by Harley Wylde
Chapter Seven
Titan
I’d left Delilah asleep in our bed at dawn this morning. She’d been here nearly two weeks, and I still found it hard to walk away from her. I’d never met a more tempting woman. Just the right amount of innocent and naughty.
It was now closing in on noon and I hadn’t even begun to dig my way through the pile of shit on my desk. The girls we’d lost still bothered me and would for a long time to come. I needed to know what went wrong. They’d agreed to sell those girls to us. So why kill them? If they were dead, they didn’t earn any money. I hated that we still hadn’t learned anything new.
I’d put in a call about the girls this morning. So far, my connection hadn’t gotten back to me. I hoped that didn’t mean he was buried six feet under. It should have been simple enough. We paid for the girls, brought them here, and it was done. Instead, everything had gone to shit. Those poor women had been slaughtered as if they meant nothing. Less than nothing. And my men…
As far as Bones could tell, they were both going to pull through, but it would be a hard road for them. Galahad had been especially fucked up. The club’s connections had only gotten us so far, but I’d donated a fuck ton of money to the local hospital to grease the wheels a bit. He’d needed surgery to repair some of the damage, and I needed them to not ask questions, or bring in the police. It had put a dent in the club’s accounts, but it was worth it.
There was a knock at the door, then my VP stepped into my office. “You got a minute?”
“If it involves more paperwork, or trouble, then no. Consider me on vacation in a remote place where no one can find me.”
He snorted. “Yeah right. You could move to the moon and we’d find you.”
I flipped him off, but the asshole only grinned.
“It’s about your woman’s family. We got some movement this morning. At some point, she must have called and talked to them, let them know where she was and who she was with,” Boomer said.
“What brought you to that conclusion?” I asked. And yes, she’d called them.
“When you found out who he was, I called in a favor,” Boomer said. “I asked some of the Dixie Reapers to keep an eye on things down that way. The grandfather in particular. Seems he was already on their radar, but they’re being extra vigilant now. About two hours ago, he showed up at the parents’ house. Looked pissed as fuck. When he left, he was on the phone.”
“And that seems suspicious because…”
“Wire and Lavender hacked Gregory Montcliff’s accounts, emails, and anything else they could get their fingers on. Seems there was a contract for Delilah to marry, and I use the term loosely, an acquaintance of Gregory’s. Guy is loaded. Has houses in three US cities and two overseas. Money changed hands, and now he doesn’t have Delilah to hand over. To say Grandpa is pissed is an understatement.”
Jesus. I couldn’t catch a damn break.
“I also asked them to look into that other issue. MaryAnne. You were right. She’s being abused. The video we saw was just the beginning. It wasn’t a one-time thing but ongoing, and it gets worse. Poor thing is scared of her own shadow by this point. Galahad is in no shape to go get her. You want to send anyone in particular? Wire is having some official -- his word not mine -- documents drawn up so they’ll have no choice but to hand her over,” Boomer said.
“Send Patriot.”
“You sure, Pres? He may scare the shit out of her.”
“I’m sure.” I leaned back in my chair. “He may be a big bastard, but he’s got a gentle touch when it comes to wounded creatures.”
“You’re not wrong there. He’s always mending some furball or another. All right. I’ll send him just as soon as we have the papers from Wire.” Boomer stepped out only to pause. “No one is getting your woman, Pres. We won’t let them. Just sayin’, we may want to bump up security. Doubt that grandfather of hers is the type to take no for an answer. He’ll come for her, and he won’t stop until he has her.”
He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. Reinforcements were in order. I wasn’t sure where we’d put everyone, but we’d figure it out. I dialed Spider, hoping he’d be willing to send a few brothers our way. If he didn’t have anyone to spare, I’d hit some of the other clubs.
“Spider,” the other Pres said as he answered.
“Need your help, brother. Got a situation that requires more men than I currently have available.” I heard a squeal in the background and realized he was at home, probably spending time with his wife and daughter.
