Burning Desire (Condemned Angels Series #1) Read online

  I glanced back at Chase, who was watching intently. “Yeah, now that I’m with you.” I turned back to him and tucked myself to his chest. Chase walked with my father to his office- the door slamming shut.

  “Nicole is on her way,” Jeremy said as he approached Jake and I.

  “For me or for you?” I pulled his leg.

  “Hardy har har. For you- I want you staying at my house- you’ll need some company, so she’s coming too.”

  “No offense, Jeremy, but I can protect my own woman. The safest place for her is in my house- with me protecting her.” Jake slung his heavy arm over my shoulder. I saw Jeremy bite the inside of his cheek- he was ready to blow a gasket.

  “No offense, under your protection, someone put this shit on her car. So, yeah, I’m taking my sister. End of it.” Jeremy’s large frame stood taller, it was like a damn peacock spreading his colorful feathers. Ugh men!

  “Relax, guys. Babe- it’s not forever, plus you still got me when you want me.” I kissed his cheek. And I heard Nicole’s blacked out BMW M3 pull up to the clubhouse.

  “Jesus Christ, where the hell is she?” Nicole came busting through the front door. The heads of the club turned her way, appreciating the view of her barely there outfit. She must have been in the middle of training one of her pole dancing classes. Strutting her stuff in black spandex booty shorts, a black sports bra under a half zipped grey hoodie and black Nike shocks.

  “I’m okay, Nic.” She gave me the tightest hug. “Nic, lighten up, I’m fine. I promise- but you are going to suffocate me if you don’t ease up.” I patted her back.

  “You have everything you need, Nicole?” Jeremy asked as he approached us. He rubbed his hand on the back of his neck, trying to be discrete about checking Nicole out.

  I suppressed my laugh as Jeremy’s jaw tightened when she thumbed the bottom of her shorts, pulling them down over her butt cheeks.

  “Yes, of course. But we will have to work with my schedule- I have class 3 times a week and the club Friday nights. How long are we crashing at your place?”

  “Until I see fit.” Did his eyes just get darker? I saw him stare Nick down, our newest Prospect that helped me with my shoot.

  My brother was a handsome guy- I’ll admit it. Chase and Jeremy are like the twin towers. 6’3” almost black hair that was shorter than Chase’s but styled with that sticky putty crap. They must have been gym and ink buddies- he seemed built- and equally tatted up as Chase. Jeremy had mom’s eyes- a light gray. His eyes as a baby never changed over to brown. They were the part I loved most about him. I felt as though I was looking at our Mom’s eyes. God, I miss her. But seriously, Jer needs to get his shit together, grow a pair and make a move already. Those two, I swear!

  “Well, let’s get your shit together and get on over there- so we can keep big brother happy.” She winked at me. I walked to Jake and tugged on his cut, pulling his mouth down to mine. He gave me a swat on the ass as I headed out to Nicole’s car.

  I caught Jeremy grabbing Nick by his cut, telling him something intense. I could only laugh. Always thinking he has the right when it comes to Nicole.

  CHAPTER 11

  ~ Chase ~

  The door to the office slammed shut. Oh fuck, this is it.

  “Tell me, Chase, how were you able to get to Roxanne so fast?” He sat down at his large desk in a black leather chair. I took a seat in front of his desk, feeling the sweat build on my forehead.

  “We had just been talking- she was using my bike for her photo shoot at the club this morning.” I cleared my throat, praying that he was going to buy it.

  “Funny, because I have a vivid memory of you giving me your word that you weren’t going to go near her. I told you she has no business with you. She is Jake’s property. She is no concern of yours.” His stern look cut into me. My blood pressure was rising with his Jake comment. I hated the feeling of watching her run into the arms of another man. I did send her running in the first place.

  “Sir, with all respect- it’s not about that. She and I should be the least of your worries. There is nothing and will never be anything happening between us. On a more serious note, she needs protection. The GPS tracking I pulled off her car seems like high quality shit. Someone is tracking her. I would recommend keeping a close eye on her. Something doesn’t seem right.”

  “I would recommend you not telling me what I need to do with my own daughter.” His fists were clenching on top of his desk.

  “I apologize, I overstepped my boundaries.” I put my hands up in front of me to show no offense.

  “You seem to be doing that a lot lately. Don’t think I haven’t noticed those looks between you two. You don’t have to say one word- your looks say it all. She never has gotten over you. I bet not even Jake loves her as much as you do.” He chuckled, leaning back into his chair.

  “Sir?” I was confused.

  “Chase, I’m not stupid, son, I know your feelings for my daughter run deep. That’s why I want you on this. Find out who the fuck we are dealing with. I want her safe. I know with the clubs patching over- it’s a good thing we have you guys to help us keep her safe. I don’t doubt Jake’s protection over her, but you know her best. Get to know her schedule, daily routine. See if anything stands out.”

