With Us (Next Generation Book 2)

by J. M. Walker

  “Fucking hell.” Shade rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Yup.” I stepped in front of him, stopping him from following Meadow.

  He raised an eyebrow but waited.

  “I don’t know about you, but I like to think I know you well enough to take a guess at it. You’re falling for her.” I raised my hand when he went to speak. “Trust me, I’m falling for her just the same. But neither of us have been in a relationship with the same woman before.”

  “If you’re worried that I’m going to get jealous if I come home and find you making love to her, I won’t.” Shade took a step toward me. “If you think that I’m going to get upset because you want some time alone with her, I won’t. Because I know, that you’ll give me that time as well. But I also know that you won’t want that. Sure, the three of us won’t always be together. It’s bound to happen. But I also can’t see any of us getting jealous. In fact.” Shade closed that gap between us, his gaze dropping to my mouth. “I think all of us will like it. It’ll be like the anticipation of not knowing what the other two are doing.”

  I swallowed hard at the images he was putting in my head.

  “And remember.” He took a step around me. “She’s not Roxanne. Roxanne didn’t want me in the picture. Even after you and I started talking again.” Instead of waiting for me to answer, he joined Meadow outside.

  Shoving a hand through my hair, I let out a hard sigh, and made my way to the backyard.

  ***

  (Meadow)

  I almost blurted something dangerous. Sunny and Shade already knew things about me that I had never shared with anyone. They unleashed this newfound awareness deep inside me and I couldn’t wait to explore more with them and help them do the same. It looked like the three of us were newer at this than Sunny let on.

  When he admitted to being scared that I would hurt him, my heart tore behind the walls of my rib cage. This whole time, I feared they would hurt me and here Sunny had felt the same way. I wasn’t sure if Shade did as well.

  “Meadow?”

  My gaze flicked to Shade’s.

  “Hmmm?”

  “Ryder asked you a question.” He sat beside me. “He asked you twice actually.”

  “Sorry.” I waved a hand in front of me. “What was your question, Ryder?”

  “Uh…” He hesitated and began pacing. “I asked if you’d talked to Mom and Dad.”

  “Yeah.” I sat forward. “Why? Is something wrong?”

  “It seems that Mom has something that doesn’t belong to her.” Ryder stopped in front of me. “That’s what I need you to get for me.”

  “I thought you wanted me to relay a message.” I frowned.

  “Kind of. I need you to find out what she has that doesn’t belong to her.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I thought a moment. “Why don’t you just ask Mom for whatever it is?”

  “Because I think you’ll have an easier time getting it.” Ryder shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I do suggest going to visit Tanner though.”

  My back stiffened while Shade and Sunny shifted beside me.

  “What do you know about Tanner?” Sunny demanded, his voice rough.

  “Not enough apparently.” Ryder raked a hand through his dark hair.

  “How did you meet him?” I asked, searching my brother’s face. He wasn’t normally nervous about things. Hell, he had been in the military for a few years now. He should be used to this kind of thing, but something had him on edge. And if Tanner was involved, I couldn’t even imagine what it was. But why my mom had something to do with this, was beyond me.

  “I went to his club.” Ryder pinched the bridge of his nose. “Listen, I’m not trying to cause trouble. I have to keep my nose clean anyway because of my career. But I’ve seen things. I know things. And while we don’t usually deal with the average person, sometimes we do.”

  “I don’t know what that means.” I looked at Sunny. “Do you know what he means?”

  “No.” Sunny looked over my head. “Do you?”

  Shade shook his head, cupping the back of my neck. “No.” His dark brows narrowed in the center, his eyes locking on my brother. That muscle in his jaw ticked. While he stared Ryder down, his touch remained soft. “Care to explain to us what the hell is going on and why your mom would have something that Tanner wants?”

  “I don’t know. I accidentally bumped into him at his club. I swear it was an accident. I was out with some of the guys and we were having a few drinks. We just wanted to go somewhere cheap. I didn’t know it was Tanner’s club. Next thing I know, I’m in his office and he mentions you.” Ryder met my gaze then. “He told me to tell you to come to his club. He needs to chat.”

