Hammer's Pride

by E. C. Land

  Ally ended up dragging out the pain for both Bunny and Cheeks for hours after they both sang their confessions without killin’ them yet; I needed them alive still as precautionary. I know this had to do with the men from her past being brought up. After living in captivity of the Delivers for most of her life, it’s never gonna stop affecting her. It’s why Burner is the best man for her. What those two have, I even have to admit, is precious. They have a connection unlike any other.

  Then again, now that I have Avery, I can now understand it better.

  When it comes to Avery, I know exactly what she means to me. I just haven’t acknowledged the words out loud. Shit, speaking them out loud is something I don’t think I can do. Not now. Maybe not ever. I do that, and I take the chance it makes her an even bigger target. Foolish as it may be, I stick to simply showing her in other ways.

  The two of us together make for some mind-blowing sex, and I can’t get enough of her. After I first got inside her, I told her to expect to be fucked multiple times a day. I won’t be lying. I take her first thing in the morning; if I happen to be at the coffee shop, I take her in her office, then there’s the nighttime where I take her two or three times throughout the entire time.

  But it’s not just the sex that keeps me craving Avery. No, it’s the wittiness of her mind. During times she’s letting her guard down, I see more of the light that surrounds her. Clever in figuring things out, and it’s as if the woman is in tune with my very being. Especially these last few days.

  I’d taken Avery to Rise-N-Shine Coffee the other morning, and as she put her shit away in the back, I’d gone to check on the front of the shop. I notice something waving on the door handle on the outside of the front entrance. Opening the door, I grab the bag. I still and churn at the memory of the smell. Someone had put a dead possum in the damn thing with a note. Thankfully I’ve been able to keep this from Avery. She didn’t need to worry about this shit.

  Sighing, I pull out the letter once again and read it.

  Filthy whore. That’s all you are. You fuck all the bikers, and yet you think you’re better than the lot of us. Get real bitch. This is your last chance to come to us before we start taking action. Avery, you don’t want that to happen because we’ll start with taking out the one who seems taken with you. I’ll slit his throat while making you watch. You belong to the family, and no one is allowed to leave, not even you. Make your choice quick before I make it for you.

  I toss the note back on my desk and close my eyes. I can’t let anything happen to her. They want to take her from me, from the club, I’ll have to make sure to find a way to keep that from happenin’.

  Pulling out my phone, I shoot a group text to my brothers informing them we’re having church. I should have done this the other day when Avery received the damn thing, but besides telling Malice, I’ve been debating dealing with it myself. However, this is something I can’t hide from my brothers. Not when it could affect them as well. She’s my woman, and I pride myself on the fact that she’s with me, but when it comes down to it. Hell is coming our way whether we like it or not, and it’s time to start putting these motherfuckin’ fires out before one of us gets burned. Most of all, before my woman does.

  I’ve come to learn she’s stronger than she looks when it comes to things surrounding us, but Avery only can deal with so much before it becomes too much for her to handle. And when that happens, she’ll try to run; I know it in my gut. My woman will do whatever she deems necessary to protect those around her.

  Avery’s not dumb or foolish. She’s rather unique in a lot of ways. She shows everyone kindness, even the customers at the shop who come in rudely. Not once have I seen her snap at anyone. Well, anyone but me. When it comes to me, my woman has no problem voicing her opinion on things or being stubborn. In fact, this morning, I’d told her she wasn’t gonna go to the shop, that she needed the day off. The woman ended up over my knee with my hand against her ass for back talking, which turned in to me fuckin’ her for another hour. In the end, I won the argument by wearing her out.

  With the way Avery keeps going, and I’ve allowed her to to some extent, she’s gonna burn herself out or kill herself with exhaustion. Neither of which I’m gonna allow to happen.

  Standing up from behind my desk, I leave my office in search of Avery. I need to check on her before headin’ into church. I informed Tap and Knuckles that they’re to keep an eye on her. My gut tells me shits about to happen, which I’ll listen to and do what I deem necessary to keep everyone safe.