  “And Jake will allow me to do so?” I crossed my arms across my broad chest.

  “He will have to deal with it. But my rules still stand- you keep your hands, eyes and anything else to yourself. She’s spoken for. I have a feeling I’ll be giving my blessing to Jake- whenever he has the balls to ask and then my grandson will be soon in the making.” My stomach turned, I hid my anger- flashes of Rox with a swollen belly with someone else’s baby was enough to put me over the edge. I shook my head to rid the thought. I had to put our clubs in front of this. Period.

  “You have my word, I’ll tail her and let you know what I find out.” I stood, as did he, shaking his strong hand.

  “And Chase?” he called after me as I reached for the door handle.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “You haven’t forgotten our original deal, have you?”

  “No sir.”

  “Good, I want to thank you for keeping an eye on my Roxanne.”

  “You’re welcome, you guys are family to me.”

  I left the office just in time to see Jake slap Roxy’s big booty. And I felt like knocking the shit out of him. I put on my aviators and helmet and mounted my bike, ready to tail the girls.

  After we arrived at Roxy’s house, the girls were inside doing God knows what and, I walked the premises. Nothing seemed to be standing out yet at least. I walked inside. Memories of my childhood filled my thoughts- the three of us were inseparable. We spent hours playing in the Moretti’s backyard. Even as kids I always felt protective of Roxy. One summer she had been riding her bike in the neighborhood and apparently the other kids thought it would be funny to see if they could toss a football over her. They aimed too low and the ball hit her front wheel, sending her flying over the handlebars. That’s where she got that crescent shaped scar on the underside of her chin. I wonder if Jake knows that about her?

  Rox came running back home with her knees, palms and chin scratched and bleeding. She came to Jeremy and me crying. Jeremy and I kicked their asses. I threw the kid’s football right at his face, breaking his nose. I chuckled at the memory.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I heard her small voice interrupt my thoughts. I turned to see Rox walking down the staircase with a large duffle bag.

  “Just checking on the house. Believe it or not, but your Dad put me on babysitting you. I can’t let you out of my sight.” Okay, maybe I exaggerated a little.

  “You’re kidding.” She stepped off the stairs and gawked at me.

  “What?” I raised my eyebrow at her, and grabbed her bag off her shoulder.

  “I got it.” She tugged it back.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything. Just take help when it’s offered, brat.” I chuckled at he
r and she huffed and stomped back upstairs. I tossed her bag by the front door and proceeded to inspect the upstairs. Nicole took a stack of shoeboxes down for loading. Jesus, how much crap can she possibly need for a few days? I headed to Roxy’s room- the last room that I needed to check.

  Her door was slightly cracked open. She was in the middle of changing with her back to me. Rox wore a tight pair of black yoga pants and was pulling on a hot pink sports bra. She must have heard my footsteps, thinking I was Nicole. I didn’t say a peep.

  “Nic, what do you think we should wear this weekend to work? Lingerie, chaps, school girl, cowboys, dominatrix?” She giggled as she went through her closet. Rox still had her back to me, damn that ass. So big and juicy, I just wanted a bite. It shouldn’t be legal for a white girl to have an ass like hers. Motherfucker, you need to stop thinking like that. Do your job and get on with it.

  “Actually, I think Chase wouldn’t mind any of the outfits.” Nicole said matter of factly- with a huge smile on her face as I turned to see if she was going to blow my cover.

  “Ha! Chase would. He wouldn’t know what to do with all of this.” She grabbed her own ass, and jiggled it. I bit my lip, holding in my laugh. What a fucking tease.

  “Well, he obviously has a thing for your lingerie strip teases.” Nicole smirked over at me.

  “Oh really? Well, you should have seen what went down at his house.” She bent over grabbing a pair of thigh high boots, throwing them over her shoulder onto her bed. I leaned on the door jam.

  “Wait, what?” Nicole was interested now, as was I.

  “Oh yeah, he could barely keep his hands off me, until he had some hoe blowing up his phone and he tried to play it off. Never again will I let him get that close. And you know the worst part?”

  “Hmm?” Nicole raised her eyebrows at me, hands went straight to the hips.

  “He told Jeremy I meant nothing…,” she trailed off. Roxy took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling in her closet. “I was just a fucking idiot, to ever think Chase would be as into me as I am with him. If he opened his eyes he would realize that I’ve only been in lo-” I cut her off there. I cleared my throat, and she spun on her heels.

  “Chase! Get out! What the fuck? You can’t just creep around like that. I am a 25 year old woman and I don’t need you to babysit me, okay?” She was pissed. She zipped up a tight black hoodie- showing off every curve underneath.

