Greed (Seven Deadlies MC Book 4) Read online

“Looks amazing,” Emily heard.

  She jumped at the sound of Green’s voice and took a step back from him, her face impassive.

  “Thanks.”

  Green scratched the back of his neck and stepped closer to the painting, his green eyes roaming over every single detail. As he studied the painting, she studied him; back t-shirt, leather cut, tight blue jeans that she herself had picked out for him months ago.

  Why does he still wear them?

  “I’m sorry about what I said earlier,” He murmured.

  His husky voice played havoc with her pulse just like it always had, but Emily refused to let it rule her mind ever again.

  “It’s fine.”

  Green ran a hand through his thick red hair and shook his head.

  “No, it’s not. Fuck, I wish I’d known. You could have told me, Em. You should have told me!,” He said exasperatedly.

  “Your apology reeks of accusation, Killian.”

  Emily showed no emotion as she stepped towards the canvas and worked in a swirl of emerald green. Green moved to stand right next to her, his body only inches away from hers. Even though she hated the fact that his nearness still did something to her, she didn’t dare move away.

  “Tell me you don’t love him, Emily. Tell me this is all a sick fuckin’ joke,” He whispered.

  Emily’s whole body stilled at his words, throaty with emotion.

  Emotion she’d rather run from than respond to, but her whole body practically lip up like a Christmas tree as hope filtered through her blood. Her brush shook between her fingers as Green stepped even closer to her.

  “I know I fucked up, but I can’t stop thinkin’ about you. Please come back to me,” He said gruffly.

  Emily’s eyes watered like a freshly cleaned fountain, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  “You threw me away, Green. This is for the best.”

  He slammed his palm into the wall above both of their heads and she jumped, her brush falling to the ground as she bravely turned to face him.

  “Bullshit! This isn’t for the best at all, and I think you know that. I think you miss me too.”

  Emily’s eyes narrowed at him as she threw her arms out.

  “I literally almost shot you between your fucking eyes, Killian! What more do you want from me? Huh? What else can I possibly give you? Because I gave you all of me, and none of it was good enough. None of it!,” She cried.

  Her index finger was poking his chest as hard as she could and he surprised her when he wrapped a warm hand around hers and tugged her closer to him.

  His green eyes were seeking, roaming, urging her to let him in, but she couldn’t. Not now, not ever again.

  “Em, come on. He’s not the one for you. I know he doesn’t get you hot and bothered like I did. I know he doesn’t make your blood boil so damn hot it makes you sweat,” He whispered.

  As Green stepped towards her, she looked away from him and clenched her jaw tight so that she wouldn’t tell him he was right, but he caught her chin between his fingers and tilted her head back in his direction.

  “You’re wrong. You know why we can’t be together, Killian. Just because your side piece got fired, that don’t mean I’ll come running back to you. He’s taken care of me from day one and I didn’t even have to ask,” She argued fiercely.

  Green cupped her cheeks in his hands and tilted her head all the way back, so that she had no choice but to look deeply into his eyes.

  “He’s not here right now. He ain’t here to shield you from the truth, Em. What happened with Kandy was a mistake, and it will never fuckin’ happen again. I promise you that. As far as Ash goes? I’ll find him and kill him for you right now, whatever you need. Just…let me have one more chance,” He urged.

  His eyes flickered down to her lips and for one traitorous second, she almost wished he’d kiss her.

  His mouth was so close to hers she could smell his favorite flavor of gum on his breath, but still, Emily didn’t give in.

  How could she hurt Rider like that? How could she let him down when all he’d ever done was love her?

  Emily gave in to one small need.

  She ran her palm along the side of Green’s face and slowly shook her head.

  “I loved you. I never needed you to slay my dragons for me, Killian. All I wanted was for you to stay by my side while I did it for myself. All I wanted was for you to love me the way that I loved you, but you ruined it. You picked me apart piece by piece, melted me down into a pile of ash, and I had to drag my own pieces back together. I’m still not right, but ya know what? Rider loves me anyways. He truly does, and that is what I need right now.”

