Screw Read online

  “Not a prude,” Screw said, but it was pretty much to himself as Squirt slid into his truck. Any other day, even being an intensely stupid reaction given the danger, he’d have gotten hard at the thought of those club whores ready and willing for whatever he could drum up. And when it came to fucking, his imagination was off the charts. Today, however, he couldn’t even muster a flicker of interest. Whether it was the memory of Gumby’s groans as he shot his load down Screw’s throat or the disgust in Jazz’s eyes as she left him to his Honey last night, didn’t matter. His dick was deader than Kurt Cobain.

  After watching Jazz and Gumby leave the clubhouse hand in hand, he’d sent the Honey on her way with a few caustic words the poor girl didn’t deserve. She couldn’t be blamed for Screw’s shitty mood. How the hell was she supposed to know he couldn’t get it up for anyone but Jazz lately—well, Jazz and apparently Gumby, because he was sure as fuck hard after blowing the man.

  The truck roared to life, causing Screw to jolt and hop out of the vehicle’s path. Fuck, he needed to be more alert than that, especially if he planned to hit the Chrome Disciples party this weekend. There, he’d need to be at the top of his game, ready for a potential ambush.

  Twenty minutes later he sat in a booth at the diner across from a scowling Copper. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Copper roared despite the complete lack of privacy.

  A hush fell over the diner as all eyes turned their way. Being eleven-thirty in the morning, the place was bustling with the early lunch crowd.

  A wide-eyed Toni glared daggers their way.

  As Screw turned his gaze back to Copper, he caught sight of Jazz emerging from her office with a worried expression. She avoided looking at him—no surprise there—instead focusing on Copper.

  With a wince, Copper lifted a hand Toni’s way. She just rolled her eyes and resumed refilling coffee cups to her counter customers. Within seconds, the dull roar of happily munching and chatting patrons kicked up once again.

  Copper leaned in. “Look, Screw, I get you want to take the initiative and be proactive here. And I appreciate you taking this shit seriously, but there’s no fucking way I can allow this. It’s just too goddammed risky. Crank’s been one step ahead of us, so we have to assume this is a trap.” He’d dropped his voice so low, Screw had to lean in to hear him.

  “What the fuck has you two looking so serious?” Zach said from the side of the table. Standing next to him with a frown on her make-up free face was Lindsay, the-thirteen-year-old girl he and Toni had recently taken in.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Screw said giving her a chin lift.

  She blushed an adorable shade of pink, casting her eyes to the ground. The guys had been teasing him about her schoolgirl crush on him, so he tried to be sensitive of her feelings. Fuck if he didn’t know how rough it could be being a teenager, and how it scarred a person for life. This girl had already been through so much having been used as a pawn by the Chrome Disciples MC.

  “Hi, Screw. Hi, Copper,” she said before glancing up at Zach. “I’m gonna go help Toni.”

  “Sure thing, hon.”

  She gave Zach a quick hug before jetting off, which had a goofy grin appearing on the new VP’s face.

  “She seems to be settling in well,” Copper said as Zach slipped into the booth next to him.

  Z’s gaze tracked the girl where she got to work behind the counter, taking over Toni’s task of refilling coffees. “Yeah, all things considered she’s holding up. The nightmares break Toni’s heart, but hopefully we can move past those once she really starts to believe she’s safe.”

  “Nightmares?” Screw also watched the girl who’d seen way more than any thirteen-year-old should. He knew the feeling. Maybe he could pick her brain about the new Chrome Disciples clubhouse. She’d most likely been there a time or two.

  With a nod Zach said, “Yeah, same one every time. She’s back at that campground with Shell and Toni, only they hate her for her role in tricking them. When we show up to rescue our women, we leave her to the Chrome Disciples. She wakes up screaming in terror every time. It’s fucking wrecking Toni.”

