Fire in the Stars (Steel Souls MC Book 2) Read online

  “Okay,” I say quietly, giving him a sad smile.

  “We can get him another day if you don’t want to face it today.”

  “No. Today is fine. I’m just sad that Mac didn’t have anyone else.” I sit quietly for a few moments, my hands wrapped around my mug and just stare into the darkness of the coffee. Mac must have been incredibly lonely. It doesn’t matter how good you are at being alone, to not have anyone at all must have been so sad for him. Maybe that’s how I would have ended up if Ramsey hadn’t come to find me. Bitter, twisted, and with a thousand cats.

  When I left the rental apartment, I was pulling away from Vaughn. Deep down, I knew I wouldn’t have gone back, and there was a part of me that wondered if he would even have bothered to come and look for me. I’m trouble. I’m well aware of that, and I’d been pushing him away for a long time. I know that there’s only so far you can push someone before they stop trying to make you let them in. But he answered that when he turned up at Ram’s HQ. At that moment, I hated him for invading that part of my life. For forcing himself on my independence. But there was a small part of me that smiled inside. Ramsey came for me. Vaughn came for me. JJ, Lia—everyone I’ve seen since at the Souls HQ has been pleased to see me. I have people in my corner. I should have been in that corner for Mac. “Did Tex find anything at Mac’s?” I glance over to Ram who’s just standing there quietly, letting me have my thoughts and giving me time.

  “Nah.” He crosses the room and sits on the edge of the bed next to me. “Nothing. Nothing at all. No guns, no paperwork for the guns that were at the range before that. Whoever did him over, knew what they were there for and took it.”

  “It was The Wolves,” I tell him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

  “I think you’re right. But there’s no way to be certain.”

  “I will find out, Ramsey. I will find out who did that to him, and I will gut them with a rusty knife,” I seethe through gritted teeth.

  “Sadie,” he sighs, placing a hand on my thigh.

  “Don’t even think about trying to stop me.” I lean forward, pointing my glare at him. “They beat a gentle old man to death. If it was one of The Wolves and they’re not already dead, I’ll find them.”

  “We will find out, and we will sort it. Okay?” he says, taking my coffee cup from my hands and placing it on the side table along with his. “Come here.” He pulls me forward into his arms and holds me tightly. “You’re not on your own anymore, Sadie. You don’t have to hide who you are, or what you want. Your pain is my pain. You belong in my world, sweet girl. You were destined for it from the very beginning, and it’s called you home.”

  “I…” I look up into his clear blue eyes and fight with the words that are prickling the tip of my tongue. Three little words that reveal my vulnerability. Words that could peel back the protective barrier around my heart, and expose it to a pain like no other.

  “Can we bring Mac here?” I ask, changing my train of thought—needing to push those words away. I don’t need to say them to feel them. It’s been such a short amount of time between us, and I’ve never felt like this with anyone. I know this is where I belong. With him. With the Steel Souls. With JJ and Lia. But it scares the crap out of me, and I’m not prepared to lay it out there just yet. “I think Mac would like it out here. It’s peaceful.”

  “He’ll be in a box.” He winces. “Are you wanting to move him from room to room or put him on the mantelpiece?”

  “Ramsey Dalton.” I laugh. “Tell me you’re not squeamish about having someone’s ashes around, are you?”

  “No, it’s just I…” He stands abruptly, rubbing his palms on his thighs. “We should get going. There are croissants there for your breakfast—you should eat. And there’s more coffee if you want it.” He slides open a drawer in the cabinet, mumbling to himself as he rummages through the clothes and grabs a clean white t-shirt, slipping it on without another word.

  “Ramsey…” I say quietly with a smirk on my lips. He doesn’t answer, although I know he heard me. “Ramsey!” I say louder.

  “Yep,” he mutters under his breath, just flicking a glance my way and pretending to be totally absorbed in the belt he’s now threading through the loops of his jeans.

  I slide out of bed, and walk over to him quietly, placing my hand on the buckle of his belt as he begins to fasten it. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.” He replies too quickly to mean it.

  “Tell me what’s the matter?” I ask again.

