Chapter fourteen.

Becky was sitting on a large stack of used tires near the garage, smoking a cigarette when Ty came out of the clubhouse. He made his way towards her and climbed onto the tires beside her, leaning his back against the chain link fence behind them.

"When did you start smoking?" He asked.

"Ten minutes ago."

"Look, Zeke doesn't mean to be so harsh."

"Yes, he does. He's always hated me."

"Not always, hes just testy right now. It's hard for him to sit aside while this war goes on."

"He's lucky he's even alive at all," She said.

"I know, but you know Zeke. He's never been one to sit on the sidelines and watch."

She laughed, knowing he was right. He leaned over to nudge her shoulder with his.

"Remember that time we went to prom together in our 11th grade? And Zeke caught us practicing how to dance, he insisted that he could show me a better way."

She gave a nod, remembering Zeke lecturing Ty on how he was holding her too close and that's why Ty kept stepping on her feet. He'd spent the rest of his afternoon blowing off work and teaching Ty to dance, later they'd all ate out together. Becky could barely remember a time she was happier than that day.

"Those were better days," She said with a heavy sigh.

"Yeah, they were."

"Do you think we'll ever be that happy together again?"

"Once the war is over Zeke with lighten up some, and I promise no matter what happens I'll always be here for you."

She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder, Ty dropped a kiss on top of her head but didn't say anything else.

They were sitting together on the tires when the all black bike roared into the parking lot, the rider also clad in all black. Becky felt Ty tense beside her and lifted her head from his shoulder.

"Who is that?" She asked.

"Raphael."

The man swung off his bike and settled his helmet on the seat, pulling off his leather gloves. He glanced briefly at the pair and Ty flinched, Becky couldn't force herself to look away. She'd heard of him, anyone associated with any biker club had heard of him. He was every bit as terrifying in real life as in the stories.

Tall, not as tall as Zeke but taller than Ty with black hair and a long scar running down the right side of his face. He was younger than she thought he'd be, maybe not much older than her and Ty. He screamed lethal and dangerous, Becky knew grown men were afraid of him.

"Why is he here?" She asked.

"Because of Lacy."

Jenny and Sky were lounging on the couch, Sky sitting at one end watching the television while Jenny lay with her head on his leg reading a book. When the man all in black walked in.

"Shit," Sky mumbled under his breath.

"Who is it?"

"That's Raphael."

"The mercenary?" She sat up.

"Shh, just....he's here because of Lacy. Demon and Wolf will handle it."

Jenny watched him walk passed the couch he glanced at her and she shrank back against Sky. His eyes scanning over her made her nervous and itchy in her own skin.

"Raphael, thanks for coming." Wolf met him near the bar, reaching out to shake his hand.

"Wolf," he returned the hand shake, glancing back at the tiny brunette who was watching him over the back of the couch.

"I appreciate you coming on such short notice."

"I was around."

"If you follow me into the conference room I can fill you in," Wolf said.

Raphael motioned for Wolf to lead the way, he glanced one more time at the brunette. She was attractive, tempting even, a few years ago he might even make a move and take her to his bed. He shook the thought away, no, never again. He promised himself years ago that he wouldn't touch another woman and she wasn't tempting enough to make him break that vow.

He followed Wolf into the large room with the oak table and took a seat, across the table sat another man. One who didn't look happy to be there.

"This is Demon, he's my mercenary for the club."

Raphael shook the other mans hand but noticed his barely held back anger, clearly he was pissed that the job would be going to Raphael instead of himself.

"The situation is this, we have a member who went rogue and switched sides on us. She did it in the middle of a war with the Aces," Wolf began.

"She?" Raphael asked.

"Yeah, is that a problem?" Wolf asked.

"Dies the same as a man," He said with a shrug.

"She's been in bed with the leader, King. Demon worked closely with her since she came to the club and has been hunting her down. He can get close and he can take her out, we need you to get to King."

"The leader?" Raphael asked.

"Yes, King and only King. You don't touch Lacy," Demon said.

Raphael looked at the other man but didn't comment, any idiot could see that Wolf wasn't sure that Demon could do the job and that was why Raphael was really there.

"Alright, you lead me to the girl and I'll follow her to this King fellow."

"Fair enough, but you don't go after Lacy. Demon will handle her if the time comes," Wolf said.

"No, he won't." Raphael said, lighting a cigarette.

"What was that?" Demon asked.

"I said no you wont, no offense. I'm sure in this town you're a big threat and everyone knows you do dirty things but the fact is that where this particular woman is concerned you aren't going to do shit."

"You don't know me, you don't know a damn thing about me or Lacy." Demon spat.