  Green’s eyes closed as her fingers fell from his face and he took a jerky step back from her, his shoulders tense and his lips lifted in a near snarl as he looked at her painting.

  “Is that your answer then? You’re gonna stay with him?”

  She nodded, her whole chest on fire from the energy it took not to cry.

  Not to give in.

  Green started to laugh mockingly at her, his hands waving in the direction of her painting.

  “Take a closer look at the truth, baby. Your heart knows what your mind denies you. I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll be waitin’ for you.”

  His gruff promise only made her chest heave, but she refused to give in to him. To give him what he wanted.

  Emily looked from Green to her canvas and her mouth fell open when she realized that the entire surface was covered by an intense dark portrait of Kilian, complete with his green eyes staring right back at her.

  She’d been so consumed with painting, with working, with attempting to heal that she hadn’t even paid attention to what she was painting.

  When she looked up again, Green was gone.

  All she was left with was the rough outline of his brooding face watching her from her canvas, and that was when Emily felt another piece of herself shift, another wave of discontentment wash over her so quick and so fast it took her breath away.

  This isn’t right, Em.

  Ya gotta let Rider go, it ain’t fair to hold onto him so tight.

  You have to give him the choice, you have to tell him the truth, that you love both of them.

  It wasn’t fair of her to hold on to him, it wasn’t fair to only love him and Green, and she knew that. She knew that like she knew that all the wrong parts of her needed him. He deserved better. He deserved the whole world and she couldn’t even offer him all of herself, let alone anything else.

  Still, she’d never forgive himself if she didn’t give him the choice.

  “Fuck!,” She yelled.

  More than one pair of eyes landed on her when she angrily stormed away from her painting and motioned to Torch.

  “Where’s Rider?”

  He looked around before he said, “Ox sent him to Sexy Sinners for a few hours.”

  “Will you drop me off? I can’t work here.”

  Torch started to shake his head, but Emily caught his cut with her fingers and shook him gently.

  “Please. Consider me begging.”

  Torch hesitated, but he pulled the keys to his bike out of his pocket and motioned for her to follow.

  “Hurry, before he realizes I’m gone. I only want one ass chewing over this.”

  Emily nodded gratefully and did as he said, her heart in her throat.

  So is this it?

  Is this rock bottom?

  Is this what losing everything feels like?

  Every mile, every twist and turn, every damn rumble of Torch’s bike filled her lungs with a heavy sense of dread that felt like fireworks under her skin. As they pulled into the parking lot of Sexy Sinners, Torch stopped her before she could get all the way off the back of his bike.

  “Hey, Elsa?”

  She glanced up at him, waiting for him to speak.

  He hesitated before he sighed and slowly shook his head.

  “I know you don’t need my fuckin’ advice, but I’m gonn
a give it to you anyways. This isn’t just about Green, okay? I can see what’s happening. I saw it with Rayna, I saw it with Esme, and God bless Scarlett, but she wasn’t very good at hiding it either. You’re spiraling and you’re gonna hit rock bottom if you don’t catch yourself. When all that ice inside you melts, you’re gonna get swept away by your own current, and I want better for you.”

  Emily narrowed her eyes at his truthful words, her mouth pulled down in an angry grimace.

  “How do you know I’m not already at rock bottom? Huh? How do you know this isn’t it?”

  Torch smiled sadly before he patted one gloved hand over his cut, over his heart.

  “Believe me, if you have to ask, you ain’t there yet. I don’t want you to drown, Emily. Ain’t no man on this planet that can fix that ache inside you. This time, you gotta be your own savior.”

  Emily’s mouth fell open as she glanced at the strip club behind her, knowing full well that not only was Torch right, but that maybe setting Rider free was also the right thing to do.

  Emily turned to face Torch again, holding out his helmet to him.

