by Jamie Begley
He laid her on the made bed, brushing her hair back from her face.
“Go downstairs while I check her out,” the doctor ordered, pissing Shade off, but then Beth came into the room.
“Go ahead, Shade. I’ll stay with her in case she wakes,” Beth urged, coming to stand by the bed.
He nodded. “I’ll be right back. I want to shower and get some clean clothes on. I don’t want her to smell the smoke on me when she wakes up. Find something to change her into and wash her off when the doctor leaves.”
“I will,” Beth said, sitting down on the side of the bed.
Shade left the bedroom, going to Razer’s room where he showered quickly, looking through Razer’s clothes for jeans and a T-shirt to borrow before getting dressed.
Then he went downstairs to see if Viper had discovered where the fire had started, finding The Last Riders still standing in the living room. Viper was holding Winter who was crying. Bliss was sitting on a chair with her head buried in her hands, also crying. Train was holding Jewell while Rider had his arm around Evie. The rest were shell-shocked.
“We’re not going to let Lily know that we know she was abused when she was a kid.” Shade placed his hand on the banister, wanting to rip it to pieces at the things she had talked about happening to her. “She was too young to defend herself then. Fuck, she was too young to even know she was supposed to defend herself. We’re going to act as if nothing happened unless she wants to talk to us about it.”
Viper looked at him. “Anything you need for her, you tell me, and it’s yours. We’re going to find out who fucked with her, and then we’re going to fuck their lives up permanently.”
The members all agreed.
Shade nodded. “I’ve already been looking into it. Beth doesn’t remember much, and we can’t find her adoption papers. That’s why Lucky wanted the basement cleaned to see if we could find Beth’s father’s legal papers. Nothing’s turned up so far.”
“Lucky knows?” Razer asked.
“Only that it was important to Lily’s safety that we find out about her adoption.”
“You knew how bad it was before tonight, didn’t you?” Razer asked.
“Yeah, I knew.”
Razer ran a hand through his long hair. “I’d heard some of it a couple of times when the lights went out or she had a panic attack, but I didn’t think it was to that extent.” Razer turned from the group, giving them his back as he raised a hand to his face. “I promised to protect her … but I was too late, wasn’t I?” he said in a choked voice.
“We’re here now, Razer. We all are. She’ll never have to go through that shit again,” Shade vowed.
“That’s for fucking sure,” Train muttered fiercely.
The doctor came down the steps, carrying his bag.
“She’s sleeping comfortably, for now. When she wakes up…” He shrugged.
“Thanks.”
“If she needs—”
“I’ll call,” Shade said, shaking his hand.
After the doctor left, Shade turned back to the brothers and women. “Let’s get the basement cleaned and cleared out after Knox gets here. Cash, Viper, let’s find out what started that fire.”
Shade followed the brothers toward the kitchen, looking up the stairs where he saw Beth standing with clothes in her arms. She had heard them talking.
She nodded to him as he passed underneath, saying without words her gratitude that she wasn’t alone in her battle to save Lily. The Last Riders would stand with them to the last man and woman. Beth knew that, and soon, Lily would, too.
* * *
Shade opened the back door to Knox’s car. Then He reached in, taking several pizza boxes before he closed the door after Knox reached in to grab the rest.
“It’s going to be a mess to get that smoke odor out of there,” Knox griped as they went up the steps.
“We’re going to rip out and replace anything that was damaged. The carpet is destroyed from the water, so that was the first to go, and the brothers have already started ripping out the walls that were burned,” Shade replied as they went in the door. “With all of us working together, it shouldn’t take long to make the repairs.”
Shade opened the kitchen door, moving to the side to let Knox enter as they both carried pizza boxes inside. Shade glanced at Lily before setting the pizzas on the counter, quickly going to her side.
She had slept most of the morning away, missing the action of the men tearing up the damage from the destroyed basement.
“Hungry?”
