For six weeks, the club had been waiting to see if Calvert and his men would retaliate, but it had been quiet. Some would say too quiet, but for others it was a welcome reprieve."You ready for this?" Mandy asked as Dalton slid into the driver's seat of her car.They had been working on getting things back to normal between the two of them. It wasn't perfect, and Mandy wasn't sure it ever would be, but she loved him in a way she hadn't before. Having almost lost him, it was a deeper, fuller kind of love. She knew some people would call her crazy, but she couldn't help her feelings. He made her feel better about herself, and at the end of the day, she'd take that over the concept of a perfect love every time. They weren't perfect, but they were perfect for each other.He smiled over at her, his eyes tired, a couple days' beard growth on his face. They'd taken to having very late nights now that her morning sickness had abated. "I haven't been more ready for anything in my life," h
"Should we tell everybody tonight?" Mandy asked as they roamed the aisles of the local grocery store, picking up the ingredients for S'mores. The clubhouse was having a bonfire tonight, and everyone was expected to be there—including Deacon and Samuel.The trouble they'd waited for had yet to show up, and they were all excited to spend some time together. It was almost too quiet, but they were enjoying it."Everybody'll be there," he reasoned. "It'll be way easier to do it once than to do it a hundred times; then no one will be allowed to spoil it for anyone else. I say let's do it."She had never been one to do the cutesy stuff, and she was too excited to keep it a secret for long. Being able to share this with Dalton and her family was all she'd ever wanted to do in the first place."We got everything?" he asked as they took inventory of their cart. "Graham crackers, Hershey's, marshmallows, and a package of Kit Kat's for the lady in my life."She blushed. She'd been cravin
"It means a lot to me that you'll come to a session."Mandy had been begging Dalton to come to a session with Doc Jones for a while, but he'd put it off for as long as possible. It wasn't that he didn't like the woman—he'd met her once or twice—he just didn't like what she stood for.After he and Deacon had been taken away from their parents, they'd been forced to endure counseling. They'd been made to tell people what had happened to them in detail; details they'd both wanted to forget. It hadn't mattered if they wanted to or not. If they didn't talk, they were punished."If it makes us stronger," he held up their clasped hands, "I'll do whatever it takes."They walked up the front porch of Doc Jones' office and home, and Mandy knocked on the door."C'mon in, you two." The older woman ushered them in. "I was hoping at some point I'd see you two in a session together. I'm glad today's the day."Mandy was too, because she had some things she wanted to say. Things she needed
"What time are you leavin' today?" Drew asked Dalton as the two of them worked on an oil change at the shop.Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he checked the time. "About two hours. Mandy's appointment is at one."Drew grinned. "Seven-month checkup. You're gettin' close, my man. Scared yet?""Not gonna lie, these last three to four months have flown by." He ran his hand over his closely cropped hair. "I thought by now we'd already at least be building a house on the land up in Barren County or have a nursery at her apartment. But we're all still looking over our shoulders at Calvert, and I'm not sure why," Dalton admitted."He threatened us, and I don't think any of us take that lightly, least of all you."Dalton knew his friend was right, but he also knew at some point he and Mandy were going to have to make a home for their child to live in. They couldn't keep staying at the clubhouse indefinitely. He was going to have to discuss it with Mandy soon, or better yet, g
"You tired?" Dalton asked later that night as they walked the mall. She'd needed to get a couple shirts, and he carried her bag in his hand, his other arm around her waist.She yawned loudly. "Yeah." She closed her eyes, putting her head on his shoulder for a second. "Sorry I'm no longer the life of the party."Mandy had never really been the life of the party, but he wasn't one to split hairs. "Let's get you home."By the time they pulled out of the mall parking lot, she was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Stopping at a red light, Dalton gazed over at her. Her features were soft in slumber, like most people's were. His heart squeezed with the emotions he felt for her. Reaching over, he grazed her cheek with his knuckle. He would do whatever it took to keep her happy; there was no doubt about it now.* * *Mandy felt heavy and warm. Opening her eyes, she realized she was in her and Dalton's dorm room, but she wasn't sure how she'd gotten there. Dalton sat in the chair oppo
Mandy looked out at the gorgeous day from her office window. Late summer in Kentucky was usually so hot and humid you couldn't walk outside and breathe at the same time, but they'd had a cold front move in overnight. The sidewalks and roads were still damp, and she could hear the birds singing and smell the fresh cut grass of the courthouse lawn. The breeze from the open window caressed her skin, causing her to close her eyes and think back to the night before.Dalton giving her his patch had meant more to her than she thought it would. It had been something she always wanted, but it was as if she'd never realized the implication. In her life, the patch meant more than the ring, and she couldn't wait to be able to wear that jacket.She breathed deeply; excited about the way things were going and the direction they were moving in. She was the happiest she'd ever been, and she knew most of that had to do with Dalton and his ability to apologize and work with her on things they needed
