CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Loch
Watching Reagan interact with everyone did something to my insides. She belonged there. Any doubts that I had melted away as I watched her. Sure, she had met most of the guys but it was different being around them at the clubhouse. Even being there with the old ladies and the club girls was a huge thing to handle, and it seemed like she handled it well.
Melody told me what had happened in the kitchen while I was away. I was proud of Reagan and wish I’d been there to see it. Even so, the fact that it had happened pissed me off. For damn sure I was going to say something to Tammy later. That shit wouldn’t fly, but I didn’t want to ruin the party for Grass.
I knew the real test for Reagan was coming soon. When all the kids and old ladies went home and the boys really started to party. I planned on keeping Reagan around. I wanted her to be there, but also because I wanted to see how she would react.
Was it shitty of me? Maybe a little. But I needed her to know what she was getting into if I took it further, I wanted her submerged in my world. There would be a lot of secrets, but I wanted to show her everything I could. I wanted her to see what I would be around and I had to know if she could handle it.
The thing was, being around the club girls wasn’t even an issue for me anymore. Compared to Reagan, nothing even came close. And I wouldn’t do anything to mess that up. I hoped she knew that somewhere inside.
After she helped clean up and all the women took the kids home, I guided her inside and handed her another beer. At this point, I could’ve driven home, but my plan was not to. I wanted to keep her here and wake up with her in the morning, preferably naked and in my arms. I figured this was about the only way I could actually get her to stay the night with me. She eyed me with suspicion as she took the beer. It was her fourth. And knowing she didn’t drink a lot, it was more than likely going to be her last. I pulled her into me and kissed her without urgency.
“Is this your way of getting me somewhere so you can do naughty things to me?” She looked up at me with a playful gleam in her eyes and I laughed. I buried my head in the crook of her neck and inhaled her sweet scent as deep as my lungs would allow.
“What kind of naughty things are you thinkin’, baby?” I asked, kissing up her neck. Her body visibly trembled and I fucking loved it.
“The kind where you strip me naked and see exactly how wet I am for you,” she whispered into my ear. That was all I needed to hear. I pulled her hips into me so she could feel how much I wanted her. I was hard, had been all fucking afternoon. And hearing her dirty words made me lose all my patience.
I grabbed her hand and all but dragged her down the hall towards my room. I unlocked the door then pulled her inside. She looked up at me with wide eyes as she bit the corner of her lip. She looked so fucking sexy and I couldn’t wait another second. I ran my fingers down her stomach and into her pants as I pushed her up against the wall. I peeled the lace of her panties away and ran my fingers through her folds.
“Fuck, you’re so wet for me,” I breathed out as I slid my finger into her effortlessly. She whimpered as I kept a slow pace moving in and out of her.
“Please, Nate,” she said, desperate and needy.
“Tell me what you need, Rea,” I said looking into her eyes as I added another finger.
“I need to feel you inside of me.” She paused, her head pressing into the wall as her back arched into me. “I need you to fuck me. Now.”
I growled and we were a blur of moving limbs as we tore each other’s clothes off. Picking her up, I carried her over to the bed before I tossed her down. She let out a surprised yelp that I found cute as hell. I crawled up her body and she wrapped her silky legs around my waist.
“Is this what you need?” I asked as I ran the head of my cock through her soaked folds. I continued to torture her until she was writhing against me and clawing at my back.
Just when I felt like I couldn’t take it anymore, I thrust into her hard, filling her with all of me. She moaned as she pulled me to her lips. Our tongues tangled to the rhythm of our rocking bodies.
“God, Rea, nothin’ feels as good as you,” I confessed to her. “I want to touch you, be inside of you, every second of every fuckin’ day.”
“Oh, Nate, yes,” she chanted. I felt her walls tightening around me as I thrust into her harder. “It feels so good. Please don’t stop,” she begged.
Her legs wrapped around me tighter, urging me in deeper. One hand gripped hard on my back while the other fisted my hair. I loved how she clung onto me when I was inside of her. I looked down at her. Her hair was a wild mess and her eyes half open, staring into mine with a deep intensity. I felt her reach into my soul and I opened myself up to her will. I wanted to give her everything.
Our bodies moved together like never before, a slow rhythmic pounding that was our own. Everything else washed away, and the only thing flowing through my head was my need for Reagan. It didn’t escape me that in that moment that I realized she was everything. She was my calm and my excitement. She was my first and last thoughts of the day and most in between. She was the blood that kept my heart beating and the pull that locked my planet into orbit. I wondered how I’d survived so long without her.
“Nate…” her voice was soft and worrisome.
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here with you.” I rested my forehead against hers, needing to touch her with every part of me that could.
“Kiss me,” she breathed out.
