by KJ Dahlen
Sara stared at him. “What?”
“If you’d been home...” He gazed around at the pure hatred in all the destruction. “This person or persons might have killed you.”
“W-why would anyone w-want to kill me” she asked in a whisper more to herself than to him.
“I don’t know the answer. But Sara, you aren’t safe here. You also need help getting your house back in order. You need help to get the shop up and running.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Well, Mr. Obvious. There isn’t anyone.”
Hound felt surprised. “No family?”
She shook her head. “A brother that left town several years ago and never came back. My grandparents are dead. My parents died when I was like 2.”
Hound just stood there utterly floored. He had a huge family and the brothers at the MC. He could not imagine... “Well, you have help now,” it just slipped out of his mouth and into the air. He was going to help this girl. He had to. After what he’d done—he now needed to.
Her eyes rounded and she peered up at him. “What?”
He squared his shoulders. “I have family and an MC family.”
“So? That’s awesome for you, Mr. Moore.”
He winced again. Yes, he had been an ass before but no more. “We own Moore Construction and we can set this house to rights.”
Looking stunned again, Sara stepped back a little. “Oh, no. I can’t afford that!”
He stepped closer. “You don’t have to pay for—“
“Oh, hell no!” she snapped. “I always pay my bills and I have been on my own for three years. I don’t like owing anyone.”
“Listen, Sara.” He gentled his voice. “I was an asshole before, just like you said. I...”
“Oh, pity?” She raised her shoulders making those breasts pop up even from the sweater she wore. “I do not take charity. I do not ask for help that I cannot pay for!”
Wow... Hound was just shocked at her entire turnaround from a weeping mess to this spitfire woman. “Look it’s not charity.”
“Oh, it is! Pity too!” she shouted.
Hound looked around, as he wasn’t sure if one or more of those cops were within earshot then he said it, “You are my wife.” His lungs expelled all his breath as he actually stated this. He went on before he chickened out, “And as a Moore, you have family, resources and backup.”
Sara batted her eyes in utter confusion. “You must be out of your everlovin’ mind!”
Hound agreed with her but now he was in it and the Moore in him rose up to replace the non-committal man he’d become. “Maybe so. But no woman of mine is gonna—“
“Woman of yours?” she now shouted.
He intended to stand his ground on this, despite part of him wanting to agree with her, turn around and leave. He never wanted to be married or shackled like his brothers. He never saw the point but he would play on this to help her. “Yes, we had sex and were married. You know this as a fact. So, you are mine.”
She shook her head, eyes wide. “You are insane! That wasn’t real. We don’t even remember—”
Hound stepped close and took her hand, attempting the gentle approach again. “None of that matters. The facts matter.” Yes and the fact was still in his vest pocket. The certificate with both of their signatures. “It is even official on paper, Sara.” He would not tell her he was here because he was tracking her down to drag her to the courthouse to get this ended. Nope. She would never know that.
She was utterly silent but she stared at him with huge eyes as if she were shocked to muteness.
He reached into his vest and pulled his cell out.
Sara kept staring at him like he had grown two heads.
He tapped the screen then got an answer. “Dad?”
“Yeah son...got the goodies yet?” Black Jack joked.
“Umm, no. We got a situation”
“We do? What is it?’
“You know the bakery where I get those muffins?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, the owner...” He caught the wild look of disbelief on Sara’s face as he spoke, “She needs our help.”
“Okay,” Black Jack answered.
“I will be bringing her to the house.”
“Ok, son. Anything else?”
“Yeah, lots more but in person.”
“We’ll meet you,” his dad replied and hung up.
Yeah, that was Black Jack Moore. No questions. Just if it is... it is. He swiped his phone and looked at Sara. “So let’s go. Bring...” He looked around. “Fuck that. Let’s go.”
Now, she finally blinked and her mouth popped open.
At her expression, the tears, those expressive green eyes, Hound felt something odd inside. He could not fathom what but he reached out and gently shut her mouth with two fingers under her chin.
Shaking her head, she backed up. “No. Just no. I will not be going anywhere!”
Hound stepped closer again. “You will or this whole town will see me, with you over my shoulder as I forcibly take you home.”
If she could have fainted, he figured she might right this second, as she looked entirely lost. “You wouldn’t dare,” she whispered.
He stood closer... lips to lips with her. “I would.”
“Oh, my god! I am not your responsibility!”
“Well, babe. I got a piece of paper in my vest here...” He patted his pocket. “...that says different.”
Her gasping continued. “That—that is not legitimate and you know it!”
He shrugged and then took her hand. “As far as the law of the land is concerned, it is.” He tugged her forward. “You need a plan Sara. And you know this. How are you going to do all of this? Come on.” He pulled her out and down the destroyed hallway.
“Hey,” Barnes greeted as he was taking pictures in the living room.
Hound nodded at him. “I’m taking Sara to my family’s house.”
Barnes pulled his camera from his eyes and looked between them. “Oh?”
“Yes,” Hound told him.
“Good man.” Barnes smiled. Then turned to finish the picture taking.
“My brothers will be arriving this afternoon too, so heads up.”
