Chapter Eight
Drake
After parking the bike, Harlow pushes off my shoulders and makes quick work of the helmet. She turns and takes a couple of steps away. Fuck that, I need to know what the hell is going on.
I pull Harlow’s hand back towards me and she stumbles a little, her hands land on my shoulders and I grip her waist, flexing my fingers into her soft flesh, satisfied when I hear the hitch in her breath. “Babe, talk to me.”
“Can’t this wait?” She glances over her shoulder, a look crossing her face that I don’t understand.
“Talk to me.” My voice is softer, deeper now.
“Fine.” She turns back to me, but her eyes are locked on my cut.
Placing two fingers under her chin, I tilt her head back until her eyes lock with mine. For the first time in my life, I see utter heartbreak in her dark eyes and my heart does some funny shit in my chest. She blinks a few times and I know she’s fighting back tears. I swear to the Devil himself, I will break whoever did this to her.
“My sister,” she breathes out softly, but when she speaks next, all traces of hurt and vulnerability wash away and the hard girl I first met is standing in front of me. “My sister was murdered two months ago. The last thing I know is she worked here and was dating a guy named Elliot.” She pauses a moment to let that sink in. “That piece of shit in the club is the only lead I have in finding out what happened to my sister. I’ve bided my time. I got a job in this place to work out who he was.”
“Why didn’t you ask Trevor who he was before today?” Something doesn’t add up.
“After the day I got the job he was never around, I thought I could figure it out for myself but it was a bust. I knew the Charity party was coming up and knew in my bones that Trevor would be here along with the piece of shit who killed my sister.” She blows out a deep breath before running her tongue across her bottom lip while she contemplates something.
“What is it?” I ask.
“At first I thought he was a part of the MC, but now, I just don’t know.”
“I can tell you one thing for sure, the MC might not be completely legitimate but we don’t hurt women or children. It’s a line none of us cross.” My tone is as hard as steel.
I need her to believe what I’m saying. She looks at me with hard eyes for a few beats before they soften and I let go of the breath I didn’t realise I was holding, knowing she gets it.
“So, can we go in?”
Leaning forward, I brush my lips over hers before pulling back and letting go of her waist. I grab her hand tightly in mine so she doesn’t take off. Her shoulders slump when she realises I’m not letting her go. I push off my bike and rise to my full height.
“Lead the way, Lemon Drop.”
“Can I have my hand back?” she grumbles.
I don’t say a word, instead, I squeeze my fingers with hers and nod towards the doors. No fucking way am I letting her go. I get what she needs to do but she won’t be doing it without me.
“Fine,” she grumbles but squeezes my fingers with hers.
Just as we hit the doors, Alexis comes running across the road with her phone held to her ear.
“Harlow, wait,” she calls out.
I look over her head and see Razor is following.
“What?” Harlow spins around.
The motion causes my arm to wrap around her waist and I pull her back into my chest. I grit my teeth when I feel her lush as fuck ass rub up against me and my cock pushes against my zipper.
“Don’t you have any control?” she mumbles so only I can hear her.
Leaning down, I nip her ear before sucking it into my mouth to ease the sting. Her body shudders.
“That one was your fault,” I growl, making her bite back a laugh.
“Tilly’s on the phone.” Alexis puts her on loudspeaker.
“Harlow.” A breathless voice sounds down the line.
“What’s wrong?” Harlow answers. I feel her stiffen.
“I just wanted to say, I’m sorry I’m not there with you. Alexis filled me in so you go in there and kick that guys ass until we know what the hell happened to Julie.”
Taking a deep breath, Harlow leans into me. I kiss the crown of her head and notice her eyes are closed. I run the thumb of my free hand under her eye when I see I single tear escape her eyelash. A slight smile graces her lips at the touch. Her spine stiffens and I know I have no need to worry, my girls got this.
“I love you,” she says to the woman on the phone.
“I love ya, too” Tilly gets out before a guy’s voice in the background calls out.
“That better be your fucking mother you’re saying that to,” he growls.
My eyebrows hit my hairline and my eyes dart to Razor who’s staring at the phone, wide eyed.
“No fucking way,” I mumble.
“What?” Harlow and Alexis whisper at the same time.
“Jace, you fucking caveman. Chill the fuck out,” Tilly calls back.
I choke back a laugh at hearing our Prez being told off.
“I’ll show you caveman. Hang up that fucking phone, Tilly, unless you want them to hear me spank your ass.”
Tilly squeals.
“Call me,” Tilly rushes out before the phone clicks off.
“Well, fuck me,” Razor huffs.
I nod, I never thought the day would come.
“Can someone please clue me in on what the fuck that was about?” Harlow demands while Alexis nods in agreement.
