Chapter 37

Chase's Point of View

Patience. I was known for having it. Having to help Mom bring up my siblings, I was used to tantrums and the limits being tested. Being a President again gave me patience. I was forced to deal with men stepping outside the lines, again testing me to see what they could and couldn’t get away with so I considered myself a man with patience.

But, when it came to Chloe…

My patience was overstretched, and I knew this was going to be a marathon, but I was wanting it to be a sprint.

"Okay, what did that wall do to you?" Dan came down the stairs with a cigarette in his mouth, seeing my handiwork. Did this wall have to come down? Yes. I was making it open living, but I was taking my frustration out on the wall with a sledge hammer.  

"I told you I was ripping it out."

"Yeah, but at three in the morning?" Dan looked at me as if I was insane. He crossed his arms, reading me. The one downside to having brothers and sisters is they can tell when something is wrong. "This is about Chloe and the guy, isn't it?"

Dan had heard everything I had listened to, and yes, he was right. It was all about Chloe.

"You heard him." I put all my weight behind my next swing of the sledge hammer, and the bricks came crumbling down.

"Yeah, and I also heard her say she was still hung up on someone." Dan walked towards me just as I went to swing the sledge hammer again, and he grabbed it. "Come on, Chase, she won't be getting over you that easy. She took the rap for murder for you, remember."

"Yeah, she did, but now, as far as she knows, I've moved on!"

"Then call her and remind her that you are still in the picture."

"I can't."

"You can."

"It might ruin the plan." Then again, the aim of the plan was to get Chloe to be with me. What happens if she moved on and the last thing on her mind is me?

"Just call her as a friend. Remind her." Dan whacked me on the shoulder. "Don't put it off. Now stop smashing things and let me get some sleep."

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and dropped the sledge hammer. Maybe Dan was right. Maybe I should call her. I pulled my phone out and scrolled down to her number. What would I say? I couldn't darn well tell her on the phone I was coming for her and I couldn't tell her not to be with anyone else, not when she thought she was facing a future without me.

I put my phone down on the bench and walked to the fridge. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Whichever way I take, I was going to face challenges so should I deal with my jealousy and trust that she hadn't given up on me yet? Or should I call her and remind her I was in the picture?

I cracked open a beer, taking a few large gulps. No, I shouldn't call, I had to trust her. I had to trust she could hold out. I was putting everything I had into getting her back. I had taken a break from the brotherhood, which was never heard of. It was blood in or blood out, not take a break whenever you feel like it, but I had to. I owed Chloe, I wanted her back and I wanted her more than I wanted my charter.

So, if I wanted her this bad, I had to trust she felt the same and could last the distance.

And if she did fall in love with someone else, I'd be the first to know and I would let her go. With that decision solved, I picked up my phone and headed for bed.

Declan's Point of View

I was known for busting jaws before asking questions. Out of all us brothers, I was the one with the short temper. The boys would often test me on it, seeing how far they could push me and, right now, my temper was at its limit.

I spotted him walking with his friends, acting as if he was top shit. I might not be as big as my brothers, but I made that up in strength and this Chad guy was going to feel the taste of my fist in his mouth.

I stomped on my cigarette and headed towards him. If he knew what was good for him, he would take my warning and back off.

Chloe had put her life on hold because of us. Chase loved her and, considering Chase had always given things up for us, this was nothing. I wouldn't rest until Chloe was back where she belonged.

And I wasn't going to let some skinny little weed threaten her.

He was putting his stuff in a locker when I slapped it shut, nearly taking off his fingers.

"What the heck!" he cursed, and then looked up at me. "What the hell, man?"

I had been keeping a low profile at university. I went to classes, I did the assignments and, most importantly, I kept an eye on Chloe.

"I like your teeth." I crossed my arms, leaning against his locker. "Good dental plan?"

He looked at me as if I was mad. "You're weird."

"Not really. I was just checking how fond of them you were."

