by Lila Rose
“Okay,” I said, holding up my hands in front of me. Rommy gripped my side tightly, while Tex stood behind me but to my side, his fingers hooked in the back of my jeans. “You want the money? I’m sure Lucia will give it up.”
“It ain’t about the money,” the blue-eyed one said.
“Then what is it?”
“Girl.” Lucia sighed. Looking over my shoulder, I locked eyes with her. She was as pissed off as she was terrified. “Jerry’s knocked out in the back,” she said. “They made me come up here and pretend like nothing was happening. Theyâ”
“Enough. Erik, go check on the guy in the back.” So that was the blue-eyed oneâs name.
“You go, Garry.” Erik obviously didn’t like to be bossed around.
They were both obvious idiots for sharing their names…unless they knew we wouldnât be coming out of it alive.
Fear gripped my throat. I fought to swallow it down. It wasnât the time to freak the hell out like I wanted to. I had to be strong for the children.
“Fuck, you’re dumb. Don’t do shit until I get back. I’ll check on the others, as well.”
Others? They had more men around.
God.
“All this for money?” I whispered, more to myself than anyone.
Erik laughed. “Stupid bitch. It ain’t got anything to do with the money. We were ordered to come here because we were told you would be coming.”
“There’s a bug in your car. They heard you tell Dive to come here. They’re going to kill us when Dodge gets here,” Lucia said quickly, and Erik fired off a warning shot at the counter. She jumped away, screaming. We all did.
My eyes widened, and I wrapped my arms around the kids. They looked up at me with fright in their eyes. I couldn’t let that happen, couldnât let the children lose their uncle. Was I fighting a losing battle, though? Because I knew Dodge would turn up as soon as he found out what was happening to us. Whatever it was, I had to fight. I had to do something.
“You, shut the fuck up!” Erik yelled.
Garry came running back into the room. “What the fuck?” he asked, looking at the counter in front of Lucia, which now had a hole in it.
Erik flicked his gun towards Lucia and said, “She told her the plan.”
“Fuck,” Garry snapped and ran a frustrated hand through his grey hair. “If you hadn’t told her in the goddamn first placeâ”
“If you’d have just let me shoot her in the fuckin’ first place.”
“Shut the hell up. God, go sit with your bitch and keep you trap shut,” Garry snarled at me and the kids. We quickly ran around the counter and huddled together while Garry and Erik fought back and forth, over and over. All we could do was stand there, watching on, and wait.
I knew what we were waiting for. My man.
Once he was there, all hell would break out.
“Beside the fridge,” I heard Lucia whisper.
“What?” I asked, my eyes still on the men.
I felt her eyes bore into me. “Beside. The. Back. Fridge.”
Of course. Oh, God. My heart raced in my chest as the plan formed in my head. At least, if anything happened, the children would be safe.
I pretended to rest on the counter, my elbows on top and my head in my hands. Garry and Erik watched me, but kept talking.
Slowly, I slid a hand down to the pens and paper we always kept handy under the counter to throw notes at each other. I hoped to God they would understand my quick writing, but I had to be fast so the men, who looked across at us every now and then, wouldn’t notice I was doing something. Tex, the smart boy, leaned over my shoulder, his arms curling around my arm under the counter, so it looked like he was just hugging me while hiding my arm.
Finally done, I lifted it then turned my back to the men for a second, long enough to pass the note to Tex. He nodded. I spun back around and we huddled close again.
I called out, “Can the kids at least sit on the floor?”
Erik’s glare hit me before he nodded.
Thank you, Jesus.
Tex was first to sit, pulling a reluctant Rommy down beside him. I glanced down to see Tex opening the note and reading it. When I glanced down again, he was looking up at me and shaking his head.
“Get your sister to safety,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Uncle Trey will come,” he whispered.
That was what those guys were counting on. They wanted to crush my man by taking us out right in front of him. Even if they…killed me, I knew the children would help Trey live on eventually.
