AustinAndreas glares and I glare back. “Someday you’ll act like a boss, boss.”“And someday you’ll stay out of things that don’t concern you, fuck head.”“Name calling, I’m impressed.”“Fuck you!”He only laughs.“Why the hell do I make other men shake in their boots but you have no fear?” I ask.Andreas looks down at his feet for a moment and then meets my gaze again. “You’re loyal. You protected Victor with your life and earned my respect. You’re straight up and I respect that too. Victor thought of you as a son. He knew what he was doing when he left you his territory. The other men feel the same. I’m ready to take over your old job and serve you or help the person you choose to do it. You just need to step in and fill the right shoes. They’re not too big for you.”He’s pegged the entire problem in a few short sentences. I don’t feel I can fill Victor’s shoes because no one can. “You know I’d kill you if I had to.”He shakes his head and smiles. “That I’ve never doubted. What the
MelinaMak looks at me in frustration. “How the hell did he get into your room?”I’ve just told her most of the story about last night. “He said Moon knew.”Mak swears. “That man needs to stop with the matchmaking or at least let me in on it. I’m pissed off and he’ll get an earful at breakfast.”It’s Monday and my day off. I’m looking forward to some quality time in the gym sparring with Celina. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”She rolls her eyes. “Don’t thank me. I’m not happy to lose a good employee.”“I’m not that good.”“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’ve only screwed up one appointment and I still think you did it to Lina on purpose.”I smile and look away, giving my silent answer. “I’ll miss you.”She pulls me in for a hug and I squeeze back. “I’ll miss you more, believe me. You’ll need to visit more often than Cindy and you’re always welcome here permanently if things don’t work out with asshole.” Mak and Celina both refer to Austin as asshole now.“He’s my asshole.”
AustinIt’s been two weeks and whatever hole Fernandez is living in is keeping him alive. Moon has the same opinion. He’s underground and we need to bide our time. Usually I’m patient when it comes to killing. That’s not holding true right now.The only positive is my team. Andreas is my official enforcer and I’ve moved others around and increased security at the house. Melina will be living here and what happened to Cindy will not happen to her. The house needs to be a fortress and that’s exactly what I’m going for. The repairs are finished from where Fernandez’s men blasted through the wall, and I’ve added a little extra to the mix in case anyone tries again. I’ve been in contact with a dog handler and he’s purchasing top K9s for me. I’ve also talked to Moon in depth about his security measures for Mak. Andreas is in charge of finding Melina a team of bodyguards. If she wants to leave the house, they’ll accompany her everywhere. If she doesn’t agree, there’s always the basement. I w
Austin“They might. Attacking during the day was stupid, so I have no doubt it’s Fernandez. My question is what the hell is he thinking?”“He’s desperate. Our men are looking for him everywhere and he’s tired of hiding.”Moon’s phone rings and he answers the call. “Stay put and head into the safe room if you need to.” Moon ends the call and looks at me with fury in his eyes. “The man I wanted from Fernandez just tried to get up to the escort office. He’s trapped in the elevator. This means Fernandez is working with him and they’re going after Melina too. She’s safe,” he says before I explode. “I have men on the building all the time and there’s a safe room for them. I also have men circling the back of the other building across from us. We’ll be out of here in ten minutes and pick up the women.”It’s another few minutes before Gomez’s radio chirps. “Clear, the shooter’s gone.” Gomez runs out and across the parking lot to the other building before Moon can stop him. We wait until he re
MelinaWaiting is the hardest part. I spend a lot of time thinking about these last months. About my life before Austin. I hated school, but it was a way to get out from under my brother’s thumb and I was willing to do anything—even sit in a classroom learning a subject I detest.I would go back to school and learn for Austin, though. If he plans to marry me, he loves me. I think he just doesn’t understand love. I’ll spend the rest of our lives teaching him.It’s almost midnight when we hear a commotion at the front door. The men are home and the muscles in my stomach unclench.Moon sports a bloody white dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Gomez is pristine in a three piece suit looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and my man looks sexy as hell in jeans and a black T-shirt. Mak raises her eyebrows at her husband. He pulls her into his arms. “One down,” he says softly, but I hear it and hope it’s my brother.“You’re sexy when you kill someone who needs it,” Mak replies.
