by Harley Wylde
I ran a hand through my hair and winced as my fingers grazed the cut on the back of my skull. Ramirez and his men had worked me over pretty good.
“I went with the others to stake out what we thought was a rival club. It was a setup. Ramirez and his men rounded us up like fucking cattle. We managed to take down a few of them, but we were outnumbered.”
Scratch chuckled. “Boy, that’s not what he wants to hear. He wants you to tell how little Nikki here kicked ass and saved all of you sorry bastards.”
Nikki bit her lip and looked up at me, but I could see the laughter in her eyes. Yeah, she could laugh it up with the rest of them. Honestly, I was proud as fuck that she’d handled herself so well. Pissed that she’d been in danger to begin with, but seeing her go after those guys and hold her own? It had been pretty fucking impressive.
“All right. My woman saved our asses, freed us, and then talked you into bringing us home.” I folded my arms and stared at the Pres and VP. “That what you wanted to hear?”
“Yep,” Cinder said. “You’ll both be happy to know that the other clubs also got their men back. Ramirez could be an issue, but for now we’re going to monitor the situation. The fact each club had two to three men taken means that we have some work to do. Nikki was right when she called this a family. It is, and she was also right that you don’t leave family behind. So, we’re going to figure out where shit went wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“So I’m not in trouble?” Nikki asked.
Cinder smiled, a rare occurrence. “No, darlin’. You aren’t in trouble. Just don’t pull that shit in front of my men, or we’ll have a problem.”
“Glad to have you back, Nikki,” Scratch said.
“Back?” she asked.
“We know that what happened with Bane was hard on you. Instead of pushing through, you retreated into yourself. Since Ashes was keeping a close eye on you, we left things alone, but maybe we should have stepped in,” Scratch said. “Renegade insisted you were fine, but you never came to any of the club events. It made me wonder.”
She gave a little nod. “Yeah, I got lost for a while, but Ashes wouldn’t give up on me.”
“And when he needed you, you refused to give up on him,” Cinder said. “You’re the perfect ol’ lady for Ashes, and we’re proud to have you as part of this club. Now go get your son! Meg might be in heaven, but I want to get some fucking sleep tonight.”
“Thanks, Pres,” I said and led Nikki from the room.
We’d gotten back into town about six hours ago, and after I’d been patched up, we took a nap. I knew she’d wanted to pick up Oliver right away, but neither of us would have been any good to him. We’d been through hell.
“I thought he was going to be angry,” she said as we got into the car.
“I wasn’t sure how he’d react, but I’m glad to know he appreciates your strength as much as I do. I’ve always known that you were strong, Nikki, but you’ve proven it to everyone here and with the other clubs too. I’m so fucking proud of you, baby. And in the spirit of honesty…” I wasn’t sure how she’d take this next bit of news, but I didn’t want to lie to her, not even by omission. I pulled away from the clubhouse and headed for Cinder’s house. “I think those men knocked the sense back into me. When we woke up earlier, I remembered everything.”
She clenched her hands in her lap. “Everything?”
I stopped the car and reached out to clasp her hand in mine. “Everything. And, Nik, I still love you so damn much. Everything I felt after losing all my memories, all the moments we’ve shared, it’s all still here. You’re the most important person in my life, you and Oliver both. I love the two of you more than anything else.”
“We love you too, Archer. So very much.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and I leaned over to kiss her, my lips brushing over hers. She was so sweet, and yet fierce when she needed to protect those she loved. Scratch and Cinder were right. She was fucking perfect for me. I was the luckiest bastard ever to have her in my life.
“Let’s go get our son.”
“You… you still think of him as yours, even knowing… everything?”
I squeezed her hand. “Honey, he is mine. I was there during your pregnancy, when he came into this world, I’ve changed his diapers and walked the floor with him. We might not share the same blood, but he’s mine in every way that counts.”
I drove the rest of the way to Cinder’s house, and Meg was out front waiting for us, Oliver in her arms and the diaper bag at her feet. Nikki launched herself from the car and ran for our son, cradling him close to her. I got out and went over to them. Meg reached out like she was going to hug me, then retreated.
“I’m fine, Meg. A hug won’t break me, especially from a tiny thing like you.”
