Ignoring anything and everything, he scooped her up in his arms, glad as hell that he’d made her wear that vest. It had at least given him peace of mind. Glancing over his shoulder, he made sure that Dalton was taking care of Mandy, before he made his way towards the courtroom entrance. They walked out of the courthouse and into the waiting SUV. He didn’t let her go until they got to his house; he’d gotten her upstairs, and into the shower. Then he let her go, and only then it was to look into her eyes.
“Don’t leave me, stay here with me. We’ve made it this far,” he begged. “I lost my mind when I couldn’t get through those doors.”
“I know you did, because I lost mine too.”
Searching her face, he could still see that same fear, could still see that same urge. “Then promise me you’re gonna be here when I wake up in the morning.”
She leaned up and kissed him on the lips, breathing him in as she did so. This was the hardest thing she’d ever said to anyone else, but she knew that in the end, it would be the best words she’d ever spoken. “I promise.”
Epilogue
Two Months Later
“Char, you better get a move on it if you don’t want to be late,” Drew yelled from the kitchen. He’d done his duty, making her run behind schedule, but they’d had to do something to celebrate their one-month wedding anniversary. Shower sex it was.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into showering together,” she grumbled good-naturedly as she reached into the fridge and pulled out a Starbucks cold coffee. It was better than nothing. “I have court today, but I should be home no later than four,” she told him.
“Good, I have to work at the shop, but we need to be at the clubhouse around six. Remy’s gettin’ his Prospect patch.”
She absolutely could not believe it, but there was no denying that the kid deserved it. He’d worked hard. “I wouldn’t miss it. Throw me a bagel, would ya?”
He stopped what he was doing and gazed at her, catching her eyes with his. She let her gaze linger over him, stopping on the Charity tattoo that now had a bird flying away from the name. When he’d gotten it done and presented her with her engagement ring, he’d told her that it was okay to fly. Flying was soaring above the clouds and looking down on everything you had, appreciating life for what it was. The complete opposite of running. Flying meant she was free—free to do what she wanted, when she wanted. And if she needed grounding? He’d be there to help her.
Doing her one better, he walked it over to where she stood. “I love you; have a great day.”
She leaned up and kissed him—making sure it got a little out of hand—because that’s how they liked things. He smacked her ass and let her go with a moan. “I love you too.” She giggled, grabbing her bag, coffee, and food. She’d have to eat on the way if she hoped to accomplish anything today.
Getting to the office, she saw that she was the first one there, something that had been unusual up until four days ago. Mandy was battling a stomach bug that was keeping her down. Opening the door and turning on the pot of hot coffee, she had a seat at her desk to go over her calendar.
Today was the final court appearance that Maggie had in connection with the self-defense killing of Dixon. She would be a free woman, and she and Skylar could go live their lives the way they wanted to.
Miracle of all miracles, while Maggie had been dealing with the fallout of the shooting, Jasmine had stepped up and taken them both under her wing. Charity guessed her mom wasn’t a lost cause after all. She did have a heart and a desire to help people besides herself. She seemed to have found her niche, helping out other mothers and daughters at CRISIS. Charity was proud of her.
Beside her, her phone dinged with an incoming message. Seeing Mandy’s name, she immediately swiped and read.
Stomach virus. I should be okay by tomorrow!
Charity sent her off a quick message telling her to take as much time as she needed. As far as she was concerned, her practice and her life was as good as it could get.
Mandy sat on the examination table, fingers trembling as she sent the text she knew she had to send. Lying to Charity had been easy, but she knew without a doubt she couldn’t lie to Dalton. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
I’m at the doctor. I’m still sick.
She waited for a few minutes, hoping that he would answer.
Do they know what’s wrong?
She fought with herself, wondering if she wanted to tell him this way, but she knew this was easier than doing it face-to-face. It would save her the humiliation.
I’m pregnant.
All through the doctor’s visit and on the ride home, she waited. She waited all night, and then the next day. When he never responded, she stiffened her bottom lip, wiped up her tears, and made a promise to herself that she would do this on her own. Fuck needing a man, fuck needing anyone.
She could do this, she would do this. She had to. Finally, she had purpose—someone else counted on her, and it was the one person she knew would never discount her feelings or make her feel like less than she was.
Unconditional love. She would have it, and she would have it on her own if she had to.
The End
Book Nine
Shield My Heart
Heaven Hill Book #9
Laramie Briscoe
This is the last book of the ‘original series’ for Heaven Hill and I have to say, I’m really emotional about it. When I started writing the series, I was at the lowest part of my life, just hoping that maybe this would turn it around. I had a dream that I wanted to make come true, and in my head if I could finish “Meant To Be” maybe it would happen.
And wow, did it ever!
My life changed in so many ways thanks to one little book and the huge amount of people that came into my life because of it. For those of you that started with “Meant To Be” and now you’re here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t have done any of this without the readers who’ve loved Liam, Tyler, and the rest of the guys so much. I hope I’ve brought it back around from Liam and Denise full circle to Mandy and Dalton. From one single mom, to the daughter who’s prepared to be a single mom. I hope I did it justice!
