Hard Mistake (Notus Motorcycle Club Book 4)

by Debra Kayn

  "Lieutenant Gomez hasn't called you back?" She put her feet on the wooden deck.

  "No." He reached over and scooped her hand up in his, offering support. "We probably won't hear anything until tomorrow. Same goes for Galeeno."

  "The wait is the hardest part," she said softly, holding onto his hand.

  "You don't have to wait alone." He raised her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  The comfort he gave her was not given to every client or the family members of the police cases Notus helped out on. He understood it wasn't fair to take advantage of her. She wasn't thinking about herself or him. All her focus was on Rachel.

  Dusk turned to darkness. The crickets sang. He'd always enjoyed the night. It was one of the reasons why he preferred a woman's company in the evenings. Ladies lost their inhibitions under the mask of darkness.

  He looked over at Erikka and found her eyes closed. "You need to go to bed."

  "I'm only resting my eyes." She peeked out from between her lashes. "They burn."

  "Because you haven't slept." He tugged her hand and stood her up. "Go inside and go to bed. No arguing, just lay there if that's all you can do."

  He followed her inside, locked up the house, and went up to his office alone. Not bothering to turn on the light, he sat at the computer and turned on the screen. Thinking about Erikka's situation thrust him into dwelling on Rich. Life was fucking short, and he'd lost precious time with someone who was closer than family.

  There was no way to make up twenty-five years to someone or take the years of pain away from his Notus brothers.

  Forcing himself to concentrate on the work ahead of him, he transferred Moore's record to a new file. Tomorrow morning, he'd print out the sheets when he knew the printer wouldn't wake up Erikka.

  He stretched his back. The odds were pointing to a man who'd probably skipped out with another woman, and when they found proof and told the wife, Notus would break her heart.

  That wasn't their motive.

  They'd find the guy, threaten him enough to scare him straight, and he'd go back to his family with the urge to cheat out of his system. For a while. Men like Brad Moore never stayed monogamous for long.

  A soft knock behind him grabbed his attention. He whirled around on the chair and found Erikka standing in a long nightdress. His gaze fell to her hips, outlined by the hallway light behind her.

  "I just wanted to tell you it's silly for you to sleep on the couch. You're too big." She folded her arms, taking away his peep show.

  He inhaled deeply, stretched his legs out, and hooked his hands behind his head. "It's the only other place to lay my head, sweetheart. I'll do fine."

  Her head tilted. "You have a king size bed. We can share. It's the least I can do after all the work you're doing for me."

  While the thought of spending another night on the couch had no appeal to him, he also understood he'd have a sleepless night being in the same bed as Erikka. He wanted her, and he wasn't in the habit of being in the same bed with a woman without sex being involved. Hell, he couldn't remember a time where that had ever happened.

  "Please," she said. "It'd make me feel better knowing you could get a good night's rest before tomorrow."

  "Okay." He cleared his throat. "Go jump back in bed. I need to take a shower, and then I'll be in."

  She turned and walked out of sight. He let his head fall back and closed his eyes. All that sweetness wrapped into a body with curves to soften his load, and he couldn't do a damn thing with her.

  Life had a hell of a way of showing him what he wanted and keeping it from him.

  Chapter 13

  Incessant beeping interrupted the calmness Erikka finally found. She stretched her legs. The combination of softness and roughness caressing her skin opened her eyes. The firm pillow underneath her cheek rose and fell. She held her breath, blinking to clear the sleep from her vision and spotted a masculine, broad hand hanging over her shoulder near her chin.

  Chuck.

  She'd invited him back into his bed because he deserved to sleep in comfort. Wide awake with the reality of rolling toward him during the night, she held her breath. She'd sought the comfort that he made so welcoming during their waking hours with his attention to her well-being.

  It wasn't him holding her. Sure, he had his arm around her, probably seeking a comfortable position since she'd planted herself tight to his side. Her right leg wrapped around his thigh. His warmth heated her between the legs. She exhaled and moved her fingers, barely noticeable, but she'd pinpointed her hand's location by the rough line of hair on his lower abdomen.