Barnes halted now and looked up. “All the brothers?”
Hound shrugged. “Maybe.”
His eyes rounded. “Well, shit.” He looked over at a bewildered Sara. “This will all be set right pretty damn quick then, Miss Bassette.”
Sara said nothing. She just shook her head as if she didn’t know what the hell to say.
“It’s Mrs. Moore,” Hound blurted out before he even thought about it. Fuck. This guy didn’t need to know that. Dammit, maybe she was right. He was crazy, or the hangover had made him loopy or some shit.
Barnes stared at him in shock. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, really.” Hound wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He might as well come clean now, as he knew he would have to later to his family in any case. “So she has the Moores and the Sin’s.”
“Well, hot damn there, Duggan!” Barnes chuckled. “Congrats, man.” He looked over at a still mute Sara. “And to you too, Mrs. Moore.”
Sara finally opened her mouth to speak, “It’s not—not what you think.”
Hound shook his head. “You need sleep babe and a shower. Have you eaten anything?”
Her mouth shut into a firm line and her glittering eyes told him she wanted to yell at him, maybe punch him in the face too.
Hound laughed, as he couldn’t help it. This was all insane, but strangely, he found himself almost looking forward to her argument in fact. His brothers said he was a boring man of routine. Every day the same damn thing. Now instead of dreading it, he couldn’t wait to see their faces when all the Moores gathered.
With a grin, he never thought he would be wearing today...Hound tugged her hand again, leading her outside to his cycle.
Chapter Four
Sara stood in front of his large Harley. “You want me to get on..
. that huge thing?”
Hound gave her a crooked smile. “You could have asked that same thing last night.”
Her eyes swung up to his face. This man was insane. That was already a done deal in her mind. Funny, how he seemed sane all this time when he came into the shop, but he surely was not normal.
This morning, he was enraged that he was married to her and accusing her of orchestrating it. Now, he was going around announcing their so called nuptials to strangers. Well, Barnes wasn’t that as he and all the Troy police came into her shop, but really to just act like they’d agreed to be married and like it was natural. When they both knew it was not at all.
“Very funny,” she finally replied. “But I’m in this stupid dress.” She motioned down at herself.
Hound swung those dark blues over her so called dress. “Stupid? I like it.”
She tossed her hands up. “Of course you do, only floozies on a street corner would wear it!”
He blinked in confusion. “But you’re wearing it.”
“It isn’t mine!”
He now looked even more lost. “What?”
“It is not my dress. See, that is the odd part...” She paused and let out another exasperated breath. “Just one of many, mind you. I did not buy this dress nor was it ever in my closet.”
Hound shook his head. “So you had this dress on when we...or when—”
“Never mind!” The man was going to make her lose it all over again. “That is not my point right now. I can’t ride on that bike in a damn dress.”
“Why not? It’s only across town.” He stared at her.
“Because... well, I’m not wearing any...” Dammit, why was he even here and she was having to explain this?
“Any?”
She leaned close. “There were no panties in that motel room,” she whispered.
He tucked his head back. Then looked lost. Then he grinned.
“Oh, my god, I am so gonna slap that stupid grin from your face!”
Hound stepped back as if he believed her. “Ok, ok. Well...” He motioned to his bike, then got on while swinging a powerful thigh over the frame. “Get on, I don’t mind, your um...sweet parts on my bare seat.”
Her eyes again rounded. “Are you flirting with me or insulting me? I mean I can’t tell which.”
He started his bike up without answering but kept that smirk.
The cycle had such a loud roar that she wouldn’t be able to hear him anyway, even if he did answer, but the smirk said it all. Where was the mean asshole from this morning? The one who didn’t even remember who she was and then had accused her of lying.
Disgusted, she took a step forward and then got on behind him. The seat did meet her... bare skin. Oh, I cannot believe the depths I have sunk to. First waking up hungover in a motel room with this biker, then finding out she married him and never knew about it. Then coming home to... She closed her eyes and leaned her head onto his wide shoulder as she held onto his waist while he turned bike around.
Hound drove through the side streets, all the way across town.
Sara was feeling highly...well, uncomfortable. The rumbling of the bike was shimmying across her... bare sweet parts and she wanted to squirm at the sensation that felt a bit too good. It was like riding a vibrator. Yes, she had one of those, she wasn’t a nun, though she had been celibate to the point of virginity. She shook the thought of that ugly loss away and tried to readjust herself so it wouldn’t rub her like that. Oh, my god! The seat is now wet! Oh, no... if he sees that? She bit at her lip.
Fighting panic yet again today, she looked up to see where they were now. This part of town was better built, newer and just cleaner than where she lived.
Finally, they barreled up a long street then he slowed in front of a huge house with a very large triple wide driveway. This place made her small dwelling look like an outhouse or something.
Pulling into a long driveway, he shut the engine off.
Sitting up straighter, her gaze rose up to the 3 story house. “Wow.”
“Yeah, we built it for our parents. They deserved it.”
She paused at the reverence in his voice. “Deserved it?”
“Yeah.” He said nothing more.
‘Ok, so what am I doing here at your parent’s house?”
