Page 35 of High Stakes

“It’s been a week,” he complains, and drops the wrench he was using to adjust the bolts on the bike. “I’d like to get back to something normal.”

“Normal?” Hayden bites out, and leans around the back of the bike. He’s been sitting on the ground doing God knows what to his side of the bike. “You want normal? We fucking buried you. We had to figure out how to live without you. Do you really think we’re just going to let you get back into the thick of it? Just like that?”

Since Silas walked through that door, neither Hayden nor Declan have let him do so much as take a piss without breathing down his neck. Granted, he is still healing and unable to movemore than a few yards without having to sit down, but still. They are babying the fuck out of him. I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost.

I also feel guilty, because I’m doing it too.

There are times when I don’t even want to leave his side, like I’m afraid that he’ll disappear in a puff of smoke if I’m not touching him somewhere.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Silas reassures both of us, and drops his hands onto my shoulders. “We can start slow. I’m feeling better and my strength is coming back. I’m up for something more strenuous than walking to the end of the driveway and back.”

“You can barely do that without getting winded!” Hayden argues, and throws up his hands, muttering something about brick walls. “You have no idea how much it tortured us. Losing you like that.”

“Tortured you?!” Silas bellows, and shoves to his feet. To his credit, he only stumbles slightly before straightening his spine. “You’re torturing me! You’re all right here within arm’s reach but no one will touch me!”

“We are touching you, Si,” I say gently, and stand in front of him. “We touch you every day.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it!” He shouts, and clenches his fists at his side.

Hayden opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by the garage door as it shudders and begins to rise. Hector steps through with his helmet on and the visor flipped open to reveal his piercing eyes. He walks a bike in and flips down the kickstand so that it stands on its own.

“Is that…?” Silas leaves the rest of the sentence hanging as he walks over and drags his fingertips along the black metallic finish.

“I found the frame in the wreckage,” Hector explains and removes his helmet. I narrow my eyes at him as he smooths out his beard. The fucker never has to worry about helmet hair with his bald, tattooed head. “I had most of the parts back at my garage, but I had to wait for the aftermarket parts to come in before I could bring it to you.”

Hayden walks around the machine, inspecting every detail twice. “You fixed his bike?” he asks after his fourth turn around it.

Hector shrugs and I see the faint hint of a blush creeping up his neck and cheeks, what little I can see of his skin under his thick facial hair. “Yeah. It gave me something to do. I’ve been driving it around some to make sure everything checks out.”

Silas is quiet for a long time. I watch his shoulders rise and fall as he stares at the bike in awe. Then, without warning, he turns and wraps Hector into a tight hug. “Thank you,” he whispers, and I watch Hector shudder and then shift away, a look of uncertainty crossing his face.

“It was no problem,” Hector says, and shifts away from Silas as soon as he’s released from the tight embrace.

I meet Hayden’s eyes from across the room and watch as an idea blooms into existence in his mind. His eyes darken and his lips curl up into a sinful smirk. He stalks across the room and leans in close to my ear. “Maybe we could do with a bit more torture,” he whispers, his voice low so only I can hear.

“You know I never say no to a little torture,” I respond and follow his gaze back to Hector and Silas as they fawn over the motorcycle. “We’re using your room.” I pull away and walk into the house, letting the door close behind me without acknowledging his protest.

Declan looks up from his laptop and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I can order a pizza for dinner. Does that sound good?”

I wave my hand over my head as I pass by. “Food later. Sex now,” I call as I disappear into Hayden’s room to find everything I need.

“Sex?” he asks, and leans against the doorframe, watching me pull out restraints, a ball gag, and lube. “What the fuck are you doing?”

I turn and quirk my eyebrow at him. “You ready to watch? Things are going to get kinky.” I wave the ball gag in the air and smile wickedly.

“Only if I can gag you,” he counters and steps forward, crowding my space. I don’t back down and square my shoulders. He presses his body against mine and looks down into my eyes. I watch as his pupils dilate and his lust takes hold. “You don’t need those,” he says and nods toward the restraints in my hands. “Follow me.”

He takes me down the hallway and opens a utility closet. “We going old-school with rope and duct tape?”

“Nope.” His lips pop around the ‘p’ as he pulls down on the hook holding a mop. My eyes widen as the wall shudders and gears click into place. Then the wall swings inward, revealing a hidden staircase descending into total darkness.

“What the apocalyptic dooms day fuck is this?” I ask and eye Declan warily.

“Sometimes we need answers. Sometimes we get them easily, and sometimes…” his voice trails off and he shrugs but his meaning is clear. He holds out his hand, ushering us down.

I glance over my shoulder and find Hector watching me like a hawk. I smile and my entire body turns to molten heat when I realize that this is really happening. When we get to the bottom of the stairs I notice that the concrete floor is sealed, making it shine and reflect the light coming from the fixtures on the ceiling.

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