  Oh Lord, how was she going to remove herself without him noticing?

  His arm underneath her shifted and his hand raised in front of her face before landing on her head. "I need to get up and get ready for work." He kissed her hair. "Keep sleeping."

  Her comfortable male body pillow left the bed. She waited until the shower came on down the hallway and flopped to her back and groaned. Reality was like a dunking in cold water.

  Today was a big day.

  Galeeno and Sons would arrive in Cabo. Hopefully, Lieutenant Gomez would have more information to give her hope. Notus would make sure all the teams working to bring Rachel home kept searching toward finding her.

  Pushing herself out of bed, she searched for her clothes and dressed before Chuck could walk into the bedroom and catch her naked. More positive than last night, she was thankful Notus had agreed to work for her after her brief panic yesterday that they were stopping. Their help was worth losing the Bails Bonds business.

  She'd spend her life making fries at McDonald's if she could have Rachel back home, safe and sound.

  Her phone rang. Startled, she swiped the screen to answer without looking at the number.

  "Hello?" she said.

  "Miss Levenson, this is Teegan Markham." Without taking a breath, Mr. Markham continued. "I'm sure by now you're aware of my meeting with Notus Motorcycle Club and my gracious twenty-four hours to let you find out the location of your sister and Tony Stoddard."

  She looked up, hoping Chuck would walk through the doorway and fill her in on what was going on. He hadn't told her about any agreement.

  "I've heard there's been a clue to their location," said Mr. Markham. "Where are they?"

  She hurried out of the room. Knowing exactly where Chuck's bathroom was because she had the same floor plan at her house, she barged past the closed bathroom door and removed the phone from her ear and pressed the screen against her stomach.

  "It's Markham. He wants to know where Rachel and Stoddard are located." She hyperventilated in her panic.

  Chuck held his hand out. She put the cell in his palm and mouthed, "Don't tell him."

  She'd gladly hand over Stoddard once she had her sister home, not a second before. That's after she killed Stoddard. It would make her happy to drag his dead body away and let Markham dump the asshole.

  "This is Chuck." Chuck's intense gaze penetrated Erikka's terror.

  Markham was powerful and scary, knowing information that was classified to her sister's case.

  Chuck said, "I don't know what you've heard, but your sources are wrong."

  She closed her eyes an extra beat, relief that he was handling the situation. Reaching out to him, she held onto his bicep, giving him all the strength and support she could muster as thanks for helping her.

  "That's not going to happen." Chuck's mouth hardened.

  She frowned, wanting to know what was being said on the other end of the conversation. Rachel was her sister. Mr. Markham had to leave her alone. None of this had to do with him. If he wanted Stoddard, he'd have to wait his turn.

  Chuck disconnected the call without another word. Her adrenaline spiked. "What did he say?"

  "You can't go to work."

  She shrugged, shaking her head. "So? I don't care about that today."

  "Sweetheart, Markham informed me your building was broken into and thrashed." He cupped her neck, holding her in f
ront of him.

  "He did it, again," she said, spitting out the accusation. "I don't care. I don't care about any of this anymore. If he wants to ruin everything, hurt me, kill me, whatever. He is not going to keep Notus from finding Rachel. That's what's important."

  "I'll make some calls and get some guys over there to board everything up, make the building secure. We can deal with the damage afterward." He pulled her to his chest. "Stay at my house for today."

  She pressed her cheek against his warm skin, fresh from the shower. "I need to call my clients and...and contact Green Bonds and see if they'll absorb some of our work. At least the open cases for now because I can't leave them hanging. The clients will need to make their court dates. There are two probation officers I need to verbally sign off with, and I'm sure I can do that over the phone."

  Chuck cleared his throat. She raised her head.

  "I need to get dressed," he said, his even huskier voice snapped her out of creating her to-do list.

