Devil's Charm Read online

  Phoebe had already promised to take care of the kids. All she needed to do was deal with Devil and his supposed feelings.

  Entering the club she came up short when she saw the women dancing on tables. There were only a few, but she recognized them from work.

  Ripper approached, smiling at her.

  “What are you doing here, sweetness?” he asked.

  “I want to see Devil. Where is he?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She stared into his eyes knowing he was lying.

  “Don’t push me.” Lexie shoved him out of the way and charged toward the room she knew was Devil’s office. He’d been the one to ask her to decorate the room.

  Her heart was thumping out of fear of what she was about to find. Licking her lips, she saw the door was partially open.

  “Come on, baby, I can make you feel so good.” She recognized Tiffany’s voice. Devil’s voice was muttered. Opening the door fully, Lexie gasped. Tiffany was straddling his lap, leaning down to kiss him. She couldn’t see anything else.

  He looked up and smiled. “Lex, baby.”

  “Fuck you, asshole,” she said, turning on her heel and walking away. She heard Tiffany mutter something, but she didn’t care to hear it. The bastard had been cheating on her.

  “Lex, wait,” Devil said, shouting. She slowed down wanting him to explain exactly why that skank was even on his lap.

  She spun on her heel. “Is this what you had planned all along? Get out of the house so you could have a cheap, sloppy fuck with a woman infected with all kinds of shit?” Her control was out of the window. Lashing out, she slammed her palm against his shoulder. “I hate you. You asshole.”

  Storming away, she headed back toward the main room.

  “What the fuck? You can’t just come in here and accuse me of shit you don’t even have a clue about,” he said.

  “I know what I saw.”

  “You didn’t see jack shit. I wasn’t doing anything. I was fucking working to make sure Judi can get into a fucking good school.”

  She stopped, glaring at him. “So Tiffany, the whore, just happened to straddle your lap, sucking on your neck.” Lexie glanced toward his neck to see no signs of him being mauled by the other woman. Whatever. The bitch probably got her claws in him in another way. The jealousy was eating at her.

  “You worked with this woman. She’s not calling you a whore, and you worked in the strip club alongside her.”

  They were in the main part of the club. The music was turned down or off. What the hell was he saying?

  ****

  Devil cursed his runaway mouth. He couldn’t find it inside himself to tell her the truth. Instead he insulted her as a way of hitting back at her.

  “What the fuck are you trying to say?” Lexie asked. Her hands were on her hips. She was driving him fucking crazy. Devil had no intention of being in that predicament with Tiffany. He’d not intended to rattle Lexie’s cage. The last week had been perfect between them, and now she walked into his club, accusing him of cheating and it was pissing him the fuck off. Their argument had gained the entire club’s attention. They were looking between them. The alcohol was flowing even though the bar wasn’t officially open.

  “Come on, tell me what you think, Devil. I’m sure I want to hear it.”

  He’d pay for this. Devil knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would pay. The anger in her eyes only cemented what he was about to say.

  “You’re nothing but a fucking stripper, so instead of running your fucking mouth, come on, Lex, give us a fucking show.”

  He wouldn’t let the flash of hurt he saw in her eyes affect him. His anger was getting the better of him. How dare she accuse him of wanting any other woman but her? Devil hated to admit it, but his dick only got hard for one fucking woman, Lexie.

  “What? You don’t mean that.”

  The men were tense as Devil walked over to the music box. Finding one of his all time favorite songs, he let it start. “Give us a fucking dance. You’re not my woman, so you don’t own me.” He was lying more with every second that passed.

  She stared at him for several seconds. The animosity pouring from her eyes made him feel like shit. “You want a show? Fine, I’ll give you a fucking show.” She leaned down pulling off her sneakers.

  Standing back up, she threw the sneakers at him, each one hitting him in the stomach. Devil tensed, and it took all of his effort not to flinch from the harsh hit. Bitch could throw. She stood up onto the beer counter, and the music seemed to grow louder.