“Jace is the President of the Deadly Sins MC. Nobody, well nobody who’s still alive, talks to him like that.” I chuckle and rake my free hand through my hair.
“She’s safe, right?” Alexis’ voice is laced with worry.
“Yeah babe, Prez wouldn’t touch a hair on her head.” Razor reassures her before throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“But, he will spank her ass,” Harlow throws out.
She bites her lip in an attempt not to laugh, it doesn’t help and we all crack up.
“She’s safe.” I again reassure Alexis but I can’t help but chuckle.
“Come on, Babe, let’s get this shit done and we can head to the clubhouse where the Prez will be with your friend. You can see for yourself.”
Harlow laughs. “Um… I don’t think I wanna see that.”
She smiles up at me before we head towards the door of Club Ivy. I give her ass a slap, giving her a taste of what’s to come tonight after the stunt she pulled today.
***
“Shadow,” I bark.
Looking around, I don’t see him on the main floor. I turn towards Razor and raise an eyebrow in question.
“He said he was here.” He shrugs.
“Shadow, where the fuck are you?” I shout.
“Chill, VP.” He chuckles as he appears from a back room, Joel and Pete by his side.
“Where is he?”
“He needed to cool the fuck down so, we put him in the coolroom.” He grabs a tea towel from the bar and wipes his hands.
“Prospects, go grab the motherfucker and let’s get this shit sorted.”
At their VP’s command, Joel and Pete spin around and head back to where they came from.
While Razor takes care of introductions, I head to the bar and snatch a bottle of scotch from the glass shelf. I grab a single glass after the girls say no to my offer of a drink and pour a decent amount. I place the cap back on top and the bottle back on the shelf at the same time the Prospects throw a shivering Elliot into the middle of the dance floor.
“Grab a chair,” I call out.
Joel steps to the side, grabs a sturdy wooden chair and sticks it next to the piece of shit.
“Wanna tell me what this is all about?” Elliot spits out through chattering teeth.
“I see you haven’t learnt any manners since last night.” I click my tongue and shake my head.
“Pete, put him on the chair.”
“Don’t fucking touch me,” he snarls. Less than a second later, a loud crack sounds around the room. Picking my glass up, I walk to the other side of the bar and lean against the smooth wood. I take a mouthful while watching as Shadow shakes out his hand.
“Motherfucker has no respect and a boney ass jaw,” Shadow grumbles.
The girls bite their lips trying not to laugh and I take another mouthful of drink.
“Babe.” I nod towards Elliot and watch as his eyes take her in from head to toe. A loud growl escapes my throat and I take a step towards him before Harlow moves in front of me. Leaning up, she places a kiss on my lips.
“I’ve got this.” Steel laces her voice and my cock throbs in my pants.
Leaning around me, she reaches over the bar and grabs something before turning back to Elliot. She plays with a stainless-steel ice pick between her fingers.
“Your fucked now,” Shadow chuckles.
“Good luck with her,” Pete says while squeezing the bastard’s shoulder and chuckling.
The men take a few steps back so Harlow can approach.
“What the fuck do you want, you stupid slut?” He spits on the floor in front of her.
I start to move but Razor stops me with a hand on the chest. Swatting his hand away, I grunt and take a step forward. Alexis moves in front of me with her hands raised. She tilts her head to lock eyes with me and I see the plea.
“She needs to do this, Drake,” she whispers. “Trust me, she can handle herself. Please?”
After a moment, I nod in understanding. The heartbreak I saw in her eyes outside gnaws at me. I know I have to let this play out for Harlow’s sake. As much as it pisses me off and I should be the one to take care of this, I remind myself, she needs this. Blowing out a deep, frustrated breath, I nod again. My eyes snap up when the asshole screams out in pain. My girl has stabbed him in the thigh with the pick and she begins twisting it.
“Now is that anyway to talk to a lady?”
“Fuck you,” he spits through gritted teeth.
“I think we already went over this, but if you need another lesson I’m sure I can teach you.” She rips the pick free in one smooth move.
“Son of a bitch,” he hisses out.
“What the fuck do you want?” he wheezes out after a moment and several deep breaths. He arches his neck away from Harlow when she runs the pick across his throat.
“Tell me what you did to my sister.” Harlow places the end of the pick against his shoulder blade and starts to twist.
“Shit,” Joel mumbles and covers his mouth as he chuckles. Looking over at Pete, I note the fascination and awe written all over his face as he watches my woman. It pisses me off and I squeeze my fists together. I try to concentrate on what’s going on before I slam their faces into the hardwood floor.
“Who’s your sister?” Elliot wheezes while watching the pick sink into his flesh in a little deeper.
“Her name is Julie. She’s one of the softest souls you could ever meet.” Her voice is soft but strong.