“I’m notâ”
“Texas,” I hissed low. “Do it. Now.”
He bit his bottom lip. Tears fell from his eyes as he got to his knees and nodded up at me. I sighed in relief.
“No,” Rommy breathed.
“Go with your brother.”
Tex sighed. “Come on, Rom. You can do this.”
She looked from me to her brother and then finally, finally, I saw her small nod. Tex quickly and quietly ushered his scared sister along the floor on all fours towards the aisles.
The shop owner, Jeff, being the cheap person he was, had found a hole in the wall that led outside. It was right beside the fridges, at the back of the bottom shelf with canned soup in front of it. Outside, the only thing covering the hole was a piece of corflute, thin material that Tex could easily kick out, and then hopefully they could get out without anyone noticing.
Please, please, please let them get out safely.
Lucia quickly gripped my arm. My body froze. We both heard it, the familiar sound of Harleys coming down the quiet street.
No. God, no.
Trey was walking right into the trap set for him.
I wasn’t worried that my life was in jeopardy. What made me feel ill, what caused my stomach to drop, my hands to sweat and my body to shake, was the possibility I could lose my man, my family, my friends.
My life would be nothing without them in it.
The noise came to a stop right out front.
Holy…it sounded like there were at least about twenty Harleys parking out the front of the shop. I wondered if the neighbouring shops took notice. If they did, would they call for some more help…but if they did, Trey could get into trouble.
There wasn’t going to be a good outcome in the situation we were in.
No matter what, lives would be lost, one way or another.
My hand went over my mouth. I shook my head back and forth when my eyes landed on the man who stood just outside the sliding glass door.
Behind and beside him were about twenty brothers.
Trey slowly slid down his mirrored sunglasses. The scowl upon his gorgeous face was fearsome. He wanted to hurt people, and he knew he was going to have his way.
But I was afraid I’d lose my life before he could do anything.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dodge
My insides were in fuckin’ turmoil during my ride towards death. It was death because I’d be killing, and taking goddamn pleasure in murdering those fuckers who thought they could mess with my family.
The thought of me going to jail didn’t bother me. I’d happily go there. Hell, I’d even skip my way there if it meant my family were safe. I knew my brothers would take care of Low and the kids if that shit did go down.
I just hoped Lan had the chance to show before I did and had a fuckin’ plan in place. If not, there’d be a bloodbath on my hands and he’d have to be the one to take me in.
Lookin’ in my mirror en route had my chest filling with pride. My brothers had my back. As soon as they heard what was going down, they dropped everything and jumped on their rides with me. Fuck, even Handle.
She’d better be fine.
The kids had better be good.
If they weren’t…
If I saw one drop of their blood on them, I would lose it.
And it’d probably take all my brothers to hold me back.
Or they’d join in wi
th me.
Stoppin’ right out the front, I climbed off my ride and stepped in front of Lan and Parker, who were already there and waiting.
“They have four men at the back, two men are inside with the women and the kids. Not sure what their play is. The lines have been cut, so we can’t call them inside.”
“I’m goin’ in,” I growled.
“Fuck, Dodge, you can’t.” He looked around. “Too many witnesses.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I snarled, “You’re wasting my fuckin’ time to save my family, and I don’t appreciate it, Lan. I’m goin’ the fuck in.” Moving around him and Parker, who wore a fuckin’ smile on his face, I kept walking.
“Shit,” Lan swore. “I’m goin’ ‘round the back.”
“Do that. Muff, Beast, Handle, go with him,” I ordered.
As I moved close to the doors, Dive stepped out of nowhere, wearing a look of self-loathing on his face.
“Don’t,” I said. “It’s not on you.”
“Butâ”
“Don’t.” I reached out and gripped the back of his neck, bringing his forehead to mine. “Not on you, brother.”
He nodded and stepped in beside me.
At the doors, I saw my woman. Scanning her body, I saw no damage. I let myself feel that relief for only a second. Lucia stood beside her with her arm around my woman’s waist.
