Rescue Us Read online

  The ones in my head.

  Or him.

  Cyrus

  I didn’t usually visit my parents’ gravesite by myself, but my brother was off doing who knew what, and I didn’t feel like waiting for him. He typically joined me, was the first one to arrive most times, but not today. For whatever reason, pussy was more important to him. That was the excuse he always made anyway but I knew that it went deeper than that. He missed them. Both of us did but their deaths affected us in different ways.

  Our parents had been gone for over twenty years, but that didn’t mean it hurt any less.

  Both shot and killed within a year of each other, the agony over losing our mom and dad when we had been so young, would forever be etched on our damn souls.

  We had different ways of coping with that loss. Sammy fucked through anything he could stick his dick into, and I fought. I also drank a bit at times but fighting was better and helped me deal.

  Glancing at the headstone one last time, I took a deep breath, swallowed my sorrow, and headed back to my bike. It had belonged to our father. Even though it was old, the machine purred like it was brand-new. Keeping up on the maintenance helped and I would ride it into the ground if I had to.

  My phone took that moment to buzz. It was later in the afternoon and while most were getting dinner ready, I was itching for more. Something else. Something different. Something I never had before.

  Checking my cell, I saw a text from my brother.

  Sammy: The kitties are in full swing tonight.

  My brother’s choice of words when it came to women, was interesting to say the least. I couldn’t wait for the day when a woman brought him to his knees.

  Me: On my way.

  Sammy: I’ll keep them warm for you.

  I rolled my eyes, stuffing my phone back in the pocket on the inside of my leather cut.

  Sammy’s views on women changed depending on how they acted. Most threw themselves at him, so he would fuck them and leave. Pussy was pussy. His words. I knew there was someone out there for him and I had a feeling that he had already found her. Especially since he had become moodier over the past few months. A lot of shit went down in the last year. Things we never even saw coming. They never affected us directly but seeing family members almost lose each other and a child at the hands of vile human beings, we upped the protection and remained as quiet as could be as a result of it.

  My brother was now on edge and searching for something much like I was, but I didn’t know what. I didn’t think he knew either.

  I wanted a good girl. Someone who was okay with sitting at home on a Friday night and watching re-runs of The Office. Someone who enjoyed the simple things in life. Like a home-cooked meal or that first cup of coffee in the morning. But I also wanted someone who had a passionate part of them just the same. A part that they would only let me see. I wanted her at my feet when the moment called for it, but also at my side.

  I wasn’t happy being single anymore and had been looking for that special someone for a while, but something was always stopping me. Endless dates were a recurring thing for me until our cousin asked both Sammy and me to watch over his girl and daughter. I didn’t mind as it was distracting, and Piper Michaels was like a little sister to us anyway.

  Slipping on my helmet, I straddled my bike and let out a sigh as the engine roared to life. Driving the distance to Rouge, the strip club Sammy was at. The length of time it took to get there eased some of the tension resting on my shoulders.

  When I arrived at the club, it was pushing seven at night. It was still too early to be attending a strip club, but I never said anything and just went with it. I also had to look out for my brother. He was a hothead and was going to get himself mixed up with the wrong woman one day who had an ex that was larger than him. Sammy was a nasty fighter and one of these days, he was going to get himself hurt or worse.

  “It’s about time you showed up.” Sammy butted out his smoke on the bottom of his Shit-Kicker and pushed away from the wall.

  Killing the engine, I pulled off my helmet. “Why are you here so early?”

  “I was bored.” He grunted, pulling a pack of cigarettes out from the inside of his cut. He lit up another smoke, took a deep inhale, and let it out through his nostrils. The spicy scent of the tobacco wafted into my nose. He was stressed about something. It was the only reason he was currently chain-smoking.

  “You’re always bored.” I slid off my bike and placed the helmet in the side storage compartment before locking it back up.

  “Nah, brother. It’s getting worse.”

