by Brook Wilder
She shot me a look and walked out of the room, coming back in a few minutes later with her purse.
"Just send the rest or throw it away, I don't care."
"I didn't mean it," I said, desperate to keep her in this house. "I'm fucking sorry."
Her hand on the doorknob, she turned back to look at me.
"Of course you did. You didn't plan on this happening, and neither did I, so why don't we just cut our losses and move on with our lives? I won't even ask for any support for our child."
"I will support our fucking child," I growled, not liking the deadness in her voice. "I don't want you to leave."
She shook her head, sadness radiating from her body.
"Goodbye Brendan."
"Wait," I tried again, but she was already out the door, heading for her car.
This had been a royal fuck up. I couldn’t… she couldn't leave me like this. We were having a kid together, and… well, I loved her.
"Shit!" I said, running a hand through my hair roughly.
How was I going to get her back? How was I going to get her to see that I wanted her here, that I would give everything up to have her in my life?
I hadn't lived until I met her.
Slumping in the chair, I thought about that night, the one that was tearing us apart.
"We have to get there first," Aaron said, his fists clenched tightly. "I will fucking kill them."
I looked around the dead street, spying the alleyway to our right. The goons from the Blood Eagles were disappearing around the corner, and, if we timed it just right, we could cut them off. There was no way they were going to kill the Halls tonight.
"Come on."
Aaron followed me as we walked into the alleyway. Neither one of us were armed, but a surprise attack would give us the upper hand. I was itching for a fight, needing to burn off some energy after a night of drinking beer by the rock quarry.
"Thank you," Aaron said quietly as he caught up to me.
I looked over, surprised.
"For what?"
"For always having my back, man," he said with a grin. "You know I consider you my brother."
I reached over and pushed at his shoulder lightly.
"I know man, I know."
The man stepped out onto the alley so fast that I barely had time to register it. Aaron pushed me aside as a flash filled the air, followed by the bang. I fell into a pile of trash, the sound of boots hitting the pavement mingling with my harsh breathing.
"Aaron!" I shouted frantically, pushing myself up out of the trash. "Aaron!"
He was laying on his side not far from me, and, as I hurried over, I saw the pool of blood that was growing under him.
"Bren," he forced out, coughing as I placed my hand over the wound, feeling the warmth of his blood pulsating under my fingers.
"Shh," I said, my voice trembling. "Don't say anything. You're gonna be okay."
He tried to smile.
"Watch over her, will you?"
"Don't say that shit!" I growled, as his eyes dimmed before his jaw went slack.
I jolted out of the memory, finding my hands shaking. I had tried to watch over her, but now I had fucked it up.
Chapter 16
Laura
I opened the door to my car and climbed in, wiping the tears from my eyes. It was over. I was done with Paradise, done with Brendan Morrison and all the pain he had just caused me.
I reached for my seatbelt before laughing harshly. Oh no, I was far from done with Brendan Morrison. I was carrying his child, and we were bonded for life, even if I wanted to punch him in the face.
But I wasn't going to stay any longer. He could come track me down this time, but I was getting out of this place, away from him, so I could think.
Starting the engine, I backed the car out of the driveway and pointed it toward the highway, my heart breaking as the house grew smaller in my mirror. I had hoped that things could be different between us, that we would find a way to make this work and maybe be happy in the process.
But he didn't want me to be in his future. He had made that perfectly clear, and, if he didn’t want me, then he didn't want this child either. We were messing up his perfect little life, and I wasn't going to stand by like my mom had and attempt to win over his heart. She had nearly ruined her life by doing so and found her true love after the fact, something I might not find if I stayed here with Brendan.
A tear fell from my eye and I angrily brushed it away. So, what if I was in love with Brendan? It wouldn't be the first time, but I’d be damned if I was going to stay with someone who didn't return the sentiment. I had more than just myself to think about now.
I turned down the street that led to the highway, already formulating my conversation with my mom once I’d got back. She would likely want to kill Brendan for what he did to me, but I would have to get her to see the bigger picture. He was in the past, and my heart would eventually get over the fact that he didn't want me around. It would take some time, but I would survive, just like I always had done in the past.
I just hoped that, one day, he would come to realize what he’d thrown away.
I reached the end of the road, slowing as I realized it was blocked. A group of motorcycles stood between me and the highway, and, as I pulled to a stop, my blood ran cold as I saw who the ring-leader was. My hands went to the reverse, but he was already at the driver’s side window, a gun pointed in my direction.
