Elliot slams his foot on his gas pedal and his truck fishtails out of the motorcycle compound, the gates barely parting in time to let us pass. My brother ushered Elliot and Ridge's men, including some of his own, into his war room packing the space with pissed off males. When I tried to gain entry to the room, a reasonable request in my opinion considering the things that happened tonight concerned me, they closed the door right in my face after telling me it was men talk.Both of the men in my life were damn lucky I wasn't holding a gun at the particular moment.I thought Dominick and I had grown since he was thirteen and told me I couldn't join the club he'd made with a bunch of other boys from his father's club. In retaliation I stole and threw away the laces to his favorite motorcycle boots. All eight pairs.I kept the same strategy tonight, but more devious. Rather than steal his shoelaces I tossed his leather jackets in the oversized freezer they keep in the compound kitch
Elliot sits on the couch staring, but his eyes are glassy as if I've stunned him."I should've told you. There aren't enough words for me to say I'm sorry. I didn't want to ruin my life here."He nods, but it doesn't seem like he agrees.The silence freaks me the hell out, so I keep going. "I wanted to start over in Pelican Bay and I knew once my brother found out people discovered our connection, he would think it wasn't safe here anymore." I can guarantee Dominick never planned on me witnessing a murder. Did these things happen to normal people? I've never wanted to be a part of club life and he vowed to never force me into it. It would devastate him if moving me here brought me in after all these years."Why were you at the bait shop to begin with today?"Now it's my turn to laugh in a non-funny fashion. "I wanted to get a thank-you gift for the laptop."He stares more, and under the intense scrutiny I swear a bug crawls up my arm, but when I swat it away, there's nothin
Nobody understands family drama until you try to explain to a literal superhero the guy who runs your local motorcycle club isn't a horrible guy. But it's the truth. Dominick and I grew up together. I know the best and the worst in regard to Dominick. Sure, shit goes down behind closed doors, stuff I don't even try and guess, but under the thick skin and hard exterior, Dominick is hiding a heart of gold.Elliot scoffs. "Yeah, he comes off as a real altar boy."I laugh, the sound light and breezy because we've reached the point of talking about Dom where Elliot can joke. It's progress, enormous progress considering we've spent the last few days not mentioning his name once. I tried at dinner the first night of my house arrest, but Elliot ground his teeth together so hard at the mention of his name I heard the click from the other side of the couch.Twice a day Elliot took a call where he grunted into the phone and his longest response was "she's fine," so I had confirmation my bro
Watching kids can't be any worse than protesting outside a building while Pete hunts me before making me swim with the fishes.Josie's eyes widen behind the counter and she holds her hands up, waving them back and forth until Katy spins on her."Are you sure? Emma is in the terrible twos right now. Kids, man. This could last hours. Days."I've never protested anything before, but I don't think they last days. Katy didn't mention a camp-out. "It's no problem. I used to babysit all the time in high school," I lie.Katy bounces back behind the counter, eager with the recent development. "See, it will be fine and you can come. Harley will be a wonderful babysitter. The best."Not so sure on the best part, but it can't be that hard. I've kept a plant alive for six years, and Rocky doesn't have any complaints — none he's made heard, anyway.Also how has she figured out my name? What other info on me did Stella give everyone? We've never even had proper introductions, but still it
"Emma!" I scold half terrified of the mess and half relieved I found her.Stella perks up quickly. "Oh good, you found her."I found her and now I have to deal with her. Dred skates up my spine as she turns with a smile so large she could be the Joker's offspring. In her arms she cradles Rocky, who stares at me with wide eyes pleading for me to rescue him."I've got to go." I hang up on Stella, not giving her more of an explanation.Quickly, as if she senses her time of shenanigans is nearing an end, Emma turns and drops Rocky in the toilet. Water splashes over the edge and he yelps with the splash. I sprint into the bathroom, saving the wet pissed off dog at the exact second Emma finishes pressing the lever to flush the toilet.I clutch Rocky to my chest, the toilet water soaking my shirt. "No, Emma. We don't flush puppies."Emma claps, the powder caught on her fingers launching into the air in thick dust bubbles.Holy hell. What should I do?The back door opens and I
The sun hasn't risen. I check by lazily peeking open one eye a smidge. Elliot rolls over and places a soft kiss on my lips."Shhh. Not yet, too tired." Babysitting wears a girl out and even though Josie and Anessa relieved us of our baby duties by seven p.m., I fell into bed by nine and slept like the dead. But the sun isn't up yet, which means I don't need to be either. I'm a bank forensic accountant, I keep banker hours.Elliot laughs. "So, you forgive me for you misunderstanding my words?"I roll my eyes unable to keep up with the way he changes the sentence, but knowing he's twisted it. We had a long talk last night while the kids are watching a movie, and for a few minutes it felt like that could be our life. We could stay home in the evening, eating dinner together, and watch a family movie. Until Emma made another mad dash to the bathroom and had half the roll of toilet paper in the bowl before I got there. Kid is obsessed with toilets."Don't press your luck," I say cur
"Wow," I say looking out at the home, which makes my one-story bungalow seem like a baby house. I take that back, it's not that the house is big, but in this part of the state when you have an older large home, it means someone important lived there. The home is a cross between a Victorian building and a big white farmhouse. A porch wraps around the front and two sides as far as the eye can see. There's a second story and then what looks to be a third or smaller one up top with three little windows looking out onto the world.Someone important built this home, and it's easy to imagine the property being here longer than most of the residences in Pelican Bay."It's just you, right?" I ask as he opens the door to his truck and leads me up the dark-stained steps of the porch. Rocky wiggles in my arms, but I don't let him roam free."Sometimes my sister and her kids come to stay for the summers, but otherwise it's just me."He slips the key into the lock and pushes open the front d
I glance in that direction, but it appears so far away. "No time." Being here in his house together is a tremendous step in whatever this thing we're calling a relationship is. I'm not ready to christen his bed.My stomach clenches as he takes a nipple in his mouth while working to undo my pants. When we're both free, I raise one leg, wrapping it around his hip and leaving myself open for him. Elliot slips inside just as perfectly as every time we've been together. My back rests against the wall, keeping him leveraged as he pumps in and out, as his finger caresses the skin around my clit.My head hits his light gray wall as I stand on the tiptoes of my other foot. I waiver, my fingers digging into his shoulder as my core vibrates. His scent is everywhere, and it invades my senses. The orgasm grows fast and I press my back against the wall, wanting to get away but needing to be closer. It hovers between us, me not ready to finish yet.Elliot's forehead rests against mine and while