Reckoning: An MC Shifter Romance

by Aja Foxx

  "A match?' the detective asked.

  "Harry needs a bone marrow transplant."

  "Ah." The detective wrote something down in his little pad again before pulling out a business card. "Well, I guess that's about all for now. If you can think of anything, anything at all, please give us a call."

  Not a chance in hell.

  Chapter Five

  ~ Gunner ~

  I'd been avoiding Butch since I dropped my little bomb in his lap the previous night. I knew that wouldn't last. At some point, he was going to either want to grill me as to why I wasn't claiming the handsome doctor, or kill me for even considering I was good enough.

  I knew without a single doubt that I wasn't.

  The doctor was too good, too refined, and definitely too innocent to be with the likes of me. He deserved someone who could wine and dine him, show him the world, and keep him in that fancy little penthouse of his.

  Yes, I'd tracked down where he lived.

  It was stupid—monumentally stupid—but I hadn't been able to stop myself. I'd followed him from the hospital the previous night. When he'd stopped at the grocery store, I'd pulled across the street. I'd just wanted to see him. It was stupid, but I couldn't help myself.

  As I sat there and waited for him to come out, I'd begun to feel stupid for even wanting a glimpse of the sexy man. He wasn't something I could ever have, so there was no point in my wanting him. I'd driven home in disgust before he even came out of the store and gotten rip roaring drunk in my room.

  I was still feeling the after effects when Butch summoned me to his office. I so didn't want to go, but a summons was a summons, and you did not ignore an order from the president of the club if you wanted to keep your head attached to your shoulders.

  My head still throbbing, I tread lightly as I made my way into Butch's office. I eyed the guy carefully before sitting down in front of his desk, trying to gauge his mood. The stone face staring back at me told me nothing.

  "What's up?"

  "Peanut reported that we had someone watching the front of the club last night." Butch glanced down at a sheet of paper in front of him. "He arrived at around midnight and didn't leave until about five o'clock this morning."

  I sat up straighter. "Did he get a plate number or a description of the car?"

  This wouldn't be the first time someone had watched the clubhouse, and I doubted it would be the last, but it always paid to keep an eye on things just in case.

  "Dark blue four-door sedan, no plates. Single occupant. Male."

  Well, damn.

  "He never left the car, just sat about half way down the block all night."

  "Is Peanut sure he was watching the clubhouse?" I asked.

  Butch nodded. "He's sure."

  Double damn.

  "Did he get a good look at the guy?"

  "Peanut just said he was male. He could tell from the set of the guy's shoulders. Too wide for a woman." Butch sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "He came and woke me when the guy left."

  "Why didn't he wake you when the guy was here?"

  "Because this guy wasn't doing anything. He was just sitting there."

  Uhg.

  I wanted to pound my head into Butch's desk. "We need to let everyone know if someone is watching the place like that, they need to let us know right away. We might have been able to get a good look at him."

  Butch sighed. "Well, it is what it is. Peanut will learn. He's young yet."

  He wasn't going to get any older if I had to wring his neck.

  "This isn't the first time we've had someone watching us," Butch said, "and I doubt it will be the last. We'll just have to make sure everything is above board until whoever this is loses interest in us."

  "You want me to send someone to check our other properties?"

  "No, not yet." Butch shook his head. "If someone is watching us, I don't want him following anyone to our other properties. It could cause more problems than it would solve."

  That was true.

  We had business all over the place, but three of our properties were our main money makers. If we had to close those down for any length of time, it would seriously cut into our finances.

  "You know," I said, "one of these days, we need to think about putting cameras outside. It seems like a pretty busy place."

  "Not sure anyone here is gonna want their movements filmed, Gunner."

  That was the truth. There were some things that happened out in the main room that would be illegal in several countries.

  "Just on the outside of the building."

  "Look into what it would take and we'll talk about it at the next board meeting."