He turned to look over his shoulder at her. “I told you already.”
“No, no you really didn’t.”
He let out a sigh.
Suddenly, a rumbling noise sounded from down the street.
Suddenly, Sara realized she was still sitting on his bike bare butted, so she hopped off. Then she saw the wet spot and her face flamed. Jerking her gaze away so he wouldn’t see her staring at it, she instead stared across the large lawn to the street as she moved up closer and rubbed the damp spot from the leather seat with the bottom of her sweater.
Hound kicked his stand down and got off too, so she had to stop and step back.
The rumble turned into a roar and Sara looked down the street again. At least 8 cycles all rode in pairs of two.
“My brothers and my dad,” Hound told her.
“You have this many brothers?” she asked.
“Yeah, well...” He leaned out to look, as the bikes got closer. “Three of them are, then my dad. Then yeah, our president, the president’s dad and the VP then oh yeah, our enforcer.”
Sara stared at him. “So why are they all coming here?”
Hound turned around to look at her. “Well, they all need to know what happened.”
Sara placed her hands on her hips, and asked, “What?”
“To us, to you.”
She opened her mouth to tell him no way would she be telling a bunch of strangers her business, but the load roaring cut off anything she wanted to say.
The bikes all pulled into the lengthy driveway that could in fact hold all of them plus maybe 10 other vehicles. She realized it was built that way on purpose.
The cycles all powered down, one by one.
The huge men sitting on those bikes, all paused to stare at her.
Sara gasped and closed the long sweater. Talk about daunting. These guys were that. Most were handsome like in the roughest way and even the older ones were good looking men. But she sure did not want to be seen in the street walker dress.
They all kicked their stands and got off the bikes.
“Ok, here we go,” Hound stated.
Sara glanced over at him. “Go? What do you mea—?”
“Hey kid!” one of the men who walked up, called to Hound. Very large, older man with a skull and cross bones tat on his upper arm strolled toward them.
“Bones,” Hound greeted with a nod.
Then a younger man with dark hair and intense eyes came up to stand next to ‘Bones.’ “Hound.” He nodded then swung his gaze over. “Ms. Bassette.”
Oh, Sara knew him now. One of the best paying clients her bakery ever had. Six dozen a day, five days a week. “Oh gosh, Hello Mr. Tory.”
“Deke,” he said.
“Ok, hello Deke.”
An older man that was even large than either of these men came up now. “So, Miss Sara of the heavenly muffins. How can we help you?”
She blinked. “I umm...”
“This is Black Jack Moore, my dad. Sara,” Hound said.
“Oh, ok. Nice to meet you.” She nodded politely.
The other men were standing there too, as Hound introduced them, “This is Gambler, Judge and Raine. My brothers.” Then he referred to the rest, “This is Deke, as you know, his dad Bones and Gator the Sin’s VP. And Wiley our...well, enforcer.”
Wiley shook his dark head. “Don’t believe a word he says.” He chuckled.
Sara glanced over at Hound. “Believe me. I don’t.”
The men all looked curious or confused by her statement.
“Ok, let’s take it into the house brothers,” Black Jack piped in. “Molly has coffee and those donuts you all love so much.”
“Great!” Bones looked
happy as he headed in.
They all moved ahead to the huge front door.
Sara stood where she was as she stared at the impressive if somewhat scary group of men.
Hound cleared his throat. “Sara?”
She swung her gaze over.
He swept his arm in front of him. “Let’s go in now, ok?”
Se pouted. “But why? I don’t understand any of this.”
“You will. Now come on.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her along.
Her anger flared now. “You are bossy and I do not even know you. Where do you get off—”
He tugged harder to get her to move faster. “Husband, remember?”
Sara halted and fought his tugging. “You are sooo not going to tell them!”
He nodded. “I sooo am.” He tugged her harder.
Well, she lost the tug o war as he was stronger and had a grip of real power, so she unwillingly followed.
The interior was beautiful, yet simple. Not mansion like but country home like. All wood, brick and glass. God, it was a beautiful home. “Y-you guys built this?”
“Sure, we did!” one of his brother replied. “Gambler,” he added as he caught her confused look.
“Well, it is stunning,” she replied.
His gaze moved over to his brother Hound then down at the handholding. He raised a brow.
“Later,” Hound grouched. “You will know all of it... later.”
Gambler shrugged.
One of his other brothers smiled at her. “Just like to say your baked good are the best in the world.”
She smiled back. “Thank you um...”
“Judge.” He nodded, as he too, glanced at the handholding.
Sara finally tugged her hand out of Hound’s loosened grip.
Judge and Gambler glanced at each other.
“Stop gawking you two! It’s god dammed rude.” Black Jack stepped up. “Molly has everything ready. Come on and let’s get this dealt with.”
Gambler and Judge looked over at Hound.
Hound glared back. “You heard him.”
They both just smirked and went on into the other room.
Sara was trying to keep up, but she had no idea what was happening.
They stepped through a huge living room that had more couches and oversized stuffed chairs than she had ever seen in one room except a furniture showroom floor. She could not help but to stare at it all.