  Especially Avery.

  I check the kitchen first ‘cause I’ve found she loves bakin’ shit and that’s where I can usually find her. When I step into the room, I find her laughing with Leanna. The two of them have grown close with each other since they first met.

  “What are you two laughing about?” I ask with a grin and lift a brow. Both women turn in my direction, and immediately Avery’s cheeks blush.

  Hm, interesting.

  “Nothing for you to concern yourself with, Hammer,” Leanna giggles as she rounds the side of the island in the middle. “But I will say that Avery is letting me start working at the coffee shop. I told her I needed something to do with my days since I’ve become bored with all the busyness of my days.”

  My grin turns into a full-on smile at what Leanna is doing. Clever woman, and she schemes. She’s noticed Avery looking exhausted more every day as well. “I think you’ll enjoy being at the coffee shop with Avery, Willow, and Quinn.”

  “Exactly what I was thinking as well. I actually enjoy coming to the clubhouse more now that they’re all staying here,” she murmurs and turns back to Avery. “I’ve got a few errands to run. Would you like me to get you anything in particular?”

  “Oh, I could just come with you,” Avery offers.

  “No,” I bite out before I can stop myself.

  “What do you mean ‘no’?” Avery huffs, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Avery, right now, I need you to stay here. I’ve got church, and you gotta stay here,” I mutter, having no intention of telling her the reason why. She’ll have to trust me on this one.

  “I don’t see why the hell I can’t go with Leanna while she runs a few errands. What’s the harm in going off with a friend?” she snaps with full-on attitude.

  Fuck, I love her attitude, but right now, it’s pissing me off. This is her safety and not wanting anything to happen to her. Why can’t she simply see that I’m protecting her by keeping her from leaving without me?

  “Sunshine, not gonna argue with you or tell you my fuckin’ reasons why. You’re keeping your ass here where I know you’re safe,” I growl. Flashbacks of my brother’s house pop into my head, and I inwardly shake them away. I don’t need this shit.

  “Hammer, nothing’s gonna happen to either of us,” Avery tries again, causing me to snap.

  I’m not one to lose control, and it pisses me off more so with this situation because she wants to argue with me about this.

  “You don’t know that,” I snarl. “You could go out there, and those fuckers snag you up or decide to slit your throat. I’m not gonna go through that shit again where I get a call saying you’re fuckin’ dead. So do me a favor and keep your ass here where I know nothing’s gonna happen. I don’t need you putting yourself out there where someone can get to you. Not when I’ve got shit to do, and I’m fuckin’ busy.” With that, I turn on my heel and storm out of the kitchen, ignoring the tears that fill her eyes.

  That’s another thing I’d learned about my woman. She cries when she’s upset, and I don’t have time to worry about her feelings right now. I have more important things to worry about, such as her life not being snuffed out.

  Stalking through the clubhouse, I make my way to church and sit in my chair to wait for the rest of my brothers to get here.

  It’s time shit gets back to normal around here, and that means we need to eliminate the enemy one at a time. Starting with Avery’s brother’s gang. I’ll gladly p
ull the trigger, nailing them all between the eyes, and I won’t blink twice about it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Avery

  “Sweetheart, don’t take what Hammer said to heart,” Leanna murmurs as she comes back to stand near me.

  “How can I not? Hammer has never been harsh with me. Sure, yeah, he’s been a jerk by going all he-man on me, pushing and pulling, putting me where he wants me. Still, he’s always been somewhat gentle about it. I get that about him, and I’m falling in love with him even though I know this is who he is, but he’s never, not once, been so harsh with his words,” I whisper, tears spilling down my cheeks.

  God, I hate that I cry when I’m upset.

  I’ve always been this way. My sister used to call me a crybaby all the time, provoking me to cry even more.

  “I get where you’re coming from, but you have to get where he’s coming from. Has he told you about his family?” My brows furrow at her question.

