Wet Leather: Adults Only Motorcycle Club Romance: Roadrunners MC Read online

  The gun was only the first part of the plan hatching in his mind, and he now needed to go through with the second task. He got the engine of the vehicle running and pulled into the evening traffic to make his way to his next destination. The deserted street he ended up on was bordered by dilapidated-looking buildings and it was a part of the city that he never particularly liked coming to.

  It was a necessary evil these days, though, and he made a first pass to see if the light was on in the apartment he wanted. When he saw that it was, he doubled back and brought the vehicle to a stop outside the building he wanted. He sat for a couple of minutes to see if there was any movement around him, but there didn’t seem to be and he eventually got out. The bag with the assault rifle and magazines was too conspicuous sitting on the passenger seat, and he leaned in to get it with the intention of leaving it in the trunk. In the end he just decided to keep it with him and quickly moved towards the dark entrance of the building. The rank odor of urine and who knows what else assaulted his nostrils when he stepped inside.

  “Fucking animals,” he cursed under his breath then brought his free hand up to cover his nose.

  He moved to the stairs and began to climb. When he got to the fourth floor, he stepped through a set of broken double doors and walked along to apartment 4H. A glance either way showed that he was alone in the hallway and he lifted his hand to knock. It was a few seconds before he heard movement from inside that was followed by a shout.

  “Who’s there?”

  “Matt Mosswood,” he replied.

  The door opened and he heard the click of the security chain tightening in place to leave only a small gap.

  “What the hell do you want?” the man inside asked.

  “What the fuck do you think I want, Dave?” Matt hissed. “I need a new supply.”

  “You were here less than two weeks ago,” Dave said. “And I gave you a month’s worth as usual.”

  “Yeah,” Matt lied. “One of my friends needed a quick supply, so I let him have some.”

  Dave stared through the gap as if he didn’t believe what was being said.

  “For fuck’s sake, you prick,” Matt cursed. “Do you want my money or not?’

  “OK, OK, calm down,” Dave commented. “Just wait.”

  Matt moved back as the door was shut in his face and he heard the sound of the chain rattling as it was released.

  “Come on in,” Dave said when he swung the door fully open.

  Matt stepped forward to do it and was then led along to a grubby lounge.

  “Why the hell don’t you invest some of the money you make in a nicer apartment?” he said when he sat down. “The entrance to this place smells like a fucking toilet.”

  “Yeah, but do you ever see any cops around here when you make your monthly pilgrimage?” Dave replied.

  “No,” Matt admitted. “I rarely see anyone.”

  “That’s why I like it,” Dave went on. “It gives me peace and quiet to carry out my business without any hindrance.”

  “I want another month’s supply,” Matt said.

  “You need to be careful with this shit,” Dave commented. “It’s fucking powerful.”

  “I told you I gave some to a…”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Dave interrupted. “I believe you. Do you want a beer?”

  Matt nodded his head and watched as the other man walked out of the room. Dave returned a few minutes later carrying two bottles and two boxes.

  “Same price,” he said as he put the two boxes and one of the bottles on the stained coffee table.

  Matt reached in his pocket to take out the payment and threw the bills down on the table when he picked up the bottle.

  “Been doing some shopping?” Dave asked and nodded his head towards the bag on the floor.

  The grin spread across Matt’s face when he put the bottle he was holding down on the table.

  “Oh yeah,” he said. “I bought something nice.”

  “Fucking hell,” Dave let out in an alarmed voice when he saw the deadly weapon being pulled out and aimed at him.

  “Don’t worry, you dipshit,” Matt said and laughed. “I need to load a magazine before I can shoot.”

  The expression on Dave’s face showed he didn’t quite believe the comment and he tried to relax when the barrel of the gun was lowered.

  “What the fuck do you need that for?” he asked.

  “Got mice in my apartment,” Matt said and kept his face straight for only a second or two before he burst out laughing.

  “Yeah, good one,” Dave replied in a voice that showed he didn’t think it was good at all. “That’s some piece of shit. Are you planning on robbing a bank or just going to war?”

  “Going to war,” Matt answered and laughed again.

  He leaned forward to pick up the beer and brought the bottle to his lips to take a long drink. Dave saw that his hand was shaking when he did the same. The appearance of the gun unnerved him and he wanted the man sitting opposite out of his apartment. He wasn’t exactly in a position to demand it though. His anxiety increased when Matt put the gun down on the floor and reached forward to one of the boxes.

  “You should take that at home,” he said.

  “Just need a pick-me-up,” Matt commented and carried on with what he was doing.