  The room was deadly silent apart from his men and a few of the women that had been invited over. Their gazes were all on Lexie. She held the room as she pulled the band from her hair.

  The long brown strands fell around her as the music took over. Chugging on his beer he watched her hips swinging as the song kept going. There was no lust in her eyes. She wasn’t into the dance. Her body owned the song, moving from one beat to another. The harshness of each swing wasn’t lost on him.

  When she moved off the counter, throwing her shirt out into the crowd with only a bra covering her made him tense. She stepped onto the first table. The men kept it steady. He saw Ripper and Curse were sat both nursing a hard on. Down on her knees she went, drawing Curse up to her chest.

  Fuck, he was going to break fucking bones. Her bra was flicked off. She kept the fabric on, moving to the next table before it finally came off. He was getting hard watching her body.

  He had to stop it. Around the room she went, removing her jeans until all that was left was the red pair of French lace panties he’d bought her. Devil knew he’d seriously fucked up. This was not how he saw her at all, and he’d treated her like shit. Feeling worse than fucking pond scum, he watched her head toward him. Her eyes were blazing with hatred, and he knew it was all directed at him.

  She reached into his pocket pulling out his small knife. The music came to a stop as she cut the fabric in two. Lifting the halves up in the air, she stood in the club room butt assed naked, and it was all his fault.

  “There, are you satisfied?” she asked, slamming the panties against his chest. “I’m nothing but a fucking stripper.”

  With her head held high she walked out of the room by going past his men. None of them reached out to her. He saw in their eyes that they wanted to protect her. Cursing, he left his beer on the counter, following after her.

  “What the fuck is your problem?” he asked. Her ass was so fucking sexy, he couldn’t tear his gaze off her. His cock thickened remembering how it felt to claim such a perfect fucking ass.

  “Nothing, I’m just fucking fine.” She didn’t turn around to look at him. “I’m just a stripper, remember? I’m no better than a fucking whore.”

  He grabbed her arm spinning her to face him. “It doesn’t sound like you enjoy it at all.”

  “Newsflash, fuck head, I didn’t enjoy it. I never liked knowing men were getting hard wanting to fuck me. Do you know how many men wanted so much fucking extra? A quick fuck here and there? You really think I like shit like that?” she asked, spitting the words at him. He held her against the wall so she had nowhere else to go.

  “Why did you do it? You could have any job you wanted.”

  “No, I couldn’t. The only thing I could do was dance so I could take care of your son. That’s right, Kayla dumped him with me, and I had no one to look after him. I lost my job, and no one else would hire me. I was alone, fending for myself.”

  He knew all of this, and yet he couldn’t stop himself from arguing with her.

  “Let go of me.” She started laughing, trying to shrug away from his touch. “You know, I was coming here to see where we were going. I thought there was something between us beside screwing. I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, needing her to calm down. He couldn’t let her leave feeling this way. There was so much he wanted to say, needed to say.

  “Phoebe told me I was your old lady. She said we were a lot more th
an I ever considered.” She looked up, batting the tears away. “I was so fucking wrong about it all. I need some air.”

  Lexie moved away butt ass naked. Shrugging his jacket off, he handed it to her. “Use this.”

  She took it without saying a word, heading back from where she’d come. Collapsing against the wall, he ran fingers through his hair. “I’m totally fucked.” He’d follow her outside in a second. Heading back to his office he found Tiffany sat naked in his chair.

  “I thought she’d never leave.”

  “Get the fuck out,” he said. He’d been so fucking distracted by his work that he’d given Tiffany the wrong impression. Walking to his desk, he grabbed her by a fistful of hair and yanked her off his seat. “I told you to get the fuck out.”

  She gasped, touching his hands where he held her.

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “What is it with women thinking I want something out of them? You ever come near me again, I’ll fucking kill you, do you understand?” he asked.