The kid's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"

"Nah, I'm just warning you." I jumped forward and gripped him by the collar, smashing him back into the lockers, lifting him off the ground. I might not be as big as Chase, but I still had strength.

"Dude, I haven't done anything!" He cowed under my grip.

"Chloe Marshall, you know her?"

"The biker whore? Seriously, this is over her?" He looked at me, bewildered.

"You call her that again, and those pearly whites of yours will be knocked out. In fact, if you go near her, I'll personally make sure of it."

Would it be wrong to punch him once? People were gathering, and I couldn't just get into a fight on campus. I was meant to be keeping a low profile but Chase wanted this kid dealt with, which meant I had to step in.

I let go of him.

"That's your warning." I met his scared eyes. "You should keep in mind that she has connections the next time you think about threatening her or putting a finger on her."

I shoved him hard and walked off. That was dealt with. Chad shouldn't be bothering Chloe again and, if he did, I'd step in again, although when I did, there would be blood involved. His blood.

I pulled my phone out and messaged Chase telling him it was done. Now I had a lecture to get to. University was over-rated, but, much to my dislike, I was the only one with the brains to do it, so I drew the short straw so instead of spending my nights drinking and chasing women, I was studying and writing essays.

Chase owed me for this, but then again, I'd do this for Chloe. We were all involved in that murder and she didn't need to be taking the rap for it. It didn't help that every time I looked at her, she had a new bruise or black eye.

Her makeup only did so much.

Were we telling Chase how bad it was?

No. No, we weren't. If he knew how bad it was, he would be here ruining all our hard work. Sometimes you are better off not knowing the details.

Oliver's Point of View

I didn't have many memories of my father as I was young when he died. The memories I did have were blurry. All I knew was he loved his family as much as he loved the club, but for every memory I didn't have about dad, I had one of Chase. He was always there. From when I was getting bullied in school to my first girl, Chase was there. He enforced the curfew and he put everything on hold for us. Being the youngest, I was also the most trouble. I put him through hell, testing him, and he never gave up on me. When I turned eighteen, I was ready to join the club and be like my brothers.

Chase didn't want that for me. He wanted me to be the one that broke free of the lifestyle but all us boys saw one thing growing up - Chase and his love for the club. He was always there for us, but he also was always there for the club. He started at the bottom and worked his way up. Like with everything, he was patient. He didn't just take over dad's charter, he started as a prospect even though everyone expected him to step in a Vice President role.

So when your role model was Chase, how did he expect us not to follow in his footsteps? He was mad to think I would want something different.

Then there was Chloe. He had never wanted anything. He had never put anything before the club, before family, but when it came to her, he was putting her before his blood oath to the club.

I knew he was going insane not being with her and the updates from us weren't enough, but if we played this smart, he would get her in the end.

So, considering we were playing this smart, I had to think smart as I walked into Jenkins’s gym. Chloe was at university, so I didn't have to worry about her walking in. Marc was outside in the car. We thought if one guy approached him, he would get the message.

We had been keeping such a low profile we weren't wearing our club colors or our vests. We didn't want Chloe's stepfather knowing Horsemen were in the area.

I spotted the guy named Jenkins with another man. By the looks of it, he was training him.

The gym was full of males. It must be one of their busy periods.

"Can I help you?" Jenkins turned his back on the guy and walked towards me.

Seemed like your normal type of gym junkie – big, broad shoulders and muscles. I couldn't take him, but Chase sure as hell could.

"You Jenkins?" I was nearly positive he was, but I had to make sure I was about to give it to the right guy.

"What's it to ya?" He came to a stop in front of me.

It was him. I had been watching him with Chloe. "Do you know a Chloe Marshall?"

He wasn't defensive before, but his body language changed. His eyes narrowed and he looked at me as if I was prey. "I was wondering when I'd meet you."

That threw me. What did he mean by that? I needed to focus on why I was here. "So you know her then?"

