The Promise (Dogs of Fire: Wolfpack Book 1)

by Piper Davenport

  “Okay, Lil. Flea’s a tough motherfucker. He’ll pull through,” he said.

  “He looked bad, buddy.”

  “Fuck,” he rasped and held me tighter.

  Train was six-foot-six and probably three-hundred pounds of pure muscle, which matched his name perfectly. Funnily enough, he’d gotten his nickname as a scrawny kid. He’d been tall and lanky and couldn’t keep weight on. But then he got into bodybuilding and bulked up.

  We stood there for a few minutes until another, much more familiar set of arms pulled me away. “Let’s go talk,” Maverick said and I nodded.

  He led me down the hall to a more private waiting room. When he wrapped his arms around me, I felt free to burst into tears. He held me and stroked the back of my neck while I cried.

  “I think he’s going to die, Möosh.”

  “He’s not gonna die, baby. Flea’s tough.”

  I looked up at him. “I could not make out his face, Maverick. He’d been beaten beyond recognition and then shot. I had to identify him by his cut.”

  “Was he breathin’?”

  I nodded.

  “Then he’s gonna be fine,” Maverick avowed.

  I buried my face back in his chest. “He’d better be.”

  “Lily?” Dad called.

  “In here,” I called back.

  He rushed in and pulled me away from Maverick, hugging me tightly. “What happened?”

  I filled him in while stepping back into Maverick’s arms.

  “Okay, baby girl.” Dad nodded. “He’s gonna be fine.”

  “You both keep saying that, but you didn’t see him,” I cried. “It’s bad.”

  Dad nodded. “Come with me. Mom’s in the other waiting room.”

  “Great, pass me off to the ‘women,’” I droned sarcastically.

  “I’m not goin’ anywhere, Lil,” Maverick promised.

  “Like I said...” I retorted, and Maverick chuckled.

  “Nice, baby doll.”

  I sighed. “He’d be the first one to say something snarky.”

  “Yeah, he definitely would,” Dad agreed as we walked back down the hall.

  I had taken several deep breaths before we faced the group. Most of the Dogs (the ones not guarding one of the girls) were there, along with Mom, Cassidy, Kim, and Katie. Katie was currently at the nurse’s desk demanding answers about Flea’s injuries—information Sarah wouldn’t have.

  Despite Maverick’s arm wrapped around my waist, I rushed forward. “Kate,” I called.

  She turned to me, her eyes filled with tears. “What do you know?”

  “We don’t know anything yet. He just went back. He came in fifteen minutes ago...” I filled her on everything I knew, giving Sarah a chance to escape to the back to see what she could find out. Katie was also a nurse, so I was able to give her frank and honest answers, without having to filter too much.

  The doctor walked out a few minutes later, a reserved expression on his face.

  Shit. Flea didn’t make it. I fell against Maverick but forced myself not to cry.

  “Who’s the family of Billy Jameson?” Doc asked.

  “I’m his sister,” Katie said.

  “I’m sorry. He didn’t make it.”

  She cried out, and Train caught her before she hit the ground.

  The doctor reached out and squeezed her arm. “If you’d like to see him, I can take you back.”

  “I’ll go with you,” I offered, earning a growl of denial from Maverick. I glanced up at him. “I’m okay.”

  “I’ll go,” Kim said.

  I nearly objected, but Kim’s determined glare stopped me. Instead, I nodded, and Maverick gave me a squeeze. I let him guide me back to where the rest of the Club was, and we waited for Katie to come back.

  Sarah approached and waved me to a private corner. “Go ahead and clock out, hon. Shift is over in less than an hour. We can take it from here.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Family’s important—more important than the job—so I’m sure.”

  “Thanks, Sarah.”

  She smiled and walked away. I headed back to Maverick. “I’m being released, so I’m going to clock out.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Maverick said.

  “I’m just going—”

  He crossed his arms. “Not up for discussion, Lil.”

  I nodded and led him back. I clocked out, grabbed my bag, and then we joined the Club again in the waiting room. We were there for less than five minutes before Kim and Katie rushed out.