"Do we know where they are?" Liam asked as they congregated at the clubhouse. He wore a grim expression on his face, obviously worried for his family. The only one safe from the threat was the son who sat over in the corner, brooding, probably thinking of everything he could do to this asshole to get his mom and sisters back.Steele sat at his computer, running different programs, trying to figure out what in the hell was going on, while trying not to focus on what could be happening to his wife."Tyler!" They all lifted their heads when they heard Meredith's frantic voice. "I've been trying to get in touch with you, but someone cut our lines and messed with our cell phones at CRISIS. The alarm at Doc Jones' office has been going off for more than thirty minutes."Dalton watched as Tyler tightened his jaw, tagged Jagger on the chest, and motioned for the door. Turning to Meredith, he spoke in a calm voice that gave them all chills. "You get the kids and come back here, take one o
"You okay?" Denise asked her daughter as they sat in what looked to be an empty warehouse. It was dark, damp, and a little chilly—even with the hot, sunny day they'd left in the outside world. She glanced around, seeing Christine, Jessica, and Tatum huddled together too."Scared," she whispered. "What do they want with us?""I don't know," she whispered back. "As far as I knew, this shit was over, but don't worry, the guys will find us. They're good at that. They've rescued a few of us more than once."Mandy hoped like hell her mom was right. She was worried, not only for herself, but for Tatum and her own unborn baby. Crossing her arms over her stomach, she did her best to control her breathing, to stop the shivering of her chin, and the trembling of her whole body. She kept telling herself her dad, her brother, and the love of her life would be there for her. They wouldn't let her stay here too long.The door to the warehouse opened and a man walked in. He had an air about hi
The temperature in the cab of the truck was downright frigid as Remy drove to Tyler's house to drop off Addie first. Tatum refused to meet his gaze and that flat out pissed him off. If she was going to give herself to another man and then have the balls to sit in front of him like this, she should at least have the decency to meet his eyes when he looked at her."Am I going to have to explain to Tyler why I'm dropping you off at one in the fucking morning?" Remy glanced in the review mirror of the truck, looking back to where Addie sat in the extended cab."No," she shook her head, looking about as tired and unhappy as he felt. "He's at the clubhouse. He and Mom had planned to stay and they took Caelin with them."Well, thank God for small favors, because the one person besides Liam he didn't want to face off with tonight, was Tyler."You're lucky I don't call him and tell him where the hell you've been. How could you let her go up there with him?" he questioned her, the irrita
Tatum's heart beat through her chest as she followed Gavin upstairs to a much quieter part of the house. Her mouth was dry – the result of her nerves, or the alcohol she'd consumed – she wasn't sure which. Her hand gripped Gavin's tightly, but she knew it wasn't because she was excited, it was because she wanted to yank on it, and stop him from leading her into the empty bedroom. Part of her wanted to put a stop to it, the other part wanted to go through with this so she could throw it in Remy's face. Those stubborn traits she'd inherited from her dad were alive and well tonight.She glanced over her shoulder, spotting Addie pulling out her phone and making a call. The worried look on her friend's face told her all she needed to know. Addie was probably calling in reinforcements and her time had suddenly become very limited."You feelin' good?" his deep voice questioned in her ear, causing her hair to stand up and goosebumps to appear on her arms. This time it was different than wh
Remy was in a piss-poor mood, had been since the night of the Christmas party and everything that had gone down with Tatum. He bit off the head of anyone foolish enough to ask if he was okay. He'd been eating lunch by himself, and overall had been a miserable fucking loner. Even right now, while everyone else was partying their asses off, his big date was being in the gym and beating the ever-loving shit out of a heavy bag. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him the last few days.Hearing his fists connect with the bag felt good, even if it was muted by the gloves he wore. His arms burned, his shoulders and back ached, his chest heaved, and sweat poured down his forehead and into his eyes; making them sting. The sting felt good though, because it distracted him from the guilt he felt for the way he'd treated Tatum. And that guilt was pressing down on him like he was trapped under a thousand-pound boulder.He'd felt every emotion on the spectrum since she'd walked out on him