Where in the fuck were the kids?
Slowly, I lowered my shades, scanning the shop.
Two men appeared on the other side of the front doors.
“Open them,” I snarled.
One smiled. “I don’t think so. Baxter sent us. He sends his regards and for you to know this won’t be the end. He’ll take everything off you, even your club.”
“He won’t get the chance!” I roared.
“He will. He has eyes everywhere.”
“Trey, go!” I heard Low yell.
Shaking my head, I looked to my woman. Did she honestly think I’d leave her there? I watched as she mouthed the words I’d been wanting to hear for some time: Love you.
Rolling my eyes, I said loud enough for her to hear, “Woman, I’m not telling you âI love youâ right now while there’s fuckin’ danger about, like we’re in some romance novel. I’ll do it later.”
My brothers chuckled.
“You won’t get a chance, dickhead,” Fuckface said with a laugh.
My eyes sliced back to them and I prayed to Christ I’d given them enough time out back. “Ready?” I asked the brothers beside and behind me.
“Fuck yeah,” Billy snarled.
The men’s eyes widened as they saw all of us move at once. We crashed through the glass doors. Rolling, I was up on my feet in seconds. I heard the women screaming, but I wasn’t taking my eyes off the target. The men had backed up, their guns high, pointed at me.
“Do it,” I taunted.
“Trey,” Low cried out.
“Do it now. You won’t get the chance again because you’ll be dead.”
“Doesn’t matter what you do to me. At least I know Baxter will fuck you up. That’s all I need to think about when I die,” one said with a smirk just before I shot him right in the heart and he dropped to the ground. My eyes glanced off the dead guy to the other cockhead still standing.
“What Baxter didn’t tell you fuckers is that I don’t like anyone messing with my family and club. He put you all up to this and knew you’d be dead for it. You dumb fucks. You die knowing you failed and know you did it for nothing because Baxter won’t get to me. He won’t get to my family, and he sure as fuck won’t get to my club, because I’ll make him bleed before that.”
“Dodge, you can’t shoot him,” Lan said, coming in from the back.
I chuckled. “I won’t have to with this one.” I looked up and out the skyline to the roof. With a nod, the glass shattered and Dallas’s bullet hit the fucker right between the eyes.
“Shit. Fuck!” Lan barked.
“Don’t stress, Detective.” Dive smiled and gestured with his head to Dallas. “His gun and bullet belong to Violet.”
Talon’s sister and private investigator gave us all back-up guns of hers when we got in shit situations, for when we needed cover. However, I didn’t think I’d be getting off for what went down that day. I’d killed a man with my own gun. There was no way I’d get outta that.
At least seeing the threat to my family was dead, my heart finally calmed the fuck down.
Never had I been scared shitless in my life.
The thought of losing my family in one day…fuck, I couldn’t go there. I still felt sick to my stomach.
“Trey,” was sobbed beside me. She was in my arms in seconds. I wrapped her up tight, my nose going into the hair at her temple to take in her scent.
Peace.
Fuckin’ beautiful peace.
“The kids?” I asked into her neck where I kissed.
“They got out.” She nuzzled into me more.
Christ.
Jesus.
“They’re with Vicious,” Parker called out. His sudden movement caught my attention. He walked slowly over to the guy I shot and leaned over for the dead dude’s gun. Holding it with his tee, he turned it on himself and shot himself in the shoulder. Shocked shouts erupted, but his eyes looked up and landed on me. “Self-defence.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck me. He just shot himself to take the fall.
No one would question a detective.
Parker gestured to my gun with his hand. I held back. “Don’t be a fucking fool,” he snarled. “You got people to take care of.”
Low took the gun from my hand and walked over to Parker. She handed it to him, looked into his eyes. I knew he’d be seeing the gratitude within them, like I was fuckin’ feelin’ for the guy. She hugged him quick and kissed his cheek before coming back to me and winding her arm around my waist.