  “It’s not him!” Katie said.

  “What?” I asked with a gasp.

  “It’s not Flea,” Kim confirmed.

  “But he was wearing his cut,” I countered. “The guys never take off their cuts in public.”

  “He was wearing Flea’s cut, but it’s not him.” Katie shoved her phone at Knight. “See?”

  “Shit,” Knight said and passed the phone to Dad.

  “What the fuck is goin’ on?” Dad snapped.

  “Where is my brother?” Katie demanded.

  “What if it’s one of the Spiders?” Maverick suggested.

  “Let’s take this outside,” Dad said.

  “Or you can quit talking like I’m not here,” Katie snapped, “and tell me what the fuck is going on.”

  “Katie, let us figure this out first,” Dad placated. “We’ll head back to the house, grab some beers, and see what we can do.”

  “It’s five thirty in the morning, handsome,” Mom countered.

  “Then we’ll grab coffee,” Dad ground out.

  She patted his chest with a grin. “I’ll make it.”

  He rolled his eyes but smiled. “Thanks, baby.”

  I bit back a yawn and leaned heavily against Maverick. I was happy to go home, although I doubted I’d be able to sleep.

  Maverick kissed my head. “I got you, baby doll.”

  I nodded, and we headed to his truck.

  * * *

  Lily

  I awoke with a start and sat up, realizing quickly I was in our bedroom in total darkness.

  “Babe?” Maverick grumbled and pulled me back down.

  “What happened?” I demanded.

  “With what?” he asked, wrapping his arm around my waist and snuggling close.

  “Flea,” I snapped.

  “Right.” Maverick yawned. “He’s good.”

  “What?” I squeaked and sat up again.

  “Baby, can we sleep a bit longer and talk about it later?”

  “No, we absolutely cannot,” I hissed and smacked his leg.

  “It was worth a shot,” he grumbled.

  “Start talking.”

  Maverick tugged me back down and kissed me gently. “Flea’s fine. He’s currently at the compound with his woman.” He kissed me again.

  I growled in frustration. “Stop kissing me and tell me what the hell happened.”

  “He and Lori were at the Brass Frog. Apparently, some moron dumped a pitcher of beer all over Flea, which meant he had to take his cut off to wipe up. The cut was stolen, so obviously the asshat did it on purpose.”

  “Do they know who did it?”

  “Yep.”

  I smacked his chest. “Who?”

  “One of the Spiders. That’s all I’m gonna tell you, baby doll.”

  “So they were sending a message,” I deduced. “To me.”

  “To us.”

  I shivered. “Through me.”

  “Quit.”

  “No.”

  He pulled me over his chest. “This does not touch you, Lil.”

  “It has already touched me!” I countered. “That poor man, whoever he was, was delivered right to me. The Spiders know my schedule—”

  “No one will touch you, Lily,” he interrupted.

  “You can’t watch me twenty-four hours a day.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “I have to pee.” I bit back frustrated tears and climbed off the bed. “Do you need to w
atch me?”

  “Babe.” Maverick flipped on the lamp next to the bed... obviously, so I wouldn’t trip over something on the way to the bathroom. Because he was sweet and thoughtful and wanted to keep me safe... and I was a shrew.

  After doing my thing, I headed back to the bedroom and found Maverick watching me. His chest was bare (technically, he was naked, but the bedding covered his lower half), and he had one arm behind his head which emphasized his muscles. I bit my lip when he gave me a tired smile then I climbed back into bed and kissed his chest. “I’m sorry.”

  “Babe, I get it. This sucks. But you have to trust I’ve got your back. Everyone does, but most of all me.”

  “I know. I’m just freaked. And tired,” I admitted. “But I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

  Maverick chuckled. “I’m the only one you can take it out on, Lil. No one else’ll put up with it.”

  “Well, there is that,” I agreed, kissing his chest again and then working my way south.

  I dragged the cami I was wearing over my head and threw it into the corner then went back to kissing every inch of my man’s body.