“How many you need?”
“Could you spare three?” I asked, knowing it was doubtful. Just depended on what the hell our Missouri chapter was facing right now.
“Not right now. I could send Cotton and maybe Hornet. You need more than that, I’d suggest you hit up the Devil’s Boneyard. Things have been quiet over that way so I’m sure they could spare a few men,” Spider said. “You know I’m not really handling this shit anymore, but I’ll do what I can. Holding Church in a few days and I’m officially stepping down. You’ll want to call Fox. I’m taking it to a vote, but I’m one hundred percent sure he’ll be stepping up as Pres and Rocket will mostly likely be the new VP.”
“Damn, brother. Lots of changes, but I get it. Appreciate the help. I’ll call them next, and if you can spare both Cotton and Hornet, that would be great. I’ll take anyone I can get.”
“What the hell are you up against now?” Spider asked.
“Honestly? We found out MaryAnne is being abused, so I have to send someone to bring her here. Galahad and one of the prospects nearly died when a deal went sideways. They’ll be out of commission for a while. Galahad needed surgery. I claimed a woman. Delilah. Her grandfather is bad news and I think he’s coming for her. Need extra protection. Also have some other shit I need to handle in the upcoming week. I’m spread too thin.”
“Sounds like you need an infusion of fresh blood,” Spider said.
“Just patched in Galahad not too long ago. Riley and Morgan both have a year in now. Morgan is laid up at the moment. Could take it to a vote and see if we’re going to patch them or let them go. The others are too new. Haven’t proven themselves yet.”
“How many Prospects will that leave you?”
“Three.”
“You can do just fine with three. Not going to tell you how to run your chapter, but if it were me, I’d patch in those other two. Long as you can trust them to have your back.”
“I trust them,” I said. “Still doesn’t give me enough manpower for right now. I’ll call the Devil’s Boneyard and start there. I won’t take any chances with Delilah’s safety.”
“Good luck,” Spider said, then hung up.
I scrolled through my contacts. I knew Cinder had stepped down as Pres, but I didn’t have Charming’s number in my phone. Instead, I called their VP, Scratch, and hoped he could help or at least give me the right number to call.
“Scratch,” he said as he answered.
“It’s Titan. I need some help. Wanted to call your Pres, but I don’t have Charming’s number. Still have Cinder in my phone.”
Scratch grunted and I heard a chair creak. “What kind of help?”
I explained what had happened, what I thought was heading our way, and that I needed a few extra hands. After a bit more discussion, he agreed to speak with Charming but didn’t see why they couldn’t help me out. I hung up, hoping to hear back soon. Until I knew for certain if the Devil’s Boneyard would send someone, I didn’t want to call around to any other clubs.
I rubbed at my eyes, trying to wipe away the headache. I needed to wade through more paperwork, hear back from Scratch, and then I could head home and see my woman. I signed off on the account transfers Pretty Boy recommended, looked over a contract for a potential security job, then decided I was done for the day. My phone rang just as I stood.
“Titan,” I said as I answered.
“It’s Charming. Heard you need some help. Samurai is
newly patched, but he’s a good kid. I’m sending him and Rooster your way. Should be there later tonight.”
“Appreciate it.”
“I talked to the Dixie Reapers this morning. I know your woman is related to a man they’d like to put six feet under. I’ll help in whatever way I can, not just to keep her safe, but to get rid of that asshole grandfather of hers.”
“You ever need anything, give me a call,” I said.
“Don’t worry. I will.” I could hear the smile in his voice, then the click as he hung up. Wasn’t a sound you heard that often anymore, but some of the clubs did still have at least one landline.
I stretched, my back cracking and popping. I locked up my office and headed for my bike out front. It was time to head home. I was a little surprised I hadn’t heard from Delilah all morning. Either she’d finally settled in a bit more, or she hadn’t settled enough that she felt comfortable interrupting me. Now that she’d met Phoebe, I’d hoped the two of them would become friends.
