I love the 3 am version of people.
Vulnerable. Honest. Real.
“Wait, how did he get into the house? Was he waiting behind you or something?” Princess gapes, asking me a zillion questions about what just went down with Shadow.
“Not exactly. When I first got home, my hands were full, and I was too busy worrying about putting the puppy outside that I didn’t lock the door behind me. We let the dog out, came back inside, and Shadow was there waiting for us.”
“Fucking creepy.” She shudders.
“I know, Prissy, trust me. I wanted to freak out so badly, but was trying to keep it together in front of Maverick.”
“You were so lucky Nightmare came home earlier than expected. Who knows what could’ve happened to you guys if he’d been running late.”
“I know, I was thinking the same thing. Luckily, he had to pick up his bike from Spin and was close to the house so decided to come home. To think, if I’d never slashed his motorcycle up, there’s a chance we could be dead right now.”
“Well, your temper definitely paid off this time. I’m so glad you all are all right.”
“God, me too, lady. I hope this isn’t something Maverick will remember as he gets older. Nightmare literally slashed the guy’s throat in the middle of the living room. With the blood everywhere and Shadow shooting Night in the shoulder, it was gruesome and scary. I can only imagine how he must be feeling right now.”
“I know what you mean, babe; the stuff that went down with me in the bar a few years back was pretty crazy, too. We’re lucky to have strong men in our lives.”
I nod. It’s true. If it’d been some “Joe Schmo” down the road, he’d have pissed his pants in fear—not killed the guy. I always believed Nightmare was sort of a badass, but he’s really one bad mamma jamma. I witnessed him kick ass with my own two eyes.
“I’m sure Maverick will replace those images of his dad. He’s so small now; hopefully, he’ll believe it was a dream or something.”
“Fingers crossed,” I mumble, thinking about how young I was when my dad began hurting me. I have my own demons and know just how daunting dreams can be inflicted by true events.
“Viking flipped his shit when he got Night’s text. He had Odin and Torch come get me from the house in case anyone was lurking around the property. When something like this goes down, it usually happens in more than one place, sort of like a distraction. The club is livid. They’ll find these guys.”
“Good. Is it bad that I hope they seriously hurt them or even kill them? I feel so guilty saying that, but after meeting Shadow…well, I have to think of my own family.”
“No, I agree with you. And to be honest, they won’t be turning up again after the club finds them. A threat to family is like a cardinal rule when it comes to these guys. Took me being the Prez’s ol’ lady to realize that and how important we were to my own father growing up. I really had no clue just how much the club protects its own.”
“But we don’t belong to the club. I’m not Nightmare’s ol’ lady.”
“No, maybe not, but you are his family. Maverick is his son and you mean something to him. That means a lot to the brothers.”
“Do I, though?”
“Yes, B; everyone knows it,” she reassures me, her statement full of finality making me believe her.
“So, what now?”
“Now, we settle in, maybe get some dinner going because the guys will get hungry. They’ll take care of everything else.”
“Just like that? You sit back and let them?”
“Yes. This is their club. While we’re a part of it, they run things in this lifestyle. We show them support and love them fiercely. In return, they do the same for us.”
Taking a deep breath, I nod and send her a smile. “Then lead me to the kitchen. I need something to do, preferably with chocolate involved.”
She returns my smile. “Follow me, this kitchen setup is perfect for cooking a ton of food.”
“Spidey and Chaos should be there already,” Viking mutters, busily texting someone. “Your shirt’s soaked. 2 Piece is already here waiting in case any of you need medical care. Now that I see you were shot, I’m glad I’d called him after all.”
“I’m fine. It was just a shoulder graze. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Look, I don’t give a fuck if you’re fine. You have a kid and a woman now, suck it the fuck up and get stitched up,” he glowers and I roll my eyes like a petulant child. Last thing I feel like doing is having 2 poking around my shoulder with a damn needle.
“Fine, fuck it. 2 Piece?” I gesture, and he brings his glass and a small tote with him.
“Where did it hit you?” he questions, eyes raking over me quickly.
“My shoulder.” I yank my shirt over my head. It’s pretty bloody, and I just changed before we left. Good thing my shirt’s black. It sucks ass trying to get blood out of clothes.
“Damn.” He cringes and pulls a few bottles and other supplies from his bag. “It went straight through, luckily. You’ll be tender here for some time, though, and the shoulder’s an easy spot to rip stiches out for us. Careful riding, fighting, lifting, fucking, that sort of stuff.”
“So, basically, everything then.” Grumbling, I get situated. Fucker should’ve gone to medical school, not joined a biker club. “Appreciate you fixing me up,” I acknowledge and he waves me off, getting to work. Bad enough he had to ride over here with shit hitting the fan.
I turn back to Viking, ignoring the pain from 2 Piece cleaning and digging into my flesh while he sews my wound up. “I told Bethany that Chaos and Spider needed to come by to help me redo the floors.”
“Good. You having them use that deep pit out back of your place to burn the body?”
“Yeah. I figured they’d look him over for any more information as well. Spider can snap a pic for the photo search he’s been doing this week too. May help us find some more answers.”
“Bet. I’m sorry this happened to your family, brother, but it may end up being a blessing in disguise.”
“I thought the same thing, actually. We need to find these motherfuckers and snuff them all out. Put an end to whatever future plans they may be up to.”
“Agreed. I’m talkin’ to Ares right now, working on keepin’ him up to speed.”
“’Kay. If you’re straight here, then I’m heading back to my place to help them clean up.”
