Curly (Hell's Handlers MC Florida Chapter 1)

“I think I know where you’re talking about,” Tyler said. He paused, running a hand over his mouth. “Out near the edge of town, right?”

She nodded. “That’s right.”

Tyler fingered his lower lip before his eyes widened. “Oh fuck.” His gaze went to Curly’s. “Prick bought that land. Cuz, you said this wasn’t about revenge.”

Brooke’s forehead scrunched. Aside from Tyler, the rest of the guys seemed as clueless as she was. Sure, she’d known Curly hadn’t held any love for Prick, but revenge? What the hell was that about?

“It’s not,” Curly answered with a lethal tone she’d yet to hear from him. As though to combat the grave turn of the conversation, he stepped up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, stroking her skin with his thumbs. She jumped at the initial contact, but the move was so smooth and natural any of the men there would think he’d been touching her for years. Brooke fought to keep her eyelids from dropping as the heat of his palms warmed her shoulders. How could such an innocent touch feel so good? She wanted to arch her back and let out a purr. No wonder Ray was such a slut for rubs from this guy. His hands were incredible.

Revenge? “What does he mean, revenge?” she asked around the thickening in her throat.

As he answered, Curly stared down at her. The rest of the men faded away until they were the only two remaining in the kitchen. Brooke shivered. If he ever turned that intensity on her in a more sensual manner, she’d combust on the spot.

And she’d be in massive trouble because, without a doubt, she could not handle a man like Curly. Hell, she couldn’t handle a rich mama’s boy when she had him. What the hell would she do with a dangerous man like Curly?

Though in her defense, her ex had been a raging narcissist with anger issues.

Still massaging her shoulders as though he belonged there, Curly said. “Prick was my club brother, and he participated in framing me for Joy’s murder. He’s one of the main reasons I spent thirteen years caged for a crime I didn’t commit.”

Brooke lost the ability to breathe. “Framing?” she whispered. Nothing she’d read indicated someone framed him for the girl’s murder.

The statement landed like a bomb in the room, exploding the men into action.

“What the fuck?” Jinx yelled as he shot to his feet. “You fucking serious? That’s some bullshit. He was your goddammed brother.”

He’d filled Ty in on this, but still, his cousin practically shook with fury.

“Fucking hell,” Tracker shouted.

Even Lock, who hadn’t said much of anything, expressed his outrage with a shout.

Eventually, Curly lifted a hand, and the group settled. When his palm landed back on her shoulder, she nearly moaned in relief. The loss of contact had shaken her almost as much as his admission. “I don’t want to get into all the details right now, but the lead detective on the case framed me. Prick had a hand in feeding him info about me and the club.”

Her jaw dropped. Framed? Holy shit that is so much worse than what she’d read, and what she’d read was horrible.

A storm cloud passed over his handsome face. The rest of the men noticed and seemed to understand what she did without further explanation. He didn’t want a million questions at that moment. Didn’t want to rehash the nightmare.

She wished they could go back forty-five seconds ago when his hands were on her, and she didn’t know he’d suffered in such an egregious way. What the hell was happening to her? This was absolute insanity. How could she be so attracted to a man who participated in things she abhorred? It had to be some weird chemical reaction. Pheromones or whatever. Maybe her body was going haywire because it’d been so long since she’d been in such close contact with a man who wasn’t David or a client.

“I said I wasn’t going to seek revenge, but I also said I wouldn’t back down from a fight. The dog fighting ring needs to be stopped. If I get to fuck with Prick as we take it down, so be it. Icing on the cake I was going to eat already.”

Well…that made sense for the most part.

Tyler smirked. “Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. What’s our first move?”

“It’s gonna be hard for you or me to get close to him in any way. He knows us both and hates me by association.”

“I have no fucking idea who Prick is,” Jinx said. “Why don’t you point me in his direction, and I’ll engage him. See if I can get invited to a fight.”

“I’ll do it with you,” Pulse added.

Jinx frowned. “I’m up to the task.”

Rolling his eyes, Pulse flipped Jinx off. “I’m not saying you can’t do it. Just saying I’m tagging along.”