by Madison Faye
“Not tonight, hon, I’ve got shit on my mind.”
“I can help take your mind off of anything for a little while.” She gave him one of her flirty smiles and he was almost tempted.
“Rain check.”
She nodded politely but her pouty lip showed her disappointment.
“What’s on your mind, Gunner?” Loki said, not looking at him. His eyes were shut while Tonya, a curvy redhead, rubbed his temples.
“Just trying to figure shit out.”
“Layla?”
“Different this time, bro. She told me she kept her pregnancy a secret because I wouldn’t give her my property patch. I don’t know why she wanted it so badly anyway. We were a fucking train wreck even then. Had been since I got back from Afghanistan.” Trevor tipped his beer up and drank half in a few swallows. It was cold and smooth. Kind of like his life would be without Layla.
“When I left she was a sweetheart, but when I got back…” He made a flippant gesture with his free hand. “She’d turned into something else. Doesn’t mean I don’t still love her though.”
Jennifer, who had sat on Little Joe’s—a six-foot-seven, two-hundred-and-eighty-pound man with a heart of gold—lap, stopped kissing him to look at Trevor. Her eyes then found Loki’s and her jaw tightened. She stood abruptly and stormed off. Little Joe looked miffed for a moment and started to yell, but Loki shut him up.
“Leave her,” he stated with a sharp look. Joe shrugged and went back to watching the game.
“What was that about?”
“Let’s go talk, Trevor.” Loki gave Tonya a smile and patted her hip. “Thanks, sweetheart.” Trevor swallowed hard. Loki never called him by anything other than his patched name. Whatever they were about to discuss, it was serious. Loki looked around and then pointed to the stairs. “Let’s go to the office.”
Trevor nodded and followed. It was where church was held.
Loki sat at the head of the big table, leaning back in his chair, his tattooed fingers steepled in front of him.
“So what I’m about to tell you is probably going to piss you off.” He sat forward, setting his elbows on the oak tabletop. “It was a delicate situation and I know I should have told you but I was protecting the girls. If you’re going to be pissed, be pissed at me.”
Trevor’s heart pounded as a million scenarios raced through his mind, but he remained outwardly calm and nodded, crossing his bulky arms.
“Go ahead.”
“It was while you were away in Afghanistan and this was club business.” His expression didn’t need translation. Trevor knew he wasn’t a member then and wasn’t meant to know anything that happened in the MC.
“The club whores started showing signs of roughing up, but when I questioned them, they all gave me the same sort of lame excuse. They bumped into a door, tripped, fell, or had a rough round with their trainer. I pulled one of the girls aside after Wanda was put in the hospital. Wanda said she’d been mugged, but when I went to see her at the hospital, she told me she was leaving the club. You don’t leave over being mugged.” He slapped his hands down on the table. “Other girls were talking about leaving too.”
“Wanda Sampson, right? She was the one who got mugged? I vaguely remember hearing about that.” He swallowed a dry patch in his throat. His brother had told him in a letter.
“Now these girls like it rough at times, some swats to the ass, pinching, maybe some forceful mouth fucking, but this wasn’t like that. They were whipped, had rope burns, welts, bruises, and even some burns and knife slices. I don’t tolerate that shit in my MC, Trevor. Bottom line, these women come to my club for safety. I needed to know more. I went to the hospital again to see if I could get Wanda to talk, but who do you think I saw in the emergency room? Layla. Beaten and bloody, and when she saw me her face paled and she ran.” Loki swore, throwing himself against the backrest of the chair. “She was too battered to get far, so I caught up with her and brought her back.”
Trevor stilled. Not even breathing. His brother hadn’t told him that, neither had Layla. No one had told him his woman had been hurt while he was away. His gut burned with anger, betrayal, and helplessness. Years had passed since this occurred but it was fresh to him, and with what his girl and son had just been through, rage forced him from the chair. He swore and Loki leaned forward again, his hands poised on the desk, ready to rise himself. Loki was ready to take him on—to get him under control if he had to. Knowing that calmed Trevor.