  “Shit,” Screw said. Damn, his heart went out to that girl. Her brother had been a prospect for the Chrome Disciples when their parents died unexpectedly, leaving her in his care. The guy was a piece of fucking shit, who got himself booted from the club before he patched in. As payment for their time and trouble, Lindsey was left with the CDMC. As far as Screw knew, she wasn’t sexually assaulted, but she sure as hell wasn’t treated well either. They’d knocked her around and pretty much used her as a servant, including making her cozy up to Toni with the end goal of fucking with the Handlers. Their plan worked. Toni’s soft spot for troubled youth had her falling hard for Lindsey. She and Shell nearly ended up kidnapped by the CDMC when Lindsey called Toni stating she needed help. The women ran to her aid, falling into the CDMC’s well laid trap. Zach got shot during the rescue effort and all three women were treated for hypothermia after being out in the elements for far too long. In the end, they liberated Lindsey from the club and the kid now had a permanent home with Z and Toni. No wonder Copper suspected foul play with this party business.

  “How’s the shoulder, bro?” Screw asked Zach as Toni meandered over with a fresh pot of coffee. She poured a cup for her ol’ man before topping off Screw and Copper’s mugs.

  “Sore, but not too bad,” Z answered as he slipped an arm around his woman’s waist. “Toni takes good care of me.”

  “Sure do.” Toni leaned in and gave her man a kiss Zach quickly took advantage of. After a few seconds of tongue tangling, a flushed Toni gently pushed him away. “I may own the place,” she said with a chastising grin for Z, “but that doesn’t mean my patrons want to see me sucking face.”

  After shooting them a sassy wink, she sauntered back toward the counter.

  “Damn, I love that ass,” Zach said in a reverent tone.

  It was a pretty good ass.

  “Hey, eyes front, fucker,” Zach snapped.

  With a smirk, Screw shifted his gaze. “You’re the one who drew my attention to it.”

  “I’m also gonna be the one to gouge your eyes out of your head. Enough of this shit. What had you two looking like you wanted to go at each other’s throats when I walked in?”

  The glower reappeared on Copper’s face, and he jammed a finger in Screw’s direction. “This fucker here staked out the gas station where Jazz ran into the Disciples. Sure enough, one of their prospects showed up, and he fucking talked to him. Got himself invited to a party this weekend.”

  One of Zach’s blonde eyebrows took a trip into his forehead. “You shitting me?”

  “Nope,” Screw said with a shrug. If Copper wanted him to apologize, he’d be disappointed.

  “That why you’re wearing this shit? Why you wanted my suit?”

  With a nod, Screw said, “Yep. Figured he wouldn’t get suspicious of a businessman who didn’t live here permanently. Guy had a shiny new Fat Boy in the back of his truck. Chatted him up about it and before you know it, I got an invite to their housewarming party this weekend. Squirt warned me I better not be a prude.” He chuckled. “Claims their women will do pretty much any fucking thing I want.”

  With a grunt, Z rolled his eyes before shifting to face Copper. “It’s not a bad idea, boss,” he said earning him a death glare.

  “You’re right. It’s a shitty-assed-terrible-fucking-dicked-up-motherfucking-bad idea.” Copper dropped his voice which had begun to rise again. “He’s out of his fucking mind if he thinks I’m gonna okay this bullshit,” he said, pointing a finger at Screw.

  Zach sighed. “Might be our best shot at some serious intel.”

  Shaking his head, Copper said, “No. Not happening.” His face fell into a stony mask. “It’s not worth the risk. They put serious time and effort into the kidnap attempt on Toni and Shell. What makes you think this is any different? What makes you think they don’t know what each and every one of us look like? Right
now, they’re sitting in their clubhouse, hands on each other’s dicks giving each other a jerk for a job well done.”

  “Huh,” Screw said as he scratched his chin. “Actually, that sounds like it might be right up my alley. Sure you won’t reconsider?”

  The look Copper shot him had his hands raising in surrender. “All right. I hear ya, prez. Consider it dropped.”

  At least for the moment. There was no way Screw planned to let this opportunity pass him by. He may not be able to fully turn off his jokester ways, but he sure as fuck took the fate of his club seriously. If the only way to help his brothers was to go behind enemy lines, he’d do it in a fucking heartbeat.

