Chapter 38 The Underground.
Viper
Why was I so mad? The anger was not for Catalina. I had to get out of the clubhouse because when she told me what she did to that bitch Sophie, it made me want her so badly it was a problem. What kind of man gets that worked up hearing a woman talk about carving up another person’s body? I was hard as stone and just wanted to push myself inside her for doing that for me. No one outside my brothers has ever stood up for me like that. And I am not even certain my brothers would have gone that far. Maybe Beast. He is a close friend.
Leaving let the heat cool off in my blood and gave me time to really think about what she did and what it meant. It made me feel loved. She says the words, but this was different. This was something she did. Would she have been repulsed if I had taken her right then, after her story? No, that could not be. She told me once that spilling blood makes her crazy with desire. So why did she not try anything when she came back? Probably because I have not given her a sign that I was ready for that. Am I ready? It has only been five days since what happened to me.
I stopped my bike at the overlook, the same place I asked Catalina to marry me. I killed the engine and just sat, soaking in the quiet and the memory of her saying yes. I shut my eyes and thought about her, about us going home that night, about what she just did for me. Instantly, I was hard again. I unzipped my jeans and pulled out my dick, working my hand over it. God, she was so beautiful that night, her hand on me on the bike, and then later in our bed. The sight of her breasts moving above me, the smell of her, the taste of her. I groaned when I came. Thick streaks of it landed on my gas tank and slid slowly down the side. Okay. I was ready. I want to feel her around me. I want to taste her. I want to hear her lose control and call out my name.
I got off the bike and put myself away. From under the seat, I grabbed some napkins and wiped my bike clean. Looking out at the view, I smiled. I needed to get back to my girl and show her how I feel.
It had only been a few hours when I pulled up to the clubhouse. Someone shouted my name as I walked in, but I just waved and headed straight for our room when I did not see Catalina in the main area. The room was empty. I checked the bathroom. Nothing. Where was she? The room felt wrong, like something was missing. I do not know why, but I went and opened the closet. My mind went blank. Only my clothes hung there, and her vest. What the fuck?
I ran back out to the common room. People stopped talking and looked at me, at the panic on my face. My eyes searched everywhere, but she was not there.
“Where is Catalina?” I asked the whole room. No one spoke, but I saw the looks of sympathy on their faces.
“Viper. My office. Now.” Butcher’s voice came from behind me.
I turned and followed him down the hall. In his office, Jenna was crying in Torque’s lap. Torque looked grim. Butcher sat behind his desk, and I dropped into the chair next to them.
“What is happening?” I said.
“Jenna told us Catalina is gone,” Butcher said.
“What?” I was on my feet.
“Sit down,” he ordered. “She left a few hours ago. She told me she had errands, but she was lying. She had a bag. I gave her the chance to be honest. When she did not return, I asked Jenna. Jenna told me she left and then fell apart. We just got the story. Catalina believes you hate her. When you walked out, she broke down. She told Jenna she confessed what she did to Sophie. She says you looked at her with anger and disgust before you left. She thinks you finally see the monster she is and want nothing to do with her. She feels your love is not real, that you would leave her for someone else eventually. She could not live with that, so she left.”
“No.” The air felt too thin. She left me. How could she leave?
“Why did you walk out, Viper? She collapsed. The sound she made… I have never heard pain like that. Beast got her calmed down, but then she was just gone.”
“When she told me what she did, it made me want her so much it shamed me. I mean, what man gets that kind of rush from hearing about cutting someone apart? I did not want her to see that in me. I had to ride it off. I was about to tear her clothes off and fuck her right there, I wanted her so badly. I did not want to scare her. I did not want her to be disgusted with me.”
Torque made a low sound in his throat. “You stupid bastard. You were not turned on by the mutilation. You were turned on by what it meant. By her getting your justice. Any one of us would feel that if our woman went to war for us like that. It is a powerful thing, knowing someone loves you enough to kill for you.” He pulled Jenna closer and kissed her forehead. She had stopped crying and was just watching me.
“So you do not hate her?” she asked quietly.
“God, no. She is my entire life. Do you know where she went?”
“No. She texted me a new number an hour ago. She said she needs time alone. She talked about finding our father, but if he already told her he is safe, then who knows? She needs to burn off this feeling. For her, that could mean anything. Going to a gym to hit a bag, finding a fight club, getting whipped to feel some pain, or picking up a job and killing someone.”
“I thought you two never worked alone.”
“Normally, we do not. But she is so hurt right now, I am afraid she will.”
“Wait. Did you say whipped for pain?”
“Yes. Sometimes, both Catalina and I find that physical pain relieves stress.”
Torque and I both growled at that.
“Can I have her number?”
“Yes, but she probably has the phone off. When she does not want to be found, she turns it off until she is ready.”
She gave me the number. I put it in my phone and called immediately. It went straight to a generic voicemail. I hung up and sent a text instead.
Baby, it is me. Please call me as soon as you can. I am not angry. I do not hate you, angel. Please come home and let me explain. Do not do anything reckless, Catalina. I need you. Please, please come home.
Catalina
After I got my new phone, I called a car and had it take me to the one place I needed.
The Underground.
The building looked like a run-down porn store. I walked past the shelves in the front, through a beaded curtain, and down a set of stairs into a storage area. A heavy metal door was on the far wall. I knocked three times and waited. After a minute, a small slot opened and a pair of eyes looked out.
“What?” a rough voice asked.
I let out a tired breath. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but I will knife you in the balls until you squeal.” It is my own code phrase. The guy at the door has to memorize them all.
“Chaotic. Good to see you.” The slot closed, and the door swung open.
I walked past him. He was a huge man with very dark skin. His eyes were black and bright, and he flashed me a white smile.
“Always a pleasure, Booker. Is the taskmaster in?”
“He is. On the main stage with Miss Della.”
I sighed. Perfect. A show before I can ask for work. I nodded and went down another flight of stairs. The room was dark, lit only by dull purple lights. It was big, with maybe twenty small tables. A stage stood in the center. A woman hung from chains on the ceiling. She wore only sheer black stockings, a blindfold, and a gag. Faint red marks lined her pale skin. A muscular man stood behind her, shirtless, wearing a black mask that showed only his eyes. He held a whip, looking over his work. He moved his wrist, and the woman made a sound of pure pleasure. They had just started. I found a seat and settled in. It would be a while. I ordered a drink from a waitress wearing almost nothing and waited to speak to the man who could give me the relief I needed.