  “He needs to chat,” I repeated. “Yeah. Right. A guy like him doesn’t just chat. He wants something.”

  “He does but I don’t know what that is. I tried hinting to Mom. I asked her if she was given something that someone else could want.” Ryder pulled at the collar of his shirt. “She had no idea what I was going on about and asked me if I was feeling okay. Good thing Dad wasn’t with her because he wouldn’t have let me leave until I told him everything.”

  That was an understatement. If something was off and Dad felt that his wife and kids were in any sort of danger, he didn’t let up until he got the information he was looking for.

  It was how all of our fathers were wired. I couldn’t blame them. And now I was dating two men who were exactly the same.

  “Meadow.” Sunny cupped my knee. “I don’t want you going there alone.”

  “I know.” I stood. I didn’t take Tanner’s requests lightly. I liked to pretend that he didn’t scare me, but I wasn’t stupid. He did. He terrified the hell out of me. “Let’s go.”

  Meadow

  I WAS ALMOST EXPECTING Sunny and Shade to argue with me. But when I stood from the bench and went into the house, they followed. They didn’t utter a single word. They didn’t say anything even as we drove to Tanner’s club. They didn’t tell me I was crazy for wanting to speak to him and for actually listening to his demands. They stood at my side as we walked into his club. And they remained back when I found him coming toward us.

  “Ah, Meadow. It’s nice to be listened to. I see that you talked to your brother.” Tanner nodded once, glancing over my head.

  “What do you want, Tanner, and why the hell does my mom have something to do with this?” I demanded, not caring in the least that we were out in the open. I didn’t care that we weren’t alone. I wanted answers and when it came to my family, just like the guys I was dating, I would do anything to get the answers I was looking for.

  Tanner turned on his heel. “Follow me.”

  When I went to take a step forward, a heavy hand landed on my shoulder, stopping me.

  “Be careful, little lamb,” Shade whispered in my ear. “He’s an evil bastard who will do anything to stay at the top.”

  “I don’t care,” I told Shade. “If this has something to do with my mom, then Tanner will see just how evil I can be. My dad was in the U.S. Navy,” I reminded him. “And someone I consider an uncle, was a sniper.” I kissed his cheek and started following Tanner. But I heeded to Shade’s warning. Tanner made me nervous. He acted nice but once you crossed him, he would never forget. I had a feeling that he had many notches on his bedpost and it wasn’t from sleeping with people. There was an eerie feeling about him. It was like looking into dead eyes even though his heart still beat inside him. He was soulless.

  Standing up taller, I took a deep breath and walked down the long hall that Tanner had gone down.

  With Sunny and Shade behind me, I gathered the strength I needed to see this through. I didn’t know what my mom had done or why she was involved in whatever mess Ryder had gotten himself into. Either way, Tanner better hope my mom stayed safe because he would have to deal with my father if she didn’t.

  “You’re probably wondering why I’ve asked for you to come here,” Tanner said, finally st
opping at a door.

  “No,” I said, drawing out the word. “I just assumed we were here for tea.”

  Tanner’s mouth twitched. “Funny.” All humor left his dark cold eyes. He unlocked the door and pushed it open. “After you, Meadow.”

  I swallowed hard, walked past him, and entered the room.

  “Not happening.”

  I turned.

  Tanner was standing in the doorway, stopping Sunny and Shade from joining me in the room. “This is between Meadow and I.”

  I opened my mouth to argue when Tanner shut the door and clicked the lock into place. Crossing my arms under my chest, I lifted my chin. I refused to let him see that he made me nervous. And I especially refused to let him see that he got to me. I didn’t know what he wanted. I wouldn’t have cared either but when he brought my family into this, nothing else mattered.

  “What are you wanting, Tanner?” I demanded, taking in the office I was standing in. It was large. Bookshelves lined the one far wall and a large oak desk sat by another. My gaze dropped to a dark stain on the floor. My stomach twisted, not wanting to know what that was from.