  President’s approval or not. Even if he got his ass kicked out of the club, keeping his brothers and Jazz safe would be worth it.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  THOUGH THE DINER had closed an hour ago, Jazz still lingered at her computer, finalizing the week’s payroll. Employees were paid biweekly, and in order for that to happen, she was required to have the numbers submitted to their payroll company Friday before pay week. Today, she was taking her sweet time, mostly due to the fact both Gumby and Screw sat out in the dining room, waiting—for her. Gumby had dropped her off that morning with a promise to pick her up again once she was finished, and Screw got stuck with guard duty as Copper needed the prospects for an even more menial task.

  So now both men, who as far as she knew hadn’t spoken a word to each other since the blow job she wasn’t supposed to know about, sat in the dining room. Were they on opposite ends of the room glaring at each other? Were they close and working hard to avoid eye contact? Were they all over each other, maybe fucking on the counter?

  Okay, clearly, that wasn’t happening, but she’d be lying if she said the idea didn’t get her motor revving. In fact, thoughts of Screw and Gumby going at it had become her go-to fantasy for the week. One that fueled more sessions with her vibrator over the past six days than the past six months.

  Ugh.

  With a groan, she let her head clunk against the desk.

  She needed help.

  As though it wasn’t bad enough her days were consumed with fantasies of the two bikers, her nights had been overtaken with dreams where they turned their hungry eyes her way. Just the thought of both men touching her at the same time was nearly enough to make her come. She’d never had a threesome before, and certainly wouldn’t now, but the idea of it kept her hot and bothered more often than not.

  If only things were different…

  She lifted her head an inch before letting it bang back down on the desk.

  “Hey, can you do me a favor before you give yourself a brain injury?”

  Jazz popped her head up to find Toni hovering in the doorway, her mouth tilted up in a half smile. “Sure, what do you need?”

  “I ordered some different style uniform shirts to try out with the new logo, and even though I ordered all mediums, they sent a few extra smalls.” She held up a long-sleeved crew neck shirt with Toni’s Diner and their logo on the back.

  Jazz rose and held out her hand. “Yeah sure, that’s no problem. They look great by the way.”

  “I think so too. Just come on out when you’re ready so I can see it.” She tossed the shirt across the few feet separating them.

  Jazz caught it one handed. “You got it, boss.”

  With a laugh, Toni said, “You got skills, Jazzy.” Then she left, pulling the door closed behind her.

  As the door clicked shut, Jazz blew out a breath. Thank God, the shirt in question had long sleeves. So far, no one had questioned her always being fully covered up. She’d have thought they’d at least tease her, considering most of the women associated with the club liked to bare it all, but everyone seemed to be satisfied with her explanation of always being cold. That probably wouldn’t last forever, especially the more summers she spent in Tennessee, but so far, so good.

  Jazz pulled off her shirt, turning her back on the oval wall mirror hanging behind the door. She closed her eyes as she slipped the new garment on. Overkill maybe, but the habit had become second nature by now. She just couldn’t look. Couldn’t bear to see what had become of her body. What would keep a man from wanting her. What would ensure long years of loneliness. Even in the shower, she refused to look at her naked body. Shaving with her eyes shut had been quite the treacherous chore at first, but now she could shave without sight like nobody’s business.

  And Toni thought her only skills lay in the T-shirt catching arena. What would she think about the blind shaving?

  She’d think you were certifiable.

  Opening her eyes, she glanced down at the black shirt with teal lettering. On the front, over the left breast was Toni’s name, natural, seeing as how she’d thought she was ordering shirts to try herself. She craned her neck to check out the back. The diner’s logo sat in a big circle between her shoulder blades. More fitted than she’d originally thought, the shirt hugged her body and actually made it look like she had some breasts. Not bad.

  “This came out nice,” she said aloud. Jazz pulled the door open and strode out into the main dining area. “I look pretty damn good, if I do say so my—oh, hey.” Somehow in the two minutes she was donning the shirt, she’d forgotten about the two men waiting on her.

  Toni sat at a booth with both Gumby and Screw. The men were on opposite sides of the table. Had Toni been the one to draw them together or had they overcome their silence and gravitated toward each other? After all, there was a pretty strong attraction there.

