I sat down on the lanai, holding homemade lemonade¸ and put the phone on speaker. “I just don’t understand how you let him lead you around like that.” It was my favorite spot to do some thinking when the house was quiet and I was alone.

“I know you’ve read books about it, Suzy. Come on. You know how it works.”

“Oh, I know exactly how it works. But my question is, how do you do it? I mean, you’re so damn bossy, I can’t imagine you taking any shit from James.” The sound of the animals moving through the woods drew my attention. They were more active tonight than usual.

She laughed. “I top from the bottom all the time.”

“I’m sure you get your ass beat for doing it, too.”

“Ahh. I do. That’s half the fun.”

“But aren’t you embarrassed being led around on a leash? I don’t know if I could do it.”

“I’m not embarrassed. I would be if we walked around the grocery store like that, but at the club, it’s normal. I like being his and letting everyone know it.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get that image of you out of my head.”

“Girl, you know I could bring that man to his knees in a heartbeat.”

“Kicking him in the balls doesn’t count.” I chuckled because I knew James loved her, but he was the boss in the household. He was the only man I’d ever seen “handle” Izzy.

She started to laugh. “Fuck, I have to go. Trace’s awake and crying for me.”

“Love you, Iz.”

“Love you too, Suz.” The phone went dead.

I stared off into the darkness, listening to the twigs snapping, and my stomach began to knot. Whatever was creeping in the woods wasn’t small. Maybe it was already gator-mating season, something I had come to learn was really a thing in Florida. They were more active, walking farther to find a mate. It was the only time of year that I’d sometimes check under my car before daring to get inside.

After I finished my lemonade, I went back inside and headed upstairs to check on the kids. Lu and Ro were sound asleep, each in her own crib as stars moved across their ceiling and soft music played. For the first few months of their lives, we kept them in the same crib, not wanting to separate them after being smooshed together in my womb. They had grown fast, in true Gallo style, and could no longer fit comfortably in one. Plus, they were waking each other up, and I couldn’t take any more sleepless nights.

I brushed Ro’s hair back and whispered, “Mommy loves you,” before heading to Lu’s crib and doing the same. I walked backward quietly on tiptoes out the door, before closing it and heading straight for Gigi.

She’d been a trooper. Since the babies arrived, she’d become the best big sister. She loved helping me take care of the babies. She’d often say they were “hers.”

“Mommy,” Gigi said in the cutest little girl groggy voice as I sat down on her bed.

“Go back to sleep, baby girl.” I rubbed her cheek with the back of my fingers. She still hadn’t lost that baby softness to her skin. “I love you, buttercup.”

“Love you too.” She rolled over, facing away from me. Softly, I rubbed her back and hummed her favorite lullaby until she drifted back to sleep.

I couldn’t believe I’d been so lucky. My life was blessed and perfect. When I thought back to the time I met Joe, I’d never imagined my life would turn out this way. I almost didn’t give him a chance. The very thought of not having him or my girls in my life made my heart ache. They were everything to me.

---

“Take a seat, sugar.” Joe rubbed the back of his neck, pacing around the living room like a caged animal after he arrived home from a secret meeting at ALFA PI.

“Okay,” I said, my voice drawn out and light. He never acted like this, never talked to me in that tone, unless something was wrong. “What’s wrong, babe?” When my bottom touched the couch, I put my hands in my lap and tried to ready myself for whatever was coming next.

“There’s no easy way to say this.” His eyes were filled with fear as he ran his hands through his hair. “But I don’t want you to freak out.”

My belly plummeted. He couldn’t honestly be serious. “I’m already freaked out.”

Every horrible scenario started to go through my mind. Was he having an affair? Maybe he was leaving me.

“You’re in danger.”

I hoped he didn’t want a divorce. I couldn’t imagine being a single mom to three kids.

“We’re all in danger.”

My head snapped back, his words finally making it past my wild imagination. “What?” I looked up at him, confused and caught completely off guard.

He sat down next to me, holding my hands in his as our knees touched. “Thomas has it on very good authority that some of the members of the Sun Devils MC may be looking for him.”

“Oh, God,” I whispered and closed my eyes. “I thought they were in prison.” My eyes fluttered open and I looked at my husband, trying to hide my terror.

“They were, but some of them have recently been released, and they’re looking for Thomas. They’re probably looking for Sam and James too, but Thomas for sure.”

“I can’t believe this.” My voice cracked and the words lodged in my throat. “How is this possible?”

“It’s fucked up.” His thumb stroked the soft skin on top of my hand, rubbing the same spot over and over again.

“Do they know who he is?”

“It seems they do.” He glanced up at the ceiling before his cheeks filled with air, puffing out before he exhaled.

