Seeking Shadows (Royal Bastards MC Tampa Chapter Book 3)

by K E Osborn

  Slumping down into the sofa, I exhale. “Is this the life I want to bring Cruz up in, though?”

  Toxin shrugs. “The kid has already seen and been through trauma. As much as we want to hope he won’t remember, it will be locked away in the recesses of his mind. He’s better to be here where we can all help him with those memories, and tell him we’re all here to protect him as he grows up, rather than growing up thinking he’s out on his own. In all the violence, we are a family who will do anything to protect those we care about.”

  She makes sense.

  I want Cruz to feel and to be protected.

  I want Dash to be the one protecting him—protecting us.

  I want to wake up to Dash every day.

  I want to be the one supporting Dash through every decision he makes.

  I want him to be a part of our family.

  “Cruz adores Dash, they’re the best of friends.”

  “Dash adores him too. How do you feel about him?”

  A wave of emotion slams into my chest like a swirling storm. A blast of electricity jolts my heart, and I know instantly, without a doubt, irrevocably and undoubtedly the answer.

  My eyes begin to well as I bite my bottom lip. My eyes shift to Toxin.

  She presses her hand to her chest letting out a small sigh. “You love him.” It’s a statement, not a question.

  A slow tear falls down my cheek which I quickly wipe away. “I do.”

  Without warning, she leaps forward, taking me into a tight embrace. I’m shocked for a moment, but then I giggle, hugging her back.

  “I am so happy for you guys! He deserves this. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever known, and you’re so perfect for him. I’m so, so fucking happy!”

  Pulling back from her, my entire body is like it’s floating. I hadn’t even realized I had completely fallen head over heels for Dash until this very moment. It’s like those fireflies are back and buzzing around my head. I’m so elated.

  I want to go to him and make sure he’s okay.

  “I need to tell him.”

  “Yeah, you do!”

  Standing, I spin and start to head off, but then suddenly turn back to face Toxin. “Thanks. We had a rocky start, but I mean it, Ivy, thank you for everything you’ve done for my family.”

  She stands, walking over to meet me. “I’m sorry for the bitch fight… Dash means a lot to me. I just want what’s best for him, and I know now that’s you and Cruz.”

  I peer over my shoulder toward the stairs. She taps my shoulder. “What are you waiting for, chica! Go get your man.”

  Bouncing on my toes, I spin, racing for the stairs, taking them two at a time.

  I need to get to Dash!

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  DASH

  I feel like shit, but luckily, it’s been a good few hours since the hit to my head and the nausea is finally starting to settle. At the clinic, Nerve was able to clean me up, patch up my head and get me stable enough to come home. The man even had a toothbrush I could use because my mouth felt like ass. Got to give our resident doctor credit, he knows how to look after us.

  But now, I just want to get home to Shadow and Cruz. I need to know they’re doing okay. That Cruz isn’t mentally taking a beating from all he went through. I want to make sure Shadow is okay with what comes next for Tyler because she’s been a little on edge with what we do here at the club.

  I need her to understand, Tyler isn’t walking away from this.

  I can’t let him.

  Not after what he was going to do to Cruz.

  No way in hell.

  Tomorrow, I will deal with Tyler.

  Tonight, I need to spend time with my woman and her son.

  Making our way back inside the clubhouse, Mister Sprocket in my hand, my feet are heavy as shit as Nerve walks beside me with Ominous on the other side. They’re not helping me walk, just merely there in case I stumble, but I’m doing all right on my own—for now.

  We enter the clubhouse, and a loud cheer erupts as my brothers spot me. I grimace at the noise. My head still pounds, but I can’t help smiling at the welcome. They all circle, back-slapping me as I continue to walk through, my eyes scanning the area for the two people I want to see more than anything.

  Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, Shadow appears at the top of the Bricking Room stairs. Bloodstains all down the left side of her clothing. My heart leaps into my throat. I push through my brothers to get to her. She starts running, leaping into my arms, almost knocking me onto my ass as she does.

