Chapter Nine

Baz

“Okay babe, how ’bout that?” Mick spoke with the patience a man uses when his woman is pregnant, hormonal and maybe on the verge of a breakdown. But in fairness to him, we’d moved the big ass hutch at least five times already.

It was hot and I had sweat pouring from my body. I was more than ready to get back home to my own woman and child. “This is perfect for storage and you can use it as a sideboard for holidays,” I told her just to end this torture.

She flashed a shy smile. “It looks great Baz, thanks. Both of you.” She stood staring at the newly placed hutch, smile growing with every passing second. “Wash up and take a seat,” she ordered as she disappeared into the kitchen.

“Thanks man. She’s been a little eager about getting everything settled. Again.”

“No worries. I’m happy to help.”

“Good,” Talon said as she returned with a tray of lemonade, brownies and sandwiches. “I appreciate it and I have another request.”

“For me?” I couldn’t imagine what she wanted me to do but Talon was good people so I’d do whatever she asked if I could.

“Yep. I want you to get Trina over here to sign my books.”

My eyebrows went straight up. “You know what she writes? Let me see,” I demanded a little too harsh but Talon only smiled.

“I do and I love them. Been reading them for a few years now. I’ll show you,” she said, stopping at the sound of her cell buzzing and ringing on the table. “Hey Trudy,” she smiled but it quickly died and turned to worry and my body prepared for battle. “Hang on,” she said and looked up, silver eyes bouncing between Mick and me. “Jack ran to Two Scoops, out of breath, crying and said his mom’s ex showed up at the house. Go! Go! I’ll be fine here. Go!”

“Call Darlington and let him know Jensen Murray is in town, violating parole,” I told Mick and then I was out of my chair, through the front door and taking off on my bike in a matter of seconds. I headed straight home because I knew Mick and Dagger would check on Jack and keep him safe until I had this shit settled and Trina was safe. Cash texted with a description of this asshole and I pulled out my piece before heading inside.

I checked the front door. Locked. That was odd, so I decided to go in through the back just in case this motherfucker was still here. Though it might be more likely he’d try to take off with Trina. The back door was, thankfully, still unlocked which meant he hadn’t checked the whole house. Inside nothing looked out of place which freaked me the fuck out with just how not out of place everything was. There were no signs of a struggle, not in the kitchen or the living room. Jack’s room was typically messy but nothing more. Our bed, because that’s how I thought of it now, was still made with her silky teal nightgown draped over the edge.

Her office door was closed, which wasn’t all that unusual but one thing the military had drilled into me was trusting my instincts and right then, they told me that’s where they were. I slowed my steps so they weren’t as easy to follow, wrapping my fist around the knob and gun poised at the ready. I ducked as I pushed the door open and thank fuck I did because the bastard let off a shot.

“Go away asshole, she’s mine!” His eyes were wild and wide. “Tell him Trina, tell that motherfucker you don’t want him. You want me.”

She winced at the way his arm tightened around her neck, the way the tip of his gun dug deeper into her head. He was a dead motherfucker as soon as I got my hands on him.

I flashed Trina a smile to show her I wasn’t worried. Because I wasn’t. This guy was a flashy corporate pussy, he didn’t know shit about fighting or guns. I just had to bide my time. “How you doin’ Sweetness?” I made her the center of my focus so I could see and hear the truth.

“I’m o-o-okay Baz, just a little shaken up.” She tried for a smile, but it was more of a frightened grimace. “Is Jack okay?”

I nodded, my gun still trained on Jensen. “Yep. My guys are looking out for him. He ran straight to Trudy and Dagger. Guess you didn’t make it to the mall, huh?” Her smile angered that prick and he dug the gun into her temple.

“No more! Enough of this shit! Get out of here asshole, Trina is mine.” His brown hair stood up on all ends, eyes wide and red. Crazed. The idiot was fucking high.

I grinned and stood taller. “Sorry to tell you dick breath but Trina here is mine. In fact, we’re getting married and I’d really prefer not to splatter your blood all over my baby’s office. But I will.”

He barked out a laugh. “I hardly doubt that, grease monkey. Trina prefers a real man in a suit.”

Jensen wasn’t the first asshole to think that and he wouldn’t be the last. But I had his number, so I leaned against the wall, legs crossed at the ankles so I looked calm. Unconcerned. “Aww Sweetness, you didn’t tell him about me? That I was an expert fuckin’ marksman? That I could hit him between the eyes before he even lined up a shot?” He paled and I couldn’t help the shit eating grin that crossed my face. “Yeah I didn’t think so.”

