When we get back to the clubhouse, Mack calls us to Church. When everyone is seated, he tells us what we need to know and shows us all a picture of this Rick fucker.
When the picture is finally passed to me, I notice it’s the same guy he asked us a couple of weeks ago to be on the lookout for, but he never told us why. I look up at him when I toss the picture down. “You should have fucking told us.” I try to keep my voice even, but I can tell by his glare that I didn’t succeed.
“Listen, all of you. I did what I thought was best for everyone. I got all the information I needed from Sara and we didn’t think he was a threat. We now obviously know differently, but the point is, I did what I did because it was the right thing to do. I gave you all a heads up and told you to be on the lookout for him. It shouldn’t have fucking mattered if you didn’t know the details or not. If I tell you to watch for someone, you better fucking do your best and watch for him, no matter what the reason behind it may be. Getting your panties in a bunch now won’t change anything. That son-of-a-bitch came into our town and fucked with one of ours. The only thing left for us to do is to find the fucker and put him to ground.” No one says anything, but I can tell that even though Blaze, Louie, and I are still pissed, we all know he’s right.
When no one answers him, he growls, “Do you fucking understand?” We all nod and say yes, then we start planning.
It’s past two in the morning before we’re done going over everything we know about Sara’s ex and figuring out what we’re going to do.
Tom Tom and Skinner are going to work on getting us some background information on him so we know who we’re dealing with. Slayer and Louie are in charge of setting up recon on him; where he lives, where he works, where he likes to hang out, the people he associates with. Once we have eyes on him, Slayer will be keeping tabs on his whereabouts. Blaze and I are in charge of setting up around the clock security for the girls. Knowing they will most likely stick together for a while, especially after what went down in the break room, we need extra muscle to handle them both together. And once we have the fucker, I’ll be the one to rip him apart after I torture him for fucking with what’s mine.
Knowing I won’t be able to sleep without at least checking on Sara, I head to her place.
I spot the prospect positioned outside the back door that leads up to her apartment. “Anything?” I ask, hoping there’s been no activity while I’ve been at the clubhouse, but also secretly hoping there has been so I can take all my anger and frustration with Mack and Sara out on someone deserving of it.
“Nah, it’s been quiet.” He responds.
I nod my head and ask, “Louie around the front?” He better not be fucking slacking off or I’ll put a bullet in his leg.
“No, he’s upstairs with the girls.” That information makes me feel equal parts relief and even more pissed off. On one hand, I’m glad that he’s taking this seriously and is close to them in case something happens, but on the other, I’m pissed because he should be outside, making sure nothing gets anywhere close to them. Plus, leaving the prospect out here by himself doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Sure, he should know how to handle himself, but he’s still a fucking prospect. I trust Louie more than I trust him. It’s shitty, but that’s just the way it is.
I don’t say anything else and walk up the stairs. I take out my key that I still had from when Dani was staying here. Opening the door, I don’t see any of them anywhere. Deciding I’ll find Louie later and get on his ass about not being out front, I go in search of my girl.
I find her sleeping, curled up in bed with Dani lying beside her. They both look so peaceful. If shit wasn’t so heated right now, I would probably enjoy seeing the two women in my life, cuddled up together in bed, but I’m too on edge for that.
Seeing movement out of my eye, I notice Louie sitting in a chair in the corner of the room. I motion for him to follow me to the living room. He does and sits down on the couch, rubbing his hands across his face in exhaustion. “So, we got a plan yet?” he asks me in a quiet voice. Sitting down, I relay everything that happened during Church and what we’re going to be doing.
He nods his head in agreement, but doesn’t comment. I’m surprised that he hasn’t said much, so I ask him, “What’s going on with you, brother?”
I can tell he doesn’t want to talk about it, but then to my surprise, he whispers, “Nothing, man. It’s just been a long couple of months. First, shit with Dani, then Harlow leaving without an explanation, and now this thing with Sara. Shit’s been hitting the fan non-stop and I’m just exhausted.” I understand how he feels, but now is not the time to be off our game.
