by Sassie Lewis
“You okay, baby?” he finally asked when the room was clear.
“Not really.” She must have seen his panic, and quickly worked to soothe the beast overtaking him. “I’m just emotional and I don’t know which emotion to stick with.”
Her reply confused him. He wasn’t used to dealing with emotional crap. Jesus, he was only just starting to learn that he had more than lust and rage in his own repertoire. “I’m not good at this stuff, baby. What do you mean? You have to explain it to me, baby.”
“I’m scared, sad, worried and angry all at the same time. It’s like I’m on an emotional Ferris wheel. Then there’s the pain and that’s not helping.”
Leaning forward, Chase rested his forehead against hers, guilt eating at him. He should have been there. Should have protected her better. “I’m sorry, ba—”
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. So hush it. But Chase, do you think we could get a nurse in here? I seem to be bleeding all over the place.” She scrunched her face up in the most adorable way.
Pulling back he looked down at her, really seeing her for the first time since arriving. Fuck he had to pay more attention, she’d obviously pulled the IV line out when attacking her mother; blood was pooling under her arm. Placing his palm over the site, he ignored her flinch and added pressure to slow the flow while leaning over to hit the call button. “Why haven’t they taken you to surgery yet?”
“Damn doctor’s on his lunch break and seeing it’s not life threatening he thinks I can wait.”
“Does he now? Well, that’s about to change.” Turning, he looked at his enforcer. “Deal with it.” Blake nodded then took off down the hall.
An elderly nurse popped into the room. Shaking her head she went about reinserting Nessa’s IV and doing what nurses did. Ignoring the sneers, Chase held Nessa’s hand, not moving out of the old bat’s way.
“The cops want me to go to the station when I’m out of here, give a formal statement.” She whispered after the nurse left.
“It’ll be fine, Nessa. One of the brothers is a lawyer he’ll come with us.”
“What if they charge me, Chase? I–I ki—” Leaning forward he kissed her, cutting off her words before she could speak them aloud.
“Hush, baby, you didn’t do anything. Your shots went wide. Rico delivered the killing bullet. You understand me?” he spoke with their lips still pressed together.
Her “yes” was merely a breath against his mouth.
“Good. Now get some rest. The doc will be here soon and we’ll get that arm all fixed up ’kay.”
Pulling a seat closer, Chase watched as her eyes closed and then her chest moved in that slow rhythm only sleep brought.
“She’s going to be okay, man.” Blake walked with him to the waiting room.
“Yeah, I know. Doc said the bullet’s lodged in her muscle so it didn’t break the bone, which is the only good thing about that injury.” Chase stopped himself from planting a fist through the wall by pacing the small room. Every time he thought about Vanessa getting shot, fury threatened to overtake him.
“I want these fuckers, Blake. Every last one of them.” He kept his voice low, but the menace was clear.
“Do you think they’ll come directly at us again?” He leaned casually against the wall but Chase could tell the man was anything but calm. Tight lines bracketed his mouth and his hands were balled into white knuckled fists.
“Yeah, I do, man. But I’m aiming we find ’em first.” Chase wasn’t going to rest until they found the fucker behind the attack. That thought flicked a switch in his head. “Where the fuck’s Rebecca? I’d figured she’d be here with Vanessa.”
“Shit! You all right here? I’ve gotta go find her.”
Blake didn’t wait for Chase’s answer; the big man took off at a run. His reaction had Chase questioning what the hell was going on between his baby sister and his MC brother.
Chapter Eighteen
“She’s a little warrior, that one.”
Chase nodded to the president of Hades MC. Quite a few clubs Hell’s Exiles was friendly with had shown up to pay their respects. Didn’t mean Chase had to be polite to them, though.
“Keep your paws off her, Hell. She’s mine. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you’ve been following her every move.”
“You think you’re man enough to keep a wild thing like her?”
Even from the corner of his eye, Chase could see the smirk on the older man’s face. “Don’t test me, Hell. I’ll bury any man alive who tries to touch her.”
The bastard turned his head in Nessa’s direction, again, while pulling a drag of his cigar. Still, he didn’t miss the slight headshake Hell gave one of his boys moving toward her. Yeah, the asshole better listen to his Prez and keep on walking, or he’d be meeting the front end of Chase’s fist.
Leaning back in the chair, Chase took another swig of his beer, the bitter brew doing nothing to ease the tension in his shoulders. Having strange bikers ogling his woman was making him itch for a fight. And today wasn’t the day to start one of those.
“Think it might be time for me and the boys to head out. Tell Quin when this war hits, Hades got his back. No one kills innocents on my turf.”
Chase raised his eyebrows at that. “Pretty positive it’s my turf, Hell. But we’ll be sure to invite y’all along to the fight.”
“Nah, it’s Hades turf. We’re just kind enough to share it with you pansies. But don’t go tellin’ others about our hospitality, or we’ll have an influx of clubs thinking we’re willing to share more of our land.”