2 Piece grabs the bloody gauze and other supplies, heading for the bathroom and I pull my shirt back on. The shoulder area’s a bit stiff from the blood drying, but it’ll do for now. I can grab another back at the house and burn all my bloody clothes with Shadow’s body. No body, no blood, no evidence, no murder is the way I see it. That motto hasn’t let me down yet.
“We’ve got it handled. If I find out anything, I’ll hit you up. You three keep a lookout for any more joiners coming to the party late, and hit me back if you see any Iron Fists period. I’ll see about getting the other club here by the time y’all are back for church.”
I nod and bump his knuckles. I know he’ll make sure Bethany and Maverick are safe here while I go take care of business. I hate leaving them at all after what they just went through. At least B has Princess here to help her process it all. Probably no one better for that job anyhow.
Shadow coming around shakes everything up. It went from us looking out for the other club to a direct threat against us as well. The other club, they aren’t as … how do I put it? Not as savage as we are. I think that’s the best way to explain them.
They’re hard, sure, but we were Nomads before turning over our patch to a home charter. We dealt with the worst of the worst and prospered. That Nomad brand of crazy still pumps through our veins, and this is giving us a prime excuse to cash in on it.
Before I leave, I search Bethany out. She needs to realize that not only was Shadow a game changer for the club, he was for me as well. I’m done fooling with her. I flat out want her. Yes, she fucked up, and, yes, it will forever be in my mind, but I’m moving past it. I’m putting what matters most in perspective—her and my son. Nothing is more important to me than the two of them.
“I’m taking off.” I find her and Princess in the midst of a huge mess in the kitchen. I can’t help but grin, thinking about how this’ll piss the club sluts off something fierce having to do cleanup duty. I know Princess, though, and she’ll give zero fucks. My girl need P right now to show her how to cope; I’m glad she has her.
“You have to go?” Her gaze flicks to the floor, and I can tell she’s biting the inside of her cheek. She’s still shook up. Can’t say I blame her.
Grabbing her forearm lightly, I tug her in my direction. “Gotta go and make sure no more idiots are lurking around. You know how I am about you having bad dreams about shit. Figure I’ll squash them now and you’ll sleep like a baby.” Winking, I bring her against my chest.
It’s true. Her nightmares drive me up the fucking wall. If I hear her having one, I’ve started to automatically carry her to my bed so they stop and she sleeps. I don’t want this giving her more shit at night as well.
“I know. I really don’t want you caught riding alone though.”
“One of them couldn’t handle me with you in the middle of it. Trust me, B; they damn sure can’t handle me alone.”
She sighs, still worried, and I pull her closer until her chest is flush against mine and my arms are around her securely. “I’ll be fine, Daydream,” I utter as I bend down until her lips are to mine.
My hand tangles in her long, dark, chocolate-colored hair and my tongue glides over hers tenderly. The kiss is full of so many feelings I’ve been holding back, hiding away inside. If I could tell her with merely a kiss just how I feel about her, I would. I’m not sure she’ll get it, but I do my damndest anyhow.
Her palm lands on my chest, bunching my T-shirt fabric in her hands as she gives it back just as well as she takes it. I wish the lip lock was under different circumstances and I wasn’t about to leave. If anything, the kiss is good motivation to take care of business quickly and get back to her.
“Behave,” I murmur, as I pull away. My toes tingle as I remember what her mouth’s capable of doing.
She grins as I bump my nose against hers gently, and then I’m out the door, in pissed-off biker mode, ready to fuck up some Fists, if needed.
Thankfully, cleanup went quick, and we made it back to the club in one piece. Having to lift shit with my shoulder sucked, but I got through it. There’s nothing more relaxing than lighting a body on fire—other than sex. To me anyhow. I relish in that shit. It can’t just be anyone, either. It has to be a piece of shit whose flesh gets melted off by my hands for it to do the trick.
“This crazy goin’ on better not be giving you ideas to go Nomad again.”
Grinning at Viking, I shake my head. “Nah, you’d miss me too much.”
“Not to sound like a bitch, but yeah, I would actually. When we were Nomad, you and Ex were the two brothers I trusted the most. You didn’t run your mouths and you owned your shit. I want to be surrounded by that in my own club. I have Princess now; I can’t have a Nomad charter.”
“I get it, and you don’t have to worry about me either. I have Bethany and Mav now. No way I’m leaving them. Truthfully, though, if they weren’t around, I’d love to go back to being a Nomad, but my fucking leg can’t handle the amount of riding it takes.”
“Your leg?” He stares at me, confused. “But I thought it was fine?”
I shake my head. “No. The doc told me to stop riding forever when it happened, but I refused. I did what I could to make it stronger. Well, at least strong enough so I could ride with you guys locally.”
“Fuck, why didn’t you tell me any of this before? I’ve sent you on so many runs. I never would’ve had I known.”
“And that’s why. I didn’t want you to see me any differently. Hell, besides that, I know you would’ve blamed yourself, and I couldn’t have that on my conscience. You finally found Princess and your calling being the Prez. I wasn’t about to piss all over it.”
He holds his hand out and I place mine in his, as his other palm comes down on my uninjured shoulder. “You’re my brother, Night. Anything you need…any fuckin’ thing…it’s yours. You just let me know, man.”
“Appreciate it.”
“And you won’t ever hear a word out of me about it again.”
“Thank you.” I don’t mention those words often, but what he’s saying, means a lot to me.
“Now, let’s get on with church. I’m sure everyone’s wondering what the hell’s going on. We need to bring them all up to speed.”