"That isn't any of your business."

"Come on, I know she comes here."

"Why, did you get your credit card bill?" Jenkins scoffed and his fists clenched at his side. "You know only weak men hit women?"

He thought I was the one hitting her! Now his reaction made sense. He might not be her boyfriend, but he was ready to throw a few punches over her.

"I came here just to give you a warning. Back off from her, she’s taken." I glanced at his clenched fists. "And if you think about hitting me, you will just make the situation worse."

"Taken by you? I'm positive she told me she was getting over you so I think you need to move on, buddy and if you touch her again ..." He took a step closer to me, towering over me. "I'll come looking for you, and I won't be threatening."

Two of us could take him. Marc was in the car. I could come back in with him and drive the message home hard to Jenkins of who he was messing with. Chloe wasn't just taken by Chase, she was taken by the Horsemen. She belonged with us and it wasn't just Chase who would step in to make sure she was safe. She had us, and then she had the men following Chase's orders.

"Nice chat, I think." I smirked at him. "Just remember your place, Jenkins. Cross the line of friend, and I won't be coming back by myself."

"Good, because you wouldn't be worth my time. You know, I was going to give Chloe time but you just gave me a challenge, seeing who I'm going up against. I see I look better on your girl." He was smirking evilly at me. "Now, get out of my gym before I drag you out."

Well, this had backfired. "I'll be seeing you." I wasn't intimidated by him. I turned and walked out. I had come up against scarier men than him and if Chase knew Jenkins was a real threat, he would be down here handling it himself.

I walked around our parked car. Marc was sitting in it, waiting. I was always used to driving but this whole time, Marc did all the driving. Slipping into the passenger seat, I knew what was coming out of his mouth before he said it.

"How did you go?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "He is taking my threat as a challenge. If he wasn't going after her before, he is now."

Marc rolled his eyes. "Trust you to make it worse."

"I said what you wanted me to say. How was I meant to know the man would take it as a challenge?"

"He is a fighter, he lives for challenges." Marc started the car up and looked at me. "Do we tell Chase?"

I didn't even have to think about it.

"No." We both said at the same time.

Marc nodded his head. "We should check into the hotel and get some sleep before the night shift."

"You don't think Chloe would fall for a guy like that, do you?" I had to say. He didn't seem her type at all although if her type was Chase, then I guess she had a thing for big protective guys.

"Nah, she will hold strong. Our real problem is keeping Chase from coming down here and ruining everything."

I nodded my head. Marc had a good point. Chase was more protective over Chloe than he was with any of us, even my sisters. He had it bad for her.

Chloe's Point of View

Today was getting worse by the minute. It started with Joe not untying me from the bed until seven. They zip-tied one of my hands to the bedpost every night, just to make sure I was trapped there all night until they wanted to let me go so I was bursting to go to the toilet this morning.

Then mom reminded me of Saturday night. Doomsday. I had already told them I'll go with whoever they want me to go with.

I didn't get to go to the gym as I had an early lecture, then when I got to uni, I realized I left my protein drink at home, so I didn't have breakfast.

Then the lecturer thought it was his job to give me a lecture about 'morals,' going to a Christian university when you had my reputation. It was fair to say everyone knew I was 'bad.' The stories they came up with disgusted me.

Like this morning, someone came up to me and flat out asked me if I was ready to go to hell for having a gang bang. Seriously! All I was doing was getting coffee, minding my own business, and this girl made it her mission to make sure I knew I was going to hell.

So my day was going just fantastic when I felt him approach me. Great. The day from hell gets better.

"Chloe."

"Chad."

I went to walk around him, but he just turned and started walking with me.

"I met your boyfriend this morning."

I frowned at him. "I don't have a boyfriend."

"Yeah, I guess when it comes to you; you like to be shared around."

I groaned. Why couldn't people just leave me the hell alone! "Whatever, Chad. Stop following me."

