Charlie: Northern Grizzlies (Book 4)

by M. Merin

  My throat feels swollen and I’m unable to do anything but grab his shoulder. Never even knew he’d been married.

  “Something you said to Emma once,” Gunner’s voice sounds pained. “Your wife’s father was quick with his fists, huh?”

  “Ugly yet smart, Gunner,” Roy tries for humor. “You really are the full package. You and Riley trying for a baby?”

  “Huh? Oh, no. She’s gonna finish her degree. Ri only took the one class this summer, then fall term starts a few weeks after the wedding. She should finish in May. Never thought about a family before her, but I don’t want to rush her.” Gunner keeps talking, helping to change the topic.

  “You, Charlie, and Connal trying?” Roy asks next.

  “Uh huh,” I respond, looking out the window; not telling them about our news at this stage.

  “Haven’t heard Royce complain about her lately,” Roy looks at me, but Gunner answers instead.

  “He probably figured out that Charlie will be running the place in ten years.”

  “Ten?” I question, knowing the drive she has. “She started working on custom paint jobs this week. Riley is talking about setting up a website about what Charlie and Connal can do.”

  “Okay, now I gotta ask…” Roy spends the remaining drive drilling us; doesn’t take me long to know he’s fishing for who we see stepping up to run the MC. I have ideas but need to test the guys before I’ll speak up.

  Getting to the lodge, Roy goes in and pays for two nights in a cabin. The rest of the night we alternate sleeping, just waiting for Deb to show up; she’s due mid-morning.

  We’re all on edge when she arrives. She hurries from a broken down car straight inside. Roy is roughly Frank’s size and with the lights off she’s almost to him before she notices who’s in front of her.

  “Is he dead?” She asks softly.

  “No,” Gunner says from behind her. She spins around and reaches up to slap him.

  “You did this, you did all of this. I fucked you whenever you wanted it and you threw me away.” She hisses at him.

  “Let’s get something straight. You were fucking lots of guys. I never promised you shit and told you to cut out the H. That’s on you.” Gunner says calmly.

  “And that rich cunt you’re with now, I found her dad’s number. I’m gonna…fuck!” Her back was to Roy and he quickly approached her, sliding a needle into her thigh, near the line of her shorts.

  “Come for a little walk with me,” Roy quietly says. I nod that there’s no one in sight outside and he guides her to the passenger seat of her car. She’s stumbling as she leaves. “Unlock your phone now, Debbie.”

  Roy drives away with her; we know where to meet him. We spend the next hour wiping down every inch of the room; hang the Do Not Disturb sign up and, again, watch for people walking around before we get into the truck.

  Chapter 33

  Charlie

  “Are you sure he’ll be alright?” I ask for the third time. Connal keeps waking up whenever I do; he knows I’m stressed since Jake isn’t home with us. I can’t even imagine how Riley is feeling right now, but she texted me when she got to Flint and Bree’s house; so I know she’s in good hands.

  “Look at me,” Connal pulls my face up so our eyes are even. “Baby girl, he’ll be back and loving up on you as soon as he can. Neither of us wants you to get worked up right now…”

  “Well, then don’t go riding off without…” I nearly yell before I stop myself. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Connal.”

  “Hush now,” He pulls me closer. “Let me see if I can figure out how to distract you.”

  Moving down my body, he gives me his sexy grin before burying his face in my folds. He tries his damnedest to distract me, I’ll give him that.

  At work the next day, I keep rolling out from under cars whenever I hear a bike approaching.

  “Baby Girl?” Connal starts quietly. “I need you to focus; he’s going to be…”

  “There he is!” I call out, hugging Connal before walking out, watching Jake’s approach. Connal follows me, rubbing my lower back.

  “Want to take off?” He asks.

  “No, you’re backed up and you were right,” I look up at him. “I wasn’t focused, I’m sorry.”

  Jake parks in front of us and I’m quickly in his arms.

  “I was so scared!” I whisper into his ear.

  It’s going to happen, time to time,” He says, in between kisses. “Connal and I won’t do trips at the same time though, ok?”

