The room grows silent as we ponder the suggestion.Katy is the first to talk. "I have a plan." Excitement bubbles up around her words."Shhhhh." Tabitha waves her hands in front of her. "We need to make sure they can't hear us. Turn the radio on.""The cameras are all at the exits. They can't hear us," I promise her.She lifts an eyebrow in my direction. "After last night you're sure about that?"Maybe not.I keep a small boom box in the kitchen for those early mornings and late nights when I'm here alone. I like to listen and bake. Twisting the volume button to the far right, I crank up the today's top hits channel I prefer.We stand around, looking at one another, waiting for someone to make the first move."Don't look suspicious. If Ridge does have a camera we have to act super busy."I rip off two oversized chunks of dough and toss one to each of them."Okay, it's simple." Katy leans over the table looking mighty conspiratorial. "This Frankie guy never got his m
A bird flies over my head. At least I hope it's a bird and not a bat or some other crazy Maine creature. Don't they have chupacabras here? Or is it Bigfoot?Oh my God.What if it's both?Or worse, some weird combination between the two. Like if Bigfoot fell in love with the chupacabra and had a baby.Chupafoot."I don't know what you're thinking, but stop freaking yourself out!" Katy yells from her hiding spot inside the little church on the north side of Pelican Bay.Sunday morning this place sounded like a great location for a public meeting with a mobster. It's bright, sunny, there's churchgoers. Tuesday night at eleven pm when the entire town is deserted, it doesn't feel like such a great idea anymore.Frankie insisted on meeting me himself and because he was out of town for two days, we had to push back our meeting until now. This was the first time he was available. Otherwise I never would have agreed to it.I still shouldn't have agreed to it.The spotlight on
We pass the tree line and Frankie lets out a deep breath like he's relaxing, which only make me nervous. Well more nervous. I was already a ball of nerves before he got out of the car. We walk for a few feet in silence. The paved trail is clear of any debris, so there's no small branches snapping or leaves crinkling like you normally find when you're in scary situations. The wind isn't even blowing."So..." I search for anything to say. There are too many thoughts going on in my mind. If we're talking, it's easier to pretend we're two friends on a stroll rather than the Big Bad Wolf leading me to my demise. All I'm missing is the red cape and basket of goodies."I thought the mob was dead." Immediately after putting the period at the end of the sentence, my brain catches up with the words.Stupid Anessa. I don't know how guys in the mob feel about being referenced as "a guy in the mob". Are we both supposed to pretend like we don't know?Thankfully rather than pointing a gun an
"Let's go, babe," Dom says when Frankie makes it far enough down the path he's turned the corner and we can no longer see his back. The man stared down at least six bikers holding guns on him and then turned and walked away like he wasn't worried. He strolled out of here without a care in the world.Ridge is not going to like this.Dom stalks off in the woods not looking back to make sure I'm following him. I do anyway. A woods full of bikers and mobsters is not the place I want to be after dark. I'd like to live to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. Maybe see that reenactment.He and a few guys who follow stop next to a small group of dirt bikes. "Something you want to tell me about?" he asks pushing up the kickstand."Not really." I have a feeling I'm in enough trouble with someone already.He shakes his head, pushing the bike a few steps ahead. "You meeting Frankie Zanetti in the woods by yourself in the middle of the night can't be good.""I wasn't alone. Tabitha and
Bennett turns an unexpected way at the corner leading me to ask, "Where we going?""The bakery." It's a short gruff answer."I left Tabitha and Katy at the church. Are they okay?" I ask.Bennett huffs. "Ridge has it handled."Katy drove us to the church, but I have a feeling Bennett's definition of handled it doesn't mean Katy is giving Tabitha a ride home. Not that I expect him to give me the full details. Speaking of things he hasn't answered. "How did you know where I was?"He turns a corner. "Don't worry about it."It's not the answer I wanted, but I guess it will have to do because I'm not ready to ask him for any more details. If Ridge knows Tabitha is at the church, that's the most important part.In the early morning hours Main Street is dark, the streetlights illuminating bare sidewalks. Bennett pulls his truck into a space next to my car in the back parking lot and shuts off the engine."Are you coming in the bakery?" I'd expected him to drop me off out front