“Oh, yeah. She was a tasty piece of ass, she begged to suck my cock every night!”
“Piece of shit.” Harlow pulls the pick from his shoulder and before I can blink, she pulls her arm back and with force, stabs him the chest. He screams out in agony and fights against the ropes holding him in place. I hear soft crying and worry it’s my girl but when I glance to my right, I see the tears running down Alexis’ face. She’s wrapped protectively in Razor’s arms. I shift my focus back to my girl. I’ve had about enough of this, I take a few more steps forward.
“Wanna try again?” Harlow snarls.
“I didn’t kill her,” he moans.
“Then who?” Harlow lines up the end of the pick with his left eye, moving her hand slowly so he’s sure to see it coming.
“Do you know how messy it can get if this punctures your eye? Not to mention the pain.”
The pick is about a centimeter from his eye and I hear his breathing increase as he panics.
“I guess I don’t have to stress about it too much. See that beast of a man over there?” She nods towards me.
I watch his eyes flicker to me before returning to her and he nods.
She lowers her head to his. “That man beast is mine!”
My chest swells and possession settles in every cell of my body.
“Sooo, if I make a mess, he’ll get someone to clean it up for me.” She clicks her tongue. “The pain? I guess that will be your problem now, won’t it?”
The smile she gives him is downright sinister. I squeeze my hands into fists and feel my knuckles pop. I want nothing more than to throw her over my shoulder and take what’s mine.
“Do you wanna know something?” she whispers, moving the pick so it’s brushing his eyelashes. “You’re going to die today, no matter what, but I’ll let you decide by who, them….” she nods to us. “And they’ll make it quick, or me and I’ll take it nice and slow. All you have to do is, tell me who the fuck killed my sister and the boys will finish it. Your choice.”
I’m so fucking turned on right now, I’m about to lose my fucking mind.
Harlow pushes the pick closer to his eye. “Brother… my brother! Fuck, it was my brother,” he yells.
She grabs a fist full of hair and jerks back his head. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him since that night. I owed him so, I gave him Julie as payment.”
“You piece of SHIT!” she screams out.
Harlow stabs him in the eye, punches him several times in the face and brings her knee down hard on his balls. Finally, I move. I can’t stand watching my girl break down in front of me. Grabbing her tight around the waist, I swing her up into my arms and pull her against my chest. Tears stream down her face and her breathing is shallow and choppy.
“I’ve got you, Babe.” I kiss the crown of her head.
“Clean this place up and get rid of that piece of shit,” I growl to the Prospects.
They nod in reply.
“Shadow, find everything you can on his piece of shit brother.”
“On it, VP.” He sprints to the steps leading up to the office.
“Razor, I need you to take Alexis either to her place or the clubhouse on your bike. My girl is in no condition to be on the back of my bike”
“I’m okay,” Harlow whispers.
Looking down, I shake my head.
“Got it, VP,” he says as I pass them heading for the front doors.
Alexis is almost as bad as Harlow and tears stream down her face.
“I got you, Babe.” Razor is holding her close.
“Please take me to where Harlow is going,” she sobs.
“Clubhouse,” I call as I step outside.
“I’ve got you, Babe,” I breathe into her hair.
Alexis races out and hands me the keys.
“Thanks, will you be okay?” I know what happened inside was a lot to take in.
“That piece of shit deserved everything he got in there and so much more.” The anger in her voice takes me by surprise. “I just need Harlow to be okay,” she says sadly.
“She will be.”
“I know.” Razor has joined us and wraps his arms around her.
“See you at home, VP.” He lifts his chin before guiding Alexis towards his bike.
I head to Harlow’s black Jeep.
“Thank you.” Harlow’s whispered words hit my chest.
“Babe, it was hard as fuck standing back, watching you. I’m the man, I should have done this shit for you.” I blow out a hard breath. “I know you needed to do it, but from now on, it’s you and me, Lemon Drop.”
“Promise?”
We reach the car. I drop her legs to the ground, lean her against the car door, grip her hair in one hand and grab her ass in the other. I slam my mouth down on hers in a hard kiss, pouring everything I have into it. Pulling back, I suck her bottom lip into my mouth and taste the saltiness of her tears on my tongue.
“Always,” I grunt.
Leaning up, she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down into an all-consuming kiss that nearly knocks me to my knees. Releasing her ass, I grip the top of her car to keep me standing. Pulling back and on a panted breath, I growl out so she understands how serious I am.
“You are my Sin, Lemon Drop. Fuck, I know it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, but I love you.”
“I love you too, Drake.”
Her dark, liquid eyes meet mine and what I see, settles everything I never knew was out of place, deep in my gut.
We didn’t ask for this.
We were never looking for this.
But, nothing will stop me from keeping her.
She’s MINE.