Vice Read online

  She turned into the parking lot, the bumpiness of the entrance making him grunt again. Easing the car to a stop along the curb in front of his building, she looked over at him. She didn’t want to be nervous around him. She knew she had some power over him, but he held just as much control over her.

  “You don’t look so great,” she said. “Are you sure you can go to work today?”

  His eyes closed in a long blink, and that only made him seem a little more gray and a little sweatier. “I don’t feel great, but we have this case…”

  “I’m going to take you home,” she said. “I’ll go talk to Chandler. Be right back.” Jordan didn’t even protest, and that alone told Felicia how he felt. She unbuckled her seatbelt and headed toward the shiny doors, glinting in the morning light.

  She’d been up to Jordan’s office before, and she waited impatiently for the elevator to arrive. This was a newer office building, so the ride to the seventeenth floor passed quickly, and she stepped onto the floor to a flurry of activity.

  Phones ringing. People talking in groups around a desk. A group walking by, laughing. The scent of coffee and chocolate hung in the air, and Felicia got disoriented by it all in only a moment. No way Jordan could come up here.

  She blinked and breathed, her focus returning with the oxygen. Jordan worked for Chandler Stacey, who was the personal assistant to Henry Smith, one of the founding partners of the law firm.

  Henry had an office in the corner, of course, and Chandler had an outer office beyond that. Jordan’s desk sat beside Chandler’s, and thankfully, the man was seated there, his phone to his ear. He had dark hair and dark eyes, and everything was always sculpted just-so. He’d been a paralegal at the firm since its inception, and Felicia knew Jordan liked Chandler a whole lot. Respected him. Liked his job.

  Felicia caught Chandler’s eye before she opened the door, as everything seemed to be made of glass in this firm.

  “Felicia,” Chandler said, rising. “I’ll call you back, babe.” He lowered his phone, surprise and delight in his eyes. “I haven’t seen you in ages. What’s going on?”

  “Jordan’s not well,” she said. “I drove him here, because of the ribs, but he’s the color of concrete and sweating.”

  Chandler’s expression changed from happiness to concern as she spoke. “Is he downstairs?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll come talk to him,” Chandler said. “He doesn’t like missing work.” He stepped to her side, and they walked out of the office together.

  Headed back to the elevators, she had to take more steps than the much taller Chandler, and she asked, “How many vacation days does he have?”

  “I can’t remember a single time Jordan has taken a vacation day,” Chandler said with a chuckle. “He can take all the time he needs.”

  “He said there was a case he needed to work on.”

  “Don’t let him come in for a while.” Chandler held the door while Felicia got on the elevator, and then he joined her. “I know he’ll go crazy, but I’ll have Tara put together a basket from us here that will keep him busy.”

  “With what? Movies and coloring books?”

  Chandler laughed, and Felicia joined in.

  “I’ll talk to his club,” Felicia said. “Maybe Mav will have some ideas of how to keep him down until he’s better.”

  “He’s been through this before,” Chandler said. “What did he do last time?”

  Foolishness hit Felicia, and she shook her head. “I don’t know. That’s when we broke up.” She couldn’t imagine what Jordan had gone through then. Injured, in the hospital for a few days. She’d then broken up with him the day he got out of the hospital, and he’d gone home to heal.

  He’d had his biker brothers, Felicia knew that. Heck, she’d reasoned it through over and over and over. It had been one of the only ways she’d been able to stick to her rules and walk away from him.

  “I’ll call Maverick too,” Chandler said.

  Panic filled Felicia as the elevator chimed their arrival on the ground floor. “Chandler.” She put her hand on his forearm, and he paused. “I’ll call Maverick,” she said. “Okay? I want to do that.” She swallowed, because through her whole relationship with Jordan last time, the only way she’d gotten to know his friends was through his stories of them. The things he said about them. She’d never once met them—besides Lucas, who often came with Jordan to collect the dents and dings at the grocery store.

  And that needed to change.

  “Okay,” Chandler said. “I just know you’re busy with the robbery at the store and all. Let me know if you need help with him, okay? He usually listens to me.”

