Sour Cherry Read online

  He came back with loaded bags and placed them on the floor. “Here.”

  “What’s this?” I reached for one of the colorful bags, a blue one, and pulled out something soft.

  “You needed clothes.”

  Shock overcame every sense in my body and mind. “Did you buy the whole damn store?” Six bags sat in front of me, each with a different designer label and each completely full.

  “I wasn’t sure what you’d like,” he said. Cooper stared down at the bags as he ran a hand through his hair. “So I got a little bit of everything.”

  Add another item to Column B.

  This was weird. Very, very weird.

  ****

  My first night in the safe house turned out to be a disaster.

  One twin-sized bed.

  Two people.

  One of which couldn’t keep her damn hands to herself.

  That would be me.

  When I woke, I found myself draped over the exact place I’d found my number one lay of all history. Apparently even in my sleep I was a whore.

  I slowly tried to maneuver out of the bed without waking Cooper. After all, I’m sure I kept him up all night. First, I removed my hand from his groin. Second, my legs from the top of his. Then I tried to climb over him. In the end, my strength failed me.

  Just as Cooper opened his eyes, my whole body plastered itself onto his.

  I wrenched myself off him so fast, I landed on the floor.

  Hard.

  Carpet was a bitch to land on when the padding had been removed out from under it. I remained motionless on the floor, staring at the ceiling. The throbbing in my face increased and I tried to will the pain away

  Unsuccessfully.

  “If that was your attempt to seduce me, it sucked.” Cooper smiled down at me from the bed with an awful, but charming, crooked smile.

  My eyes fluttered toward the camera. “Who’s watching those?”

  “Nobody. I review the footage from the day every night.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be watching this later?” His laugh made me grind my teeth and throw my arms over my eyes.

  “Over and over.”

  I groaned and uncovered my eyes, still gazing at the ceiling. I couldn’t look at him right now. Not after what he’d just seen. “And yesterday, too?”

  Cooper got out of the bed, naked from the waist up. He bent over, that damn smile still in place. “I already watched it. Do you want to know how many times?”

  Another groan escaped my throat. “No.”

  He offered me a hand. “Come on, Filatova. Let’s get some food in you to bring back some of your color.”

  I didn’t miss the gymnast jab as I took his hand. When I made it upright, I rubbed my eyes clear of sleep. “You watch gymnastics?” I asked from behind my hands.

  “Of course I do. Those women are hot.”

  I followed Cooper into the kitchen, my eyes glued to his backside. Even with clothes on, he still managed to make my heart race. And wasn’t that just perfect? My conversation with Trish replayed in my head.

  He’s off limits.

  Ha. Wonder what she’d say now considering I’d technically defected. Not to another side. Just defected. I scooted onto the only barstool at the counter. “What’s for breakfast?”

  “Omelet.”

  An unwelcome laugh shot through my nose then turned into a whimper. I cradled either side of my nose with both hands. “Oh, God. Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”

  I worked to control my laughter while still imagining this lean, scruffy-looking man crack a delicate egg. It seemed impossible.

  “Hurts that much, huh?” he asked.

  I righted myself, catching a brief glimpse of concern shadow his features. “Imagine having a skateboard slammed into your face.”

  “Is that what happened?” He busied himself with wiping down the pan in his hand with a dishtowel. “Can only imagine what you did to the poor schmuck.”

  I didn’t want to go into the specifics of my encounter with Blondie. Besides, nobody wanted to hear they had a hit out on their life. I’d save Cooper that paranoia and fear. I couldn’t explain my need to hide it from him except for the fact I was the one who’d been paid to kill him. I changed the subject. “You cook?”

  Cooper froze, pan in one hand and cheese in another. “What’s so funny?”

  “I just can’t imagine it is all.”

  “Another bit of information you didn’t bother to learn during our acquaintance the other night.” He prepared breakfast as if he hadn’t just offended me. I deserved it in all honesty, but subtly labeling me as a whore didn’t sit well.