  I straightened, slowly looking at him over my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

  He shrugged, puffing away on that damn smoke.

  “Sam.” I went up to him and took the smoke from between his fingers before bringing it up to my mouth. Inhaling the sweet, spicy bliss, I let the smoke settle deep in my lungs before blowing it out slowly between my lips.

  “Nothing’s wrong exactly. I just...” He looked at the building behind him. Rouge sat in large red letters above the door. It had been our home away from home for years. We knew the owners and the women who danced. We even knew the regular customers. If new people came into the club, we made it a point to get to know them as well.

  “You’re wanting something more than just easy pussy,” I told him.

  “Is that what you want?” he asked, still looking at the building.

  “I’ve been wanting it for years, Sammy.” I clapped his shoulder, handing him back his smoke.

  “Why? Women are difficult, brother.” He stuck the smoke back between his lips. “They usually come with baggage or a large fucker for an ex.”

  “That’s because you go after women who aren’t readily available.” I went to walk past him when a thought came to me. “How’s Red?”

  His dark eyes locked with mine. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head and heading into the club. Sammy followed because I knew he would. Even though I could hear him grumbling shit about the woman he was currently hung up on, he followed because he wanted to see her. She was a dancer and only ever went topless if the owners demanded it. It didn’t happen often because even when she was clothed, she could move and had the men drooling at her feet.

  Once Sammy and I were seated at our usual booth, his mood changed. He scowled, glaring at everyone who walked past our table.

  “Seriously, Sam. Chill the fuck out.” I stared at my twin. “What the hell is your problem?”

  He crossed his arms under his chest, staring out at the dance floor.

  I followed his gaze, finding the reason for the sudden change in his mood front and center on the stage.

  Red was moving her body to the music. She swung from the pole, did tricks and moves most would kill for. Though she was beautiful, she never did it for me. Not that I was opposed to strippers or anyone for that matter, the attraction just wasn’t there. She never even looked at me anyway. Her eyes had only ever been on my brother. Like they were now. I saw a smirk spread on her face as her eyes locked with Sammy’s while she danced. When she was done, she blew him a kiss and quickly left the stage.

  Glancing back at him, I saw his shoulders slump like he was relieved no one was watching her anymore.

  “You two have a history?” I asked, even though I knew he wouldn’t tell me. We were close. Hell, we were twins. We were identical but now that we were older, you could easily tell us apart. I became bigger and he became moodier.

  “Not yet we don’t,” he mumbled.

  “But you want something. From her.” I wasn’t one to pry but if it distracted me from my own shit or lack thereof, I was down for it.

  “I want to beat her ass for dancing like that on stage and choke her until she knows who she belongs to.” Sammy’s eyes snapped to mine. “Does that answer your question?”

  I sometimes questioned my bother’s sexual exploits but if it was consensual between him and his partner, who was I t
o judge?

  “Just make sure you have a damn safeword,” I warned.

  “I know that,” he said, signalling the waitress.

  “Hey guys,” the waitress, Kelly, greeted, coming up to our table. “The girls were just asking about you. You going to play nice tonight, Sammy?”

  “I always play nice if they give me what I want,” he said, letting his eyes roam down the length of her.

  “Well...” She hesitated, probably knowing that there was no point in arguing with him because truth was, my brother was sick in the head. “I’ll get you your beer.” She spun on her heel before either of us could respond, and headed to the bar.

  “Why do you have to scare the girls?” I asked, wondering about him sometimes.

  He only shrugged.

  I loved him but sometimes I worried he would be alone forever, and that no woman would be able to handle his level of kink. Whatever kink that may be. We were close. More than brothers. We were best friends. But when it came to sex, that shit was private. I had heard about twins sharing women but that had never been our thing. I was a selfish guy. When I had a woman, I wanted her to focus solely on me and no one else. Sammy was the same. He had women, several women in fact, offering him up threesomes and more, but he never went for it.