  “To chat.” Tanner leaned against the door, crossing his arms under his chest and mirroring my pose.

  “About what?” The office reminded me of the owner himself. It was dark, cold and sent a tremor of unease racing through me. I didn’t want to be there but at the same time, felt I had no other choice. Whatever my mom did, my dad was going to lose his shit.

  “Your mom has something that I want.”

  “How do you even know my mom? And what the hell did Ryder do to get caught up in this shit?”

  “Wrong place, wrong time. It’s not my fault he bumped into me.” Tanner shrugged, which was odd in a way for someone so damn big. “Listen, it doesn’t matter. I just want something that your mom has.”

  “My mom doesn’t even know you.” Not that I really knew if she did or not, but Tanner didn’t need to know that.

  “Come on, Meadow. You’re not stupid.” He pushed away from the door he was leaning against and took a step toward me. “You will get what I want.”

  “How do I even know that my mom has something that belongs to you?” I backed up until I hit the wall. “You could be lying. I’ve heard about you and your ways.”

  Tanner chuckled, running two fingers along his mouth. His dark eyes roamed down the length of me before meeting my gaze. “You know…you are beautiful. I don’t usually go for young ones, but I’d make an exception for you.”

  “Well aren’t I lucky,” I said dryly.

  His laugh deepened. Something flashed behind his eyes. Tanner Horsch wasn’t your typical man. Whatever happened to him had fucked him up. He had seen things. Bad things. Evil things that only happened in nightmares. Something haunted his dreams. I knew because I had seen that same look in the men I grew up with. While they were older and had practice dealing with their demons, Tanner was younger and let that shit eat him up.

  “You’re staring, Meadow.”

  My cheeks burned. “Just wondering what happened to make you this way.”

  “Wanting to fix me, little one?” Before I knew what was happening, he stood right in front of me. Placing his hands on the wall on either side of my head, he leaned down to my ear. “No one will ever be able to fix me. I’m unfixable.”

  I felt sorry for whoever fell for him. If that could ever happen in the first place. “Sunny and Shade won’t like that you’re so close to me,” I murmured, unable to step away from him.

  “Don’t care.” He caged me in, the scent of spice invading my nose.

  “Tanner.” I stared up at him. “What do you want?”

  “Your pussy wrapped around my cock would be a good start.”

  My heart jumped at what he was suggesting. “Sorry, buddy. You don’t do it for me.” Sunny and Shade were going to kick his ass. Or worse.

  Tanner tilted his head, giving me a cocky smirk. “I do it for everyone.”

  “You’re too young for me.” I ducked under his arm and moved across the room, getting far away from him before he did something stupid. Not that I cared if Sunny and Shade did anything to him, but this place was packed with bikers. I didn’t need them to get hurt.

  “Interesting.” Tanner nodded once. “They must have magic cocks if you’re turning me down.”

  “This is not the reason I came here. Tell me what the hell my mom has to do with this shit or else I’m leaving, and I’ll tell Sunny and Shade what just happened.”

  Tanner chuckled. “You’re going to tell them anyway, so that threat doesn’t work with me.” He moved behind the large oak desk sitting by the one wall and lowered into the leather chair. He leaned back in it, tenting his fingers under his chin. His dark eyes locked with mine, his jaw clenching.

  A shiver raced down my spine.

  “You will get me what I’m looking for.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to confront my mom about this if I don’t know what you’re wanting?” This didn’t make sense. Not one bit.

  “Tell her that Tyler Bones gave her something. A long time ago. She’ll know what you’re talking about.” Tanner wiggled the mouse and started clicking away on the computer sitting on the desk in front of him.

  “Tyler Bones…” I frowned. “Are you related to him?”

  “You ask a lot of questions.” Tanner turned the computer screen toward me, showing me a picture of a woman and a man.

  My eyes widened when I realized who I was looking at.

  My mom stared back at me, a smile on her face but that same smile never reached her eyes. She was young in the photo. Maybe my age or even younger.

