CHAPTER TWELVE

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Wolf rested his head on the pillow beside her and looked into her eyes. Their breathing had slowed and matched, but her soft gaze kicked his heart into overdrive again.

Damn, he loved her.

The most stubborn woman in the world refused to admit she loved him in return. He didn’t really worry about it. No woman had ever looked at him like that.

“Pack your clothes. It’s time for us to leave.” He waited for her to argue.

“My clothes are already in a suitcase. I just need to dress and throw in my cosmetic bag, and I’ll be ready to go.”

He blinked. That had been easy. “Okaay.”

She covered her mouth and laughed. “You look so surprised.”

“I had expected an argument.” He reached out and smoothed a few strands of hair out of her eyes. A serious look came over her face. “What’s wrong, sugar?”

“My cousin. I owe him for so much. This will break his heart. When my mom died, he was the only one who cared about what happened to me.”

“Where’s your dad?”

“He’s living in Florida with his other family.” Her gaze lifted away as if it was hard to tell him the story.

“How old were you when your mom died?”

“Eight. My brother’s mom offered to help, but Papa wouldn’t hear of it. They divorced a couple months before I was born, and he hated her. Not sure why, when he was the one cheating on her with my mother. My parents never married.” She looked at him, gauging how he was taking it all in.

“So Angel’s your half brother.”

“Yeah. He’s five years older than me. He lived a couple years with Papa when he moved to Florida. Then he turned up in Brook Hill again around a few years ago. Now Hector is pissed at him for something he won’t tell me about.” A tear welled up and slipped down her face.

“Oh, damn. Please don’t cry.” His stomach clenched at her being so upset. “Baby, what can I do to make it easier for you?”

She grabbed the front of his shirt and pressed her face to the fabric. “I’m sorry. I guess my emotions are swinging from ecstatic happiness to the deepest angst.” She hesitated and gave a watery grin. “I’m sounding so melodramatic. Sorry.”

“No, sugar. I—”

“Where will we live?” she interrupted.

Good question. All he’d thought about the last few days was getting her back into his arms. Like a lovesick teenager, he hadn’t thought beyond the next moment. “I want to say my house. That is, our house.”

“What about the fire damage? We really can’t live there until the electricity is back on too.”

She had a point. He couldn’t afford to hire anyone to fix it. Though his Brothers helped where they could, it took time.

“We can stay with Trick.” He hated to admit it, but he wasn’t prepared to take care of her like he wanted. But he needed her by his side. Was he being selfish?

“Uh, no.” Her face squished up as she shook her head. “I don’t feel safe with him. When you’re away on club business, I would be alone with him.”

He could argue with her, but he knew his uncle. He remembered the women coming and going at all hours while he was growing up in that household. Trick had a reputation of taking what he wanted without a care of what the women wanted.

Shit! His guts were burning. He didn’t want to leave her there. He wanted her by his side.

He closed his eyes and groaned. Flopping to the side, he pulled her against him as he gritted his teeth.

“You’re right. I can’t ask you to come with me when I don’t have a place to keep you safe.” He kissed the top of her head. The thought of not being with her physically hurt. “I’ll get the house repaired by New Year’s. One week.”

Fuck! He actually choked up thinking of being apart from her any longer. What kind of badass biker was he? Trick had embarrassed him a shitload of times when he teared up as a kid. The last time it happened, he’d learned his dad had died.

“Wolf.” Her trembling voice brought him back to the moment.

He looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

“Don’t be mad at me.” She nuzzled his neck. “I want to go with you, but I’m too afraid of your uncle. I need to feel safe when you’re not with me. I’ll have to find another job too. Hector will be too angry to let me work at the shop.”

Squeezing her tight with one arm, he swiped his face with the other hand. Damn, he was tired. Since the day he met her, he’d been on an emotional rollercoaster.

“You’re right. I’ll get to work on the house.” He released his hold and sat up, leaning over her. “As crazy as it all sounds, I’ll do what I can to make it right with Toro. He may want a gallon of my blood, but I’ll find a way to get him to accept us.”

The radiant smile on her face broke his heart. He’d been right about what really worried her. Family was important to her. Damn, he wasn’t Superman. No way could he get two decades of hate to change around. He glanced at Sofia. But for her he would try.

“Does this mean I have to track down your brother too?” he asked with a hint of humor.