  Ever since Red started working at Rouge months ago, I actually hadn’t seen my brother with anyone. He used to take them home, but that hadn’t happened in quite a while. Maybe she was the reason for his change in mood.

  “I haven’t been to the club in a while,” he muttered, voicing his thoughts out loud.

  “Neither have I.” There was no reason to either when I didn’t have someone to go with me.

  Sammy and I were members of a BDSM club called The Rope. No one knew of our lifestyle. Hell, even the women we had been with outside of the club, didn’t know. Both of us had one goal in mind when we explored our kink; that was to get a submissive. But it hadn’t happened yet, so our visits to The Rope were few and far between.

  “You heading to The Dove Project tomorrow?” Sammy asked, changing the subject.

  “Yeah. Greyson thought it would be a good idea for us to help. Jaron liked the idea, so he’ll be there too.” We had been on edge lately. After almost losing Jaron Mercer, the newest president of the Hell’s Harlem MC, we needed something to take away the stress. Most of us either drank or fucked it out. A few of the guys had an old lady to go home to, so I was sure that helped them deal. But Jaron’s father knew that a lot of us were still single, so he was trying anything to help us work through the stress.

  I would give my left arm to be able to go home to a woman. Someone who greeted me at the door with a smile on her face. I imagined that she would kiss me, and I would take it further than that. It had been so long since I had a woman beneath me.

  “Cyrus?”

  I jumped, finding Sammy staring back at me. “What were you saying?” I asked as Kelly brought us a pitcher of beer.

  He tilted his head, eyes that mirrored my own, bore into me. “Daydreaming?” Sam added once we were alone.

  I sighed and looked out at the large room. The dancers mingled with customers. Waitresses served drinks and food.

  The owner, Candace, was there tonight and she barked orders at her staff while her husband, Ronny, worked on the books in the back.

  “I need something,” I heard myself say.

  “Like what?”

  “A woman.” I locked eyes with my brother.

  “There are a lot of women here who would be more than willing to go home with you, C.”

  I grunted. “That’s the problem.”

  Sammy scratched his jaw. “I hear you, brother. I’m sick of easy pussy.”

  Before I could comment anymore on it, the rest of our crew rolled in.

  Hell’s Harlem had members across the country. While we didn’t have a lot of members in this area, we could still pack the bar. Especially when members visited from out of town.

  “I think I’m going to call it a night.” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to ease some of the anxiety resting on my shoulders.

  “You just got here,” Sammy pointed out as Jaron joined us.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, sliding into the booth beside Sammy.

  “Cyrus is ditching us early.” Sam took a swig of his beer, his eyes moving back to the stage.

  “I’m just not feeling it tonight,” I explained. “Not that I have to give you a reason, fucker.”

  Jaron chuckled.

  “How’s the family?” I asked Jaron, needing to take the subject off of me.

  “Good.” Jaron grabbed Sammy’s beer and drank the rest of it before placing the empty glass back on the table in front of my brother.

  I expected him to make a snide remark about it, but instead Sammy stared out at the vast room surrounding us.

  “What’s with him?” Jaron asked, nodding toward Sam.

  “He’s pining.” I was almost jealous of the fact that there was someone he wanted when there was no woman I was even remotely interested in. I had been looking for months and my brother wanted nothing to do with relationships. But yet, Red caught his attention, and he couldn’t stop scowling.

  “Just go talk to her,” Jaron suggested.

  “Do either of you know anything about her?” Sammy asked, ignoring him.

  Jaron and I glanced at each other.

  “No,” I answered. “Should we?”

  “I thought you already talked to her.” Jaron poured himself another beer from the pitcher, let out a sigh, and took a long swig.

  “No but I’m about to.” Sammy gently nudged Jaron. “Move.”

  Jaron rolled his eyes. “Grumpy fucker.” He slid out of the booth, letting Sammy out before sitting back across from me.

  “Be nice,” I called out.