  He must have been getting through as she grabbed her clothes and scarpered away. Devil was done with meaningless whores. He was settling down to have something more than a fuck.

  Looking outside his window, he saw Lexie pushing the hair off her face, looking toward the sky. He’d not given it much thought having Tiffany climb into his lap. She’d been there for a second, and he’d literally been about to throw her out when Lexie had walked in, seeing more than she needed to. He wasn’t going to fuck Tiffany when he could have Lexie whenever he wanted. Heading outside toward his woman, he found her alone holding his jacket together at the front.

  “Have you come out here to insult me some more?” she asked.

  “No, I’m not here to insult you at all. What I said was fucking wrong of me.”

  “It’s true. I was a stripper, probably will always be a stripper.”

  She hadn’t looked at him.

  “You’re my old lady, too.”

  Lexie tensed, glancing behind her at him.

  “I know you don’t have a clue what that means, but I promise you I’ll discuss it all with you in time. I think we need to get home and just forget about what happened tonight.”

  His cell phone went off, and he checked to see the caller wasn’t recognized.

  Ten minutes later, Devil was fuming. Snitch was back, and The Skulls were in danger. His men were needed to right a wrong from his past.

  Walking back to Lexie, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against him. “I’ve got to go for a little while. I need you to promise me you won’t disappear.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  “Only to handle some business. A friend needs me, and I promised to help him.”

  “Fine, go.”

  “Promise me.” He tilted her head back to look into her eyes.

  “I promise, Devil. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Seeing she wasn’t lying, he kissed her lips and disappeared inside the club. It was time to put the past to bed.

  Chapter Eleven

  Four days Devil had been gone. Lexie placed Simon on the floor in the sitting room, watching him play. She sat beside him, finding his antics cute. Judi sat with a book in her lap, and Phoebe was in the kitchen making some kind of curry. They were her closest friends. A couple of Devil’s boys were hanging around at the club, checking in to make sure she was safe and happy.

  He hadn’t phoned.

  She hated the fact she was sat most days beside the phone waiting for him to call. Closing her eyes, she looked up at the ceiling wishing she hadn’t let him leave. What he’d said had been in the heat of the moment.

  “He’ll be back before you know, and then you’ll be moaning and groaning,” Judi said, smiling.

  “I’m sure he will.”

  “The boys will be back, and we’ll get some normality to this strange world we live in,” Phoebe said, taking a seat and sipping at a warm cup of tea.

  Running a hand over her face, Lexie wished there was something she could do to make him call. Glancing at her cell phone she smiled as Phoebe made a frustrated noise.

  “He’ll call. I promise you, he’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Are you really sure?” Lexie asked, pouting. Phoebe had a way about her that made her forget her sadness.

  “If he doesn’t call then he’s got something else planned. Vincent is at the strip club today taking the deliveries for beer and shit. Kids are in school, Simon is playing nicely, and Judi is getting ready for her exam. Everything is all right in my book.”

  Lexie noticed Phoebe was fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.

  “You don’t sound all that convinced if you don’t mind me saying so.” Lexie moved a ball out of the way so Simon could continue on playing.

  Judi had her head in a book.

  “I didn’t get my period,” Phoebe said, whispering the words.

  “Wow, do you know if it’s, you know, the right news?” Lexie asked, lifting her feet underneath her.

  “No, I’ve not said anything to Vincent. He wants to wait a couple more years before we have another kid.” Phoebe looked troubled now.

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. He’s, erm, partly to blame.” She looked toward Judi, who was chuckling. “Shut it, you.” Lexie threw a pillow at the young girl.

  Judi collapsed onto the floor in a heap of giggles. In no time at all they were all laughing. During their crazy laughter, the sound of the doorbell being rung invaded their fun.

  “I’ll go. I’m expecting a delivery of my course stuff,” Judi said, getting to her feet.

  “I love that girl,” Phoebe said.

  “Me, too. She’s fun.”

