Landing Eagle

by Harley Stone

  While Dr. Farrell did a physical exam, I got a text from Link letting me know they’d found Naomi’s purse. I gave her the good news as we followed Dr. Farrell back to another room where Naomi was given an ultrasound.

  The moment the ultrasound technician put the jelly-covered wand on Naomi’s belly, I heard a whooshing thump-thump sound. “What is that?” I asked.

  “That’s the baby’s heartbeat,” the technician replied with a smile.

  Naomi teared up again. “The baby’s okay?”

  I was having a difficult time getting past the whooshing thump-thump sound. That heartbeat had to be the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. I squeezed Naomi’s hand and she looked up at me. “That’s our baby,” I said, grinning like a fool.

  She matched my grin, then winced at the pain from her split lip. “Pretty cool, huh?” She turned back to the tech. “But is everything okay?”

  The tech continued to roam over Naomi’s stomach, every so often hitting a bruise that made Naomi jump. She and the doctor were both studying the screen. Finally, they both nodded, and Dr. Farrell turned the screen to face us.

  “Yes. It appears so,” the technician said. She highlighted an area and added, “This is the head. It looks like you’re almost ten weeks along. See, here’s the heart. All the vital organs are formed. Here’s an arm. The other arm. Legs. Umbilical cord. Everything’s measuring perfectly. Looks like you have a strong little fighter in there.”

  The breath rushed from Naomi’s lungs. “Thank you.”

  “Our pleasure,” Dr. Farrell replied. “We love giving good reports. Would you like us to print a couple of pictures for you to take home?”

  “Please,” Naomi and I both said.

  The need to be near Naomi was so damn overwhelming, I had a hard time keeping my hands off her as I texted Link an update, she got dressed, and I settled the bill. Thankfully, she seemed content to have my arm draped over her shoulders or snaked around her waist. She didn’t even give me any lip as she climbed on Link’s sled behind me. Knowing she needed a little more sustenance than vending machine food, I offered to take her to an all-night diner, but she declined. She didn’t want people to see her face and think I did that shit.

  Just thinking about what had happened to her made me pissed all over again. Naomi’s arms around my waist and her head pressed against my back calmed me down on the way to the fire station, though.

  Jake and Margo were waiting for us just inside the front door. They mobbed us as we entered, Margo’s eyes widening for only a second at the sight of Naomi’s face before she got her shit together. Jake had a harder time controlling his anger.

  “That goddamn motherfucker! I hope he rots in hell.”

  “I sent him there, Daddy,” Naomi replied.

  “I know you did.” He tugged her to him and kissed her unbruised cheek. “I’m proud of you, Slugger.”

  “And Link said the baby’s okay?” Margo asked.

  “Yes. They did an ultrasound. Everything checked out.”

  “Thank the Lord,” Margo gently patted Naomi’s belly. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma. You keep fighting in there little one.” She glanced back up at Naomi. “Are you gonna find out the gender?”

  Naomi glanced at me. “We haven’t really had the chance to talk about anything yet.”

  Jake dropped a hand on my shoulder. “I’m gonna steal Eagle here for a minute, so Link and I can have a talk with him.”

  “Dad—” Naomi started.

  He held up a hand. “He knocked up my daughter. I need to find out what his intentions are.”

  She sighed. “Can’t that wait? I’m tired and hungry.”

  “Come on, dear,” Margo said, steering Naomi toward the kitchen. “I’ll make you something to eat while the men go stomp their feet and pound their chests.”

  Jake and I joined Link in his office. Link was sitting at his desk, with a bottle of Crown Royal and a shot glass in front of him. He took one look at us and pulled two more glasses from his drawer. Pouring us each a shot, he passed me mine and said, “How’s Naomi?”

  “She’s gonna be okay,” I assured him. “The baby’s fine. How’d it go at the pier.”

  “That son-of-a-bitch Naomi shot… he’s Buzz’s son.”

  “Shit,” I replied, knowing Buzz wouldn’t let something like that slide. There’d be repercussions. I’d have to find a way to keep my woman and child safe.

