I melt into him, enjoying his warmth. “Yes,” I breathe out.
He tightens his hold on me, resting his hand on my stomach. Tears fill my eyes and I feel like a damn teenager because in the short time away I’ve missed him. He spins me around and his brown eyes search my face.
“With all the shit going on, I was thinking we could tell them you’re pregnant. Give everyone something happy to focus on,” he says, looking around at everyone then back at me. “If you’re okay with that.”
He looks so hopeful. I could never deny him. “I think it’s a great idea,” I say, smiling up at him.
A huge smile spreads across his face as he grabs my hand and pulls me up on the stage with him. I feel my face heating up as people start focusing on us. This isn’t what I thought he meant.
“Hey!” he yells. “Hey, shut the fuck up!” Everyone slowly stops talking and gives Kace their full attention. I tighten my hold on his hand and he glances down at me. I see the playfulness in his face as he gives me a wink.
“What the fuck is going on?” Riley yells.
Kace smiles at me before looking up at everyone. “I’m gonna be a fucking dad,” he shouts. “Ivy is pregnant.”
The noise is deafening. The cheers of surprise and congratulations are endless. Zane jumps up grabbing both me and Kace into a hug. “I’m so fucking happy for you both,” he whispers.
Kace slaps his back and we all get off the stage. Strangers to me congratulate us as we make our way through the crowd. Kace has a strong hold on my hand as we approach the rest of the club. Brooks is the first to step forward. He hugs Kace and kisses my cheek.
“Congratulations. It’ll be nice to have a little one around again,” he says smiling.
Enzo and Porter say the same. Finn gives me a sweet smile as he hugs us both. I think of all the guys he understands best. He was the one around the most and I know he wants to fit in as much as I do.
“Well fuck, I can’t believe it,” Riley says, handing Kace a beer. “This is gonna be so much fun.” He laughs as he kisses my cheek.
“You deserve this happiness, man,” Alex says, hugging Kace. He turns to me and smiles. “You’ve got a great guy, Ivy. He’ll always take care of you and that little one.”
I am blinking back tears as Kace wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Thank you all,” I say.
“It’s been a long time since we had a baby around here. The next generation of Shattered Souls is fucking exciting news,” Brooks says.
Shit, I never thought of it like that. Although in this moment, surrounded by all these happy men, it feels like a good thing. For the first time since I walked into Souls, I feel like I belong here and it’s a great feeling.
“I knew they’d end up together,” Harper says, hugging us both. “It just took them longer to believe it.”
“So, you guys are together now?” Porter asks.
“She’s my girl,” Kace says.
My heart slams in my chest as he says it. It’s like he’s staked his claim, marked me as his, and it’s a fucking turn on. I bite my lip as I smile up at him. He plays with his lip ring looking down at me. Damn, I’m falling and falling hard.
Chapter 11
Kace
After a wild night of celebrating and an even wilder night of hot sex I groan as I climb out of bed. I close my eyes hoping I didn’t wake Ivy. Glancing over my shoulder I’m relieved she’s still asleep. It’s early but we have to get to the cut off before the Raging Devils do. This has to work so I can focus on more important things.
I carefully climb out of bed and take a quick shower. We know exactly what needs to be done today and if it goes as planned, by tonight we will be celebrating for another reason. I’m confident in the plan. Any doubt I felt is now gone. I’m pretty sure it all has to do with Ivy, but I’m not exactly sure why.
Everything's better when she’s around. She makes me feel things I didn’t think I could, and I’m done fighting it. The baby wasn’t planned, but he’s brought us together. I’ll never walk out on my family. Watching Ivy last night with everyone made it damn near impossible to keep the smile off my face. She was talking and laughing, actually enjoying herself. Her gorgeous face, sexy body, and soft voice were all I could focus on. She belongs with us - with me.
My cell phone alerts me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I step out of the shower and grab a towel drying myself quickly as I look at my phone. It’s Z telling me to get my ass moving. I send a quick text back telling him I’ll be out in ten minutes.
