Cannon (Savage Kings MC - South Carolina Book Series 5)

by Lane Hart

  “If you don’t do what Bailey wants, then he’ll find someone else who will!”

  “Oh,” I mutter. “But if Reece can’t find any dirt on her, then no one else will be able to either.”

  “Probably not; but for the right price, I’m sure the fucker can find someone else to threaten her.”

  “Shit,” I mutter in understanding, rubbing at my head. If Bailey finds out I won’t do his dirty work, I have no doubt that he’ll just find someone else to do it either by paying them or manipulating them. “What should I do?” I ask Conrad.

  “You need to keep an eye on her, watch her back,” he says.

  “I don’t think she wants me anywhere near her back,” I admit.

  “Then she doesn’t have to see you. The point is, someone needs to watch out for her.”

  “Why does it have to be me?”

  “It’s not like you’ve got a job anymore, right?”

  I wince at the reminder. “The dealership is mostly cleared out. Now we just have to wait for Winston and the guys to fix up some bikes to sell at a discount.”

  “So, what the hell are you still doing here?”

  “You think I need to watch her all day and night? When will I ever get to fucking sleep?” I grumble.

  “You could bring in the prospects if Roman doesn’t have any other jobs for them. But if I had to bet, Bailey will move on the woman soon and come at her hard to try and get it over with. The prospects are still too green. I’m not sure if both of them together could handle that.”

  “Okay. You’ve made your point,” I grumble before I reach over and snag one of his sandwiches. I don’t even know what it is until I take a bite. Ham, yum.

  “That was for me and Hannah,” Conrad mutters.

  “Make another. I’ve got to go.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?” he asks while getting out two more pieces of bread. I know he’s only offering out of decency and doesn’t really want to come. He would hate leaving Hannah.

  “No.” I answer between bites. “I told you I would handle this mess since you and Hannah have enough to deal with. It’s why I tried to talk to you alone earlier instead of talking about shit that might stress her out.”

  “She can handle it. And I appreciate you doing this for us,” he says. “You will take care of her and the baby if I’m not here, won’t you?”

  I stop eating long enough to stab my fingers through my hair and then around to that itchy, burning feeling on my neck. Now I’ve lost my appetite. Tossing the remaining bites of the sandwich away, I blow out a breath and tell him, “You know I will.”

  “Good. I get that you aren’t ready to be a father and this is all my fault for attacking Bailey, but believe me, I had a good reason.”

  “I know you did,” I reply since my brother is always calm and cool. It must have been something really fucking bad to set him off.

  Wiping the breadcrumbs off on a dish towel, he turns to me and says, “Hannah was pregnant before, years ago.”

  “What happened?” I ask.

  “She was only sixteen. But she confessed everything to her parents as soon as she found out. She had decided to have the baby, and they knew that. Then, that asshole took her to the doctor and gave her pills to terminate it without telling her what the pills were going to do.”

  “Fuck,” I mutter. That’s the lowest of the low for anyone to go, much less a father. “He’s a sick bastard.”

  “What he did on its own is fucked up,” Conrad adds. “But you didn’t see Hannah three months ago, Cannon. She was…he broke her. It’s a miracle she didn’t end up dead or worse…”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “Maybe you never needed to know either,” Conrad tells me. “But if I get arrested and locked up, I want you to understand why, that it wasn’t just a temporary lapse in judgment. Every punch was intended to hurt him even if it was only a millionth of the pain he caused her.”

  “I understand,” I assure him. “And I’ll take care of her like she was mine.”

  “Don’t go that fucking far,” Conrad says with a grin.

  “Fine, I’ll treat her like…a sister. That better?”

  “Yeah, it is. Thank you,” he says, and then he gives me a hug for the first time in…shit, I don’t even know if we’ve ever hugged each other before.

  Chapter Six

  Cannon

  There are only five cars in the parking lot at the Savage Kings’ bar and clubhouse, and not a single bike because of the freezing cold. Usually at this time of night, even in winter, the place would be packed, overflowing with locals come to drink their worries away, the music loud enough to hear from the road. But since the city shut us down for some bullshit fire code violations and revoked our alcohol permits a few days ago, only the Kings have been coming and going.