Our lips melded together as her body started to shake and clench around me. I thrust harder and faster, pushing my cock in as deep as it could go. She moaned and I refused to break the kiss as she came.
Seconds later, I jumped off with her, filling her with everything I had in me. I stilled inside her as we continued to kiss until our heartbeats slowed to normal. I looked down at her, her eyes heavy-lidded and a smile playing on her lips.
“You’re so beautiful,” I said, my voice raw and shaky with emotion.
I could see the blush spread across her cheeks even in the dim room. I placed light kisses on each cheek, feeling the warmth on my wet lips. I rolled over, taking her with me, and tucking her into my side as I pulled the blankets over us. She snuggled in as she wrapped her arm around me. Our legs tangled together as she placed a light kiss on my chest above my heart.
“Is this your sneaky way of getting me to stay the night?” she asked in a playful tone. I tightened my grip on her hip, holding her as close to me as possible.
“I want to wake up to you. Got no problem admittin’ that. But more than anythin’, I hope you want that too.” Fuck, it felt good to say out loud. I wondered what I was so afraid of before, and judging by the way she held onto me she wanted it, too. Maybe I had been a fool this whole time. I was going to put an end to it. “We need to talk.”
“Yeah…” she nodded against me. I hoped that for once, we were on the same page.
“Tomorrow,” I said, suddenly feeling too spent for anything other than sleep. “No holdin’ back.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “No holding back.” She let out a long yawn. I kissed her forehead and was sound asleep not long after.
I woke to a pounding on the door. I jolted awake, feeling something warm against my side. I smiled knowing it was Reagan. Last night replayed in my mind and I knew everything was coming together the way I had only hoped it would. There was still a lot of things to talk about but I had a feeling it would lead us in the direction I wished for.
“Loch, get the fuck up, now. We got trouble at the gate.” Cal’s voice shattered through my happy bubble.
I rolled off the bed and looked down at groggy Reagan as I pulled on my pants. Her body was half covered by the sheet, one breast exposed and taunting me. Her eyes flicked to the door as she pulled the sheet up to cover herself. I rushed to the door, opening it just enough to see Cal.
“Yeah?” I asked, forcing myself to fully wake up. He nodded his head to the left and I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me.
“We got a problem at the gate. Body was thrown out of a van. Get the others up and meet me out there.” His tone was stiff and tense. I gave him a firm nod and slipped back into the room.
“Everything okay?” A worried expression filled Reagan’s face as she looked up at me.
“Stay here. Don’t leave this room until I come and get you.” My voice was hard and demanding. She bit her lip and nodded once. I bent down and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. Everythin’ will be fine.” I headed out of the room, glancing one last time at her.
I banged on Crow’s door. Once I had him up, I woke Bocca next. I told Bocca to get up everyone else as I hastily made my way out of the club and out to the front gate.
Dane, one of the newer prospects, was covered in blood and I could see he was shaken up a bit. Cal was off to his left bent over something on the ground. Lake and Brand were beside him, hindering my view of what they were looking at. As I stepped closer I saw a limp, mangled arm. Tattoos ran the entire length of the arm and I recognized the artwork.
“Fuck!” I roared, picking up my pace.
There on the ground was a beaten and bloodied Race. Someone had taken down the president of the Dogs of Wrath and sent him to us as a message. He choked and coughed up blood. He may have still been alive, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long.
“Get him up and inside!” Cal barked. “Get fuckin’ Patch. Now!”
I scanned the road, but whoever dumped him here was long gone. Brand and Lake picked up Race’s body and hauled it inside. I watched helplessly, wishing there was something I could do.
“The fuck happened?” I barked as I walked up to Dane. He shook himself out of his shocked state quickly. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it before he attempted to speak. I let him have his thirty seconds.
“I was standing there at the gate, about to do another round.” He blew out smoke as he spoke. “This white van. No windows on the back. No marks. Drove up and the door opened and out tumbled that.” He pointed where the body had been. The dirt that covered the ground was stained red. “I looked up and saw two guys wearing cuts I don’t recognize standing in the open side door. Then they closed it and drove off. There were at least three of them.”
“You read the name on their cuts?” I asked. He closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Skull with a bullet hole in the middle. Two skeleton hands wrapped around it. Maybe roses on the bottom or something.” He opened his eyes like that was all he remembered. I nodded.
“License plate?” He nodded and his mouth fell open to tell me. “Go tell Bocca, now.” I pointed to the clubhouse as he ran off.
I had no doubt these were the same people that had shot at us on the run. This was another piece of the puzzle. With the new information, I prayed Bocca could get us closer to finding out who was behind it. I scanned the area one more time before moving to the road. I knew there wouldn’t be anything left behind, but I had to check just in case. As I suspected, there was nothing to be found. Not even tire marks in the dirt. I closed the gate and headed back inside.