  He gave me about three minutes before his hands were under my armpits and he was dragging me up his body. He rolled me onto my back, tore off my panties, and slid into me, kissing me deeply. Without warning, my stomach roiled, and I shoved at his chest with a whimper.

  “Lil?”

  “Gonna be sick.”

  He jumped off me, and I rushed to the bathroom, barely making it the toilet in time. Maverick stepped over to me and pulled my hair away from my face. “You okay?”

  I shook my head. “I’m dying.”

  “Do you think you ate something weird?”

  I shrugged. “Probably.”

  “It’s not...?”

  “No, baby, the cancer’s not back,” I assured him. “The blood tests came back normal, remember?”

  He hunkered down beside me. “That was a month ago.”

  “It’s not cancer.” I leaned against the toilet. “Pretty sure it was the burrito I ate last night. Those trucks can be suspect sometimes.”

  “At least, you’re not on tonight.”

  I nodded. “Sorry about your blue balls.”

  “I’m good, baby.” He stroked my cheek. “Gonna get you some Sprite.”

  “We don’t have any.”

  “I know. I’m gonna run to the store.”

  “Mom’ll have some.”

  “You want her down here fussing?”

  I sighed. “It’s better than you having to tell Dad you’re leaving. He’ll be down here hovering.”

  “You’ve got a point.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll text her real quick.”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  He left me, and I decided to run a bath, figuring it might help. I already felt a bit better, which was a relief. God, I hated puking. It was the worst.

  Maverick walked into the bathroom just as I sank into the warm water. He set an open Sprite on the side of the tub. “Your mom had saltines, too. You want one now?”

  I shook my head. “I’m better now,” I said and sipped the pop.

  He sat on the edge of the tub and frowned. “I think we should take you in.”

  “I’m not going to urgent care for food poisoning, Möosh.” He frowned, and I squeezed his knee. “I’m a nurse, baby. Trust me. It’s nothing more than a tummy bug at worst. It’ll pass in a few hours.”

  I was wrong.

  Maverick

  LILY HAD BEEN puking for almost two days straight, and Maverick was beside himself. She refused to go to the hospital or a doctor, so he decided the mountain was gonna come to Muhammad.

  A knock at the door brought Macey (and Payton), and Maverick let them in. “She’s in bed.”

  Macey nodded and headed into the room. A few minutes later, Lily walked out and scowled. “Really?”

  “Don’t make this a thing, Lil,” Maverick ordered.

  She scoffed and closed herself into the bathroom.

  “Fuck, she’s sick again?” Maverick ground out and started for the door.

  Lily walked out before he reached her. “I’m fine.”

  “Babe.”

  She didn’t respond as she headed back into the bedroom, and Maverick faced Payton. Lily’s mom smiled and waved to the sofa. “Relax, Maverick. Macey’s got it covered.”

  “Why are you so calm?” he ground out.

  Payton smiled. “I’m not. I’m just faking it better than you are.”

  He dragged his hands through his hair. “I hate this.”

  “Me too, honey.”

  Macey opened the door, and Maverick shot to his feet. She gave him a sad smile. “You can go on in.”

  His heart raced as he rushed inside and found Lily sitting up on the bed. “You okay?”

  She nodded, lifting tear-filled eyes to smile at him.

  He forced his own down and took her hands. “Whatever it is, baby, we’ll figure it out, okay?”

  She sighed. “We need to move the wedding up.”

  He felt sick. “How bad?”

  “It’s pretty bad, honey. My dad’s going to kill you.”

  “Sorry?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  It took a minute for her words to register, and he stared at her in disbelief. “Sorry?”

  “We’re going to have a baby.” Lily giggled. “I’m guessing a shotgun wedding is in our future.”

  “So you’re not sick?”

  “No, honey, not in the fatal sense. I’m going to be hormonal and eat weird things, and I’ll probably get really fat, but I’m not dying.”

  Maverick was still having a tough time processing her words, but when Lily grabbed his face and made him meet her eyes, he blinked and finally registered what she was saying. “We’re going to have a baby?” he asked.

