Redemption (Broken Hounds MC Book 3)

by Brook Wilder

  Maddie didn’t want to wait. She wanted him now.

  “Maddie.”

  Maddie looked up. Beth was in the doorway. She was pale and looked like she had been crying. Maddie nearly burst into tears herself. She couldn’t speak, just opened her arms. Beth went to her and hugged her tightly. Maddie squeezed her eyes tights, trying not to cry.

  Beth pulled back and lightly swatted her friend’s shoulder.

  “What were you thinking getting kidnapped like that?”

  Maddie rolled her eyes.

  “I don’t make it a regular thing. Not lately, anyway.”

  “I should hope not. Not with someone else to support.”

  Maddie’s hands went instinctively to her belly. She felt her son kick against her palm. She swallowed, thinking of Archer’s choices for her.

  “Dane Archer’s dead,” she whispered.

  “I know.” Beth sat on the edge of the bed. “Luke called me.”

  “Luke told you about it?”

  “He did. He’s taken control of everything and doing damage control with the police.” Beth paused. “You were at Martin’s house.”

  “What?”

  Had Maddie heard correctly?

  “Jace and Luke told me that Martin was involved. He let Archer use his house instead of the usual haunts.”

  “I was at Martin’s house?” Maddie had known Martin had helped Archer hide her but hadn’t realized it was help in that way. “How did I not know?”

  “In that moment of madness, I’m amazed you knew which direction to go for the hospital.”

  “So am I. I knew where I was, but I just didn’t know the house, if that makes sense.” Maddie’s hands flexed over her belly. “He did that to me?”

  “He helped out.” Beth swallowed. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Not as sorry as I am.” Maddie growled. “If I ever see him again, I’m going to kill him.”

  “You might be waiting a while,” said a voice from the doorway. “Luke’s made him disappear.”

  Maddie looked up. Jace was here. He was pale, and his arm was in a sling, but he was here. And alive. A sight for sore eyes and Maddie couldn’t begin to describe how relieved she felt to see him.

  Beth coughed and slid off the bed.

  “I’ll leave you to it.”

  Maddie didn’t even see her friend leave. Her focus was on Jace as he entered the room. What did she say to him? After their last fight, what could she say?

  “How are you?”

  Mundane but neutral. Jace gave her a small lopsided smile.

  “It’s painful but I’ll live.” He sat at Maddie’s hip and laid a hand over hers on her belly. “How are you doing? They say our son is going to be okay.”

  Maddie smiled.

  “Yeah, he’s a little fighter. Just like his dad.”

  Jace’s smile widened. And then it faded. He let out a heavy sigh and raised Maddie’s hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles.

  “I almost lost you two,” he whispered. “That frightened me.”

  “It frightened me.” Maddie squeezed his hand. “But you were there. When I needed you, you were there. I’m not going to forget that.”

  Jace chuckled and kissed her hand again.

  “So, am I forgiven, then?”

  “I don’t know.” Maddie winked. “Maybe.”

  “You don’t make it easy for me.”

  “I don’t plan to.” Maddie sighed. “It’ll be easier if you stay.”

  She didn’t want Jace to leave. The thought of never seeing him again terrified her. Jace smiled and shifted closer, leaning over as he kissed her gently.

  “I’m not planning on walking away from you or our son,” he said against her mouth before pulling back. “Not a chance. You’ll have to kill me first.”

  “Be on my good side or that’ll be easy enough,” Maddie shot back.

  Jace threw back his head and laughed. And it was the sweetest sound Maddie had ever heard.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The next week seemed to pass in a blur. Maddie had her surgery and the cysts were all removed. She was ordered to be on bed rest as much as she could and given medication to help monitor her pre-eclampsia. She didn’t like the thought of being stuck in bed for most of her time, but her son’s health, not to mention her own, was a priority.

  At least she got to go back to her condo. And Jace came with her. He practically moved in. Every day he gave her breakfast in bed before heading to work. At regular points in the day he called her and even managed to sneak back whenever he could to either climb into bed with her or simply sit with her as they watched a movie. Members of Broken Hounds came in throughout the day and made sure Maddie didn’t have to lift a finger, and Beth was over after work with an abundance of ice cream.

  Everyone looked after her well.

  Jace and Beth kept her up to date with news on the outside world. Wild Leopards had now been taken over by Archer’s son, Cade, a young man with a hot temper. He was furious that his father had been murdered but, when he was faced with what his father had done and what Luke was planning on doing to him if there were any reprisals, he blanched and backed off. Luke took control of negotiations and made Cade back off their territory. He promised no reprisals on anything, especially the murder of Jeremy, unless they went after Maddie again. Anything happened to Maddie and Cade would be in trouble.

