Control Read online

  Duke sat in church listening to Raoul talk about the latest drug deal. He hated the drug runs, but they brought in a shitload of money and kept the Mexicans off his back and out of his town, Vale Valley.

  Looking toward Russ, he knew the other man had done everything to keep the club safe. Being in with the Mexicans gave them some level of protection. They could handle their own against most attacks, but people didn’t like to take on their associates.

  “This is your deal now, Duke.”

  Running a hand down his face, he tapped his fingers on the table top. This was the part of being the president he hated. He had to have the final say that could put all of them at risk. The last thing he wanted was to have a brother’s death on his conscience.

  “Set up the meet. I want it out of town, neutral territory. Diaz has to be there.”

  Raoul agreed. “I’ll set it up.”

  “I don’t want anyone in our town risking our families.” Duke looked at each man. The ones who didn’t have families still knew it was important to keep them safe. When the Trojans retaliated they never took their revenge out on families. Gangs, street clubs, bad clubs, were the norm now in their world. The safety of families was not always a guarantee. “Anyone got a fucking issue with us continuing our drug runs?”

  No one said a word. They all got a nice profit from running drugs and guns. Duke didn’t like running the guns. It was far more dangerous than the drugs, or at least to him it was.

  This meeting had been long overdue. Three days had passed since the Fourth of July celebrations, and it had been that long since he’d last seen Holly. The club had demanded his attention, but he’d put Daisy, one of the club members, onto her protection. Daisy was to stay out of sight so Holly didn’t see him. Daisy was a guy but had gotten so damn drunk one night that he’d gotten a tattoo on his back of a big fuckoff daisy. Since that day he’d been known as Daisy. Anyone who tried to take on the mean-assed fucker learned their mistake. Daisy was at church, as were all of his men, so protection detail had been cancelled for the hour of the meeting.

  “Does anyone else have anything to bring to the table?”

  Russ leaned forward. “I want to know what you’re doing sniffing around Holly.”

  Duke stared at Holly’s father, the previous president of the Trojans. He had a shitload of respect for the man. Russ had been a great president and when he stepped down it was hard for Duke to take the lead, but he did it to lead the Trojans in the direction that Russ had.

  “None of your business.”

  “It is my business when my girl calls me up and asks me why she’s being tailed by an asshole sporting the insignia of our club.” Their insignia was of a horse with two Glocks pointing toward each other. On the outside of the insignia, “Trojans” was across the top with “MC” along the bottom.

  He looked toward Daisy, smirking. “You told me she didn’t have a clue you were tailing her.”

  “My daughter is not a fucking idiot. She’s lived her whole life having men on her tail for protection. Never underestimate Holly. She’ll kick your ass.”

  “Holly’s protection is my concern.”

  “She’s my daughter. My only child, Duke. I demand respect or you pay the price. President or not, I take care of my family.” Russ looked toward Raoul. “I almost lost her because of that asshole. I’m not going to risk losing her because you got a need to prove a point.”

  Pressing his palms on the table, Duke leaned in close to look at Russ. His palms being flat on the table was a sign he wasn’t reaching for his gun to show Russ who was boss. Facing Russ head on also showed him he wasn’t backing the fuck down.

  “I’m not playing around with Holly.”

  “Then what the fuck are you going to do?”

  All of the men were looking at him, waiting. They cared about Holly, but it was up to him what he made of Holly. If he took her as a club whore, she became fair game. They would all give her the respect she earned and because she was Russ’s daughter, but it would be up to her what she did. If he took her as his old lady, they’d all know not to touch her.

  “She doesn’t want anyone to know. Nothing has happened, and the only reason I’m telling you, Russ, is out of mutual respect. Holly will be mine.”

  “What about Julie? Fucking whore will hurt my girl if given the chance.”

  “Leave her to me. No one will hurt Holly, and I can promise you I won’t be driving her away from the club.”

