Drake walked out of his office and was met by Bill, the MC's treasurer.
"Lucy told me what happened last night. Thanks for looking out for Samantha. She's a little fragile." When Drake raised an eyebrow, Bill shrugged. "Lucy and Sam have been friends since kindergarten. When her husband died last year, I thought Lucy was gonna lose the best friend she ever had. Sam grieved so hard and so long that I thought it would carry her to the grave. I mean, you hear about people grieving themselves to death, but you pray you never see it.""It was bad?" Drake asked, frowning.
"Yeah, real bad. She had stopped eating and sleeping. Lucy and I went by there about two weeks after we buried Mack. What we found scared my girl, and shook me up pretty badly. Sam was laying in bed, just staring at the ceiling. She smelled like she hadn't had a bath in a while and she looked like someone from a concentration camp. The smell alone is what alerted us. Thankfully, Lucy had a key to Sam's place. Had for years. She was so far gone, I was afraid that she wouldn't make it back to us." Bill replied with a grimace of deep grief on his face. Drake thought back to the woman he had coffee with last night. She had seemed so alive, so vibrant. It was hard to reconcile the image that Bill portrayed with the image that Drake had in his head. "Obviously, something changed. What happened?" He asked, curious. "Lucy had me call an ambulance. When we got to the hospital, they had restrained her and were running a feeding tube down her nose, and had started two IV's. I'm telling you man, that's not a sight I ever want to see again. My girl almost had to be sedated. Her concern for Sam was deep. She was screaming and crying. Begging Sam to fight for her life." Drake watched as Bill closed his eyes and shudder at the memory. "The doctor's were so concerned for Lucy that they sedated her right then." "Appreciate the knowledge. I won't let on that I know. That way, she can tell me herself. If she wants to." Drake said. Bill turned to leave when he stopped, turned and looked at his club president. "Don't hurt her, Drake. She's been through enough. She's not like the club girls. She can't be a quick roll and then you walk away. A man like you will break her. I can't watch her, or my wife go through that shit again. I love you more than a brother, but if you hurt her, I promise that I will make sure you pay." Having said his piece, he turned and headed out the door of the club.Drake stood there for a minute, taking in the love and loyalty that his friend had for this woman. Turning, he headed back in his office and frowned as he thought over what Bill had said. The loyalty that he and Lucy had to this woman went deeper than their loyalty to the club, and that was saying something. As he thought about the woman he had had coffee with last night, he ran down all of the information that he had on her, as of this moment. He started with vital statistics. Age, approximately 35. Height: 5'6. Brown hair, brown eyes. Clear skin that suggested good health. While she wasn't overweight, she wasn't skinny either. If he had to say, he would call her voluptuous. Not a word you heard much anymore because most women preferred curvy. But she had what his mom would have called a classic coke bottle figure. Thinking about her figure caused a stirring in his body. Realizing what was happening, he cursed quietly. Just then, Bailey, one of the club women entered his office. Before he could speak, she walked over to him, seated behind his desk, and straddled his lap.
"Hi Sexy. You haven't been to seen me in a day or two. I figured you would be getting lonely. So, being the good girlfriend I am, I came to take care of your needs." Raising up on her knees, she reached for his belt to unbuckle it.
With a growl, Drake grabbed her wrist, hard. "Bailey, I don't recall telling you that we are dating, nor do I remember hearing you knock on my office door. And you know the rules around here. You seem to think that because I have allowed you in my bed a few times that we are an item. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even that great. You were just a release. Now, let me set you straight on a few things. Get your over-used ass off of my lap and get out of my office. Once you've done that, get your shit and get the hell off of club property. You have no respect for the rules, and you have no respect for boundaries. I've had several complaints against you from the married girls. They tell me that you try to screw their husbands. You know that's against the rules. Now, get out!" Drake practically shouted at her and then spun his chair around to get a file. He stood, causing the girl to tumble to the floor. When he turned back around, Bailey was still standing there with her mouth hanging open. "What part of get you shit and get out did you not understand? If you don't move your ass quickly, I'll have Vulcan throw you and your stuff out on the street."
Bailey opened her mouth and then closed it. With a humph, she stomped her foot and turned and let his office. As she was leaving, the brother mentioned came to his open office door. Standing there, he raised his fist and knocked. Drake waved him in and told him to shut the door as he came in.