  “You’re a good man, Torch. Thank you for caring enough to speak up. I really appreciate it, okay?”

  Torch followed her with his eyes as she stepped away from him, her cowgirl boots making small impressions in the swirls of dirt painting the asphalt beneath her feet.

  But, she had no idea that it wouldn’t matter what she wanted to tell Rider.

  It wouldn’t matter what she wanted, needed, what he wanted or needed- neither one of them would ever get the chance to sort that out.

  No, Emily wouldn’t have to wait long to find out what rock bottom felt like, because as soon as she stepped through the doors of Sexy Sinners, her entire world fell to pieces, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  Chapter 10

  Sexy Sinners was dead silent, something that didn’t sit well with Emily. It was dark, the stage was abandoned, and there wasn’t a dancer in sight. That wasn’t something she was used to, and suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

  Emily took a couple of steps into the room and called out for anyone, receiving no answer. The sound of rubber on asphalt told her that Torch had already gone, so she was left seemingly completely alone in Sexy Sinners.

  There wasn’t even any music playing.

  “Hello?,” She called again.

  A shadow moved across the wall behind the stage, and from the darkness, she could clearly see the outline of a man moving towards her.

  She narrowed her eyes and lifted a palm to her forehead, trying her hardest to see through the glare of the lights from the stage. The deep red carpet clashed with the brass poles in front of her as she took another step forward, only to stop dead in her tracks.

  No…

  This can’t be right!

  Ash was walking towards her, a smile on his face.

  He stopped just ahead of her, opposite the stage, and held his arms out.

  “What’s the matter, baby? You didn’t miss me?”

  Emily stuttered as she turned around and bolted for the doors, but the loud sound of a gun cocking had her stopping cold.

  Slowly, she turned around, only to be greeted by the barrel of Ash’s favorite pistol aimed directly at her head.

  “That’s right. I knew I’d need a little…incentive to get your attention, but if this isn’t enough, what about the fact that I have your boyfriend tied up in the basement?”

  Emily’s heart skipped a beat when he told her that, her blonde hair swaying as she angrily stomped towards him.

  How?

  “Let him go!”

  “Now, now, don’t get too feisty. You know how much I hate that attitude of yours,” He said,lifting the gun so that it’s barrel rested right between her eyes.

  “We don’t have much time before Ox sends in the night shift and it was hard enough getting this place emptied out earlier. And, shit! I didn’t even have to go through with the second part of my plan, which was to have your lover call you and tell you to get your sweet ass over here. God must be on my side today, wench. You showed up allll on your own,” Ash said sadistically.

  Emily’s eyes shot to the door that led to the basement, her throat trying to work over the lump in the back of her mouth so that she could breathe.

  “Awe, don’t look so sad. He’s still alive, for now. But, you better do everything I say, got it?”

  Emily nodded numbly, her mind automatically searching mercilessly for a way to escape, but she saw none. She didn’t even have her gun on her.

  Ash lifted a strand of hair away from her face with the barrel of his gun and sighed.

  “Smile for me, Emily. You know how much I hate it when you look sad.”

  Emily’s gaze slammed into his as she started to shake in her boots.

  This isn’t happening.

  This is not happening!

  The basement door opened and a face she never thought she’d see again came into view. Jonah stepped out of the basement and Ash smiled at her again.

  “Look, your old friend is here too! Don’t worry, the whole gang is waiting downstairs for us. We’re waiting on our driver to show up, but no rush! We have a couple of hours to have a little fun, don’t we?”

  Ash was grinning from ear to ear, but all Emily could do was to try to swallow the bile spilling into her mouth as the realization of what was happening slowly dawned on her.

  Jonah wouldn’t meet her gaze, but she could still see the softness in his eyes as he looked at Ash.

  “We’re ready for her.”

  And, that’s when she knew she wouldn’t get any help from Jonah.

  “Good. Emily, move.”

  She shook her head, but Ash instantly swatted her left cheek with the barrel of his gun, causing her to cry out in pain.

