Always Love You

by Shirleen Davies

  “I happen to know Eric does own fine wine because Brooke and I are the ones who gave it to him on his last birthday. She’s working at bringing sophistication into our lives.”

  “Wine in gallon boxes doesn’t count,” Mitch countered, stepping up to the stand. “Pull.”

  They finished the last two rounds, Eric ending up with ninety-eight straight as opposed to the hundred he’d been after. He broke down the shotgun, placed it in its case, and locked the trunk.

  “How about lunch?” Eric asked as the three climbed into his truck.

  “You buying?” Mitch asked.

  “Depends. You drinking?” Eric laughed, knowing Mitch’s preference for more than one beer at lunch.

  “I’ll buy the drinks,” Kade threw out.

  “And I’ll pick up lunch. I think it’s my turn anyway.” Eric pulled onto the highway, noting a group of bikers parked at a convenience store.

  “Slow down,” Kade ordered as he rolled down the window. “Citizens,” he muttered before closing the window. He wasn’t looking for recreational riders, those who made up ninety-nine percent of motorcycle owners. No, he searched for the one-percenters, the small fraction who belonged to outlaw motorcycle gangs, such as Satan’s Brethren.

  “You heard anything more?” Mitch asked. As much as he sometimes resented Kade, he didn’t want any harm to come to him, or any of the family.

  “Clive called yesterday, as did Ernesto. Both picked up tails and are certain they’re being followed by members of the local Satan’s Brethren chapter. Each has placed tails on the tails,” he snorted. “Ought to be interesting.” Clive Nelson was Kade’s DEA partner before he left the agency.

  “What do they think they’re up to?” Eric parked at their favorite lunch spot and turned off the engine, shifting toward Kade.

  “Since both are being followed, they think the club is trying to get a bead on me. Their guess is Robbie Morgan just realized I’m no longer DEA. Why the hell they followed them wearing their colors is anyone’s guess. Pretty dumb move if you ask me.” Kade shrugged. “And believe me, Robbie isn’t anyone’s fool. My sense is it’s just a matter of time.”

  “Before they learn you’re here?” Mitch asked.

  “Right.”

  They remained silent as the waitress showed them to their table, their grim faces signaling the change in mood at Kade’s news.

  “What can we do?” Eric asked, taking a sip from his cup of hot coffee while glancing around the restaurant.

  “Nothing more until we get some type of signal the Brethren are close. You two and the others are as prepared as you can be at this point.” Kade smacked the table with his palm, drawing unwanted attention to them. “Shit,” he muttered, picking up his cup. “The last thing I want is to bring a menace like Robbie and the Brethren to the family. If they do get this far, I plan to pack up and leave, draw their attention to me and away from you.”

  “The hell you will.” Mitch’s firm, low voice held its own level of danger. “There isn’t a chance you’re drawing anyone away from us. If they’re after you, they’re after all of us, and we take care of family.”

  Kade sobered at Mitch’s words. Did he know how close his comment was to the mantra many motorcycle clubs used to rally their brothers? Probably not. Clubs saw themselves as a family. Except they were made up of those outside the normal boundaries of society.

  He held Mitch’s uncompromising gaze then clapped him on the shoulder. “I hear what you’re saying and appreciate it. We’ll take it a step at a time as we learn more.” The comment needed to be said, although he still had no intention of putting any of his family in danger.

  ******

  “How reliable is the information?” Heath spoke on the phone with DEA Special Agent J.D. Montalban as he walked away from the table where he and Jace discussed further acquisition plans. “I see. I’ll get in touch with him right away and have him call you. Yes, and thanks.”

  “More news?” Jace asked.

  “A group from Satan’s Brethren were spotted leaving San Diego a week ago, heading east on the freeway. The border crossing near Yuma confirmed several of them rode past. There weren’t any confirmed sightings after that.”

