by T. O. Smith
“I can assure you that Adelaide doesn’t live here anymore,” I informed her. “So, what’s your name, sweetheart, and how did you escape?” I asked her, wanting to steer the conversation away from the one woman who would always be my first love – the woman who would always be a piece of me. Nothing and no one would ever change that.
She looked down at her hands. “Elaina.” She murmured. Fuck – a pretty name for a beautiful woman. It suited her. “And it sounds stupid, but I managed to kick him in the head when he had me down on the floor. I took off for the woods, knowing he wouldn’t think to look there for me.”
I gently hooked my index finger under her chin and raised her face to meet my eyes. Those blue eyes sucked the air from my lungs again. I barely resisted the urge to rub my chest. I knew this girl was trouble, but I couldn’t fucking help myself.
I don’t know how I always found myself in these damn predicaments, but I was already falling in deep with this woman.
It was dangerous, but if there was one thing about me, I fucking had a thing for danger.
“Sweetheart, nothing about that sounds stupid,” I assured her, my tone gentle. “That was incredibly brave, and as long as you’ll stay here, you’ll have protection within my club.”
“Thank you.” She whispered, so much relief flooding her stunning features at my words that it tugged at my soul.
I could see it clear as day on her face. She had been through too much shit for such a young age, but I knew better than most people what the fuck could happen in such a little amount of time. I mean, fuck, look at the shit that my sister and Adelaide had both gone through.
Adelaide had been kidnapped, beaten, stabbed, raped, and miscarried a baby all before she hit twenty-five.
My sister – Jessie? She had been kidnapped, sold to numerous men, raped and beaten. She still wasn’t the same; I wasn’t sure if she ever would be again.
The chapel door opened, and Ink strode in. I ripped my eyes from the pretty blonde in front of me and glowered at him. “One of these days, you mother fuckers are going to make me install a fucking lock on that door.” I snapped at him as I stood up to my full height to face him.
I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting on him to tell me why the fuck he’d interrupted my discussion with Elaina. “River is riding in with Sam and Adelaide in a few hours.” That familiar ache settled in my chest. His eyes were understanding as he met my gaze. He knew how much it hurt me to have her around, but I would never walk away from her; he knew that – understood it, even. Which was another reason he was a damn good VP. “They’ve got a shipment coming in close to here, and they need a place to crash for the night. I told River it was fine.” Ink informed me.
I felt the tension radiating from Elaina’s form, and I gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Make sure the spare rooms are prepared,” I told Ink. “And inform Jessie to cook extra.”
Ink nodded and strode from the room. “I thought you said -” Elaina choked out as soon as the door was closed back behind him.
“I said she doesn’t live here anymore.” I reminded her. “Not that she doesn’t visit.” I shrugged. “Besides, you’ll find that she’s mellowed out a hell of a lot,” I informed her. “Now come on. You need a shower. I should have some clothes you can fit into. If I don’t, I can ask Jessie – my sister. You two are probably about the same size.”
Elaina slowly stood up from the chair, her legs holding her up this time. With my hand on her lower back, I led her from the chapel and down the hall to the very end where my room was located across from my sister’s. I pushed open the door and allowed her to go in first before I stepped in behind her and shut the door behind me. “The bathroom is through there,” I told her, pointing towards the slightly open door. “Towels are in the cabinet above the toilet. Feel free to use whatever is in the bathroom. I’ll have the clothes on the bed by the time you get out.” I informed her.
I turned away from her, striding towards my dresser. I had her alone in my room, and temptation was fucking knocking, begging me to make a move. But she was hurt – injured – and had just gone through something traumatic. The last thing she needed was an asshole, territorial president like me making bold ass moves on her – wasn’t even sure if she was the kind of woman to move so fast with a man.
“Joey?” She softly called as I turned my back to her.
I looked over my shoulder at her, silently arching an eyebrow at her, waiting on her to continue. “Thank you.” She murmured before she strode into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Fuck me; I really did have a thing for the damsels in distress.
I stared up at the ceiling for a moment, drawing in a deep breath as I reached up and rubbed my chest, that familiar pang slicing through my heart. Adelaide, pretty girl, I’m going to need your help. I fucked up with you, but goddammit, I don’t want to fuck up with her.
