by RB Hilliard
Meg winced. “I wasn’t going to tell you until later, but he withdrew from school. We received the paperwork on Wednesday.”
LuLu’s heart sank. Tad was a smart kid who deserved a better life than the one he’d been given, but she couldn’t deny that she was somewhat relieved to never have to deal with Marta again.
Meg’s next question silenced the room. “Sooo, when are you two love birds moving in together? ‘Cause if you’re planning on selling this place, I want first dibs on it.”
All eyes flew to Arlan, and he shot LuLu a look, asking if it was okay to tell. She responded with a nod. They were going to find out sometime, might as well be now.
“Luciana and I have decided to split our time between her house and The Cave,” he announced with a smile.
“What about your place?” Ax asked.
Arlan’s brow shot up. “Why, do you want it?”
“Fuck yeah, I’ve been waiting for you to sell for years, now.”
While they talked details, Meg helped LuLu clear the table.
“What do you think?” LuLu asked.
“I think I’m in love,” Meg replied dreamily.
LuLu laughed. “Sorry, bitch, Arlan’s taken.”
“I’d be fine with Ax, or even that red-headed hottie, Arson.”
The thought of Meg and Arson together was beyond comical, and LuLu busted out laughing.
That night, after everyone had gone home, she led Arlan upstairs to her bedroom. After teasing her about her girly things, they stripped each other’s clothes off, and he made slow, sweet love to her. Well, as sweet as it can be with a sexy-hot biker. Then he said the one thing she’d been needing to hear. He told her he loved her.
_______________
Steele woke early the next morning. The last thing he wanted was to leave the warmth of Luciana’s bed, but a promise was a promise. His mom was having breakfast at Carver’s, and they were expecting him.
“You sure you don’t want me to run interference?” Luciana sleepily asked.
He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “No, but thanks for offering. If all goes well, you’ll meet her soon enough.”
Steele still couldn’t believe that Carver had saved the day. If not for his brother, both he and Luciana would be dead. Since Loco had killed two cops and was the head of a fucking drug ring, the club had to bow to the police force, and agree to take a back seat to the investigation. Carver later explained that Gamble had a second phone, one that he apparently used to contact Loco and Dario. Having discovered this, Carver pulled Gamble’s phone records, which led him to Loco. He then tried to call Steele, but Steele’s phone apparently wasn’t on him, so he drove to The Cave, and the rest was history.
The front door was open when Steele arrived at Carver’s house. He found Carver behind the stove and his mom sitting at the counter. Their laughter faded when they noticed him standing there.
Pushing back his bitter feelings, Steele said, “Mom, it’s been a long time.”
She stared as if absorbing him, and he tried not to squirm. “Would you like some coffee?” she asked.
“Not really. I’m here because Carver asked me to be.” Her eyes flashed with pain, and Carver made a scoffing noise.
She slowly settled back on the stool. “Well, whatever the reason, it’s good to see you.”
His brow rose. “Is it? Because I distinctly remember you kicking me out of the hospital and telling me not to come back.”
“I was upset,” she said as if that explained her shitty actions.
“Yeah, well, so was I. Guess what? I was also upset about Dad. I needed your support, but where were you then?”
A long moment passed before she spoke. “You three were my whole world. Everything I did was for you, but your dad didn’t feel the same about us. You saw how he was. The club was his entire reason for living. When he died, all the resentment I’d kept bottled inside came rushing to the surface, and I didn’t know what to do with it. I was so damn angry. Angry that he didn’t choose me. Angry that that fucking place took him from me. Angry that it was going to take you, too, and there wasn’t a goddamn thing I could do about it. So I did the only thing I could think of; I walked away.”
Steele’s heart ached. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have understood.”
A sad laugh slipped from her lips. “No one would have understood, baby. I was Grizz’s Ol’ lady, his queen. When he died, that part of me went with him. I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t go back.” She stood and made her way over to where he was standing. Staring up at him, she said, “I will never go back, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still be a part of your life. Your brother tells me you’ve met a nice girl. I would love to meet her.”
The hopeful look in her eyes made his heart squeeze, and he pulled her in for a hug. “You’re going to love her,” he whispered, and then held her while she cried.
Steele ended up staying for breakfast, and before he left, they made plans to get together for dinner later that week.
Later that afternoon, he took Luciana for a ride on his bike. They rode into the hills to his favorite spot that looked onto a lake. Then he took her back to her house, where he spent the rest of the night worshipping her body.
_______________
Two weeks later. . .
