by Becca Lee
Instead, I could only hope for acceptance.
"You're quiet." Cole nudged me with his elbow, drawing my attention to him.
Flicking my gaze to him, I smiled and shrugged. "Just overthinking, you know."
He placed his strong arm around my shoulders and tugged me to his side. "Crazy shit going on, right?"
A laugh burst free as I spoke. "You could say that." I put my arm around his waist, appreciating the comfort. We'd known each other a long time, and Cole was definitely a calming, reassuring presence. A bit of a surprise, since he tended to cause a little mayhem wherever he went.
Finally reaching the café, we stepped inside and went about ordering drinks for everyone. The place was relatively small, yet familiar, so I was able to relax and wait while making small talk. "I'm just going to pee before we head back." Cole nodded. The restroom was a single unisex toilet, with no additional exits, and the first door to the small divide was visible from the café floor.
After peeing, I washed my hands and looked at my reflection. Tiredness etched my face, but it was nothing like Mace's. We'd eventually catch up with sleep when the stress was over. Once my hands were dry, I headed back to the main room and to the counter. I paused and looked around for Cole, confused as to why he wasn't waiting for the coffees.
Maybe they'd already arrived, and he was waiting outside with them? I walked to the counter first and asked, "Are our drinks already done?"
"Almost," the young woman answered with a smile.
"Thanks." I couldn't quite manage a smile. Assuming Cole was waiting just outside, perhaps on his phone or something, I headed out. I looked up and down the street. Not seeing him, my heart pounded loudly in my chest, gradually picking up speed. There was no way he'd have left me.
I leaned against the wall, just to the side of the café, willing myself to gain control. I also tugged out my phone and punched in my PIN. I was about to hit Call, when a voice stopped me.
"Lena?" I looked up, my eyes landing on an unfamiliar man. He was smartly dressed and smiled down at me. Nothing about this guy screamed danger, but the way his smile didn't reach his eyes had my finger hitting the Send button. I clutched my hand around the phone, holding it low at my side.
"Do I know you?" My voice was steady, not showing the leap in my anxiety.
He stood directly before me now, a healthy distance away so as not to make me even more uncomfortable. "No. I don't believe we've had the pleasure. But with a face as beautiful as yours, I'd recognise you anywhere."
I frowned, not holding back my confusion.
Taking a minuscule step forward, he leaned in a little closer. "I would imagine if you parted your lips, it would reflect you midorgasm perfectly."
I flinched, my eyes widening. What the fuck?
He gave an indecent groan, causing goosebumps to spread over my skin and nausea to rise in my gut. "That's almost the exact look when he's fucking you. It’s enough to get a man hard just at the thought, but seeing it in person, Lena, I have to admit, my cock is throbbing for a taste."
Vomit rose, but I clenched my jaw and breathed deeply, not allowing myself to lose it. Though maybe throwing up all over this guy would be the perfect way to get him to back the fuck off. "Listen, pervert." There was no strength in my voice, which pissed me the hell off. I strengthened my resolve, forcing fierceness I didn't feel into my words. "I don't know who the fuck you are, or what you think you know, but I need you to get out of my face."
His grin wasn't what I was hoping for. "I'll tell you what, lovely Lena, you tell that prick man of yours to back off and… Cole, is it?”—I blanched—"May just return to you in one piece." A car pulled up to the side of the pavement. The guy looked over his shoulder and took a step back. "That's my ride."
No! He had Cole? What the hell was I supposed to do in a situation like this? "Wait!" I called as he stepped towards the idling vehicle. "Where is he? Where's Cole?"
Opening the car door, he paused and stared hard at me. "I'd hate for him to miss out on spending time with those gang members he likes so much. You know, some say scum attracts scum."
I found my voice. "You'd know all about that, you fucking coward." The sounds of bike engines pulled my attention away and towards the street. I couldn't yet see him, but I knew Mace would be here any moment.
The man's face tightened before he entered the car and the vehicle sped away.
Immediately, I sank to the floor, my head almost touching my knees as my body shook. I remembered my phone and looked at it, hearing a faint noise.
"Lena, Lena?"