She wrapped her arms around my waist and gave me the gentlest hug I’d ever gotten. When she released me, I pulled Nikki and Oliver against my side. My son blinked up at me, then cooed. Brushing a kiss against his head, I breathed in his scent. I’d missed the hell out of him. “Let’s take our boy home,” I said.
Nikki nodded, thanked Meg, and took Oliver to the car. I started to follow, but Meg stopped me. “Ashes, can I have a minute?”
“Sure. Did something happen with Oliver while we were gone?”
“No, nothing like that. He’s a complete little angel. I did have to put him on a bottle, though, and I’m not sure how easy it will be for Nikki to get him back to breastfeeding. It was that or let him starve.”
“Then what did you need to tell me?”
She chewed on her lip and glanced around. “Look, Cinder is all big and tough. He has to be in his position, and I get that. But you need to know that leaving you and the others in that situation, it was eating him up inside. I watched him as he spiraled, wanting to rush in and save you, yet not knowing your exact location. When that man asked him to cooperate, Cinder’s decision weighed heavy on him.”
“The Pres is a good man, Meg. We all know that. He was trying to protect everyone, even if it meant sacrificing a few of us.”
“I just wanted you to know how hard he took it. I’m really glad you’re home, all of you, and I know he is too.”
I hugged her again, then walked to the car. I’d known the decision to leave us hadn’t been easy on Cinder, but I was glad that he had Meg, that she’d seen him struggling and more than likely offered him comfort. The man had my respect, and he’d earned it. “Let’s get this little one home where he belongs.”
Nikki smiled. “I missed him. I don’t think I’ll even care if he stays up all night, or wakes me every hour.”
“I’ll remind you of that when he wants to eat at one in the morning, then three, then five.”
She smacked my arm. “Hush! You know you won’t mind either. At least not this time. In another day or two, we may both be complaining about being exhausted. But at least we’re here, safe, and so is Oliver. We’re together again, a family, and that’s all that matters.”
“Love you, Nik.”
“Love you too, Archer. Don’t forget you owe me a wedding ring. And I expect you to wear one too. Maybe then those club sluts will back the hell off.”
“And if not, my fierce little woman will kick their asses. So hot by the way. I get hard every time you start smacking someone around.”
She stared at me. Unblinking.
“All right. Maybe not at the warehouse, but that’s only because I’d been tortured for two days. But if I hadn’t been hurting all over, then I’d definitely have been hard for you when you beat the hell out of those men. It was an awesome sight to see, even if it did give me heart failure.”
“Give me time to cuddle Oliver and get him to sleep, then maybe you can show me just how hot it makes you when I start hitting people.”
“Gladly, baby. Been too long since I was balls-deep inside you.”
She snorted. “So freakin’ eloquent.”
I winked at her. “It wasn’t my eloquence that snagg
ed your attention. It was my big, long --”
She slapped a hand over my mouth. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
“Cock,” I mumbled through her fingers. Then I licked her, making her squeal and jerk her hand back. “Admit it, Nik. You can’t wait to have me filling you up again. I’ll make you squirm and beg, then I’ll pound that sweet pussy so good you won’t be able to walk for days.”
She glanced in the backseat at Oliver.
“Nik, he’s a baby and has no clue what I’m saying. When he can understand more words, I promise not to say outrageous things in front of him.” Then again. “Unless he’s an obnoxious teen, then I may do it just to embarrass the shit out of him. Might be fun.”
“It’s a good thing I love you. Otherwise, I might very well run the other way.”
I grinned at her. No, my Nikki wouldn’t run from me. To me, yes. She was mine in every way that counted, just as I was hers. A perfectly matched pair. I’d never thought I’d ever have her as my ol’ lady or my wife. For the longest time, she’d been in my every dream, and I’d wondered how she tasted, what her skin would feel like against mine. And now I’d get to kiss and touch her every day for the rest of my life.
I might have lost my memory for a while, might have nearly died, but I had everything I could ever want or need right here. Nikki and Oliver were my everything, and I was never letting them go.
Harley Wylde
Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better -- off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!
Harley at Changeling: http://changelingpress.com/harley-wylde-a-196