  A drugged-up crazy in his apartment with an assault rifle didn’t do much for Dave’s nerves, and he finished his beer quickly in the hope that his guest might so the same. It wasn’t to be, though, and Matt washed the pills down with a swig of beer then settled down in the seat with his eyes closed to wait for the familiar heady rush.

  “That’s what I needed,” he eventually said as the surge of elation took hold. He reached for the box again.

  “You should be careful with them,” Dave commented.

  “Are you fucking telling me what to do?” Matt said in a menacing tone.

  Dave was quick to raise his hands in a show of friendly submission.

  “You paid your money,” he said. “You can do what you like.”

  “Fucking right I can,” Matt said in a loud voice.

  He swallowed two more pills with another gulp of beer and the feeling of invincibility grew stronger. Grabbing the gun, he leapt to his feet and stalked around the room.

  “You see that?” he let out in a quiet voice.

  “What?” Dave asked.

  “You’re dead,” Matt went on.

  Dave glanced down to see the red laser dot on his chest.

  “Hey, come on,” he said as he got up. “Fucking cut it out.”

  The manic laugh that erupted to fill the room was even more unsettling.

  “Fucking pussy,” Matt taunted when the hilarity passed. “I told you there’s no magazine in the weapon.”

  “Yeah, well let’s keep it that way,” Dave replied.

  Matt shook his head as he walked to where he’d been sitting and picked up the bottle to finish the beer. He put the gun in the bag then did the same with the two boxes.

  “See you soon, you fucking loser,” he cursed before walking to the door of the lounge and out to the hallway.

  Dave followed all the way to the door then closed it quickly and secured the chain in place when Matt left.

  “That guy is seriously off his fucking head,” he muttered quietly then let out a sigh of relief.

  Matt walked to the stairs to make his way down to the ground floor. The smell didn’t bother him now and the euphoria engulfing him continued to grow when he left the building. He decided to store the weapon and drugs in the trunk of the hire car before getting in the vehicle and simply sitting there for a few minutes as the chemicals in his veins gave him the high that he craved. His eyes were open wide as he stared out of the windscreen and thought about his plans.

  “It’s coming together,” he let out in a hushed voice.

  He let out a loud whoop straight after and slammed his hands on the steering wheel as the invincible feeling that nothing could go wrong grew in his mind
. His breathing was shallow and rapid when he eventually turned the key in the ignition to set off. It was late evening and the streets he was driving on weren’t overly busy, but he still found himself cursing at any vehicles that got in his way.

  “Should have fucking kept the gun beside me,” he muttered.

  He imagined himself blasting away at the cars around him as he traveled towards his destination and found a parking space when he arrived. His gaze went to the apartment building as he killed the headlights and he knew that it was now just a case of waiting for his chance.

  “Just show your fucking faces,” he let out quietly and kept his eyes on the entrance to the apartment building for the two people he wanted to see.

  Chapter 12

  Tori looked up from where she was sitting at the kitchen table to see Patch step inside the kitchen. She smiled as she got to her feet.

  “I’ll get you a coffee,” she said.

  “I can get it myself, you know,” he replied.

  Tori just laughed as she walked across to the pot and lifted it to pour coffee in a cup. In the few days since the confrontation with Matt she’d tried her best to relax and be positive that things would now get better. In truth, she knew she was kidding herself and that at some point her ex-boyfriend would make more trouble for her, but she clung to the hope that the beating he got from Patch would convince him to stay away. She went to the fridge and opened it up to get a carton of milk then walked to the table.

  “Any plans for today?” she asked when she put the coffee and milk down.

  “I’m going in to see Six,” he replied.

  “You’re taking me as well, aren’t you?” Tori asked nervously.

  The prospect of being left alone in the apartment wasn’t something she wanted to contemplate. She was all too aware that Matt knew where she was, and the idea of him getting her on her own didn’t bear thinking about.

  “Yes, you can come with me,” Patch told her and smiled.

  He put milk in his cup then lifted it to take a drink and they sat chatting as the early morning light streamed in the kitchen.

  “Do you want anything to eat?” Tori asked after a while.

  Patch shook his head, but accepted her offer of a second cup of coffee. After drinking it, he went to have a shower then got dressed and Tori was still in the kitchen when he finished.

  “Will Carrie be there today?” she asked.

  Patch shrugged his shoulders.

  “I’m not sure,” he replied. “I’m just going in to see Six to find out what the plans are for the next few days. I’m not sure if Crash is coming in and Carrie would only be there if he shows up.”

  “So, I’ll be left on my own,” Tori said.

  “You could always stay here if you prefer,” Patch told her.

  She was quick to shake her head.

  “No, I’d rather go with you,” she replied.