  “Jesus, Badass, what the fuck happened? Are you hurt?” I ask, wiping hair back from the blood on her face.

  Her eyes well with tears as she leans in pressing her forehead to mine, her eyes closing like she is living in the moment. “Shadow, talk to me. Are you okay?”

  A tear slides down her face as Toxin strides up the stairs.

  “What the fuck happened?” I grunt, concern pulsing through every vein in my body.

  Shadow’s eyes finally meet mine, she bites her bottom lip, then clears her throat. “I’m changing, Dash.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  She sniffles. “Will you still want me if I’m more like the club and less like me.”

  I tilt my head, assessing the blood on her and a sinking feeling washes over me. “Shadow, what did you do?”

  Fear etches her eyes, but no regret, no sadness, just fear. “I killed Tyler.”

  I sink deeper into her eyes trying to figure out what she’s so scared of. If she doesn’t regret it, if she’s not sad, the fear is for me, of what I will think of her. Licking my lips, I swallow hard. “You liked it?”

  Her muscles tense, the fear is back tenfold, but she slowly nods. A genuine smile creeps across my face as I pull her to me tighter. I lean in pressing my lips to hers. She’s still for a moment like she’s shocked. But when that energy hits, the magnetic spark ignites, and she kisses me back like her life depends on it. Catcalling and cheering erupt around us as she giggles into my mouth. I’m still weak, and I need to sit before I fall down, so regrettably, I pull back from her and look into her glistening eyes. “Shadow, I mean it when I tell you, I am so freaking proud of you. I wasn’t sure if you could handle this life, my life, club life. I was wrong. I think I knew from the first time I met you that you’re badass. It’s why I called you that. You just went and proved it to me.”

  “Dash, I want this. You. The club looking out for us. I want it all.”

  “Then, baby, it’s yours. I’m yours.” I turn around sending a whistle through the room gaining everyone’s attention. Shadow clings tighter to me as I hold her in my arms, along with Mister Sprocket. “Hey, everyone, listen up, I have something to say!”

  Everyone steps in a circle around us while I smooth my hand up and down Shadow’s arm. “I want to thank everyone for the part they played in getting Cruz back today. That kid means everything to us, and he’s now a part of the club, because Shadow, you are my world, and since I saw you throwing Handsy Harry out of The Drunken Lime, I knew you were going to rock my world. You’re strong, so fucking strong. And braver than I ever could have ever imagined. You fight for what you want and what you believe in, and fuck… I love you!”

  She glances over at Toxin like there’s some inside joke, then back to me. “I love you!”

  Everyone around us snickers under their breath as I continue, “You’ve proven, by the blood on your clothes you belong here, with me. With us. So, Shadow, you’ll now be known as Badass because that is all you’ve ever truly been since I’ve met you.” She cuddles into me further. “I’m claiming you, Badass. You’re my Ol’ Lady. Welcome to the club, officially.”

  Another round of cheering and clapping echoes through the room completely killing my head as she presses up on her toes kissing me again. I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight.

  Nycto comes over slapping my back. “When you come up for air, I’ll make sure there’s a property patch ready for
her.”

  I break my lips from Shadow. “Thanks, Prez.”

  He grins, walking off toward Eva. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulls her to him. I guess at times like this, it’s easy to get sentimental.

  Pulling back from Shadow, I notice the blood on her and grimace. “C’mon… let’s get you cleaned up.”

  She bobs her chin. “Yeah, I don’t want Cruz seeing me like this. I see you found Mister Sprocket, too.”

  “I wasn’t coming back without him.”

  She leans in kissing my cheek, then we make our way to the bedroom. I slowly open the door, popping my head through. Cruz is still fast asleep. I carefully walk over, placing the bear next to Cruz, then I grab Badass’ hand and usher her through to the bathroom, without waking Cruz. When I close the door behind us, I flick the lock and let out a sigh. “Little man is out like a light.”

