by Aja Foxx
"Bug, go upstairs." Butch pointed to the man who usually followed Bug around. "Peanut, go with him. Harry, Henry, take your parents to the kitchen."
"Okey dokey, boss man," Bug said as he started up the stairs, Peanut trailing after him.
"I'd like to stay," Harry said. "If this who we all think it is, I'd like to stay and see what he has to say for himself."
Butch cocked an eyebrow. "You know it won't be pretty. You're likely to hear some things you don't want to hear."
"I'm prepared for that."
"Fine, but I want you out of the way until we know why your grandfather is here. Go into the kitchen with Rooster and take your parents with you. Rooster, if things get hairy, get them out of here."
"Hairy hairy or just a little hairy?" Rooster asked.
Butch narrowed his eyes.
"Got it." Rooster smirked as he waved his hand toward the kitchen. "This way, folks."
I waited until the swinging kitchen door closed before glancing at Henry. I really hoped he'd go with his parents and brother. My heart sank when he shook his head.
"It's time for this to end, Gunner. I'm tired of being afraid someone is after me. I just want to build a life with you without constantly looking over my shoulder."
I wrapped an arm around Henry's waist and pulled him flush up against my body. "You know life in a motorcycle club isn't exactly an easy one. Most people think we're evil incarnate."
"Well." Henry's fingertips skimmed down my shirt, his hand coming to rest over my heart. "I think you're pretty great, so most people can go fuck themselves."
"You think so, huh?" I couldn't deny the delight I felt at Henry's words. "I think you're pretty great, too, but I'd be so thrilled if you went into the kitchen."
Henry smiled. "Sorry."
I didn't believe it for a minute.
"Just try and stay out of the line of fire, okay?"
"Do you really think he'll attack us?"
"He's already attacked you, Henry. He might not have done it personally, but he had someone kidnap you. I wouldn't put anything past him."
"Did you know that sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins can?"
I grinned. "Did you know that roller coasters were invented to distract Americans from committing sin?"
"Guess I'm kind of doomed to commit sin then," Henry replied. "I don't like roller coasters."
I chuckled. "Sin can be good, too."
"You'd better hope so 'cause we're going to commit a lot of it."
I doubt I'd ever heard a better sentence except for when Henry agreed to my claim. I breathed deep as I stroked a finger over the bite mark I'd left in Henry's shoulder. I didn't miss his quick inhale.
"Maybe after my grandfather leaves, you can take me back upstairs and make sure that claiming bite took properly."
My eyes snapped to Henry's. "Would you like that?"
Henry smiled as he shrugged. "Maybe."
I opened my mouth to say more, but the front doors opened and a man in a dark three-piece suit walked in using a cane with a gold tip. He was flanked by two other men in suits, much larger men. I immediately spotted the very distinctive bulges under their suit jackets.
"Butch," I murmured as I pushed Henry behind me. Bear and Ryder closed in ranks beside me, effectively hiding Henry behind a wall of muscled bikers.
"I see it," Butch replied.
"Henry, go to the kitchen."
"But—"
"Now, Henry."
"Can I help you gentlemen?" Butch stepped forward and crossed his arms over his chest. "This is a private party. Invitation only."
The old man in the middle raised one bushy white eyebrow. "I'm sure you know why I am here, Mr. Cassidy."
Why was I not surprised that he knew who Butch was? The main question I had was did he know who the rest of us were?
I was going with probably.
"I can't say that I do," Butch replied. "I don't believe we've been introduced. I think I would have remembered."
"We've never actually met, Mr. Cassidy, not in person anyway." The man's cane tapped across the floor as he walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. His two goons walked over to stand behind him. "We do have some family in common, however, as I am sure you are well aware."
Butch grabbed one of the chairs and spun it around before straddling it. He reached for the bottle of whiskey Ink had set on the table and poured a glass. "Drink?"
"Don't mind if I do."
