life or some shit. They were like brothers. The thing is, I didn’t just lose one that day, but two best friends. I had already lost Adric and I couldn’t cope with losing them both. I was dead inside, hollowed out. I just wanted to be lost and never found.
Kade eventually found me in the woods at their favorite place. I was broken and a total mess, crying my eyes out while staring up at the tree house Adric built when I was nine. He somehow pulled me out of the trance I was in. After that, he became my rock and my best friend, helping me to stay strong. It wasn’t the same as having Adric and Kellan, but he was all I had left. Him and Jen, but I was different.
Now, after eight years, here Kellan is, close to town, owning a tattoo shop named after my brother, and yet he couldn’t even contact us. The thought alone feels like a knife to the chest at the hands of the one you love. Doesn’t he understand the hand we were dealt or the hell I’ve walked through?