The Joker (The Soldiers of Anarchy #3)

by Nikki J. Summers

“What are you doing?” I asked, expecting some crazy, stupid response. “I’m going inside.” Trust him to give me an answer that’d have me on board in a nanosecond. “Then so am I.” He cocked his brow in surprise. “Don’t get your hopes up, Romeo. I want to be at the heart of this thing. You tagging along is just the icing on the shit heap.” “Glad I can be of assistance.”

“We’ve watched the house for a few hours, and we don’t think anyone’s inside, but we need to be prepared to fight in case we’re wrong.” Colton must’ve thought this was my first rodeo. “I know how this goes. I’m not a newbie,” I spat back. “Just giving you a heads up. I could’ve been an asshole and sent you in blind.” “Why change the habit of a lifetime?” He frowned, so I added, “You’re always an asshole.” “You love it.”

“I like your T-shirt.” I was wearing a black T-shirt with a skeletal hand giving the finger and the words ‘fuck you and have a nice day’ written across it. I’d worn it on purpose. “I think I have one similar,” he remarked. “I wore it just for you.” “Nice to know you think of me when you’re getting ready in the morning.” He had an irritating knack of turning anything I said into something that amused him. “Thinking about torture and murder is always a good start to any day, don’t you think?” I replied, trying to turn the tables. “But you still thought of me, however you sugar-coat it.”

“Can you not touch me, please.” I tried to pull away, but something inside was stopping me. I liked how he stroked my hair and looked at it like it was the greatest thing he’d ever seen. “You know,” he mused, biting his lip. “I don’t think I can.” He side-stepped until he was standing right in front of me and whispered, “I love your hair.” Words eluded me, and my breaths were coming in short sharp gasps that I tried to hide. “Do I need to remind you about my newly acquired knife skills?” I stared at him from under my lashes, my heart racing with anticipation. “Do your worst,” he replied, moving closer to me, his lips an inch from mine. “I’d die a happy man.” And then he crushed his lips to mine, stealing my breath and injecting my body with the kind of adrenaline that made my toes curl. I gripped the front of his T-shirt like I was hanging on for dear life, my lips moving against his, and my mind shutting down. I didn’t want to hear any internal arguments; all I wanted to do was feel.

This was the kiss to which every other kiss would always fail to live up to. This was the kiss I’d never forget because, unlike the one he’d given me before, I was all in.

“I like practising with you,” he added. “Maybe we need to try that again.”

The way he moaned showed how much he liked that, so I retraced my track, trailing over his skin until he pushed his lips against mine harder, kissed me with more depth, and then, he reached down to grab my ass and squeeze. Then, those hands took the backs of my thighs and lifted me.

But his moans and groans were what affected me the most. I loved that I was having this effect on him.

“Sorry to interrupt whatever that was.” Bryony gestured to the two of us. “But we’re gonna call it a day.”

“We’re going to email him. Get him to meet us. Draw the rat out on our terms, so to speak.” I had to admit that did make more sense, and Colton nodded and hummed his agreement. “Sounds like a better plan,” he interjected. “Although, I will miss this.” “What? The stake out? Or eating my sister’s face?” Bryony laughed wickedly. “I’m guessing you haven’t swept the house for any clues?” She gave me a sly wink and added. “Too busy sweeping my sister off her feet, hey? And on that note, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. Although birds of prey would probably be a more accurate description after what I just saw.” She turned to leave. “Will and I will give this place the once over. Wouldn’t want to disturb you two.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” I snapped, staring absent-mindedly at the floor as I touched my lips, and replayed the moment over and over in my head. “I think that’s exactly what I should’ve done.” He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted my head so that I was looking at him. “And I’ll do it again. Only next time, we won’t get disturbed.” “There won’t be a next time.” I broke free of his grasp and walked with determination towards the door to follow my sister. “There’s always a next time with us, haven’t you noticed that yet?”