I get dressed all the while watching Ivy. She looks so peaceful, angelic like. Her hair is fanned out on the pillow, her hands are tucked under her face, and a small smile seems to grace her plump lips. The comforter is just barely covering her naked body and I need to adjust my cock remembering how she screamed my name last night. This girl, my angel, is quickly becoming my world.
I press a kiss to forehead and take another moment to admire her beauty. I sigh as I grab my Glock and AR15, quietly leaving the room. I stare at the door before nodding. I know what I need to do to keep us all safe.
I light a cigarette and meet Z as I walk out from the back. “Morning.”
“Morning, brother,” he says, slapping my back. “Ready to fuck shit up?”
I laugh as I take a drag of my smoke. “Always.”
“Brooks wants us around the table before we leave.”
Once we are all around the table, Brooks leans forward gaining our attention. “We all know what we need to do. No fucking distractions. When they get there, Kace, you shoot Damon and make sure it’s a headshot. I’ll take out Hawk, Enzo will take out Bane, and Z will take out Casper. If anyone gets away, I expect the rest of you to make sure they don’t leave alive. Understood?”
Zane looks around and nods. “We’ve got this, no fucking worries.”
Brooks lights a smoke and glances at Enzo. Enzo runs his hand through his beard as he gives a slight nod. “I’ll make the call to Bane five minues after we leave. We need to have the upper hand and we all know they’ll show up a half hour early. We need to be in place long before that. So have a smoke and let’s get the fuck out of here.”
When we leave the table, Zane slaps my back. “Let’s get this shit over with.”
I look around for Ivy among the sea of people, but she must still be asleep. It’s probably best so she doesn’t have the image of me leaving like this. I turn to Z and light my cigarette. “Let’s fucking do it.”
“Kace.” I turn to my name being called and see Gillian smiling at me. Just what I need right now.
“Hey,” I say, with a nod of my head.
She walks over to me before I can leave and gives me a hug. “Congratulations on the baby. I’m happy for you,” she says, tucking her long black hair behind her ear.
“Yeah, thanks,” I say, looking past her to see if Ivy is around.
“Kace look, I know my sister fucked you over, but I’m not her. Don’t take out your resentment on me. You don’t seem too hung up on her anyway. You’ve got a new girl and a kid on the way.”
My angry eyes clash with her green gems. “I was never hung up on your sister. She left when I needed someone that’s the extent of it. It’s not resentment I have toward you, it’s lack of trust. I don’t want to see you walk away when Riley needs you,” I hiss.
“Fuck you. I was trying to be nice, but I see you’re still the same asshole you ever were. The best thing my sister ever did was leave your pathetic ass,” she yells.
Before I can say another word, Z grabs me, and Riley pulls Gillian away. “I told you she can’t be trusted,” I yell.
“Shut the fuck up,” Zane whispers, motioning with his eyes to the left.
I look over and see Ivy standing there with her arms crossed. “Fuck,” I whisper, running my hand through my hair.
“Fix it fast,” he growls.
I know we need to get the hell out of here, so I rush over to Ivy. I grab her shoulders and bend down to look into her sad brown eyes. “
Angel, I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
“Why does it bother you so much still? You said you didn’t love her,” she says, backing away from my hold.
I sigh and bite on my lip ring. “I didn’t love her, but I do love Riley. I don’t want him getting attached to Gillian just to have her walk away like her sister.” I step toward her and rest my hand on her cheek. “I told you my trust issues run deep. I told you everyone I’ve ever been close to leaves. What I didn’t tell you is that it’s because my dad. The man who I fucking idolized, the man who showed me what love was, the man who taught me respecting women was the most important thing a man can do, was cheating on my mom. My mom couldn’t take the betrayal and waited for him to come home and shot him four times before turning the gun on herself. All while I sat on the couch watching. He destroyed my mom and me, making me question everything and everyone.” She wraps her arms around me, and I hold on tightly to her. “Trust isn’t easy for me Ivy, but with you it’s different. The only person who knows that full story is Zane and now you. So, it has nothing to do with love, it has to do with betrayal.”