It was Sunday night at the club, and LuLu was moaning to Arlan about how much she hated to see everyone go when Ax stormed into the game room with a murderous look on his face.
“Uh-oh,” she murmured. Sage had stopped by The Cave earlier that morning to say goodbye. Once again, LuLu tried to talk her out of it, but she refused to listen.
Ax reached them and exclaimed. “She’s gone!”
“Who?” Arlan asked, handing Ax a beer.
“Sage. She ran off to Mexico with that loser, Carlos.”
“Without saying goodbye?” Steele asked, cutting his eyes to LuLu. He knew that Sage had come to visit her earlier.
“She left a note, probably because she knew I would never let her go,” Ax said in a petulant tone.
“You could always go after her,” LuLu suggested.
Looking affronted, he asked, “And why would I do that?”
LuLu rolled her eyes. Men can be so obtuse sometimes. “Well, maybe because you’re in love with her?”
When Ax started sputtering, Arlan let out a painful sounding sigh, then he did exactly what LuLu hoped he would do; he finally let his cousin off the hook. “Gibby is gone, brother. Anyone with eyes can see how much you and Sage care about each other. I don’t blame her for leaving. If it were me, I would get on my bike and go the hell after her.”
“Fuck her,” Ax growled. “She’s made her choice.”
Angry at his stupidity, LuLu snapped. “Seriously, was there any other choice for her to make?”
Ax gave them a scathing look, then turned on his heel and walked away.
“Someone needs an ass spanking,” Steele murmured.
“Just name the time and place, baby,” she shot back at him.
_______________
Three weeks after that. . .
Steele was at The Cave helping Buck install new cameras when his phone rang.
“Hold up a sec,” he told Buck, then pressing answer, said, “Hey, babe, what’s up?”
“Hey, umm, can you come home early tonight?” Luciana asked. He could tell by her tone that something was wrong.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. So, can you?” Something was definitely wrong.
“I’m on my way.” He hung up and told Buck to handle the rest before heading for his bike.
He ran three stoplights and nearly hit an old lady at a crosswalk but managed to make it home in record time.
“Luciana!” he shouted as he entered the house.
“In the kitchen!” she called back.
Golden-brown eyes watched him as he walked into the room.
“You okay?”
She shook her head. He moved toward her, and
she took a step back.
Whoa, this was serious. “I can’t help if you don’t talk to me,” he coaxed.
“I’m pregnant.” Her words hit like a bomb, and a million emotions exploded inside him. She’s pregnant? He was going to be a dad. Holy shit!
Trying to keep his cool, he asked, “Are you sure?”
“I took the test six times.” She bit down on her lip. “So, you’re okay with it?”
Her hesitant tone made him smile. “Babe, we’re going to be parents,” he whispered.
Tears welled in her eyes as she smiled back at him. “I know,” she whispered, then she jumped.
And he caught her.
Other Books In This Series
Bleed For Her – A Steele Raiders MC Novel
Acknowledgments
I would like to give a humongous THANK YOU to my editor (and amazing husband), Christian Brose, to my PA, plotter, and friend, Natalie Weston, and to my awesome proofer, Roxane Leblanc.
I would also like to thank my Hellions for brightening my days and my Book Hookers for loving my words.
About RB Hilliard
RB Hilliard lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, two teenagers, and crazy dog, Oscar. She loves music, a good book, red wine, chocolate, and to write twistedly suspenseful stories. Alpha men and rock stars are among her favorites, but don’t worry, if suspense isn’t your bag, she also writes funny tales about exceptionally hot men who are in desperate need of taming. In 2014, Hilliard published her first novel. She has since published additional novels across several different genres.
If you’d like to stalk RB Hilliard, find out about new releases, and hear about what’s coming next, here are her links:
Goodreads - http://bit.ly/1zO9bmy
Amazon Author Page - http://amzn.to/1Anwjr3
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rbhilliardb
FB - http://on.fb.me/1Anx1oi
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rbhilliard/
BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-b-hilliard
Newsletter- http://goo.gl/forms/G7K7TNpMlxRl4lRp2
Other Books By RB Hilliard
MMG Series:
His End Game
Not Letting Go
One More Time
Right Side Up
Keep It Simple
The Last Call
Whisky’s Novels:
Utterly Forgettable
Gold Digger
Meltdown Series:
Fractured Beat
Broken Lyric
Shattered Rhythm
Evan’s Encore
Steele Raiders MC Series:
Bleed For Her
Standalone Novels:
Million Dollar Musician