I drew in a deep breath, closing my eyes as I gripped the top of my dresser, seeing the pain in Adelaide’s beautiful eyes as I closed my own. “Pretty girl, please don’t let me fuck this up with her, too,” I whispered. “Only a few minutes with her, and I can already feel that I’m in deep.”
■ ■ ■
I watched as Ink let River, Adelaide, Sam, and the kids into the clubhouse. Axel instantly ran over to me, squealing with happiness. I couldn’t help the grin that stretched over my face at the sight of the little boy. I had a special place in my heart for Adelaide’s kids. And seeing her as a mom? It did some shit to my cold heart.
“Uncle Joey!” Axel screamed as he catapulted himself into my arms.
“Hey, kid.” I laughed as I settled him onto my lap. “Have you been good?” I asked him.
He enthusiastically nodded his head, but I knew that was a lie. Every time I was around, he was giving everyone a run for their money. The kid was trouble, and he was always doing some shit he shouldn’t be.
River snorted. “He got into the cookies in Adelaide’s nightstand drawer, and he’s been a nightmare ever since.” He informed me as he strode over to the bar, going straight for a beer that my sister slid to him without him even having to ask.
I smiled at Adelaide, ignoring the pang of hurt in my chest as she settled herself in between River’s legs. He placed his hand over her small baby bump. “Life treating you good?” I asked her as I watched Sam scoop Jaxon up into his arms out of the corner of my eye.
She shrugged. “Morning sickness is kicking my ass, but I’m doing good otherwise.” I frowned slightly. I hated it when she went through anything that made her the slightest bit uncomfortable.
I opened my mouth to respond before I saw a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman step out of the back hallway wearing my clothes. My mouth ran dry as all of my blood rushed straight south to my dick.
Holy fuck, she was beautiful – and sexy as fuck wearing my clothes.
I gently set Axel on the floor as I stood up and strode over to where she was standing. She was nervously scanning the room. I could feel Adelaide’s eyes on my back, but for the first time in history, I didn’t feel like shit for having eyes for another woman.
Elaina was something else entirely for me.
A small smile tilted Elaina’s lips as her eyes landed on me, and my heart raced double time in my chest. Fuck. I was in deep – real fucking deep with her. How did this shit happen to me so fast?
“You good?” I asked her, cursing myself when my voice came out gruff. But this woman in front of me was so damn clueless, she still hadn’t picked up on how much and how easily she affected me.
“The shower was great.” She informed me, a little more comfortable now that I was there with her. My heart swelled a tiny bit at the fact that I was the one able to bring her comfort – to make her feel safe. “I wasn’t sure what to do with my clothes, so I left them in your hamper.”
“All good, sweet girl,” I told her. Without thinking about it, I grabbed her hand in mine and led her back over to Adelaide and River. Adelaide was watching me cur
iously, and River had a knowing smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes at River, and his smirk widened.
He knew I was in deep without me even saying a word. It was the first time I’d willingly walked away from Adelaide to go be with another woman.
I felt Elaina stiffen next to me as soon as Adelaide turned her brown eyes to her. I clenched my jaw, protectiveness swelling inside of me for the blonde at my side. I gently squeezed her hand – a silent reminder that I was still right there with her.
“I remember you.” Adelaide abruptly spoke up, as was her true style. She didn’t beat around the bush for shit. Elaina squared her shoulders and tilted her chin up at Adelaide, and pride swelled in my chest. Not many people had the balls to stand against Adelaide. She was a dangerous woman by herself. With River and his club backing her up as well? She was practically untouchable. “Somebody fucked you up pretty damn good, huh? Tried poaching on another woman’s territory again?” Adelaide asked her, a careless, humorless smirk twisting her lips, that monster I had created flashing through for a moment.
“Calm yourself.” River sternly ordered, his hands squeezing her hips. “Elaina, been a minute.” River greeted. “Last I heard, you had run off from your old man.”
“You know her?” Adelaide demanded as she turned to face her husband, her eyes narrowed at him. I clenched my jaw. I may love Adelaide to fucking death, would go to the ends of the fucking world for her, but she was treading on thin ice right now.