“I could eat,” Lily admitted, getting up from the table while avoiding his eyes.
Getting in line, she took a slice of pizza before resuming her seat. Shade filled his plate then sat down next to her.
“Evie said someone deliberately set the fire,” Lily told him.
“Yes. Knox came out this morning and took the evidence he needed. Whoever it was slipped into the party last night with a hanger-on. We have a description. It’s only a matter of time before we find her.”
“Her?” Lily repeated, shocked.
“Yes,” Shade answered.
“Why?”
“We think it was another attempt on your life,” Shade told her.
Knox sat down at the table as she asked, “Why does someone want me dead? I don’t understand.” Lily looked back and forth between the two men.
“We don’t know yet but when we find who started the fire, we will,” Knox assured her.
Everyone finished eating then Viper organized them all into one team as a cleanup crew and another to put up new drywall.
Lily got up to go downstairs.
“No. You stay up here and start dinner for everyone,” Viper ordered as he went down into the basement with the men following behind him.
Shade hung back once the other members had left. “You need anything?”
“No. Shade, maybe it would be better if I left. I don’t want to endanger anyone.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” he said, pulling her to him. “It’s because you were here with all the security we have that it wasn’t much worse. We slipped up because we didn’t think someone was brave enough to actually make a move on you in the house. We won’t make that mistake twice.
“Beth will be back soon. Go shopping; get out of the house for a while. Razer will go with you two,” he suggested.
“That sounds good. I’m ready to get out for a while.”
Shade touched his mouth to hers briefly before going downstairs. She needed to get out of the clubhouse and have a good time. He texted Beth as soon as he was down the steps.
“Rider, hand me a couple of those trash bags.”
“If you’re going to put the pieces of drywall in them, you’ll need the heavier ones,” Rider said, handing him two bags.
“No, I’m using these to throw away Lily’s clothes. Tell Razer I need to see him before he leaves.”
There was going to be something good to come out of the fire after all.
* * *
Shade was standing in his office at the factory when Beth’s SUV pulled in and parked. He went outside as Razer was opening the trunk, and they all stared at the small mountain of bags.
“I think we may have overdone it a bit,” Beth said jokingly, turning to Lily.
“You think?” Lily laughed. “I’m already planning on taking most of it back.”
“Don’t you dare,” Beth reprimanded her.
“She won’t,” Shade spoke up from behind them, reaching inside the vehicle to take several of the bags.
Razer followed suit, pulling out a large number for himself. Lily and Beth split up the remaining packages, and then they all carried them up the steps to the house and into the room Shade had put Lily in. They set the bags on the floor in front of the bed, and Shade smiled as Lily looked down at the bags as if she didn’t know how they had gotten there.
“I’ll see you at church in the morning.” Lily hugged and kissed her sister goodbye.
&nb
sp; Razer gave her a tight hug. “Goodnight, lil’ sis.”
“Night, Razer.”
The door closed behind them.
“I’m not staying in the basement anymore?”
“No. If someone tries to hurt you again, they’ll have to get past every brother in the house with you up here,” Shade replied grimly.
“I see.” She took a deep breath. “Beth told me at dinner that you paid for all this. I’ll pay you back.”
“No, you won’t, and you won’t take anything back. Quit worrying and go get your shower.”
Lily went to the bathroom, taking a gown, while Shade undressed then lay down on the bed, waiting for her. He was tired, but he didn’t want to go to sleep until Lily was in bed with him.
When she finished, she climbed in bed beside him, pulling the covers up as she gave him a smile.
“What was that for?”
Confusion marred her brow. “What?”
Shade turned off the bedside lamp, checking first to make sure the bathroom light was on with the door left half-open. “That smile you just gave me.”
“I don’t know. I was just happy you were here. I thought you might be sleeping in your room.”
Shade rose on his side, his serious face cast in the shadows of the bedroom. “Lily, the only bed you’ll be in is the one I’m sleeping in.” His finger traced down the fragile line of her cheekbone.
