Spawn and Spitfire Read online

  Deke closed his eyes when he understood what happened that day. “I think it’s a good thing Robbie is gone. I’d have a hard time with him still breathing.”

  Gator laid his hand on Deke’s shoulder.

  Deke got to his feet and walked down the hall. Opening the door, he slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

  Cassie was curled up on the bed.

  When he went over to the bed and sat down, she moved away.

  Deke pulled her close to him. “I’m so sorry honey.”

  “How can you stand being close to me now?” she finally asked. “I’m damaged goods.”

  Deke tightened his hold on her. “No baby, you’re not. Robbie was one sick mother fucker and what he did to you and the other kids in his mother’s charge wasn’t right. The fact his own mother allowed him to do it doesn’t say much about her. She’s the one who needs to go to jail. The bitches in the joint will teach her right and wrong. I guarantee that.”

  “But I’m dirty, I feel so dirty.”

  “No you aren’t.” Deke insisted. “Anal sex can be pleasurable when it’s done right. Robbie didn’t do it with pleasure in mind, he used pain as a weapon, a tool and he was a sick fuck.”

  Cassie was still for a moment then she turned to look at him. “Have you ever—you know…”

  Deke grinned softly. “Yeah baby, I have but my partner enjoyed herself. I didn’t hurt her.” He hesitated then told her, “I enjoyed it too.”

  “Can we have sex again? I want to feel something other than being so lost. I want to feel alive again and that’s what I feel when you’re inside me,” Cassie whispered. “I need to feel alive.”

  Deke was still awed by her innocence and her forthright ways. When she wanted something, she simply asked for it. He smiled as he stood up.

  Cassie sat there and watched as he pulled off his shirt and jeans.

  When he was naked, he reached for her clothes. A few minutes later, he joined her on the bed. Deke leaned toward her and began kissing her. When she opened her mouth to his, he plunged his tongue in deep.

  Cassie groaned. She wrapped arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

  Deke’s hands made their way to her breasts and he rubbed his thumbs over her hard nipples.

  Cassie could feel her body responding. Her pussy was getting wet and she needed his cock inside her. Pulling him down on top of her, she opened her legs and arched her hips. “For so long, I’ve felt nothing and I was okay with that. Nothing was worse than the pain, but you’ve shown me something so new and I want to feel it again.” She shook her head. “I need to feel it again…”

  ~* * * *~

  Deke felt his cock throb at her words. Without thinking, he thrust hard and deep inside her. He felt the walls of her pussy wrapping around him. She felt so good, so tight, so wet. Pulling back, he plunged even deeper. Several thrusts later, he could feel his body tighten. He knew he couldn’t hold out too much longer. “Cassie, I need you to come,” he whispered. “I’m so close.”

  Cassie arched her back as her entire body quaked.

  He groaned as he ground his hips against hers and came inside her. Sweat dripped down Deke’s temple as he leaned forward covered her mouth with his. His tongue thrust into her mouth and she met his invasion with one of her own. Finally, he rolled off and plopped down on the bed beside her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her to his side.

  Cassie let him hold her but only for a moment. When she pulled away, she wrapped her shoulders in the blanket.

  She leaned back into his arms again, but it didn’t feel the same to Deke. He wanted her warm body naked, not draped in a blanket.

  Cassie touched his chest lightly with the tips of her fingers. “I never knew it could be like this.”

  He squeezed her tighter to him.

  “So, when do you think they will come?”

  Deke sighed. “I don’t know but we have to get ready. We aren’t that far from Boston, so they could be here anytime.”

  Cassie nodded. “I suppose we’d better get dressed then, huh?”

  Deke rolled to a sitting position and grabbed his pants. Standing up, he reached for his shirt, he pulled it over his head and sat down to put on his boots. Cassie hadn’t moved and he turned his head to see her watching him. When she didn’t say anything, he got up and went to the door. With one last look at her, he went back to the main room. She wore an odd expression. He wondered what she was thinking. It could just be all that she as going through, but he felt there was more she wasn’t telling him.

  When he reached the table where Reva and Peaches sat, he joined them. Pouring himself a drink, he glared over the rim of his glass at Peaches. “What else do I need to know before this shit hits the fan?”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Peaches paled and shook her head. “You know everything now. When she gave you the evidence we carried away that night…that was everything.”

  “Why do I doubt that?” Deke stared at her.

  Peaches studied the tiger painting on the wall for a moment. “I’m surprised she handed it over to you actually.”

  “Why?” Deke took a sip of his drink.

  Peaches turned to study him now. “You don’t know the hell we went through. Cassie had been gathering that evidence for weeks before we left. She wouldn’t even tell me where she kept it. Even after we left, she would hide it. I asked her where and she would never tell me. All she ever said was that it was safe and as long as we had it, we were safe.”

  Before he could respond, the main door flew open. Gator and the men he’d taken with him to dispose of Connie’s body returned.

  Gator joined them and Reva poured him a drink.

  “Did everything go okay?” Deke asked.

  Gator nodded over the top of his glass. “That old sow made little work of her.”

  “Did you have any problems coming back?”

  Gator shook his head.