"I know you're screwing her...and I know that Wolf doesn't know a thing about it," Raphael replied.

"What? Demon is that true?" Wolf asked.

"How the hell do you know that?!" Demon demanded.

"You told me, with your threats, your body language they way you flinch when anyone else says her name."

"Look, will you or will you not do the job? The pay is good." Wolf said.

"Yeah, sure. I'll stay three days, that's my limit. I'll kill King but if that girl gets in my way I'll kill her."

Wolf glanced at Demon who looked ready to strike out at Raphael in any second. He sighed and looked back at Raphael.

"Deal."

"Two Hundred grand when the job is done and I need a roof," Raphael stood.

"I'll show you to your room," Wolf said standing as well.

Once the other two men were gone Demon stood and quickly exited the room, moving through the common room he passed Sky and Jenny, still sitting on the couch.

"I don't like the way he looked at you," Sky was telling Jenny.

Demon hurried from the building, Ty and Becky were laughing and sitting on the tires near where Raphael's bike was parked. Demon swung onto his own bike and started it, pulling onto the road and heading directly towards Lacy's.

He parked a few blocks away this time, not entirely sure someone wouldn't steal his bike but also not wanting Raphael or anyone else to see where she lived. He hurried up the stairs and beat on the cheap wooden door, hoping she was inside.

"Lacy!" He called out.

When nobody answered he turned the knob and let himself into the apartment. Lacy was laying on the bed, curled into the fetal position. She was asleep but he could tell she'd been crying, she was wearing a plain black t-shirt and a black pair of panties. Even asleep with pink cheeks and black around her eyes she was beautiful.

His plan had been to either kill himself or tell her to run, instead he kicked off his shoes and stripped off his shirt. He climbed into the bed next to her and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Demon?" She whimpered.

"Shh, I'm here. I'm here," He kissed her cheeks, her nose, both of her closed eyes.

She turned in his arms to press herself as close as possible, wrapping her legs around his and running her hands up his torso. Feeling her fingers trace up his skin was like a kind of high that he wasn't sure he could ever give up.

She leaned up just enough to catch his lips with hers, her hand slid into his hair pulling him as close as possible. Sensing the urgency in her kisses her gripped the edge of her shirt and pulled it over her head, running his fingers down her bare spine and pulled her flush against him. Flesh to flesh, skin to skin.

His hand skimmed up her back and into her long blonde hair, not pulling it for once but sliding gently through the strands. He kept his touches gentle, kept his caresses light and even when he peeled her panties from her bruised hips he was slow and gentle. For the first time in as long as he could remember he made love to a woman.

Later he held her against his body and listened to her even breathing. He had kissed and caressed every bruise and every scar he'd left during his previous visits. Now, there was nothing to do but hold her.

"I'm in such a mess," She said softly.

"Yeah, baby. You are."

He kissed the top of her head and she sighed. He didn't want to lie to her, the situation was quickly declining and he didn't know what Wolf would do when he found out about him and Lacy.

"Lacy......Wolf called in Raphael," He said gently.

"What?" She sat upright in the bed.

"It's okay," He tried.

"No, it's not. He'll kill me!" She cried.

"No, no, he's coming for King. Not you, I won't let them. I promise."

He sat up to, resting his forehead against hers. He could feel her body shaking and she sobbed silently. He kissed away a stray tear before pulling her into his arms and back onto the bed.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you, I promise." He said.

"He's going after King?"

"Yes."

"Then what? What happens to me?"

"I don't know," He said honestly.

"I'm afraid, of what Wolf will do."

"Shh, don't think about it now. Get some rest." He kissed the top of her head and she relaxed in his arms. Even though he didn't mean too, Demon fell asleep.

When he woke up it was dark, he rolled over to find the bed empty and the sheets where Lacy lay cold to the touch. He sat upright and in the dark saw a piece of paper on the bedside table, switching on a lamp her read the short note.

Demon,

Please don't come after me, don't try to look for me. I'm going to King, I'm going back to the Aces Wild. If you care for me at all, please don't come after me. Let me go.

Lacy.

He re-read the letter at least six times before he understood it, then he crumpled it in his fist. She was going to King, she was going to warn him and this war was going to take a dangerous shift. He felt his heart ache, he couldn't stand the thought of hurting or killing Lacy. She was the only thing that had mattered to him but then he thought of the club. Wolf, Morgan, Iris, He thought of Ty, Zeke and Becky and of Sky and Jenny. They were his family and they needed him.

He tossed the letter to the floor, sure of his decision. He had to protect the club and his family. After all Lacy was a member of the Aces Wild now, just another rival member and she could die as one.