“Okay, I will. I guess I'll see you tomorrow night anyway."

I froze and turned to face him. "Why the hell would I be seeing you on a weekend?" My luck couldn't be that bad. Nope. It couldn't happen. Please tell me he isn't…

"As your date. Saturday night. You, me, and your parents." He smirked as he confirmed my nightmare.

"Say you can't go." I pointed a finger at him. "Get out of it."

"Why would I do that? I'm the golden boy at church, remember. I admit I was surprised when your mom approached me, but then again, I knew a girl like you couldn't get a date without promising to take your clothes off."

Kill him. If there was a God, please fire lightning at him now. "I won't be going anywhere with you."

"You won't be saying that tomorrow night when I pick you up." He took a step closer to me. "I heard your ankle monitor is coming off for the night which means you can spend the night at my place."

"Trust me when I say this, Chad. I would rather swallow razor blades than be your date."

"Well, make sure you have a shot of them before seven because that's when I'm picking you up." He started to walk backwards with the biggest smirk. "Bye, Chloe."

Why couldn't I have been paired up with one of Joe's detective friends? I would rather date one of them than go anywhere with Chad but my luck sucked like that, and I knew I couldn't get out of this date, even if I wanted to.

Right now, I was hating Joe for a whole new reason. Why would he pick someone from church? He knew what they all thought of me.

The long walk home just got longer, knowing what I was in for tomorrow night.

My phone buzzed in my jeans pocket and I pulled it out. It was a message from a mobile number I didn't know. I opened it.

Everything alright, sweetheart?

Who is this?

My phone buzzed back right away.

Who do you think it is?

Today was not my day. I was not in the mood for games. I only thought of one person who would call me sweetheart, and I knew it wasn't him. Chase didn't have my number. Heck, he wouldn't even be thinking about me in sunny Queensland. As much as I wanted it to be him, to hear something from him, I knew it wasn't going to happen.

My personal stalker, I sent back.

My phone buzzed before I put it back in my pocket.

Close. So Marshall, what's your excuse for missing training this morning?

Jenkins. I smiled at that. He had so many people come into the gym in the morning. I couldn't believe he actually noticed I was missing.

Got tied up.

Literally.

Your boyfriend came looking for you. Are you okay?

Boyfriend? That was the second time today someone said I had a boyfriend. Whoever they were seeing had nothing to do with me. Maybe Joe had gone to Jenkins; that wouldn't surprise me. Was I okay? I stopped at the corner and leaned against a phone box. I wasn't okay, but I could lie. I was good at that. Or change the subject.

What are you doing Saturday night?

I didn't answer his question. Instead, I decided to change the subject. If I was getting my ankle monitor off, I was going to make the most of it which meant attending and ditching. I knew I would get in trouble later for it, but a night of freedom was worth the lecture and fight; even worth the abuse.

Drinking with the boys. Why?

Can I join?

What about your curfew?

Night of freedom. Once in a lifetime opportunity so I want to get drunk to the point of not remembering it in the morning. You up for that?

A night with you sweetheart sounds pretty darn good, but you haven't answered my question, r u okay?

I chewed my bottom lip. If I was honest, I haven't been okay since I left Chase. I was empty like there was a hole inside me and nothing would fill it. Not exercise, not the abuse, nothing. Chase had crafted a hole in my heart, and it was aching without him.

Was he okay? What was he doing? Shit Chloe, snap out of it. I started walking again, heading to the café.

I'm fine. Keen to let loose.

Always up for a challenge. You finished uni?

I wasn't going to be much of a challenge. I wanted to get drunk. I needed to let loose and I needed to forget about my shitty life for one night.

Yeah, heading to the café.

I adjusted my hand bag on my shoulder and crossed the road. It was only four, which meant I was going to spend the rest of my evening doing school work, much to my dislike. My phone buzzed in my hand.