  I wasn't sure the situation could wait that long. The board meeting, which was basically just a meeting of all the top guys in the MC, wasn't for another three days.

  "I'll have Bear assign two guys to night watch," Butch said. "That should get us through until then."

  "If you think that's best." I wasn't exactly going to argue with the guy.

  Well, not unless I felt really strongly about something. There were a few times when Butch and I had gone head to head, but they were few and far between. He was a good man and I followed him by choice.

  "Now, what are you going to do about my son?"

  Damn, I knew that question would come eventually. I had just been hoping for a little more time before I had to answer it.

  "Nothing."

  Butch's eyebrows lifted. "Nothing?"

  "Do you really think he'd fit in this world?" I asked because I didn't.

  "Bug did."

  "Bug already had a foot in this world. Henry does not. He's a doctor. I doubt he's ever even been on the back of a motorcycle."

  I swallowed tightly when Butch's eyes narrowed. That was never a good sign.

  "Do you think you're too good for him?"

  "No, I think he's too good for me."

  That seemed to take some of the bluster out of Butch's sails. The tension in his shoulders faded, but the tightness around his eyes didn't. "He's your mate, Gunner."

  "I know that!" I jumped up and started pacing. "Don't you think I know that? It's all I can think about."

  Oops. I hadn't meant to admit that part.

  "Look." I shoved a hand through my hair. "This isn't the place for someone like the doc." I waved my hand toward the main room. "Those people out there would eat him alive, not to mention the fact that the life we lead is not exactly an easy one or a safe one. I do not want to put him in the line of fire."

  It would gut me if something happened to Henry because I claimed him.

  "It's just not a good idea."

  Butch drew in a deep breath then huffed. "If you think that's best, I'll abide by your decision, but I think you're making a mistake. You only get one mate."

  "I know," I murmured. It was killing me to even consider giving Henry up, but I was trying to do what was best for him. Being the mate of a bear shifting biker was not it.

  I turned when someone knocked on the door. A moment later, it opened and Bear walked in. "Sorry to interrupt, but Boris just called. Someone hit the restaurant."

  "What?" Butch growled.

  "Boris said he was expecting a shipment of produce. When he heard a commotion at the back of the restaurant, he went back there expecting to find the delivery guy. Instead, he caught someone destroying the place. The guy ran off before Boris could get a good look at him."

  "Is Boris okay?" I asked.

  Bear nodded. "He's fine, but he's pissed."

  "Tell him to call a contractor to get whatever needs fixing fixed," Butch said. "We'll cover the damages. And then I want you to assign one of the prospects to watch the place."

  "We're also going to need two people assigned to the front overnight," I added. "Peanut spotted someone watching the place last night. I want to know if they come back."

  Bear's eyebrows lifted. "You think we have trouble?"

  "Not until you came in here, I didn't," I replied, "but now I'm st
arting to wonder."

  "You think Bug would be up for a little street work?" Butch asked.

  Bear's eyes narrowed quickly. "What sort of street work?"

  Butch quickly held up a hand. "Nothing major. I'd like him to go check out some of our other properties, but I don't want anyone knowing we're checking them out in case someone is watching us. It also wouldn't hurt for him to talk to a few of his contacts and see if something is brewing. The more we know, the better prepared we will be."

  "He's not going to engage anyone if he sees them watching. He's just going to report back on anything he sees." Bear sounded firm on that.

  I didn't blame him.

  Butch nodded. "That's all I want him to do."

  "I'll ask him." Bear sounded like that was the last thing he wanted to do, but we all knew Bug was very good at working the streets. He'd lived on them for a lot of years before Bear found him.

  "Uh, boss man?' Bug stuck his head inside the office. "Doc here again."

  I stiffened then slowly turned to look at Butch. I needed to get out of there, but there was only one exit unless I wanted to dive out a window.

  I kind of did.

  "Send him in, Bug," Butch said as he looked back at me. "Are you going to be able to hold it together?"