This girl had a hold on me like nothing I’d ever experienced before. The more she pushed me away, the more I wanted her. Thing was, her version of pushing me away was confusing as hell because when she wrapped her legs around me and kissed me back, making those soft little moans, it sure felt like a pull and not a push. She wanted me; she just didn’t want to admit she did. That wasn’t something I was used to dealing with when it came to women, but it certainly made things interesting. Shelley Masters was accomplishing something that no woman had ever done before. She had captured my interest, beguiled me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

“Can I help you?” I didn’t want to get on his bad side, so I used my posh voice. “I’m here to see Shelley Masters. She’s in one of the studios.” He tapped away at his computer and then looked up at me over his glasses. “And you are?” “I’m her brother.” I figured potential fuck buddy wouldn’t go down well.

“You’ll have to share it eventually, or are the visitors to the gallery expected to wear masks?” I smirked. “Sounds like my kind of gallery if they do.”

Shelley interjected, but even though I knew Eric was gay, I still felt protective. He was here to take her attention away, and I didn’t like that.

“I’ve been called many things in my time, but never striking,” I replied. “Maybe you should think outside the box, pin me to the wall at your next art showing.” “Don’t tempt me,” Eric muttered, pushing his glasses up his nose with a suggestive twinkle in his eyes, and I threw my head back and laughed. This guy was growing on me. I liked his cheekiness. He was barking up the wrong tree, but I admired his sass.

“Poor Shelley,” I mused. “Blocks me on everything but I still manage to appear in her dreams.”

“I’m not some weak, love-struck little girl. I’m just as strong as you, I can do whatever you can… I have done what you do,”

“Just think how fucking awesome it’d be if we did that together.”

“But I wouldn’t complain if you turned up in this. You could come as the tortured artist.” I leaned further into her and whispered, “I like seeing you like this… vulnerable.”

“And I like pushing you out of your comfort zone. You’re beautiful when you fight me, but you’re fucking stunning when you submit.”

We both stared with our foreheads almost touching, watching my hand trail down to her G-string, and I let the tips of my fingers dip slightly below the waistband, fighting the urge to pull and rip. I had to do this slowly. I noticed her eyes close, and I asked, “Can I touch you?” She didn’t reply, but I felt the nod of her head.

“It did happen, and it’ll happen again.” I waited for her to argue, but she didn’t. She focused on the table, probably willing me to leave, but I wouldn’t. Not until I’d had my say. “But next time, and I mean it this time, I won’t get interrupted.” She gave a huff, but I wanted to make myself clear. “And even if we do get interrupted, I won’t stop.”

“I’ll see you next Saturday, at the Halloween night. I can’t wait to see what you wear for me.”

“Byers,” I added, my voice dripping with venom, “I’d love nothing more than to carve my revenge into your skin and then carve out your heart. So please, take another step and grant me my wish.”

“You’re a dead man walking.” I smiled as I spoke. “Follow me home, trace every step I take, I don’t care. I’ll happily lure you into my trap.”

“I’ve seen the way you and Colton look at each other when you’re together.” She smirked and added, “I’ve seen the way you act around each other too. Don’t deny it. You like him, and you can’t help yourself when he’s around.”

“I hate him.” “Hate fucks can work too, sometimes they’re even better.” “I’m not going to hate fuck him,” I argued, but my heart skipped a beat thinking about what that meant.

Colton can be a cocky little shit sometimes, but maybe he could be the one to give you more. Let’s face it, he’s hot and he’s made it perfectly clear he’s interested in you, so what’s the big deal? I say have a bit of fun with him. A girl has needs too.” “Needs that I’m quite happy to fulfil with a battery-operated boyfriend, thank you very much.” “But can a battery-operated dick tell you what a good girl you are and spank your ass as it pulls your hair?”

“Colton is the least complicated person I’ve ever met. I’m pretty sure he’d agree to be your fuck buddy without any drama. He doesn’t look high maintenance.”

“Winding up Colton King has become one of my favourite things to do.”

“Try winding him up in other ways. That might be even better.”

“Who else would I be? And I see you’ve come as the blow-up doll Adam divorced after he met you.” “I’m Malibu Barbie,” she stated, and I couldn’t hold in my excitement. “Please tell me Adam is Ken. That would make my fucking night.” “I tried.” She laughed. “But he flat out refused. His outfit is much more… Adam.”

Devon, entering the room with Leah May right behind him. The perfect Sally to his Jack Skellington.