“Look, we’re all tired and pissed about what’s been going on, but I need you on your toes. If you’re going to be guarding Dani and my woman, I need to know your heads in the game.” I hate putting him on the spot, but things are different―this situation is different. We aren’t talking about some random person being targeted or someone fucking with our business. This is my girl we’re talking about, so I need him to understand.
Rubbing his face one last time, he stands up and looks me in the eye. “I’ve got this, brother. No one will come near either one of them, and that’s a fucking promise.” With that said, he stands up and starts to move back towards the bedroom, but I stop him.
“Get some sleep. I’m staying here tonight.” With a nod, he walks out the front door, but I’m betting he’ll be outside tonight instead of going back to the clubhouse to get some sleep. The shit that happened today got to more than just Blaze and I; Louie’s feeling the heat too.
After locking the door and checking all the windows, I head back into the bedroom. I just need to see her face again to reassure myself that she’s okay.
First, I walk over to the side of the bed Dani’s lying on. She’s rolled over onto her side so she’s facing away from Sara. Brushing her hair to the side, I drop a kiss on top of her head, then walk around to Sara’s side.
She looks so peaceful sleeping. Looking at her now, you would never know the hell she went through today. I crouch down in front on her, just so I can stare at her beautiful face; memorizing every feminine curve. Lightly running my hand from the top of her head, down to her lips, I whisper, “I don’t know what I would do without you, Doll. You’ve come to mean so much to me.” I’m quiet for a minute, watching her, hoping I don’t wake her. When she doesn’t even twitch, I lean over and kiss her softly on the lips. “I think I’m falling for you, and if that’s what this feeling is, I don’t want it to stop.” Kissing her one last time, I stand up and head out to the living room to sleep on the couch. I’d give anything to curl up beside her and hold her all night, but it’s not an option tonight.
CHAPTER 10
Sara
It’s still dark out when I wake from a dream. Rick came back for me, but when I roll over and see Dani lying beside me, I realize it wasn’t just a dream, but my mind replaying the events of the previous day.
I can’t believe he found me, but what puzzles me even more is the fact that he came all this way to get me. I honestly thought that even if he did look for me, he wouldn’t look for long, and if he found me, I didn’t think he would actually come here to drag me back to New York. I believed that once he realized I was done and truly gone, he would cut his losses, but I was obviously being naïve and was sorely mistaken. At least he didn’t succeed. I shudder to think of what would’ve happened had he gotten me into his car. I don’t think I would have made it even to the state line intact.
Getting out of bed as quietly as I can as to not wake Dani, I head into the bathroom to splash some water on my face, trying to wash away the fear and hopelessness I feel. Rick found me and tried to take me away from this new life I’ve made for myself, and away from the people I’ve grown to think of as family, but what scares me even more is that I put Dani and her baby in danger just by being in the same building as her. I don’t want her to get caught in the crossfire of my past, but I don’t even want to th
ink of how much it would hurt to have to leave my new home. But that might just be what I have to do to keep those I care about safe.
Drying off my face, I walk into the living room, wanting to get something to drink, but come to a stop when I see Toby sleeping on my couch, shirtless. If that isn’t a sight for sore eyes, I don’t know what is. He is stunning; not too muscular like some of those steroid eating gym guys. He’s tan all over, and his face is relaxed, yet it still has a hard look. He’s the perfect man, both inside and out.
Now that I see him, I remember him coming into my room last night. I thought I had dreamt it because I thought Louie was here to watch over us, but seeing Toby on my couch, maybe it wasn’t a dream after all. If I didn’t dream about him coming into my room to make sure I was okay, maybe I didn’t dream the words I thought I heard him say. I don’t know what I would do without you, Doll. You’ve come to mean so much to me. I think I’m falling for you.
Hearing those words in my head again, I smile. He really cares about me. I was pretty sure he was feeling the same thing I was starting to feel, but I’ve been wrong about people before. So, if I’m right, and he did say those things to me while he thought I was sleeping, then he’s feeling what I’m feeling.