  He glances up and drops his shoulders with a huff. “It creeps me out. Okay?”

  “What does?” I laugh.

  “Having someone’s dead body in the house, I don’t know… it feels weird.”

  “Let me get this straight. You feel weird about having someone’s ashes in the house, but you’ll happily cut out someone’s tongue?”

  “I’ve never cut out someone’s tongue!” He frowns hard, propping his hands on his hips.

  “Okay, so you haven’t done that. But you get my point. Mac’s body won’t be here stinking up the place. I was thinking more out in the orchard, or down by that pretty little lake at the bottom of the stream that you can see from the guest room. Somewhere that I can visit even if we’re not…you know...”

  “No, I don’t know.” He raises his chin and looks at me through narrowed eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

  “Well.” I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling very vulnerable standing here in front of him completely naked with my words being scrutinized. “You might not always want—”

  “That’s not an option, Sadie.” He looks at me sternly.

  “But—”

  “No,” he snaps, stepping closer and cupping my face in his hands. “You’re my future, Sadie. And I’m yours. There is no other option.”

  “Okay,” I whisper, trying to force my voice past the lump in my throat.

  “No other option. You’re mine, Sadie.” He lowers his head and presses his lips against mine. “Mine,” he reaffirms, kissing me breathless.

  The intensity of his words, the determination behind his thoughts. It’s not just his kiss that steals my breath. It’s the way he owns me and lets me own him.

  “You can put Mac near the lake. We’ll get a tree for him,” he says softly.

  I smile, holding him a little tighter. “Thank you.”

  “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” He rubs his nose against mine.

  “Well, you wouldn’t have a dead body in the house,” I remark, raising my brows.

  “Meh, technicalities.” He laughs. “I might take a bit of convincing.”

  “It’s a good thing I won’t ask that of you then.”

  “How about…” He softens his knees, lowering his body so his chest is against mine and his face is at my eye level. “You get your hot little ass in the shower, and I’ll join you to show you exactly how wet you can get.” My breath whooshes from my chest, and I never cease to be amazed at how Ramsey commands my body’s responses.

  “How about you back up all that talk with a little action.” I smirk, kissing him chastely on the cheek and turning to head for the bathroom. He smacks my ass as I walk away, making me jump and squeal, and leaving a sting on my skin.

  “I’ll fucking show you action.” He dips his head and fakes a move to chase me. But instinct has me running to the bathroom, laughing and screaming as I hear his footsteps closing in on me.

  “You better run, Raven. ‘Cos once I’ve got ya, I ain’t letting ya go.” I hear him behind me as I skid to a halt in the bathroom. He’s behind me in a flash, and I eye him in the reflection from the mirror in front of me. He’s already flung his clean t-shirt off, and his muscled, tattooed chest rises and falls with his heavy breaths.

  To my surprise, he doesn’t touch me. He doesn’t even make a move in my direction. Instead, he flips down the lid of the toilet seat, unbuckles and drops his jeans, then takes a seat, leaning back and opening his arms to me. />
  “Come here,” he orders, his cock jerking as thoughts of what he wants to do to me obviously run through his mind. I walk to him slowly, and as soon as I’m in touching distance of him, he cups my pussy with his hand, letting his index finger stroke my opening. “Turn around,” he says, guiding my hips and turning me to face away from him but with my legs straddling his. There’s a full-length mirror opposite us, and my mouth falls open at the sight of him watching my every move.

  “Sit on me, Raven. Open your wet little pussy, and show me that you’re here to stay.” His voice is low and husky, and as I lower myself onto him, he groans deep in his chest. I place my hands on his knees, leaning forward, taking him deeper and working into a slow, steady motion that has us both heating up and moving faster and louder. Our bodies smack together as he thrusts up to meet me and I drop down.

  “Sexiest fuckin’ thing I’ve ever seen. Raven,” he groans. “Ride me, baby.” He thrusts up harder, and I cry out.

  “Ramsey…” I pant, clenching my muscles and trying to slow down. “I’m gonna come.”

