Wraith, page 5
“He’s at the warehouse in back. Go through the rear door. At the gate, tell them I sent you to Wraith. They’ll let you in.”
She slid off her stool and grabbed a ten from her pocket to set on the bar. “Thank you, Scythe. I owe you one.”
Before he could change his mind or stop her, she hurried through the bar and burst through the door marked Authorized Personnel Only. Bikers leaned against the wall with a bottle of beer. They all turned to check her out. Caroline didn’t pause but nodded and kept going toward the tall concrete walls, topped with razor wire. Scythe’s name worked like a charm at the gate. They handed her a visitor’s hard hat and sent her inside to building two.
Steadying the unfamiliar weight on her head, Caroline scanned the wide space. Spotting a large yellow two on a massive building to her right, Caroline started walking. Men zipped by on all sorts of heavy-moving equipment. The forklifts were laden with huge packing crates.
She wanted to hesitate at the door but forced herself to enter. Inside, a wide set of shoulders drew her attention. Caroline headed toward the familiar figure, completely focused on reaching him.
A loud horn burst, and a squeal of brakes behind her made Caroline jump. Whirling around, she met the gaze of the driver, who looked completely pissed. “I’m sorry!”
“You’re going to get yourself killed, lady. Get out of here,” he yelled, half hanging out of the window.
“Enough. She’s with me.” Wraith’s gravelly voice came from beside her. He stepped between Caroline and the irate driver.
“Sorry, Wraith. Keep her out of the driving lane,” The man grumped before moving on.
Caroline held her breath as Wraith slowly turned to face her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and steered her to the side. The heat of his touch made her ache inside. When he removed his hand, her heart sank. A tear escaped and tumbled down her cheek. Quickly, she dashed it away.
“Thank you, Wraith.”
“Why are you here? It’s not safe,” he growled.
“I needed to see you. You wouldn’t respond to my texts, and the guys at the door wouldn’t let me into Inferno,” she said, wringing her hands in front of her as she searched for the right thing to say.
“Sounds like you should have put the pieces together and moved on.”
“I got scared, Wraith. I was stupid. Can we talk, please?”
“Talking is overrated. You were attracted to the bad guy from the wrong side of town. You got fucked well and then decided I didn’t fit into your life.”
“Wraith, it wasn’t like that,” she protested. She had to make him understand.
“Then tell me your version.”
“You turned my world upside down,” she said. When his mouth curled downward even more, Caroline rushed to say, “In a marvelous way. I was excited. No, more than excited. No one ever treated me like you did. Like I was special.”
“Then you’re hanging out with the wrong people, Caroline.” His voice held no emotion. It was completely flat.
“I agree. I recently divorced after five years of hell. He checked off all the boxes that I thought were what I needed. I was so wrong.”
“We’re not solving anything here, Caroline. Go back home. Have a good, safe life. You’ll have a story to tell your grandchildren about your night on the wild side.”
“No.”
He shrugged those broad shoulders and looked at her like she had lost her mind. “What do you mean, no?”
Gathering her courage, Caroline stepped so close her body touched his. She grabbed his shirt as tightly as she could to hold on. “No. I’m not leaving. I won’t. It was a mistake to run away before. I won’t do it again.”
Wraith pulled off his hard hat and ran his fingers through his thick hair. “Caroline, it’s okay. I understand.”
“But you don’t. I met a man unlike anyone else. He stepped right out of my fantasies. But he was real.”
“Fantasies and real life are very different.”
“Could you forgive me for panicking? Please.” Caroline begged.
Wraith took a half step back, and Caroline moved with him. She wouldn’t let him get away without a fight.
“Okay, Caroline. I forgive you. Is that what you need to hear?”
“No. I need you to call me Precious. To hug me. Maybe spank my bottom for how I acted. I need you to not just say the words. I need you to mean them.”
He closed his eyes for several seconds before reopening them to stare back down at her. Shaking his head as if rebuking himself, Wraith wrapped his hands around her waist and asked, “What scared you?”
“The Enforcer thing. I’ve never known anyone who exists to be violent.”
“You’ve watched too many movies. I don’t go around beating people up or worse. An Enforcer’s job contains muscle, but most of it is using this muscle,” Wraith pointed to his head. “I handle disputes between members and make sure everyone is following the rules.”
“So, you’re like a police officer.”
“I guess you could look at it that way if you’d rather. I’m not going to lie to you. The Devil Daddies will use force if it’s warranted without a second thought.”
She swallowed hard and forced herself to ask, “Does that include you?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t explain. Caroline understood he wouldn’t. “I guess what’s really important is…. Do you still care about me, Wraith, or did I ruin everything?”
Wraith studied her face. Was he debating how he felt or trying to figure out if he could trust her?
He lifted a hand and cupped her jaw, threading his fingers through her hair. Seconds ticked by, as she waited for him to decide. When he shook his head, she inhaled sharply and expected the worst.
“Damn, I’ve missed you.”
The tears she’d worked so hard to hold back poured down her cheeks. “I’ve missed you too.”
“We don’t do this again, Precious. Don’t leave me without giving us time to talk things over.”