I try to look innocent. "But not a roving biker gang."He doesn't laugh at my joke. "You deserve a spanking. But if that's not your thing, I understand."Is it my thing? I lift a single shoulder. "Will it hurt?""Only if you want it to." He curls one of his fingers silently telling me to come closer.I do, but only a step, thinking about my answer. "I don't think I want it to hurt, too much."When I get halfway to him, Bennett reaches out, grabs my hand, and pulls me the rest of the way. His lips ghost across my earlobe. "Lean over the table.""Right now?" My nervousness grows and I try to hide it behind the smile while heat pools in my core. I thought maybe we'd schedule it for next week. Scared and a little bit nervous, my body yells at me to get next to the table and lean my ass over."There's no better time than the present." Bennett places a hand on my shoulder turning my body to the table.I take over the rest for him leaning my upper body across the table, my arm
The angry beeping from my phone fills the tiny little space I use as a bedroom.Bennett groans and rolls over, wrapping his arm across my chest. "What is that noise?""It's time to make the doughnuts," I say cheerfully trying to imitate the commercials. But after only an hour of sleep, I fail miserably.I have to start making more money so I can hire more help. Someone who likes mornings. And baking.Bennett rolls to his back, his hand flopping on the side the bed. "What time is it?""5 a.m.""Fuck. I have to get home. I'm going to owe Dolores so much money for staying the night. And I'll have to call in to Ridge since I have no one to watch Liam today."Bennett sounds as defeated as I am tired. It can't be an easy job being thrown into full-time dad lifestyle. If possible my heart simultaneously breaks and yet fills with love and respect for the man lying next to me. There's so much talk about single moms out there but what about the single dads? The one beside me is doi
Tabitha walks the little plate to the table where Bennett dropped Liam's backpack and sits down to help him get arranged into his chair. She pulls out a single napkin from the dispenser placed in the windowsill because Pearl doesn't like it taking up her tabletop. It's a good thought, but I'm pretty sure we'll need a lot more napkins by the time he's done. I have nightmares about the last time he ate chocolate around me and cleaning it off with sea water.It takes him longer than I expected to finish off both of his sweets. Twenty minutes later he finishes the second, his body pumped full of sugar as he scribbles frantically in his coloring book. Tabitha took him to the back to color on my prep table to contain the jitters when we worried he'd knock over his chair from all the bouncing. His lifetime supply of cookies may be regulated to one a day from here on out.I will forever look at doughnuts in a completely new way from this point on. They are no longer chocolatey goodness, bu
ElliotFive years later"No, sweetie, we only get one puppy today." I squat getting on the same level as my daughter, Brandise.The round ball of fluff she squeezes onto with all her might so he doesn't run away licks her across the face and she giggles. "Daddy, they're twins just me and Bray. They have to stay together."My eyes flick back and forth between each dog. One held in the tight grip of Brandise and the other being sized up by my son. Their mother, Harley, a woman who took too long for me to figure she meant everything stands between the two of them with her lips pinched together not helping me in this situation. She's left me out in the cold on my own.The two puppy siblings look alike, but in my eyes every Yorkie looks the same. How can you tell them apart? The puppies my babies held both had a lighter colored face than Rocky, but other than that they were big puffballs of fur."Sweetie, Rocky only needs one brother," I try again hoping to talk sense into her.
Elliot's steps are slow but sure as I hold open the bakery door to let him get through the space. Once he's cleared the way, I stand beside him in case he needs me for support as he makes his way to the first table in the busy sitting section. You wouldn't expect a shoulder injury to cause issues walking, but with each movement his body makes, his shoulder sways with the force and his face grimaces.It's too soon for him to be up and moving, but I couldn't make him listen to reason.He finds his seat and plops in it heavily, the chair legs scraping on the tile. The people around us stop what they're doing and turn before a small round of applause starts from behind the bakery counter and then picks up including people from every space in the bakery. Elliot turns to the noise, catching everyone in their adoration, and scowls until the clapping fades."Cupcakes for everyone," Anessa says smiling from her spot at the counter. "Especially for our new hero."Elliot's scowl deepens.