  “Yes, come all over my cock,” he orders, holding onto my hips and pounding into me at increasing speed. I meet him thrust for thrust, feeling my legs start to cramp with the intensity of the orgasm that takes over my body and hits me like a bolt of lightning. Ramsey grabs my hair, pulling my head back and forcing me to watch in the mirror. I’ve never watched myself before, but seeing it is like watching while detached from the situation—voyeurism without other people. He grunts deep in his throat as his movements become jerky and he pushes deep into me, holding there and coming just a second after me. He releases his hold from my hair and wraps his arms tightly around my body, pressing his head into my back. I fold my arms around his and bring his hand up to my mouth, placing a kiss on his fingers.

  “You really meant every surface, didn’t you?”

  He laughs, lifting his head and kissing my shoulder. “I haven’t even started with you yet, Raven. Not even close.”

  Chapter 17

  “Ah, nice of you two to come up for air,” JJ says wryly as we enter the bar.

  “Is there a problem, JJ?” I ask, knowing that he fucking hates the thought of me having my hands all over Sadie. And he also hates that there’s not one tiny thing he can do about it. Fuck me, no one would be good enough for her, and he’d have a coronary if it were someone else. This is mild for him compared to how it could be.

  “Well, other than your brother kicking off because he wants to ride and his hands aren’t anywhere near healed enough yet, no, no problem at all.” He rolls his eyes as he grabs up his leather jacket off the back of one of the sofas.

  “Is he still bandaged?” I stop walking just in front of him and hold Sadie’s hand a little tighter, drawing her closer to my side. She doesn’t protest, and clasps her fingers around mine, squeezing gently.

  “Yeah.” JJ frowns. I can see the weight of what happened to Ruck is sitting heavily on his shoulders. As the President of this club, he has the responsibility for all of us, and that’s something JJ takes very seriously.

  “Just let him ride, man. What’s the harm?” I shrug.

  “Apart from the fact that forty-eight hours ago he was nailed to a fucking cross?”

  “I know he’s gonna be sore. But, fuck, JJ. Don’t you think he’s been through enough? If he wants to ride, let the man ride.”

  “He can barely hold a fucking spoon, Ramsey,” he growls, leaning in closer to me.

  “Look,” I say, placing my hand on his shoulder. “He needs to figure out for himself if he can do it or not—not be told that he can’t. Let him ride, man. If it hurts, he’ll soon turn around and come home.”

  “Fine.” He slings his jacket over his shoulder and frowns. “But it’s on you. Your brother. Your responsibility.”

  “Fine.” I roll my eyes as he starts to move off, then frowns to himself before stepping back.

  “Hi, Princess.” He kisses Sadie’s cheek, and she smiles up at him like he’s just given her the world. Jealousy pounds me right in the heart. I want all her smiles to be for me. I’m a selfish fucker, and I’m well aware of that. I don’t want to share her in any way, shape or form, but it’s JJ—her dad. Her fucking dad. So I back down. Because I don’t have a fucking choice in the matter.

  “Hi,” she whispers.

  “If you were any other guy kissing my girl…” I warn, my voice a low rumble.

  “Luckily I’m not just any guy.” He winks at Sadie. “Oh, Ramsey, I was gonna send you and Tex, but if you wanna take Ruck instead, you can go to the Liquor Box and tell Vinny I want the place done up nice. Tomorrow night, we’re having a party. All the boys, their old ladies, everyone. I want men on the door, our best girls behind the bar, and the best dancers up on those poles, got it?”

  “Yeah, I got it. What’s it for?”

  “You’ll see.” He winks at Sadie and pats me on the chest before shrugging his jacket on as he leaves. “Oh,” he calls back as he pulls open the door. “There’s a cut on my desk for Ruck. Lia’s added all of his patches.”

  “Bro,” I call out as I bang my fist on Ruck’s door. “You wanna ride out?”

  He swings it open and narrows his eyes at me. “What did you just say?”

  “Nice to see you too, man.” I lean against the door jamb and raise one brow at him. “I said, do you wanna ride out?”

  “What did JJ say to you?” He jerks his chin up, looking at me with speculation.