She lifts her head off my chest and a tear runs down her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Kace.”
“Don’t be, just try to understand,” I say, pressing a kiss to her soft lips.
“I do,” she says.
“Kace, we gotta go, brother,” Zane yells.
I search her eyes and she bites down on her plump lip. “Go, I’m fine, but please come back to me.”
I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. “I promise I’ll be back, angel.”
She pulls away and smiles. “Angel?”
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I love it.”
I let my anger get the best of me but thank fuck we got to the cut off before the Raging Devils did. I still can’t believe I told Ivy about my parents. My entire life I’ve kept women at arm’s reach because I didn’t want to turn into my father. The night it all happened, my mom and I had dinner and I knew something was wrong. She wasn’t her happy, playful self. When I questioned her about it she told me to promise her that I would never walk away from my family. I was seventeen so I laughed as I promised her. Watching her confront my father pissed me off. I wanted to kill him for causing her so much pain. Turns out he was living a double life. The happily married man with a son and the single guy who fucked as many chicks as he could. When my mom pulled out the gun I was frozen in my seat. It was my gun. I was getting ready to be a prospect for Shattered Souls and she found my gun. I watched her in total shock as she screamed while she killed him. But when she turned to me, crying and told me she loved me and shot herself in the head, I was destroyed. I lost them both and along the way anytime I needed someone they left. Except for Zane and my Shattered Souls family. I wouldn’t have survived without them. Now I’m going to have a family of my own and I will never be like my father and destroy them. I promised Ivy I would come home to her and I will always keep my promises to her.
The sound of bikes brings me back to the present and the problem at hand. I grab my AR15 and look through the scope. Zane, Brooks, and Enzo turn looking toward the sound. I keep my focus on them ready to kill Damon and the threat that the Raging Devils bring. I notice Z glance at Brooks and the worry in their eyes. I put my gun down and look around. That’s when I notice it’s not just Hawk, Bane, Damon, and Casper. There are at least twenty guys.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
Zane scratches his head, letting us know to stand down. Fuck. I glance over at Riley and Alex and they both shake their heads. They knew it was a set up. Just as I look back over at them, I see Hawk shoot Brooks in the foot. We all rush out as Zane drags Brooks away. Everyone has guns drawn and I warn Riley with my eyes to not shoot first.
“Shattered Souls fucked up. We’ll be taking over Club Kingsley and Souls now,” Hawk shouts, laughing.
“No fucking way,” I hear myself saying before I can stop.
Damon laughs as he takes a step closer to me. “You’re mine.”
More gun fire rings out just as we hear sirens. They all rush to their bikes and peel out of there. I run over to Brooks and Zane.
“Get the fucking van,” Zane yells.
Finn takes off to get the van as Enzo helps Zane get Brooks up.
“They are fucking dead,” Brooks growls.
“Time to burn it all to the ground,” Porter says.
Shooting one of us is one thing, but shooting our president means they all die.
“Alex, Porter, Kace, you go back to Souls and make sure they are safe. Do not fucking leave and keep your eyes peeled. No one in or out. Zane and I will take Brooks to the hospital and meet you back there when we can. Finn will go back with you guys. We strike tonight, no more fucking around. These assholes are dead,” Enzo says.
Adrenaline courses through my veins as I stand there. “Get Brooks out of here, we’ve got this,” I say. I dart for my bike, the realization that the Raging Devils have a head start on us. We need to get back to Souls and make sure they are all safe. The others follow behind and we race to Souls. Fear wraps around me as I think of Ivy in trouble. I will fucking kill them with my bare hands if anything happens to her. Damon’s threat was crystal clear, and I know that sick bastard will kill me with a smile. I need to get to him first. I need to make sure Ivy and the baby are safe from all this shit.
When Souls comes into view and I notice it’s still standing, and nothing looks off so I relax a little. We race inside, locking the door behind us. Everyone is talking, laughing, and completely unaware of the danger outside the door. My eyes roam around looking for Ivy and when I notice her talking to Harper, I stride over. I step between them, lifting her up and crashing my lips to hers. She moans in my mouth as my tongue touches hers.