  “I can see you’re a woman, there is no mistaking that. I’m doing my fucking job. Fall back, Rox- you have no say in this shit, okay?” I mocked her attitude. I walked to her bathroom.

  “Um, excuse you…” she followed me and stood in the doorway while I glanced under the sink, behind her shower curtain and in her vanity mirror. I bit my tongue as I spotted her birth control. Motherfucker.

  “Here, you definitely don’t want to forget these.” I tossed them to her and slammed her mirror shut. She barely caught them, but blushed a sweet shade of pink, holding them to her chest.

  “Are you done going through my shit?” Her hip popped out on the side and she ran her hand through her long ponytail.

  “Why don’t you just pack and I’ll finish up here.”

  “You have one minute, DeLuca.”

  I walked to her dresser; just to piss her off- I opened the top drawer. Jackpot! It was filled to the brim with lace, satin, leather panties and bras, and all that other chick shit. It was like a holy grail for men.

  “I doubt they stowed a camera in my panty drawer, you perv.” She grabbed her garter belt out of my hand and stuffed it back in the drawer and slammed it shut. Nicole busted out laughing.

  “You never know, Rox.” I laughed at her and looked at the mirror on her dresser. It was lined with photos. A couple of her and her mom, Jeremy on our graduation, her and Nicole dressed to kill, her and Jake with him holding her from behind, all possessive over her. She looked happy. Lastly, she had a photo of us from a couple of months before our first bike ride together. I had my arm around her shoulder, and she hugged me around my waist, she was smiling at the camera as I was smiling down at her. I got that damn ache in my chest. My phone rang, it was Moretti.

  “All looks good here, Sir. The girls are getting ready to go to Jeremy’s now. Okay, bye.” I hung up with him and turned to her and Nicole. “You got your shit ready?”

  “Yes. If I don’t stop her now, she will pack everything.” Nicole giggled and handed me Rox’s last bag.

  CHAPTER 12

  ~ Roxy ~

  We arrived at Jeremy’s house. Nicole and I made ourselves at home in his guest rooms.

  “I’m taking a shower, girl. I need to get ready for tonight’s class.” Nicole headed to the main bathroom with her towel and toiletries in hand.

  “Okay, I think Chase is bringing up the last of it.”

  I took a deep breath and fell back onto the plush queen bed. I stared at the ceiling, getting lost in thought. I jumped as I heard Chase dropping the remainder of my bags on the floor at the foot of the bed.

  I propped myself up on my elbows and watched him unhook his arms from the straps of my bag. His shirt rode up and I could see his toned back, and that dip in his spine at the top of his boxer briefs. I bit my lip, and breathed deep.

  “See something you like?” He chuckled, straightening his back.

  “Ha, you wish. Don’t you have something else to do other than harass me?”

  “Yes, in fact- thank you for reminding me that I have to return Monica’s call.”

  My heart sank into my stomach. “Have fun.” I gave him my best smile.

  “You know I will.” He smirked and left my room, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.

  Ugh, the fucking nerve of him. Nicole poked her head in my room. “Shower’s open. Go get ready.” She closed my door and headed down the hallway.

  ~ Nicole ~

  I shook my head as I closed the door, laughing to myself, knowing Roxy was in over her head. Spinning on my heel, I ran right into a broad hard chest, and jumped.

  “Oh shit, sorry, Nic.” Jeremy smiled down at me, holding my upper arms, his eyes drifting over my hand holding my silk robe closed at my breasts. I tightened the belt at my small waist.

  “Christ, Jeremy, you scared the shit out of me.” I felt my cheeks burn. His large hands still lingered on my arms, they were running up over my small shoulders, and his thumbs drew small circles. I broke out in goose bumps. His gray eyes bore into mine.

  “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you there,” he said just above a whisper. I zeroed my focus on his lips.

  “Jeremy?” I looked up at him through my lashes, licking my bottom lip.

  “Yeah?” He took a step closer to me, his hands pushing back my wet hair from my neck and shoulders.

  “I think I have my balance back. You can let go now.” I gave him a knowing smile.

  “Oh yeah, right.” Before he could step back, Roxy’s door swung open- right in the middle of our moment. Shit.

  ~ Roxy ~

  “Uh, whoa.” I halted in the doorway, watching my best friend and my brother looking like two deer caught in headlights. They immediately broke apart from each other and tried to go different ways down the hall, bumping into each other as they went to step around each other- but on the same side.

  “Sorry,” Nicole giggled, and went for the other side of the hallway- as Jeremy did the same.

  “Uh.” He let out a nervous chuckle. Jeremy, nervous? What the hell is going on here?