  “I left my cell at the clubhouse. I’ll swing home and pick up the truck so I can drive you home tonight, alright?” He pulls back from me after a dozen more kisses; I just nod, knowing I have to get back to work.

  *

  The next weeks fly by and despite some speculation, Riley never morphs into Bridezilla.

  “All set?” I ask, after getting word from her Gram that it was time.

  “Were you this nervous?” Riley looks at me and I nod.

  “Times two,” I respond, getting a laugh from the bride and Bree.

  “Come on, Gram is ready to walk you down the aisle.”

  “Thank you both, for all you’ve done.” Riley clasps our hands.

  “Riley!” Bree’s unusually sharp voice gets our attention. “No crying. You can get as mushy as you want after the wedding and pictures, but not now.”

  “Ok! Let’s go,” She laughs in response.

  Walking down the makeshift aisle first, I grin at Connal standing beside Flint and Gunner. The three are in black pants and dress shirts with their cuts on. Jake gives me a big wink from his seat near Wrench. Gunner looks impatient; more than likely because Riley’s Gram insisted she stay here last night. She also threatened to call the police about a trespasser if he showed up and I wouldn’t put it past her to do that.

  Gunner

  I know they meant well, and probably wanted the girls for themselves but I was not impressed that some of my Brothers had a dozen strippers at the clubhouse last night.

  Avoided them, trying to spend time with the guys for an hour before I headed out, passing on Connal and Jake’s offer to head back to their house; I knew seeing them with Charlie would make me miss Riley even more. I stayed up most the night texting Riley.

  Grinning to myself, remembering the sexts my Sweetheart was sending me; even after I told her about the strippers. Today, I just wanted to dart upstairs to kiss her but Gram wasn’t having that either. Finally, the music starts and after Charlie and Bree make it up the aisle, there she is.

  In a mid-length, green dress, my beautiful Riley beams at me while keeping pace with her Gram. I just can’t take any more though. I walk towards her, meeting her halfway and kissing that lip gloss right off of her.

  “You keep your word to me, Alex,” Mrs. R warns before placing Riley’s hand in mine. I kiss the old bird on her forehead, startling a laugh out of her and covering the fact that I’m unable to speak right now.

  Riley loves me. She’s binding herself to me and I’m so overwhelmed with emotion I kiss my Sweetheart once more ~ until the Reverend clears his throat.

  “Someone likes to have his dessert first, I see?” He starts, getting our friends laughing at me. “Bring her on over here, son, I’ll keep it short.”

  Twenty minutes later, Riley is officially my wife.

  Mrs. Riley has a bar set up along with a full dessert spread, in addition to the wedding cake I had picked out. We introduce my half-sisters and a couple buddies from the Corps to our friends. I just can’t stop grinning at the thought of Riley Sorenson.

  Leaving Gram’s house some time later, I look across the street and nearly stumble. My father is standing by a truck, watching us. Though not as tall as I am, it’s always been crazy to me how much alike we look. Following my glare, Riley gasps; not needing to be told who he is.

  “Should we say hello?” She asks softly.

  “No, Sweetheart,” I kiss her forehead to soften the tone of voice I used, then lead her to my bike. Lo
oking back to him, he nods to me before we ride away.

  Chapter 34

  Connal

  Jake and I are the worse for wear the morning after Gunner and Riley’s wedding; Charlie takes care of us the best she can. Mainly with her pancakes or coffee; we spend the day on the couch or in bed.

  Monday comes quickly and as Vice is swamped with work; Jake is on multiple projects while I have the Garage closed today. Charlie and I were just about to get down to business when there’s a knock on the door. Swearing, but resisting her plea to ignore it; I pull my boxers on and head out to answer it.

  “Just be a minute, Baby Girl!” I call over my shoulder right before opening the door.

  “Connal!” Jake’s sister Tabby is standing on our doorstep. “I only see one bike, is Jake here?”

  “Uh, no,” I stutter. “Did he know you were coming?”

  “I left him a voicemail when I found out that I…”

  “Connal, who is it?” Charlie calls out a moment before we can see her. She’s still fastening the belt on her robe and it’s pretty obvious she’s naked underneath.