MelinaHe leans across me first and turns off the light. I don’t mind. If it makes it easier for him to talk in the dark, I’m good. “She was a bitch.” He remains silent for a minute and I give him time. “She sold me to men who liked little boys and then to men who liked older boys. She was a fucked-up mess for as far back as I can remember. Not mother material.”I dig my fingers into the skin of his arm, but he doesn’t flinch. “Her boyfriend, from the article, was he one of them?”“The worst.”I can just barely make out his face in the dark and I lift my hand to his cheek. It’s what he isn’t saying that’s even more horrifying. He was only twelve when he killed them. To give a child no other way out is inconceivable and at the same time not surprising. I thought of killing my father for what he did to my mother. I’ve thought of killing my brother for what he’s done to me and any person or animal I’ve cared for. To push Austin over the edge at twelve had to be a living nightmare. “I’m g
AustinReflecting on my past isn’t good for me. I’ll do my best to move forward after Fernandez is dead. He’s in hiding again and building his base. I’m taking Melina home with me. Victor and Cindy’s home will now be ours. I’m already thinking of it as Melina’s. I want her decorating in a style she loves. Thank God her taste doesn’t run to dead animals. For her, though, I would put up with it.This is love.I try constantly to wrap my head around it. She’s forgiven me for everything I put her through. What’s more, she knows who and what I am. There’s no turning back for either of us.Melina wasn’t happy that I didn’t tell her about Andreas taking a bullet. She’s fussed over him since we boarded the plane. It’s been fun watching him deal with her. From his clipped responses, he doesn’t appreciate her care. As long as he knows she’s mine, she can fuss all she wants and he’ll be pleasant. I give him a sharp look when he groans and he nods.Moon, Mak, Gomez, and Celina are on the plane wi
AustinThe laughter follows us when I pull her from Moon’s room and head to our suite at the end of the hall. Andreas stays back, making sure we enter our room safely. I close the door with a solid thud and secure the locks.“Turn around slowly again so I can see the back of that fucking dress.”“Do you like it?” she asks as she slowly spins for my pleasure.“I’ll like it more when it’s off,” I offer because I want the dress on the floor and Melina naked in my arms.She laughs and spins around again, stopping so all I see is her back. “It’s secured in the back. Unfasten me and your wishes will come true, I promise.”There are small buttons at her waist that require finesse. My fingers feel overly large when I try. The smell of her skin is simply too much to resist and I kiss her back and shoulders. She shivers beneath my lips and I smile wickedly. The last button is impossible and my restraint is at an end. With a sudden jerk of the material, a button goes flying and I rip the dress f
I rolled over and yawned, my arms coming from beneath the soft white cotton of the bedding and bumped the hard body next to me. Moon’s hand went into my hair and he moved his leg between mine and something very hard hit my belly making me smile. The smile lasted a few seconds before I covered my hand and jumped from the bed trying to get to the toilet before I lost the contents of my stomach. Yep, that was sexy. This time the hand in my hair pulled it back away from my face while I heaved my guts. He didn’t say anything and just waited for me to finish. It was horrible and at the same time endearing because I loved him so much. I stood and leaned back against his body. “Crawl back into bed and I’ll grab tea and crackers,” Moon said gently. I wanted to bitch and moan about the morning sickness but held it in. When I had my shoulder injury that took me from my career as a cop, I had a small amount of control. I could do my physical therapy and ice as needed and it worked. There was
Duke The wedding night was at the cabin and our honeymoon at the property. We had a week to ourselves. Cori laughed when I carried her over the threshold and straight to my bed. “Do not touch that dress,” I typed into my phone before checking the house was secure and I could fuck my wife for the first time. Her laughter followed me. When I walked back into the room, she was waiting exactly where I left her, smart woman. She opened her legs wide, the stilettos going to either side of the bed. A bit of red showed. The dress was fucking perfect. I crawled between her legs and pushed the yards of black lace up higher in the bed and snagged the red G-string with a finger. The garter wasn’t in my way. Cori sat up suddenly and stopped my exploration. “You spoke your vows.” I smiled even though my dick throbbed. “Thank you,” she added and lay back. I planned to fuck her until she couldn’t walk or talk. I didn’t remove the red nothing lace. I lazily fingered her, then took a long, slo
CoriIf I weren’t lying down, I would have fallen. Of all the things she could say, it was the last I expected and I couldn’t hide my shock.“No, I’m not pregnant yet but we’ve decided to try. We’re leaving and starting a family. Alex and Celina are taking over Moon’s operation.” She turned to Celina. “I’ll call it Alex’s operation eventually.”“Are you sure?” I asked softly.I was having trouble processing.“I’m absolutely positive. I thought I never wanted children but when Moon brought it up, I knew I was wrong. I want Moon’s babies.”“As in multiple?” I asked in horror.Children wasn’t something I ever wanted. I was not a rug rat fan and could tolerate Sofia’s rug rats for a limited time only. I thought Mak and I were on the same page.“We’ll decide if we want another after the first.”“Congratulations,” I offered, my voice uncertain.Melina started laughing.“You’re taking it how I did. The last thing needed in this world is a mini Austin.”I could most definitely second that.“O