She clasped his face between the palms of her hands. “No. Hector will be more than enough.”

Yeah. She could ask for the moon and stars, and he would throw in the sun for another smile like that.

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Wolf watched Cutter swing a leg off his bike and walk across the recently raked yard in his long, easy stride. A big man with tats flowing down one side of his neck and along both arms, he didn’t talk much, but by looking at his ink, most could tell he’d been in the Marines at one time. Probably how he came by his name. While others swore it was from the nasty switchblade he normally carried and used when necessary.

One thing for certain, he would be president of the mother chapter once the vote came in next week, and Easy became the next Skull.

Wolf was unsure how he felt about that. No matter how many times people told him prison had mellowed Easy, the man was crazy and sneaky. Think about what all he’d done to Storm to gain control of the chapter. With Easy as national president, who knew what kind of trouble they would be in once he got so much power behind him. Considering how Easy was an arrogant asshole, it wouldn’t be long before it happened.

Even the current Skull, Speed, had struggled to keep Easy on a short rein, but with the position needing to be filled after Speed’s stroke in November, the timing was perfect for Easy to step in. Wolf mentally shrugged. He didn’t want the position. Hell, the only reason he’d been VP was that Speed had persuaded him to run and look after Storm. He was a lot happier not worrying about the everyday running of the club. He loved the Mayhem Brothers and would die for them, but he stayed away from club politics since he got his ass kicked and thrown out of office. Once again, Easy was a nutcase. Wolf wished the man the best as long as he stayed away from him.

After wiping his hands on dirty jeans, Wolf took a couple of steps forward to shake hands while patting Cutter’s back in a manly hug.

“How’s it going?” Cutter asked.

“Good. Thanks for sending the prospects over to help. Did you know that Fried Chicken is a carpenter?” Wolf wasn’t sure if the prospect carried that road name because he loved fried chicken or he looked like one with his long neck and hair sticking out every which-a-way.

“Yeah. He’s handy, heh?”

Wolf waited for Cutter to say what he came to tell him. They were friends, but by the way he checked out the area, Wolf guessed he preferred not to be overheard.

“What’s up?”

“I know you’ve been trying to keep an eye on your old lady’s ex. This morning I drove to the Big Ham to pick up a few parts.” The interstate that divided Sand City and Brook Hill ran to Birmingham, the Big Ham, a necessary freeway used by Mayhem Brothers and Thirty-Second members. “On my return, at the edge of Sand City, I came up behind a familiar sedan that sported a Thirty-Second decal on the back. So I followed. They pulled into a park outside of Brook Hill. Sitting on a picnic table, pretty as you please, was Toro and Jorge Ruiz. When Ramon got out of the car, they greeted each other like long-lost brothers. That’s not good for your old lady. I’ve been hearing that Ramon is bragging that Toro needs his help in taming Sofia and forcing her to forget a certain biker.” Cutter lifted one eyebrow toward Wolf. “I’m not trying to tell you your business, but you need to bring your old lady back into your and the club’s protection. As long as that bastard’s back, she’s not going to be safe.”

Wolf nodded. It had been hell without her for the last few days. No way would he leave her any longer in a place that Ramon could touch her.

Crossing his arms, Cutter pursed his lips in thought for a moment. “I also heard something you’re not going to like one bit.”

“Fuck. So far you’re batting a thousand. Let me hear it.”

“Word is out that your brother is back in town, and he’s working on a warrant for Toro’s arrest. Easy’s all over it. He can’t wait for Thorn to resurface.” Cutter shook his head. “I have a hunch that he plans to make it his deal breaker, you know, to kill him and ensure he gets the Skull’s position, what with Speed not running for it again. A lot of guys got hurt by your brother and most wouldn’t mind that he disappeared. They would vote for the man who took him out.”

“How could he be the one with the warrant? My brother hasn’t been in the area for over four years.” Despite how he felt about his brother’s line of work, his gut burned with worry. No matter how much his brother disgusted him, he didn’t wish him dead.

“You got me. Unless someone was working from the inside of the Thirty-Second gang at the same time Thorn was in the MC.”

“Four years? That’s a long time for undercover. They usually can’t handle the lifestyle that long.” Since finding out his brother had been an undercover cop for the local sheriff’s department, he’d read several autobiographies to get an idea of what his brother had done and why. He still hadn’t forgiven him. There was no excuse for what he’d brought about.