Allison: You’ve listened to me from the beginning and you’ve always held my hand (figuratively and literally sometimes) when life has been too much. I don’t think any two people have cried more than us in Barnes & Noble, but what amazing ideas and books we got out of those sessions!
Kari: You’ve become SUCH a great friend to me. I never imagined when I sent an email about someone making a cover that you would become such an important person in my life. Thank you so much for always being you and making me laugh. I treasure our conversations!
Dee: I love our daily conversations and you’ve done amazing things for my writing career whether you know it or not. I appreciate all the things you do for me, and thank you for keeping me company at all the signings over the past year. Whether you know it or not, you’ve made me a much more outgoing person.
Dawn: I am so thankful to have met you, and to have been able to hang out with you on a couple of occasions. One day I’m going to take you up on that trip to NOLA!
Slick: Thank you for giving me the courage to do this. You may not know, but the advice you gave me has stayed with me from the moment you read my book. I wasn’t sure whether I would really go through with it, until you read it and told me you liked it. You’ve been a great supporter and I’m thankful for it.
April: I’ll never forget me sitting in Panera with a notebook telling you this is what I really, really wanted to do, and you looked at me with a giggle and a smile on your face and said go for it. With you as my friend, I don’t think I can ever really look back on things I say I’m going to do. You totally keep me honest.
Shellie: Thank you for the long walks in the beginning and being the first person, besides Allison, in my real life to read this. Your words back then have carried me through a lot of hard times when I felt like I wanted to
give up
Danielle: Thank you for coming into my life and helping shape the type of writer I am now. Your bluntness, your excitement, and your ideas have done more for me than anyone else. You’re my toughest sell on anything I write, but I know you’re honest, and I appreciate the hell out of that!
Family and Friends: You all have given up countless hours. Some of you have come with me to signings and have seen the craziness that this life brings with it, and you love it just as much as I do. Thank you for always being understanding when I can’t go to dinner because the characters are talking!
Readers: Without you…..I wouldn’t be here. This is for you and I thank you so much for following along with the Heaven Hill Crew. While this is the last book in the original series, there will be the Christmas Box Set, and a spin off series for the kids. But know y’all made THIS SERIES so damn special!
With love,
Laramie
Summary
Daughter
Sister
Mother to be
The Heaven Hill MC has always been a safe place for Mandy Walker. Since being adopted by the President, she and her twin brother have been able to count on them for anything. The ragtag group of men and the women who love them became the family the twins never had.
Having grown up under their protection, she’s finding it hard not to run to them with the problems she has now. One reckless night with her love of more than ten years resulted in one positive pregnancy test.
The problem?
Mandy is faced with a dilemma she never thought she’d fall victim to; being a single mother, just like her mom was until Liam Walker came into their lives.
Best Friend
Member of the Heaven Hill MC
Terrified of not breaking the cycle of his childhood
Dalton Barnett knew the moment he kissed Mandy’s lips as a teenager that she was the only one for him. Taking her for granted has been easy because she’s always been there. She’s the only person who’s ever given love to him unconditionally.
When a calculated attack devastates Heaven Hill, Dalton, Mandy, and their unborn child are at the epicenter. Dalton must make decisions to keep his small family safe. Before anything worse can happen, he knows he must shield their hearts.
Prologue
Mandy Walker held her breath as tightly as she held the cell phone in her hand. Hours ago she’d texted her boyfriend, Dalton, telling him she’d just found out she was pregnant with their child—four weeks along to be exact. What she had assumed was a lingering case of the stomach flu would instead result in a living, breathing human in thirty-six weeks if the doctor was to be believed. And today, Mandy believed it. She’d been sick since she lifted her head off her pillow that morning. With clarity, she remembered how her mom had been when pregnant with Tatum and offered up a small prayer that she wouldn’t be as sick as that for the whole pregnancy. There had been a few ER visits and plenty days where Denise couldn’t function except to be sick and then go back to sleep.
In her other hand, she held the prescription the doctor had given her to ward off some of the nausea. She was going to take it when she got home, and the warning on it said she might get sleepy. Sleep would be welcome at this point. Trying to reach Dalton one more time, she texted again.
Dalton, I know you aren’t happy about this. I know you never wanted to be a dad, but can we at least talk about it? Regardless of how you feel, I can’t help but be happy. I love you, and I know you love me too. Please, just talk to me. We’ll work this out.
The answer she waited for? It never came.
On the other side of Bowling Green, Dalton Barnett was having a tough time of his own. He’d stopped in at Wet Wanda’s, a strip club the Heaven Hill MC had interest in, to get some paperwork he needed from his brother, Deacon. He’d finally gotten the guts to make an appointment at the bank to see if he could get approved for a loan for the other half of the land he and Deacon had lived on as teenagers. He could build a house there, and he hoped like hell Mandy would agree to live there with him. They had been distant for months—by his doing—because she’d wiggled under the armor he’d placed over himself. He wasn’t fit to be with her, and he’d known it the first time he’d seen her in middle school. The thought had scared him so much he’d begun pulling away while trying to push her away at the same time. Recently though, he’d realized how empty his life was without her.
