by Xyla Turner
There was light snickering on his side of the car, then I felt a hand reach over and pull me on top of his hard body.
"I've dealt with women on periods before," Connor told me.
"Not me," I said. "Even Shay and Kylie stay away from me during that time."
"Guess I need to get your office a chaise lounge chair so you can keep your ass in there for a week," he said.
"Yup and a refrigerator filled with chocolate. Oh, a big screen television with cable so I can watch chick flicks and cry."
"Sounds like a woman cave," he countered.
"Tomatoe, tomato."
"Done," he answered. "Anything else, ma'am?"
"That’s all I can think of now but let's do weekly check-ins. Mental, emotional and physical health," I told him. "We say what we need, stay honest and open."
"Exactly." Connor laughed. "Okay, so you should know one thing though."
“What?”
He pulled out his cellphone and showed me a website. It was for The Manor Press, our local newspaper.
“This is coming out tomorrow,” he said as he handed me the phone.
Quickly skimming over the image, words and a handsome looking picture of Connor on the screen, I gasped.
“Is this?” I started. “This is you?”
“Yeah, sweetness.” He nodded. “I wanted to surprise you over breakfast tomorrow morning but I wanted you to know since we’re coming up with our pacts.”
Tears were rolling down my face as I read that Connor Locklear had started a landscaping company that also donated a sizable portion of its proceeds to rehabilitations like the one I was in and they highlighted his skills with fixing and transforming bikes over the past ten years. The picture was of him, arms crossed, no smile but his eyes were happy.
He was happy.
“Wow, Connor.” I was in awe.
His hand wiped my face when he asked, “Why are you crying?”
“Because,” I sniffed. “I’m so proud of you.”
He laughed and said, “That’s how I feel about you, sweetness.”
"Then we're good." I laughed it off.
"Now, can I get that kiss?" Connor asked.
I leaned forward but he tilted his head back and said, "Not those lips, sweetness. My other ones."
"Oh God, yes." I opened the door, climbed off his lap and ran in the house with Connor chasing after me.
Not only did he kiss those lips but so many other things. The man put the N in naughty and I wasn't any better because I loved every bit of it.
Around three in the morning his cell rang, startling me awake.
"Yeah," he answered. "Be right there."
"Pollo?" I called.
"Sweetness, got some club business I need to take care of. I'll be back later, okay."
My head nodded and as he pulled on his pants and boots, I couldn't help but feel fear. As he was leaving, I yelled, "Be careful."
He stopped, turned around and said, "Always. We got a future to build and I ain't missing that for nothing in this world."
"You better not." I smiled as he kissed my head, nose and finally my mouth.
"Go back to sleep," he instructed.
Then he was gone.
Thirteen
Not Over
Apollo:
"Here he is now," Swag called as I walked through the doors of the conference room.
Razor, Shiz, Swag and Dash were in attendance. Bronx was on his honeymoon and I knew Razor would not want him to be in on whatever shit fest this was about to become.
“What happened?” I asked as I sat at the table.
“The rogues are trying to rear their ugly heads again and I’m going to need you to run point,” Razor nodded towards me. “Kylie’s about to pop in just a few days, Bronx is out and you’re next in line.”
“Of course,” I acknowledged. “Now, what happened?”
“We still had surveillance on Shay and Dessy even after the last incident with Haz. Remember, the Pres of the Devil’s Viper said he acted alone but then Dessy’s old boyfriend said there was a takeover and he wasn’t running shit no more?” Razor asked.
“Yeah.”
“Turns out, it’s true,” Razor confirmed. “One of the guys Bronx fucked up that day is the leader but there was a divide in the club, so there’s two Vipers clubs and one of them is full of rogues.”
“Those rogues are the same ones that beat up Avery’s brother that night.” Shiz directed his attention to me. “Remember, the one that crushed my bike?”
I nodded.
“That was the rogue Vipers.” Shiz confirmed.
“Okay…” I let it linger because I knew there was more.
Swag threw a bunch of photos on the table. Most of them were of Shay, Dessy and Lori. Kylie was in a few but with the rest of the women.