  “Yeah. If Texas doesn’t put Buzz down, we’re probably gonna have to do it ourselves.” Link looked at his father. “You sure you don’t want to come back and take over, Pops? I fear I’m fuckin’ it all up.”

  Jake frowned. “Then you’re doing it right, son. When you stop caring, that’s when you’ll know you’re done.”

  “Did you stop caring?” Link asked.

  “Fuck no. I recognized that a club’s gotta change—gotta evolve—sometimes to improve. The old guard that I brought in, they’re good men, but they would have held it back. They would have fought change every step of the way. This club’s too important to let any man’s ego or traditions get in the way. It’s gonna have to keep changing to stay relevant, to be what this city and our brothers need.”

  “Is that why none of your men made it to the vote?” Link asked.

  Jake nodded. “They didn’t need to be there. Sometimes we just gotta do what has to be done. Son, I’m sorry about Brass.”

  Link swore, shaking his head. “Still can’t figure that motherfucker out.” He picked up his shot glass. “To fuckin’ Brass. The traitor, thief, and junkie who ate that bullet for me. Bastard surprised us all in the end, didn’t he?”

  Nodding, we all drank.

  Jake set his shot glass down for a refill. “He made some mistakes, but he redeemed himself in the end.”

  “What did you do with his body?” I asked.

  “Called in another fuckin’ favor. He’s sitting in a pine box over at Schubert’s funeral parlor. He’ll get a burial.”

  Brass had grown up in the system. He had no family and had burned all the bridges with his friends. We were probably the only people in the world that would care that he was dead. Well us, and Buzz, since that motherfucker wouldn’t be getting the money he was owed.

  “What about the Serpents?” I asked.

  “Texas sent over a crew. They’re taking care of their own.”

  “I’m just glad both of my kids are home safe tonight. And I have my first grandkid on the way.” Jake said.

  “You better not fuck my sister over,” Link added, his attention back on me.

  “I’d think you’d know me a little better than that,” I fired back.

  “Everyone knows your reputation, Eagle. You’re an asshole.”

  “If I remember right, so were you.”

  Cracking a smile, he picked up his shot glass and held it in the air. I followed suit.

  “You gonna marry her?” Jake asked, lifting his shot glass up as well.

  “We haven’t exactly had time to talk about that. She basically told me she was pregnant and took off. Said she wanted to give me time to process.”

  “And have you?” Link asked. “Processed? Whatever the fuck that means.”

  Was he fucking with me? I couldn’t tell. “You know damn well how I feel about her, Link. I only stayed away from her this long because she was active duty and I couldn’t go down that road again.”

  “Is she out of the service?” Jake asked.

  “God, I hope so,” I breathed.

  “That makes two of us,” Jake replied.

  “Three,” Link added.

  We all drank to that.

  “I don’t want my little niece or nephew to be a bastard,” Link announced as he poured us another round.

  “You think I do?” I asked.

  “Well, sounds like you need to marry my sister and keep that shit from happening. By the way, Emily’s pregnant. You have two grandkids baking, Pops.”

  “She is?” Jake asked, grabbing his sho
t glass.

  “Yeah. We’ve been waiting to announce it until after her first trimester, just in case, but I’ve been drinking this shit since I got back from the pier and I don’t feel like keeping it a secret anymore. Besides, at least my kid won’t be a bastard,” he added, smirking at me.

  My kid wouldn’t be a bastard either. I’d damn well find a way to get Naomi to marry me before it was born and make Link eat those words. “You’re an asshole, you know that?” I asked him.

  “Takes one to know one.” He tilted his shot glass my direction. “To the luckiest assholes on the planet. How the fuck did we end up with such great women?”

  I had to laugh. It was a damn good toast. “To assholes, and the women who put up with us,” I agreed, throwing back my shot.

  Jake had gone quiet, his expression thoughtful as he watched me. Finally, he gave me a chin lift. “Link said something about Naomi getting caught in an ambush while on a CSAR.”

  I held my hands in the air. “With all due respect, that’s not my story to tell.”