Growing up, he and Deacon didn’t have a home until Child Protective Services had placed them with their Uncle Samuel. He’d not had much more than they did—he had a small plot of land right across the Barren County border next to the lake and a trailer that even back then had needed a ton of work—but it had been his. The property directly beside it had come up for sale in the past few weeks, and Dalton had been saving money as long as he could remember for just such an opportunity. It was time to put down roots, time to make a life for himself just as the other members of Heaven Hill had. If he was ever going to ask Mandy to wear his patch and maybe someday his ring, now was the time. He had to put words into actions, especially with how he’d been acting. An apology wasn’t enough, because he knew without a doubt he’d hurt her. Now he needed to make it up to her. It was surprising in itself that his throat didn’t close; his heart didn’t palpitate at the prospect like he thought it would. He felt….settled?
But as soon as he’d gotten to Wet Wanda’s, his plans had changed. Waiting for Deacon, he’d made a trip to the bathroom, and there, he’d accidentally overheard news not meant for his ears. As he was about to leave, voices in the back hallway caught his attention.
“Calvert said we need to go find Samuel tonight, before Heaven Hill hides him. You know as soon as he tells his nephew about the money he owes, Heaven Hill will take care of it,” one of the guys said. “He’s sick of Samuel owing him money anyway; it’s a never-ending cycle. We need to teach him a lesson.”
Dalton froze. Calvert was a mean son of a bitch. Word had it last year he’d driven an unconscious man off the Louisville Road Bridge for a five-thousand-dollar debt. He was known to take things to the extreme. If you owed him a dollar, you owed him too much. To some people, he was nothing more than a local bookie who dealt in both high dollar and menial gambling. People who owed smaller amounts were known to be used as examples of what he would do if you owed him more. Word had it around town he did this all in the name of gaining some respect.
Dalton knew his uncle wasn’t begging Calvert for money so he could borrow twenty large for the horses at Keeneland. More like a hundred and twenty large to bet at a high stakes poker game or to see if UK could make it to the Final Four again.
Samuel had dealt with that addiction years ago, or so Dalton thought. But it looked like the compulsion had come back full-force, even with him and his brother trying to make sure it hadn’t. Focusing his attention back on the conversation, he tried not to let his anger get the best of him.
“When was his payment due?”
Dalton couldn’t tell which one spoke, but he listened closely.
“Last week. If we can’t find him, we go after the nephews. We can’t get to the nephews, then you know who’s next.” Standard operating procedure for the people who worked under the Calvert name. They were special assholes. Ones that truly liked to inflict pain, ones that got off on people’s fear.
A chuckle erupted from the other one. “We hurt whoever’s closest.”
Dalton’s cell phone picked that moment to come alive. Two texts from Mandy lit up his screen, and all of a sudden a fear he’d never known rose up in his stomach. She would be the number one target if these guys didn’t get what they wanted. They’d find a way to hurt him through her because Samuel wouldn’t be around. There was no one else in the world he cared about more than her, and if something happened to her, it would destroy him.
With such clarity, he wanted to kick himself in the nuts. He’d pulled away from her the last six months, trying to get a handle on his own feelings, not sure he was emotio
nally equipped to deal with where it was going because he had such few good memories of his own parents and their relationship. Yeah, he’d seen the couples at the clubhouse and he was smart, but he was a stubborn learner. It looked like that was about to bite him in the ass.
He waited for them to leave, grabbed Deacon, and explained their situation. As he called the bank to let them know he wouldn’t be there, he tried to think of any place his uncle might be. They had to find him before Calvert did.
He tried to remember the last time they spoke. Two, maybe three days ago? Four at the most? If Samuel had already gone underground and was trying to fix this himself, they were all in danger.
Which meant no matter how much Dalton wanted to answer the text from Mandy, no matter how excited he actually was about the prospect of holding her to him for life, he wouldn’t do it. He couldn’t put her in the crosshairs of that scope. He wouldn’t, because if he owed her anything for being unsure of his feelings for her—it was his protection.
Because Calvert could, and would, decimate the Heaven Hill MC with the number people he had behind him. And Dalton would be damned if he brought that kind of attack to their front door.
Chapter One
Amanda Walker, known to everyone as Mandy, closed her eyes tightly and let the tears fall from beneath her lashes. Last ones, she promised herself as she stiffened her chin and pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. Crying never solved anything. It was a lesson she’d learned as a kid, and it had carried through life. Her mom, Denise, hardly let her or her twin brother, Drew, see her cry, and she made a vow as she cradled her stomach that this baby would not be a witness to it regularly either. Her mom had been a single mother up until the point she’d met the man who had adopted the twins, and he now preferred to be called Dad instead of Liam. Mandy knew she could do this. She had to do it. Period. Point blank.
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