  “Good luck with that. Holly’s doing everything she can to steer clear. Her mother’s trying to talk to her, but so far, she’s not listening.”

  Duke nodded. “I don’t want any of you to make a fucking sound of what’s discussed here. You do, and you’re out. If church can’t stay fucking sacred, then you can’t be trusted to keep our deals quiet.”

  Each man murmured their agreement.

  “Dismissed.” He slammed the gavel down calling a close to the meeting. Like all the times before, Duke stayed in his chair while everyone made their way out of the room. Russ stayed back just like Duke knew he would.

  “What, Russ?”

  “Holly’s been part of the club all of her life. I never hid anything from her. She knows most of what goes down.”

  “Funny, does she know what taking an old lady is like?”

  “No. Like I said, she knows most of what goes on but not all. I expect you to keep me out of it whatever you decide.” Russ made his way toward the door. “Don’t turn her into a club whore. That’s all I ask. Father to father and shit like that. I know you have a son, but think about it.”

  Duke stared at the older man.

  “The club is yours, and I’m not asking you as a club member. I’m asking you as a father. Don’t turn my little girl into a whore.”

  “You and I both know Holly’s not got what it takes to be a whore.” That was all he was going to say on the matter. He watched Russ leave the room. Sitting back, Duke ran a finger across his bottom lip. He’d kept his distance from Holly, allowing her the chance to get over whatever shit was going on in her head from Raoul.

  Grabbing his keys, he made his way out of the office toward the main door. One of the latest club whores was sliding up and down the strip pole the boys had insisted getting. Pike sat drinking a beer, watching the fake blonde as she gave him her best come on face.

  Duke walked out of the clubhouse toward his bike, which was chained to the metal pole near their mechanics front. Duke made sure to employ several townies who knew how to work cars and bikes. No one but himself fixed his own bike.

  “I’m sorry, man,” Daisy said, coming to stand beside him.

  “No problem. I should have known Holly would know you were following her.”

  “She didn’t give me any shit.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Is today her day off?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What about Mary?” The two women lived together in a modest apartment near the center of town. It was far enough away from the clubhouse that if someone ever needed her, they’d have to come to her. Last time he checked neither woman could drive. Russ lived a couple miles from the club in a little condo set back from the beaten track. Many of the boys had houses around Vale Valley that were only a short distance from the clubhouse. Duke had bought an old ranch house, and when he wasn’t at the club or dealing with his son and ex, he was restoring it back to its former glory. He loved getting his hands dirty and getting stuck into a project. For as long as he could remember he had always loved creating things with his hands. He’d been the one to make the table with the club’s insignia on it. No one in the club knew who created the table but him and Russ.

  “She’s working a double shift at the diner. Mac has got her working hard. He’s trying to get into her pants so she’ll help him run the diner.”

  Mac Reynolds owned the local diner. He was in his thirties and had taken over from his parents. It was no secret that Mary was one hell of a cook. All of her potlucks were successes. The club loved
having her around just for her food. Duke wondered what Pike thought of Mac’s interest.

  “Does she show any sign of wanting anything to do with him?”

  “Not last time I checked. She kept her distance. Doesn’t even date.”

  Duke frowned. “How the fuck did you find that one out?”

  “I was in the diner sitting in a booth close to Holly and Mary. They were talking, arguing about Mary’s lack of a social life.”

  Holly cared about her friend. He’d have to have a word with Pike. If the fucker didn’t act soon he’d have a pissed off VP, and that wasn’t something he looked forward to. Pike pissed off was not a sight anyone wanted to live to see. It was deadly, dangerous, and fucked up. People died when Pike got upset.

  “Pike’s going to be pissed if anything happens to Mary.”

  Daisy held his hands up. “I’m just the messenger, and you’ve got to love the club.”

  “Thanks.” He shook Daisy’s hand. “When are you going to get your tat removed?”

  “Remove my ink? I fucking love Daisy. Gives me an edge.”

