“Come on!” Marly said as she dragged Blaine toward the dance floor.
“Bro! Save me!” Blaine called out to them.
Justin and Tank laughed.
“Dude’s got to be tappin’ her,” Tank said. “I’ll kill him if he hurts her.”
Justin knew Tank wasn’t kidding. He looked past Blaine and Marly at Chloe dancing with her girlfriends. Relief washed over him, as it had every time he’d looked at her, touched her, and thought about her since Justice had given them the good news.
When they’d been moving her things into the house, Justin had felt the same overwhelming sensation of knowing he was finally in the right place, with the right person, as when he’d truly become part of the Wicked family. He looked around at his friends and family. Steph was rolling her eyes at Dwayne. Zander was flirting with three daughters of Dark Knights members by a high-top table, and as usual, Zeke was standing nearby, keeping a watchful eye on him.
Some things never changed.
Justin took comfort in that. He knew he’d dodged a bullet today, and it killed him knowing he could have gone to prison and missed out on all this. He was grateful for his good fortune, but he’d trade it all to give Chloe her confidence and her life back.
Tank stood up a little taller. Justin followed his gaze to Leah, who was carrying a tray of drinks to a table where Cuffs was sitting with Justice and a couple of other members. Leah had lowered her eyes every time she’d walked by Tank tonight, and Tank had been watching her all night.
“What’re you thinking?” Justin asked.
Tank’s gaze never left the waitress as he said, “Wondering why she’s so freaked out by me.”
“You’re a freaky guy.”
Tank slid him a sideways look. “The chick’s mysterious. I’m just wondering if she’s a loner or running from trouble.”
“Just because she’s leery of a guy who could crush a man’s skull with his bare hands doesn’t mean she needs saving, Tank. Relax. She probably feels you watching her, and that’s not going to make her any less wary of you.”
Across the room, Ginger put her arm around Leah’s shoulder and said something in her ear. Leah nodded and headed over to another table.
“Ginger keeps a close eye on her girls,” Justin reminded him. “I’m pretty sure she’d know if there were trouble brewing under this roof.”
Tank nodded and finished his beer.
Mike came through the crowd and said, “I thought your father would never leave your side. You got the goods?”
Justin chuckled and pulled a Twix bar from his pocket. “Don’t I always hook you up?”
“I was worried about you getting put in the slammer,” Mike said as he tore open the candy wrapper. “You’re my best supplier.”
“Gramps, what do you think I’m running here? A rinky-dink operation?” Justin teased. “It wouldn’t matter if I was in the big house or not. I’ve got connections. I’d never leave you high and dry and make you go cold turkey.”
Tank set his empty beer bottle on the table and said, “He would have had Chloe hook you up. And if she couldn’t, you know I would, old man.”
“I’ll remember to put you back in the will,” Mike teased, and took a bite of the candy. “Now, that’s good stuff. Almost as sweet as your little gal, Maverick. How’s she doing?”
Justin glanced at Chloe, who was heading his way, and said, “She’s got some healing to do, but we’ll get there.”
The sound of metal tapping glass drew their attention to Preacher standing at the head of the table. “If I could have your attention for a moment.”
Justin reached for Chloe’s hand and pulled her closer. He wrapped his arms around her from behind so she could see Preacher and said, “Missed you, baby,” into her ear.
“Me too,” she said over her shoulder, and Justin kissed her.
“I’d like to thank you all for your support during this trying time,” Preacher said loudly, drawing their attention. “And for joining us tonight as we celebrate Maverick’s name being cleared and his and Chloe’s bright future.”
Cheers and applause filled the room.
Preacher held his hands up, silencing the crowd, and said, “But with that good news came the discovery of other women who, like our dear, sweet Chloe, have suffered at the hands of a monster. These women all have difficult times ahead of them. They will have to face their attacker in court, and with that will come grief, and hopefully closure and healing. But thanks to all of you, I know they won’t have to do it alone. We will be there with them, offering strength in the courtroom and support every step of the way.” Preacher looked across the room at Justin and Chloe and held up his glass. “Here’s to supporting these incredibly strong women and doing our best to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.”
