“Yes, sir,” I said.
I had just been convicted of grand theft auto and destruction of property.
I swallowed. Despite the fact I had a level of street smarts others might not, I’d never been in trouble with the law, and the thought of being locked up for six months felt like a death sentence. I didn’t steal the car, but they’d found evidence that I had… trumped up evidence my court-appointed lawyer couldn’t, or wouldn’t, disprove.
I was fucked.
I sat back and closed the file. All this time the truth had been staring me in the face. And the fact there’d been proof all along made me rage even more.
I’d done everything I was ordered to do. Got my GED, kept my head down. I’d met Dash briefly when he’d been arrested on some shoplifting bit, but his charges had been dropped, and he’d only been inside for a week. We were detained together, but went our separate ways when I had to do my six months and he was freed.
He’d done me a solid, though. Got me out early, using his connection to the Dogs of Fire. He’d just turned eighteen and was a prospect for the club, which in turn put me on a path to prospecting as well. I’d never looked back and since Quin’s brother was our Sgt. At Arms, it meant Quin wouldn’t freak out at the idea of being with a biker.
Everything I ever did was for her. Always.
I grabbed the folder and passed up having a drink with my brothers for the chance to pull my woman into my arms. She made everything better, and I needed her more than ever.
* * *
Quinlan
I felt arms wrapping around me and I rolled to face Knox as he pulled me against him. “Hey,” I whispered sleepily.
“Hey, baby.”
“Are you okay?” I asked, stroking his face. He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“I am now.”
“What’s wrong?”
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Just wanna hold you and sleep.” He kissed me gently. “Kinsey’s asleep and I have the monitor on.”
“Okay, honey.” I wrapped my arms around him. “Come here.”
“I’m here.”
“Closer,” I ordered.
He chuckled and scooted closer.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“More than the world.”
“More than the universe.”
I’d barely gotten the words out when his mouth landed on mine and I found my panties ripped from my hips. He moved between my legs and slid into me as I kissed him deeply.
“Jesus, Quin,” he breathed out. “You save me.”
I smiled against his lips as he kissed me again, and I wrapped my legs around his hips pulling him deeper. Linking our hands together, he slid my arms above my head and slowly moved inside of me. With the inability to touch him, I arched my hips in an attempt to get him to move faster.
“Knox,” I hissed out in frustration.
“You need somethin’, baby?”
I squirmed against his body. “Harder,” I begged.
He released my hands and pulled out of me, sliding down my body, kissing as he went. I wove my fingers into his hair and gripped tight as his mouth landed on my clit and he sucked gently.
Not what I wanted, so I squirmed again with a groan.
His tongue swept along my folds and dipped inside of me.
“Badger,” I growled and he chuckled.
“On your knees.”
I flipped onto my stomach so fast, I almost smacked his head with my thigh.
“Eager beaver,” he observed.
“You are correct. My beaver is eager. Can we get a move on, please?”
He gripped my hips and pushed into me from behind.
I dropped my head back with a sigh and smiled. “Yes, baby. Just like that.”
“Brace, Welly.”
I braced and he slammed into me hard. Then again, slapping my ass as he pulled out. I whimpered with need, reaching between my legs to finger my clit while he buried himself deeper and deeper inside of me.
“Don’t stop,” I demanded, and pressed my fingers harder against my clit as he slammed into me. “Now, Knox.”
I exploded around his cock as he pumped a few more times, then felt the pulse of his orgasm. We rolled onto our sides and he kissed the back of my neck. “Fucking perfect.”
“Yes, you are.” I grinned, craning my neck to kiss his mouth. “You okay?”
“I am now,” he said, and slid out of me, heading to the bathroom.
I heard the door of the minifridge open and rolled toward the sound. “Ginger ale would be good,” I said.
“Don’t move,” he ordered, and grabbed a can. “You sick?”
“Just a little bit.” He sat on the edge of the bed and handed me the pop and a pill. “Thanks, honey.” I leaned over the side of the bed. “You know, I only brought enough panties for a few days and you’ve shredded my favorite pair.”
He shrugged. “I’ll buy you more.”
I rolled my eyes. “We should sleep. I have to be up in a few hours.”
Knox climbed in beside me. “I want you to quit.”
“I need the benefits. It’s all good, honey. It’s not for long.”
“Once you have this one, I want you to quit,” he decreed.
“I like working, Knox.”
“Didn’t say you couldn’t work, Quin, just don’t want you working there.”
I yawned. “We can talk once the baby’s here.”
He gave me a squeeze and then I snuggled close and slept.
* * *
I walked into work, fired up my computer, then promptly made a rush for the bathroom. I’d felt so good when I woke up, I forgot to take a pill. Badger had taken Kinsey to daycare already, otherwise, I’m pretty sure he would have been forcing one down my throat before I left.
I washed up and headed back to the desk where I found Don waiting for me. I tried for a smile, but I’m pretty sure it came out as a grimace. “Good morning.”
“Are you sick again?”