“I won’t run away. I knew I was stupid before I reached the car.”
“Don’t call yourself stupid, Little girl,” he told her as he wiped her tears from her cheeks with calloused hands.
“Wraith? You done? We need you over here.” A voice yelled from the end of the aisle.
“Fuck off, Fury,” Wraith answered without glancing away from her.
“I’ll find Vex to help,” the biker called back.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble,” Caroline whispered.
“You won’t. Vex will handle it until I show up. I’ve got something urgent going on now. It’s going to take a while. Can you wait for me?”
“Definitely. Shall I go back to the bar?” she asked.
“If anyone bothers you, tell them Wraith said Code Pink.”
“Code Pink,” she repeated so she wouldn’t forget it. Caroline hesitated for a split second before daring to ask, “Could you kiss me?”
Wraith claimed her lips with a soft, sweet kiss. It didn’t contain the heat she craved but soothed her heart. He cared about her.
Smiling, Caroline released his shirt. She’d hold on later. “Thank you for giving me another chance.”
“Go wash your face, Little girl. No more tears. I’ll be there soon,” he promised.
After retracing her steps, Caroline handed the hard hat back to the men at the door with her thanks. They didn’t ask her questions, but she could tell they’d spotted her blotchy face. She smiled to reassure them everything was okay before returning to Inferno.
“I didn’t get a call to escort you off the grounds,” Scythe greeted her as she practically skipped inside. He rose from his lean against the wall.
“No. I’m going to wait for Wraith in the bar,” Caroline told him, unsure what to say. “Thank you for helping me.”
“Call if you need something. I’m around.”
The handsome biker strode away without another word. Guessing she must have passed some test with him, Caroline headed to the bathroom to erase the tear marks from her face. She wanted to look her best for Wraith.
CHAPTER 7
Wraith spotted Caroline at the bar and headed her way. As much as he loved hanging out at Inferno, he was eager to have her all to himself. Scoping out the area, he spotted Scythe stationed near the bar, keeping an eye on her. He paused when he got close to the other biker.
“You sent her?” Wraith asked.
“You’ve been a complete ass for weeks. I figured that meant something,” Scythe answered.
“Yeah. Thanks. I owe you one.”
“Hopefully, I’ll get to collect someday. I have to find my Little first.”
“My fingers are crossed for you. I’m out tonight,” Wraith told him.
“Lucien already found a replacement,” Scythe shared with a grin.
“You talked to Lucien?”
“Nah. Lucien is aware of everything that happens on his turf. I saw the assignments update an hour ago. Take a few days away,” Scythe suggested.
“I’ll do that.”
Without another word, Wraith continued toward the special woman at the bar. He’d wanted to go claim her a hundred times over the last few weeks but knew Caroline would have to decide to accept him as he was. As the days had stretched on, he’d lost hope. When he’d turned around to find her looking adorable in that hard hat, he’d been shocked. He’d had to lock himself in place to keep from hugging her.
He placed a hand on the small of her back. “Let’s get out of here,” he stated firmly.
“I’ve kept a good eye on her, Wraith,” the cheerful bartender said.
“Thanks, Sherry. I owe you one,” Wraith told her as Caroline slid from the stool to stand next to him. He pulled his money clip from his pocket and peeled off a twenty. “Does this cover her tab?”
“Way over,” Sherry said, waving away his payment. “I’ve enjoyed getting to chat with Caroline.”
Wraith placed the bill on the counter for her. “Have a good evening, Sherry.”
Turning, he wrapped his arm around Caroline and guided her to the door. “Where’s your car?”
Caroline waved a hand vaguely around the parking lot. “I don’t remember. I wasn’t thinking too well when I came in.”
“Let’s go find it.” He steered her toward the same side she’d chosen last time. Most people followed a pattern. “Are you hungry, Caroline?”
“I could eat,” she shared, staring up at him. “Wraith, I’m really sorry.”
“No more apologies, Little girl.”
“But….”
He interrupted her, “We both made mistakes. I don’t plan on letting anything get between us again.”
Caroline nodded and put her arm around his waist. “I missed you so much. I haven’t changed my sheets. They stopped smelling like you a couple of weeks ago.”
Her sweet confession went straight to his gut. Thank goodness she’d come to him. Wraith had driven to her condo several times before veering off track. Scaring her wasn’t an option.
“I’ve missed you too. Will you come home with me, Precious?”
“I’d like that. Oh! There’s my car,” she said, pointing ahead.
Wraith made a mental note to put a tracker in her car. Then, he’d be able to find it for her easily. “Wait for me to pull up over there and then back out to follow me. Drive carefully. The guard will take pictures and need to see your driver’s license.”
He hugged her close and kissed her hard, claiming her as his. To his delight, she rose on her tiptoes to get closer to him, looping her arms around his neck. When he lifted his head, she made a quiet sound of protest that went straight to his cock. Pushing the temptation to kiss her away, Wraith forced himself to step back.
“I’ll go slow so you don’t lose me. My house is close but down a country road from here,” he warned before jogging to his bike.
In a few minutes, they were on their way. Wraith took the road that circled behind Inferno and the warehouses. The fence line surrounding the latter went deep into the woods.