CoriLife slowly returned to normal, though my new normal was much different than the old one. Things changed more after the cast came off and Duke could ride again. That’s when I became a true biker bitch.I blinged the shit out of my newly purchased black wardrobe and made that shit look good. I had standing orders from the other old ladies too. The club whores and I had a talk and we seemed to be on good terms. My end of that conversation was short.“Keep your hands off my man and we won’t have a problem. Touch him, even when I’m not around, and you’ll lose a fucking nipple, we clear?”They were fine with it. I understood their world. Respect was key. I had no problem with their choices as long as they respected me and my man.Dax’s club was a community of misfits and I fit in like I never thought I could. They didn’t care that I arrived in five-inch stilettos, looking like I was heading to a ritzy club. They accepted me as Duke’s old lady.Duke spoke to Dax and arranged a week off
Cori“How is Mr. Grumpy today?” Mak asked. She had her overprotective Pitbull at her side. I hadn’t seen Two-dogs since I arrived with Duke. I contained myself to the kitchen and Duke’s room. Two-dogs stayed out of Gabriella’s domain because the two of them stayed at war over what was permissible and what was not. I secretly thought Gabriella slipped the dog treats when no one watched but I had no way to prove it. I guess her new kindness made me think she was something other than Attila the Hun. I needed to watch those stupid fantasies.With assistance, Duke had made it downstairs for this morning’s physical therapy. He refused pain meds afterward and fell asleep exhausted. It gave me time to do something normal. I’d quietly left the room and gone to the outside patio to escape. The heat, even with the water misters, would make it too hot to stay for long but it was nice to be outside.I blinked at Mak who carried a towel. She took the lounge chair beside mine.“He’s sleeping. I’m es
DukeMy biggest problem was boredom. It almost went hand in hand with people poking and prodding constantly. I didn’t live at the clubhouse for a reason. If it weren’t for Cori, I would have found a way to escape Moon’s place the first day. Maybe. I was fooling myself. The ability to lift a spoon to my lips was pushing things.I remembered little about what happened at Wild Fur. Between blood loss and the damage to my stomach, I should have died in oblivion. Things were foggy since waking too. I remembered telling Cori I loved her. It just came out. I hadn’t practiced speaking in years. It was something I did when younger when no one was around. I never felt comfortable with the sound of my voice and eventually decided it wasn’t necessary. That was true until Cori. There were things she needed to hear. Cori hadn’t asked me to speak since it happened. I doubted she even understood what I’d said.My grandfather took me in when my dad went to prison for almost killing me. They were the b
CoriThe air in the room was soft if that were even a thing. There were four rows of chairs. There was a podium at the front. No crucified Jesus hung from the wall, only a large framed needlepoint with writing.“Enter in peace and leave your sorrow.”I sat in the front row and bowed my head. My prayer was to Jesus.“I’ve never asked for anything.”Tears gathered in my eyes and turned to sobs. I couldn’t go on and fell apart. So many thoughts tumbled through my head. I was the whore of Babylon. If there were a man who would hear me, it would be Jesus.“Please,” was all I managed the next time I tried.The quiet settled over me and I inhaled in and out slowly. Within a few minutes, I wiped my tears. The room, like Duke with his silence, gave me peace. It also gave me strength.I went back to ICU and held his hand again. He wouldn’t die because I wouldn’t let him. I spoke to him quietly and assured him all would be okay. I spoke of silly things. I had to keep the connection so he knew I
CoriIt took us more than three hours to get back to the city and another hour through rush-hour traffic to get to Wild Fur. Moon sent his men in first and stayed with me in the SUV. Alex and Austin were with the other women at his compound. Moon didn’t want them here. He’d also left a vehicle behind with four men on Duke’s property to dispose of the bodies.The men cleared inside the Wild Fur quickly. There were two female employees cleaning and handling inventory. The place didn’t open until eight at night. They weren’t harmed and they were assured they could leave after we found Duke. The men hadn’t located him when they cleared the building. Moon and I entered and were shown the entrance to the basement.A light had been turned on. It looked no better than the club upstairs. I saw a rat scurry along the wall. Moon found the hidden door within a few minutes. He pried it open and we entered the dark room.The smell of excrement and death hit us.Death.I couldn’t breathe.In the sha
CoriDuke never left my thoughts. If he was dead, so was I. My life changed that fast. We hadn’t known each other long and it didn’t matter. He was everything I wanted and most of all he was someone who loved me for who I was. I knew he loved me. He shared his silent world and refused to take advantage when he could have. From the time his arms wrapped around me in the car after my escape from Fernandez, we belonged together.My past didn’t matter to him because he lived in a world where endurance and hard work were part of life. Duke and the men like him respected survival.Moon brought more firepower than required and the guns we’d pulled from the cave weren’t exactly needed. I decided to stick with Duke’s weapons because he made sure I was familiar with them. A piece of him was with me.Our plan had been to ambush the vehicles a mile before the entrance to the property. Alex moved the attack to the house. I wasn’t worried about Cartwright’s men knowing the location. None would leav