“Morning sickness.” I sat at the desk and grabbed a mint from my purse.
“Right. My wife was never sick with our three. Must be hard.”
“It isn’t fun.”
“How do you handle that? Is it frustrating?”
I couldn’t understand what the hell he wanted me to say.
“It is,” I said. “But it’s all worth it in the end, right?”
“Right.”
“Good morning everyone,” Irene said as she breezed in and took the seat next to me.
“Morning,” Don said.
“Is there anything we can help you with?” I asked.
“No, I’m good,” Don said, and walked away.
“What was that all about?” Irene asked.
“I have no idea,” I said and filled her in on the conversation.
“What a creepoid.”
“Right?” I said.
“Sorry you’re sick, though.”
“Thanks. I’m thinking I’m never doing this again.”
She smiled sympathetically. “I bet.”
“I remembered what I wanted to ask you both,” Don said, appearing before us like a bad dream.
“Okay,” Irene said.
“We’ve got the Miller Brothers’ team coming in for a deposition, so I’ll need you to make sure the conference room is stocked.”
“We’ve got it on the calendar,” I said. “No problem.”
He nodded and walked away.
“What the hell?” Irene whispered. “Why’s he being all creepy.”
“Probably because he wants me to screw up so he can fire me.”
“What? Why?”
“I heard him talking to HR yesterday. They told him they can’t fire me because I’m pregnant and he was pissed.”
“What a dick.”
“Total and complete,” I agreed.
We didn’t have time to lament further, as the phones started to ring and clients arrived demanding our attention.
I barely got a chance to breathe before lunch, so by the time noon rolled around, I was starving.
Elise, one of the legal secretaries walked up to the desk just as I was heading downstairs for some food and handed Irene a file.
“Did you know Don’s telling everyone you’re pregnant and you want to abort your baby?” she said to me.
“What?” I squeaked.
“Yeah, he’s on the warpath.”
“I can’t believe he’s saying that shit,” Irene snapped. “One, it’s none of his business, two, it’s illegal.”
“Well, one, it’s not true,” I pointed out, my stomach roiling. “And, two, I’m going to be sick.” I rushed for the bathroom.
When I returned, I felt like the world was closing in on me.
“Quin?” Irene said, frowning with concern. “Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“Shit, honey, you look pale.”
“I don’t feel—”
“Quin!” she squeaked.
I didn’t hear anything else. Everything went black.
* * *
I came to as I felt my body lifted and set onto something soft. I had something over my nose and mouth and swatted at it.
“Leave that on,” someone directed. “It’s oxygen.”
I frantically looked around and frowned. A crowd surrounded me as EMTs took my blood pressure and fussed over me.
“You passed out,” Irene provided.
I nodded. I’d guessed that part already.
“We’re going to take you to Memorial,” one of the EMT’s said.
I almost objected, but I’d never fainted before and I had to think about the baby, so I nodded and Irene handed me my purse as they wheeled me out of the office building and into the ambulance. I called Knox, but he didn’t pick up, so, rather than leaving a message, I called my brother.
“Hey, Quin.”
“Um, hey. I had an accident at work today,” I said.
“What kind of accident?”
“Apparently, I fainted. I’m on the way to the hospital. Memorial.”
“What the fuck?” he ground out. “What happened?”
“Pregnant women faint, Valen, I’m sure it’s nothing, but I’m letting them take me to check it out.”
“Why didn’t you call Badger?” he asked.
“He’s not picking up.”
“Okay, sissy, we’ll meet you there.”
“Thanks.”
“Put this back on,” the EMT said once I hung up, settling the oxygen mask on me.
My brother was calm. Granted, he typically was on the outside, but the fact he didn’t demand more answers set me on edge. I had a feeling a storm was coming and I didn’t know how hard it would hit.
* * *
Badger
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and noticed a missed call from Quin. Figuring she called me on her lunch break, I sent her a text, then headed into the compound.
“Badge, you gotta get to Memorial,” Stump ordered.
“Why?”
“Quin passed out at work.”
“What the fuck?” I bellowed. “Why?”
“Don’t know, brother. Alamo’s already on his way over.”
“Goddammit,” I snapped, and headed back out the front door. “Get Jasmine to pick Kinsey up,” I called as I climbed on my bike.
I forced myself to regulate my breathing as I rode to the hospital. The last thing I needed was to end up on a bed next to Quin where I’d be no good to her.
Pulling up to emergency, I parked and made a mad dash for the entry doors. I had no idea where the fuck I was going, so I headed for a desk that had people sitting behind it. “I’m looking for someone. She was brought in not long ago.”
“Name?” the nurse asked.
“Quinlan Westgate.”
“She’s with the doctor now.”
“I need to see her.”
“Are you family?”
I dragged my hands over my face. “I’m her fiancé.”
“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t let you back unless you’re family.”
Before I could verbally murder this woman, I heard my name. I turned to the sound and saw Alamo walking toward me. “She’s asking for you.”
