A small noise woke me, and I glanced at the bedside clock. It was four in the morning. We’d been sleeping just over an hour. Marie was holding a blanket to herself, and she was heading out of the room. I stood from the bed not giving a fuck that I was naked.

“Marie, what are ye doing?”

“Hey, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.

“Ye don't need to whisper. We’re the only ones here.”

“Oh, sorry.” She was back to being nervous.

“Marie, come here.”

“I need to get home.” She bent and grabbed her shorts and underwear, quickly sliding them up her legs.

“Talon is home alone. That’s not cool of me to stay out all night.”

“Let me get dressed,” I said grabbing my jeans that were discarded on the floor and throwing them on.

“You don’t need to. Go back to bed. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Ye don’t sneak out of my house in the middle of the night after the best damn sex of my life. And ye don’t walk home alone at four-fecking-am.”

I was agitated, but I was trying to reign it in.

“I’m not sneaking out. It’s just... well... we did those things then fell asleep, and she can't be home all night by herself.”

I grinned because she was cute stumbling over herself as if she wasn't a wildcat in bed. I threw on a hoodie I had slung over a chair and noticed her bare arms. I opened the small closet, grabbed another hoodie and handed it to her. She took it, threw it over her head and I smiled.

“I like the way ye look in my Devil’s Crusaders gear.”

She looked down as if just then noticing she was wearing our logo. “You’ll look even better wearing my patch.”

I saw her eyes get wide, but I ignored it. I had a feeling she knew what I meant, and I didn't give a fuck if that scared her. I was beyond sure that she would be wearing my patch. “Let’s go.”

I locked the door behind us and grabbed her hand for the short walk. She seemed uneasy about the contact, but that was something that she would just have to get used to. She’d have to get used to a lot. She’d have to get used to a man keeping his word, knowing how to take care of her, showing affection just because, and above all, never being used as a punching bag again.

We reached her cottage. The cold damp air made her shiver. I squeezed her hand, and she attempted to lean in and kiss me goodbye.

“Oh, I’m not leaving,” I informed her.

“You’re not?”

“No, I know ye are worried about Talon. I know ye want to ease her into things. I get that, but I’m pretty sure she understands what my intentions are and I’m thinking it’s better to rip the band-aid off.”

She shook her head, “You don't understand; she’s been really upset.”

“Maura was a hellion as a teenager. Talon will come around once she gets that I’m a different type of man than what she’s used to being around.”

“What kind is that?”

“A good one.”

I watched her check the door, relieved that it was locked. She dug out her keys, unlocked it, and checked on Talon. I followed her to her room, which was a million times better than when I first saw it. She had possessions placed in precise spots. So different from before.

I took off my sweatshirt and jeans, pulled back the cover on her bed and patted, “Get in.”

She looked worried, “Mickey.”

“It will be okay. Tomorrow, I’ll take ye both to the clubhouse. We’ll come up wit a time for her to meet Jenny. Next time ye have to work late like this, we’ll have her stay with her, as long as yer comfortable. I know Jenny could use some extra help. If she doesn't want to do that she might like Jenny’s mom, Angie. She loves kids.”

She ran her hand through her hair. “There is so much in what you just said.”

“And it’s late. I’m tired. Yer tired. Let’s sleep.” I patted the bed again, and she grabbed a tank top and sleep pants from her dresser then quickly undressed and put them on. My cock was already getting hard watching her change, and it had only been a short while since she’d blown my mind. She turned off the light and slid in beside me. I wrapped her in my arms, loving the way she felt and held her until my eyes grew heavy and I fell asleep.

“No! No!” Marie was crying and screaming in her sleep.

“Marie, wake up.” I shook her.

“No!” she screamed again. I sat up pulling her into my arms. The early morning light filtered into the room.

“Marie! It’s me, Mickey. Wake up.”

I shook her again, and she began clutching her throat. Her eyes popped open. I swear in all my life, I’d never seen someone so afraid.

The door to her room flew open, and Talon stormed in. “Mom. Mom, what’s going on? Are you okay? Mickey! What are you doing to my mom? Get away from her.”

Marie was still clutching at her throat, and I began to rub circles on her back, “Breathe, baby. Take a deep breath and breathe!”

“Talon, she’s having a panic attack. Go get her water.”

“What are you doing in bed with my mom?” she shrieked.

“Calm yourself. Water. Now,” I ordered Talon. Reluctantly, she left the doorway, and I was able to pry Marie’s hands from her throat.

“Breathe, honey. Breathe. Look at me. It’s me. Mickey. I’m here. No one else; yer safe.” She blinked over and over again fighting her demons back. “Ye got this. Take a breath, babe.”

“Mickey,” she croaked out then turned her head into my chest and let me hold her, while she silently cried. Her arms slipped around my waist, and all that ran through my mind was that her husband was a dead man. I was going to find out who the hell he was, and I was going to put an end to him.

Talon came back in with the water and looked relieved to see her mom in my arms, as opposed to the mess she was a second ago. She set the water down on the table and asked, “Mom?”

“She’ll be alright. Do ye know how to make coffee? Why don’t ye start a pot, and we’ll be out soon.” Talon looked at me like she wasn’t sure if she should be leaving her mom alone but then did it reluctantly.

I held Marie for another few minutes stroking her back in languid circles. “Tell me about yer nightmares.”

She shook her head. “Tell me yer husband’s name. Tell me where to find him. I swear it. I’ll make yer nightmares go away.”

