Twisted Pieces (Back Down Devil MC #5)(22)

“Turn around,” Mr. Strokner said.

She straightened her skirt and turned around to find Mr. Strokner gently licking his fingertips. He didn’t speak another word as he walked to one of the closets in his office. He disappeared for a few seconds and then came back out holding a small brown case. As he walked, he held the case out.

The first thing Jordyn noticed was the smell. Whatever the hell was in that case was disgusting. And the look on Mr. Strokner’s face suggested it definitely was.

“This was a gift from Gaige,” Mr. Strokner said. “I know I’ve spoken so much about Rachel, and I hope you don't think I’m some sicko that fantasizes about his daughter. I’m not. You’re just something special, Jordyn. I can sense it. And I want it. I want that feeling again. That perfect mix of woman… young love and wild lust. I’ll have everything with you.”

Mr. Strokner put the case on his desk and opened the latch. He slowly opened it and took a step back.

The smell was worse.

Jordyn looked and then turned, covering her mouth.

“Does it bother you?” Mr. Strokner asked.

“Are those… eyes?”

Mr. Strokner closed the box. “Yes. They’re the eyes of the man who shot my daughter. Gaige gave them to me. To fulfill a promise he made on behalf of the MC. Since then, we’ve been close. But after some recent events, I’ve seen the power money has over the threat of bikers. I’m not so sure a box full of eyes could do what a box full of money could. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, sir,” Jordyn said.

“Good.” Mr. Strokner took the case back to the closet. Then he poured himself a drink and turned, leaning against the bar, shaking the glass to make the ice tink against the sides of the glass. “This is our first memory then, Jordyn. I’ll keep your panties forever because of it. The moment you realized my power. The club thinks they have all the power, but the lesson for you to learn is that too much power in a partnership can be deadly. I had a feeling about an associate. Caius needed help, but I feared he was too emotionally involved. I was right. I’m always right. And soon, I’ll be right again.” Mr. Strokner drank from his glass. He then licked his lips. “This doesn’t taste half as good as you do, Jordyn. You can go now. Take the rest of the day off. Think about what you’ve seen. What you know. What you desire.”

Mr. Strokner turned around. The rotten smell of those eyes lingered in the air. Jordyn was more than happy to leave the office. She took the elevator down to the fifth floor. Then, she snuck to the back steps and walked down them until she was outside. The sun and fresh air felt good, but Jordyn didn't want to risk Mr. Strokner changing his mind and calling her back so she ran to her car and sped away from work. She wasn’t even sure if it was work anymore. All she did was carry the same folders around and wait for the next command from Mr. Strokner.

I hate him. So much. And I hate Jace too.

Jordyn had a plan to feel better. Go to her apartment, change into some sweats, open a bottle of cheap wine, and then submerse herself in a cheesy romance movie. Something insane. Something ridiculous. Something so impossible that it feels possible. It wasn't the ideal night, but it was what Jordyn needed. It would help her collect her thoughts before she called her grandmother.

When Jordyn pulled into the parking lot to her apartment and saw a motorcycle parked next to her assigned spot, she thought there was no way that it was Jace. She climbed out of her car and the biker took his helmet and sunglasses off. Sure enough, looking even hotter than before, it was Jace.

The sight of his eyes was just what her body needed. She blushed.

“Thought about dropping by your office,” Jace said with a grin. “But I didn’t want to piss off your boss.”

“He showed me eyeballs,” Jordyn said. “He made me give him my panties to keep. Then he touched me. And showed me eyeballs. Of the guy who killed his daughter.”

“Fuck,” Jace said. “He’s losing his mind.”

“And I’m in his scope,” Jordyn said. “I hate you right now.”

“Hate me, babe? You don’t know enough about me to hate me."

“I don’t know what to do. I can’t work there with him. Helping you or not… you’re not helping me.”

Jace came forward and touched Jordyn’s arms. “Listen, babe, I’m here. I’m helping. If you want do this and help the club, it’ll mean a lot to me. To us.”

“And who is us?”

“You want to meet everyone? Would that help?”

“I don’t know. I had a plan to sit alone and get drunk on wine.”

“I have a better idea. Come get drunk with me. Nobody will hurt you. And the only one who will touch you is me.”

Jordyn stared at Jace. “He rambled on about there being too much power between him and your club. That he was right once before and he’ll be right again.”

Jace curled his lip. “Yeah, he’s losing it. I want you to come with me.”

“I don’t need to meet anyone, Jace.”

“I don’t give a f*ck about that,” Jace said. He put a finger to Jordyn’s chin. “I want you on my bike right now. Your hands around me. At the clubhouse. I want it.”

“You want me?”

“Don’t push it.”