  “Not really,” I utter, thinking how I’d met his niece, Ally, when she was here and knew he had a nephew up in Virginia where both he and Ally live with their families.

  “Of course, he wouldn’t tell you. It’d give you nightmares,” Leanna says, shaking her head with a haunting look on her face.

  “What do you mean it’d give me nightmares?” I ask.

  “I won’t tell his story. That’s something you’ll have to ask him. But I will say this with what he said, I suggest you not fight him on anything when it comes to your safety. For his peace of mind at least.” Her words clench in my chest. She might not have told me anything; however, she told me everything she could at the same time. Something bad happened to Hammer and his family.

  Questions filter through my head, and I can’t help but wonder, did he have someone before me that he lost because he’d not been able to protect her? I mean, is it a possibility that he had a girlfriend or wife. It sucks that I hadn’t thought to ask about his family before now.

  I’ve been staying at the clubhouse for a month now, and I now realize how selfish I’ve been for not thinking to find out more about Hammer. Sure we talk. I know things that he likes to do and what he does for the club. At this, I knew it was a lot on his plate and didn’t want to add more to it. He’s already done so much.

  This is why I hadn’t told him about the calls I’d received at my coffee shop. Nor did I tell him my brother, Adam, who I thought was still locked up, walked right into my coffee shop yesterday. Ordered a coffee as he smirked evilly at me. I’d wanted to say get Tap, who was stationed at one of my tables to do something, but my brother stopped me from doing it by speaking low enough for only me to hear him.

  “If you want me to kill your guard dog over there, go for it. Seems the calls and note haven’t done its job in getting you to come back where you belong. So now I’m here tellin’ you, find your way home before I decide to start killing each and every one of those fuckers you’re lettin’ defile what’s not yours to give,” he’d said vehemently.

  This confused me to no end. I still don’t know what he meant.

  What I do know is I need to find a way to keep my brother from making his threat real without having to give myself over to him. I refuse to allow anyone here to be hurt because of me, but at the same time, I don’t want to give myself over to them. I don’t want to know what they have in store for me.

  Sighing, I nod to Leanna and excuse myself from the kitchen, not feeling like doing anything else all of a sudden. Before Hammer came into the kitchen, she and I had been talking about things between Hammer and me. She’d informed me that I needed to start taking better care of myself because I’d been wearing myself out with running the coffee shop, taking care of things around the clubhouse, pretty much being who I am. When Leanna offered to come work with Willow, Quinn, and me, I couldn’t say no.

  I’ve become close with this woman over the last month. She’s like the mother I wish I had. Sure she doesn’t look her age one bit, but regardless of that, she’s very motherly. So I agreed to give her the job without any argument on the matter. Leanna also used the excuse that this would give me more time with Hammer.

  That was when Hammer came in to find us laughing.

  Now I don’t feel like laughing. Not in the slightest.

  I decide instead of going to Hammer’s room where I could be alone, I head outside. He might have said I couldn’t leave the clubhouse, but the insufferable man never said I couldn’t do this.

  Opening the door to the back of the clubhouse, I’m momentarily blinded by the brightness of the sun. I hold a hand over my eyes to allow my sight a chance to take in the sunlight as I make my way toward the swing set that’s set up back here. I’d found it odd to have something like this here, but I learned quickly that two of the guys have kids that they get on weekends.

  Having the swing set worked out for when Quinn’s daughter is here. Right now, with her being at school and no one else around, I take a seat on one of the swings and start slowly moving my feet back and forth. My thoughts start to wander to a dark, sad place in my mind while I lean my head against one of the chain links holding the swing to the top.

  “You know what they want,” Andrea snaps.

  “I fuckin’ know what they want, Andy. Don’t be gettin’ in my fuckin’ face, bitch. You three need to back the fuck off Adam and me. Our crew has nothing to do with you. You listen to us when it comes down to everything. Avery will go to them as we’ve planned, and when she does, we’ll make a mint,” Aidan sneers, backhanding Andrea across the cheek.