  "Yes," I answered, but I wasn't sure. I walked over to stand against the wall behind Butch. The farther away from Henry I could get, the better.

  Maybe I'd try and slip past him once he got in the room.

  The door opened and Henry walked in. My vision instantly flashed red with rage when I saw the bruises and contusions on his skin. "What in the hell happened to you?" I snarled as I stormed toward him. My mate had been injured.

  Someone was going to die.

  Henry cringed and shied back from me when I reached him. I could smell the acidic scent of his fear and knew I had to get control of myself. I drew in a deep breath and then slowly exhaled before trying again.

  "What happened?" I asked in a much calmer voice, even if I didn't feel calmer. "How did you get hurt?"

  "Oh." Henry's brow flickered. "My car blew up."

  I clenched my hands. "Your car blew up?"

  Henry grimaced even as he nodded. "The police said someone put a bomb in it, but..." Henry shook his head.

  "But what?"

  "I don't know anyone who would want to blow up my car." Henry's eyes strayed to Butch and I knew what he was thinking without him even saying anything.

  "We don't blow up cars, Henry," Butch said. "Too messy."

  The flush that filled Henry's face said that had been exactly what he'd been thinking. "My apologies. You're the only thing different in my life right now and our conversation yesterday didn't end that well, so..."

  "No, my apologies," Butch said. "I will admit I was a bit blindsided. I always knew I had a kid out there, but Sarah made it perfectly clear right from the beginning that she didn't want any contact with me. I didn't even know if I had a son or a daughter until you walked in here."

  "Twins," Henry said. "Twin boys. I have a brother named Harry."

  Butch's jaw dropped. "Twins?"

  Henry's chuckle was nervous sounding. "Surprise."

  "And Sarah?" Butch asked. "How is she?"

  "Happily married to my father, although I guess he's my stepfather. I didn't know that until recently, though. I always assumed Norman was my father. It wasn't until Harry—" Henry snapped his lips together and glanced down at his hands. I saw a suspicious sheen in his eyes. "It wasn't until Harry got sick that they said anything to us."

  Butch stood so fast, his chair rocked back. "Harry's sick?"

  "He has leukemia." Henry glanced up. "That's kind of why I'm here. He needs a bone marrow transplant. I was hoping you'd be willing to get tested to see if you're a match."

  "Oh shit," I whispered before I could stop myself.

  Butch's eyes snapped to mine. He knew as well as I did that he couldn't be tested. We couldn't allow our blood to get into the hands of medical personnel. It wouldn't be a problem for a regular doctor or something, but anything involving a breakdown of our DNA couldn't happen. There was too much chance of our shifter abilities being discovered.

  "How long has Harry been sick?" Butch asked.

  "He got sick the first time when he was a teenager," Henry said. "It took the doctors a little while to figure out he had leukemia. He's gone into remission a couple of times, but this last time..." Henry shook his head. "The doctors don't think there's much hope unless he can get a bone marrow transplant from a close relative."

  "And you and your mother aren't a match?" I asked.

  I would have thought his twin would be the perfect match.

  "No, we were both tested when he was first diagnosed. Neither of us is a match. Mother has contacted as many of her family members as she could find, and none of them are matches either. You're kind of my last resort."

  Butch glanced at me again. He knew as well as I did that we were in trouble.

  "Doctor, can you give us a minute?" I asked.

  Henry's eyes rounded for a moment before he nodded. "Of course." He turned and walked out of the room.

  I gestured after him with my head. "Keep an eye on him, Bear." I waited until Bear left and closed the door behind him before turning to look at Butch. "What's the plan?"

  There had to be one.

  Chapter Six

  ~ Henry ~

  I wasn't sure exactly where to wait until I was called back into the office. At least, I hoped I'd be called back into the office. If Butch turned down my plea, I didn't know what I was going to do. I hadn't lied when I said he was my last resort.

  Maybe if I offered him money?

  "What are you doing here?"