The crowd cheered “Hear, hear!” and whooped.
Chloe turned in Justin’s arms and said, “I love your family so much.”
“They love you, too, baby.” He pressed his lips to hers as Preacher made an announcement reminding everyone to continue spreading the word about the suicide-awareness rally.
“Okay, enough kissy face,” Madigan said, prying Justin and Chloe apart.
Behind Madigan, an army of females stared back at them, bringing a smile to Chloe’s beautiful face.
Serena grabbed Chloe’s hand and said, “We need to borrow her.”
“You just had her,” Justin teased.
Evie put her arm around Chloe’s shoulder and said, “You’re going to have her forever. What’s another half hour?”
As the girls dragged Chloe toward the dance floor, Justin turned to Tank and Mike and said, “Guess it’s just the three of us.”
“Two of you,” Mike said. “See that pretty lady at the end of the bar? I’m hoping she has something sweet to share.”
Justin and Tank looked over and saw Sidney eating an ice cream sundae. Tank laughed. As Mike walked away, Justin said, “Dirty old man.”
Justin and Tank joined their brothers at the table and got caught up in a conversation with Conroy. When Justin glanced at the dance floor to check on Chloe, she wasn’t there. He pushed to his feet, scanning the room as he made his way to the dance floor. “Where’s Chloe?” he asked the girls who were still dancing.
“She went to the ladies’ room,” Evie said.
Justin headed there and found Chloe at the end of the hall, standing with her back to him and her phone pressed to her ear. She turned, and his gut pitched at the tears glistening in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” he said as he closed the distance between them.
Chloe held up a shaky finger and said, “Okay, thank you again. I’ll see you a week from Monday.”
As she ended the call, Justin said, “What happened?”
“That was Darren.”
“Shit.” He gritted his teeth, hands fisted. If he was trying to get Chloe to back off the charges, Justin would kill him.
“No, it’s okay.” She touched his arm and said, “He wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize?” he asked warily.
“Yes. I was floored, too. He said he would have liked to do it in person but that nobody knew if I was coming back to work or not. Justin, he didn’t have any idea about what Alan had been doing. He said he’s horrified that his son would do the things he’s accused of and that he was truly sorry for all I’d gone through. You should have heard him. He was sincere, and he sounded as broken as I’ve been feeling. He said he would understand if I never wanted to come back to LOCAL, but he hoped I would because the company and the residents would suffer greatly if I didn’t.”
Justin released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Thank God. When I saw your tears…” He drew her into his arms, overwhelmed with relief. “I love you, babe.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’ll still apologize to him. Don’t worry.”
“You don’t have to.” She drew back, her eyes clearer than they were just moments before. “Darre
n said if he were you, he would have done the same thing.”
“Wow, that’s unexpected.”
“I know. I told you he was a gentleman.”
“You did. This is great news, babe. How do you feel about it?”
“I feel good.” She lifted her chin, and in a voice far more confident than he’d heard all week, she said, “I’m getting out of my own way, Justin. I’m going back to work. You were right. Alan shouldn’t have the power to take away all the things I worked so hard for.”
“Aw, baby. That makes me so happy.” He lifted her into his arms and kissed her as he twirled her around.
Two of the Dark Knights’ wives came out of the ladies’ room and said, “Excuse us.”
Justin set Chloe down, keeping his arms around her, and inched them forward until her back met the wall, making room for the women to walk by.
Desire rose in Chloe’s eyes. “This feels like déjà vu.”
“It sure does, sweet cheeks. I will never forget the last time I propositioned you by a bathroom in a bar. It was the night I decided I was done letting you stand in your own way.”