  Laughing, Duke climbed on his bike, firing it up. Firing up the engine, he loved the feel of the machine vibrating beneath him.

  “Have fun.”

  He was going to have a lot of fun.

  ****

  “Shit, ouch, fuck, sugar hot. Ouch.” Holly dropped the wooden spoon down onto the counter with a clatter. Rushing over to the tap, she plunged her fingers into the warm water. She’d been working with some toffee, but so far everything she tried to do was a mess. There wasn’t a chance of her making any pretty hearts or even some leaves. “Stupid toffee.”

  She pulled her hand out of the water and saw the tips of her fingers were red. Moving back to the designs on the tray, she scribbled out the recipe she’d been working on with Mary. The sound of the doorbell ringing had her frowning. Holly checked the clock to see it wasn’t anywhere close to ten o’clock when Mary got off work. It was her one day off from the nursery, and she was spending the time trying out new recipes. She couldn’t think of a better way to spend her day. The morning had been a nightmare of cleaning up last night’s mess. Mary wanted to work pineapple into a cake recipe that had a strong taste. Every recipe they’d tried had been a failure.

  The doorbell rang once again.

  “I’m coming.”

  Glancing down at her flour covered shirt, which also had grease stains from the butter she used, Holly shrugged. She wasn’t going to rush off and change. It was probably the delivery man. She’d tied her hair up on top of her head to keep it out of her way as she worked her magic.

  Opening the door without glancing through the peephole she stopped as she saw Duke standing on her doorstep.

  “What are you doing here?” It had been three days since their little kiss in the kitchen.

  Nothing about that kiss was little.

  “It’s about time I stopped by.”

  “Is this about Daisy?” She stopped him from entering by stepping in the gap and keeping the door close to her side. The only way he was getting into her apartment was if he forced his way inside. She lived on the second floor, but the building wasn’t all that secure. Anyone could come and go as they pleased. He didn’t need her permission to buzz his way inside.

  “No.”

  “Who put him on my ass?”

  “I did.”

  There was no remorse in his eyes or in his stance.

  “Why?”

  “My woman stays protected at all times.”

  “I’m not your woman. Why do you keep saying that?”

  He stepped closer. She gripped the door a little tighter. Holly was no match for his strength if he decided to take what he wanted and move her aside.

  “You’re my woman, Holly. My woman has protection.”

  “Julie doesn’t.” She purposefully brought up his ex. Julie was a horrid person. Holly couldn’t stand her.

  “She’s a whore. She’s not my concern.”

  “She’s the mother of your child.”

  Duke burst out laughing.

  “Baby, she hasn’t ever been a mother to Matthew.”

  He slid his hand across her waist. His touch made her pause as she looked at him. What could she say to him? Julie wasn’t a mother to Matthew. Holly knew she’d been caught fucking another man in their bed.

  “Now, you can either let me inside where we can have some privacy or we can do all of this for anyone to see. We can keep it out in the open for everyone to know it’s me here.”

  Pulling out of his touch, she stepped away from the front door. She turned on her heel, heading back to the kitchen. Holly was sure she heard a groan from behind her. When she glanced back at Duke, she saw his gaze on her ass. She wore a pair of shorts that went to her knees, but they were the kind that molded to the shape of her ass.

  “Perv,” she said. His gaze gave her a thrill that she didn’t want to have.

  Stop thinking about him. He’s not important.

  She released a little groan of her own when she saw the toffee had stuck. It was going to be a bitch to scrub off. Screwing up the disasters that were supposed to be toffee she threw them in the trash with the greaseproof paper. Dumping the saucepan in the sink, she turned on the hot water to put it in to soak. All the time she was working, she was aware of him in her small kitchen. Her apartment was small and modest. She and Mary couldn’t afford anything bigger. Russ had offered to get her a bigger place, already paid for, but there would have been no chance of getting Mary to live with her. Mary wouldn’t accept any charity and preferred to earn her keep rather than have it handed to her on a plate.