Shaking his head, Chase ignored Hell’s ribbing. It had been a long-standing argument about who owned Nevada. Truth was, they shared, and for the most part each club kept to themselves, but watched each other’s backs. Hades wasn’t as big an MC as Hell’s Exiles, but they were a mean bunch of motherfuckers and having them onside was always going to be a good thing.
“Thanks, and same goes. You ever need a real MC at your back, just give us a call.”
Hell gave him a good slap on the shoulder before standing. Chase had to give the man his dues, the moment he stood, every one of his boys took notice and followed him out of the room.
Once again, his focus found Nessa. She was like a beacon, radiating with an inner light. Because of him, her world had been turned upside down and shattered. If he was a stronger man he’d let her go. Let that light continue to burn bright, untouched by the madness that came with being his old lady. But to give her up would be like giving up air to breathe.
“He’s right you know?”
“’bout what?” Chase didn’t look at Zane as he took the seat beside him.
“She’s a warrior, man. So stop worrying about her.”
Dragging his focus away from Vanessa, he finally looked at the other man. He hadn’t noticed his MC brother at the funeral, hadn’t been expecting him back in town, actually.
“I’m never going to stop worrying about her, Zane. If anything happens to her…” He couldn’t finish. Fuck, nothing could ever happen to Vanessa. Because unlike his dad, who was busy taking his grief out on every bottle of liquor within reach, Chase was positive his reaction would be a lot more violent.
“Didn’t see you at the funeral. You just get in?” He asked changing the topic.
“I was there. Got in late, though, so hung back from the crowd,” Zane paused and shook his head at the sweet butt making her way closer to where they sat. “You want a report now or you wanna wait ’til we’ve got all the boys together?”
Chase took another pull of beer, his focus once again finding and settling on Vanessa. “Nah, man, today’s not the day for that shit. Besides, I think it’s about time I got my woman home.”
* * * *
Nessa ignored the eyes boring into the back of her head, and sometimes her ass. She knew the intense stare belon
ged to Chase. The man hadn’t let her out of his sight since she’d been discharged from hospital. Even there, she had a steady stream of Hell’s Exiles brothers visiting—or more like guarding—her room.
“Hey Tommy, have you seen Becca anywhere?”
“Haven’t seen her in a while, little warrior.”
“Stop calling me that.” She tried to hide the blush reddening her cheeks.
“Nah, I think it’s going to stick. And beside its pretty damn accurate.” The bastard tapped his finger against the tip of her nose, a wicked smirk lighting up his face. “You sure as shit impressed the guys from Hades for ’em to give you a nickname, though.”
Nessa laughed. She was pretty sure the only reason she’d been called little warrior in the first place was because the big bald, cigar smoking Hades president had forgotten her name. Could’ve had something to do with the fact he’d stared at her boobs instead of her face while Chase introduced them. Worst part was there’d been enough people around when he’d called her Little Warrior, that the new nickname had spread and it seemed like it was going to stick.
“Whatever, Tommy. I’m going to go find Becca. You going to be okay here?”
“What are you, my mother? Go find her, but don’t leave the building, ya hear me?”
“Yes, dad.” She smirked up at him before heading around the corner.
She’d only made it two steps before a set of warm arms engulfed her. Closing her eyes, she let the scent of him filter through the haze of beer and smoke. His unique mixture of leather, soap and something she couldn’t describe as anything but pure Chase, acted like a shot of valium, liquefying her nerves to lust filled goo.
“Where you going, baby?” His breath tickled her ear before moving further south to blow over her exposed shoulder.
Where was she going again? And why was he asking her questions while doing that? He knew she couldn’t think straight when he touched her. “Umm, somewhere…Shit Chase, don’t start something you’re not going to finish.” She pulled out of his hold, spinning to glare at him.
“Oh, I plan on finishing it baby, as soon as I get you home.”
Her heart skipped a beat before racing double tempo. He hadn’t done anything but cuddle her since she’d gotten out of hospital, too scared his loving would aggravate her shoulder. Stupid man didn’t understand that waking up to his stiff cock stabbing her in the back aggravated her more. It was just a damn waste not to let her take advantage of his aroused state.
“You better not be shitting me, Chase. Today of all days… I need… I need… to forget.”
Dammit, the freakin’ tears were going to start again. At least he didn’t flip out anymore when that happened. Nessa was pretty sure the first time she’d turned into a weeping willow, not long after the shootings, she had terrified her big biker. Now when she lost control of the waterworks, he just pulled her into his chest and let her use his shirt as a snot rag.
“No more of that, baby. I promise tonight I’m gonna have you forgetting your name.”
“Confident much?” She smiled into his chest.
“How ’bout I give you a little preview before we get home.”
His lips had only just touched hers when the door further down the hall flew open, and the sound of screaming voices shattered the moment.
“Get back here, Rebecca. Don’t you dare walk away from me, or—”
“Or what, Quin?”
Oh shit! This wasn’t going to be pretty, Nessa had seen the tears and anger filling her best friend’s face before she flew back around to face off with her father.