"I wouldn't do that, Ms. Hall. I would hate to spread your lovely brains all over the window."
I swallowed and held up my hands.
"Just let me go. I am leaving, and I won't be back, I promise."
Hector laughed and reached for the door handle, opening it.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. darling. I need you, you see. And, if I let you go, then I have nothing."
"Please," I begged as he reached over and undid my seat belt, motioning with his gun for me to climb out of the car. "I just want to go home."
He grabbed my hair and pulled me out, causing me to cry out under the pain.
"Now, now! You can go home soon. I promise."
I didn't believe him as he released the hold on my hair. He was going to kill me. It would be the only way to get to Brendan, or at least that was what he thought. Now… well, I doubted he would even come after me.
My heart sank as I thought about the innocent child that would be led to its death, the one I would never get to see. I had to keep myself alive somehow. I had to get out of this situation.
"Come on, Ms. Hall," Hector said, motioning to the goons waiting a few feet away. "We are going to take a ride, and, if you try anything foolish, I will shoot you where you stand and drag your body back to Morrison. You got that?"
"I-I understand," I stammered, starting my walk toward my captors.
There had to be a way out of this situation, one that didn't involve me getting killed in the process.
I just hoped I could find it before it was too late.
Chapter 17
Brendan
I was fucking hating life.
Rising to my feet, I walked into the living room where Colby still sat.
"What the fuck are you doing, telling her about Aaron?"
Colby had the grace to look ashamed.
"She asked. Don't you think she deserved to know what happened?"
"Hell, no!" I said, the weight of Laura gone starting to weigh heavily on my soul.
She was gone, and I was going to have a hell of a time getting her back.
I was going to get her back.
Colby stood, wiping his hands on his jeans.
"You kept that a secret for too long, Bren. You should have told her a long time ago. I know you better than I know myself, and I can't understand why you would want to protect those bastards. They killed Aaron, not you."
"It was my secret to tell," I growled.
I couldn't protect my best friend and I fucking hated it.
Colby eyed me.
> "What is it that you aren't telling me? Something's eating at you, brother."
"Nothing," I bit out, clenching my fist. "Other than you messing up this between me and Laura. Why couldn't you keep your nose out of my business?"
"I didn't do this," Colby stated, arching a brow. "It's your damn hot-headed temper that messed things up between you and Laura. And if you weren't so damn stubborn, you would be chasing her down right now."
"Shut the fuck up," I warned, not liking how his words hit home with me.
Colby laughed.
"Don't like being told you screwed up, do you?"
I launched at him, catching him square in the jaw and causing both of us to topple over the sofa, sending it onto its back.
"Shut. The. Fuck. Up." I yelled, punching him for good measure, before he pushed me off, wiping his nose on the end of the t-shirt.
"Damn, man! You didn't have to hit me so hard!"
I took a few steps backward, running a hand roughly through my hair. We had gotten into many scrapes as kids, even more as stupid teenagers, but I hadn't hit Colby in years.
"Sorry," I muttered, taking in a calming breath. "I shouldn't have done it."
Colby shook his head, working his jaw in his hand.
"I shouldn't have goaded you, man. I'm sorry, but I said what needed to be said."
He was right, even though it didn’t give me the warm and fuzzies.
"It's fine. Help me with this damn sofa."
He chuckled and help me set it to rights, adjusting the cushions so that it looked like it had never happened.
"How are you gonna get her back? I like her, you know. And if she didn't have eyes for you, I would go after her myself."
"She's carrying my kid," I said, watching as the blood drained from Colby's face.
Hell, I felt the same way.
"A kid?"
I nodded.
"Yeah a kid. I'm going to be a fucking father."
Colby busted out into laughter, groaning as the expression made his jaw ache.
"Well, maybe that will teach you a lesson about poking your cock into places you shouldn't be."
I frowned.
"There will be no one else."
I knew what I wanted, and I had just let her walk away from me. Laura was what I needed, the only person I wanted.
"Then hell, man! Go get her!"
My cell buzzed, and I pulled it off my hip, hoping it was Laura that was calling me. The number was unknown, so I hit send.
"Yeah?"
"Morrison."
A shiver ran down my spine as I heard the glee in Hector Blackwood's voice.
"Why the fuck are you calling me?"