He bent down, kissing her, and when Lily parted her lips his tongue entered her mouth, searching its depths. Her tongue timidly touched his, and he sucked it into his mouth, sliding his own against hers, tempting her to explore the warmth of his mouth.
When her arms slipped around his shoulders, Shade raised his head, breaking off the kiss.
“When I kiss you, it’s like touching perfection.” Shade placed soft kisses on her neck.
Lily’s arms dropped to her side. “I’m not perfect,” she replied, turning her face away.
“You’re perfect for me,” Shade corrected her.
“Shade…” Lily began hesitantly.
“Not tonight, Lily. Tonight, I want to hold you in my arms, knowing that you’re taking one breath after another. That, when I wake in the morning, your beautiful face will be on the pillow next to mine, and tomorrow night, when I go to bed, you’ll be by my side again. Day after day, night after night.” Shade’s vow expressed how seriously he had taken almost losing her.
Lily’s lips smiled against his throat. “What about when I snore?”
“Angels don’t snore.”
Chapter 58
“What’s going on?” Shade asked, coming up behind Lily. He had seen first Beth then Winter go downstairs, followed by Razer and Viper.
He was glad she was standing and talking with the women in the kitchen. He had been worried about her when she had acted strange as Lucky had come into the diner after church, wanting to leave in a rush. She had worked on her course work in the bedroom upstairs while he had helped the men in the basement. By dinner time, she was fine, his concern for her leaving when the women had started talking about their ‘dream weddings.’ The other brothers had tuned out, but he had listened carefully to Lily’s idea of a dream wedding.
“There was a wedding in December and it was snowing just a little bit. They got married in the backyard of a tiny church. It was beautiful,” Lily had breathed with dreams in her violet eyes for once.
“What kind of dress?” Evie had asked.
“My mother’s. I have it packed away. It’s stunning with long sleeves made of lace, but they’re off the shoulder, and it has a long, lace veil.”
Afterward, Lily and Beth had left to go see Beth and Razer’s house for the first time. They were finally back, and everyone was standing around, talking.
“She told Beth about your shower and then Beth told Winter. Winter’s been wanting to redo the bathroom in Viper’s room. Want to bet he’s going to be shelling out some cold hard cash?” Evie answered.
Shade looked down at her, and Lily gave him a mischievous smile which had his dick getting hard.
“You’re not causing trouble, are you?” His arm went around her shoulder.
“Can I help it if that shower is a work of art?” Lily said jokingly.
Winter and Beth came back upstairs with determined expressions on their faces. Viper and Razer, on the other hand, sent accusing looks toward Lily who unsuccessfully tried to hide her laughter.
“I can’t blame them. That shower has given me many pleasurable moments,” Jewell joked.
Shade’s instincts told him his night was headed for the shitter. Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea for Lily to become friendlier with the women.
“Me, too. That rainfall showerhead is gold-plated,” Evie agreed. “Shade designed it himself when he moved to the basement after Beth moved into the club.”
“I love the music that plays to the beat of the water,” Dawn shuddered.
Lily stiffened at the second comment, and by Dawn’s, she had pulled away from him; all her amusement had died. Yep, he was right. The shitter.
“It’s getting late. If I’m going to work tomorrow, I need to get some sleep,” Lily excused herself without looking at him. “Night, everyone.”
The members mumbled their goodnights to her as she left.
Shade glared at the women. “Thanks.”
Jewell shrugged. “Are you honestly going to blame us? We weren’t alone in that shower,” she reminded him.
Shade ran his hand over his head. “Next time, think before you open your mouth with comments like that. She might know I’ve fucked you all, but she doesn’t need to hear the details about it, either,” he snapped.
“You haven’t fucked me,” Evie said, opening a beer.
Shade folded his arms over his chest, glaring at her.