"Do me a favor, call Axe and tell him to make sure that skank is off of our property with everything she owns. I want her gone with no excuses to come back here. She's caused enough problems with the brothers and their ladies. Shit like that can't go on. We run a clean club. I don't want someone coming in and trying to split up couples. Get the word out. If any other on the club 'bunnies' try the same thing, they will be tossed out and off of club property without a second thought. No if's ands or buts. I'm done playing the counselor because these women, and some of the guys, don't understand a marriage vow and no means no!"
Vulcan nodded and pulled out his phone and sent a group message. While his VP did what he asked, Drake tried to review the file in front of him. All he kept seeing was the woman he had coffee with the night before. She had taken root in his psyche. That bothered him. He had only spent a small amount of time with her. Tossing his pen on his desk, he swiped one large hand over his face. This had never happened to him. Never in all of his life had he had a woman capture his attention the way Sam had. That's why he had never married. It hadn't seemed fair to marry a woman who didn't have his complete attention.
"Problems boss?" Vulcan was well aware of how his President had spent the previous evening. He heartily approved. It was time he met someone like Lucy's friend. He and his girl had met her. She was a nice lady. She would be good for his friend. Knowing her story, he also knew that Drake would be good to her.
"I don't know, man. I met this chick, woman, last night. I've never met anyone like her before. She's brutally honest. She also has already been married and has lost her husband to cancer. And it seems like she's a friend of Bill and Lucy." Looking up, Drake watched his VP smirk. "Shit! You know her too."
Vulcan nodded. "Yep. She was at the cookout that Bill and Lucy had at their new place this past year. You remember, you couldn't make it because you were escorted that mom and her little girl to a safe house. She's a nice lady, boss. I think you two would be good together. I thought so then, and I still think so. She'll be good for you. More importantly, I think you'll be good for her. There are deep waters there, boss." Vulcan said, laughing.
"Well shit. I guess I'll ask her out again. I need someone like that. Who knows. Maybe we'll hit it off." Drake mused. Already planning the evening in his head, he picked up his phone and send Bill a text, asking him for Sam's number.
After Bill had answered his text and spoken to his girl, he had sent him Sam's phone number. Drake picked up the phone on his desk and called Samantha. He was kinda hoping she wasn't home. Nervous. He had never been this nervous about calling a woman. His hopes were dashed when she answered on the third ring."Hello." The voice was breathy, like she had been in a hurry."Samantha?" Even though he knew it was her. Her voice caused a shiver to go straight up his spine."Yes?" He could hear the suspicion in her voice now."Samantha, it's Drake. I hope you don't mind, but I got your number from Bill. I wanted to invite you to dinner." Silence."Samantha?""Yes, I'm here. I'm thinking. Where will we be going?" She asked."That depends on you. What kind of food do you like? We have all types of restaurants in the city, or, if you prefer, I can grill steaks and baked potatoes....."Sam jumped in on that. "You got yourself a deal
Samantha dove under the water when she felt Drake run in after her. When she came up for air, the biker was almost right in front of her. A startled gasp left her mouth when he leaned down to pick her up."Wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist." was his command. Doing as he asked, she waited to see what he would do. He waded out until the water was over her head."Why did you bring us way out here, Drake? I can swim, you know? Very well, in fact." Was her smart reply."I wanted you where I could just hold you, and I didn't think you would let me pick you up and set you in my lap." Drake watched her eyes dilate, knowing it was desire. He watched a flush move up her upper chest and onto her chest. She had tried to duck her face into his should
After convincing Samantha to spend the day with him, Drake got up and went to make coffee and breakfast while she showered. After they ate, he showered and they left in his truck to go to Sam's house to get her a change of clothes. He smirked when he thought about what she was actually wearing, and would have taken her straight back to bed, if she hadn't been so sore. Sitting a traffic light, he looked over at the small woman who had taken residence in his heart.Drake wasn't some young boy who didn't know his own mind. He was a mature man with the knowledge of what it meant to love. He was a little apprehensive, but by no means unsure. He knew that he loved Sam. Convincing her, however, was going to take some doing.Realizing that they had arrived at her house, Drake shut off the engine and turned to get out.