  I groaned as I turned toward the angry voice behind me. I recognized it and knew nothing good was going to come from this conversation.

  Yep, it was the same oversexed prick from before.

  "Still not interested."

  "You broke my nose!" the man shouted.

  "You're lucky I didn't break more than that." I seriously hated assholes like this. I know I should have been playing it easy considering where I was, but this guy pissed me off. Who was he to assume I was there for the taking just because I was in the building?

  And then to get rough with me when I said no?

  Yeah, wasn't happening.

  I crossed my arms and glared. Hard. "Go away."

  "You owe me!"

  I blinked at the guy in surprise. "I don't owe you anything."

  The guy's hand shot out lightening fast and wrapped around my wrist.

  I raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to do this?"

  I hoped he remembered the last time he'd tried to manhandle me. I hadn't taken it then and I wasn't going to take it now. I didn't care if I stood in the middle of biker's hell. No one was allowed to touch me without my permission, and he didn't have it.

  "You're going to give me that blow job."

  Was this guy serious?

  And that dumb?

  "I'm warning you now, let me go." I wanted to be polite, but this moron was making it really hard to remember I was a gentleman. "Release me."

  The guy's upper lip curled back as he stared me up and down. "And what are you going to do about it if I don't?"

  I grit my teeth when he squeezed my hand to the point of pain. I started to pull my hand away when I felt a presence behind me. The guy holding my wrist grinned, and that instantly told me whoever was behind me was not a friend.

  Well, not my friend anyway.

  "Now, about that blow job." The fucker actually winked at me. "Me and my friend were thinking maybe you'd give us a little more."

  It didn't sound like a question.

  I raised my voice close to shouting when I replied. "I said no. Now get your hands off of me. You do not have my permission to touch me."

  The guy snorted. "Not without my blow job."

  I was getting really tired of this. I yanked on my wrist, but instead o
f pulling back, I pulled down. That pulled the idiot down with me. Just as he regained his balance, I shoved my hand forward, making a fist.

  I nailed him right in the face.

  Again.

  Arms like steel bands wrapped around me from behind. I slammed my head back as hard as I could. Pain exploded in my head, but I ignored it as the guy holding me grunted and then the arms loosened enough for me to wiggle lose. I spun and backed away from the two enraged men.

  "Leave me alone!" I snapped. "I am not giving you a blow job or anything else."

  "Wanna bet?" The guy who started all of this crap snarled at me. "You owe me, bitch!"

  I had to admit, I'd been called a lot of things, but that was the first time I'd ever been called a bitch.

  "What I owe you is a trip behind bars." That probably wasn't the smartest thing I could say considering I was standing in the middle of biker central, but I'd be damned if I let these guys see my fear.

  "You think you can bring cops into here?" The guy's mouth dropped a little before snapping shut. His eyes narrowed. "Butch isn't going to allow no cops in here."

  I arched one eyebrow. "But he allows rapists?"

  "I'm not a rapist!"

  "You are if I say no and you still try anything. No means no, even to bikers."

  The guy's frown was amusing. It was clear he didn't quite know what to think of me, and I was okay with that. He could think anything he wanted to as long as he didn't touch me.

  "You ain't a honey. You ain't anyone's ol'lady, and you ain't a prospect. So, what the hell are you doing here?" The guy's eyes narrowed so quickly, I almost missed the transformation. "Are you a cop?"

  "No, I'm a doctor."

  "How do I know you're not lying to me?"

  "Ask Bug. I treated him."

  "You think I'm going to believe that scatterbrained street rat?"

  I heard a low, menacing growl and looked beyond the idiot in front of me to see Bear bearing down on us. His hands were fisted and his jaw was clenched so tightly, I worried it would crack.

  "You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

  I didn't get to say another word before Bear reached us. The guy behind me apparently still had a working brain cell. He took off running. The guy in front me me proved what an idiot he was by trying to grab me again.