I started up my bike and pulled away from the clubhouse. There was no greater feeling than the wind in my hair, except for perhaps the tight clasp of my woman’s pussy. I grinned as I pulled into my driveway. Having Delilah in my bed was like having my own little porn star. Even though she wasn’t doing the webcam stuff anymore, she was a little hellcat in bed. There were so many things I wanted to explore with her.
When I stepped into the house, the first thing I noticed was the quiet. No TV. No music. I wandered through the lower level, not finding Delilah anywhere, or Barney for that matter. The little furball hadn’t even come to greet me. I climbed the stairs and went straight to our room, hoping that’s where I’d find her. Barney lay outside the bathroom door, stretched along the doorway. His ear twitched but otherwise he ignored me. I stripped off my cut and set it on the dresser before going into the bathroom.
Delilah lay in the tub, her head tipped back, eyes closed. Her chest rose and fell steadily. I leaned against the doorframe and smiled. Prettiest picture I’d ever seen. Whatever she’d used to make the water bubble up had started to dissipate and only a slight foam remained along the surface. Not enough to hide her body from me.
Moving closer, I knelt next to the tub and ran my fingers down her arm. She moaned slightly and turned her face to the side. I hadn’t noticed the dark smudges under her eyes before. Even though I kept her up most nights, I’d always let her sleep the next morning. I had to wonder if she was getting out of bed shortly after I left.
“Lilah,” I said, rubbing her arm a little firmer. “Wake up, baby.”
She murmured something and nearly slid down under the water. I caught her and held her up with one hand while I pulled the stopper on the tub with the other. The water gurgled as it went down the drain and still she didn’t stir. I reached over for her towel, yanking it off the counter, then managed to wrap it around her upper body before I hauled her from the tub.
She cuddled against me as I carried her into the bedroom. I didn’t give a shit if the sheets got a little wet. Easing her down onto the mattress, I gently dried her and tossed the towel aside. It only took a moment to strip out of my clothes. Crawling into the bed with her, I held her close and breathed in her scent.
Delilah clung to me. I ran my hand up and down her back, wondering how long she’d been sleeping in the tub. The water had been cold, and her skin held a chill. If she wasn’t careful, she’d either get sick or end up drowning. I didn’t want to think about her going under the water when I wasn’t around to catch her. We hadn’t been together very long, or known each other for an extended length of time, but I didn’t like the thought of not having her in my life anymore.
“Justin?” she asked, her voice slurred from sleep.
“Right here, baby. You can sleep some more.”
“So tired.” I felt the sigh of her breath against me and heard her even breathing. I wasn’t sure she’d even fully woken up for that little bit of talking.
If I hadn’t left my phone in my pants pocket, I’d message Bones and ask him to come check her over. I hadn’t heard of any illnesses going around other than the flu and she wasn’t running a fever, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure she wasn’t getting sick. I turned to my side and pulled her against my chest, kissing the top of her head.
“Rest, baby. I’ve got you.”
Had I scared her too much when I’d told her about her grandfather? Was that why she was so tired? Could she not sleep if I wasn’t here with her?
My phone rang but I refused to get up and answer it. I always put my club first. This one time I figured they could handle shit on their own, or wait until I was available. Delilah needed me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like being in bed with her. Didn’t matter it was the middle of the day.
The damn phone went off three more times before whoever it was got the hint and stopped calling. Delilah slept through it. My stomach growled and I knew I’d have to get up and eat at some point. Not knowing if she’d eaten anything, I didn’t like the idea of her sleeping the day away and not getting the nourishment she needed. No matter how much I wanted her, I’d keep my hands to myself tonight. It was clear she needed to sleep more than she needed to be fucked.
When I couldn’t handle the noise my stomach was making for another moment, I carefully got out of bed, pulling the covers over her. I yanked on my jeans, checked my phone, and went down to the kitchen with Barney on my heels. The missed calls were from a Prospect, which meant he’d probably called Boomer when he couldn’t reach me. I decided to check in just the same, and make sure whatever it was had been handled. Right after I let Barney out. I had no idea when he’d last gone outside and I didn’t want to add puddle cleanup to my to-do list for the day.