He blinked as recognition finally dawned. “You’re that little bastard’s father? Good. Keep him and I’ll take Trina, she belongs with me anyhow.”

Bastard? My fingers itched to just drop this fucker where he stood for talking about my son that way but I knew I’d get my chance to lay a hurt on him before he left this room. “You’re mistaken asshole, this is my family. I suggest you find one of your own or this won’t end well for you. I guarantee it.”

He laughed. “And what can you do, run me over with your motorcycle?”

“Actually, I plan to do much worse and only you can decide how bad it gets for you. See I’m the tech captain of my club but I got a guy who’s a real expert hacker, trained by Big Brother himself to track down all that money you stole and your legit stacks too. He’s already transferring it to untraceable accounts.” I lined a shot up with a grin and he ducked behind Trina. Fucking coward. “What you stole will be returned and the rest well, let’s just say it’ll go to a very worthy club.” I slid a look to Trina who still trembled with fear. “Still doing all right Sweetness?” She nodded and I gave her a wink. “Good girl.”

“Shut the fuck up!”

I stood tall, shoulders squared and spoke as though he hadn’t just thrown a little bitch fit. “So you can leave with your freedom, mostly in one piece and flat ass broke. Or you can leave in handcuffs, mostly in one piece and flat ass broke. What will it be Jensen? You have about oh…three seconds.”

“You don’t have the upper hand here, dick head!”

“Sweetness do you remember that weekend we spent in Vegas and those sexy shoes I wouldn’t let you take off?”

She frowned but nodded, squeaking out a “Yes.”

“Tick tock asshole.” I kept my voice and my expression neutral and kept my gaze focused on Trina. “And remember that asshole who thought he could convince you to leave me and go with him?”

She smiled, warming up to the memory of us in Vegas, gambling, fucking and drinking. Not necessarily in that order. “You tried to step in, but I handled it.” Her blue eyes flashed recognition and I knew she understood.

“That’s right Sweetness.” I winked and subtly tightened my grip on my gun. “So Jensen, have you decided on a bullet or a beat down? Personally, I’d go with the beat down because if you hurt Trina I will fucking shoot you where you stand.”

His face was red with anger and his hand trembled. “You’re wrong, grease monkey. I’ll do what I want,” he shouted and squeezed her neck tight enough to draw a cry of pain from her. “See?”

“You really shouldn’t have done that,” I told him, my blood boiling as my focus narrowed and I raised my arm, aiming the gun at him. Without blinking I squeezed the trigger and he cried out.

“Oww! Motherfucker, you shot my ear! I think I’m deaf,” he shouted, clutching his ear.

“Now Trina!” She stomped his foot with all her might while he was distracted, causing him to drop the gun as she ran into my arms. “Good to see you, Sweetness,” I grinned and wrapped my arm around her waist.

“You too,” she answered breathlessly.

As happy as I was she was all right, I still felt amped up and in the mood for vengeance that this fucker had broken into our home and scared my woman and my son. “You want to come in my home and threaten my family?” I roared and grabbed that fucker by the shirt, rearing my fist back and let it loose right at his nose. “Scare my son?” My fist landed on his nose again, then his eye and his jaw. “You’re lucky all I did was shoot your ear because if I wanted to, I could’ve shot you right between the eyes.” I punched him once more because goddammit, he deserved it. “Think of it this way pretty boy, now your cellmate won’t have anything to nibble on.”

The bitch cowered on the floor. “Fine I’ll leave. I didn’t want the skanky whore anyway.”

“Don’t ever fucking talk about my woman like that,” I growled and shoved the bottom of my boot in his mouth. “Got it?”

He nodded.

“I said, do you got it asshole?”

“Got it,” he mumbled around my boot.

“Good.” I removed my foot from his mouth and turned to Trina who watched warily like she didn’t know what I’d do next but then, she grinned. “Hey Sweetness.”

She walked into my arms as Sheriff Darlington entered the house with two of his deputies, guns drawn. “Everything all right in there?”

“In the office Sheriff. Everybody’s alive.”

“Well that’s good to hear,” he said sardonically as he stood in the doorway. “Wait outside,” he instructed and I grabbed her in my arms and kept here there while we waited.

Fifteen minutes later we gave our statements and hopped in the car to go get our son.