Tatum's blue eyes took in the party-goers around her. In different parts of the room, she could see members of her graduating class, some kids that were now seniors, and a few college kids. God, this had never been her thing, she'd never found high school or college parties worth anything to her. She could see everything that went on at them and more, at the club parties. Plus, this was a mob mentality – everyone here went along with everyone else, and it was so boring. Nobody had any individuality. Normally, she'd have tossed the invitation in the trash can and not even thought twice about it. She would have spent the night at the club's New Year's party and have an actual good time with her friends and family.Tonight though, she was on a mission."Do you see anybody?" Addie asked as they surveyed the room.Tatum took a drink from the bottle of Strawberry Boone's Farm she carried in her hand. It was the bottom shelf stuff, guaranteed to get you loaded in the least amount of tim
Tatum had never felt anything like the all-consuming lust that blasted through her as soon as Remy grabbed her hip and pulled her deep into his body. She'd thought she had but damn, she was wrong. Her fingers grasped at his shirt, trying to ground herself in the feelings, when she felt his bare palms slip up under the hem of her dress. The sharp intake of breath, and the way he nipped at her lip indicated he'd discovered she'd worn a thong."Fuck, Tate," he moaned as he pulled his lips from hers.She almost cried as he abandoned her lips and smeared his mouth down her neck. She felt the sharp nip of his teeth down to the core of her body. It caused her nipples to tighten further against the lace of strapless bra, and before she knew what she was doing, she was rubbing up against him."Please, Rem," she gasped out when she felt one of his hands on her ass venture back over her hip, and closer to the wetness and heat she felt between her thighs."Has anybody touched you?" he grow
He knew the second she walked in, just like he'd known when she'd entered the bakery. Even seven shots of Pappy in, he could feel her, he knew she was there by the way the hair on the back of his neck stood up, the goosebumps he got on his arms and the way his dick stirred to attention. He wasn't sure what kind of hold Tatum Walker held over him, but it was strong, maybe dangerously so, like some sort of Jedi Mind Trick he'd never be able to resist. And dammit if his hand didn't shake as he took his next shot."Too much for you?" Drew asked as he noticed the slight tremble of the other man's hand.How did he tell the man sitting beside him, he was hard up for his little sister? Easy. He didn't."Nah, I'm good, but I gotta hit the head. Be back."Plan number two when plan number one didn't work? Run and hope she wouldn't follow. As much alcohol as he had consumed, he wasn't sure he could push her away this time. After all, he was only a man and he wasn't immune to the way she lo
He should have brought a date. Those were the first words Remy thought when he walked through the door of the clubhouse. It hit him like a ton of bricks, and all he wanted to do was turn around and head back to Cash and Harper's. Normally, he lived at the clubhouse, but he'd had dinner at their place tonight. He could relieve the babysitter watching Maddy, and he wouldn't have to worry about keeping his guard up.Couples were paired off, which meant anyone without a plus one would be inevitably thrown together. Looking up, he saw mistletoe was hung randomly around the room. Shit. Since he was the youngest, he seemed to be one of the few without a woman on his arm. Sure as the world turned, he'd find himself thrown toward someone tonight.Gazing around the room, he didn't see Tatum and for that he was extremely thankful. He'd been able to avoid her since the day at Harper's bakery, but it'd hadn't been easy. Not that she'd gone out of her way to be around him but they were in the sa
Remy told himself to slow down as he grasped her neck, hauling Tatum closer to him. He cautioned his lust-drunk body not to make a fool of itself. He warned his libido not to let this go too far. They were in the middle of the bakery, in the middle of downtown. Anyone could walk through that door from some dumbass off the street, to her brother, to her dad. But he couldn't stop, couldn't force his hand not to trail down her body and grasp her tight ass in his fingers. He wanted desperately to pull her lower half into his, wanted to shove his thigh between her legs and feel the heat he knew would be there. His tongue was forceful as it made its way into her mouth, testing how far she'd let him go.Turned out she'd let him go as far as he wanted to.His brain tried to warn him that this was progressing too quickly. It was getting too out of control, too fast. If he didn't watch it, he'd be picking her up and putting her ass first against the nearest wall. He was losing his mind, losi
Son of a bitch. Something in the way Tatum's gaze met his made him think he'd said those words loud enough she could hear them. But fuck, she looked amazing. Even more than she usually did. Tatum had been gorgeous for a long time, but with her hair in this new cut, she looked sexy, and almost… sophisticated. But this was Tatum. She'd never fully be a lady, not really. She didn't do dresses unless she had to, she didn't do caked on makeup, and she could hang with the guys – no matter how raunchy it got."Do you like it?" She asked again, this time looking much more unsure than when she'd started out. Very slowly, she ran her fingers through her hair, giving it a tousle.Remy cleared his throat, not sure how honest he wanted to be, but at the same time knowing he couldn't help but be honest. If he lied to her, she would know, and it would do nothing to help the situation they seemed to always find themselves in. The two of them always seemed to be either pushing or pulling at each ot