Lifting the phone to my ear, I sobbed, "Yeah?" It was a voice I didn't recognise.
"This is Detective Thompson. I'm working with Detective O'Leary and Mace. I saw you at the office earlier. I'm still here. Just hold tight, okay?"
I nodded into the phone.
"Lena, okay?"
"Okay," I managed to answer, just as Mace pulled up with Diesel, a car directly behind them.
"Is that them?"
"Yes."
"I'm hanging up now. You're safe."
"Okay." The phone connection ended.
Mace was before me, his helmet off as he scooped me into his arms. He shushed me as I cried into his shoulder. "C-Cole…," I sobbed.
"Shh, we know, baby. We're on it. We'll get him back, okay?"
I cried harder, my whole body trembling as he held me close. I wanted to escape, to hide, not seeing any way for this to end well. My whimpering was uncontrollable, despite my attempt to gasp in breaths, and if I didn't stop soon, I would start hyperventilating.
"Lena, look at me, baby."
I raised my head, shudders wracking my body.
"I need you to breathe with me. Can you do that?" I focused on his voice, on his lips, watching as he took exaggerated breaths in and out.
"Okay. I'm okay." While my muscles were still taut, I offered a false smile. His dipped brows told me he didn't buy it. But through the tightness in my chest and my jumbled brain of devastation, I knew above all else Mace had to help find Cole. "How much did you hear?"
"Everything." I gave him a quizzical look that led him to pull out an earpiece. "I managed to grab it while Thompson stayed back to try to reach you and get a recording." He brushed stray hairs that were stuck on my tearstained cheek away. "You were so brave. You were," he asserted, responding to my disbelieving head shake.
"Who was he?"
"McKenny." He bared his teeth.
"But this is a good thing, right?"
The tiniest of curves lifted his mouth. "Yeah, baby, it is. Somehow he must have heard whispers that we were on to him, and for whatever reason, he fucked up big coming to you the way he did. And taking Cole—"
"He made it sound like Cole was with Riots."
"Yeah, we figured, which is fucking perfect. It gives a concrete tie between Riots and McKenny. The only thing I can imagine going on is that everyone involved is trying to pull rank, or potentially distance themselves enough from each other. I'm sure McKenny's trying to set up Riots and pull away completely."
Despite his guessing, he sounded so certain. There was no hesitancy in his tone, and I had no doubt they'd get to Cole. I was just relieved that Thompson and O'Leary were around when it all happened.
Diesel.
I quickly looked over Mace's shoulder to find him. He was on the phone, his face one of fury, though his eyes bored into mine. "Put me down, please, Mace."
He sighed and held me tighter, burying his face into my neck. "I was so fucking scared, baby." My eyes teared and I held on to him, pouring my love into the hug, trying to let him know I really was okay.
"I love you," I whispered.
He placed a kiss against the sensitive skin on my neck, making me shudder. "I love you, too. Always, baby."
"I know." He raised his head and I looked him in the eyes. "But I really need to see Diesel."
Reluctantly, he nodded and lowered me to the ground. I gave him one last hug and headed to my brother.
I threw my arms around him. He clung to me with one arm, still speaking into the phone, but I didn't miss his sigh of relief.
He pulled away briefly from the phone. "Let's get you back to the office, okay?" He scanned the area, and I realised we'd pulled a small crowd. I nodded and allowed him to lead me to O'Leary's car before Mace stepped to my side and took my hand.
"We'll meet you there." His voice was gruff. Diesel nodded and placed another kiss on my head while continuing to listen to whoever it was on the end of the line. "Come on. I need you wrapped behind me." Tension thrummed through him. He needed the contact, needed to know I was really safe.
After a few minutes, we were outside the office and ready to get Cole back.
Chapter Seventeen
MACE
With my pulse still speeding, I held Lena's hand and pulled her into the storage room situated behind her desk, calling out, "Give me five," to the men who filed into the office behind us.
Once inside, I flicked the light on and stared at a bemused Lena. Concern furrowed her brow briefly before her eyes widened when I backed her against the wall. She flushed and her mouth parted.