“Damn, I guess everything went better than we hoped,” Harper says.
I try to ignore her, but her words squeeze at my throat and I break the kiss. Ivy slides down my body, but I keep her close to me. “No, nothing went as we hoped. Shit is about to get real bad. Brooks was shot.”
“What the fuck?” Harper yells, drawing attention.
“Shut the fuck up, Harper. I shouldn’t be saying shit,” I growl.
“Is he dead?” Ivy whispers.
I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. “No angel, he was shot in the foot. He’s fine, we’re all fine.”
“Where’s Z?” Harper asks, looking around.
“He’s with Enzo bringing Brooks to the hospital. He’s good, I promise.”
“What happens now?” Ivy asks.
I hate hearing the fear and sadness in her soft voice. It enrages me that she’s once again in the middle of something that has nothing to do with her. I have to make sure she doesn’t live in fear and I will make that happen.
“Now we handle things a different way. We’ll get this taken care of, I promise you,” I say, searching her face. “Trust me.”
She swallows and nods her head. “I do trust you, big guy,” she says with a grin.
“Big guy?” Harper says, laughing.
“Shut the fuck up,” Ivy says.
“I’m her big guy and she’s my angel,” I say with a wink.
Harper rolls her eyes and walks away. “And I’m gonna go puke,” she calls over her shoulder.
We laugh and I link my fingers with hers. “It’s gonna get bad, angel. I don’t want to lie to you, but we have plans and we will win.”
“Please just don’t die,” she says, quickly wiping a tear.
I push her against the wall, pressing my knee between her legs. Her wide brown eyes collide with mine as she bites her full lip. “I have too much to live for,” I whisper.
“Yeah you do,” she says with tears in her eyes. “So now what?”
“Now we wait to hear how Brooks is.”
“Hey Kace,” Harper says, interrupting us. I turn and she hands me her phone.
I nod at her grabbing the phone. “Hey.”
“Brooks is go
nna need surgery, so Enzo is going to stay here and I’m coming back. Get everyone around the table and I’ll fill them in. I’ll be there in five,” Zane says.
“Fuck, alright,” I say, squeezing the back of my neck. I look at Ivy as I hand Harper back her phone. “We need to be around the table. I’ll be back.”
I give her a quick kiss and get the others, so we are ready when Zane gets back. I shouldn’t be surprised Brooks needs surgery, but I guess a small part of me thought he’d be back tonight. I can’t imagine his anger because mine is almost uncontainable at this point.
“These fucking pricks die tonight,” I say, slamming my fists on the table.
“Fuck yeah. They wanted a war, they fucking got it,” Alex agrees.
The door slams open as Zane walks in. He’s pissed, I can see it rolling off of him. It’s harder on him since Brooks is not only his president but also his uncle. All the shit they just got past and now this. I’m gonna need to keep a clear head because he sure as fuck isn’t going to.
He kicks the chair across the room getting everyone’s attention. “Brooks needs surgery. There is major bone and tissue damage. Enzo is staying with him to make sure no one gets close. This game is over. We torch Club Kingsley; it will draw them out of that dilapidated piece of shit they call a club. Alex and Finn, you’ll head over and burn down their club. The rest of us will wait for them at Club Kingsley and fucking kill them one by one. No fucking around. I want this shit done so we can get to the hospital with good news for Brooks.”
Everyone glances around nodding. There’s no other choice. “Shouldn’t we keep someone here, just in case?” I ask.
Zane turns his angry glare on me. “Who the fuck should we leave behind? We are already down two.”
“Calm the fuck down, Z. I know you’re pissed, we all are, but your head needs to be clear. We stand no chance if you go in like this. We need someone here who can make sure nothing happens while we’re gone. There are women and children here. So, talk to whoever that big mother fucker is out there and give him a goddamn gun,” I hiss.
Kace (Shattered Souls MC Book 3) Page 13