by Nicole Fox
Sara believed him, even if she didn't care either way. After being alone for so long, with just her thoughts and the awful memories of her childhood to keep her company, a full house was what she needed. The bustle of other people coming in and out. People to watch TV with. People to yell at because the TV was too loud and she was reading.
Cathey seemed to warm to the idea, too. “I never had a daughter, you know,” she'd confided in Sara one night when Danny and his brother were down at the Old Crow.
“What about Brittney? Didn't you like her?”
“Brittney never fit in,” Cathey said, reaching across the table to pat Sara's hand. “You, though. Honey, you got Fallen Knight ol' lady written all over you.”
Sara couldn't help but smile. This was the first time she'd ever felt like she'd belonged. She realized she'd been a square peg all her life, but had always been told only round holes existed. Now, all of a sudden and completely by accident, she'd stumbled across an entire board full of square holes.
“That the last of it?” Danny asked as Sara came into the house with her arms full. He came up to her, arms outstretched to take her load. “Here, let me take that.”
She shook her head and twisted the box away from him, out of his grasp. “Danny Reynolds, I'm barely pregnant. I can lift a box by myself. And, no, there's still a few more. You better go help Thorn out with them before he throws his back out.”
“That old man?” Danny growled before kissing her on the cheek. “He's tough as nails.”
But, he went out anyways to help the president of the Fallen Knights.
And Sara Taylor turned and watched her man go. Because that's what he was. Her man.
# # #
Danny
That evening, Danny and Thorn sat out on the back stoop of his mom's house, beers in hand, looking out over the backyard. They'd loaded and unloaded moving boxes all day, and they deserved the break.
“Thanks for the help today,” Danny said, toasting his old mentor.
“Don't mention it. Anything for your family, you know that. Your daddy always did right by me.”
Danny grinned. “I know.” He took a sip of beer and leaned back against the door frame. “You proved that, and more, with all that Adam shit.”
“You know how it is,” Thorn said. “Strike at one of us, you strike at all of us.”
“Damn straight,” Danny agreed.
They both grew quiet, just letting the chirping crickets fill the silence. Contentment, for the first time in he-didn't-know-how-long, filled Danny. Everything seemed right with the world. No worries from the Jackals, no worries from Adam. His ol' lady was with him. He had a baby on the way. His brother was home safe. Hell, his mom seemed to be getting better, even.
“Danny,” Thorn said after a while of comfortable quiet, “I've been thinking.”
Danny took a sip of his beer. “About what?”
“Retirement.”
Danny almost dropped his beer. He hadn't seen that coming! “What? You can't retire, old man!”
“Not from the club,” Thorn said, a wry smile on his face. “Just from leadership.”
“What are the Knights going to do without you?” Danny asked, the shock still reverberating through him.
“Pick someone younger, faster, and stronger. Look, I've been thinking about everything that went down with Adam -”
“You mean how I almost fucked everything up?”
Thorn set his beer aside. “Danny, lemme ask you something. Know what makes a good leader, versus a bad one?”
Danny shook his head.
“Making more good decisions than bad ones,” Thorn said, “and taking responsibility for them. Sure, you made a mistake, but no one got hurt in the end. But, do you know what makes a man a leader, good or bad?”
“Never really thought of it, I guess.”
“Being willing to make decisions. Period. What you decided to do at the end, with us trying to chase down Adam, then having to race back to the warehouse? Then just taking his patches and sparing his life? It was a decision, no matter which way you look at it, and the right one in that case.”
Danny nodded as he listened to Thorn. He still kicked himself every now and then about the decisions he'd made during the whole affair, and how wrong some of them ended up being. “I still got so many things wrong,” he said. “I just feel like I screwed it all up.”
Thorn shrugged. “Welcome to life, Danny-boy. Not every decision is going to be the right one. Hell, not making a decision, period, that's as much making a decision. You're just choosing to let events unfold for you.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Danny said. “But, I just don't think I can ever get over it, you know?”
“You don't. It's called learning from your mistakes. And, boy howdy, have I had my share.”
“Why now? I mean, we proved to everyone around that we can take care of ourselves, even after Pops passed.”
