by Addison Jane
Rose rolled her eyes. “Jesus Christ, Blizzard is going to shoot me.”
“You think this will work?” Op asked, reclining in his seat.
I scratched at my beard. “Don’t know for sure, but we’re running out of options here. Can’t lose her now.”
Op nodded, totally understanding how I felt. He would do anything to protect Chelsea and keep her safe. The stakes were high, but I knew I had my brothers at my side. Being in Troy had been good, but they were extended family. It was these men who I’d spent so many years of my life with, riding the ups and downs of club life like a rollercoaster. One that I would never get off.
Op excused my brothers but remained seated. I stayed until everyone but Blizzard had filed out. “How’s shit going with Sugar?” I asked, knowing that in just the week I’d been gone, shit had hit the fan within our family.
“Almost killed Wrench,” he said simply.
“Noticed he wasn’t around today.”
Op scoffed. “Scared that if I see him, I won’t let him leave alive.”
I nodded, scared for my brother, but understanding Op’s frustration. “It’s a whole clusterfuck, isn’t it?”
“If they would just tell me what the hell is going on, then I could help. But both of them keep saying it’s being dealt with, that it’s nothing to do with the club.” He clenched his fists.
“Least you know Harlyn is safe here,” I told him. “Whatever mess they’re in, she isn’t going to be involved.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that one of my men is keeping shit from me. And the mother of my child is lying out her ass,” he snapped, breathing heavily.
Blizzard stepped in then, knowing his best friend was getting worked up, and an angry Optimus isn’t something any of us needed right now. “Let’s just concentrate on one problem at a time. We figure out this crap with Hadley, then we work on Wrench and Sugar.”
“And in between, we somehow figure out what to do about Slider.” I sighed, a dark chuckle rising up in my throat. “Tell me, when did we start fighting so many damn battles? Lately, it seems like we’re being hit with one thing after another.”
Blizzard and Op both looked at each other. “Women.”
I stood in the doorway of my bedroom. Hadley was curled up in the center of the bed, her blankets wrapped around her like she was a burrito.
I smiled, shutting the door softly behind me before I padded across the floor to the bed.
“Wondered how long you were gonna stand there watching me like a stalker,” she said quietly, rolling over to face me.
I chuckled. “You think you’re so stealthy, I knew you weren’t asleep.”
She frowned, looking cute as fuck with the blankets pulled up to her chin. “You did?”
I stripped my shirt off and worked on my pants. “Your breathing is different when you’re sleeping.”
She snuggled deeper into the blankets.
“You gonna share the bed, and those blankets?” I asked.
“No,” she answered with a sweet smile.
I tugged at them, wrenching them from her grip and pulling them back to reveal her naked body. I quirked an eyebrow. “Well, what’s this?”
She rolled her eyes. “Just get in, I’m cold.”
I dropped my jeans to the floor, leaving me completely naked before climbing in with her and pulling the covers back over the both of us. Her body automatically curled into mine, her head going to my chest and my arm wrapping around her body, holding her against me. There was always so much sexual tension between us, but right now all I felt was comfort.
“Did you get everything sorted?” she asked, her voice soft and melodic.
“I hope so,” I told her. “Simon is unpredictable. So we just have to hope that we’ve read him right.”
There was silence for a few minutes, just the sound of her breathing easing my body.
“I wish he’d signed the divorce papers. I filed them the day after he left.”
“Not gonna be a problem after this is done,” I told her.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t plan on him getting out of this alive.”
She used her elbow to boost herself up so she was looking down at me. “Leo, you can’t kill a federal agent. Do you know what kind of time you’ll do for that?”
I reached up and smoothed back the panic in her features. “Baby, trust me on this. I know what I’m doing.”
She leaned into my hand, closing her eyes. “I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you,” she said, her voice whisper quiet.
I sighed. “We’ve talked about this Hadley. It’s going to be fine. We aren’t alone in this, my brothers will stand with us, and when we stand together we’re a force to be reckoned with.”
My words seemed to pacify her for now. She laid back down and we spent the rest of the day sleeping, attempting to recover from the last two days.
I looked over at Macy’s bed. She had a small table beside it, and there was a picture there of Kim.
It was strange not to feel guilty with another woman in my arms as I looked into Kim’s eyes. I almost felt like she was smiling at me, that she was happy. Maybe she was. I’d found a woman who made me happy and watched over our daughter like she was one of her own. My heart ached inside my chest. But I knew now that it wasn’t because it was broken at the loss of my wife, it ached because it was being pulled back together.
There would still be cracks, those kind of things would never heal, but I didn’t want them too. They were a permanent reminder of the love I held for Kim.
Hadley had done what I had thought was impossible. She’d shown me that there wasn’t one person in this life for us. I would always mourn the woman who I lost, but I knew in my soul that she was happy I’d found someone else who could piece me back together.
I looked down at Hadley, her brown hair floated around her face, and the light that shone through the curtains gave her an angelic glow.
Maybe it wasn’t luck that Hadley had come into my life.