Without a word, I cupped her jaw and cheek and lowered my face to hers, my mouth pressing against her soft lips. I groaned and kissed harder, pushing my erection against her stomach. Her whimper did nothing for my control; instead, it fuelled my need to have her, to taste her, and to make sure she really was okay.
Lena's mouth met mine with equal intensity, our lips sliding across one another's. She beckoned my tongue into her mouth with a flick of her own and stroked it. I groaned, my hand going immediately to the hem of her dress. Thank God, she wore a light dress rather than the tight jeans that looked so good moulding her arse.
I tugged her panties aside and caressed her pussy, alternating between dipping two fingers deep inside her and circling her clit. Her moan was heady, needy. She dragged her mouth away and tugged at my belt, unbuckling, unfastening, and then unzipping. My heavy cock sprung free, no longer restricted by the denim. She lifted her leg up, so her knee was against my hip, and bucked, seeking out my cock, as desperate for the connection as I was.
I braced my legs so I could hold her weight and grabbed her arse, lifting her up. Lena's hand on my cock had me pushing against her as she lined me up with her waiting pussy.
I slid home.
#####
Lena hid behind her desk, pretending to be busy filing. Diesel had been waiting outside when we entered the main space, making Lena's cheeks redden even more when he'd walked back in, ignoring us both and heading into my office. I didn't blame him. If I'd heard Liam and Jo going at it, I'd be running the hell out of there.
Our time in the storage room had been rash, especially considering Cole was missing, but the chaos running through my system had teamed with the desire to rush out and put a gun to McKenny's brain. He'd threatened Lena, terrified her. For every crude word he'd said, I wanted to exact damage twofold. Instead, I'd decided to bury myself in my woman. She grounded me and eased my soul and the wild thoughts spiralling through my brain so that I could finally think and put this nightmare to rest, once and for all.
"What have you got?" I asked when I entered my office.
All three men looked at me, but it was O'Leary who spoke. "We have eyes on Riots' compound and still on Enfield and his warehouse. We've yet to locate McKenny, but should have a confirmed location in a few more minutes. We're just tracking footage now."
Because of the urgency of the situation and Enfield's involvement, my office had become the hub of IA and police activity. I knew everything had to be carefully orchestrated so no one involved would disappear. It just worried me that McKenny had put himself out there, making known he was a player. While his voice had seemed calm, his actions were reckless, almost impulsive. I could only assume he was scared, and unfortunately, that meant he was a flight risk.
"We have three warrants currently being issued and are working with three separate teams to organise a takedown in four hours," Thompson continued. "With the images of Enfield with Riots, and the growing paper trail connecting him to them and McKenny, we should have all we need for it to push ahead. McKenny's actions earlier gave us everything we need for his arrest."
"Can you connect him to Riots?" I asked.
"We can now. It seems Nox is pissed." O'Leary grinned, taking a great deal of pleasure in sharing the news. I couldn't blame him. The bastard had tried to set him up, though to what effect I was unsure. Probably just to push us off the scent.
O'Leary continued, "The fact that he already gave you McKenny's name was one thing"—I'd shared with them the intel from my visit—"but it seems that dumping Cole on Riots' doorstep was a push too far."
"So that's where Cole is for sure?" I asked, my heart spiking in eagerness, wanting to get him safe so we could take all the fuckers down.
"Yeah. We have a phone tap. Heard Rebel, Riots' new president, cussing McKenny out. Told him to come and collect Cole unless he wanted a war."
I looked over at Diesel when he scoffed. "Let the bastards take each other out. These fucking gangs and cocksuckers need shutting down. If they're dick enough to do the job for us, then let them have at it."
I understood his point. OMCGs were vermin that needed wiping out. And from Diesel's perspective, especially considering the amount of bad press and unwanted police interference he got as an MC, there was no wonder he wanted them all gone. A cleaner coast, the place where we called home, was what we all wanted. I just knew that wasn't the way the law worked.
"So we know Nox was already pissed with McKenny. He must have known we'd be able to link him with Riots in some way," I pointed out, still hazy as to what Nox was playing at. It was the only reason Nox would give us a name, one that turned out to be real.