“But how? I thought the government would protect him.”

“Everything can be bought for a price, sugar, even names.”

My eyes began to fill with tears. I never thought we would be in danger. My naïveté over how the government worked had me walking through each day with blinders. “So they’re coming after all of us?”

“I don’t know.” His body reclined into the couch, and I took the opportunity to crawl into his lap.

“What do we do now?” I said, tucking my head under his chin and resting my cheek on his chest.

His hand stroked my back. “We need to be very careful for now.”

“Am I going to be a prisoner in this house?” My fingers traced the outline of his pec.

“No, sugar. You won’t. We just need to make sure the doors are locked at all times, the kids aren’t outside alone, and that we keep our eye out for anyone near the house. When you aren’t home, just be conscious of your surroundings. If someone looks out of the ordinary, you need to let me know and make sure not to be alone.”

My finger found its way to his nipple, toying with his piercing underneath his shirt. “Maybe it’s time I learn to shoot a gun.”

“Fuck,” he muttered into my hair.

Pressing my palm flat on his chest, I pushed myself up to look him straight in the eyes. “You’re not always home, Joe. I want to know that I can protect the girls if someone comes in the house.”

His hand snaked around my neck and his thumb rested on my cheek. “You’re right. We’ll go to the range tomorrow.”

“I’ll never let anything happen to the girls, baby.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.” He blew out a breath and shook his head slowly. “I never want you to be in a situation where you have to shoot someone.”

“Joe,” I said, nuzzling my nose against his. “I know you worry, but it’s best that I can defend our family if need be. You can’t be here all the time. I want to know that I can handle any situation on my own. I’ll feel better about being here during the day when you’re out or at night if you stop by the Neon Cowboy.”

“I’ll be going to work and coming straight home. I don’t want you to be alone longer than necessary. No more Neon Cowboy unless you’re with me. No more guys’ nights out.”

“No?”

His eyes shifted. “There will be no more girls’ nights either.”

“Hold up there, buddy.” I placed his face in my hands, much in the same manner Gigi did when she wanted to get her way. “We’re not allowed to have a girls’ night out?”

“Not out. You girls can meet at one of the houses where it’s safer.” His eyes came back to mine. “Okay?”

Resting my forehead against his, I caressed his cheeks with my fingertips, feeling the scruff that had formed throughout the day. “We’ll figure something out.”

“No harebrained schemes either. It’s too dangerous right now.”

“Fine,” I whispered.

“Suzy, I’m serious.”

“I know.” I wouldn’t go against his wishes, especially if our lives were in danger. Izzy, I wasn’t so sure about. She’d be harder to control. The image of her with the leash and James spanking her ass popped into my head, and I started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.”

“Suzette, you can’t keep things from me. Not now.”

“Well…” I sat up and smiled. “I was thinking about how James was going to control Izzy through this. I thought about her at the club with the leash—”

He put his hand over my face. “Do not ever speak of that night again,” he said with wild eyes. “I’ve wiped it from my mind.”

“It was sexy, though,” I mumbled into the palm of his hand.

“It’s my baby sister. If I didn’t know her so well or like James so much, I would’ve knocked his lights out.” He pulled his hand away, and I bit my lip to stop from smiling again.

“You wanna play slave and Master?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“As long as I get to be the Master.” He grinned and my belly flipped.

I squealed and bounced in his lap, feeling his cock harden underneath me. “I’ll never say no to that.” My husband needed to get his mind off things. I wanted to get lost in him and not think about the people who might be after us. I’d do anything to give his mind a moment’s peace.

After I climbed off his lap, I turned around and wiggled my behind in his face, which earned me a slap on the ass.

“Strip,” he commanded before I could take another step.

I froze, glancing up the stairs. “But the kids.”

“Are they sleeping?” he asked as he stood.

“They are.”

He crossed his arms over his wide chest, placing his feet shoulder-width apart. “I didn’t think slaves were allowed to speak.”

“We haven’t started yet.”

“I’ll give you one reprieve. As soon as the bedroom door closes, you’re mine, sugar.”

“You got it,” I said as I dashed up the steps before he could catch me.

“I’m waiting,” I whisper-yelled into the hallway from the bedroom door. “Are you man enough for all this?” My hands traveled up my body as I swayed my hips. I probably looked like a moron, but to Joe, I was the most beautiful girl in the world.

“I’m ready for everything I plan to take.” He closed the bedroom door, grabbing me by the waist and carrying me to the bed. “Where do I begin?”

“I’ve been a bad girl.” I smirked, knowing I was in for it, and I couldn’t have been more excited. Joe Gallo was all mine.