  Roman’s truck is here, which is all I care about. I’m thinking one of the small cars may be the prospects, so that would be perfect.

  The frigid air nips at me as I hurry inside. As soon as I walk through the door, the warmth and familiar smells of beer and cigars hit me. It’s like my second home, and I hate seeing it so fucking empty.

  “Hey, Cannon,” Leo says when he peeks his head out from the door leading to the storage room behind the bar. “Need a drink?”

  “Nah, I’m good,” I tell him. “What are you doing back there?”

  “Inventory,” he says. “Nothing else to do.”

  “I hear ya,” I say when I spot Lucas and Jake, our two prospects, sitting at one of the four-person tables, arguing like usual while playing cards.

  “Roman in the chapel?” I ask Leo, who nods before he disappears again.

  I start walking in that direction when Lucas jumps up and runs over to block the door. “Sorry, Cannon, but you can’t go in there.”

  I stare down the kid and ask, “Why the fuck not?”

  “Charlotte’s with Roman,” Jake says as he stands up and comes over to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lucas. Which is unnecessary now that he explained what’s going on. Not to mention that from this distance, I can actually hear the woman on the other side screaming Roman’s name along with God’s.

  Great.

  Normally, I wouldn’t mind listening to two people go at it; but since I hear enough of that shit in my own house and haven’t gotten laid in too long, I spin on my heel and walk back to the table the boys were sitting at on the other side of the room. “So, what are we playing?” I ask them as they follow behind me like good, little puppy dogs.

  “Blackjack,” Jake answers.

  “You must be bored as fuck,” I mutter as I turn one of the chairs around and sit in it backward, “Deal me in.”

  “It probably won’t be much longer,” Lucas says as he retakes his seat and starts shuffling the cards.

  “How do you know? They could be in there all night,” Jake responds.

  “Ten bucks says she walks out in ten minutes or less.”

  “Deal,” Jake agrees, offering the other kid his hand to shake.

  I call them kids, but they’re both over twenty-one and only a few years younger than me and Conrad. Still, there’s something about them that just seems so naïve. They’ve been with the Kings for over six months, and yet they haven’t seen any violence yet. It’s a blessing and a curse. Until they are put through the wringer, tested in the face of danger, I just won’t see them as equals or think they’ve earned the right to wear the Savage Kings MC patches.

  “Roman got y’all working on anything?” I ask them after the cards are dealt and I take a peek at mine. A ten and an ace, not bad.

  “Nah, we’re just hanging around in case he needs anything, but it’s been slow,” Lucas answers.

  “Hit me,” Jake tells him, and Lucas lays a queen down on top of his cards. “Shit. I’m over.”

  Lucas laughs. “What about you?”

  “I’ll stay,” I tell him.

  He flips his cards over, a Jack and an ace. “Blackjack again.”r />
  “He’s cheating,” Jake declares, leaning back in his chair so it’s balanced on just two legs and crossing his arms angrily over his chest. “No one gets that lucky that often.”

  “What are y’all playing for?”

  “Free hits,” they both answer.

  “Free what?” I ask.

  “Every time I win, I get a free hit on Jake,” Lucas explains. “Anytime, anywhere on his body, it’s my decision.”

  “Which is bullshit since you’ve won all five rounds,” Jake huffs indignantly.

  “Jesus. You two have nothing better to do?” I ask.

  “Nope.”

  “Not since everything was fucking shut down,” Jake grumbles and then looks up at me, eyes wide. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bitch. I’m sure Conrad had a good reason for getting everything shut down…”

  “Damn right he did,” I tell him as the anger swells up inside of me, the same old protective instinct for my brother that I’ve had since we could barely walk. Turning to Lucas, I ask, “I’ll owe you a favor if you collect on one of your hits in the next thirty seconds.”