Knowing he’s here with me, wanting to be close and protect me from my past, I don’t think I could go back to my bed and sleep without him if I even tried. I just need to hold him and have him hold me too.
Forgetting about getting a drink, I quietly walk over to the couch, trying to figure out how I can crawl in beside him without waking him. I have no idea what time he got done doing what he was doing at the clubhouse, but he wasn’t here when I finally fell asleep after one in the morning.
Realizing that there is no way that I’ll be able to sneak in beside him, I decide to just lay down beside him as much as I can and pray I don’t wake him up.
I’m surprised when I get situated that he didn’t wake up. Instead, as soon as I lay down beside him, he wraps his arms around me, almost instinctually knowing that it’s me and that I need him right now.
Sighing, I close my eyes and run my hands lazily up and down his chest. “Thank you for being here for me. I know we have a lot to talk about, but having you here makes me feel safe and cherished. I’ve never felt that way before,” I whisper, not wanting to wake him, but needing to say it anyway.
I kiss his chest, “I’ve already fallen for you, Toby, but when I fell, instead of just letting me crash and burn, you caught me. So if you fall, I’ll catch you too and hold you close to my heart.” I kiss him one more time over his heart and fall asleep, feeling complete.
I wake up alone on the couch and hear raised voices coming from what sounds like my bedroom.
Taking a quick look around, I spot a black sweatshirt on the floor. Tiptoeing over to it, I pull it over my head and smile when it smells like Toby. It covers up my shorts and goes almost down to my knees, so it looks like I’m not wearing anything underneath. Since there are people in my room, there’s no way for me to grab a pair of sweats, so it looks like this will have to do for now.
Walking as quietly as I can to my closed bedroom door, I stop and listen, trying to figure out who is on the other side and what they’re arguing about. I don’t feel right eavesdropping on what is probably supposed to be private, but they are in my apartment, and I have a feeling I know what it’s about.
“I don’t give a fuck that she’s your friend and employee. What I give a shit about is that she is a walking fucking target, and you being near her makes you a target, it puts you in danger, and that I will not fucking allow.” This comes from Blaze.
“You won’t allow it? Who the fuck do you think you are? You are not my fucking father, Zane!” Dani whisper yells, I’m sure trying to stay quiet as to not wake me, but having a hard time keeping her temper in check. That’s one thing I have learned about Dani since meeting her; she doesn’t like to be told what to do. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, and she’s as tough, if not tougher, than some of the men I’ve known. I know she can take care of herself in most situations, but I kind of have to agree with Blaze; she shouldn’t put herself in unnecessary danger.
“I’m your old man, the fucking father to your unborn child, the man who loves you and would do anything to make sure your safe. It’s not just you anymore, Dani. You need to think about our child! You can’t be careless and walk around half-cocked all the damn time!” Blaze fires back at her. “And no, I’m not your fucking father because if I was, I wouldn’t be here now, would I? But I am here because I fucking love you. I’m trying to do what’s best for you and our baby, so quit being fucking difficult and listen to me.”
I briefly wonder where Toby is during all this, but then I hear him. “Look, Blaze, I understand that you’re pissed off. Hell, I’m pissed too, but you need to calm the fuck down before you do or say something you’ll regret. Yelling and demanding isn’t the way to get Dani to do what you want. You fucking know this, brother.” Toby says sternly. “And Dani. We aren’t trying to tell you not to be around Sara, or at least I’m not, but you need to be more careful. Like Blaze said, it’s not just you anymore. You need to be more careful.”
“Back the fuck off, Toby. Why don’t you just fucking worry about keeping Sara away from Dani and let me handle my own woman?” Before anyone can answer, I hear a crash and someone say, “Son-of-a-bitch,” before I hear what sounds like a scuffle.
Not wanting to hear anymore, and definitely not wanting Toby to fight with his brother over my situation, I open the door, but am stunned by what I see.