  Most of the time, my hard outer shell repelled insults like that. This time, however, his words sank in deep. I couldn’t explain why. It was almost like I cared what he thought of me.

  Cooper placed a finished omelet, complete with onions, peppers, mushrooms and all, in front of me.

  I had half a mind to refuse it, but I hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. I took an experimental bite. Despite our differences, his cooking was fantastic. I tried not to moan in pleasure. God only knew what my face looked like. “So what’s the plan?”

  He took a bite of his own, chewing methodically, but refused to meet my gaze. “What plan?”

  His question nearly made me choke on a piece of omelet. “The plan to keep us from dying of high-speed lead poisoning.”

  “Us?” Cooper chuckled. “I have nothing to do with this. I gave you a place to crash for the night. That’s it.” Shoving the last of his omelet in his mouth, he turned and loaded his dishes into the sink. Not so much as a glance in my direction.

  “You’re kicking me out?”

  Chapter Four

  So much for sanctuary.

  I growled in frustration as I ripped the bandage off my nose. The pain had dulled, but it didn’t help my mood. Cooper was such an ass. What the hell did I see in him? In the safe house’s small bathroom, I changed into the clothes he’d purchased and used the hand soap to clean up. Not one for anything other than mascara, I washed my face, carefully avoiding the already-lightening bruises under my eyes.

  The denim shorts and oversized skull T-shirt were actually comfortable. And tasteful. I slipped on a pair of gold sandals and pushed my hair back. The sandals made me smile. They fit perfectly. What can I say? I love shoes, booze, and boys with tattoos.

  I actually looked human when I’d finished.

  More pros seemed to be making their way into my list rather than cons. I hadn’t hooked up with Cooper for anything serious. In all honesty, I'd just needed to blow off some steam. But Cooper had given me a place to crash, food and clothes. Not to mention a serious outlet for my stress. His hardened exterior didn’t fit the bill.

  Three rapid knocks echoed across the apartment.

  The front door.

  This was a safe house. Logic demanded that Cooper not reveal the location to anyone, but I didn’t know him very well, as he’d pointed out several times.

  I turned to open the bathroom door when it jerked open on its own.

  Cooper stood on the other side, his eyes somber. He shoved a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun into my hands. Black, sleek, and strong, the gun weighed me down. “Don’t leave this room. Don’t make any noise.”

  “What's going on?” I gripped the barrel of the gun with one hand and automatically found the trigger with my index finger.

  He didn’t answer and closed the door as another round of knocking filled the silence, a revolver in his left hand. His retreating footsteps kept in time with my pulse.

  I’d never been a good shot, but I imagined he knew that considering he’d handed me a weapon that could blow a six-foot wide hole in a wall. I’d run from the club to avoid this type of conflict. Not be pinned down in a stranger’s bathroom with it. I swallowed the lump in my throat and sidestepped into the bathtub, drawing the shower curtain around me.

  Muffled conversation made its way into the bathroom, followed by t
he sound of multiple sets of footsteps on the hardwood floor. Quick, sharp taps of some kind rang in my ears. Peeking around the shower curtain, I watched shadows cross the faint light seeping under the door.

  “What’s this room?” a familiar voice asked.

  Defeat nearly overwhelmed me.

  Of course the club had sent Talon.

  As if a hundred pound weight on my chest wasn’t enough, my hands started shaking. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the cool shower tile. The freezing temperature brought some peace, but not a lot. The shotgun trembled in my hands. Talon would find me in here, drag me out by my hair, and present me to Ryder. My president wouldn’t do the dirty work, however. No. Talon had taken the job voluntarily when sworn in. Always the people-pleaser.

  “Bathroom,” Cooper answered. “Nothing special.”

  My eyes shot open when the doorknob rattled. I forced my hands to still and brought the shotgun around toward the door. The barrel leveled with the doorknob. In this position, the kickback could break my hip, but I didn’t trust my strength to hold it up right now.

  “Open it.” Another familiar voice. Amelia.

  Damn it all to hell.