Samantha could feel the tension between the two men when she approached with their coffees. After handing them out, she turned and went back into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of the tea that she noticed that Drake had in his fridge. Approaching the patio door, she paused to watch the man who she was falling for gesture wildly at the other man.Drake, realizing that his woman was waiting to come outside, waved her out. "It's ok. You can hear this. I promise, Sam, I will never keep anything from you. As my woman, it's expected for you to know something of what we do. We work with severely battered womne and child. Usually, the ones that the law can't help. The ones who have a husband who has too many connections, to0 much political power, and is just too legal savvy , not to mention, a great manipulator. The ones who know exactly which buttons to push, but not get ar
Samantha snuggled into the warmth behind her, burrowing down into the covers, and moaned. When the warmth moved away, she whined. Then a deep chuckle sounded, causing her to wake completely up. Sitting up, she pushed her hair, that was no doubt a rat's nest, out of her face. Looking over at Drake, she blinked, having trouble focusing.Drake looked over at his woman and chuckled again. She looked so cute with her owlish look and her sleep tossed hair. She was terrible before her coffee, and he loved that about her. Leaning over, he kissed her, then just as she was leaning into the kiss, he pulled back. "I'm gonna go make coffee, baby."Samantha huffed as she headed to the bathroom. She quickly took care of her business and headed into the kitchen, after grabbing one of Drake's t-shirts. Walking into the kitchen, she was greete
After breakfast, Sam and Drake got dressed and headed to the MC compound. Samantha followed Drake in her Jeep. He had decided to take his truck today, instead of his bike.When they drove up to the compound, Drake blew his horn and waited. Nothing happened. Samantha knew that something wasn't right. Just as Drake was getting out of his truck to investigate, a shot rang out. Then several shots. From many different guns.He heard women screaming. Kids were crying. Here could hear the bikers cussing. Somehow, someone had compromised the security of the compound and infiltrated it.When the shooting started, Drake had pulled his .357 sig out and started to look around to see if there were targets. What he didn't see was anyone, except Sam. Then, he heard his girl
Drake sat next to his girl's bed and just held her hand. When Vulcan walked in to the ICU and saw his Prez and friend looking so defeated, it damn near broke his heart. His friend had always been a strong guy. He had held up the entire club at times. He was responsible for the rescue of many battered women and children. He was also the man that held them together. He was the glue that made them a cohesive team. Standing in the door, he cleared his throat so Drake would know he was there.Drake's head jerked up and he looked at his friend and VP. He got up and went to get the bag of clothes and toiletries. "I brought Sam a few things that she will want when she wakes up. I had Francesca get her some panties and a few of her gowns from her home."Drake nodded, realizing that Vulcan was right. His girl would definitely want her
Lucy gasped at the picture her friend made. The machines beeping quietly, and the ventilator that was breathing for her, making a faint clicking noise. Lucy was taken back to last year when She and Bill had found her laying in her bed, catatonic. Bill stepped up behind his woman and wrapped her up in his arms. She turned and buried her face in Bill's chest and sobbed. Drake, at a loss for what to do, merely patted Lucy on her shoulder."The doctor was in here just a few minutes ago. He gave me some guarded good news." Drake informed the couple.Lucy's head jerked her head up and looked at Drake. "What do you mean, guarded. Drake what's wrong with Samantha?"Drake nodded to Bill, signaling that Lucy would need his support, physically and emotionally, and walke
"Isabella, I said no and that's final. If you try to push the issue, I'll let your father deal with you." Samantha hated to pull the dad card with their oldest daughter, but she had had enough."I know you want Roman to sleep here tonight, and I even understand it. But, your dad and I have already discussed this with you. Even Vulcan and Fran agree with us. Traditions should be observed. You groom can't see you before the wedding. Besides, you're going to be so busy getting ready that you won't have time to realize that you miss him. Trust me. The morning of our wedding, the girls had me holed up in your dad's room at the compound. I was plucked, waxed, brushed, curled, sprayed and my makeup applied. Before I realized it, four hours had gone by and it was time to get dressed. Now, go kiss your fiance goodnight for the last time. Because tomorrow he will be your husband." Samantha
Lucy put the final touches on Samantha's hair as Francesca added lip gloss to her already lined and colored lips."Fran, I hope you used waterproof makeup. You know we are all going to cry buckets. We're women. It's what we do." Lucy smirked at her friends. Samantha had been weepy for days. Lucy had her own ideas about that, but she kept it to herself."Now you know I am not the crying type, Lucy." Francesca replied."Yeah, right. Tell that to someone who hasn't been to the last five weddings with you for the club. The minute you have a seat, the waterworks start. Today will be especially bad because Samantha is a close friend of ours." Lucy snarked back."Guys, please. This is not helping. I'm so nervous that I thi