  “How was traffic?” Deke asked.

  Gator stared at him as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. “Lots of traffic out there, more than usual anyway.”

  Deke nodded. “We’d better get locked down then. Make sure the guys standing watch do their jobs. I don’t want any surprises.”’

  Gator got to his feet and walked to the door. Some of the men sitting around joined him and they went outside.

  Reva pushed herself away from the table. “I suppose I’d better get a meal together.”

  “Just make sandwiches or something simple. The guys will be coming and going all night. Make sure you have plenty of coffee going. I don’t want anyone drinking too heavily until this is over,” Deke ordered.

  Reva smiled slightly. “You got it boss.”

  That left Peaches sitting with Deke. After a minute or so, she began to fidget. “I’d better go help Reva.” She got to her feet.

  “Sit down,” Deke ordered without looking at her.

  Peaches sat down hard.

  “So, tell me what happened after you two left the Pierce household.”

  Peaches’ hands began to shake and she wrapped them around her empty glass to hold it together. She couldn’t look at him and she had no idea what he wanted to know. “We left, we survived, and we made a new life for ourselves. What more is there to say?”

  Deke glared at her but before he could say anything, he heard Cassie behind him.

  “Why don’t you ask me what you want to know?”

  Turning his head, he found her standing there.

  ~* * * *~

  “Why do you have to sneak around behind my back? My secrets don’t mean a damn thing to you do they?”

  Peaches got to her feet. Her face was pale and she looked like she was going to cry. “Cassie, I wasn’t gonna tell him, I promise.” With a cry, she turned and ran to the kitchen.

  “What are you hiding from me?” Deke demanded.

  “Not a fucking thing you need to know.” Her voice was flat and sarcastic. “I don’t owe you a damn thing. If you don’
t want me here, I’m gone. In fact, maybe I should just leave, that way whoever is coming will just go away. They can chase after me and you and your fucking club won’t have to worry.”

  Earlier, when the door had closed behind him and she sat in his bedroom, Cassie felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t know why she cried. She didn’t know anything about sex before she met him but she knew he wasn’t giving her everything. She didn’t expect him to love her, hell she didn’t know what love was. So maybe she was wrong about him holding back but somehow deep down inside, she didn’t think so.

  “You aren’t leaving here!” Deke yelled.

  “You can’t fucking keep me here!” Cassie yelled back.

  “The hell I can’t.” Deke growled.

  “Go to hell.” Cassie snarled. Before he could respond, she swept the evidence together and stomped off toward the kitchen.

  Reva didn’t look up at her, instead she ignored her altogether. She kept her hands busy making sandwiches.

  Cassie searched the kitchen for her friend. She found Peaches sitting in the corner sobbing. She went over and sat down beside her. She wrapped her arm around the other woman’s shoulder and held her tight while Peaches cried. Cassie stared straight ahead. Tears burned her eyes but she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t give Deke the satisfaction of making her cry.

  Peaches sobs lessened and finally stopped. Cassie knew she had fallen asleep and that was fine with her. She didn’t want to talk. The pain was too great and she thought her world would shatter any minute. She was barely holding on and right now, she needed room to breathe.

  When Reva returned, she came over to where the girls were sitting. Without saying anything, she spread a blanket over both of them. Then she left them alone.

  ~* * * *~

  Deke sat there fuming. He’d never felt a rage quite like the one he was feeling now. He didn’t know how she did it. How she knew just what to say to make him flip. She was so damn stubborn, he wanted to spank her. Every little detail of her life was a battle to get her to share. She had too many secrets and he wanted to know them all, but he wanted her to share them with him. He didn’t want to have to ask about them. He swallowed his whiskey but before he could pour another, the door opened and Gator walked in. “Is everything set?”

  Gator nodded. “Yup, but just as we locked the gate a car drove up. Detective Lance Sullivan wants a sit down.”

  Deke sighed. “First, tell Reva the girls need to stay in the kitchen till he’s gone. Then let him in but only him. Nobody else is welcome. Also, make sure he gives up his gun. If he really wants answers, he’ll cooperate.”

  Gator nodded and headed to the kitchen then after a moment, he went back outside.

  Deke filled his glass and waited. When the door opened, he turned and saw Detective Sullivan coming his way. Deke waited until both men joined him. Gator sat down and they waited until Detective Sullivan sat across from him.

  “So, what can I do for the Boston police?” Deke drawled.

  Lance turned his head and studied the tiger on the wall. “So that’s what he should look like.” Turning back to Deke, he cleared his throat and said, “I’m looking for two young women.”

  Deke snorted. “Good luck with that, man. What makes you think they’re here? We aren’t exactly known for entertaining young women.”

  Lance opened the file folder he’d brought with him and took out a black and white photo. He slid it across the table in front of Deke.

  Deke glanced at it and saw the outline of a tiger etched on a stone wall. The lines were crude and uneven, as was the surface of the wall they were drawn on. He studied the drawing then turned to view the painting on his wall. They were one and the same. He shrugged and pushed the photo back to Lance. “What makes you think she’s still here?”