“You okay, Gunner? ‘Cause I’m about to get into the bad shit and if you’re already edging for a fight…”
Trevor took a breath, sucked it in deep, and smoothed both hands over his shaved head. With a sharp nod, he let his arms fall and relax. He swallowed hard and sat back down. “Yeah, Prez, go on.”
“I caught up to Layla and she started blubbering that she never said anything. Kept repeating, ‘I didn’t tell the cops anything—no one knows!’ I told her I wasn’t going to hurt her. Do you know she couldn’t even look at me. She was damn well frozen in fear. When she started trembling I just held her. Kept asking who did it to her.” Loki’s hands fisted and he spoke through clenched teeth. “She was black and blue, Gunner. Had fucking welts across her face and from what I could tell he’d used a belt. A chunk of hair had been torn out. Her lip was cut.” He scrubbed his hands over his face, but watched Trevor closely, ready for anything. “Do you know who else showed up?”
Trevor’s mind was focused on her lip, the small scar he’d noticed when he returned now had a story—one he should have fucking known about. He knew deep in his gut that Loki was going to tell him it was his brother but he had no idea why. His brother hadn’t had any instances of violence or aggression as far as he could remember. He was always the good-time guy. But deep in his gut Trevor knew. Maybe it was something Trevor knew subconsciously—something about the way his brother looked at weaker people. Something about the way he looked that night he showed up and heard Trevor spanking and making love to Layla.
“My brother.” Trevor swallowed hard, his jaw tight, when Loki nodded sadly.
“She’d been raped. The nurse told me after she’d been admitted.”
Trevor had no words. He just put his head in his hands. His brother was dead, but if he wasn’t, Trevor would have hunted him down and killed him with his bare hands. Layla had been brutalized and that’s why she’d changed, that’s why she wanted his patch. She was scared and wanted his protection—the club’s protection. And goddammit, he’d pushed her away because of his own demons. A thought suddenly burst into his head.
“Is Brent his?”
“Nah, they did all the tests after. She even took the morning-after pill just in case.” He shook his head. “Poor girl was a wreck, Gunner. She was never the same.”
“I know.” The words practically croaked out of his dry mouth. Loki stood, walked to a hutch against the wall, and pulled out a bottle of Jack and two glasses. Loki handed him a glass with a liberal amount of whiskey. Trevor didn’t hesitate and took it all in one swallow like medicine, which it was. And it burned all the way down.
“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Trevor looked up from the bottle in his hand, anger bubbling inside him. Maybe misplaced but still enough anger to knock the prez on his fucking ass.
“There’s more, bro.”
Trevor cursed again and kicked one of the chairs with his booted foot. Standing again because he couldn’t think of anything else to do beside beat his MC brother, friend, and president. “What the fuck else went on while I was gone?” And he began pacing the floor, watching his own feet march against the hard wood. The Jack sloshed in his gut.
“Your brother wasn’t killed by a drunk.”
Trevor’s head shot up, his eyes cutting instantly to Loki’s. “Did you…?”
Loki’s face wrinkled. “Fuck, no. We’d have beat him and had him arrested, made sure he wasn’t a danger to anyone else, but Jesus, no. One of the girls did it.” Loki stood, looking very much the presiden
t of a powerful MC that he was. “And before you ask. I’m not telling you who. That girl is under my protection—under The Iron Code’s protection. And there’s no way I’ll see her going to prison because that twisted fuck ruined her life and countless others.”
Trevor plopped down in his chair, shame hitting him like a brick to the gut. “Is that what you think? That I’d stand up for him—that I’d want justice for his death after what he did?” His voice sounded small even to his own ears. “Loki, hell, no.” He shook his head. Layla, his poor Layla. His fucked-up brother’s hands on her, hurting her, raping her, scarring her inside and out.