  The man standing with her was wearing a leather vest. It said vice president on the left breast. He had his arm around my mom’s shoulders. This man was not my father. This man looked outright mean. He had a smirk on his face and the resemblance to Tanner was uncanny.

  “You are related to him,” I stated, my heart thumping hard. “Who is he?”

  “He was my father.” Tanner turned the screen back around toward him. “Died when I was just a boy.” He met my gaze. “By someone you know actually.”

  “He…he was murdered?” Oh God. This was not good. Not good at all.

  “It seems my father didn’t want your mother to be happy and your dad got in the way. Your typical shit.”

  I shook my head. “What does this have to do with me or even you and how do you know all of this?”

  “My dad had a big mouth.” Tanner shrugged. “He told my mother this shit.” His gaze hardened. “And she died because of it.”

  My mouth went dry. “I…I don’t know what you want.”

  “I want you to go to your mother and tell her that Tanner Horsch wants something that she has. Something that doesn’t belong to her.”

  “Why can’t you go to her yourself?” I suddenly felt small. The longer he stared at me, the harder my chest tightened. My heart thumped. My palms became sweaty.

  Tanner sat forward. “Numbers, Meadow. I want numbers. It’s an account number. A number to a safety deposit box. I don’t know. But I know that my dad gave them to your mom.” He turned toward his computer. “You can leave.”

  “I think you’ve seen one too many movies,” I mumbled. “Or your dad did.” Just as I was about to turn and head to the door, knowing there was no point in trying to get more information from the guy, a large shadow loomed over me. Ice cold fear froze me in place.

  “I don’t suggest making jokes, Meadow. I don’t give a shit who you’re fucking.” A heavy fist captured my hair, ripping my head back.

  I cried out, strands of hair pulling free from my head.

  The door suddenly crashed open, revealing a red-faced Sunny with Shade standing beside him.

  “Get your fucking hands off our girl,” Sunny seethed, his fists clenching at his sides.

  Tanner tugged my hair, forcing me back a step.

  I winced, reaching up to try and pull his hands off me but he was too s
trong.

  Sunny and Shade came farther into the room, followed by some of Tanner’s men. They had their guns drawn, aiming them at Sunny and Shade but neither of them seemed to notice.

  “Now boys, we wouldn’t want any issues.” Tanner wrapped his other arm around my shoulders. “Would we, Meadow?”

  “Just let me go and I’ll get you what you’re looking for.” Not that I knew if my mom would have any idea what numbers he was going on about, but it would be worth a shot.

  “Nah. You see.” Tanner kissed my cheek, earning him a growl from Shade. “I’m enjoying this actually. I’m not really into voyeurism but it would be hot as fuck if they watched.”

  Bile rose to my throat, my eyes widened. He wouldn’t. There was no way that Tanner could be that evil. Hell, he broke his prospect’s arm for insulting Shade over being bi-sexual. But then I remembered the story that Shade had told me about Tanner, and I realized right then and there that I had no idea how we were going to get out of this. If he had fucked that guy’s wife in front of him, who even knew if it had been consensual on her part.

  “You wouldn’t,” I said, my voice shaky. Sunny and Shade had warned me about him and his club. Even though Tanner stopped people from holding dog fighting rings, he didn’t care about humanity. Especially women. “Please, Tanner. Just let me go.”

  “Nope. Not happening.” Tanner kept a firm hold on my hair, pulling my head back even more. “My boys leaving you alone?”

  I opened my mouth to answer when Shade responded.

  “Yeah, for now,” Shade growled, taking a step toward us.

  Sunny cupped his shoulder, stopping him.

  “Good.” Tanner leaned down to my ear. “How long do you think it would take before they snapped? What do you think I would have to do to you to make them break, little one? Think they would care?” His lips brushed along the shell of my ear. “With my men here, I could probably get away with a hell of a lot, couldn’t I?”

  I swallowed past the bile threatening to burn my throat. “No,” I croaked.