Lan sighed. Glancing over to him, I saw his smirk. “He got to it before I did.” Shit, brothers to the fuckin’ bone, even if they didn’t wear the patch. Lan continued, “Get the fuck out of here before the cops show.”
“What about everyone out there? They’ve seen them,” Low asked. I gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“They don’t know what happened in here. We’ll just say we flagged you down for some help. It’ll work out.” Lan winked at Low.
“Grateful,” I said. “To you both.”
“Just be ready when we need your help,” Parker said.
“Will do. Anything,” I offered with a chin lift before walking my woman out of the shop. I glanced just behind us to see Beast helping a still-shocked Lucia walk out, as well.
As we stepped outside, we heard bellowed, “Uncle Trey!” I turned around in time to catch Rommy, who ran and jumped into my arms. “Low helped us get out and Tex got us out by kicking in a wall. Then Mr Parker told us to wait outside with Saxon, but then Saxon got a call to say we could come see you. I’m so, so, so happy everyone is okay.”
“So am I, darlin’.” I looked down at her brother beside Low, holding her hand, and said, “You did well, kid.”
I smiled when he gave me a chin lift.
Epilogue
Dodge
Six weeks later: Christmas morning
I knew it wasn’t over with Baxter. If his last message was anything to go by, not only did I need to protect my family, but my brothers, as well. He wanted to end it all. He wanted there to no longer be a Hawks in Caroline Springs, and he was crazy enough to get his way if we didn’t stop him.
Security was a high priority. Not only at each and everyone’s house, but the garage and compound, as well. Cameras weren’t going to be enough; we needed state-of-the-art security systems, and there was only one man I trusted with the job. I’d previously called Warden and told him what was going down. His shit would soon be passing, he hoped; though he’d said even if it hadn’t, he’d be there to help us out. He was another honorary brother, and it eased some stress knowing he was comin’ a couple of days after
Christmas to get started.
I’d been worried about Low and the kids after the shit had gone down at the shop. However, I didn’t need to. No one lost sleep. Even Rommy had a will of steel, and I found out why when she came to me a couple of nights after it.
I was sitting on the couch with Texas beside me. He was playing the Xbox, some car game, when Rommy walked into the room and sat right down on my lap, resting her head against my chest. If I didn’t already love the kid, I would have then.
“Need to know somethin’,” I said.
Tex paused the game and asked, “What, Uncle Trey?”
“You guys got any worries after what happened?”
Tex shrugged then shook his head. “I’m cool.”
“Yeah, Uncle Trey, we’re cool.” Rommy smiled up at me. “Tex and I talked. We weren’t too worried because we knew our tough uncle would come for us. We knew you’d stop those bad men and you did. You keep us safe.”
Jesus.
I got fuckin’ goose bumps. My eyes closed for a second and when I opened them, I asked, “You guys, you know I love havin’ you both here, yeah?” They nodded.
Fuck, was I really gonna put it out there?
Yeah, I was, because every kid deserved to know. “Best day of my life when I got you two here to live with me.” Rommy’s bottom lips wobbled and I felt Tex stiffen beside me. “There’ll be many more kick-arse days while we live together. But, I wanted you both to know…you two are great kids, and it’s a damn pleasure to have you with me. You know I love you two, right?”
“Loveyoutoooo,” Rommy cried and threw her arms around me.
Tears formed in Tex’s eyes. His lips quirked up and he nodded. “Same here, Uncle Trey. Same here.” I reached out and tagged him with a hand to the back of his neck before I pulled him in to me.
It was time to share those strong-as-shit feelings with my woman.
A month. It only took me a month or so after the situation to get the tampon outta my arse and share the words with my woman.
Low started to shift beside me in bed. She was waking, and I wanted her to wake with need. Sliding my hand down her stomach and straight into her panties, I didn’t waste time. I circled her clit. She moaned and slowly opened her eyes.