  “I’ll let you know.” With that, they left the elevator, and Felicia let Chandler talk to Jordan in the car alone for a few minutes. They were both smiling by the time the conversation ended, and Chandler took Felicia into a hug after he got out.

  “Don’t let him do too much,” he said. “He’s going to try, but he’s promised to listen to you and Mav. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Felicia basked in the strength of his embrace, stealing some of his strength before he stepped away and headed back inside the building. Felicia faced Jordan, who was watching her through the window.

  She got behind the wheel and said, “I think we can drive through somewhere for breakfast before I take you home and put you to bed.”

  Jordan’s eyebrows went up, and Felicia shook her head as she gave a light laugh. “You know what I mean.”

  “Do I?” He reached over and took her hand in his. “Will you stay with me for a while, Leesh?”

  “Yes,” she said, because she couldn’t say no to him when he spoke in that soft, needful voice. “For a little while. I have to go to work this afternoon.”

  “Thanks.” He squeezed her hand and closed his eyes. Felicia skipped driving through somewhere for breakfast and took him straight back home again. She helped him up the front steps and into his house, where he unknotted his tie and then unbuttoned his sleeves.

  “I’m so hot,” he said. “And yet, I’m shivering.” He started unbuttoning his white shirt, and Felicia lost a couple of moments while she stared.

  “Do you want to go back to bed?” she asked. “Or do you want me to set you up out here on the couch? I can put a movie on and stay for a while.”

  “Couch,” he said, dropping his tie on the floor. His shirt followed a moment later, and Felicia drank in the tattoos that covered his shoulders and snaked halfway down his chest. They barely reached his elbows too, and a couple of lines licked further up his neck.

  He was beautiful, and Felicia’s heartbeat danced in every inch of her bloodstream. “I’ll get you a blanket,” she said, turning away from him. They’d dated in the summer, and she’d seen him wearing only swimming trunks before. But wow. Her mouth was dry from the sight of his bare upper body again.

  “My T-shirt and shorts?” he asked. “Please.”

  “I’ll get it all.” She hurried down the hall and into his bedroom, where his shorts and T-shirt were easily found on the chair just inside the door. She grabbed them, as well as the blanket from his bed, and went back into the living room.

  “I’ll get you a drink and some painkillers,” she said.

  “I already took some of those,” he said.

  “You need more,” she said, thinking of the chills and the fever. Whatever he’d taken, it hadn’t been enough. “And what did you eat this morning?”

  “House made coffee,” Jordan said.

  “So nothing.” Felicia turned toward the kitchen as Jordan pulled his T-shirt over his head. She found a couple of bananas in the bowl on the counter, and she snagged one of those while she opened a drawer to look for bread. She got more painkillers and a glass of water and set a couple of slices of bread in the toaster. She took the meds, water, and the fruit into the living room and handed it all to Jordan, who was fully dressed now, thank goodness.

  Her pulse couldn’t handle the sight of all that glorious ink.
“I’m making toast,” she said.

  “Ah, you know my weaknesses,” Jordan said with a smile.

  And he knew hers, that was for sure. That smile. Taking off his shirt. Showing vulnerability. Asking her to stay.

  She turned away to butter the toast, all of her nerve endings firing with every second. With Jordan eating, medicated, and with a stack of toast, Felicia finally sat on the recliner near him. “Good?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Thank you, Felicia.”

  “Movies,” she said, turning her attention to the television. She needed something to keep her busy, or she’d allow herself to think about Jordan in inappropriate ways. She might even try to kiss him before she left for work today.

  That really got her nerves vibrating, because she knew she wasn’t ready to do that…yet.

  “What do you feel like today?” she asked. “Comedy or drama? Action? Adventure?”

  “You pick,” Jordan said. “I’m probably going to fall asleep.” He groaned, and Felicia twisted to see him adjusting his position on the couch. He lay all the way down, and she jumped to her feet. “I’ll get you some more pillows.”