  “No,” he agreed. “But she told you. She doesn’t open up to many people, but she talks to you. I know you didn’t want to be on that roof tonight—that you wanted to be there in the thick of things, exacting your revenge—but you put my girl’s safety above your own pride. You brought her home, and I will forever be grateful for that. You’re a good man, Eagle. She could have done a hell of a lot worse.”

  It was high praise coming from Jake, and the significance wasn’t lost on me. He was right, Naomi had trusted me with shit she hadn’t told anyone else. She wasn’t afraid to show me her weakness, because she knew I wouldn’t use it against her. “Thank you, sir.”

  “But if you hurt her, I’ll break your neck myself.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less. I would like to marry Naomi… when she’s ready.”

  He clapped me on the shoulder. “And when you do, you’ll have my blessing.”

  “Thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say.

  “All right,” Link said, setting his shot glass down for a final time and screwing the lid on the Crown Royal. He picked up the duffel bag of cash from the floor and handed it to me. “Here’s your money back, Eagle. My wife’s upstairs waiting for me and she’s a hell of a lot better to look at than you two. I’m gonna head up while I can still stumble up the stairs.”

  It had been nice to clear the air with Link and Jake, but I was ready to find Naomi and take her to bed, too, so I said goodnight and headed for the kitchen.

  Naomi

  I HAD JUST finished stuffing the last bite of a giant sandwich into my face when Eagle appeared in the kitchen with Dad and Link hot on his heels.

  “You all okay now?” I asked, unable to hide my concern. I needed the three most important men in my life to be at peace.

  They all nodded.

  “You worry too much, Squirt,” Link said, pushing past Dad and Eagle to wrap me in a hug. He smelled like he’d marinated himself in whiskey. It had been one hell of a day, and I didn’t blame him at all. If I could drink, I’d be enjoying a bottle, myself. “All this shit’s not good for the baby. Nothing can happen to that little peanut, because I can’t wait to watch you get fat.”

  “What does Emily even see in you?” I asked, shoving him off me.

  “Well… I did knock her up,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “So, there’s that. And she’s probably gonna kill me for telling you all without her.”

  “Seriously?” I asked. “Emily’s pregnant?”

  He grinned, nodding. “Yep. You’ll have someone to get fat with. You’re welcome.”

  “I’m so happy right now,” Margo said as Dad tucked her under his arm. “Let’s go home and celebrate.”

  It did my heart good to see my dad and his wife so happy together. Their love and joy reminded me that sometimes things don’t work out as planned. Sometimes, they worked out even better. It gave me hope for my own budding relationship.

  We all said our goodbyes and Dad and Margo headed out while Link stumbled up the stairs.

  “What about you?” Eagle asked dropping the stuffed duffle bag from the exchange at his feet as he pressed his front against my back and wrapped his arms around me, his hands draping protectively over my stomach. “You two need anything else or are you ready to head upstairs?”

  “What’s that?” I asked, wondering why Eagle had the money.

  “Your ransom. Since we ended up not needing it, Link gave it back to me.”

  “You were going to pay my ransom?” I asked, my voice shook with the emotions I could barely contain.

  “This is nothing. I would have paid every cent I had to get you back.” The emotion in his voice made it clear that wasn’t just some line. He was being honest, making himself vulnerable for me.

  “Your room or mine?” I asked. We’d be sleeping in the same bed regardless. No way was he getting away from me now. If his stubborn ass tried to kick me out, I’d tie him to the bed.

  “Mine.” He snaked a hand up my arm and brushed my hair aside so he could kiss my neck. “Yours is full of bags and shit. We need to find a bigger place.”

  His lips on me felt so good. So natural. I melted against him. “We, huh?” I asked.

  “Yep. I’m not letting you out of my sight again. I can’t promise this will be easy and that I won’t fuck it up. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried a relationship, and all that shit you said about me was true. I do push people away, but not you. I can’t fuckin’ live without you, sweetheart, so you’re gonna need to be patient with me. I can be kind of an asshole.”

  “I’ve heard that about you,” I replied, a smile tugging at my lips as my insides warmed.

