Chapter 32

Lawson

My cards have been played, my hand dealt sooner than I’d wanted, but letting her drive away in that rental car without her knowing my intentions wasn’t a possibility.

My cock throbs as I inhale and pull her scent into my lungs. It’s the best kind of torture and nearly has me turning right instead of left. Heading to the shop rather than her apartment is an exercise in restraint that’s ten times harder now that I’ve had her.

Trying to ignore the insistence in my nuts, I do what I always do when I’m driving.

Dad answers on the second ring, his voice echoing around the cab of the truck through the hands-free.

“I forgot to tell you about my visitor when we spoke last night,” I say after we both deliver our hellos. “Are you familiar with the Ravens Ruin MC?”

“The name’s familiar, but I haven’t had any dealings with them personally. I can have Blade look into them.” I hear him mention the name to Rob. “Did they threaten you? Who did they send?”

“I had the pleasure of meeting Eric “Lynch” Quintal, the president. He didn’t threaten me, didn’t even tell me what he specifically wanted other than body mods for bikes.”

“Body mods can mean a lot of things, son.”

“I know. I told him I was booked out and to get with me in a couple of weeks.”

“That was smart.” I smile at the nonchalant praise. “He didn’t give you any grief?”

“No, which surprises me. Joel told me after he left that he’d mentioned compartments for their wallets and jewelry.”

My dad’s laugh rings in my ears. “So they’re either running guns or drugs.”

“That’s my guess. Rhode Island has concealed carry, so there’s no reason for them to need to hide a weapon inside their bike.”

The weight of the pistol in my boot increases at my statement.

“I’ll have Blade look into them. Hopefully they’re just fishing to see if they get any bites around town, but let me know immediately if you see any of them hovering around.”

“I will,” I agree.

“And how’s Delilah?”

More gorgeous every day. The best thing that’s ever slid down my cock.

That’s the last thing I can tell him, but the reminder doesn’t keep the low groan from escaping my lips.

“Something you want to tell me?”

I clear my throat.

“Man to man?” I ask testing the waters.

“That’s always a good policy.”

No guts; no glory, right?

“I’m going to marry that girl someday.”

I’m met with silence, which I guess is better than him threatening to kill me from over two thousand miles away.

“Dad?”

“She’s not very fond of you,” he finally says amusement tinting his voice.

“I won’t give up.” I put my truck in park outside of the shop and run my hands over my hair. “She’s the one who made me want to be a better man.”

“She’s an amazing woman.”

“I don’t know where my life would’ve ended up had I not met her. Had I not met you and Rob.”

It’s his turn to clear his throat, but he doesn’t speak. I’m met with dead air so long I have to check the dash to make sure the call is still connected.

“Good luck, son.”

His voice, sounding much like his blessing, eventually sounds through the speakers.

I turn my gaze to look at her car, still in the first bay on the rack. “Thanks. I’m going to need it.”

“Before you go,” he begins. “Rob had Blade run an initial check on the Ravens Ruin MC. They’re not anyone you want sniffing around you. Feds are all over their asses.”

“Got it,” I say thankful he transitions so easily from my declaration and future plans.

“Take this seriously, son. These fuckers are sick, deadly, and nothing but trouble. Lynch got his name because his alleged calling card is hanging people from fucking trees in their family’s yards. You don’t need that kind of heat.”

“Jesus,” I mutter.

“Call immediately if you see anything suspicious. You’re not going to like this, but I need you to distance yourself from her. I don’t need them connecting the two of you. If you even get a Spidey tingle that something is off, you get her to the safe house.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Keep her away from the shop until I get the all clear.” I hear him speak away from the phone, more than likely to Rob. “And, as much as I love him, don’t tell Joel a damn thing. He runs his mouth too much. That poor bastard is living in the fifties. You and I both know times are much different now.”

I let the heavy silence and weight of his words wash over me. Stay away from her. Don’t tell the only person I’ve longed to see over the last two years a damn thing about what’s going on. My life just went to shit over a visit from some psycho, asshole biker.