  She stepped away, and it became abundantly clear to her when minutes before she hadn't even noticed that in her hurry to find Chuck, she'd walked in on him naked.

  He made no move to cover himself. She gazed over his broad chest, his hard stomach, and knowing she should walk out and give him privacy, she couldn't stop her gaze from going lower.

  Chuck was a beautiful man. Rugged, big, strong, confident, and she wished she could remember every second of cuddling against him last night because it was the most pleasurable experience she'd had in forever.

  She bit her lower lip in fascination as her attention got a reaction out of him and his cock hardened. From impressive to overwhelming, his body grew harder, bigger, stronger.

  "Erikka?"

  "Yeah?" she said, unable to gaze away from what was happening in front of her.

  "I'm trying hard..." He exhaled harshly. "I'm just a man, sweetheart. You looking at me like that, and remembering how you stayed here overnight and pressed against me for the last seven hours is catching up to me."

  His confession snapped her attention up to his face. "You've been holding this back?"

  Stupid.

  Stupid.

  Stupid.

  Why would she say that out loud?

  He dipped his chin and rubbed his neck to hide his amusement, but she witnessed it at the corner of his mouth where his whiskers thickened, hiding his grin, and for a fleeting second, she knew without a doubt that area covered with beard hid a dimple. "Another time, different circumstances, and I would've woke you up differently this morning."

  Her brows lifted and she quickly looked away. "I'll leave you to get dressed."

  She looked back as she scooted out of the room because she wasn't sure she'd have another chance to see him stripped down to his skin, lust in his eyes, and wanting her. Swallowing hard, she turned and hurried back to the bedroom, hotter and more bothered than she'd ever been.

  Chuck was right. She couldn't be attracted to someone now. There was no extra energy to be given to someone else.

  Needing to keep busy, she made the bed, fluffing each pillow until they looked inviting. Chuck entered the bedroom. She turned around, putting their mishap behind them.

  He held out his hand. "Here's your phone."

  "Thanks." She stared down at her cell. All the numbers she'd need were there, but the news of the break-in at Bails Bond hit her. What if her computers and files were destroyed? Would there be any evidence in the security tapes?

  "I used your phone to call Wayne. He's called a couple of off-duty policemen to meet Gomez at the building. They'll secure everything, and then come here to talk with you and fill you in on what they've found." He blew out his breath. "Hate to do this now, but I need to go to work. I'll have my phone on me. Call if you need me. I'll make sure someone comes to you if something goes wrong."

  "I'll be okay." She stepped forward. "Will you call if you hear anything about my sister before I do?"

  "Absolutely." He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek with his thumb, strumming her skin. "You okay?"

  She nodded. "I have to be."

  "Right," he mumbled, dropping his hand. "I'll call and check in on my breaks."

  She walked with him downstairs. As he picked up his duffle, helmet, and gloves, his phone rang, and he looked at the screen.

  Shaking her head, she forced herself to look away from him. Why did he have to be so damn sexy?

  "Hey, sweetheart," he said, answering the call. "Sleep well?"

  A heaviness washed away the admiration for Chuck in her chest overhearing the endearment, and she walked away giving him privacy. In the kitchen, she looked through his cupboards and found the can of coffee. She wasn't going to ask permission to drink. He could bill her.

  Or, he wouldn't even notice because whoever the woman was on the other end of the phone had all his attention. She held the pot under the faucet and turned the water on full blast. It was probably that woman Gracie.

  She wondered if Gracie knew her boyfriend had a hard-on for another woman. Hitting the faucet handle to turn the water off, she squared her shoulders. There went her thirty seconds of wanting Chuck. She never messed with men who were attached or a player.

  Chapter 14

  The air horn blared, ending the day at Port Loaders. Chuck jogged off the ship to the parking lot. He'd already informed the other Notus members to meet him at his house after work. Markham, who had the balls to come down to the dock during his lunch break, had put more pressure on him to hand over Stoddard to him.