  By the time she returned to the living room, Jordan was panting, and she helped him put the pillows where he needed them to be comfortable. He finally sighed, and his eyes met hers.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” he said. “I know you like those romantic comedies. Put one of those on, okay?”

  She nodded, because she did like those kinds of movies. With the movie going, she returned to the recliner, her eyes on Jordan. His gaze met hers, and so much was said in those few moments before she sat down.

  Oh, taking care of him was absolutely dangerous to her health, and Felicia wondered how she could survive this without falling all the way in love with him before the sun set.

  His soft snores met her ears a few minutes later, and she got up and retrieved his phone. She could do this. She could be strong. It was for Jordan.

  She tapped until she found Maverick Malone’s number, and she drew in a deep breath before she hit call.

  Chapter Seven

  Vice woke sometime later, his back aching. He groaned, and instantly, someone nearby moved.

  “Hey,” Felicia said, and he blinked as she came into his field of vision.

  “Hey.” He smiled, because he sure did like waking up to her beautiful face. “What time is it?”

  “One-thirty,” she said. “I have to leave soon, Jordan.”

  He wanted to sit up, but something inside him told him not to do it. He’d had these wounded ribs before, and every move had to be calculated before he did it. He took a slow, deep breath, and some pain spread through his chest. But nothing too terribly bad, and he did ease himself to a sitting position then.

  “I’ll get you some more pills,” she said. “I ordered pizza for lunch, and you didn’t even move when they rang the doorbell.” She walked out of the living room while Vice took another long, slow breath.

  Suddenly, he could smell the oregano and marinara sauce, and he hoped she’d gotten something with a ton of meat on it. His stomach tightened, but he took the water and pills, downing whatever she gave to him.

  “I’ll eat and call Maverick,” he said.

  “I already called him,” Felicia said.

  “You did?” Vice asked, looking up at her. She seemed a bit cagey, nervous.

  “He was very nice,” Felicia said. “He said he and a few of your friends would stop by this afternoon, before I have to leave for work.” Her fingertips pressed together, and Vice recognized the motion she did to calm herself.

  Vice got to his feet, despite the tug of pain in his right side. “You can go,” he said.

  “I don’t want to go.” Felicia lifted her chin and kept her eyes on him. Vice sure did like that. He liked Felicia a whole lot, as he’d told Lucas that morning.

  “Then you’ll be meeting my friends,” he said. “And you didn’t—”

  “That was last time,” she said. “I’m open to meeting them this time.” She shrugged like this was no big deal, but Vice knew it was. “Besides, everyone knows who Maverick Malone is.”

  “Do they?” Vice hadn’t, until the evening Maverick had shown up in the alley, that ultra-loud motorcycle filling the whole world with a roar that hadn’t been welcome. At least to Vice’s drug-riddled mind and body.

  He owed his whole life to Maverick, and he was actually very nervous about having him meet Felicia. Not that Maverick hadn’t before—he’d done the dents and dings a few times.

  As if summoned by Vice’s thoughts, a couple of knocks sounded on the front door. “That’s him,” he said.

  Felicia looked like she’d throw up, but she just swallowed and nodded. She slicked her palms down the front of her jeans as he walked around the couch to get the door. Not only did Mav stand on the front stoop, but so did Ian, Gerald, and Davis.

  Vice’s whole soul lit up. “Hey, guys.” He chuckled as Mav took him into a careful embrace. “You brought the whole crew.”

  “We thought we should work out a schedule,” Mav said, releasing him. “Is Felicia still here?”

  “Yep.” Vice stepped back and let the four big, burly bikers into the house. They filled the small space physically, but also with their charisma and presence, and Vice had let them get between him and Felicia.

  She seemed like a terrified mouse, but Vice said, “Guys, this is Felicia Cheswick. She’s….” He had no idea how to finish that sentence, and foolishness filled him.

  “Yours,” Mav said. “I’ve met you before, of course.”

  “Maverick,” Vice said.

  “Nice to meet you, Maverick,” Felicia said, letting out a squeal as Mav took her into a hug too. The others laughed good-naturedly, and Vice made the rest of the introductions quickly. After a lot of “Nice to meet you,” and “I’ve heard so much about you,” everyone fell silent and looked at Vice.