“Who won’t be fighting if it kicks off?” I replied. “A computer beat me at chess once, but it was no match for me at kickboxing.” I did a stylish kung fu kick to finish off my joke, waiting for a laugh. I didn’t get one. “Fuck me, people. Lighten up. It’s a party!”

“I think Colton’s waiting to see what his favourite brunette shows up as. Probably the girl from The Ring if I know Shelley.” Tyler laughed to himself. “Or Wednesday Adams,” Will chipped in. “Oh, now you’re all comedians.” I rolled my eyes. “She wouldn’t be that predictable,” I told them, then smirking, I added. “But she would make an awesome Cousin It.” “A girl who speaks gibberish and can’t see your cocky face. She’d be perfect for you.” Liv cackled.

“I hope Liv’s acupuncture kit helps with your stress. You might need it after tonight.” I chuckled.

I wanted to find her, not a cheap replacement.

The place was packed, and the strobe lights made it difficult to focus. But then, as if some weird force was in play, I saw her, and the rest of the room fell away. I couldn’t see anyone but her.

This woman was turning me into a sap, but I was helpless to stop it. In a room full of fake Harleys and harlots, she was all I wanted.

“Are you disappointed that I didn’t come as Harley Quinn or Catwoman?” “Are you fucking joking?” I laughed, looking her up and down, appreciation making me grow hot under the collar. “People seem to forget that Joker treated Harley like shit sometimes. And one thing I’d never accuse you of is being predictable.” From her black thigh-high boots to her leather skin-tight body and black mask, she was fucking perfect. “Before you ask, I’m the Batman. Not Batgirl, or Batwoman. Batman.” She peered down her front and said, “See? No tits, just a six pack.” “I really hope that’s not true when the suit comes off,” I joked, and she rolled her eyes and scoffed at me. “You’re such a…” “Red-blooded male? Human?” “I was going to say chauvinist pig, but whatever.”

“You know, you picked the perfect outfit.” “How so?” She tilted her head to the side, challenging me. “Joker might like Harley Quinn, but it’s the Batman he lives for. Without Batman, there is no Joker. Without Joker, there’s no Batman. Everything Joker does is to force Batman to become a better, stronger version of himself. They’re the yin and yang of the comic book world. I’m not saying it isn’t a complicated relationship…” She huffed her agreement, but I carried on. “Joker is flawed, but so is Batman. He might be a superhero, but he has no actual superpowers, and that makes him more vulnerable, more human.” I took a step towards her. “When you look closer, Batman and Joker are eerily similar, and yet, they’re poles apart. Rivals that’re two sides of the same coin, sublime symmetry.” And then I shrugged. “Everyone knows that.”

Being near Colton, holding his attention was pure magic. He had the power to make you feel better about yourself, just by being nearby. But that was what scared me the most.

In this moment, he was mine, not theirs. But he didn’t notice them.

I felt him reach for my hand, and I let him, too dazed to pull away or argue like I normally would. I was tired of fighting whatever this was.

“Do you trust me?” he asked, leaning close to my ear and making my skin prickle. “No,” I answered. “But I’ll go in anyway.” “Good answer.”

Everything here was an optical illusion, just like him. Once you moved forward, you couldn’t go back, and nothing felt the same, but you couldn’t stop. You wanted to find out what was coming next, what lay at the end.

“Batman and Joker, walking hand in hand. Bet no one expected to see that tonight,” he said, and I peered down at our joined hands. “Are you going soft on me?” I whispered back. His eyes glittered with wicked intent as he said, “If I thought that was what you wanted, then yes, I would.” He stopped and turned to face me, lowering his head into the crook of my neck. “But I don’t think that’s what you want.”

No one had ever made me feel this way before. I was drowning in Colton King, and I never wanted to come up for air.

“You’re the kind of girl that wants… no, needs a man to work for it. Make the effort. Because in the end, you are worth it. You’ve fought for everything in your life, you want someone who’s going to fight for you. Fight with you. To show you the kind of strength that proves he’s in it for the long haul. You need a man that’ll stick around, not a boy who runs. Someone who can handle the heat. And you know what? I’ve lived my whole life in the flames of hell.”