Maybe she was sent here, knowing that she would be the one to heal me and fill me with the passion and vibrancy that I thought I’d lost.
“Thank you,” I murmured as I looked back over at the picture, taking in Kim’s beautiful face.
Hadley groaned and shuffled, drawing my attention. Her eyes peeled open slowly.
“Thought I heard you talking,” she muttered through a sleepy haze.
“Just talking to myself.”
She rubbed at her eyes, her lips kissing my chest. “You do that often?”
I smiled. “Sometimes.”
She shook her head. “Knew you were crazy.”
I rolled her onto her back and braced my body over hers. “I’d have to be, to put up with your smart mouth.” I smirked.
She shrugged. “Part of the package. Thought you knew that.”
I bent my head, kissing her softly on the lips. “Anyone tell you that an Old Lady is meant to be quiet and listen to her man without back talking.”
“Chelsea told me to give you hell,” she said, her eyes lighting up playfully.
I laughed. “She would. She’s got Op wound around her little finger. Sometimes I wonder if I should be calling her president.”
“I think she’d do a good job,” Hadley said, nodding enthusiastically.
I shook my head. “You women.” I pressed my hips against her, my cock growing harder with the close proximity to my woman.
The light in her eyes soon transformed into lust as her lips fell apart and her eyes became hooded. I groaned, just the look on her face enough to have me rock hard within a second. I dipped my head again, my lips grazing across her jaw and down her neck. She arched, pressing her chest up and forcing her breasts against me, pleading for me to take one into my mouth.
I obliged, shuffling lower on the bed and swirling my tongue around her nipple, teasing her before taking the whole thing into my mouth. Her hands reached for me, gripping my
short hair between her fingertips, holding me where she wanted me.
I loved that my woman wasn’t afraid to show or tell me what she wanted, and what she liked. She was a free spirit. Unashamed to show her sexuality. It spurred me on, taking the small bud in between my teeth and pulling on it. Her small gasp of pleasure shot through my body and straight to my cock.
“Leo…” she whispered, her body squirming in anticipation now.
“Yeah, baby?”
“I need you inside me,” she stated. “Now.”
A smirk began to rise on my mouth.
My girl wanted me, she was practically shaking, knowing that once I was inside her, I would give her exactly what she needed to find that place of ecstasy that she craved.
And I would give it to her.
For the rest of my life, I would make sure this woman knew just how much I cared for her. She would never need anything, I would give her my all.
I knew that without a doubt.
“Whatever you want, baby.”
“Are we going to get Macy today?” I asked as I took a seat next to Leo at a table in the main room.
He shook his head. “Meyah has some production at school tonight, so she’s going to take Macy with her. We’ll get her tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He looked up from the card game he was playing with his brothers. “You miss the kid?”
I poked my tongue out at his teasing tone. “Yeah. Don’t say it like I’m the only one.”
He laughed, placing a card on the table in front of him. “Baby, I miss her like hell. But she’s having fun, and with shit still up in the air, as long as she’s happy, I’d like to keep her away for as long as possible.”
I understood his reasoning.
It had been two days since we’d arrived back at the clubhouse. Things seemed to be back to normal like there was no threat of drama going on.
It made me curious.
Was there something I didn’t know?
“Are you going to—”
Leo hit me with a hard look. “Hadley, I told you. We’re working on it.”
I glared at him but didn’t say another word. I didn’t like to fight with Leo in front of his brothers. I’d learned that I needed to show him respect when his brothers were around. I’d watched the other girls with their men, seeing that for the most part they kept quiet, but I knew for a fact that they weren’t afraid to speak up if there was something wrong. But they did it away from the club members.
Mostly anyway.
Chelsea was a tad temperamental at the moment, so Optimus was copping her attitude left right and center. It kind of made me giggle though, because it was always about silly little things. Not being able to have a drink when she’s stressed, or the fact that her pants are starting to get too small.
I spotted Rose standing at the patio door looking outside.
Kissing Leo on the cheek, I moved over to her, touching her lightly on the shoulder.
She jumped, and I quickly apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were so far away.”
She gave me a soft smile before turning back, her eyes watching the playground outside despite the fact that Jayla wasn’t even here.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shook her head, the sunlight glistening against the wetness on her cheeks. “We have court next week.”
“For Jay?” I asked.
She nodded. “They found Jay’s grandparents.” She inhaled deeply. “They’re contesting our request for custody.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so—”
A loud alarm ringing from the building cut off my words. I spun around, watching as the brothers jumped from their seats. Leo sprinted toward Rose and me. “Get inside, now!”
Car tires screeched outside, car doors slamming closed.
He hurried us inside the doors and moved us toward the bar. I looked over to see Ham shooting through the door. “Cops are here!” he called loudly.
The room bustled, men running in different directions. Some tossed their weapons to Camo, who made quick work, running down the hallway that led to the club girls’ rooms.
“Get on the floor!” a voice yelled as men in what looked like SWAT gear swarmed through the main entrance. They wore vests on their body, some even had masks and helmets covering their faces.