“Don’t you fucking disrespect me—”
“You’re one to talk about fucking respect. You fucking sicken me.” Becca’s screamed words draw the attention of everyone around. “The dirt hasn’t even settled on your wife’s…my mothers grave. And already you’re fucking one of your sluts.”
“I’m warning you, Rebecca.”
The way Quin said the words had Nessa in grave fear for Becca’s safety. And apparently she wasn’t the only one. “Stay here,” Chase whispered to her before moving closer to the action, and she saw Blake step through a different door, slightly angling himself between the arguing pair.
“What ya going to do to me Quin? You and your fucked up club already took away the one thing I truly loved, and you can’t even honor her by keeping it in your pants on the day you bury her. I wish it was you in that grave.
“You’re not my fucking Prez and as far as I’m concerned you’re no longer my father, so go fuck yourself, Quin.” With that Becca spun back in Nessa’s direction. The anguish on her friend’s face sent tears flowing down her own cheeks. She didn’t think she’d ever seen Becca this torn apart before, not ever.
In the background, Nessa caught sight of the punch Quin threw at Chase. Her biker took it without so much as a grunt before delivering a right hook to the older man’s jaw.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere little warrior. Stay right there. Chase will have him sorted in a minute.” Blake stepped in front of her, blocking the view of the fight.
“But—”
“No. This is club life, let him do his job.” Blake tilted her face up to him until she had no choice but to stare into those onyx orbs.
“I gotta go find Becca.”
“Stay here, Chase is going to need you when they’re done. I’ll go check on the princess.”
“Okay.”
Blake left her standing there to watch her lover and his father belt the shit out of each other. Well…she had already said this family was crazy.
Epilogue
“Told ya I’d make you forget your name.” Chase blew a hot breath across her lower back, his head resting on the swells of her ass.
“I’m pretty sure I forgot yours for a while there, too.” She smiled into the pillow and let the liquid feeling of oncoming sleep settle into her bones.
“Nah, baby, you kept yelling it out. I’m pretty sure the people on the outskirts of Vegas know it now.”
The cocky bastard made her laugh. While he’d taken her to heaven over and over again, the only word she’d been capable of saying, panting, and yes screaming, was God!
“Are you falling asleep on me, baby?”
“Nah uh” she lied. Seriously the man had just made her climax at least six times and he expected her to be bright eyed and bushy tailed?
“Nessa, you are, aren’t ya?”
“Chase, if you think for a second I’m going to be able to stay awake after that, you’re crazy.” Her words were muffled by the pillow she was trying to bury herself under.
“But you love me, right?”
“Yes, I do.” She didn’t hesitate to answer.
“That’s good baby, ’cause I love you too.”
The smile that pulled at her face threatened to crack her jaw. Wiggling under him she managed to roll over, until she could see him. “You just wanted me to say it first?”
Chase crawled up her body until he was once again between her legs, “Yeah, baby I did. Us bikers don’t handle rejection too well. But you actually haven’t said it.”
She giggled again at the way he raised his eyebrows expectantly.
“I love you, Chase. Now kiss me.”
“Oh I plan on doing a lot more than just kissing you. But seeing as you love me and I’m keeping you, there’s something I need you to do…”
Nessa was going to kill him. They’d argued for an hour about where they were going to do this and who could be there. The who had been the only thing he’d agreed on without fighting. But now the big ass was being…well a huge ass. All while she had her bare ass out there for the world to see. Okay, it was only Frog, but even his eyes were clearly too much for the enormous ass she was in love with.
“If you growl at Frog one more time, Chase I’m going to stab you in the eye with the tattoo gun
.”
“He’s touching my ass, Vanessa.”
Frog snorted behind her, and she just rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure this tattoo is going on my ass, Chase. Unless you’re getting a matching one that says Property of Nessa, shut up or go away.”
Yeah, her first tattoo wasn’t the back piece she’d finally finished designing. No, her first was the Hell’s Exiles insignia with Property of Chase stamped across the middle. Apparently something every inner circle old lady had to get.
She didn’t care. As far as Nessa was concerned, Chase Anderson had owned her heart since she was fifteen. Lock, stock and rumbling Harley.
The End
About the author
Sassie Lewis is a born and bred Australian. She lives on the outskirts of Brisbane Queensland, with her husband, two daughters, one son and a dog that hates having a bath. She swears like a sailor, and blames her ability to over share personal matters - matters that fall into that TMI category - on a faulty brain to mouth filter, that forgets to tell her “This isn’t appropriate dinner conversation”.
An avid reader since childhood. Sassie came across erotic romance in her mid-twenties, falling deeply, madly in lust with the genre instantly. And has had wet panties ever since.
With her somewhat skewed and unique view of the world, along with a little encouragement from her father, she thought what the heck! and she penned her first erotic romance.
She hopes to drag you into the world she’s created, and leave you as breathless and wanting, for her fictional friends, as she became, while writing them.