  Cade had no problem agreeing to that. Especially when Luke gave a detailed description of what had happened to Martin. Maddie didn’t know what Luke had done and she didn’t want to know; that would be too much for her. All she knew was that Luke had dealt with the situation enough that Martin was alive but would not be coming back to Tucson. He would not be able to come back or be a doctor. His betrayal had cost him.

  Maddie had no idea Luke could be so ruthless. He had always come across as someone who preferred suits – he even rode his Harley wearing a suit – someone who preferred numbers than anything else. But now he was coming into his own as president and things nobody had realized he was capable of were starting to surface.

  Broken Hounds were going to be okay with him in charge.

  With Jeremy’s death, everyone had moved up in rank. And Luke had chosen Jace to be his sergeant-at-arms. Not only was that a prestigious position in Broken Hounds, it was better pay. Jace was as surprised as everyone else at this, but Luke said he had his reasons and he trusted Jace. Whether it was to make sure he stayed with Broken Hounds or that Luke really did trust him, Maddie didn’t really know. All she knew was that she was indebted to Luke for looking out for them.

  She was still coming to terms with Jeremy’s death. Every night since the shooting, Maddie would have a dream about Jeremy and saw his murder happen over and over again like a continuous loop that she couldn’t stop. She would wake up screaming and covered in sweat, too frightened to go back to sleep. She had frightened the night staff at the hospital with her flashbacks.

  Jace hadn’t even blinked. He had calmed her down, held her as they lay in bed and Maddie managed to fall back to sleep. He had looked after her, making sure she got plenty of rest even if she didn’t sleep.

  And he made her appointments with the doctor. Maddie knew she still needed help and, with her pre-eclampsia diagnosis, things were going to get rocky. So, she made the doctors aware of her mood swings and she was given anti-depressants that she was assured wouldn’t harm the baby. She also had her first therapy session, which went down better than Maddie had expected. She was given exercises to work on her moods if she was becoming irrational and they seemed to be working.

  Maddie was beginning to feel better with that part already.

  A little over a week after the shooting and Maddie’s subsequent kidnapping, Jeremy’s funeral was held. Maddie hadn’t lifted a finger for the service, despite being next of kin; the MC did that for her. They went all out for a cremation and memorial service, making sure Jeremy had the best. Maddie almost burst into tears, seeing how many people turned up and what th
ey had done for the service. Jeremy had been loved.

  She wished he was back with her now.

  After the funeral, Maddie didn’t want to go home. Jace suggested going for a walk and Maddie gratefully accepted. The man had refused to leave her side the whole day and didn’t even need to be told when Maddie needed something. A switch seemed to have gone in his brain and he was more attune to her.

  Her bad boy seemed to be coming around.

  Jace took her to the park they had frequented as children and Maddie sat on a swing, watching the children on the common kicking a soccer ball about. Another group of kids were playing football and there was a father and son duo flying a kite. Joggers went through the park, as did dog walkers. Smaller children were on the playground with their parents. Everyone did look at her and Jace, but nobody said anything about them being in the playground. If anything, they were accepting. A few of the children came running up asking to touch her belly and feel the baby, and a few mothers gave her smiles.

  It was somehow comforting being there. Maddie had a feeling she would be here with her son in a few months.

  “This feels very strange,” she murmured.

  “What does?” Jace asked. He was sitting on the swing beside her, looking out of place in a suit.

  “That Jeremy’s gone. That he’s not going to be around anymore.” Maddie huddled into her jacket as a swift breeze whipped across the playground. “I still think I’m going to turn around and see him walking towards us.”

  “I understand.” Jace reached out and rubbed her arm. “It’s going to take a while to get the hang of it.”

  “I know.” Maddie gripped his hand. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  Jace chuckled.

  “You’re stronger than you think, Maddie. You would have coped. You were always very good at coping.”

  “I wasn’t, and you know it.”

  Maddie glanced at the mothers and grandmothers sitting on the benches, watching their little children playing. Then she stood and held her hand out to Jace. Jace took it and stood. They gave the mothers a wave and some of the children waved back with giggles. Two older children ran to take the swings Maddie and Jace had vacated.

  They walked out onto the grass, heading towards some trees. Jace still held onto her hand. Maddie didn’t know what she had done to deserve his attention. She had treated him abysmally. They were going to have their ups and downs, yes, but it wouldn’t compare to how they had started out.

  Beth was right. She had let her hormones take control. She had compared Jace to Drake. Her mind hadn’t been able to let go of what Jace had been to her when they’d been kids. That was then. This was now.

  She stopped just as they reached the tree line. Jace stopped and turned to her.

  “Maddie?”

  Maddie swallowed. She looked at a point on his chest, unable to look at him.