  Like a flash of lightning, Lucas reaches across the table and slams his fist in the other dude’s throat. I half expect Jake to throw up based on the way he’s gagging before he loses his balance and the chair falls backward, hitting the floor so hard Leo comes out from the back to make sure everything is okay.

  “You all right?” I look down and ask him. He gives a nod. “Nicely done,” I say to Lucas, who is smiling like the cat who ate the canary. Whether or not he’s cheating at cards I don’t really care. Unless Jake can prove it, he should stop playing. Otherwise, he’s shit out of luck.

  Jake is trying to pull himself back up when the chapel door swings open. Roman and Charlotte fill it, his arms wound tightly around her, kissing her goodbye before she walks to the door, barely giving us a wave.

  “And you owe me ten bucks,” Lucas says before he gets to his feet, standing at attention like a good little soldier while Jake is still on his knees. “Cannon’s here to see you, sir,” he tells Roman.

  “Thanks, Lucas,” Roman replies as he takes a few steps toward us. “What the fuck happened to Jake?”

  “I’m fine,” he hoarsely answers as he finally stands up and rights his chair, holding his throat with one hand and the back of the chair with the other. “Did you need anything, sir?”

  “I’m good,” Roman replies with one of his reddish-brown eyebrows raised in concern. “Cannon?”

  “Sorry to bother you,” I say as I get up and stroll over to him.

  “Sorry you had to wait,” he responds quietly. Once I’m in the chapel, he shuts the door behind me, and I swear our president’s cheeks turn red when my nostrils flare thanks to the heavy smell of sex in the air. “Sorry,” he says again. It’s unlike Roman to apologize for anything. “Charlotte’s ovulating, so it couldn’t wait; and if she comes, there’s a better chance…”

  “Ahh,” I tell him as I slap my palms over my ears. “I get it. You’re trying to put a kid in her. Everyone’s having babies. I don’t want or need to know about the details on how it happens!”

  Roman laughs, losing some of his embarrassment when he takes his seat at the head of the table, lounging like a content lion who has just feasted on a herd of antelope. Since reproductive story time is apparently over, I lower my hands and take my own seat.

  “What’s up?” he asks.

  “You need the prospects for anything important?”

  “Nah. It would be nice to get them out from under my goddamn feet for a little while. If you want them, you can have them.”

  “Do you want to know what I need them for?” I ask.

  “Sure,” he says with a shrug as if it doesn’t really matter. The prospects are basically little bitches to the Kings as needed until they patch in.

  I give him all the current information about Bailey, his attempt at blackmailing me, and wanting me to go after his opponent for mayor. Roman, of course, is quick to declare that none of the Kings are to touch Madison Monroe or do anything else to help the fat fuck.

  “I’m sorry if that means Conrad gets arrested, but we have to draw the line somewhere,” Roman explains.

  “No, I get it. And Conrad said the same thing. He just wants me to help take care of Hannah if he goes away.”

  “We’ll all help her with anything, I’m sure your brother knows that,” he says.

  “He does, and we appreciate it,” I tell him. “For now, I’ll take the prospects so they can help me keep an eye on her. Conrad didn’t think we should leave them alone, though. He thinks Bailey could come at her with more than the two of them could handle.”

  “I’m not gonna lie, the prospects need to be tested. Shit has been quiet around here, for which I’m grateful, but I’m not convinced either of them have what it takes to be a King, and I’m not confident that they’ll put aside whatever their beef is if one of them is in trouble.”

  “I agree. I’ll keep an eye on them and would prefer that they see some action and not Madison.”

  Roman squints at me. “You on a first name basis with her already?”

  “Ah, not really. She isn’t very fond of me.”

  “Wow. Good for her,” he says with a grin. “Someone is finally immune to your charms.”

  “Guess so. She’s uptight and…unapproachable. Neither of which bode well for her campaign.”

  “You don’t think she can win?” Roman asks.

  “Not unless she comes down off her high horse long enough to kiss the feet of us commoners.”

  “She really that bad?”