I scowled at the nurse, then followed Alamo back. I walked into the room to find Quin’s face covered with an oxygen mask and I lost my shit. “Why the fuck do you have an oxygen mask on?” I snapped.
“Brother, calm down,” Alamo said, and squeezed my shoulder. “It’s a precaution.”
Quin held her hand out and I took it, sitting on the edge of the bed. “What happened?”
“I’m okay, honey. I fainted.”
“Yeah, but why did you faint?” She lowered her eyes, but I was having none of it. “Tell me.”
“I don’t know why I fainted, but I was a little upset.”
“Why were you upset?”
I swear to God, pulling information out of her was sometimes more than a chore.
“Don told people I wanted to abort our baby.”
“What the fuck?” Alamo ground out.
“Why the hell would he do that?” I demanded.
“I have no idea,” Quin whispered. “He was being weird today and then one of the assistants told me he was telling people I wanted to abort the baby. You know he’s like this big religious guy who gives to charity and tells everyone about it, so I can’t imagine why he’d be telling everyone lies.”
“Okay, baby,” I said, lifting her hand to my mouth and kissing her palm. “You just need to stay calm and take care of the baby.”
She frowned. “Why are you so calm?”
“Because you need to be calm.”
Before she could ask any more questions, a doctor walked in and started the exam. Alamo left the room so that Quin could disrobe, but she didn’t want me to leave, so I stayed close.
“I’m Dr. Walters,” he said, shaking Quin’s hand, then mine. “Let’s have a look, shall we?”
I wasn’t much of a fan of this man poking and prodding my woman, but Quin seemed to be taking the exam okay, so I forced myself to relax.
“All your vitals look good,” Dr. Walters said and smiled. “Did something happen to cause you distress?”
“Her boss is harassing her,” I provided.
“In what way?” he asked.
Quin filled him in and the doctor shook his head. “So, I’m going to recommend long-term disability due to a hostile work environment. I’ll send this over to your doctor for confirmation, but you’re not to go back to the office, per doctor’s orders.”
“We gonna get that in writing?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I’ll send the nurse in with all the paperwork, but I don’t see any reason why you can’t be released.”
Quin smiled. “Thank you.”
“Sit tight.”
The doctor left and Quin got dressed, then sat on the bed again. “Valen can come back in now,” she said.
I let her brother back in and we waited for the nurse to arrive with the discharge paperwork.
“What did the doctor say?” Alamo asked.
“She’s on medical disability from now on,” I said.
“Or I could answer for myself,” Quin grumbled.
“Hostile work environment,” I continued.
Alamo took a deep breath, then nodded. “Noted.”
“What?” Quin demanded.
“What, what?” I asked.
“What are you two conspiring over there?”
“Nothing,” we said in stereo.
“Quinlan?” The nurse interrupted her interrogation and walked her through the paperwork. “Call your doctor in the morning and talk to her about the medical leave, but everything should be in order.”
The nurse left us and Quin hopped off the bed. “My car’s still at work.”
“I sent Stump to get it,” Alamo said.
“What about Kinsey?”
“Jasmine’s picking her up,” I said.
>
“So we can just go home?”
“Yeah, baby, we can go home.”
“Can we eat first?”
“You’re hungry?” I asked, finding myself relaxing more.
“Yes. The nurse gave me a shot before you got here.”
“You got your bike?” Alamo asked me.
“Yeah.”
“Quin can come with me. But we can stop at the cafeteria before we head back to the compound.”
I didn’t want Quin going with her brother, but I also understood that if she was dizzy, she shouldn’t be on the back of my bike. I nodded and wrapped an arm around her, taking her paperwork and shoving it in my pocket.
I managed to get through lunch, although, I couldn’t eat anything, my irritation and fear had quickly manifested into rage against the man who put Quin through all this bullshit.
“I’m okay, honey,” she said, sliding her hand to my thigh.
“I know.” I linked my fingers with hers and squeezed.
“You’re wound tight, Knox. I’m okay.”
I forced a smile and leaned over to kiss her gently. “I know.”
“I don’t want you to do anything crazy.”
“I won’t.”
She turned to Alamo. “As his Sergeant, you need to make sure he doesn’t do anything crazy.”
“I got him covered, sis.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, but didn’t respond. He had me covered, but it probably wasn’t the way Quin would want it.
“I’m gonna make sure your car’s covered,” I said, standing and leaning down to kiss Quin. “Go with Alamo and I’ll see you back at the compound.”
“I thought Stump was getting my car.”
I smiled. “Just making sure he does it.”
She narrowed her eyes, but let me go and I got out before she could object. On the way to my bike, I called Dash.
“Hey, brother.”
“Need you to meet me,” I said.
“You got it. Text me where.”
“Doin’ it now,” I said and hung up. I shot off a text, then climbed on my bike and headed for the freeway.
Quinlan
“IS HE GOING to do something stupid?” I asked Valen as we made our way to his truck.
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Trust your man, Quin.”
“I do trust him,” I said. “I just don’t want him to get hurt.”
Redeeming the Biker's Past (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter Book 3) Page 7