It had been three weeks since the incident, and everything was gradually going back to normal. Drake's ribs were no longer sore, and Samantha's shoulder was healing very well. Today was her doctor's appointment. The surgeon and physical therapist wanted to see how well she was really doing. Samantha was a little smug when she thought of the range of motion that she had. After all, they said that she would never have hardly any use of it. She had almost full range. She could lift their daughter and hold her for some extended periods of time. The girls still had to help her, but she was able to do a lot more than she was told she would do.Drake sat behind the wheel of his truck, planning. He just about had the wedding figured out. What he didn't have figured out was how to get Samantha a wedding dress. Just as he was running through some different kinds of ideas, they pulled up at
Samantha looked from Drake and back over to where Vulcan lay on the floor. But, before she could say anything, Iron entered the room."What the hell happened here? I turn loose of you guys for a few minutes and suddenly, you're beating up your own VP." Iron checked over Drake and applied a few butterfly bandages and checked his ribs and his eyes for a concussion. By the time he finished Vulcan was groaning and coming around.Samantha made to move to check on him. Drake, realizing what she was doing, grabbed her wrist. "Leave him. He's fine, and he expected it. Besides, your my woman and you should be taking care of me." Drake pulled her close to him and groaned when she landed roughly against his ribs, causing him to groan in pain."Happy now? You have caused me to land on your bruised ribs." Samantha pushed gently against Drake's ribs, letting him know that she wanted to move."No." And then he tightened his hold, pulling her even closer."Fine, but if you try to carry me, there's go
Vulcan ushered Sam into the weapons room and listened as the FBI agent whistled."Wow!" He said. "I know small country's that don't have this much fire power. I'm not gonna ask if it's all legal.""Good, it's best if you don't. Most is, but there are a few things that were given to us for doing favors for families of women, and we don't have purchase documents for them." Vulcan stated in a hard voice, discouraging continued conversation about how the weapons were procured.Vulcan took Samantha over to the wall that held all of the handguns. "Pick one Sam. You know what you are going to need."Samantha looked over the choices carefully and decided on three things; she choose a Kahr p380, a diamondback db3
"Are you sure this is all of the information that you have on him, Cabi?""Yes ma'am, that's all I could find. I dug deep. I would say he has Drake here at this location." Samantha leaned down to see where Cabi was pointing at the screen."Dammit! That's just an hour past the border. How many places does this guy have that he can run to?" She frowned as she thought about the implications."The FBI and our local law enforcement has uncovered five properties. I have found another four. But, I'm telling you, Sam, he's gotta be at that one." Cabi replied."Ok, Cabi, we're listening. Tell us what you think." Everyone in the room went quiet as they looked at the clubs resident IT expert.
Drake watched as the coroner's van left with the body. As he turned he noticed light glinting off of something. Taking a step towards it, he realized that he was looking at a man holding binoculars. Without thinking, Drake took off to catch him. There was no question about that. Just as he reached the spot where the guy had been standing, while he was looking in the bushes the guy was standing behind, Drake felt a sharp sting on his neck. Reaching up, he pulled out a small dart. Things become blurry and he felt himself hit the ground as he realized that he had been drugged.Back at the compound the women were setting the food out on the tables and Francesca went to find Vulcan and Drake. Finding her husband in the game room she walked up to him and kissed his cheek. Vulcan stopped and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hello, my beautiful girl. Is it time to eat?" At her nod, he leaned down and kissed her again. "Anyone seen Drake? We're about to eat." All of the guys agreed that
Drake took Isabella from Samantha so she could go pee. Isabella looked up at him with her big eyes so serious, as if measure him. She must have thought me worthy, because she smiled at him and cooed. Drake felt his heart melt."Yo man. Your creds are fading. That little baby has you wrapped around her little finger." Drake looked over to where Vulcan stood and smirked at him."Yeah, like you have any room to talk. I saw you with all of your kids when they were small. You were whipped. Especially when it came to the girls. All they had to do was whine and you were there."Vulcan smirked back and nodded his head. "Very true. I won't deny it. However, you're gonna be just as bad. And I am so looking forward to it."
Drake, Vulcan, Iron and the others watched from the open door of the helicopter as they passed by the Senator's compound. It was maybe two acres, small really. But surrounded by a high block wall topped with razor wire and security cameras every few feet. Getting in undetected was an impossibility. As the helicopter landed it was quickly decided to take the compound by surprise. A plan was quickly formulated and executed with the military precision of the men in the club.Drake led the group of twenty or so men, armed with knives, grenades, explosives, and weapons, to the edge of the clearing. The Senator was definitely a cagey customer. He wanted to see who was approaching from at least 100 yards out. The only way this would succeed is if every one did their job with perfect timing. He touched his ear piece and spoke, "Alright men. Get ready. Is every one in position?" The