  “Thank God he’s a heavy sleeper.”

  I glimpse over to the bathtub. I’m not sure I have the strength to stand in a shower right now after all this, so I gesture to it. She smiles with a nod. Turning on the hot water to the right temperature, I let the tub begin to fill. Shirking out of my cut, I place it on the hand basin, then we both remove our clothing. I pick up her shirt and toss it in the trash. She raises her brow, but I shrug and she half-smiles.

  We make our way over to the tub, and I turn off the faucet, then step in sinking into the depths. The sting of the hot water hits my skin, and I enjoy every fucking second of it. I place my hand out for Badass, and she moves in, stepping on each side of my leg and sits on top of me, leaning her back against my chest. I slide my arms around her waist, one sliding up just under her breast.

  Fuck, I love being here with her like this.

  After today, this is so fucking relaxing.

  I rest my aching head back on the tub’s edge and close my eyes when she wiggles a little on my lap. My cock instantly springs to attention beneath her. A wicked grin forms on my face as my head lifts, I lean in, and press a kiss to the back of her shoulder. My hand under her breast edges up, my fingers pinching her nipple, causing her head to fall back on my shoulder. She lets out a deep exhale like she’s enjoying my touch.

  A simple exhale just won’t do.

  Sliding my other hand down between her legs, she parts them wider, making her ass wiggle a little against my cock. I grow harder as I press my finger on her clit firmly. She lets out a stuttered breath as I circle on her. Her hips begin to move in time with my finger rotations, and the friction against my cock drives an ache right through me. A hunger. I lean in, my teeth clamping down on her earlobe as she lets out a whimper.

  Mmm. Fuck yes!

  I press harder on her clit, wanting to get her there, needing to get her there. Not only for her but for me as well. After the last twenty-four hours, she deserves this. My lips find their way to her neck, nipping and sucking, my teeth scraping along her skin as she lets out a soft moan. “Fuck,” she pants.

  “Let go, Badass, let everything you’re holding onto go.”

  Her fingers grip onto the edges of the tub so tight her knuckles turn bright white from the tension as I press harder, biting down on the tender flesh of her neck. Her body trembles. Her back arches off my chest, and she throws her head to the side in the heat of pleasure. She lets out a moan as she explodes, her skin riddling with goosebumps as she finally relaxes against my chest, weakened by her orgasm.

  “Jesus, Dash… I needed that.”

  I lean in pressing a kiss under her ear. “I know how you feel.”

  She catches her breath as my cock aches for more. Then suddenly, she lifts herself slightly. I know what she wants. I fucking want it, too. I slide my hand into the water, grabbing my cock, and position it under her at her opening. She gently slides down onto my length, and as she does, her warmth encases me, and my head falls back onto the tub in complete ecstasy. I let out a long moan as she slides on completely. “God, you’re so tight like this.”

  “You feel so fucking good.”

  My hands slide into the water around her waist, helping her move on and off me. The slick friction from the water making the sensation even more enthralling. My cock throbs inside her as water splashes over the edges of the tub, but I don’t care about that right now. She feels too damn good to worry about a little excess water. And considering I don’t have the stamina of a racehorse right now, this position is exactly right for letting her do most of the work.

  Her hips rock up and down on top of me, her perfect pussy encapsulating me in just the right way. She feels like heaven as we move together in sync.

  Her hands grip on the tub, mine around her waist. I hold on hard, trying to ride out the pleasure as I breathe through my nose trying to make this last as long as I can, but the tingle is starting in my toes, working its way up my spine. My balls pull up, tightening so much I barely can stand it. “Fuck, Badass, I’m gonna come.”

  She pants heavily as she continues to grind down, rotating her hips, moaning as she goes. “Me… too, ahh.”