“Yeah. It all sounds fucked up to me.”

“That only makes it more dangerous for Sofia. Damn. I’ll call her.”

“I wouldn’t tell her about your brother. The Thirty-Second will want to take him out too. Anyway, I kind of like the idea of Toro being sent away. You have to understand, man, he’s been a pain in our butt for too long.” Cutter rubbed his face with one large paw. “Get your woman and stay out of it. We’ll call you if the club needs help. Have a fucking Happy New Year.” He laughed hard on his way back to his bike.

Wolf chuckled too at the double meaning. Then his smile faded as he thought about the danger his brother and Sofia were in. She was in the middle of the shit without knowing it. Shoving his fingers into his hair, he stared off into the distance. He really wished he no longer cared what happened to his older brother, but Sofia was helpless against Toro and Ramon. Thorn could take care of himself.

It had been difficult leaving her at her cousin’s house. He’d called her each night. The call always changed to dirty talk before they hung up. To be such a self-conscious woman face-to-face, he was surprised by her sexy, filthy mouth. Last night, he thought his dick would explode.

“Do you promise to lick my pussy?” she had asked.

“What the fuck, Sofia?” His heart kicked up speed in his chest.

“Are you touching yourself?” she asked in her sweet voice.

“Do you want me to?” he asked back.

“Oh, yes. Only fair as I have my hand between my legs, wishing it was yours.”

“You’re killing me.” He clicked on speaker and tossed his phone onto the bed. He unzipped his jeans and pulled out his dick. Each stroke brought a groan.

“I love hearing you like that. Are you imagining your tongue swirling around my clit?”

“You know it. I’ll eat and lick every inch of that pretty little pussy.” Already he had to slow down. “Be sure to talk to me like that as I go down on you.”

“I’m not sure I can. When you touch me, all the air leaves my lungs.”

“I’ll lick it good, baby. Suck in some of that pink flesh and nibble my way to that hard little knot. Tell me, are you creaming in your panties?”

“What panties?”

He groaned and tightened his hold.

“You’re such a naughty girl. I may have to spank that pretty ass.” He’d hissed and jerked his hard-as-a-stone-pillar dick when she giggled. They continued for another five minutes before they came and she said goodbye.

Time for her to come back home where she belonged.

Damn, he was tired of beating off so he could sleep without a stiff dick. He wanted Sofia, soft and warm, next to him in bed, wanted to sink into her tight pussy and feel her nails digging into his back. He missed seeing her smile and her chocolate-brown eyes. Talking over the phone was certainly not getting it.

“Yo! Chicken! Let’s get this painting done. I’ve got to pick up my old lady tonight. We’ll finish the rest next week.” The new kitchen appliances he’d ordered weren’t in, but he would just take her out to eat.

From what Cutter said, he needed to act fast and bring Sofia back.

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His job with Trick was working out. Good thing Easy had approved the job, maintaining Trick’s fleet of cars and motorcycles was more joy than pain. So far, the man hadn’t asked him to do anything illegal. Not that he could say no and keep his job, but he preferred to stay out of trouble. And one thing for sure, working for his uncle always stirred up trouble.

He pulled out his cell phone. Fucking four dots. It blew his mind every time he saw it.  He’d never seen that at the old homestead until his uncle had returned. The house had always been in a dead zone, what with being so far from cell towers. Most likely someone at a tower company had owed Trick a favor. He chuckled, shaking his head. The man was dangerous in his own way. But it was nice knowing that all his calls would go through without a hitch.

Without giving her a chance to say hello, he started talking.

“Hey, Sofia babe. Yeah, I know it’s awfully early, but pack your bags. You’re coming home.” His chest felt so light. The day was brighter. Just knowing he would have her in his arms for the first time in five days, he wanted to dance around like a fucking idiot. He glanced over to where Chicken slathered on the paint that Sofia had picked out. Yeah. The burnt orange with white trim made him think of her. He wanted her to feel like the home was hers too. So he’d asked her to go by the local hardware store and text him her choices.

Fuck, he wanted to wave his hands in the air and shout that his baby was coming back home. But he couldn’t have the prospect thinking he was bat-shit crazy. Yeah. Bat-shit crazy for Sofia.

Damn, he loved that woman.