“The night I should have done this.” She grabbed him by the collar and crushed her mouth to his, kissing him with all the passion, and all the greed, of a woman in love.
His woman in love.
The music from the bar filtered in, and “Heartbeat” was playing. Justin took Chloe’s hand and said, “They’re playing your song. May I have this dance, heartbreaker?”
She stepped into his arms and said, “You can have this dance and every future dance for the rest of my life.”
As they swayed to the music, she sighed contentedly and whispered, “We have no stars.”
“No moonlight kisses,” he whispered, holding her tighter.
“Guess those will have to come later,” she said seductively. “What do you think, biker boy?”
He nuzzled against her neck, kissing her there. She made an appreciative sound and he whispered in her ear, “I think I’ve got the woman I adore”—he kissed her cheek—“the star of all my dirty fantasies”—he slid his tongue along the shell of her ear—“and the love of my life safe and happy in my arms.” He brushed his lips overs hers, whispering, “And I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
AS THE SUN peeked over the horizon, Justin climbed off his bike in front of Preacher and Reba’s house and headed around the side to the kitchen door. The last time Justin had walked into their house with a burden this heavy had been the first day he’d met them. So much had changed since then. Hell, so much had changed in the past few months. July had been a roller coaster, providing lessons in survival, hope, and love, and he and Chloe had come through it stronger than ever. August was a month of blessings. Chloe had received warm welcomes when she’d returned to work, and she’d since settled back in nicely. The Junior/Senior Program had become permanent, and the puppetry program was well under way. More of Alan’s victims had come forward, and his attorney had convinced him to take a plea bargain, which kept his victims from having to appear in court. Alan Rogers was sentenced to twenty years behind bars, eligible for parole after sixteen. No punishment would be enough, in Justin’s eyes, but he had a feeling Rogers would get his due in the slammer. Shadow had come home a few weeks ago, and he and Sampson rarely left each other’s sides. The four of them had become the family Chloe had always dreamed of. They’d rolled happily into September with warm, full days and brisk, loving nights—and for Justin, a need to finally unburden the last of his chains to his past.
As he reached for the doorknob, it was Chloe’s love that gave him the strength to walk through the door, though she wasn’t aware of his plans or that he’d even left the house. She had been sleeping soundly with their furry boys when he’d snuck out at the crack of dawn to take care of business.
Preacher’s dogs, Buster and Milo, greeted Justin with tails wagging. Reba stood beside the counter fixing coffee in her bathrobe. Preacher was dressed in jeans and a Dark Knights T-shirt, sitting at the table sipping a cup of coffee. It was strange not seeing Mike at that table. He’d moved into LOCAL a couple of weeks ago, and he was loving life there. He and Chloe had a standing dinner date on Wednesday evenings, and according to Mike, there was already a long line of women hoping for that seat. But even with all his grandfather’s talk, Justin knew no woman would ever get close to his heart. How could they, when Hilda had taken so much of it with her?
“Morning, sweet boy,” Reba said, smiling warmly as he loved up the dogs.
The curiosity and worry in her eyes tugged at Justin’s heartstrings. He’d woken them up with his call before the sun had breached the horizon, and he’d asked if he could come over to talk. He kissed her cheek and said, “Hi, Mom. Sorry to get you up so early.”
“It’s okay, baby. You know we don’t mind.”
Preacher pushed to his feet, studying Justin’s face. “Son,” he said, embracing Justin. “I’m guessing you’re not here to tell us Chloe’s knocked up.”
Justin chuckled. “She’s not, but we’re sure having fun practicing.”
“Attaboy.” Preacher clapped him on the back, and as they sat down at the table, he looked at Reba and said, “You owe me a back rub, babe.”
“You made bets?” Justin shook his head.
“It was a win-win for me.” Reba covered Preacher’s hand with hers and said, “I’d either get a grandchild or my hands on this sexy man.”
Preacher leaned over and kissed her, then whispered, “Love you, baby.”