“Me, either,” Beth laughed.
Shade frowned in her direction.
“Me, either,” Winter spoke up, biting into a brownie.
“Anyone else have something to say?” Shade asked snidely.
“No, I think you fucked everyone else,” Raci giggled.
Shade jerked his head at Viper. “You’re not going to help a brother being ganged up on by the women?”
Viper took the brownie away from Winter, sitting down at the table next to her. “Nope. I have problems of my own to deal with, unless you want to pay for the new shower Winter is going to make me put in. You do that, then I’ll have your back.”
Shade looked at Razer who raised his own hands in the air. “I’m going to have to keep Beth from ripping out a perfectly good shower which my woman was happy with before she saw yours, so no. Sorry. I can’t open my mouth, anyway.” He placed an arm around Beth, giving her a wink before turning back to him. “I’ve fucked more women here than you have.”
Shade flipped the men off as he left the kitchen to go upstairs.
Lily was hanging her new clothes in the closet when Shade walked into the bedroom. “What are you doing?”
“Hanging up my new clothes,” Lily replied, stepping back from the closet and closing the door.
“Why didn’t you hang up the rest?” Shade asked, eyeing the numerous bags still on the floor.
“Because I’m not keeping them.” Lily turned away from him, going to the dresser to brush her hair.
“Why not?” Shade asked, confused.
“Because I can’t afford them.”
“I paid for them.”
“Exactly. You paid for them; I didn’t.”
Shade’s mouth tightened. “If you’re angry, that’s fine, but you’re keeping the clothes.”
“No. I. Am. Not! I’m taking them back.” Lily went to the chair, picking up the nightgown and robe before going to the bathroom.
Shade wanted to go back downstairs and yell at the women, but he was afraid they would kick his ass.
“Fuck this.” Shade emptied all the bags on the bed, hanging up all the clothes in the closet and putting away the rest in the drawers Raci had emptied out for h
er.
He was placing the shoes in the closet when he saw the price tags on them. He almost thought about letting her take those back until he opened the boxes then thought, She definitely needs to keep these. Giving a wicked smile, he finished stacking the boxes in the closet before closing the door.
He went to the bedroom next door where Raci was about to climb onto the bed with Rider when he walked in.
“I need to keep these in your closet for a while.” Rider and Raci both looked at his arm full of shoes.
“Help yourself.” Rider motioned toward the closet while reaching for Raci.
Shade dumped the shoes in the closet then turned to leave.
“Just a minute.” Raci broke away from Rider to go to the closet. Shade slammed the door shut, standing in front of it.
“No,” Shade said firmly, remembering he had been drunk off his ass when he had voted years before to let women become members. He had learned then to never make a decision whenever he had more whiskey in him than common sense. Tonight, the women were proving to him it had been a mistake.
“But…” Raci protested, looking longingly at the closet.
“If she goes near that closet, spank her,” Shade ordered Rider who grinned back.
“I’ll handle it,” he promised, staring greedily at Raci’s naked tits.
Shade sighed. All Raci would have to do was shake her tits at Rider, and he would open the closet door for her.
“I’ll buy you a pair if you leave those alone. You can’t wear them, anyway; I have the match in my room.”
“I just want to try them on,” Raci said. “But if you buy me two pairs, I won’t touch them. Plus, I won’t tell Lily where you hid them.”
Shade gritted his teeth.
“Fine,” he agreed, striding back to his room. He had to get out of there before he spanked Raci himself.
Back in the room, he had to sit down at the desk to calm himself down, wondering when he and the brothers had lost control of the club to the women.
He was still sitting at the desk, going through his email, when Lily came out of the bathroom. He pretended to ignore her as she walked across the floor and noticed the empty store bags sitting on the chair. When she lifted one of them, the tags fell to the floor. She then stormed angrily to the closet, opening the door to see all the new clothes hanging up. The shoe boxes were even neatly stacked on the floor.