She squeezed her eyes closed. Ignoring my plea for information, she asked for water, which I handed to her. “Talon saw me like that?” she asked after she took a healthy gulp.

“She did.” She began to get up.

“Take a minute. I’ll go to her, alright?” I tilted her chin up to me and gave her a quick peck on her lips, and swiped the last tear from her cheek. Talon was standing in front of the coffee pot, looking at it quizzically.

Apparently, she didn't know how to brew a pot. “Like this,” I reached over her, grabbed the pot, filled it with water then poured it into the back of the machine. I put new grinds into the filter and pressed start waiting for the coffee to brew.

“Does it happen a lot?”

Talon took a deep breath in, “Sometimes she wakes up in the middle of the night crying, and it’s like she can't see me. Other times, I catch her in the middle of the day. She always pretends it’s not happening. It seems to be getting worse. It happened at home with Dad too. I don't know about the middle of the night. I wasn't allowed in their room, but I know it happened during the day. I’m not even sure she knows it’s happening.”

I nodded. I’d seen some things, but nothing like what I witnessed in there.

“Mickey?” Talon took another breath, “Why are you here?”

“That’s a straight question, and I’ll give ye a straight answer. I like yer mom, and by saying that I mean I like her in a way that I plan on sticking around.”

“You know she’s married, right?” she snapped.

“I do. I also know that yer daddy isn’t a husband. A husband doesn’t do the things he’s done to his wife. A husband should respect his wife. She should be worshiped, not what he did. She should’ve been loved. What he did was not love. He’s the reason she’s like that. I won’t let dat happen to her again. I know me being here may seem like a surprise, but I'm hoping ye’ll get used to it, and ye’ll accept the fact dat I’m here and not planning on going anywhere.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears and she walked away. I wasn’t sure what was going through her mind, but I knew she needed to have some time to process what I’d said. I poured two cups of coffee and brought them into Marie’s room. She was changed and was taming her wild red hair.

“I brought coffee. Not sure how ye take it though.”

“Black is good.” She didn't look at me. Couldn’t meet my eyes. “What happened with Talon?”

“She wanted to know why I was here. We're good, Marie; don't worry.”

“All I can do is worry.”

“Have ye talked with Aubrey yet?” I was nervous about broaching the subject, but I knew how much Aubrey had been through. She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Yer nowhere near fine.” I kissed her shoulder, moved her red tresses to the side, then whispered, “But you will be.”

***

I HATED LEAVING MARIE, but Jules, my pres, called church. I knew most of the guys were out last night and would be tired from the shenanigans. Jules was at the head of the table, when I walked in. It was always bittersweet seeing him there. He was the right man for the job, but I sure missed Dray.

Dray died a few years back, and Daws didn't have it in him to take over as president. Dray had brought me into this club, and it wasn't the same without him.

“Look at you all smiles this morning. Finally get you some old man?” Jarrod asked, sitting down in front of me.

“Just left your Mum’s place a little while ago,” I smirked.

“Har. Har. Shut the fuck up.” I laughed and shook my head. Daws entered looking every bit as tired as I was. I sat beside Jules as we waited for our brothers to stumble in.

Jules looked around, “Anyone seen Skaggs?”

“He cut out early last night,” Daws told the room.

“Find out what was so important that the fucker isn’t where he’s supposed to be.” Daws nodded.

“I got a call from my brother-in-law last night. It seems they had a shipment stolen a day ago. When I told him about Tank, he put two and two together, and one of his guys in New York just had something similar happen. This feels like someone is coming after the players; testing the water; making us think our guys are jacked, trying to turn the heat in on our organizations. Meanwhile, shipments are getting stolen all over the place. I talked to the Niners too. They got hit about a month ago. We need to find out who the fuck this is. Mickey, where are we at?” Jules looked pointedly at me as he finished speaking.

“Every contact I have is on the lookout. No one knows anything. They all want to figure this shite out. No one knows if they’ll be next.”

Daws pulled his hair from his ponytail and began running his fingers through it. It was his tell that he was coming up with a plan. “What is it, Daws?”

“Someone’s got to know something. How’s the dope on the streets?” Michael asked. “Follow the dope, and we’ll find out what’s happening.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Jules said, “Jarrod, Michael grab Skaggs' lazy ass, and hit the streets. Find out what the dope's like, if there’s a new supplier, what’s happening.”

Jarrod and Michael nodded.

Daws lit a joint and took a quick inhale, “What if we put it out there that we got a big shipment? Use your brother-in-law as cover to make up for what he lost? Let’s set these fuckers up and end this shit.”

“I like it,” I nodded in approval.

Jules's brother-in-law was as mobbed up as they got.

“I do too,” Jules said. “Let’s vote.” The room erupted in yays, and we quickly had a plan. “Anything else?” Jules asked.

“I have something.” A couple of guys raised their brows at me. This wasn't like me at all, and they knew it. “I plan on taking Marie as my old lady.”

“Knew you were grinning for a reason.” Jarrod teased, then grabbed the joint from Daws.

“She’s got a past. Thinking it was with an MC. She hasn't confirmed this, but my gut says whoever her old man was, he was a biker. She’s scared shitless of him and running. I think she came from Florida. She ain’t talking, and I’m not waiting around to find out. I want club resources.”

“We're going to be stretched thin with this other shit,” Tiny said.

“I know. I want it anyways,” I told the room.

“You’ll have it.” Jarrod put his hand on my shoulder, and I saw the looks from my brothers. They understood what she meant to me, even if I didn't fully understand it completely just yet.