  Staring at Simon, Lexie thought about her own sister. She had more in common with Judi than she did with her half-sister.

  “Don’t let it get to you, honey. Devil’s a good man. Vincent told me what happened. All he did was get angry and lash out.”

  Lexie shrugged. “I’m not even mad about it anymore.” She chuckled, thinking about the heated yet scared expressions of the men she’d danced for. Lexie said as much to Phoebe.

  “The boys know they can look but can’t touch. I wish I could have been there.”

  Looking behind her, Lexie couldn’t hear anything from the door, and Judi had been gone a couple of minutes. Getting up from the chair, she walked down the hall and started running as she finally saw Judi fighting with a man.

  “Wait, stop.” She yelled the words. The man threw Judi to the ground, kicking her in the stomach. “I said fucking stop it.”

  She flew out of the door and paused as the man she now recognized as Rob grabbed Judi pressing a gun to her temple.

  “Get inside, Lex. Stay out of this,” Judi said, sobbing. “This is my punishment.”

  “That’s right, whore. This is your punishment for everything that fucker did to me.” The hand across Judi’s body was bound up. “Took my girl and I’m down fucking money. No one wants to do fucking business with me.”

  Taking a step closer, Lexie held up her hands. “You do not want to do this. She’s under Devil’s protection. He’ll fucking kill you if anything happens to her.”

  “Do you think I give a fuck? He rides into our county and tells me what I’m going to fucking do. This is bullshit. I want my property, and I’m taking it. Get down on the fucking ground.”

  Lexie took another step and screamed as a bullet bounced off the floor near where she was stood. Lexie hoped Phoebe wasn’t close by. If the other woman was pregnant then the last thing she wanted was to put the other woman in danger.

  “Leave her alone, please.” Judi was speaking through gritted teeth. Lexie hated the fear she could hear in the young woman’s voice. She wished there was something more she could do.

  With her hands flat on the ground, Lexie waited for what would happen next.

  “Get in my fucking truck, bitch.” She heard some commotion, movement, and then a door opening and closing.

  She m
oved her head to the side, and she saw the guy raise his foot in the air, bringing it down on her back. He didn’t use any force, simply laid his foot on her back. “I’m taking my girl, but if anything happens, I’m coming back for you. I just want my woman and what is due me.”

  When she thought he was going to drive his boot down, he didn’t. He got into his truck and drove away. Lexie then heard the sounds of bikes approaching. The car pulled off.

  “Vincent, they’re here. I can hear them. Thank you so much, baby. I fucking love you.” Phoebe was talking over and over on the phone not stopping between each word.

  Turning to look at her side she saw Phoebe collapsed in the doorway holding a phone to hear ear. She was crying, clearly terrified. The sound of the rumbling bikes coming to a stop made Lexie start to get off the floor. She was so terrified, and her hands were shaking. The tears were falling thick and fast. He’d taken Judi from her.

  “Baby, did he fucking do anything to you?” Devil asked, helping her to her feet. Without thinking, she flung her arms around his neck.

  “He had a gun. He’s got Judi, and he’s so fucking mad. I think he’s going to kill her.” The words poured out of her mouth one after the other. He pulled her back, cupping her face.

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to her. I promise, baby, but I’ve got to go. I’ve got to take my boys and get her before he does something fucking stupid.”

  She covered his hands where they held her face. Part of her wanted to beg him not to leave, but the sane part knew Judi would be dead if he didn’t go.

  “I need you to be fucking strong for me and for little Simon.” He slammed his lips down on hers. “I’m coming back for you, baby. I love you.”

  Lexie gasped. His lips were back on hers before she could say anything.

  “Think about that while I’m gone. I’ve done my shit, Lex. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be home from now on.” He kissed her again, pressed his forehead against hers, and was gone. She watched him walk away as Phoebe walked up behind her, wrapping arms around her.

  “They’re going to get her, and she’ll be safe, honey,” Phoebe said.