“I knew you weren’t yourself when you came back either. I couldn’t tell you about your brother. And Layla made me swear I wouldn’t tell you. She told me it was my fault for not seeing one of my own was a brutalizing bastard. And it was. Dammit. I should have seen it sooner.”
“Then it’s my fault too. He was my brother.”
“She was protected after that, Gunner. She may not have realized it, but I’ve kept an eye on her and every one of the fucking men she’s taken back to her trailer.”
“Loki, she’s mine. She’s my old lady, you can make it official. I’m giving that woman my property patch.”
Loki smiled widely before they both turned as the door burst open and Drew stuck his head in. “I know I’m just a prospect and shouldn’t be up here but whatever you guys are talking about, Flint was at the door and then just flew down the stairs and out of here like he was on fire.”
Both Trevor and Loki looked at each other gravely. Flint and Greg had been really close.
“Shit!” Trevor jogged out of the office, not looking back. His heart felt like a twisted mangled lump in his chest. Some of his brothers called out to him, but he only waved them off. Layla had been dealing with her torment far too long and now Flint had heard something he shouldn’t have and probably decided Layla was the one to pay.
Chapter Seven
Flint’s bike was in front of Layla’s trailer and Trevor’s heart was in his throat. He was going to kill the bastard if he had even touched one hair on his family’s head. Bursting through the door with murderous intent, Trevor stopped dead as Layla broke out of the big man’s hold, elbowed him hard in the gut, took a few steps back and kicked the guy in the balls so hard he dropped like he’d been shot.
When she saw Trevor, her face went from angry and fierce to soft and vulnerable. She ran for him and he took her in his arms.
“You okay? Where’s Brent? How’d you learn to do that?” He pelted her with questions.
“I’m fine. Brent’s at Tonalonka Camp with Addi. He’ll be there for another few hours. And I’ve been taking self-defense.”
“You’re a badass, baby bunny!”
She grinned at him, pride practically glowing from her face.
He kissed her hard on the lips and let her go. “Go outside and wait for me though. I’m gonna take out the trash.”
Loki was outside with several of his other brothers ready for a fight when Trevor dragged Flint out. Little Joe and Drew took him as soon as Trevor dropped him on the ground at Loki’s feet. And with a nod, Loki and his club brothers left with Flint.
Trevor’s gaze followed the bikes as they left and then his eyes cut to his woman’s. He gave her a stern look. “Do not move,” he demanded and walked to her. He didn’t speak, but scooped her up into his arms and carried her back into the trailer.
“You’re mine, baby bunny. No more pushing Daddy away. I know everything now.” He set her on her bed and looked her over to make sure she hadn’t lied about being hurt. “Get your stuff and some for Brent, too. You guys are staying at my place from now on.”
Once they were at his house, Trevor made Layla a cup of tea and sat on the sofa next to her. Wrapping his arm over her shoulder, he let her sink into him.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Layla?” he asked, rubbing her arm.
“I told you that already. You said you weren’t ready for the responsibility of us so that meant you weren’t ready for a kid either.” She had her fists tight on her lap while the cup of tea sat steaming on the coffee table. When she turned to look at him, her face was flushed and her eyes glossy from the adrenaline rush.
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then what? Don’t be cryptic, Trevor.” She looked away and he ignored her snarky answer.
“Layla, when I came back, I was fucked up. I had night terrors, heard explosions even when I was awake. I ducked behind grocery shelves in the middle of the day when balloons popped or cars backfired. I didn’t want you to see that.” He squeezed her shoulder and smoothed his thumb over the top where it was bare. “I thought I was protecting you, baby. And it turns out I was only making things worse.” When she looked back at him, her lids pooled with tears and she swallowed hard.
“He told you, didn’t he?” Layla’s hand went to her mouth. It trembled and he shifted so he could take both of her hands in his.
“Baby, you should have told me.”
“Like you should have explained why you pushed me away.” Her tone was accusatory and hurt like a sucker punch. But it was the truth. Maybe if they’d both been honest with each other, they could have avoided the separation and heartbreak between them.