Sweetheart, I've been worried about you all day since seeing the prick. He didn't hurt you again, did he?

Joe. He hadn't hit me today, but I knew I was in for it tonight, seeing he was tracking down where I was going every day

He never has. Like I said, I'm clumsy.

Lying? Was it worth it? Admitting what happened out loud made everything worse. I had only admitted it to one person - Chase and, as far as I was concerned, that was one person too many.

If I see him again, I'll make sure he has an accident.

I don't need you to protect me.

Chloe, when it comes to you, all you need is protection.

I'll see you tomorrow. Be ready to let loose.

I saved Jenkins’s number and slipped my phone in my bag. So tomorrow night was planned. I would attend the date with Chad, and then I would slip away as soon as possible and head to the clubs with Jenkins.

I was planning on getting crazy drunk and then, when six o’clock came the next day, I would return home to get my ankle monitor back on.

Maybe I should get a new dress? I loved burning Joe's money. Yep, new dress it was. After all, it was either shopping or studying.

Oliver's Point of View

"I'm telling you now Chase, we can't just follow her in!" I screamed into the phone. "Declan told him to stay clear, he mustn't have thought he was serious."

While I was on the phone to Chase, I watched Chad hit Chloe's doorbell.

"Why didn't he just bloody well punch him? That would have driven the message clear." Chase was frustrated and I could hear it on the phone. Hell, I could almost nearly feel it.

"He can't keep a low profile at university if he goes around punching people, Chase." I ran a hand down my face, feeling Chase's frustration. When it came to Chloe, men were circling.

I watched their front door open and I nearly dropped the phone. "HOLY SHIT!" I gasped and hit Marc on the shoulder. "You seeing that?"

"What? What's going on?" Chase's voice was begging me back to reality, but I couldn't take my eyes off Chloe.

"Where did you say Chloe was going with this bloke?"

"Some function with her parents, which she is ditching to go out with Jenkins. Why? What's the matter?"

"You don't wanna know."

I could hear him grinding his teeth. "Just tell me, Oliver."

"I can't tell you, but I'll show you. You aren't going to like it." I pulled out our long-range camera and snapped a pic. It was wirelessly connected to our phones. The picture popped up on my phone, and I sent it to Chase. "I'm so glad I'm not near you right now."

"What? It can't be that bad." Chase grumbled.

My eyes were back on Chloe, and boy was she stunning. She was standing there in heels that could kill, but the tight black strapless dress with no back - that had that Chad guy gawking at her. Her hair was dead straight and long. The blonde of her hair set off her features and when I said she was stunning, a lot of other men would only be thinking one thing when their eyes landed on her. How the hell do I make it so I have this woman in my bed tonight? All men were going to be daydreaming about zipping her out of that dress.

I didn't need to see Chase's reaction. I heard it.

"Told you that you wouldn't like it," I said, feeling for him. "What do you want us to do?"

All I heard was silence.

"Go to Jenkins’s gym. Make sure he doesn't make it out with her tonight."

"You want us to beat him up?"

"If you think Marc and you won't do enough damage, call in Archie and Declan." Chase's voice had an edge to it. We all knew that if Jenkins took one look at Chloe, he would be doing what any sane man would do – having his hands all over her and Chloe had made it clear she was out for a good time. If she was drunk, she might go there.

“Okay. We will head over to the gym now. You know this will backfire on us. He saw my face yesterday."

"Wear a mask. I don't care how you do it. Just make sure that man isn't near Chloe tonight."

“Okay, boss. We are on to it." I hung up and turned to Marc. "You catch that?"

"Yeah, time to get our fists bloody." Marc started the car. "That girl has no idea how much trouble she is."

I glanced at Chloe as we drove past. She knew nothing about what Chase was willing to do for her; what we all were willing to do to make sure she was safe. Chloe might think she was letting her hair down tonight, but we were going to make sure she wasn't going to do anything stupid.