River nodded at her. “Elaina Giddons. Her old man is a nasty fucker. I deal with him because his territory is so close to mine, but he’s mostly a problem that I’d like to eliminate.”
“How’d you end up back here?” Adelaide asked as she swung her angry, brown eyes to Elaina. Elaina flinched at my side, stepping closer to me on instinct. I tightened my hand around hers, narrowing my eyes at Adelaide.
“Adelaide.” I snapped at her, slightly pushing Elaina behind my body as I narrowed my eyes at the beautiful woman in front of me. “That’s enough,” I growled.
“You suddenly protective over a bitch that’s going to ruin you soon?” Adelaide snapped at me. I growled – a soft warning for her to shut her fucking mouth while she was ahead. “I know all about Yeller Giddons and his fucking MC. I can fucking guarantee you that she’s making you play right into her hands.” She snapped at me, her eyes burning with fire.
“You don’t know a damn thing about me, Adelaide.” Elaina snapped as she came out from behind me. Her face was pale, but despite her fear of the woman in front of me, she was standing strong. I squeezed her hand again, pride swirling in my chest for this little spitfire beside me. “And you don’t know the first thing about Yeller nor what he’s capable of.”
Adelaide stepped up closer to us, and River quickly yanked her back to him, his hands tightening on her hips. “Oh, I know plenty of what he’s capable of, sweetheart, and I saw you in that same room with him, watching as he beat the fuck out of me.” Adelaide snarled at her. I bristled, a thousand conflicting emotions swirling inside of me. “Watch yourself, bitch.”
Elaina snatched her hand away from me and stormed out of the clubhouse. I didn’t know who the fuck to be angry with. But I had promised Elaina protection within these walls, and unfortunately, that also meant that I had to protect her from the woman in front of me.
I pointed my finger at Adelaide, my hand shaking with my rage. “You need to learn to keep your fucking mouth shut.” I snarled at her. She glared up at me, hurt flashing in her eyes, but I tamped down my need to comfort her. “River, get your fucking woman in check.” I barked at her husband.
With that, I stormed out of the clubhouse, running to catch up to Elaina. She was power walking through the gravel lot, heading straight for the gate.
Fuck, she couldn’t leave here. She’d have no fucking protection out there. Her old man would fucking kill her.
I caught her around the waist and pulled her around to face me. “Hey, hey, don’t go anywhere,” I begged her. “Adelaide doesn’t know a fucking thing about you.” I reminded her, trying to calm her down.
“She was right.” Elaina snapped up at me. My blood ran cold at her words. That’s the exact opposite of what I was hoping to hear. “I did stand there and watch as he beat the fuck out of her,” Elaina informed me. I clenched my jaw, momentarily tightening my hands on her waist before I forced myself to relax. “But I had no damn choice, Joey. And that’s something she’ll never listen to.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?” I asked her, tightening my hands on her waist again when she tried to move away from me.
“You’re still in love with her, Joey.” I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Fuck, I was hoping she wouldn’t catch onto that. “I knew it the moment I brought her up in your chapel. I need protection, and I wasn’t going to jeopardize that by telling you.”
Adelaide could frankly kiss my ass at this moment because there was a beautiful, blonde-haired woman standing in front of me who was making me feel more than Adelaide had ever done the entire time we had been together.
How this shit was possible this fucking fast – I didn’t know. But I wouldn’t question it.
I gently drew Elaina against me. “And if I told you next to nothing would stop me from protecting you, Elaina?” I softly asked her. I ran my eyes over her bruised face, looking for something – anything – that I could use to make her want to stay.
She swallowed hard, tears burning at her beautiful, blue eyes as she swallowed thickly at my words. “Joey . . .” she whispered, her sweet voice breaking on my name.
Our tender moment was interrupted by the sound of motorcycles tearing onto my lot, and I threw us both to the ground right as gunshots rang out around us. Elaina’s loud, terrified scream ripped through the sound of the gunshots, almost bursting my eardrum. My blood pounded in my veins as rage – fucking white-hot rage – pulsed through my body.
Someone was looking to fucking die today.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
She resides in Georgia with her fiancé, two cats - Tyson and Kream, and her dog – Bailey. She can normally be found in her office on her big, comfy chair with her laptop on her lap as she dives into her next creative world.
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