  “I should go,” Felicia said, picking up her purse.

  “Let’s work out the schedule first,” Mav said. “I think Vice needs someone here for the next few days.”

  “No,” Vice said, realizing what had just happened. He’d been ambushed, and he’d let his friends into his house without even realizing it. “Vice does not need someone here for the next few days.”

  “Is this pizza available?” Ian asked, and Vice threw his attention to the kitchen.

  “You guys will eat everything I have,” Vice said, stepping over to swat Ian’s hand away from the pizza box. He was the Enforcer, and he came from a military background with plenty of explosives training. As such, Mav had given him the name of Bomber in the Sentinels, and his skills had come in handy a couple of years ago when they’d needed to go to Declan’s rescue in Williamsburg.

  But the bomb had definitely been one of the reasons Felicia had made her no-club activity rule in the first place, and Vice saw the nervous way she looked at Bomber.

  Vice couldn’t imagine having someone at his side for the next few days. “And you’ll all make a mess, and I won’t be able to sleep with Davis here at all.”

  “Hey,” Electron said. “I’m the cleanest of them all.” He was the treasurer for the club, and he made most of their ice cream toppings. He loved numbers and equations and making things line up the right way. Math and science were his jam, and thus, he’d chosen the name Electron for his role in the Sentinels.

  “You snore, dude,” Vice said, scoffing. “Try to deny it.”

  “He’s right,” Mav said with a grin.

  “Why do you think Lucas had to get his own place?” Gerald asked. He was easily in his mid-fifties, and everyone had taken to calling the Sergeant-in-arms Gramps around the clubhouse. Vice loved Gramps, as he always had a good story about one of his kids or grandkids, but he didn’t put up with any crap, from anyone.

  “Where is Lucas today?” Mav asked.

  Vice’s head hurt all over again, and he couldn’t believe Maverick had brought this circus to his house. Felicia looked around at
everyone with eyes the size of dinner plates, as if trying to drink everything in at once. Vice stepped to her side and took her hand in his, and he calmed a little bit. He hoped she did too.

  “He took Smoky into the park,” Vice said. “And he’ll probably stay all night. I don’t need a babysitter.” He glared at Electron, Bomber, and Gramps. He didn’t need them treating him like a baby—and in front of Felicia too.

  And if Lucas showed up….

  “I have to go to work in a little bit,” Felicia said. “If Lucas is coming tonight, he’ll probably be okay until then.”

  “You too?” Vice stepped away from her, shock moving through him. He couldn’t get a proper breath, because of the knife she’d stabbed in his back. “I thought you’d be on my side.”

  “I am,” she said. Her big, brown eyes begged him to understand. “I want you to heal quickly, Jordan.”

  “Yeah, Jordan,” Electron teased. Literally no one called him Jordan—except Felicia. Even Maverick called him Vice, and he glanced at his mentor and friend. He wasn’t backing down, and that meant no one else would either. Least of all Felicia.

  “Fine,” Vice said. “But I’m up now, and I’m going to eat, and House will be back with my dog soon enough.”

  “Great,” Bomber said. “Surely you can’t eat a whole pizza.” He opened the box and took out a slice, taking a bite as he moved over to the couch. He sat down and put his feet up on the coffee table, and Vice knew then that he wasn’t getting rid of any of these guys.

  “I’ll order more pizza,” Maverick said, tapping on his phone.

  “What are we watching?” Electron asked. “Is this Sleepless in Seattle?” He looked at Vice with pure horror in his eyes.

  Beside him, Felicia started to giggle, and Vice looked at her as she tried to hold it back. But she couldn’t, and the next thing she knew, she burst out laughing, her wonderful auburn hair spilling down her back as she tipped her head skyward.

  “We have to fix this,” Electron said. “See what he’s got, Gramps.”

  “I should’ve brought those war documentaries,” Gramps said as he moved over to the entertainment center. He opened the cupboard below the TV, and the door came off in his hands. “Uh….”