  “What the hell?!” Tabby’s face has darkened and her head is swiveling between Charlie and me.

  “Tabby! What are you doing here?” Charlie starts towards her, stopping short when she sees the look of disgust on Tabby’s face. “Did Jake know?”

  “Looks like there are a couple things Jake doesn’t know!” Tabby growls at us before turning to her SUV, that looks packed to the gills. “How could either of you do this to him?”

  “Tabby,” I finally find my tongue. “It’s not what you think. Just come inside and we’ll call Jake.”

  “Oh, I’m calling him alright! Until he answers his goddamn phone, this time!” She yells as she slams her car door.

  “Shit, Connal,” Charlie crosses to where her phone is charging. “Let me try to get him.”

  She dials him twice before sending a text. “Can you try Vice? See if he can get Jake to call us?”

  I nod immediately and walk to the bedroom to grab my phone. Fuck. Of all the damn people to show up.

  I stop, hearing Charlie’s phone ringing.

  “Jake!” She answers as I walk back out to wrap an arm around her. “Tabby’s here. She showed up and we didn’t have a lot of clothes on. Damn! That’s probably her calling you…”

  Charlie leans into me, listening to him.

  “No, she’s in her truck at the end of the driveway. She wouldn’t come in. I mean, of course, since she thought we were cheating on you…” Silence on her end. “Okay, we’ll see you soon. I’m sorry, Jake.”

  “He’s going to call her then come home,” She fills me in before turning fully into my arms.

  “It’ll be alright, Charles,” I rub her back and wonder again why Tabby was on our doorstep. Looking down towards the road, her SUV finally pulls out of our driveway; heading towards town.

  Jake

  I feel like shit for bailing on the job; knowing that Tabs had left me some voicemails, I just never got around to listening to them. Hanging up with Charlie, I call my sister next.

  “Jake?” Shit, she’s crying so she’s going to babble. “Oh my God, I’m at your house. I’m so sorry. I don’t think you got my messages?”

  “Tabitha!” I snap to get her attention. “Everything is alright. Go back inside and wait for me. I’ll explain when I get there.” God knows how she’ll take the truth.

  “You don’t understand! Connal and that little whore are sleeping together.” She sobs out. “I’m so sorry, Jake; but it’s true.”

  “Tabby, don’t call her that! Let me explain. Just don’t drive when you’re upset,” I plead, knowing how she can get. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  Hanging up, I race back to the house. Tabby’s nowhere in sight but Charlie runs out when I pull up close to the door.

  “She left,” My wife wraps her arms around me before I can even get off my hog. “Right after we talked, she took off.”

  “It’s okay, I’ll track her down.” I’m finally able to nudge Charlie back and, sliding off my bike, I swing her up into my arms. “How’s Mrs. Forsythe doing otherwise?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to your mom since we got home,” She says, narrowing her eyes at me. “Let’s deal with this Jake.”

  “We will,” I nod at Connal as I walk straight past him towards the bedroom. “I think we should deal with it naked. Then it won’t seem so bad.”

  “Jake,” Charlie laughs at me. “Focus!”

  “I think you’ll find me very focused. How about you, Connal?” I look over my shoulder to see him leaning against the doorway as I work to undress us. Going after Tabby is pointless until she cools down, and Charlie’s just getting warmed up.

  “Incredibly focused,” He says; approaching the bed he grabs the lube from the nightstand. “Want both of us, Baby Girl?”

  “But…” Charlie’s face is flushed now and I know she’s torn.

  “That’s what I was hoping for, actually,” Connal smirks at her, intentionally misunderstanding.

  I pull Charlie on top of me and nearly hum into her mouth as my fingers slide into her warm, wet puss. Knowing she’s ready for me, I shift to slowly enter her welcoming slit.

  “You always feel so good, Baby,” I moan, spreading my legs to allow for Connal to minister to her rosebud. “Relax for him?”

  “Please,” Charlie begs, trying to move faster on my dick. “Fill me, Connal.”

  I hold her in place as he enters her and quickly sets a demanding pace; our hands jockey for position on her breasts and his thrusts drive her up and down the length of my cock. Before long her screams are nearly deafening.