“Cause this whole thing taught me something. I'm getting old. Too damned old. I can't go and fight bruisers half my age like I did when we were getting Jed back, or go off half-cocked like we did at the Jackals compound. Not anymore, that's for sure.”
“So, you talked to the others about this? To Tyke?”
Thorn nodded and took another drink of beer. “Yup. And we agreed.”
“Agreed on what?”
“We want you to be the new president.”
Danny Reynolds dropped his beer that time.
THE END
Books by Nicole Fox
Click any of the covers below to go straight to the book page!
Chopper’s Baby: Savage Outlaws MC
He snatched me up and filled me with his baby.
I shouldn’t submit to him. After all, he kidnapped me.
I should do something – run, scream, fight back.
But one look into his icy eyes and I know the truth: I’m not going anywhere.
I’m going to stay here. Submit to his touch.
And I’m going to have his baby.
Kelsey
I knew when I started that this was a dangerous game.
But I needed answers, and one of these bastards had to know who killed my sister.
I’d do whatever it took to find the murderer.
Even if it meant letting a hideous monster f*ck me like a dog.
Spike Lawler claimed me as his old lady before I even knew to resist.
Now, he says he’ll never let me go.
I’m trapped and drowning, a helpless victim to his disgusting wrath.
And when he finds out I’m pregnant, the last windows of opportunity to escape are slammed shut.
But here’s what Spike doesn’t know:
The baby isn’t his.
And the man who gave it to me is coming to claim his child.
Chopper
I’m sick of standing idly by. It’s time to strike.
Spike Lawler is soft. Weak. Arrogant. He thinks I can’t do a thing to him.
But he doesn’t know that I’ve learned his secret:
His old lady, his most prized possession, is pregnant.
I’m going to hit him where it hurts the most.
The plan comes together perfectly, and before I know it,
I have his old lady tied up in my clubhouse basement.
I go down to interrogate her, only to come face-to-face with a stunning realization.
She’s not just some pawn in this power struggle.
She’s the mother of my baby.
BROKEN ANGEL: Devil’s Route MC
She was an angel when she met me. She was broken when she left.
One night in my bed ruined her for good. I left her with aching lips, dark desires… and a secret baby.
Eight years later, she’s back, and desperate for more of the same.
But there are shadows on her tail – an ex-husband thirsty for blood.
Well, he’d better come ready. I’ll die to protect what’s mine.
Halley Talin should have
stayed in my past.
We had one night together – one hot, filthy night, a night where I showed her how pleasurable the shadows can be.
I knew she’d never forget it.
But I had to move on.
I had a club to ride with, and that was all the family I ever wanted.
At least, that’s what I used to think.
Then Halley came knocking on my door once more.
She was just as stunning, just as sweet.
But something dark lingered behind her eyes.
And when she stepped aside, she revealed something that left me damn near speechless –
A son I never knew existed.
I don’t know the first thing about being a father.
All I know is crime and violence and the craven thrill of making a woman beg and moan.
But for the first time in my life, I have something to lose.
Something to fight for.
Something to protect.
And I’ll be damned if anyone is going to take it from me.
CAGED: A Dark Bad Boy Romance
I’VE GOT HER CAGED AND DESPERATE FOR A TASTE OF THE BAD BOY.
The boss only wants Joey Banks straightened out, but I’ve got a different plan in mind.
I’m going to kill the man and take the smuggling route for my own.
No one else needs to get hurt. The plan is as simple as it gets.
Until I meet Joey’s daughter.
She might look like an angel…
but she f*cks like the devil.
And then I find out she’s letting me reel her back in so she can get her own revenge on her father.
Fair enough; I can respect a little deception. I’m no stranger to it myself.
We might even have made a good team – if she hadn’t turned on me.
Now I’ve got no choice but to call in a siege.
I’m going to have to fight my way out, but I’m not leaving empty-handed.
I’m taking that fiery b*tch with me no matter what.
AFFLICTED: A Dark Bad Boy Romance
I’M AFFLICTED WITH THE NEED FOR CONTROL.
Koen
She chose the wrong man to beg for help.
I’m not the one she wants.
She’s looking for a saint, a nice guy.
But the closest I’ve been to a bleeding heart is when I ripped the organs from my enemies’ chests.
And yet, here she is.
She’s a queen of chaos spinning webs of lies.