  “She is. Wait until you meet her.”

  “I would like to,” Roman says, leaning forward with his hands clasped on the table. I tell him about my idea for a campaign fundraiser, and he’s on board with the program immediately. “We’ll toss out some ideas at our next Kings’ meeting. Until then, I really need to get back to work.” He pulls the closed laptop that was pushed away towards him and opens it. “I’ve been talking to some lawyers about a civil suit against the city, going after them for damages caused by shutting us down for no reason. They’ve sent me a long list of questions they need answered before we go any further.”

  “The lawyers think we could win?”

  “Possibly. Depends on who the judges are, and if they’re buddies with Bailey or not. If we can find one who hates him as much as we do, then we could make it work.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you get back to it,” I tell him, pushing my chair back and getting to my feet.

  “Keep me updated on the situation with…Madison,” he says with a smirk. “If anyone can charm an uptight, unapproachable woman, it would be you. And if you can’t charm her, maybe you can figure out a way to make people like her enough to vote for her.”

  “I’ll try my best,” I tell him as I open the door to leave.

  “The Savage Kings are counting on you, Cannon. Don’t fuck it up,” Roman says before I pull the door closed.

  Like I needed any extra pressure.

  Blowing out a breath, I say, “Dipshits One and Two, let’s go. You’re coming with me.”

  “We are?” Lucas asks as he pops up and comes hurrying over with excitement filling his eyes, completely abandoning his cards. Jake is much slower to follow.

  “Do you need to go home and recover?” I ask him, and he shakes his head. “You sure about that?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jake croaks out.

  “Suit yourself. If you need to use the bathroom, do it now. We’re going to be camping out in my SUV the rest of the night.”

  “Just a sec,” Lucas says before he hurries off to the men’s room. Jake also starts in that direction, moving like a sloth.

  “Yo, Jake,” I say as I go up to him.

  “Yeah…yes, sir?” he asks, still hoarse.

  “Don’t play games you can’t win,” I tell him when I grab his shoulder. “And just so you know, the childish bullshit with Lucas doesn’t get you any points
. In fact, it makes the Kings question if either of you can actually cut it as one of us or if you’re still too immature. I’m about to put you in charge of protecting a woman’s life. Can you handle it, or will you be too busy figuring out how to get Lucas back?”

  He nods and visibly swallows like it hurts. “I can handle it, sir.”

  “Good.” I give his shoulder a shove toward the restroom. “Now, hurry up. You two follow me in one of your cars; and then when I stop, I want you in my SUV.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jake says, already sounding more sure of himself.

  One thing I won’t tolerate is the two of them squabbling like children when I need their eyes and ears open to keep Madison safe.

  Chapter Seven

  Madison

  I didn’t sleep worth a shit last night. For some reason, whenever I closed my eyes, I kept seeing Cannon’s smirking face, then hearing his velvety voice when I should be focused on the campaign. And more importantly, raising money. If I don’t soon, then I won’t have any chance at winning. As it stands right now, I’m not delusional; and I know that if the election was this week, I would lose by about sixty points. But that’s only because Bailey is a name everyone knows. There’s not much time on the clock, so I have to figure out a way for voters to notice me as a real contender and not just a pretty face.

  Lily and I are discussing whether or not it would be worth the ordeal to ask my parents and their firms to have a meet and greet event when I hear my name called by a deep, masculine voice that’s way too charming. I’m certain I’m going crazy and hearing things, because there is no way that man is actually here.

  “Ah, Madison, sorry to interrupt,” Veronica says from the doorway of my office. “But that guy from yesterday is out front asking for you.”

  “Cannon’s here?” I say in disbelief. “What does he want?” I’m up and moving around my desk in the blink of an eye. I tell myself that I’m anxious to see him to tell him to go away and leave me alone. The truth is, though, I think I want to figure out if the odd attraction I felt yesterday is still there or if it was a fluke, like he caught me at a bad time after the bombed press conference when I was feeling…off balance. Yeah, that had to have been it.