“What’s going on, Shay?” I asked when he picked up.
“Had some folks at the gate. Said they were here to see your woman.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. “Who were they?”
“Her parents, or so they said. Took a picture of their licenses and sent it over to Wizard. Haven’t heard back yet. Thought you’d want to know about it, though.”
“Thanks for calling. Boomer know what’s going on?”
“Yeah, I told the VP,” he said. “And Kraken.”
“You did good, Shay. My woman is resting. She’s looking a bit run-down. Can you send Bones this way? And if anyone needs me, make sure it’s an emergency.”
“You got it, Pres.”
The line went dead, and I put my phone away. The clock on the stove said it was nearly two in the afternoon. I didn’t see any dishes in the sink, so either Delilah hadn’t eaten breakfast, or she’d cleaned up after herself. I’d noticed she tended to keep things tidy so it was possible the dishes had been washed.
A quick look in the fridge and cabinets was enough of a reminder we needed to hit the grocery store soon. I managed to find a package of pasta, a jar of sauce, and a pound of ground beef that hadn’t expired just yet. It wasn’t perfect, but it would be filling. I knew Delilah would season the meat if she made it, but aside from salt and pepper I didn’t know a damn thing about seasoning shit. Phoebe had brought over a bunch of spices and such a while back, but I never used them. While the noodles cooked, I browned the meat and let the sauce warm on a back burner. One of the spice containers looked to be a blend of some sort. I sniffed it and decided it would work well enough with spaghetti, then sprinkled some over the meat while it cooked.
Barney barked and scratched at the back door, so I let him in. I got a treat down from the cabinet by the sink and gave it to him. He ran as fast as his short little legs would carry him and a moment later I heard him scrambling up the stairs.
I drained the noodles first so the grease from the meat wouldn’t coat them. Delilah always ran hot water in the sink before she drained ground beef so I did the same. Probably explained why I needed to have the kitchen sink unclogged about two or three times a year. I’d never thought to run hot water before, during, and after to wash the grease all the w
ay through the pipes.
I tossed the meat, sauce, and pasta together. After I pulled down two plates and glasses, got out some forks and shredded cheese, I left everything on the counter and went to check on Delilah. She still slept, which worried me. I sat on the edge of the bed and ran my fingers through her hair.
Barney nudged me with his cold nose, clearly worried about her too.
“Delilah, you need to get up. It’s time to eat.”
She murmured something I couldn’t understand and cracked her eyes open. She blinked at me like a sleepy owl before yawning and struggling to sit up. I wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her against my side.
“I don’t know why I can’t seem to wake up,” she said.
“I found you asleep in the tub. I dried you off and put you to bed, but you’ve been asleep for at least a few hours, possibly longer since both you and the water were cold.”
“I woke up sometime after you’d left and made it as far as the bathroom before I felt like I couldn’t stay awake. I went back to sleep and when I got up again I decided to take a bath.”
I held her tighter. “I’m going to have Bones take a look at you. He’s the closest thing we have to a doctor, but if you’d prefer an appointment in town, I’ll make it happen.”
“Bones is fine,” she mumbled.
I needed to tell her about her family showing up. I hadn’t checked in with Wizard yet, or gotten any more calls, but if her parents had come by once, they’d keep coming until they got to see their daughter. I knew it’s what I would do. Actually, I wouldn’t have been sent away in the first place.
“Your parents are here. At least, a couple came to the gate saying they were your parents. I haven’t checked with anyone yet to see if they really were. Would you like to have them over for a visit?” I asked.
She lifted her head, her eyes a little wider. “They’re here? Just the two of them? Or did my brothers come too?”
“No one mentioned your brothers, so I assumed it was just your parents.”
She patted the bed and looked around the room. “Where’s my phone? I need to call Mom.”