  Neither of them sees me from where I’m hidden around the corner, peeking out to witness the scene playing out in front of me. What does he mean I’ll make him a mint?

  “But, Aidan, those men want her a certain way, and she’s not . . .” The crack of Aidan’s hand landing once again against the side of Andrea’s face causes me to cringe.

  “Don’t make me call your man and have him discipline you, Andy. You know I have no problem with getting his ass involved. You three seem to keep forgetting your motherfuckin’ place. Let me remind you, you do as you’re fuckin’ told and keep your damn traps shut. Shit, as much as Avery irritates the hell out of me with the way she thinks her shit don’t stink, she’s at least fuckin’ smart enough not to backtalk or argue with Adam and me. Now get the hell away from me. I’ve got to call Avery’s owner and tell him when the pick-up will be. Then I’ve gotta get Avery ready to go,” Aidan raves with an icy tone in his voice that I’ve never heard before.

  Aidan might hate me, but surely, he wouldn’t sell me, would he?

  My breathing becomes rapid due to the panic attack starting to take hold of me. I can’t do this right now. I have to hear what my brother says and then get out of here. I won’t allow myself to belong to someone as if I were a possession.

  Shaking my head, I try to stop my thoughts from going any further. I left that very night after everyone was either busy or passed out.

  “What the fuck are you doing out here?” Hammer growls, startling me and in the process causing me to jerk on the swing. Of course, this movement and my being somewhat clumsy causes me to fall backward. If it weren’t for Hammer, I’d have hit the ground.

  Without a word, Hammer helps me up, still glowering down at me.

  Feeling unsure of myself and of the anger rolling off him, I don’t meet his gaze.

  “Answer me, Avery, why are you out here alone?” he demands.

  “I couldn’t go with Leanna, so I came out here,” I mutter, doing my best to keep the tremble out of my voice. I don’t need him to realize I’m upset.

  “So you came out here where you wouldn’t be protected. The fuckin’ prospects thought you were in our fuckin’ room, and here you are sitting out here like a pretty little target for anyone to get to. The club might be fenced in all the way around with the gate at the front being opened by remote or code, but fuck, that wouldn’t stop a sniper from putting a bullet in your head,” he snarls.

  “I’m sorry. You
didn’t say I couldn’t come outside, Hammer,” I whisper while bowing my head to look down at the ground.

  “Don’t twist what I said, babe, I told you I needed you to stay at the clubhouse. That didn’t mean go outside without using your head first and not let someone motherfuckin’ know.” I flinch at the ruthless tone.

  “I’m sorry,” I utter as the first tear slips down my cheek.

  “Fuck, baby, you don’t understand this shit. I get it, but you gotta get I’m only trying to protect you because you mean everything to me. If something happens to you, I’ll lose my shit, and I can’t allow that to happen,” he growls the words. His grip at my hips tighten, and his head lowers. Resting his forehead against mine, he lets out a deep breath. “I can’t lose you, Avery. I can’t. Lost my brother and his wife to a madman who killed them both. I saw the aftermath where my nephew was soaked in his mother’s blood. I gotta keep you where I know you’re safe, away from those who want to take you from me,” Hammer rasps, his breathing harsh.

  Now, I get it, and I feel like a complete and utter bitch. No wonder he flipped.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Hammer

  Ending church hours later, I feel somewhat better now that we’ve come up with a plan to get rid of these assholes. My brothers weren’t too happy I waited to bring shit to them, but they’re not stupid. They knew something was up with the way I’d been acting.

  Gunner made a comment for all the rest of my brothers besides Malice.

  My brothers and I spent a good two hours going over information Cy had been able to find on the men in this gang. Once we knew it was Avery’s brothers who are the head honcos of their little gang, we knew where to start finding even more info on them. They seem to be trying to put their hands in many pots.