  I didn’t remember locking the door. Maybe Cooper had. Random thoughts crossed my mind in those agonizing seconds. Would Cooper open the door? Give me up? How’d they find me?

  Short gasps filled my ears. Mine. I was on the verge of hyperventilating. I searched the small space for a way out. Just like the bathroom at the clubhouse, the small window set into the outside wall was too small for me to fit through. My eyes locked on a vent in the ceiling.

  Without a second thought, I scrambled out of the tub, setting the shotgun against the wall silently.

  “Won’t open,” Cooper said from the other side of the door. His attempt to buy me time went into the pro column. I’d have to thank him for that if I survived the next few minutes.

  Leveraging myself on top of the toilet, I reached for the vent cover. Of all the things I’d planned on doing today, climbing into a vent hadn’t been one of them. I’d never complain again about my life being boring. Ever. The metal cover dropped open, its hinges screaming in protest.

  “What was that?” Talon asked.

  I didn’t have time to think of the consequences of the sound. I jumped down from the toilet, grabbed the shotgun and climbed back up. Thuds reverberated throughout the bathroom as someone, presumably Talon, tried to shoulder their way in. I shoved the shotgun inside the vent as carefully as possible. I didn’t want it going off accidentally. With one last glance toward the bathroom door, now cracking under pressure, I lifted myself up into the vent with help from the bathroom counter and scurried inside completely.

  My skin caught on sharp edges of metal as I pushed myself backward into the vent. I tried not to cry out as I used my remaining strength to pull the vent cover shut behind me.

  The bathroom door slammed open. Footsteps crossed the space and I stared down onto Talon’s full head of dark, curly hair.

  He wrenched the shower curtain aside. “Nobody’s here.”

  Amelia came into view. “She has to be here. Tweeker or not, Lilia said she saw her and she wouldn’t lie to me. I pay a lot to keep her little habit going.” She turned around, hands on hips. Her bracelets clinked as she moved. “Where is she?”

  I assumed she’d spoken to Cooper who still hadn’t entered the bathroom.

  “Don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  Talon ripped the bathroom cabinets open, emptying everything onto the linoleum. “I’ll check the other rooms again. She might have moved.” He left in a rush, carrying his gun in one hand and a knife in the other.

  Amelia took two steps out of my sight. “Come on, Cooper. We know about the other night. You and that little bitch hooked up. What’d she tell you?” She paused. “She tell you where the exchange was? Is that how S.A. got the jump on us?”

  I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

  They thought I’d passed on club secrets? My heart plummeted into my stomach. Is that what all this was about? Impossible. The exchange went south before I’d met Cooper. I’d gone to the bar because of that. Unless—

  “Like I said before, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Nobody’s here.” Cooper’s voice remained calm.

  I envied him that. I didn’t dare slide further into the vent, despite my uncomfortable position and the fact my left arm had fallen asleep. The steel of the gun cut into my bare leg. I shifted slightly, and the vent groaned beneath my weight.

  Amelia’s gaze shot upward. “Clever bitch.” She stormed out of the bathroom.

  Cooper appeared beneath the vent, small portions of his shoulder tattoo peeking out from under his collar. He glanced upward then back toward the bathroom door. “Move toward the front of the house. Take the gun with you. I’ll meet you there.” He disappeared.

  I didn’t have the chance to ask him how the hell I was supposed to do all that. Barely a foot and a half in width and two feet tall, the vent offered little room for me to move anywhere. Then again, anything could be accomplished when your life was on the line.

  “She’s in the vents.” Amelia’s voice sent a chill down my spine. “Get her out. I’ll be in the car.”

  If I didn’t do what Cooper instructed, I’d mostly likely end up as hamburger. I pushed the shotgun in front of me and shuffled after it. A few feet away, the vent turned, presumably toward the front of the house. I followed it, my knees burning from the friction against the metal.

  The first shot ripped through the vent directly in front of my face.

  A scream escaped my throat as I covered my ears.