  Feeling her tight pussy contract all around me never fails to pull me over the edge; I slam my mouth over hers, pouring my love for her into this second connection.

  “Fuck! Oh, yeah, Baby Girl,” Connal shouts from behind her, clasping her hips for a final few thrusts. Pulling her back, he turns her head to claim her lips next. “Love you.”

  Just as they fall to my side, panting; we hear someone pounding on the door. Charlie groans, covering her face with a pillow.

  “We need a gate, Jake,” Connal laughs while reaching for a shirt. “A big one.”

  “I’ll get it,” I volunteer, pulling my jeans on. “Help Charlie.”

  I walk, angling to look out the window, getting a view of the Sheriff’s truck and I sigh in annoyance.

  “Got another warrant, Michaels?” I growl at him when I open the door, zippering my jeans as an afterthought.

  “Naw, no warrant,” He replies slowly, leaving no doubt there’s no love lost between us.

  “Bye, then,” I move to close the door but he sticks his boot out, holding it open.

  “Everything alright, Jake,” At Charlie’s voice, Michaels’ eyes flick behind me and his frown deepens.

  “Seems I could ask you that also, Miss Scott, is it?” He asks her, looking between the disheveled state Connal, Charlie and I are all in.

  “Mrs. Forsythe, now, Sheriff,” Charlie smiles and puts a hand on my back.

  “Well, congratulations!” He smiles right back at her. “See, I knew I’d heard that name recently. Just now, I was taking a nap in my cruiser a couple miles from here…”

  “Why don’t you get back to that?” I say, putting more pressure on the door until he pushes it firmly open.

  “You can’t quite see it from the way I parked but a big SUV sideswiped me and tore my mirror off, then hit a tree,” OK, now he has our attention. “Most people, well, most sober people; they hit a cop car and they’re nice as pie. But this person gets out before I can clear my head and doesn’t she start yelling at ME?

  “Doing my job, I tried to get her ID and make sure she was alright. Then, didn’t this crazy BITCH slap me?” He ends with a growl. “And you can fucking quote me on that because her mouth ain’t stopped yet. I got her secured and took a gander at her ID, and isn’t her fucking name Forsythe.�
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  Chapter 35

  Jake

  I lean around him and sure enough, my baby sister is glaring in our direction from the back seat of his truck.

  “Now, I know all you Grizzlies think I’m a stupid motherfucker; and since you keep trying to slam the door on me, Mr. Forsythe, why don’t I just lock her up instead of releasing her to you?” Fuck, he’s gonna make me beg.

  “Sheriff,” Charlie moves to stand between us. “I’m really sorry. We didn’t know Tabby was coming and there was a huge misunderstanding.”

  Charlie

  Thinking he has no reason to dislike me, I quickly intercede; trying to calm him down. His eyes flick back to me and I can see he’s trying to get a read on me, but still hasn’t made the leap as to why Connal is here with us.

  “I’ve only met her once before, and yes, she is a talker,” I give him a small shrug. “Well, most people are if you compare them to Jake. Really, Sheriff, I upset her and then, I can imagine she was shaken by the crash? Are you alright? Do you need aspirin?”

  “Come to the vehicle with me for a moment, Mrs. Forsythe,” He requests, finally turning away; expecting me to follow.

  “No,” Connal snaps, but I follow the Sheriff anyway.

  Both of them stay on the porch, watching me closely. When Michaels reaches the driver’s side of his truck, he stops to stare at me and I do start to get a little nervous about him putting the truck between us and the porch.

  “Are you safe here? Do you need me to get you away from here?” He asks in a low voice and it takes me a moment to comprehend what he’s implying.

  “No!” My hand flies up to my mouth as I almost scream the word at him. “My God, they would never hurt me.”

  “They?” He frowns at me again. “By ‘they’, do you mean your husband and McKay, or the MC?”

  “Sheriff, honestly, I’m safe here,” I insist, looking over as Jake and Connal slowly move down the steps. Turning to have a line of sight on us all, Michaels’ eyes seem to flick between the four of us.