  He would've shot the son of a bitch if not for the fifty other employees watching the meeting.

  He started his Harley and roared down the road. After a quick check in with Galeeno, Gomez, and Erikka, he planned to go pay a visit to the casino and teach Markham the rules of the game.

  Stuck behind the heavy flow of traffic on Lombard Street, he heard the approach of the other riders catching up to him before they appeared in his side-view mirror. Checking the road ahead, he passed right through traffic and weaved by the cars parked along the curb, leading Notus members to his house.

  Making a big sweep in front of his driveway, he backed the motorcycle up to the garage and parked for a quick exit. He got off the bike with his belongings and unlocked the house, walking inside and leaving the door open for the others. Erikka sat on the couch, her legs curled under her.

  Tossing his helmet and gloves to the floor, he opened the duffle and took out his club vest. He shoved his arms in while studying Erikka. All the way home, he'd imagined her jumping up to ask him if he'd heard anything yet. Instead, she only watched him without saying a word.

  The others stepped inside and closed the door. He walked over and sat by Erikka, patting her knee. "Okay?"

  "Yeah," she said in monotone.

  "Good." He looked around the room before directing the next bit of information to her. "Lieutenant Gomez spoke to me about a half hour ago. Galeeno has checked in with the authorities there. They have an APB out on Stoddard. By now, Galeeno should be making contact with others putting out feelers to try and find Stoddard and Rachel on his own. Depending on how easily he finds leads, we could hear something at any time or —"

  "It could be weeks," she mumbled.

  He nodded once.

  "I think it would be best for me to go home," she said.

  "Bail Bonds is boarded up. The glass windows and door in the front of the building were busted. The contents on the main floor were scattered." He leaned closer. "Gomez spoke to you about the break-in?"

  "Yes, but I want to go back to my house." She sat straighter and slid her feet into her shoes. "There are things I need to do pertaining to the business before this is over with and I need to be somewhere that I'm comfortable."

  "Erikka—"

  "Thanks for letting me stay here. You've gone above and beyond what I hired you to do, and I appreciate it." She stood and walked across the room and stuck her fucking hand out in front of Wayne, completely ignoring Chuck. "Thank you."<
br />
  She held both hands in front of her and covered her heart. "Thank you all."

  Without a second look at Chuck, she walked over to the door, picked up her bag she'd used the other night to bring her clothes with her, and walked out his front door. The latch clicked softly behind her.

  "Hell," he mumbled, standing. "I'm going after her."

  "Let her go." Wayne opened the blinds in the front window. "We rode by her house on the way over, and nobody was there. She'll be safe while we talk."

  He wanted her at the house until he could put a stop to Markham going after Stoddard through Erikka. "I want to get her settled and go after Teegan Markham."

  "What can you do?" Glen removed a piece of gum from a pack and placed the piece in his mouth. "Security at the casino is tight. You can't walk in and blow his brains out."

  "I can put him out of commission for a few days and let her fucking breathe easier," he said, rubbing his shaved head. "I can't fucking believe that son of a bitch showed up at work, threatening Erikka if I didn't work with him."

  "Are you taking responsibility for her?" asked Thad.

  "We're all responsible for her. She hired us." He shook his head. "Fuck, I'd like a beer."

  Wayne chuckled.

  Glen covered his mouth, hiding his grin. Thad turned away from Chuck, his shoulders shaking with laughter. The amusement he heard coming from his president and lifelong friends irritated him. "What the fuck is so funny?" he asked.

  Wayne tucked his hands under his armpits and leaned against the wall closest to the window. Turning from looking outside, he said, "She's out of sight. Give her five minutes and then give her a call on her phone to make sure she arrived safely and remind her to lock her door."

  He already knew how to treat a lady. "Are you going to answer my question? What's so funny?"

  "Bro, haven't you noticed that anytime one of us brings a woman into our home to protect her, the woman stays. Mine's giving me a baby," said Thad.

  His upper lip curled. "Bull shit. That's not what is happening with Erikka."