Lucien had invested in a ton of land when he’d decided to open the bar. Already, the MC leader had built an additional warehouse to expand. No one, other than the Devil Daddies, was aware of this settlement. He approached the gate and waited for Caroline to pull in behind him.
“Pirate, this is Caroline. She’s mine. Let her in when she comes,” Wraith told him.
Pirate nodded and snapped a quick picture of the front of his Little’s car, including the license plate. He’d take another picture of her and her license when she reached him. “Congrats.”
Wraith advanced a bit more and let Pirate finish adding Caroline to the approved list. When the biker on duty glanced back at him and waved, Wraith drove into the complex and headed for his cabin. It was quiet now. Most of the members were rolling into Inferno for an evening of fun. A few of his brothers were in camp, of course. They’d worked overnight shifts and were recharging.
Trying to see the place through her eyes, Wraith studied the complex. It reminded him more of a campground than a biker hangout. Sure, the Devils had bikes parked in different places and a big repair shop close to the entrance, but gigantic trees arched over the paved roads shading the wooden cabins they passed, giving the complex a tranquil feel. Strands of white, round bulbs illuminated the paths at night. Rustic and peaceful—it was an oasis hidden from view.
He pulled into his driveway and triggered the garage. After stashing his bike at the side of the large space, he waved Caroline to pull in next to him. He grabbed a remote from the drawer in his workbench and quickly added a tracking device to the clip. Walking to the driver’s door, he handed the device to her.
“Put this in your glove box. You hit the big button to raise and lower the door,” he told her.
“Oh, I won’t come here without you,” she promised, hesitating to follow his directions.
“This is safe ground. You are welcome any time. Go ahead. Put it in your glove box.” After she’d followed his directions, he opened her door and helped her slide out of the driver’s seat.
“Is that why that guy took pictures of me and my car?”
“Yes. Visitors are allowed only if a Devil has vouched for them.”
“This is your place?” she asked, looking around the neat garage.
“It is. Come in, Caroline. Let me make you some dinner and we’ll talk,” Wraith suggested.
“I’d like that, but I can help.”
“Not going to happen, Little girl. Daddy cooks,” he told her bluntly. She needed to understand from the beginning that he was in charge. Especially in his home.
“Okay. Maybe you’d let me set the table?”
“I think I could be sweet-talked into that.”
He led her out of the garage and to the front door. After twisting the knob, he pushed the door open. Wraith turned to Caroline and swept her off her feet. Before she could protest, he carried her into his home. He closed the door with his elbow before walking to his favorite chair.
“Wraith, I’m not a bride,” she said in surprise.
“You are the first woman I’ve brought home,” Wraith told her as he sat down.
“Really? How long have you lived here?”
“Three years.”
He loved the shock on her face. “What?” Her elbow struck him sharply in the ribs as she struggled to sit up straight. In self-preservation, Wraith wrapped his hands around her waist to boost her into position.
Caroline stared at him. “You haven’t had anyone in your house for three years?”
“I’ve had sex in that time period, Precious. I haven’t brought them to my cabin.”
“Why not?”
“The Devils decided when this compound first went in that we weren’t using it as a hotel. This is our home. Everyone is welcome to bring someone important here, but it’s not the place for flings.”
“I’m not a fling?” she asked.
“You are not. You’re my Little girl.”
“I can’t believe I screwed this up so badly,” she whispered.
“You were very brave to come to Inferno today. Crafty too, since you’d visited before.”
“You were aware I’d been there and let them turn me away?”
“Yes. Were you ready then to take me as I am?” he asked, studying her expression.
“Yes. Well, probably.”
“I wanted you to be happy, Caroline. It seemed obvious that having me in your life would create tension and problems. I didn’t want that for you,” he told her.
“But you were unhappy.”
“Yes.”
“You were going to let me go, so I’d be… happy?” she asked and then shook her head. “I think we both deserve to enjoy life.”
“Let’s set that as our goal. Now, I’m grilling steaks for dinner. How do you like yours cooked?”
“Medium rare.”
“The best way to make a steak. Now, mac and cheese or potatoes?”
“I love mac and cheese but only the kind in the blue box.”
“You’ll try my homemade dish soon, but I have a box stashed in my pantry,” Wraith admitted.
“Can I have a tour of your house?”
He immediately shook his head. “Too much temptation. Wander anywhere you wish, Precious. I’m not going to step a foot into any room with a bed with you until you’re fed.”
“We could skip….”
“Did you eat breakfast and lunch?” he asked sharply.
“No,” Caroline admitted.
“Dinner first. Go explore. I’ll get the grill fired up and the water boiling.”
CHAPTER 8
When Wraith moved into the kitchen, Caroline checked out the room. The chair they’d sat in was obviously his favorite. Oversized and heavily padded, it had welcomed her like an old friend. Next to it sat a thick spy thriller on a handy end table with a lamp. She smiled at the thought of Wraith reading in a pool of light. He was definitely so much more than she’d expected from a biker.
Something was missing. She scanned the family room again. A bookshelf full of reading material stood against the far wall. Wait!