Butch handed him one then poured another for himself. None of us reached for a glass. We just spanned a semi-circle behind him, waiting for his word before we did anything. This was not the first time we'd been in this position. We knew what to do.
"So, why are you here, Mister...?"
"Preston Markus."
"So, what can I do for you, Mr. Markus?"
"I know who you are, Mr. Cassidy, and I know what you are."
If Markus expected Butch to be upset or freak out, he was in for a big shock. Butch just sat there with his drink in his hand and stared at the old man.
"I'm here to make you a business proposition."
"I'm listening," Butch replied before taking a sip of his whiskey. "You have until my drink is gone."
"I'll give you a million dollars if you leave Fortune and never come back."
My jaw dropped.
For a million dollars, I might think about leaving.
"No."
The old man's eyebrows went up as if he couldn't conceive of anyone turning down so much money. "No?"
"I like Fortune, Mr. Preston. I've got a nice little set up here. I have no desire to move anywhere else."
"Five million."
"No."
"Ten million dollars and that's my final offer."
Butch rubbed his jaw and then slowly shook his head. "No, I think I'll stay."
Markus's hand tightened on his cane until his knuckles cracked. "You do not want to cross me, Mr. Cassidy. I can make life very unpleasant for you."
"Would that include kidnapping my son?" Butch asked. "Because I am pretty sure that is against the law, even if the kidnapper is a police detective on your payroll."
Mr. Markus did not dispute Butch's words.
And that unnerved me more than anything.
Chapter Twenty Three
~ Henry ~
Fear swept through me as I listened to my grandfather's words. Fear for myself. Fear for my friends. Fear for the man I was coming to care about a great deal. I might even love Gunner to some extent.
My grandfather was a monster. His words proved that. He didn't even seem fazed by Butch's accusation. I'd never had that great of a relationship with the man, but I hadn't thought it was bad enough that he'd have me kidnapped.
Wait...Why did he have me kidnapped?
I stepped out from behind the wall of muscle I was hiding behind, brushing against Gunner's side as I moved toward the table where Butch and my grandfather sat. Gunner grabbed at my arm, but I shook him off.
I wanted some answers.
"Why did you have me kidnapped?" I asked.
Butch's only reaction was the stiffening of his shoulders.
My grandfather raised his faded blue eyes to meet mine. "Henry."
"Your detective kidnapped me out of my own home," I said. "Why did he do that? Was it on your orders?"
"I'm surprised to see you here, Henry."
"You shouldn't be," I replied, fully aware of the fact that he had totally ignored my question. "You had to know I'd seek out my biological father in order to help Harry." I cocked my head to the side as another thought came to me. "Is that why you had me kidnapped? So I wouldn't pursue my search for Butch?"
"I was unaware that you had discovered the identity of Mr. Cassidy."
I couldn't help but wonder if that was true.
"Then why did you have Detective Ross kidnap me?"
"Detective Ross may have overstepped his bounds a bit. He was merely supposed to bring you to me."
"Why?" I asked.
"We needed to talk about..." Markus waved his hand around. "This."
I crossed my arms. "So, talk."
I doubted he had anything to say that I wanted to hear, but I was still curious as to why he'd had me kidnapped. That seemed a little extreme. He could have simply called me up on the phone.
"I won't allow you to become involved in this life, Henry." The old man's lips thinned as he glanced around. "This is no place for my grandson."
"So, disown me because I'm not going anywhere."
"Henry—"
"Did you get a chance to meet my fiancé?" I reached back for Gunner's hand, smiling when it was instantly wrapped around mine. "This is Gunner. He's the vice president of the Soldiers of Fortune."
"Mr. Markus," Gunner said, giving the man a nod. He couldn't exactly shake my grandfather's hand. I was holding onto it with a death grip.
A warning cloud settled on my grandfather's features. "Fiancé?"
"Yes," I replied. "Gunner has already claimed me in the ways of his people. We just have to plan a wedding so we can celebrate in the ways of mine."