  “I know it’s been a while, you snarky cunt, but don’t forget how easily I doused that fire inside of ya- and how much I liked doing it.”

  Emily’s eyes filled with tears of frustration, of pain, but she didn’t say anther word. The blood pooling in her mouth stopped her from really saying anything and her cheek was throbbing relentlessly, but she didn’t argue with him.

  Rider was still in the basement, and she wasn’t going to leave him alone with Ash for another second.

  Instead of letting Jonah lead her, she raced down the basement steps until she came to the landing and saw Rider handcuffed to a chair, his head tipped forward.

  “Miles!,” She breathed anxiously.

  He looked up at her instantly, his hazel eyes rimmed with purple and nearly swollen shut.

  She knelt before him and cupped his cheeks in her hands, her tears spilling over and onto the backs of her hands.

  “Are you okay?”

  Rider kissed the back of her hand and nodded.

  “What are you…doing here?,” He wheezed.

  Emily winced at the rattle in his chest and shook her head.

  “I just wanted to see you. I missed you,” She said.

  The truth, her original intentions, they all went out the window the second she saw him cuffed to the chair. Emily would never hurt him intentionally, she never wanted to, but none of that mattered. What mattered was getting Ash to let him go, even if it meant that she had to stay.

  “Cuff her,” Ash demanded.

  Two large hands gripped her wrists, tearing her away from Rider, yanking her into another chair and cuffing her wrists the same way that Rider was cuffed. Her and Rider were still close enough to touch, and that’s exactly what she did. Her fingers gripped his instantly, out of habit, out of fear, and Ash started to laugh.

  “Ain’t it sweet? You always could wrap a man around your little finger, couldn’t ya?”

  “You’ve got me here, at your mercy! Let Rider go,” Emily demanded gruffly.

  Ash took a lap around the room, his phone in hand.

  “Lurch is running a little late, said there was an accident. Shouldn’t be too much lon
ger, but that shouldn’t matter. We’ve still got a while before we have to get gone.”

  Emily looked at Rider again, her fingers tugging on his.

  “I’m gonna get you out of here, okay?”

  Rider just looked at her, his mouth forming the words I love you.

  It broke her heart all over again, tore out a little sliver of her soul that would always belong to Rider.

  I love you, too.

  Emily was almost sobbing now, her chest practically vibrating with fear and remorse.

  And fucking guilt.

  “Why do you need a driver?,” She asked.

  “Your friend Ox has people all over the city watching us. We had to use a delivery van just to get in here! All this trouble, all for you!,” He accused, pointing one finger at her.

  “You could have just left me alone! What, was the prison stint not enough of a hint for you?” Emily cried out angrily when he laughed at her.

  Ash leaned down so that he was staring directly into her eyes.

  “We may not have our bikes right now, and I may be in enemy territory for you, but believe me when I say I’m not scared. Why would I be? I’ve got you and your fuckin’ boyfriend right where I want you,” Ash sneered.

  Rider snorted and lifted his head, his blonde hair already matted with his own blood.

  “They’ll kill you, all of you.”

  Ash shrugged.

  “Maybe they will, but not until after I torture your girlfriend here for all the fuckin’ trouble she caused me!”

  Rider snarled under his breath as he jerked against the cuffs holding him in place.

  “Let her go! You want to get back at her, take me instead,” Rider demanded.

  “No!,” Emily cried helplessly.

  Ash smiled at her as he tapped his gun against the side of his own head and waved it towards Rider.

  “Now that, that makes sense.”

  “No, it doesn’t! Rider, what are you doing?,” She whispered.

  He looked at her and she could see determination in his eyes, but she didn’t want him to sacrifice anything for her.

  Not. A. Damn. Thing.

  Her fingers were gripping his so hard that her fingers were going numb.

  “You fuckin’ pussy! You have to chain up a woman just to get her attention? I figured after your time in prison, your taste would have changed to something a little less feminine,” Emily said heatedly.