Dominick releases a breath and sucks in another one as if preparing himself for this new life. "Are you positive? Because there are very eligible bachelors in my club. A brother could keep you safe."I don't argue with him that Elliot kept me safe. Well at least until he got shot, and no one can blame a man for that. He literally stuck his body in between me and a loaded weapon. How much more could he have done?Plus I could never live life in the club again. Now after experiencing life on my own. "Yeah, and then they'd cheat on me or go to prison."Dominick shakes his head. "My men aren't that way. They love hard and deep. I changed the club here, Harley. It's different from how we grew up in Colorado."There's honesty in his words, but it will never be enough to bring me back. "Elliot is mine."Dom shakes his head once, admitting defeat. "Fine. Onto topic two. I met your father," he says father accusatorily like I've been keeping something from him.Which, in a way, I hav
Without warning there's another harsh pop in the air like someone shooting off a firecracker, and then red blossoms in the middle of Pete's forehead. His body falls back hitting the ground once again. The thud is too far away to hear, but I swear my body feels the vibration.Holy fuck.My ears ring from the gunfire as men pool around us each of them yelling things back and forth. It's coordinated chaos. An ambulance with its lights flashing speeds over the highway."That man took three bullets to the chest," Huxley mutters to himself shaking his head. "I haven't seen anything that crazy since Thailand."... The steady beat of Elliot's hospital machines lulls me into a restless sleep as my head rests on Elliot's hand."Harley," a deep voice whispers in my ear, shaking my shoulder. "Har."In a start my head pops up and my eyes search Elliot's face, but his hand still rests underneath my head, a pool of my drool sticking between his fingers."Still drool, huh? I wouldn't
"Dominick won't pay anything for me," I lie.Pete laughs. "Don't want money. I'm looking to trade you for a free get-out-of-town card. If he won't offer me his protection, you'll be a going away gift to my men. They're upset with having to leave. I'm sure you understand.""What?" Fear causes me to choke out the word as a hundred images flash through my brain of what he could mean, but only one is sick and depraved enough for this man.He smirks. "They'll love you if the Impaler doesn't."I fall to my knees against the back of his seat. "No, please don't." I'd rather he shoot me now than do what his smile promises. He means I'm to be a sexual gift given to his men and passed between them. I'd never survive. Sure, Dom trained me in basic self-defense skills, but my mother sheltered me from club life so I only heard the evils of the world through others. Until now, I never once felt concern for my safety. Not the way I do now.The cargo van travels on the highway, passing a bill
"Stand up, Fucker."Elliot scoots away from me as I claw deftly on his leg trying to hold on and keep him close. He turns, not making any sudden movements and puts his body in front of mine to shield me once again from the nasties of life."Let's not do anything drastic, Pete." Elliot takes a step forward with his hand held out defensively.I twist seeing the old man wearing a pair of board shorts, a blue Hawaiian shirt with palm trees, and flip-flops on his feet standing in the middle of the beach. He resembles a tourist who belongs in Florida not a man running a drug ring in Pelican Bay. He sneers at me taking the tension from Elliot for just a moment and waving the gun in his direction as if either of us could forget it's there."She's the only one who can name me. Without her I can pick up shop and start somewhere fresh and there's nothing you can do about it. You guys don't have shit on me.""You're standing in the middle of a public beach during the day, Pete," Elliot t
He flinches as of my question has hurt him, but I'm the child who didn't have a father. "I got out early for good behavior and I looked up your mother. I learned what happened. Sorry about your loss," he says. The words are stagnant as if he knows what he's supposed to say but struggles with the meaning. Yet, something in the inflection makes me believe he means each one. His eyes turn soft, possibly remembering his time with my mother.My life has never been cupcakes and cookies, but the last month has been indescribable except for the word surreal. First, I had no father, then I picked up a club president for a stepdad, lost him, and now gained back the original. What is happening to my life?"What will happen now?"My father shakes his head and stares at me with a touch of a smile tweaking his lips. "I'm out of the club life. Plan to take the straight and narrow from here on out."I hold back the cringe at his promise. It's one I've heard from club brothers my entire life. E
Elliot shakes his head, his fingers curving around the handle of his gun. His face pinches together as if he has so much to say, but is staying silent for me.Until he doesn't anymore."Would someone mind telling me what the fuck is going on?"He's not the only one looking for answers. "Me too. Mom said you died in a motorcycle crash. Drove your bike over a mountain ledge one night." She hadn't said he'd been drinking, but I've filled in the blanks for myself as I aged.My father's teeth come together hard making a gnashing sound I hear even from my position. "Yeah well. She thought it would be better than the true story. Easier for both of you to move on rather than wait around on me living only a half-life.""Then what is the true story?" After my mom left Dominick's dad, it was the three of us together. I always believed we never hid any secrets from one another.My father shakes his head and stares at me but looks past me as if he's reliving the memories himself. "She s
My gaze and thoughts flip to the back door, but I'm too far away to reach it before he could shoot me.The man is younger than Pete and not the person I saw put a bullet in someone earlier this month, but he's old enough to be my father. His skin is leathered and wrinkled as if he's spent a lifetime in the sun. His jeans are loose and a leather jacket lacking any MC cut is wrapped around his body. Not a Bloodhound.I stand next to the kitchen island breathing heavily while trying to come up with an escape plan as the two of us stare at one another unmoving.He speaks first. "Now, Harley, is this any way to greet the old man who named you?"His words scatter in my brain, startling me into paying attention, all my plans of escape lost. "Excuse me? My father named me."It was one of the few stories I had of the man who shared such a brief relationship with my mother. "He wanted to pay homage to the best...""Damn motorcycle company the US has ever seen," he finishes my sentenc