  Drying her hands, Holly was about to turn around when Duke placed his hands on either side of the kitchen counter trapping her in. He was larger than she was. If she was to lean back her head would be at his chest.

  “You like me being a perv. I seem to recall a certain creamy pussy.”

  She closed her eyes, trying to fight the budding arousal he was inspiring. Holly didn’t want to give into the need he was creating.

  “Why are you here?”

  “It has been three days.”

  “So?”

  “I’ve given you long enough to deal with the thought of us. I couldn’t hold back any longer.” His lips nuzzled her neck.

  Holly couldn’t hold back her gasp as he licked the pulse beating against her neck. Opening her eyes, she stared out of the kitchen window. She didn’t see anything in front of her. Gripping the counter tightly she released a moan as one of his hands landed on her rounded stomach.

  “Mary’s coming home soon.”

  “No, she’s not. You’re alone for most of the day. Mary’s doing double shifts at the diner. You know I could make that stop.”

  “She likes working at the diner.”

  “Does she like Mac drooling all over her?” he asked.

  “He’s a nice guy.” Mac didn’t force the issue with Mary. The guy had only made his desire for her friend known.

  “Mary belongs to Pike.”

  “Mary belongs to no one, just like I don’t.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, baby. You belong to me.” The hand that had been resting on her stomach moved down to cup her pussy through her shorts. “This pussy is all mine.”

  He rubbed his fingers through her shorts, pressing against her clit.

  “I believe I left you unsatisfied the last time we were together.”

  She whimpered as he stopped touching her. The hand that had touched her intimately through her shorts, now touched her face. He turned her so she had no choice but to look at him. “I’m going to take care of that need for you now, baby.”

  Holly should push him away.

  “Give me those lips.”

  Duke had always intrigued her for as long as she could remember. Even when he was married to Julie, there had been that draw to him. Holly didn’t understand it. He touched her, and she went up in flames at his touch.

  He leaned fo
rward, and Holly couldn’t resist. The moment his lips were on hers, she was burning with need. After he’d worked her up toward an orgasm yet given her nothing, she’d come home and tried to find release at her own hand. She’d failed. No matter how much she touched herself, she couldn’t bring herself off.

  Three days she’d been unsatisfied, but Duke kisses her once and that was it. She was dying for more.

  His tongue traced along her bottom lip. Opening her mouth she touched his tongue with her own. She tasted the coffee on his lips but not the staleness of cigarettes. Did Duke smoke? She didn’t know nor did she care. Reaching up, she sank her fingers into his hair, drawing him deeper. He slid his tongue deep into her mouth, meeting each stroke. She imagined his cock would be the same, fucking her hard.

  Groaning, she turned in his arms and ran her hands beneath the leather of his cut. She shoved the jacket off his body as Duke grabbed her ass. There was no way she could contain the need any longer. Three days of frustration, three days of being denied release, and Holly no longer held onto any sense. She needed him to put out the fire that he’d built.

  He turned her back to the table. With one swoop of his hand, he sent flour, sugar, cookery books, spoons, and a couple of metal bowls spilling to the floor. She didn’t care. Later, she’d clean up the mess later. The only thing she could focus on right now was Duke. He lifted her up and placed her down on the table. Tearing open his belt, Holly gasped as he pressed on her chest, forcing her to lie back. His hands slid down her chest, circling her nipples as he glided down to her shorts.

  She went to her elbows and watched as he easily opened the button of her shorts.

  “I’m the one in charge. I’m the one in control. Not you, baby. Me.” He stepped between her splayed legs, gripping either side of her shorts. She stared into his eyes, as he worked the material down her legs. The shorts were white, and she’d chosen underwear that wouldn’t show through. She wore a white lace thong and a bra to match.

  “Fuck, baby.” His palm covered her pussy. He rubbed her through the panties. Fisting her hands, she cried out, whimpering as he parted the lips of her sex. The panties slid between creating a slightly rough edge to touch her clit.