SLAM HER(43)

“My job is none of your f*cking business.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You f*ck this up, Chief, and Tommy talks.”

And what do you want?” Chief Richards asked.

That’s when my plan suddenly changed. I already had the chief eating out of the palm of my hand.

Now it was time to claim his daughter as my own once and for all.





I tossed Tommy onto the deck and looked as Chief Richards slowly climbed the steps. He looked like a beaten man. Years of trying to be the tough guy looked as though it had caught up to him in about five minutes.

The truth was known now and it couldn’t be taken away.

“He’s your problem now,” I said to Chief. “Do whatever you need to do. This is an understanding, too.”

He looked right at me. “You’re venturing into deep waters, Slam. Deeper than you think.”

“No, I’m not. I’m righting the wrong. I can’t rewrite the past, but I can sure as f*ck try to set up the future.”

“And here I thought you were all about outlaw violence.”

I opened my leather cut and showed the chief my gun. “I still am. But I was told by my lawyer to stay out of trouble.”

“Beating up a man… tying him up… kidnapping… that’s not staying out of trouble.” Chief Richards thumbed at Tommy.

“Then arrest me,” I said. “And watch what Tommy does. You think your department can be scary? Nobody f*cks with the club. The Reap is bigger and more powerful than you’ll ever understand. This town can easily function with everyone working their own path, but sometimes together.”

“You’re haggling my wife’s murder with this shit?”

I let out a laugh. I stepped forward and put a hand to Chief’s shoulder. “I’m just telling the truth again. You’ve f*cked me my entire life and now I get to f*ck you.”

“That’s not how this works,” Chief Richards said. “You’re not going to be some goddamn retriever, bringing me bodies so you could try and muscle me.”

“No, Chief, I’m no dog. I am an outlaw. I’m not afraid to do what is necessary. I hope you’re the same. You never answered my question either.”

“What one was that, Slam?”

I looked him dead in the eyes. “Are you capable of committing murder?”





On the drive back to the clubhouse I called Knox.

“How’d your meeting go?”

“Do you remember that guy we worked with a few times to hack into shit?”

“Ricky?”

“Yeah. Him.”

“What about?”

“We used him to access prison records for Hammer and King. Didn’t we also get him to find out some legal dirt?”

“Yeah. That was a long time ago.”

“Think he’s turned for the better?”

“No,” Knox said with a laugh. “A guy that goes that deep in life never comes back.”

“Good.”

“Why, Slam? What the f*ck are you up to?”

“I have another plan.”

Knox sighed. “You know what? Enough with these plans. Go out and get into trouble. I liked you better throwing punches around rather than ideas.”

“Knox, listen to me,” I said. “I need you to get in touch with Ricky. I need information on someone. It’s going to be something dark. But it’s personal.”

“It involves Belle,” Knox said. “Goddammit, you fell for her. You were supposed to f*ck her and dangle her in front of Chief Richards. Now you’re working out other deals…”

“I’m doing what I need to do, Knox,” I said. “This is going to set the Reap up for a while.”

“Suddenly you’re a visionary. I like it.”

“Get me my info,” I said.

“Before I do that, just tell me one thing.”

“What?”

“Do you love Belle?” Knox asked.

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”





twenty-eight



(belle)



NOW



I was drunk.

I wasn’t sick drunk, but I was drunk enough that all I could think about was sex. I stripped myself naked and put on a silk bathrobe. Then I sat on the dining room table and waited for Slam. The bottle of vodka was next to me. I had put a good dent in it. Not that it took much to get me drunk.

This was it though. This was my night. Slam was going to come back to me and he was going to f*ck me. I couldn’t wait any longer. My entire life I had waited to feel truly loved and that’s what Slam gave to me. He made me feel that way.

So I was going to give myself to him. In a way I had never done with another person. Ever.

He called before he came over, giving me time to let my mind run wild. With an outlaw like him, it was going to be something wild. It had to be. Me holding onto those mountain sized shoulders as he thrust inside me.

By the time the apartment door opened, I was already soaking wet.

He came into the apartment and shut the door.

“What is this?” he asked with a smile on his face.

“My gift to you, Slam,” I said.