  “Come on, Cherry. At least make it a challenge.” Talon’s voice had gone ice-cold. His protectiveness tended to disappear once he’d been ordered to kill someone.

  When I was able to open my eyes, tears slid silently into my mouth. The salty addition to the sour taste coating my tongue nearly made me gag. Then again, it could have just been the flavor of fear. I remained motionless, too shocked to continue. I couldn’t control my breathing and didn’t know if another shot waited for me to make my move. Cooper had instructed me to get to the front of the house, but in all honestly, I didn’t see myself making it out of the bathroom.

  “Cheeeerrrry,” Talon sang. “I can hear you breathing.”

  A second shot made the vent scream and searing pain burned down my arm.

  The bullet hurt worse than a skateboard to the face.

  I tried not to scream, but failed. The shriek resonated around the vent, effectively making my ears ring. I’d never been shot before. In my dreams I imagined it playing out differently, but in reality, I turned to mush. Sobs caused my shoulders to shake as I tried to stop the bleeding in my arm with my hand.

  At age twenty-six, I’d die in a vent by the hands of the man sworn to protect me as a member. At least one of my last days included the best sex of my life. The thought made me giggle or it could have been the hysterics starting. Either way, I’d die happy.

  Scuffling footsteps below cleared the haze enveloping my mind. Black spots danced in my eyes as I struggled to flip over onto my back. I wasn’t going anywhere, but if they wanted to present my body as a trophy to the club, they’d have to pull me out of the vent. A thump inside the bathroom made me flinch. Only my shallow breathing followed.

  The black spots grew larger. While I couldn’t exactly determine every detail of my final resting place, I didn’t remember it being so dark. The scuffling had ended. Perhaps the shots had made me deaf.

  A thump claimed my attention away from the pain in my arm as if a body had dropped to the floor. But not for long. Blood puddled beneath me and suddenly, I had the strength I needed to get the hell away from it. I’d never been a fan, and the coppery scent invading my sinuses made me gag. I worked my way back toward the opening in the bathroom ceiling.

  Silence. I couldn’t see anything in my limited vision either.

  Either Talon would be
waiting for me when I dropped to the floor or I’d have luck on my side for once. I could only hope he’d moved onto a better position in the house. That way I’d at least have a chance.

  I lowered my legs through first, using my remaining strength in my arms to keep me from falling. I gritted my teeth to hold back the scream aching for release. I pushed my torso over the edge of the vent and my arms gave out. The bullet wound flashed hot, then cold, and hot again as I landed on the linoleum with a loud thud. If Talon had any doubts about my location, I’d just handed him the gold.

  I froze, my gaze locked on the man in front of me.

  Talon had waited for me, but not of his own choosing.

  His lifeless body took up most of the bathroom’s small space, his gun in his hand, eyes wide. The white Outriggers crest had been smeared with blood. I hadn’t heard a gunshot, which left only a knife capable of that kind of damage.

  “What the—?”

  “Come on!” Cooper rounded the corner, his hand outstretched toward me.

  “You did this?” A small part of me bathed in sorrow as I bent down and closed Talon’s eyes. Despite the fact he’d tried to kill me, he’d always been kind.

  Cooper didn’t answer as he took my hand and ripped me from the floor. “They’re coming.”

  “Who?” I fought to keep pace with him as we bolted down the hallway and through the front door. I’d left the shotgun behind, but couldn’t have run with it anyway. The gleam of metal caught my eye as we ran for Cooper’s bike. His knife, coated with bits of red, remained in his free hand.

  He threw a muscled leg over his bike, turned the key and backed out of his parking space. Cooper motioned me to get on.

  “What the hell did you do? Who’s coming?”

  Quickly removing his leather cut and shoving it in his bike’s side pocket, he glanced over his shoulder.

  Before I could ask what had caught his attention, my favorite sound in the world assaulted my ears. A mob of motorcycles tore its way down the street. I recognized several of the bikes, but over half I’d never seen before. Fear clenched my heart and stopped my breath.

  “Everyone.”