“Yeah, babe. Just like that.”
“Are you okay now?” Her voice was softer and filled with concern. He nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t see that you were struggling.”
“How could you when you had suffered so much?”
“I blamed you,” she said in a whisper. Her head fell. “I blamed you for not being here to keep me safe.”
“I deserve that blame.”
She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “No, you didn’t deserve anything I’ve done to you, Daddy.” She sniffed. “Your brother was the only one to blame and I gave him the power to keep hurting me long after he was dead. Hurting us.”
“Whatever you need, baby bunny. Therapy, more self-defense classes, couples counseling, spankings, we’ll do it. But we’re not going to be apart anymore. You, me, and Brent are a family and that’s final. You’re both mine and I protect what’s mine, but more important, I love what’s mine.”
“Daddy, I love you so much. But what I need is for you to make love to me. No one’s made love to me since you left. Even when you came home it was just sex.” She flung herself against him and he held her a moment before pulling her back to look her in the eye. His gaze shifted from one eye to the next, reading her.
“Daddy, I’m broken. I haven’t been able to enjoy sex since…”
“Now you listen here, little one. You’re not broken, you just haven’t been able to let go, but you know you can let go with Daddy, right?” She didn’t answer so he took her chin with his hand and waited, looking her hard in the eye.
“Yes,” she finally said and he released her chin.
“Stand up. I want you upstairs in my room. I’m going to be your dirty daddy tonight.” He smirked. “Dirty Daddy’s going to make his baby bunny beg.” He swatted her bottom when she stood.
“Ow, Daddy! What was that for?” She rubbed her cheek over her jean shorts.
“We’ve wasted seven years, baby and I need that tight ass in my bed!” He winked at her and she giggled as her own words were used against her.
Upstairs, he stripped her slowly, tugging her shirt off at an agonizing pace. Kissing her neck until her knees shook, he removed her bra. He pulled off his own shirt so he could feel her heavy breasts against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her legs, he boosted her up so her breasts were fully accessible to his mouth and she couldn’t escape him as he tortured them with deep suckling, nibbles, and flicks.
“God, Daddy. I forgot how much you love to torment me!” She threw her head back and whimpered as he sucked her right nipple to a hardened peak. “Please…” she panted. “I need more.”
“Do you now?” he asked, lowering her back to her feet. “Who’s in charge, baby?” H
er eyes, which were closed, fluttered open. At first she looked started by his firm tone, but then she smirked.
“You are, Daddy.”
“That’s right. Now behave or Daddy will torture you some more.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Her tone was submissive and it made his cock harden almost painfully. This was the girl he’d left behind that autumn seven years earlier. His heart soared as if it had wings and his body had endless space for flight.
He lowered to his knees, unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. “These, young lady, are all getting burnt! No more showing your cheeks. They’re mine!” His hands found her bum and slid up the back of the shorts to take a handful of flesh in each. He squeezed and she moaned and then he released her to remove the shorts. Once again, she was bare.
“Didn’t I tell you about wearing panties already?” His brow arced sharply as he looked up at her. She bit her lip and blushed. He closed his eyes, his heart pounding with joy. She was one hundred percent his baby bunny again.
“Are you going to spank me, Daddy?”
He looked up and narrowed his eyes on hers. “No coming, unless I give you permission, understand?”
She bobbed her head and his brows raised, his hand poised to spank.
“Yes, Daddy,” she said swiftly.
“Better,” he mumbled and leaned forward and took her naked mound in his mouth. She gasped as his tongue slipped between her lips and ran across her clit. Another swipe of his tongue made her open her legs for him. With his tongue working her nub, he reached around and smacked her ass. It made his hand sting and she moaned, so he knew she felt it too, but with the pressure of his tongue pleasuring her she couldn’t complain. He continued giving her both gratification and sting, enjoying the sounds of her mewls and yelps.