  “Fuck, man, are you gonna be a bitch about shit all day because if ya are, I’ll ride on my own.”

  “Don’t want your sympathy ride, thanks.” He turns and slams the door, but I jam my foot in the door and fling it open again.

  “Hey…” I yell, making him stand still with his back to me. “Turn around and look at me.”

  As he turns, his shoulders drop. This isn’t him. He hates it when there’s an atmosphere between us, and it usually blows over within a couple of hours. But this feels different. Everything is different, and he’s not handling it well.

  “Yes, JJ told me you wanted to ride out. No, that’s not why I came here. I’ve got shit to do, and I miss doing it with my brother. So do you wanna ride out, or not?”

  He glances to his hands and looks back up at me. “I don’t—”

  “Look,” I say, walking toward him. “We’re not riding to Mexico for fuck’s sake. Just a few errands. You know what? Why don’t you ride with me on my bike? You get to ride but without the pain. And it means you get out of this dingy fuckin’ room that stinks like a couple’a fuckin’ skunks partied in here.” I turn my nose up and shake my head.

  “Thanks, bro.” He gives a tight-lipped smile.

  “You good to go?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  He follows me out and up the stairs to JJ’s office. I push the door open, stride over to the desk, grab the cut and toss it to Ruck who’s standing in the doorway.

  “What’s this?”

  “Yours. If you’re anything like me, you’ll feel naked without it.”

  “I did, I—”

  I cut off his sentence, not needing him to retreat into his head with all of the emotional shit. “Put it on. We’ve got shit to do.”

  I have no doubt that Ruck hates being on the back of my bike instead of riding his own, but his hands are fucked up and will take time to heal. In the meantime, he’s going to have to suck it up and ride with me, which is a much better option than wallowing in that dark fucking room of his. It smelled of defeat, and I fucking hated that.

  I park on the sidewalk, making pedestrians walk around the bike. We get a few snide looks, but no one dares say anything to us. I grin as I push open the door to the Liquor Box. With my brother by my side, my girl back at HQ, and The Wolves seeming to be less of a threat with half of them broken or dead, life is on the up.

  “Vinny, my man!” I laugh as I walk right past the bar and into his waiting man hug. It’s been months since we saw Vinny. He’s a fucking tough
, ex-marine that works private security jobs from time to time, and has only just come back to Reno after a massive, top-secret job that he wouldn’t disclose one tiny detail about before he left, no matter how hard we pressed him. Loyal to his fucking grave, and priceless in this world.

  “How’s it going, chief?” he asks, releasing me but keeping both his fucking great big hands on my shoulders. We’re about the same height, but this guy makes me feel small. Seeing him behind the bar here should be good for business. No one is gonna fuck with him.

  “Good. All the better for having you here.” I look around and see full tables. Men enjoying a beer and a show, and not a hint of trouble.

  “I heard what happened.” He nods to Ruck and glances down at his heavily bandaged hands. “You doing okay?”

  Ruck shrugs. “Could be worse, I suppose.”

  “It can always be worse, man.” Vinny offers with a small smile, squeezing Ruck’s shoulder. “What are you boys drinking?”

  “Beer,” I answer, scanning the people in the bar. It’s not that I don’t trust Vinny’s judgment on who he lets through the doors, but I like to take in who’s here. Pay attention to faces and actions. “Lots of new faces, Vin.”

  “Yeah. Your man, Lenny, he had a very… select clientele.” He eyes me cautiously as he pops the caps off the bottles and pushes them across the bar toward us.

  “Select?”

  “Yeah.” He leans in with his elbows on the counter and his voice low. “I’ve kicked out so many deadbeats in the last few days. Dealers pushing crank across the table top in plain view. One dude even brought a whore in through the back door and fucked her in the men’s room.”

  “Fuck, man.” I sigh. I’m also kicking myself for not seeing it sooner. I guess it had been that way for so long that we were all used to it.

  “Don’t worry that handsome face of yours, Ramsey.” He taps my cheek with his palm. “I’ve shipped them out and called in some favors to get my best girls in.” He nods in the direction of the poles, raising his brows, and Ruck and I turn to observe them.