O'Leary actually laughed, a big barking laugh that pulled all of our attention to him. I even heard the scrape of Lena's chair and saw her peering over, looking as bemused as I felt. "It also seems there's dissension in the ranks at Riots." While he laughed, the humour didn't meet his eyes. I was sure he felt just as we all did. Sick to the stomach and screwed beyond belief.
"You're shitting me, right? This whole thing is fucked-up." I shook my head. "So this is about wanting the new pres out?" My anger spiked. The fucker Nox, who still had plenty more years left in prison, had orchestrated the whole thing. Yeah, we'd be able to take each of them down, Enfield included, but that didn't make every moment of the last five years hurt any less. Hatred surged in my gut for the man who’d killed Abigail, and I wasn't thinking about Nox. Even though Enfield hadn't been there to pull the trigger himself, he was just as guilty as Nox.
Thompson picked up with, "Apparently, Rebel hasn't been playing ball. He's been pulling extra protection away from Nox, leaving him vulnerable. Nox still seems to have some loyal to him in Riots, so they're helping to facilitate the whole McKenny and Rebel takedown. They want him and McKenny gone.
"Because Enfield has recently got in bed with McKenny, his fingers dipping into one too many pies for Nox's liking, it no longer seems Nox is worried about protecting McKenny either, hell, nor Enfield. Even from prison, he wants to play king." Thompson shook his head in disgust.
I closed my eyes and released a frustrated breath. "Who do you have on the teams going in?" I asked.
O'Leary stepped forward. "I'm heading out now and will be focusing on Enfield, while Davidson will take down Rebel and the Riots, who are still there. Already, those loyal to Nox have taken to the wind. Jacobs is taking point on McKenny."
I nodded, knowing all involved and that they were good cops. I'd already attempted to barge my way into being involved in the warrants and arrests, just like Diesel had, but O'Leary and Thompson didn't budge. No longer having a badge could be a bitch at times. But I also had Lena to protect. Considering the threat to her and with Cole taken, as frustrated as I was to admit it, I was best off with Lena. There was no way Lena would be at risk again.
"Right, keep your line
open and we'll be in touch. You staying here?" O'Leary asked.
"Only for another hour. Then I’ll take Lena home." I looked at Diesel. "What's your plan?"
"I'll hang out here until you head home and then I'll head to the compound, wait it out there. I know the brothers are waiting for news."
O'Leary and Thompson packed up and headed out, leaving Diesel and me to linger and hover over Lena.
It didn't take long before she snapped at us both. "Seriously, guys, you keep staring at me. What's going on?" She sounded tired, which was hardly surprising. Her body and brain would have still been working on the push of adrenalin since her confrontation. She was due for a fall.
I shifted my gaze to Diesel and grinned. He shifted guiltily, knowing he was pussyfooting around her as much as I was. His gaze met mine and he shrugged. "This is driving me mad. I hate waiting," he grumbled.
"I hear you. I can't even concentrate enough to pretend to do work." I’d attempted to write an email, but had deleted the damn thing five times so had given up. "Lena, come on, let's just head home."
Her eyes roamed my face, no doubt taking in how wound up I was. She nodded immediately and turned off the computer. "You coming with us?" she asked Diesel.
"No. I need to get back," he answered, stepping towards her when she grabbed her helmet and walked into the main reception area. "Just keep me updated, yeah?" He took her in his arms, held her close and then placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Will do," I reassured him as I led Lena towards the front door. It took but a few moments to arm the newly updated alarm and lock up. How they got around the first one was still a bloody mystery. Nodding at Diesel, we then pulled away, heading for home.
#####
Lena had been asleep on the sofa for a couple of hours. She'd finally crashed after taking a shower. Twice I'd walked past her sleeping form, making sure she slept soundly and wasn't plagued by nightmares. In the past few weeks, her dreams about the shooting had become less, and I was usually able to wake her quickly before they ventured on for too long. I didn't want this to be a relapse for her. She was doing so well with her recovery. The thought of her anxiety returning as intensely as when she'd first come home from uni made me sick to the stomach. I didn't want her to have to go through that ever again.