  “Damn, woman, that shit makes your tits look stellar.” Screw said.

  Immediately, Gumby’s mouth turned down, but he too had his gaze glued to her chest.

  It was such a Screw thing to say, such a normal reaction from the jokester that Jazz couldn’t do anything but laugh. He hadn’t spoken more than two words to her since the night she asked him to back off and the moment of normalcy felt so damn good, she nearly teared up.

  Gumby tore his gaze away from her body to glare at Screw who shrugged. “What? It does. I’m not blind.”

  “Shut it, you two,” Toni said as she rose from the booth to circle Jazz.

  Heat rose to her face under Toni’s perusal. She’d made it her mission to blend in and not be stared at over the past year and change. Being the subject of such blatant scrutiny was uncomfortable to say the least.

  “I love it!” Toni clapped her hands together and bounced on the balls of her feet. “I’m so glad Zach finally convinced me to officially put my name on there. Toni’s Diner. Simple, but it makes me so happy.”

  “I think it’s perfect,” Jazz said looking down at herself. “Too bad this one doesn’t have my name embroidered on it.”

  Laughing, Toni waved her hand. “I’ll order you a few of those. Oh, wait.” She moved back to the table, then rifled through the box. “The shirts rock, but I’ll have to have a chat with the company before we make a big order. I can’t have them sending incorrect sizes like this. Here, another extra small.” She tossed a shirt Jazz’s way. “Try that one on for me too, if you don’t mind.”

  Once again, Jazz snatched the shirt out of the air. This one was teal with black lettering, a reverse of what she wore. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be right back.” She held it up to get a better look and her stomach sank to the floor. “Uh, Toni?” she said unable to keep the tremor out of her voice. “This is a tank top.”

  Refolding a few of the shirts, Toni said, “Yeah, I know. I’m not sure I want to go the sleeveless route. The neckline is low, maybe too low even though it’s squared. But I figured if I was ordering a bunch of different styles, I might as well get a few so we can make a decision on it. I just need to see you in it for a second.” She lifted her head and smiled, oblivious to the turmoil raging through Jazz.

  “Uhh, maybe you should model this one.”

  Toni snorted. “Sorry girl, an extra small I am not.”

  An invisible hand wrapped itself around Jazz’s throat, squeezing tighter with eac
h excuse Toni knocked back. Her next words came out a strangled whisper. “H-holly could—”

  “Holly left about ten minutes ago, and you think her boobs are gonna fit in that thing? Come on, girl, it’d be downright pornographic.”

  “I’d pay money to see—”

  “Shut it, Screwball,” Toni said, holding her hand in front of his face.

  Jazz stood frozen to the spot like a helpless animal caught in the high beams of a semi-truck. Memories assaulted her. Events she kept in a tightly sealed box in her mind broke free.

  The smell of blood.

  The sound of her own screams.

  The terror.

  The pain. God, the pain…

  “Just try it for me, please. I promise you only need to keep it on for a minute. You won’t get too cold.” Toni still glared at Screw as she spoke. She’d yet to notice her employee’s internal freak-out.

  Jazz rubbed over her arms as the sensation of a thousand bugs crawling across her skin grew in strength. The thought of standing before her friends in the low-cut tank brought with it a paralyzing dread that kept her feet rooted to the ground.

  “No!” she yelled with far more force that the situation called for.

  Toni, who’d resumed chatting with Screw, whipped her head around. Her eyebrows narrowed. “Seriously?”

  “Yes. I’m not putting this on.” Jazz threw the shirt back to her friend and boss. Never before had they even come close to arguing over a business decision, or a personal one for that matter, which could be why Jazz felt the urge to vomit. Or it could be the horror of imagining herself walking out of her office in the tank top.

  A look of concern crossed Gumby’s handsome face and he began to rise. “Jazz, you okay?” he asked but his question was overshadowed by Toni’s huff.

  “Jazz, just put the goddammed shirt on. I can’t believe you’re giving me a hard time about this.” Toni threw up her hands, then planted them on her hips.