“Did you hear what I said?” His voice isn’t exactly frustrated, but there’s a hint of uncertainty in his voice that wasn’t there ten minutes ago.

“Yes, sir.” I swallow around the thick lump that’s formed in my throat. “If I’m being honest, it scares the shit out of me.”

Just the command to stay away from her for now, right after getting her back in my life, is like a sledgehammer blow to my chest.

“You’re a man. You can handle yourself. I have no doubt. But you would be a fool to not have a little fear in the back of your skull.”

“Delilah,” I whisper.

“She’s safest where she’s at right now, Lawson. It’s not for forever. A couple weeks tops.” His tone is sure and full of faith I don’t think should be placed on my shoulders. “Besides we’ll have something in place soon.”

Weeks? Damnit. I press the heel of my hand into my chest as the restriction grows tighter.

“Care to expand?” We’re talking about the safety of my girl. She may be reluctant to that idea, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

“I’ll let you know more when I know more.”

“Okay.” I can’t hide the defeat in my voice.

“Keep your head down, work, and I’ll call you when I know something.”

“Got it.” Overwhelmed with the news I just got, coupled with the fantastic sex, and weighed down with the oath I made to Delilah earlier, I end the call without even telling him goodbye.

I’m diligent in my duties the rest of the day, but I keep one eye on the door and my ears open for the rumble of motorcycles. My pulse quickened no less than three times. Twice when customers drove up on Harleys for scheduled work, and once when a lone rider cruised in front of the shop. He wasn’t wearing a cut, and I know for a fact that an MC member, especially one in a one-percenter club wouldn’t be caught dead on a bike without letting everyone know where his loyalties lie.

As much as it pained me, I went home after shutting down the shop and making sure the doors were secure.

“This shit has got to stop,” I mumble looking at the mess on the living room floor.

I reach down and pick up the pile of fuzz at my feet, then take a few feet and scoop up the carcass of the monkey that was in pristine condition when I left the house.

“What did he ever do to you?”

I hold the destruction in my hands. Per his usual, Raider has his forehead against the wall, the only sound he makes coming from the occasional thwap of his tail on the hardwood floor.

“You won’t chew on a rawhide or a tennis ball, but you maim every stuffed toy I bring in the house.”

I grin when he looks away from me, eyes down, thoroughly chastised. I drop the wreckage in the trash and walk over to him. His tail thumps harder on the floor.

“Did your mom drop you on your head when you were a pup?”

More tail thumping, only this time he actually puts some energy into it.

“I thought service animals were supposed to be regal and well behaved.”

His jowls flutter, popping against his teeth as if he knows I should know better than to expect more from him.

“Come here,” I call and slap my leg. He turns, jovial, all signs of remorse gone from his smiling face as he bounds the couple of feet across the room and nearly knocks me on my ass.

He licks my face, and I rub him all over as he squirms under my hands. When I snap my fingers twice, he’s all business again.

“Good thing,” I say reaching into the bottom drawer of the cabinet I have the living room TV on and pull out another monkey, “that I have a spare.”

His eyes dart from me to the monkey and back again. He’s begging, but after I’ve given him a command, he won’t break until I relieve him. Smiling, I pat my leg and toss him the monkey whose fate is sealed the second he catches it in midair and trots off with it between his teeth.

I click the TV on, turning to some random channel I can’t concentrate on. I need to shower. I’m filthy as hell, a deep, hard scrubbing the only thing that will get my hands clean, but fuck if I want to clean Delilah’s scent off of my body. Hell, I stood over the toilet at the shop earlier to take a piss and nearly sprayed the damn wall. When the delicate scent of her pussy made it to my nose, the good Lord couldn’t have even stopped the erection.

Jaxon Donovan better get his shit together and quick because staying away from Delilah is going to be next to impossible, and waiting isn’t my strongest trait.