I thought for sure Toby and Blaze would be going at it, blow for blow, but it’s not Toby and Blaze, not just the two of them, anyway. Dani was the one who threw a punch at Blaze, connecting with his cheek. Toby jumps in, trying to contain Dani, but that only seems to enrage both her and Blaze even more. “Let me go, asshole,” Dani yells at the same time Blaze yells, “Get your fucking hands off of her!” Toby is trying to contain Dani, Dani is still trying to get at Blaze, and Blaze is trying to get Toby off of Dani. If this situation wasn’t so serious and if they weren’t fighting because of me, I would laugh at the sight in front of me, but it is because of me, so instead of laughing, I walk further into the room and do my best to get in the middle of them all. “You guys, stop it, right fucking now!”
As soon as Toby realizes I’m in the room and trying to break everything up, he drops his hold on Dani, and instead reaches for me, pulling me behind him. Dani, no longer held by Toby, pushes Blaze away when he tries to do the same with her, and walks over to me.
We all just stare at each other, the three of them trying to catch their breaths.
“You all need to stop. Please don’t fight over me. I’m not worth it.” I whisper the last part, not really meaning for them to hear, but knowing it’s true all the same.
Toby pulls me further into his arms and holds me. “Don’t say that, Doll. You’re worth it to me.”
Dani comes up and places her hand on my shoulder. “Sara, you’re family, and we protect our own. This,” she waves her hand around the room, indicating what I just broke up, “is nothing. Families fight. That’s all this is. But don’t worry, you’re going to be fine and so will the rest of us. Nothing that a little time in the ring won’t solve,” she says, directing her glare at Blaze. Turning her eyes back to me, “Please don’t worry about this or about what happened yesterday. The guys are on it and I’m not leaving your side till this is resolved. Nothing is going to happen to you, I promise. And me? I can’t take care of myself, so no worries.” She gives me a little smile, which I try, and probably fail, to return.
“Dani,” Blaze starts, but he’s cut off.
“I’m heading down to the shop to clean up and get ready to open. Why don’t you take a shower, get some coffee, and come down when you’re ready.” She gives me a hug then turns around, sends one last glare towards Blaze, then walks out of the room. A couple seconds later, I hear the front door close, then it’s quie
t in the apartment.
I look at Blaze and see that he’s still staring at the door Dani just walked out of and running his hand through his hair.
Toby breaks the silence. “I’ll go make some coffee while you take a shower, then we can talk, okay?” I nod my head, walk over to my closet to pull out some clothes, then walk towards the door to head into the bathroom. Before I’m out the door, I see Blaze pinning me with a look that is both threatening and concerned at the same time. Is that even possible?
Closing the bathroom door quietly behind me, I turn around and lean against it, letting out a long sigh. This is all one big clusterfuck. Why did Rick have to come here? He’s fucking with more than just me now; he’s messing with everyone around me, breaking them all apart in the process.
I hear two sets of footsteps walking past the bathroom door, so I lean my ear against the wood and try to see if I can hear anything. The only thing I can make out are murmurs, no words. Well, guess I’m not going to get anything else, so I may as well get in the shower. The faster I can get dressed, the faster I can talk to Toby and figure out what I should do now.
Once out of the shower and dressed, I walk into the kitchen and see that Blaze is no longer here, but Toby is. I walk up behind him and place my hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry about what happened yesterday, and that it’s causing everyone to worry and fight,” I whisper. I hate knowing I’m causing people who are normally so close to fight.
Toby turns around and wraps his arms around me. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Doll. I’m just glad that you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do if you were taken or if you were hurt.” My heart beats faster at his confession, which reminds me of last night and the whispered words that were said between us, though I’m not sure if I imagined his words or if he even heard mine.
He kisses the top of my head before pulling away. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me over to the table where I notice two coffee cups. Once we both take a seat, we just stare at one another, both trying to wrap our heads around the events of the last twenty-four hours.
Fighting Destiny (Forsaken Sinners MC; Book 2) (Forsaken Sinners MC Series) Page 11