  Thrusting up inside of her, I try to move as deep as I can. She whimpers as my balls pull up, the cold shiver takes over, and I can’t hold it anymore. Her pussy tightens around my cock, sending me into overdrive. Her back arches as my eyes clench, sending shards of flashing light behind my eyes. The tension pulls all the way through my cock as she tries to muffle her cries when she orgasms at the same time my cock throbs, my balls clench, my cock jerks, and I explode everything I have inside of her in the best climax I’ve had for a long fucking time. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!”

  I lean my head against the back of hers as we both pant while coming down from our highs. My eyes are closed as our bodies sink a little further into the now lukewarm water.

  My arms wrap around her, holding her to me as I press a tender kiss to her shoulder, and she relaxes against me as a comfortable ease washes over us.

  I close my eyes resting my head on her shoulder. “I didn’t wrap it up.”

  She exhales leaning back into me. “We got caught up in the heat of the moment. I can take a pill in the morning.”

  I plant another kiss on her silky skin, and she turns her head to face me. “I was coming upstairs to find you to tell you I love you, when you showed back up at the club.”

  “You were?” My smile is wide.

  “Mm-hmm… Toxin convinced me you wouldn’t think less of me for what… I did.”

  “Never… I’ll never think less of you for anything.”

  She pulls my arms up, wrapping them around her even tighter. “I still want to work at the bar.”

  Exhaling, I mull over this for a second. If the threat of Tyler is contained, then I suppose there’s no harm in her being back out in public. “Okay, but I choose the security.”

  She snickers. “Fine! Deal.”

  I’m not sure how to broach this, so I’ll just come right out and say it. “You want to live here? You and Cruz?”

  She’s quiet for a moment. “I don’t know, Dash. Is it a good place for Cruz?”

  “Probably not.”

  She grips onto my hands tighter. “Then we move back to our apartment?”

  I scoff. “You’re not moving back there! Jesus! No fucking way. You, me and Cruz, we’re getting a house. A good one with a yard, maybe a dog.”

  Shadow’s arms suddenly let go, and she hoists herself off me. I gasp as my cock comes free from her. She spins around in the tub, water going fucking everywhere in her tempest. She’s facing me with her eyes wide open like I’ve said the craziest shit in the world. “You would move out of the clubhouse, and play happy families with me, with us?”

  “It’s not unheard of, Shadow. Crow, he’s gone now, but he lived off base with his Ol’ Lady and kids. It’s up to each brother where he lives. Most of us just stay at the clubhouse for ease. But we have a family to think about. That changes things.”

  Her eyes meet mine. “We have enough money to buy a house?”

  I snort. “Nycto will help out. I�
��ll have to work it off, but honestly, I already work in the lab anyway, so it will probably just be more hours in there cultivating more shit… it does mean more hours with Toxin, though.”

  She waves her hand through the air. “Oh, we’re fine. We’re friends now.”

  “I’m gonna need to hear that story, but for now, let’s get this blood off your face, yeah?”

  Grabbing a cloth from the inlet cupboard on the wall, I dunk it in the water.

  She shuffles in closer, and I gently rub at her face. “A dog, huh?”

  “Or a cat if you prefer?”

  She snickers. “Definitely a dog. Thank you, Dash, you don’t know how happy you make me.”

  I stop wiping her face and simply stare at her. “About as happy as you make me.”

  She leans in, pressing her lips to mine, and I can’t help but feel like after all the shit I have been through in my life, like maybe, just maybe, everything is finally falling into place.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  DASH

  A Month Later

  Badass wipes down the front of her dress for the third time as we approach the door, her nerves getting the better of her. I stop us from walking and turn her to face me. “Hey, they’re going to love you both. Stop fussing over your clothes, you look hot.”

  She scoffs. “I don’t want to look hot, Dash. I want to look respectable. Presentable. Worthy of being your Ol’ Lady.”

  “Baby, you’re all of that and more. Seriously, stop fretting, they’re not gonna care what you look like. The second they see Loki here, they’re gonna forget all about you.”

  We both glance down at Cruz in his Loki costume as he waves the plastic scepter around for good measure.

  Badass scruffs her son’s hair as we approach the door. “You’re right.”