Red hot anger raced through my veins as I thought about the possibilities of what this could mean.
“Where?” I asked.
“Vipers Lair, number two,” Swag answered. “We had their place under surveillance for the rogues and now that Lori is connected to you, she’s a target too.”
I looked to the men in this room and said, “May not want me running point.”
“Apollo,” Razor called. “I need you.”
“You know I’ll do anything for you Raze. Any fucking thing but I just got her. I just got permission to marry the only love of my life from her father. We’re building Raze, and I’m telling you right fucking now, any threat to any of that, I will kill all of those motherfuckers. She’ll hate me for getting life in prison but she’ll live, man. So, you sure you want me to run point? Fine. But if they try to hurt my family and I mean my brothers and their women too, I will put them down for good.”
“And that’s why you need to run lead,” Swag said. “That’s why you’re the Sergeant of Arms and that’s also why Wolf is on retainer. Our goal is to shut down the threat and if necessary neutralize it. That ain’t just on you, Apollo. That’s every Guardian.”
I nodded my head and said, “What’s the mission?”
“Right now, we’re still trying to figure out what they are up to. We know they are watching Shay and Dessy, so we’ll need to bring in Bear. We’re putting surveillance on Lori and back on Kylie. I’m going to reach out to both Presidents and see about meeting in neutral turfs. You’re coming with me,” Razor pointed to me, “after Kylie has our baby. Swag’s going to lay low for now and then we’ll assess from there. The mission right now is recon until after the baby, meet with both Presidents and then do what we need to do. Nothing is off the table at this point. Apollo, I’m with you. I’m carrying everyday with my new wife and we’re about to have my second child. Bronx just got married, fucking today, and you and Lori are just starting. Ain’t no restrictions, brother.”
This meant we were about to have a war and everything was about to change.
“Okay, I’ll take lead on this recon. Will let Lori know about the tail she’ll get so she can be on guard,” I shared.
“I’ll let Bear know about the tail so he can share with Dessy.” Razor nodded.
“We’ll do recon on the other Vipers if you do it with the rogues,” Swag offered.
“I’m with Apollo,” Shiz said.
“Me too,” Dash offered.
“Done,” Razor said before he hit the gavel on the table. “Let’s get some rest.”
The men stood but I stayed behind to go over some of the surveillance footage for the past few weeks. There was nothing out of the ordinary but my internal warning system was on red alert.
The bliss I’d been in was being threatened and I’d worked too damn hard to get Lori Barrister back. I meant what I said to her father, to Razor and her.
I would do whatever I needed to for her to be safe and be with me.
Mounting my bike, I touched my chest where I kept her engagement ring, my design for her tattoo that would be inked on my chest and the documents to put the house in both of our names.
; All of that just got pushed forward if we were going to war.
Lori needed to be taken care of, no matter what.
End of the story.
I hope you enjoyed Apollo & Lori’s story. While, it may be the end of this couple’s direct story, if you’ve been following the series, you’ll know the guys and gals are close, so you will definitely see them again. Keep reading the series to find out what will happen to the Vipers and if Apollo will need to rectify the wrongs that they are plotting against the Guardians.
Next up is Dessy & Bear’s story and you guessed it, Vita and Swags.
About the Author
Xyla Turner is an award-winning, bestselling romance author. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, an avid reader of romance novels and a sucker for sassy women and dominant males. She is a high school educator and an awesome Auntie. Outside of reading, Xyla likes to spend time with her family and friends and travel. She writes different genres, but her favorite is romance.
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Also by Xyla Turner
Series: Stand-Alone Novels
10:80: Line of Duty Series
10-99: Line of Duty Series
By Chance, No Choice: Stetson Series
Under Further Review: The Pro Series
Just Ride: Legion of Guardians MC (eBook & Audio)
Let’s Ride: Legion of Guardians MC
Just Right: Legion of Guardians MC
Love Under Attack: FRCC Series
Forbidden Target
Series Books:
The Chase I, II
Bookstore Chronicles I, II, III
Beyond the Crossroads I, II
Non-Series Book:
BOMBSHELL
Across the Tracks
Power of the Pen
Extraction
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