  “This is the closest I’ve gotten in over eleven years to finding them. I had to come.” Lance shrugged. “When this case hit my desk eleven years ago…I thought all it would take was time to find them, but that was my mistake. I couldn’t believe we’d have any trouble finding a couple of kids.” He shook his head. “The longer the case sat there unsolved, the more it bothered me.”

  “What does that mean?” Gator asked gruffly.

  “I met Mrs. Eleonore Pierce when I got a call about an attack on a fourteen year old boy. Robbie Pierce had been attacked inside his own home. The injuries he had I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. While he was in surgery, I tried to get a statement from his mother but she was in no condition to give one.”

  “She was that upset?” Deke frowned.

  “She wasn’t upset as much as she was enraged. Mrs. Pierce ran a fourteen bed state funded home for foster kids. She lived on site with her husband and teenage son. The whole time I was there, she kept pacing back and forth talking to herself. I stayed long enough to find out how Robbie was, then left. The next morning Mrs. Pierce came to the precinct to file charges against the girls. She demanded they be found and attempted murder charges be put on one of the girls.” Lance narrowed his eyes and stared at Deke as if to judge his reaction.

  Deke shrugged. “What are these dangerous girls’ names? If I run into them I’ll give you a call.”

  “They’re names are Josette Rearden and Callie Blake.”

  Deke nodded and kept his expression blank. “If I run into them, I’ll let them know to call you.” He picked up his drink and sipped it.

  Lance stood but didn’t walk away. Instead, he said, “I know there’s more to the story than I’ve been told. Mrs. Pierce isn’t going to give up and every year she comes to see me. She demands to know what progress is being made on finding the woman who murdered her son. I’ve tried to tell her that her son took his own life but she doesn’t listen. She said if Josette hadn’t done what she did, her Robbie would still be alive. She comes to see me every year on the anniversary of the day he died. I’ve been watching her and waiting for the opportunity to find something on this woman that I can use against her. I have a feeling this woman is bad news. The kids in her care won’t talk to us or Social Services. They’re too terrified, even after they left her care.” He tapped the edge of the file on the table and took a step away then stopped and stared at Deke. “Can I ask why this compound is on lockdown?”

  “What makes you think it is?” Deke asked.

  “I know what a lockdown looks like. You have men walking inside the fence, armed to the teeth, you’re setting up spotlights at key points, and you’re stopping vehicles outside the main gate. All of that means something to me.” Cocking his head he asked, “Are you expecting trouble?”

  Deke picked up his glass and drank what was left. “Just everyday stuff I’m afraid. We just don’t want anyone knowing our business.”

  Lance nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he drew out a card and laid it on the table. “Before I left Boston I heard a rumor. The way I understand it, Mrs. Pierce employed three different individuals to hunt down the girls and bring them back to Boston.”

  “Do these three individuals have names?” Deke asked.

  “Joey Holden, Michael Winger and Jeb Carlyle. These men are lowlifes. They don’t stop until they get whatever they’re after and they don’t care about hurting someone standing between them and what they want.”

  Deke glanced over to Gator who shrugged his shoulders. Turning back to Lance, he waited.

  “I think I’ll stick around town. I need some rest and I might as well get a good night sleep before I leave for Boston.” He headed toward the door. “My phone number is on the card, if you need it.”

  Deke watched him walk out of the clubhouse. Neither he nor Gator said a word for the longest time. Then Deke suggested, “Let’s see what we can find out about the three men.”

  “I can give Rusty a call.”

  “Make sure you get pictures. I want to know what these bastards look like. If they come here looking for the girls, I want to look into their faces when they die.”

  Gator nodded. “What are you going to do with
the girls?”

  “Hell if I know.” Deke scoffed. “Cassie isn’t telling me anything more than I need to know and Peaches is so scared, all she can do is cry. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”

  “You think there’s more to their story?” Gator asked.

  “Oh, I know there is.” Deke nodded. “But neither girl is willing to tell me what that is.”

  “Maybe you should let Sullivan take them back to Boston,” Gator suggested.

  Deke shook his head. “Something else happened the night they left and I want to know what it is. I think Peaches might tell us but I want Cassie to do the telling. I need her to trust me enough to tell me the truth.”

  “Do you think Sullivan will charge Cassie with murder?”

  “I think when all the facts come out, he’ll arrest this Pierce bitch for more than just murder.”

  Gator got to his feet. “I’ll get Rusty doing his thing.”

  Deke got up and walked to the kitchen. He knew he needed to clear his head and the only thing that would do that was strong black coffee. He entered and Reva spun around with a knife in her hand. Deke frowned. “What the hell?”

  Reva laid the knife down on the counter and took a deep breath. “Sorry Deke, you startled me. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Do you know where the girls are?” he asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  Reva turned and looked at the far corner.

  Deke followed her gaze and frowned.

  Both Cassie and Peaches were sleeping, covered with a blanket.

  “That girl is close to her breaking point. She can’t take much more,” Reva spoke quietly.

  “Honey, I don’t want her broken. I just want the truth to come out. She’s had a hard life and no one has ever stood up for her. I want her to know I’ll be there for her. That she can lean on me when she has to.”

  “Then stop bullying her. Let her come to you,” Reva told him.