  She stroked his cheeks and nodded. “You have bionic sperm, Möosh. It broke through my pill. We’re going to have a baby,” she repeated.

  He gathered her in his arms, pulling her onto his lap, and kissed her. “Fuck, I was freaked.”

  “I know, honey. I told you it was okay.”

  “But did you even think pregnant?”

  “No... not really.” She grinned. “I’ve been on the Pill for years, so it wasn’t really on my radar. Luckily, Macey brought a test with her.”

  “Some nurse you are,” he deadpanned. Lily smacked his arm, and he laughed. “I love you, Lil. I can’t believe I’m gonna have a little you running around.”

  “I really hope we have a girl,” she admitted. “There’s enough testosterone in this club. I need some backup.”

  Maverick kissed her again. “I’m really glad you’re not dying.”

  “What a coincidence,” she droned.

  “Shall we go let your mom off the hook?”

  “I told Macey she could tell her.”

  “I think she’s still going to want to see you, Lil.”

  Lily nodded then studied him. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, baby, I’m great.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He chuckled, lifting her off the bed and setting her on her feet. “I’m great, but don’t be surprised if I get a little more protective.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible.”

  He patted her bottom, and they headed into the living room where Payton squealed like a banshee and pulled Lily in for a hug. “Ohmigod, I’m too young to be a grandma!”

  Lily laughed. “Isn’t that what Gran said?”

  “Well, she was too young too.” She cupped her cheeks. “I can’t believe my baby girl’s having a baby.”

  “Dad’s going to freak,” Lily said.

  “No, he won’t,” Mom promised.

  “We’ll need to move up the wedding,” Lily said, her tone hopeful.

  Payton smiled. “Nice try.”

  “I’m going to be huge.”

  “The wedding’s less than a month away,” Maverick said.

  “Challenge accepted,�
�� Lily retorted.

  Payton giggled. “Dinner at six. We can tell everyone then.”

  “Wait, how many people are going to be at this dinner?” Lily asked.

  “Just a few.”

  “We should tell my parents first,” Maverick said and Lily agreed.

  “Let me just lie down for a little while.”

  “We’ll leave you,” Payton said.

  “I brought some prenatals just in case,” Macey said and set a bottle on the kitchen counter.

  “How do you always know?” Lily asked.

  “She’s a witch,” Payton retorted.

  Lily burst out laughing. “Ohmigod, Mom, you’re ridiculous.”

  “Congratulations, you two.” Macey hugged Lily then Maverick.

  Payton followed suit, and then they left Maverick and Lily alone. Maverick pulled Lily into his arms and kissed her gently. “So proud of you, baby.”

  “You might want to wait on that sentiment.”

  “How come?”

  “’Cause I might be a horrible pregnant lady.”

  “I can take it.”

  “I’m counting on it.” She hugged him tight with a yawn. “Can we go back to bed for a little while?”

  “Yeah, baby.”

  He took her back to bed, and she fell asleep almost immediately. Maverick didn’t, but he took the time to hold her even if she didn’t know he was doing it. The fact their child was growing in her belly humbled him. It was mind-blowing.

  He kissed her temple gently and pulled her closer, staying that way until he finally lost his battle with sleep.

  * * *

  Lily

  Nausea ripped me from the most awesome dream on the planet and forced me to make a run for the bathroom. I felt my hair being pulled away from my face and smiled up at Maverick. “Sorry.”

  He stroked my cheek. “Don’t be sorry, baby doll. We’ll get you in this week and see if the doc can give you something for the nausea. Until then, you just be you.”

  “What am I going to do about work?” I said my fear out loud, and it made it all suddenly real.

  “You have two more days off, Lil. You’ve got time to get some answers,” he said. “I’m gonna talk to Aidan and see if I can switch my schedule around.”

  “I’m pregnant, not dying.”

  “You’re funny. I’ll get you a Sprite.”

  “Thanks, baby.” I brushed my teeth and headed out to the living room, flopping onto the sofa and stretching out.