  “Yeah, well, I’m in this recovery plan… I might slip back into my old ways, but I need you to hold me accountable.”

  “Slip back into your old ways? Oh hell no. If I find you with another woman, I’ll cut your dick off. You need to know that right now.”

  He chuckled, pulling me even closer. I could feel how badly he wanted me against my ass. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Slugger. But trust me, I have no desire to be with anyone else. Come on. Let’s go to bed.”

  He grabbed my hand and towed me upstairs. We broke apart long enough to shower and brush our teeth before meeting up again in Eagle’s room. He was already in bed, sitting with his hand beneath the sheet when I walked in.

  “What are you doing under there?” I asked, locking the door behind me.

  “Thinking about you,” he replied, his hand bobbing up and down, making it very clear that his brain wasn’t the only thing activated. “Thinking about how many times I made you come the last time you were in my bed. Thinking about how many more times I’ll get to make you come now that you’re home for good. You are home for good, right?”

  The worry in his voice did magical things to my insides. Feeling wanted, needed, I nodded. “I’m out, Eagle. My time in the service is over.”

  “Thank fuck.”

  “Is that like saying you’re so thankful you want to fuck me?”

  He chuckled. “Something like that. I always want to fuck you, though. I’m also thinking about covering you in bubble wrap and making sure you have an armed guard twenty-four seven. This shit with the Seattle Serpents will probably get worse before it gets better, and I need you and our baby safe, sweetheart.”

  “Is that so?” I asked, tugging my T-shirt over my head and tossing it aside. Coming from the shower, I hadn’t bothered to put on a bra. “I think between me and you we can figure out how to keep all three of us safe.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Eagle’s gaze went straight to my breasts. He was definitely a boob man, and my naked chest had his undivided attention. “Those are really fuckin’ nice, by the way.”

  I palmed my breasts. “These? You like these? They’ve gotten a little bigger with the pregnancy. You don’t think they’re too big, do you?”

  He laughed, clearly enjoying this little back and forth as muc
h as I was. “You know, I’m not sure. You should come over here and put one in my mouth, so I can check.”

  I gave him my best I-don’t-believe-you look. “That sounds shady. I think you’re just trying to get in my pants.”

  He nodded. “Good point. Better take those off on the way and make it easier.”

  “You getting lazy on me, Marine?”

  “Conserving my energy for all the shit I plan to do to you.”

  Since I didn’t have a good comeback for that, I slid my sweats down to my ankles and then tossed them aside. I hadn’t bothered with panties after my shower either. Eagle’s sharp intake of breath assured me he appreciated my nakedness. Traipsing over to the bed, I climbed in and threw the sheet off, so I could watch him stroke himself.

  “I was thinking about a house with a good security system and a dog,” I said, trying to stay focused despite the way he was distracting me with every tug on his giant cock. I loved seeing him pleasure himself, but I wanted to join in on the fun.

  “A good security system and a dog is a start.” He gave himself another good squeeze and my mouth watered. “You like that, huh?”

  I nodded. “But I think I’d like it more if the tip was in my mouth while you did that.”

  Desire flashed in his eyes. “Your lip. Your bruises. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You would never hurt me,” I said with certainty. “Well, sometimes I like it a little rough.”

  He chuckled. “I’m not being rough with you tonight, sweetheart. Your body needs to heal.”

  My gaze met his and I dropped my mask and let him see everything I was feeling… all the pain, anger, fear, relief, love, everything. “I need you, Eagle.”

  He immediately sobered up. “I’m here. Take what you need.”

  Scooting closer, I got on my knees, sitting on my feet at Eagle’s side, facing his cock. I wrapped my lips around the tip of his dick, swirling my tongue over and around it as he continued to pump his hand up and down the shaft. His free hand rubbed my ass as he moaned and muttered incoherently, giving me the euphoria that came with being in control of his pleasure. He must have needed to shift the power balance, though, because he grabbed me by the thighs and lifted me over him, bringing my core down right over his mouth. Before I had the chance to object, his tongue landed on my clit.