"I thought you would like to know something," he started. "Something about what I have."
My blood ran cold, and I found myself unable to take a sharp breath. I knew the answer before I asked the question, but I decided to do so anyway.
"What do you have?"
"Ms. Hall. She's a fighter, I give her that. You two would have a pretty tough kid if I was willing to let her live that long."
I closed my eyes, my tongue suddenly thick in my mouth. My worst fear was coming true. There had been a reason I had stayed unattached for so long, and this was it. In my position, I was a target, and anyone in my inner circle held that target as well.
And now, Laura was going to die because of me.
"What do you want?"
"For you to come get her," he cackled, knowing he had me by the balls. "Come show your ugly face to me, Morrison. Come fight for this family you don't deserve. You couldn't save one Hall; can you save another?"
"For any harm you inflict on her I will break a bone of my choice," I said. "Tell me where you are, bastard, and I will be there."
He gave me the address of an old warehouse-lot on the north side of town before hanging up, leaving me to listen to the dial tone. Hector wouldn't hurt Laura without having me there to watch, so I had some time.
Very little, but some.
I turned to Colby, who had already figured out what was going on and was firing off text messages to others in the club.
"Get Jax. I doubt Blackwood is hanging out by himself."
"We will have force," Colby promised, giving me a nod. "She will be okay, Bren. We will make sure of it."
I nodded, swallowing hard. She had to be, or I would never forgive myself.
Chapter 18
Laura
I strained against the ropes around my chest, testing out their strength and my ability to get out of them. Turns out bikers are pretty good at tying people up, and, unless I suddenly developed superhuman strength, I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Sighing, I slumped against the chair, looking at my surroundings. I was in an old office, the furniture old and worn from disuse. The entire place smelled musty, dust moats floating about in the beams of sunlight that broke through the dirty window.
I hadn't tried to get away, hadn't uttered one word, when Hector had ordered me onto the back of his bike and we’d ridden off, my stomach tied in knots about what might happen next. I knew I was going to be a pawn between the Blood Eagles and the Frontier Reapers, a way to get Brendan to come after Hector.
I should never have left the house.
I rolled my wrists under the tight zip-tie, wondering how long it was going to take for the two to meet. I had no doubt in my mind that Brendan would come. He was too honorable, no matter what he thought about himself.
Footsteps sounded on the floor and I straightened, clenching my jaw so tight that I thought I would break my own teeth. I wouldn’t show them that I was afraid, that I was worried not only about my life but that of Brendan and of whomever he brought with him too.
Hector entered the room, a grin on his face.
"Still with us, Ms. Hall?"
I glared at him.
"Did you expect me to go somewhere else?"
He shook his head.
"No, I imagine you don't have much of a choice, do you? You see, I didn't want to involve you in this little spat that we have between clubs, and, had you just stayed in Anchorage, you would be living your life without this shit."
"While I appreciate your concern," I shot back, "I don't regret anything I've done here."
Hector gave a short laugh, his eyes drifting down to my stomach.
"Not even that?"
I tilted my chin.
"Not even that."
While it had caused me a bit of heartache and some headache as well, I didn't regret falling in love with Brendan or creating this child together. If – and it was a big if – we got out of this alive, I would make it work with him, stay in Paradise. No matter how pissed I was at Brendan, I shouldn't have tried to leave. We could work this out. We were going to be parents in a few months, and our child deserved to have both parents in his life. That, and I was madly in love with him. For that, I could work on anything that was thrown our way.
Well… that is, if I survived the next hour or so
Hector leaned against the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest.
"You remind me a lot of your father, Ms. Hall. He was a stubborn ass as well. You know we started out in the same club?"
I did not know that, but neither did I acknowledge his statement. I was going to let him talk. The longer he talked, the more time I had to come up with an escape plan.
"Same club, both up for president one day," he continued on, bitterness in his voice. "I think we were around twenty, but that bastard double-crossed me, got me kicked out of the club. I never forgave him. You know that club was the Frontier Reapers?"
I didn't know that either. There had been two clubs feuding for as long as I could remember, and I had never thought that they had been together once upon a time.
"So, I vowed to make his life and those in that club a living hell," Hector said with a smirk. "Starting with the death of your brother."
My expression must have said it all, for he laughed.
"Yes, I am re
sponsible for the death of your brother. It was supposed to be a two-for-one special, but the goons I put there chickened out about killing Morrison as well."