  “OK, let’s get moving then.”

  Tori rose to her feet to walk across to the door of the kitchen and went to get her coat. The pair of them then left the apartment to make their way down to the ground floor. The fear that their way would be blocked by Matt when they walked outside came over her as usual, but the sidewalk in front of the building was empty. She followed on as Patch walked towards the garage where his motorbike was stored.

  As he was unlocking the padlock to roll up the door, the loud sound of a car engine being revved caught Tori’s attention and she instinctively knew that the noise meant trouble. The screech of tires followed and she turned to the sight of the dark blue car racing towards her then juddering to a halt. Patch turned and she could make out that he was already poised in readiness of having to act as the occupant of the car got out. Matt stormed towards them for only a few steps before abruptly stopping. His agitation was clear to see and came through in his voice.

  “You fucking think you can leave me!” he shouted in an angry whine.

  Tori was aware of Patch sliding his hand under his leather jacket and her heart leapt up into her throat. She already knew what he kept in the inside pocket and hoped it didn’t come to that.

  “I’m going to make you fucking sorry you laid a hand on me,” Matt shouted and the comment was obviously aimed at Patch.

  His erratic behaviour continued when he stepped towards them, but he stopped to glare before turning to walk to the car. The forlorn hope that it might signal his departure disappeared quickly when he moved all the way around the vehicle to the trunk.

  “This is trouble,” Patch warned in a low voice as he gripped the butt of the gun in his pocket tighter, but Tori didn’t need to be told.

  They started to move inside the garage as Matt fumbled with the keys and dropped them. He bent down to retrieve them and managed to get the trunk open when he straightened up. Patch was already taking the gun from his pocket when the assault rifle came in view.

  “Oh shit,” he cursed.

  He dragged Tori to the side of the door and glanced towards the car as a magazine was slotted into the weapon. The unexpected sound of the siren brought the action abruptly to an end before it really got started. The noise seemed to unnerve Matt and he dropped the gun and slammed the trunk shut. It gave them a chance and Patch was on the bike and driving it out of the garage as the sound of the siren grew louder.

  “Get on,” he said as he reached out to drag the door down.

  Tori didn’t need to be told twice and they were already on the move as the police car sped past. The officers inside didn’t know that their timely intervention halted a gun battle, and Patch wasn’t about to stick around to give Matt a second chance to use the rifle. He quickly gathered speed and made a turn to get out of sight before weaving through the early morning traffic to escape a madman. He drove to the Roadrunners’ building and it was only when the gates closed behind them as they entered the parking lot that some of the tension left his body. He brought the bike to a stop in an empty space and they sat for a few seconds before getting off.

  “Your ex-boyfriend is a fucking psycho,” he said.

  “He’s never going to let me go, is he?” Tori replied in a frightened voice.

  “Well, there’s no doubt now that we can’t just ignore him and hope he’ll leave you alone,” Patch said. “That was some serious piece of weaponry he was packing and he was going to use it. The fucker must think he’s at war.”

  They walked across to the door to step inside the building and he left her in an empty room when he went in search of Six. The two men eventually turned up and it was only when the door closed that Patch spoke.

  “I didn’t want to say anything in front of the others... but I’ve got a serious problem.”

  The sound of his friend’s harassed voice made Six frown.

  “What kind of problem?” he asked.

  Patch motioned his head towards Tori.

  “I need to tell you the full story of how we met and what’s happening.”

  “OK,” Six said.

  The two men sat at the table in the room and over the next twenty minutes or so Patch and Tori revealed how they came to be together and the dangerous complications it was now giving them.

  “A fucking assault rifle,” Six let out when the story came to an end then looked at Tori. “Was your ex-boyfriend in the armed forces?”

  She shook her head.

  “It’s just a fantasy in his head,” she replied. “He’s been wearing army surplus gear for a while and I knew he bought a handgun, but the rifle is an escalation.”

  “You’re telling me,” Six said. “It can do some proper fucking damage in the hands of someone capable of using it.”

  “What should we do?”Tori asked.

  “Well, I would say you got lucky with that police car spooking him,” Six went on. “But you can’t just sit around and wait for him to make his next move because that gives him the advantage. Things went wrong for him this morning, but they might not the next time and you don’t want to be on the wrong end of an assault rifle. We
need to take the initiative, so where would he go?”

  Tori let out a sigh.

  “The apartment we shared I guess,” she replied.

  “Then we can make a start by going there and the sooner the better,” Six said. “I don’t think he’ll expect that.”

  “And do what?” Tori asked.

  She saw the two men look at each other and knew what they were thinking.

  “We can’t just kill him,” she said in a hushed voice.