"That isn't acceptable, Henry. I've already arranged your engagement to Stella Tyson. She'll be very upset if you become engaged to someone else."
I felt Gunner stiffen, but I was too busy gaping at my grandfather to reassure him. "Stella who?"
My grandfather huffed. "Stella Tyson. She's the daughter of Senator Tyson. I've already arranged with him for your engagement to be announced at a party I'm hosting at the mansion at the end of the month. You'll, of course, want to be engaged no less than a year, just so there are no whispers of impropriety. After a year, you'll be married and then you and Stella will be moving to Washington D.C. where the senator has promised to take you under his wing and teach you everything you need to know to run for office. I figure you'll be a senator in less than five years, and then the sky's the limit, my boy."
Wow, my entire life had been planned out for me. The only problem was that it wasn't the life I wanted.
"No."
My grandfather blinked at me. "I'm sorry?"
"No, I'm not going to go along with whatever this little plan of yours is. I don't even know who this Stella person is, and even if I did, I'm gay. I would never marry a woman. I also have no interest in politics. I'd sooner get a lobotomy than run for office."
"That's not the plan, Henry."
"That may not be your plan, but it's certainly mine."
"Your mother won't approve."
I smirked before calling out, "Mother, can you come out here, please?"
It felt good to surprise the old man.
I heard the swinging door to the kitchen swing and then a moment later, my mother stood next to me. I started to say something to her, but then I got a good look at the black apron she was wearing. "What have you been doing?"
She had flour in her hair.
"Oh." Sarah smiled. "I'm teaching Mr. Rooster how to make your grandmother's fried chicken."
My eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"He's quite the cook, but he's never made fried chicken the way your grandmother makes it. You have to bake it twice, you see, and—"
"Sarah Beth!"
My mother's mouth snapped closed and she turned to look at her father.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
My mother waved her hand back toward the kitchen. "Teaching Mr. Rooster how to make friend chicken."
"I mean what are you doing in this establishment," my grandfather clarified. "We had an agreement."
"We did, Father, but Butch was able to heal Harry, so—"
"Harry has been healed?"
"I have," Harry said as he stepped up beside our mother. Jefferson hovered behind him, but I also noticed that Norman had come in to the room to stand behind my mother. Gunner stood with me.
Hey, the gang was all here.
"It turns out that I didn't have leukemia, Grandfather," Harry said, "but I suspect Nurse Ratchet already told you that."
"Nurse Ratchet?"
"The nurse you hired to take care of me and keep tabs on me for you." Harry's nostrils flared for a moment as if he was trying to keep control of his emotions. "The same nurse that tried to feed me pills not prescribed to me by my doctor. You wouldn't happen to know what those little pills were, would you?"
"Don't be ridiculous. How would I know what pills you're taking?"
"Because Nurse Ratchet works for you. I doubt there is much going on in our house that you don't know about. You certainly showed up here quick enough." Harry cocked his head to one side. "Or was this just a lucky visit?"
"I had no idea you or your brother would be here, but if I did..."
"If you did what?" Butch growled. "Everyone you see here is under the protection of the Soldiers of Fortune. Touch any of them and I will be your worst nightmare come to life, and since you seem to know all about me, you know I can back up what I say."
"You do not want to cross me, Mr. Cassidy," Grandfather said. "I am a very powerful man."
"So am I," Butch replied. "And to be honest, I want nothing to do with you. I'd be thrilled if you just turned around and walked out of here."
"Not without my grandsons."
I shook my head. "I already told you. I'm not going anywhere. In fact, I'm working on buying the building next door so I can have a clinic here."
"I'm not going anywhere either." Harry smiled as he drew Jefferson to his side. "I found more than my biological father here, and now that I am cured, I intend to enjoy life to the fullest, with my mate."
I was proud of my mother when her father turned to look at her. She stiffened her posture and lifted her head before shaking it. "My boys are here."