But every time I try to dismiss her, she finds a way to stick around.
Fine. Have it your way, princess.
If you’re going to be here, you’re going to do things my way.
You’ll kneel when I order it.
Strip when I ask.
Moan when I command.
This is my world, and as long as you’re in it, you will do exactly as I say.
Jace
I didn’t ask for any of this.
I didn’t ask to be a working girl.
I didn’t ask to watch my pimp murder my little brother in cold blood.
Most of all, I didn’t ask to run away… straight into the arms of Koen Baldwin, the man responsible for this entire sickening operation.
But I never had a choice.
I belong to Koen Baldwin from the moment I meet him.
He’s a sinner, a bastard, a killer, a rogue.
He’s the reason I’m in this nightmare.
So, with nothing left to lose, I’ve got one mission in mind:
I’m going to do whatever it takes to get my revenge.
I’ll sleep with Koen.
I’ll help his business.
I’ll rally his men.
Hell, I’ll wash his goddamn laundry, if that’s what he wants.
But at the end of the day, I’m going to do just one thing:
Send Koen Baldwin to hell where he belongs.
HELLFIRE: A Dark Bad Boy Romance
He’s as hot as hellfire – and dangerous as sin.
Gunner Wilson is the human equivalent of a motorcycle – loud, dirty, and built to ride all night long.
He’s spent a night with damn near every girl in Texas.
Well, every girl except me.
I’m new in town, but I haven’t even been here for a full day before Gunner saunters over and starts tempting me towards his bed.
He’s hot as hell and I’m dripping wet just looking at him…
But I’m not that type of girl.
Silly me.
I might as well have just slept him.
But how was I to know the truth?
That, in just a little while, I’d be married to the bastard…
And pregnant with his baby.
Bearing His Baby: Fallen Knights MC
I'll give him my body. I'll bear his baby. But I won't fall in love.
SARA
Ever since my parents lost everything, I've been dreaming of building a brand new future.
Danny Reynolds says if I have his baby, he'll give me enough money to start over again.
Sounds simple, but he's not a simple man.
He's rugged, tough, and a long-standing member of the Fallen Knights MC.
I knew at a glance that sleeping with him would change everything.
But I did it anyways.
Now I have what I thought I wanted – I'm pregnant with his child.
So why isn’t it enough?
Why do I want Danny, too?
DANNY
The last thing I need is a baby.
But it was my dad's dying wish and the only way to get my inheritance.
Fine.
I'll find some woman to have my kid.
But I will not settle down.
I've got my life with the Fallen Knights.
I don't need distractions.
I just need solutions.
Sara Taylor seems perfect for the job.
She thinks she's too good for the likes of me, which means she won't try to get too close.
The problem is, I can’t stop thinking about our nights together.
Her body, in my arms.
I’m not right for her in any way, shape, or form.
So why am I not satisfied?
Why do I keep craving more?
I bought her body. But I won’t leave until I’ve claimed her heart and soul.
Born Sinner
Available only when you sign up to my mailing list!
Life ain’t easy for a born sinner.
Carter Prince wants an old lady like a house cat wants baths – in other words, not at all. So when the president of his MC hires him out as a bodyguard for the daughter of a local politician, he’s a little bit less than pleased. It’s not a completely horrible situation, though – he wasn’t expecting her to be such a stone cold stunner. He tells himself to keep his mind on the job, but the more time they spend together, the closer he gets to taking her as his own right then and there…
Angela McCarron is sick of rules. Go here, not there. Do this, not that. It comes with the territory of being the daughter of a city councilman, but after eighteen years of it, all she wants is a little freedom, just a taste of the carefree childhood she never got to have.
So imagine her joy when a mysterious threat in the mail prompts her father to hire a bodyguard for her. But there is a silver lining – Carter Prince might be the sexiest man she’s ever seen. If only he wasn’t such an icy bastard. She shouldn’t keep disobeying him, but then again, Angela’s never met a line that she didn’t wish she could cross… Especially not one this handsome.
As Carter and Angela clash and mesh and clash again, the danger around them draws ever closer. It only takes one mistake before both of them realize just how far they’ve gone down the rabbit hole. They just have to hope it’s not too late to save themselves – or each other.
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