My eyes searched for Leo inside the chaos, seeing him next to Optimus. Both men were being forced to their knees by the offending parties.
My body instinctually moved toward him, but Rose grabbed my arm, pulling me back. “He’s fine. Don’t move.”
Her eyes were wide as she watched Blizzard being pushed to the floor.
“On the floor, ladies. Now,” a woman ordered, appearing in front of us.
She was wearing a navy blue jacket that I recognized immediately—Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Jesus Christ.
I sat slowly, my back against the bar, Rose’s hand clenched in mine.
As the flurry began to calm, the woman turned back to the room. “All right boys, we’ve had word of illegal activity activating here,” she spoke loudly, commanding the attention of the room. “We have a warrant to execute a search of the entire property. So if there’s something you need to tell me, now is the time.”
She waited for a moment, but no one spoke up. The brothers simply glared.
She rolled her eyes. “Didn’t think so. All right. Let’s get this done.”
More agents moved through the doorway, they all wore jackets and badges while the men in the armor watched over us. More people were pulled into the room—Club girls and members who had been sleeping.
I saw Skylar struggling as a man dragged her by the arm and tossed her forcefully onto the ground beside us.
“Hey!” I yelled, pushing myself to my feet. “She didn’t do anything!”
The armored man grabbed my arm, spinning my body and throwing me to the floor with a thump. My chin hit the floor, and I bit my tongue, instantly tasting blood in my mouth.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Leo roared from across the room. I looked over to see him fighting against the restraints that held his hands behind his back. It took three men to hold him down, his eyes blazing with fire.
“This doesn’t have to be difficult,” the woman stated, stepping in front of him. Her eyes move to Optimus, who was clearly furious with the situation. “You got anything to hide?”
“No,” he bit out.
“Then calm the hell down, and we’ll be gone soon enough.”
She turned to us as Chelsea was brought down the staircase holding a protective hand over her stomach. Her eyes wide with shock. She took a step toward Op but was held back.
“Take the women outside while we have a chat with the men,” the woman ordered.
Three men crowded around us, included the one who’d forced me onto the floor. My instincts told me to fight back, but I knew it would only make the situation worse.
They herded the club girls and old ladies out to the patio and shut the door behind them.
Chelsea pulled me into her arms before stepping back, her hand going to my mouth. “You okay?” she asked, wiping at the blood that was dripping from my lip.
“Yeah,” I told her.
“She’s fine,” a deep voice stated, one that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. My eyes moved past Chelsea to see Simon removing the mask and helmet from his face.
His hair was longer now. He’d always liked to keep it short, but now it hung down to his ears. I opened my mouth to scream, but he was ready. The handgun he held in his hand was instantly pressed against Chelsea’s temple. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped, desperately wanting to draw his attention away from Chelsea.
Simon laughed, the sound chilling me. “Doing my job.”
“Which one?” I scoffed. “Seems as though you have two now… drug dealer and undercover agent. They don’t mix so well.”
The
sadistic smile on his lips disgusted me. “Oh, I think they work perfectly.” His voice was low and quiet, clearly aware that there were two other men close by. “I get rich, and the Bureau protects me.”
“You’re not going to get out of here,” I told him, trying to force myself to sound confident.
“Seems as though your bodyguards are a little… tied up at the moment,” he stated casually. “This is going to end. You can’t hide from me anymore. You have no one left. The club is detained, and Judge and his boys can’t step in without blowing their cover.” His eyes hardened. “And your little bullshit stunt with the DePalma’s…” he shook his head, “…they can’t save you now either.”
I tried to hide my surprise, curious as to how he knew about Angelo taking us in.
“There’s no one left, Hadley.”
I shuddered.
“Put your hands behind your back.”
I glared at him, refusing to back down.
When he pressed his gun harder against Chelsea’s head, I quickly surrendered.
“Leave her alone,” I said as I turned my body and placed my hands together at my back. Rose stood behind me, one hand over her mouth and tears brimming her eyes.
Cold handcuffs were locked around my wrists. I cringed, they were tight. His hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me away from the other women.
“Hadley,” Skylar whispered in shock as she watched me move away.
“It’s okay,” I told them, trying to ease their fears even as my body filled with my own.
“I’m taking my wife. Mel has already okayed it,” he told the other men. They both nodded, stepping forward to guard the other girls.
Simon forced me in front of his body, pushing me forward, heading for the path that led around the clubhouse and out to the parking area. There were vehicles littered all over the place, crowding the men’s bikes as though they expected them to try and escape.
Simon opened the passenger’s door of a black SUV and pressed his hand to my back, pushing me up onto the seat. It was uncomfortable, the cuffs rubbing my wrists raw. When I was securely inside, he pulled at the seatbelt, dragging it across me and leaning over my body so he could clip it in.
As he pulled back, his face paused at my neck, his nose nuzzling at it softly. It was a soft, gentle touch that at one time I would have loved, but now I was repelled and disgusted. I froze, not giving him any sign of emotion. His hand ran up my arm, goosebumps rising on my skin.