Justin looked at the man and woman who had taught him to love, to trust, and not to be afraid to speak the truth and knew he was finally ready to set himself free. “No babies just yet, although every time Chloe gets her hands on Desiree’s little boy, she gets this look in her eyes…” Desiree had given birth to adorable Aaron the same night they’d celebrated the charges being dropped for Justin and Chloe’s decision to go back to work at LOCAL.
“Ah, the look,” Preacher said, eyeing Reba, a secret message passing between them. “I always loved that look.”
“I’m fond of it, too, Preach,” Justin said honestly. He looked forward to raising feisty, independent little ones with Chloe, but he was in no hurry to add to their crew just yet. Their four-legged boys were keeping them busy, and he and Chloe both loved the freedom of long Sunday rides and nights when the only thing keeping them awake was their insatiable desire.
“Is this about the rally, son?” Preacher held his gaze and said, “We know how hard this event is for you.”
Emotions thickened Justin’s throat. “It’s about everything. The rally, who I am, what I’ve become, and who I want to be.”
Reba put her other hand over Justin’s, her eyes moving between him and Preacher, finally landing on Justin as she said, “Whatever is weighing on you, sweetheart, we’ll get through it together.”
He turned his hand over and held hers. “I know, Mom. That’s why I’m here. From the day I understood what it means to be a Wicked, I’ve always been honest with you. But there’s one thing I’ve kept from you. I’ve never lied about it, but it feels like I did.” Tears burned his eyes over that lie of omission as much as from the painful memories he was fighting to keep at bay. “My father lied to the police about my mother’s death. I was home with her when she took those pills. I didn’t know she was ending her life, but I was the one who found her.” He told them everything he’d told Chloe, and when tears slid down his cheeks, Reba’s fell, too. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I kept telling myself it was in the past and I was over it. But with Chloe I realized I was only fooling myself, running from the thing that hurt me most.” He told them about how Chloe had come up with the idea for the sculpture, focusing on the people who had been left behind and the support of those around them, rather than trying to change what could never be undone. “Chloe and I have been talking with Tasha Revere, and she’s helped us see many things more clearly.” Therapy had helped Chl
oe to tell Serena about the horrible ways she’d suffered as a young girl at the hands of their mother’s boyfriends and the hands of the guy in the parking lot of the Salty Hog. Seeing how much weight that had lifted off Chloe’s shoulders had helped Justin get to where he was today. “These past few weeks, as I was finishing the sculpture for the rally, I realized what I’d done wasn’t fair to you, to Chloe, who knows the truth and has been keeping my secret, or to myself. I hope you can forgive me.”
Reba looked at Preacher with tear-streaked cheeks; then he looked at Justin with sorrow and love in his eyes and said, “We hope you can forgive us, son. We’ve known about this since a month after you first came to us.”
“You’ve known?” Justin sank back in the chair and dried his eyes, trying to process what he’d said. “How?”
Preacher’s gaze never wavered from Justin’s. “When you love someone, you want to know all of them, about the things, people, and events that made them who they are. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I went to see your father half a dozen times that first month after you moved in. I loved you, son. We loved you, and we needed to know what you’d gone through so we could be there for you. Your father told me what happened. I didn’t know all of the details that you just shared with us, but I knew you were alone with her when it happened and that he’d lied about it to the authorities.”
Justin couldn’t believe they’d known, but he understood what Preacher had done because if he’d had the opportunity to face each of Chloe’s attackers, he would have done it. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“Because we didn’t know if you remembered, and we were afraid that if you didn’t, we’d cause more trauma for you,” Reba said.
“We talked to a child psychologist,” Preacher explained. “You had so much to overcome, we didn’t want to unearth more ghosts. We felt confident that if you remembered, you would let us know in your own time. Remember, we had you talking with a therapist, and we relied on her to let us know if we should do anything differently.”
A Little Bit Wicked (The Wickeds Page 41