I hoped that meant she was staying. I still didn't know how I felt about some of the things she had done, but most of that was between her and Butch. For my part in it, I was glad she was staying. She needed to get to know my new family.
"Father?" I asked as I glanced at Norman. "Are you staying?"
Norman glared at me. "Of course I'm staying. You and your brother are here as is your mother. Besides, I was hoping Butch would teach me how to ride a motorcycle."
Butch grinned. "Anytime."
Norman nodded at Butch and Butch nodded back. Some sort of understanding seemed to pass between the two men. I knew they probably wouldn't ever be bosom buddies, but I was really hoping they could be friends.
I turned back to my grandfather. "It's not my place to tell you to stay or go, but I'm pretty sure I speak for everyone here when I say we'd rather you go. You may be my grandfather, but you've stuck your nose in my business one too many times. Until you can learn to let me make my own decisions and just be my grandfather, I want nothing to do with you."
Technically, he hadn't really done anything more than my mother had, only, she had done what she did because of the things he'd said and done. She was scared and trying to save me and Harry. In my book, that put her a couple of steps above my grandfather.
"Is this how you feel?" my grandfather asked. "How you all feel?"
I nodded and saw pretty much everyone around me nodding as well.
"Very well." My grandfather leaned on his cane as he stood. I thought he was leaving when he headed toward the door, but he stopped right before he got there and pulled out his cell phone. "You can come in now."
After hanging up, he stepped to one side of the door. His two goons took up position on either side of him. He sighed as he glanced back at us. "I told you, I am not a man to be messed with."
What in the hell did that mean?
The front doors burst open and several armed men dressed in SWAT gear rushed inside. I heard Gunner roar as I was grabbed and pushed back toward the bar so hard, I stumbled. I caught myself by grabbing the edge of the bar top and then turned to see a wall of muscles appeared between me and whoever had just come in.
I heard several loud bangs and then my mother screamed. Everything stopped. No one moved, almost as
if my mother's scream had paralyzed them. I crept over until I could see people moving between Gunner and Ink.
It took me a moment to understand what I was seeing. I gasped as I pushed my way between the two massive men and raced over to my mother's side. Norman was sitting on the floor, cradling her in his arms. He was pressing a white rag to her arm and upper shoulder, but it was quickly turning red.
"Mother, what—"
"Henry, baby," Gunner said in a voice that trembled wit fear, "you need to come back over here."
"My mother, Gunner." Someone needed to do something. I should be doing something. I was an emergency room doctor. I dealt with gunshot wounds all the time. I just couldn't seem to remember what to do.
Why wasn't anyone doing anything?
Chapter Twenty Four
~ Gunner ~
It killed something inside of me to pull Henry away from his mother, but he was in the line of fire. The men who'd shot her, whichever one it was, all stood on one side of the room, their weapons drawn and pointing at us.
Henry was right smack dab in the middle of everything.
I grabbed Henry and started pulling him back toward the others, but he struggled and broke away from me, going back to his mother. When I went to grab him again, Butch shook his head. It enraged me that he wouldn't let me get Henry out of danger, but I wouldn't disobey him.
At least, not yet. Things were already precarious enough, but if that changed, there wasn't a power on earth that could stop me from going to Henry.
"What did you do?" Henry whispered.
I winced when I realized he was looking directly at his grandfather.
This wasn't going to be pretty.
"Is this what you wanted?" Henry shouted. "Are you happy now? My mother is dying now and for what? Because you didn't get your own way? Because we didn't fall in with your little plan for our lives?"
Preston Markus was pale as a ghost as he stepped closer. He shook his head even as he stared down at his daughter. "I never meant for this to happen."
"What did you think would happen when you sent in a bunch of armed men?" Butch asked.
Markus's eyes narrowed as he looked up. "I thought they'd arrest you and get you out of my hair long enough to end this." He waved his hand toward the armed men and then toward all the members of the MC. "Is this the atmosphere you want your sons to grow up in?"