  “She doesn’t want nice,” Sammy muttered, walking toward his latest conquest.

  “Have you met her? This Red?” Jaron asked.

  “Not officially. She started working here a few months ago and whenever she dances, it pisses Sammy off.” Not that I understood exactly why. “How’s Piper doing?”

  Jaron smirked. “Perfect.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “How’s she feeling?”

  “She said she feels okay, and that this pregnancy is different than with Brynlee. I don’t know how different, but she thinks it might be a boy.” Jaron sat up straighter at that thought. “I’m happy either way. I’m just glad I’m here for this one.”

  “Me too. Sammy and I kind of forced ourselves into her life, so we could watch her for you. I’m surprised she never told us to go fuck ourselves.” I remembered back to when we first met Piper, the only woman who had ever captured Jaron’s heart. That wasn’t a good night, but Jaron had saved Piper from getting attacked by a so-called friend at the time. It could have gone down much worse than it had but they still lost each other for a bit as a result of Jaron’s rage.

  “She loves you both like brothers. Besides Bee, she’s the only one who can tell Sammy off and get away with it.” Jaron laughed.

  “Oh yeah.” I had a feeling that Red would be able to tell Sammy off as well. He needed it. Our cousin Bee had told Sammy that she hoped he would find someone who could knock him down a peg or two after he had given her a hard time about the man she had fallen in love with. Now, you would never know that Sammy and Bee’s husband, Tanner, hadn’t gotten along at first.

  While we sat in silence, I mindlessly sipped at my beer. The guys were mingling with the dancers, drinking, and having a good time. It was a way for us to relax. Taking a night off was needed.

  I finally called it a night, said goodbye to Jaron and a few of the guys, and made my way out of the club. The stench of smoke and sweat, lingered beneath my leather cut. A hot shower would be the only way to get the smell off of me.

  As I was making my way to my bike, a slight movement caught my eye.

  Sammy was standing with Red by her car. She was glaring up at him with her
hands on her hips. He leaned down toward her ear, muttering something that made her eyes widen.

  I wasn’t sure what it was about her that pulled him in, but I knew my brother. He was hooked and the fact that she turned him down, probably made him want her even more. I knew because it would be how I would react.

  I couldn’t wait for the day that I met my match. I wasn’t submissive in the least but if the right woman came along and told me to kneel, I would. And I would beg at her feet until she gave me what I wanted. And more.

  Ainsley

  The Dove Project was my safe place. Literally. No one judged. No one asked questions. Technically they weren’t allowed to, but they could have pulled me aside and asked. They never did, thankfully. I almost wondered why. I didn’t talk and hadn’t said more than a few words in a very long time. Not by my choice really. I was conditioned to be silent and only speak when spoken to. But now that it was so deep in my head that I wasn’t allowed to talk, I just stopped altogether and chose to speak through American Sign Language instead. I learned it as a girl but never took it seriously until it was my only way of communicating as I got older. I wondered if I would ever speak again. Maybe one day. With the right person. The right man. Someone who was patient and kind. Someone who pushed me but didn’t expect anything in return. Who gave and took only when I allowed it.

  I found that while I could still communicate, a lot of people or most people actually, were put off by my lack of words. Several times I had come across those who assumed I was deaf just because I used ASL. Then I would catch them talking about me. It was useful sometimes, especially before. Then. Back when I wasn’t free.

  Shaking my head, I forced those thoughts to the back of my mind. I couldn’t go there.

  Inhale.

  Exhale.

  Repeat.

  My heart started racing.

  Inhale.

  Exhale.

  Repeat.

  Blowing out a slow breath, I closed my eyes and mentally counted to ten. The hairs on the back of my neck tingled and I realized then I was being watched.

  Opening my eyes, I found the darkest pair of eyes staring back at me. My throat dried. My heart jumped. My stomach did a little flip, sparking feelings I had never felt before. Not ever in my twenty-seven years of existence.