  “Jace… I’m really sorry.”

  “What for?”

  “About the way I’ve treated you.” She managed to look Jace in the eye. “You were right. You, Beth, Jeremy. I was letting my hormones go haywire. Things seemed to be getting out of control and I let my previous hatred of you get in the way. Everything put me into fight mode.”

  Jace’s frown softened. He cupped her jaw in his hand.

  “You don’t need to apologize. I’ve already forgiven you.”

  That was something. But Maddie was still scared.

  “I’m being monitored, and I’ve been given exercises to minimize my depression. I don’t want to be a crazy bitch when the baby’s here.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t want to be a mess.”

  Why did she have to crumble now? Jace smiled and drew her into his arms, kissing her head.

  “You won’t be. Because I won’t let you.” Jace hugged her tight. “But I’m glad you’re getting help. That’s the main thing.”

  “I’m so sorry, Jace.” Maddie looked up at him. “I was scared. And having a baby with someone who used to be my bully… I think it got too much.”

  “I know.” Jace kissed her. “And I’m sorry, too.”

  Maddie didn’t need to accept his apology. She already had. She kissed him back.

  “I love you, Jace,” she whispered. “I don’t know how it happened, but it has. And I don’t want you to go.”

  Jace’s eyes widened. Then his smile widened, and he kissed her hard.

  “I love you, too.”

  Then he was easing her into the trees, kissing her as they went. Maddie felt her arousal tweaking as he pressed her against a tree. But he didn’t go any further. They were out in the open and in full view of the playground. Right then, Maddie didn’t care.

  Jace drew back and grinned.

  “How about we make it official?” he suggested, laying a hand over her breasts as his other hand slid to her backside. “I want you as Mrs. Howard. I’ve never said that to anyone.”

  Maddie didn’t need to think. And with his hands all over her, tantalizing but not venturing further, she couldn’t need beyond one word.

  “Yes.”

  Chapter Twenty Three

  “I’m glad you know so many positions,” Maddie laughed. “We’re going to have to get more creative.”

  Jace chuckled. He curled his body behind her, his cock already erect again and pressing against her backside. He kissed her shoulder and neck as he cupped her breast.

  “And I’m glad your libido has gone up. I didn’t realize someone could match my appetite.”

  Maddie smiled.

  “Well, I’m making the most of it. Once the baby’s born, down there won’t be open for business for some weeks.”

  They had stumbled into their hotel room earlier that evening and they had barely left the bedroom except to go to the bathroom. The simple ceremony they had had on the beach had been perfect. It was just them, Beth and Schuman, and Maddie hadn’t wanted to waste time with pleasantries and congratulations. She wanted her husband.

  Besides, she was pretty sure Beth wanted to drag Schuman into a room of their own. Since Schuman had been shot a month before, Beth had made her feelings clear and refused to leave his side while he recovered. Maddie didn’t ask if the deed had been done but, from the way her friends couldn’t keep their hands off each other, she didn’t need to ask. Either that or they were teasing each other to the point of frustration.

  There was certainly no teasing with Jace. Not tonight.

  “I don’t think we’ll have any energy once our son’s here,” Jace said as his hand went over her belly and slid through her curls. “We’ll be too knackered from the midnight feeds.”

  “True,” Maddie gasped.

  She was struggling to think with Jace’s hands all over her. They had already made love three times and Jace was showing no signs of slowing down. Right now, Maddie didn’t want him to. She opened her legs and allowed Jace to flick his fingers over her clit. A shot of pleasure darted through her body and she whimpered. Then his fingers were slowly thrusting into her pussy, making Maddie open her legs wider.

  Jace rolled them until he was on his back, Maddie lying on top of him as he fucked her with his fingers. She was breathing heavily in his ear.

  “I’ve thought of a name,” he rasped, his other hand grasping Maddie’s breast.

  Maddie was so wrapped up in the pleasure she nearly missed what he said.

  “What were you thinking?” she panted.

  “Jeremy. After your brother.” Jace chuckled as his hand left her pussy and went to her hip. “Or Luke. He’s dropped several hints that he would like the child named after him.”

  Maddie smiled as Jace’s cock pressed against her pussy. She managed to hold herself away, rubbing her pussy against his head but not letting him in.

  “Jeremy Luke Howard. That sounds like I could roll with it.”

  “Good.” Jace pressed harder. “Now let’s see if you can roll with this.”

  Maddie sighed as his cock slid into her. Then she was sitting up and turning,
grasping hold of Jace’s cock so she could sit on him while she faced him. His cock twitched inside her and Maddie grinned, cupping her breasts and flaring Jace’s eyes flash.

  “I think I can handle that.” She laid her hands on his chest as she leant over. “But can you roll with it?”