Everyone was gathered around the Med room we had set up. I pushed my way through right as Patch was walking out of the room shaking his head. Race was gone. I knew there was no hope for him from the start, but we still had to try.
“We need to handle this shit now,” Cal barked. “Go, make sure Bocca stays on top of this. I need to know who the fuck that was. Diesel, call everyone else in. Crow and Axe, clean this shit up and see if there is anythin’ else on him. Let me know what you find. I’ve got to call the other chapters.” Cal growled with rage as he made his way through the crowd.
I followed Cal. Once we were away from the majority of everyone, I stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Reagan’s here,” I said, as soon as he faced me. He nodded.
“Can’t have her here right now, brother.” He paused, thinking of the best thing to do. I was conflicted. I wanted her as far away from this as possible, but at the same time, I wanted her there where I could protect her. “Take her home. By the time you get back Bocca should have somethin’.”
I nodded and took off for my room. I opened the door to find her sitting on the bed, wearing one of my white v-neck shirts. Her back rested against the headboard and her legs were pulled tight into her body. She looked up at me, eyes full of concern.
“I’ve got to take you home now,” I said, regret filling my voice. She nodded and stood up.
She yanked on her pants and shoved her feet into her shoes, not even bothering to change out of my shirt or put her bra on. I could tell she was doing her best to hurry. For a split second, I wondered if she was pissed, but when she looked up at me, all I saw was concern and warmth in her eyes. I took a second to let my eyes rake over her body. She looked sexy as hell wearing my clothes. My head was so messed up with everything going on and all the things I wanted to do to her.
“I’m sorry…” I breathed out.
“Don’t,” she said softly as she cupped my face. “You don’t have to be sorry or explain anything. Just tell me you’re safe.”
I couldn’t lie to her. So instead, I kissed her. She sighed as she sagged into me.
“Let’s go,” I said grabbing her hand and pulling her behind me.
I used my body to shield her from most of what was going on. Okay, and maybe to hide her perky nipples. Which were completely visible behind the thin fabric. To her credit, she kept her eyes forward and didn’t ask questions.
Once we were outside, I threw her on my bike and took off as fast as I could. Her arms held on tight as I whipped out onto the road. Minutes later, I rode up into Ethel’s driveway. She hopped off as fast as her legs would let her. As much as I wanted to linger and give her a proper good morning, I couldn’t. I could see the understanding in her eyes and she placed a light kiss on my lips. She stepped back, letting me know I was good to take off. I inhaled a deep breath.
“This isn’t over,” I said pointing back and forth between us.
“Go, Nate. I’ll be here.” She nodded and I took off back for the clubhouse.
Fuck! Everything about her was perfect. In all my wildest dreams, I never imagined something like this would happen. And while the situation was absolutely fucked up and shitty, it gave me a chance to see how she would handle club business. She made me fucking proud. She was going to know she was mine, and soon.
But first thing was first. Figure out what the fuck was going on with the club.
Hours later, we sat in church going over everything we’d found out. Bocca had the floor and handed out printouts of what he could find. The whole thing was much bigger than any of us could have anticipated. And the dread that we’d never be free was sinking in.
“They are called The Devil’s Kings. They were originally from up north, but it looks like they came under a lot of heat and the club moved down here. Recently it seems.” Bocca said. “The leader is Savage, real name James Craig. He started the club eight years ago and from what I could find out, he has his hands in a lot of things. Drugs and guns being two of them. There are hints of other things, but I want to do more digging to find out what exactly. From what I can gather, the club has close to forty members.”
That was a decent enough number. But if we collected all of our members from the three states, we were nearly triple that. Each of our chapters were relatively small but collectively we made a decent sized crowd. That could play in our favor. If it came to war, we should be able to take them down.
“He’s known to be sneaky and ruthless. He also wasn’t very shy about leaving dead bodies. This guy thinks he’s invincible. Or maybe he’s crazy,” Bocca went on. “Anyway. The only other thing I could find out is that he might be married, but I couldn’t find anything on it. No marriage certificate or name. I’ll keep digging.” He nodded to Cal, who sat rigidly at the head of the table.
“We need to find out if there is anyone left from the Dogs,” Cal commanded the room. “This is a warning. And I don’t doubt that there will be more to come. I don’t think he will touch us until he talks to us. He’s goin’ to list his demands and see if we follow along. Until then, we wait and gather info. Think it’s best to stay as close to the clubhouse as possible. Not a mandatory lockdown, but if I need you I want you right the fuck where I can find you.” Everyone nodded in understanding.
So much for wanting to figure things out with Reagan. I only hoped she would understand and still be there when the dust settled. I had to push thoughts of her out of my head and focus on the club’s main threat. Something was coming, it was big and I could feel it deep in my bones. I just hoped we were all still standing when everything cleared.