  “And he’s just now getting this to us?” Jace leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

  “There was a massive communication screw-up between agencies. Agent Montalban just heard of it this morning. He’s been trying to reach Kade for an hour. Do you know where he’s working today, Jace?”

  “He’s taking the new client from Florida on a tour of our operations.” Jace checked his watch, then glanced out the window. “It’s almost noon. I expect him back here any time to meet me for lunch.”

  “If he’s not back in thirty minutes, we go find him.” Heath shot a glance at Jace.

  “Agreed, but the Brethren could be going anywhere. Aren’t they headquartered in Texas?”

  “They are, but the odds are on the side of them heading north, toward us.” Heath stood and paced across the room. “Kade knows them better than anyone. He’d be the one who’ll have the most insight.” Heath shook his head at the danger he believed was riding their way.

  “What about notifying the others?” Jace stood and joined Heath at the window, which had an unobstructed view for miles.

  “Eric and Mitch flew out this morning to inspect additional real estate deals. Cam’s in Colorado with Lainey. As far as I know, Cassie and Brooke are in the office.”

  “And Amber?”

  Heath turned toward Jace. “What about her?”

  Jace crossed his arms. “We had her take instruction from Kade for this purpose. Besides, anyone would have to be blind not to see how she and Eric look at each other. My two cents? I think we need to include her as part of the extended family—at least for this situation.”

  Heath nodded then looked toward the street. “Here he comes now.” He walked to his desk and grabbed the phone. “Phyllis, send Kade into my office as soon as he walks in. Oh, and take care of the client until we’re finished.”

  Within minutes Kade sat at Heath’s desk, looking between him and Jace, seeing worry etched across both faces.

  “Okay. Spit it out. What’s going on?”

  “J.D. Montalban has been trying to reach you,” Heath said.

  Kade grabbed his phone, noting several calls from J.D. He’d put it on silent, not wanting calls to interfere with the tour. “Shit,” he muttered and looked up. “What’d he say?”

  Heath explained the conversation, finishing as Kade’s phone rang.

  “Taylor.”

  “Kade, it’s J.D. Have you spoken to Heath?”

  “Just finished.”

  “I’m afraid I have more bad news. We’ve confirmed the Brethren did come your way a week ago. We’re checking details now, but it appears they’re close to you. No current data on specific activity. My guess is they’re lying low, figuring how best to get to you. Have you noted anything at all?”

  Kade silently cursed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger. The worst case situation seemed to be coming true, and a lot faster than he’d guessed.

  “Nothing I can tie to the Brethren. Tell me the rest.”

  “Johnson is working to get an okay to send several of us out your way.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Dennis Johnson had been Kade’s boss and headed up the San Diego office. Once the man set his teeth into something he didn’t let go. “He’s getting stonewalled and you know how that pisses him off. I’ll wager at least Clive and I will be coming your direction within days.”

  “Got it.” Kade would need to get prepared to trigger his own plans.

  “I don’t like what I think you’re thinking. Tell me.” J.D. had known Kade and Nesto for years, hung with them between assignments, and considered both close friends. “You’ve got to talk to me, bro. I can’t have your back if you don’t.”

  Kade walked to the window, turning his back to Heath and Jace. “I’ll have to get back to yo
u.”

  “I won’t wait long.”

  “Got it.” Kade hung up, turning to face his uncles. “They’re here.”

  ******

  “I did have a wonderful time, Dylan. You have a great group of friends.” Amber walked down the hall to her office, holding the phone to her ear while juggling an armload of files. “Sure. Coffee tomorrow morning sounds great. Where? Perfect. I’ll see you then.”

  She pushed into her office, dropping the files on her desk, and opening her blinds. The day started out clear and cloudless, with a bite in the air. According to her ex-Marine neighbor, snow should be coming any day. Not a lot, but enough to slow you down.

  Amber wondered where Eric was at that moment, wishing he were here in the office, where she had a chance to run into him throughout the day. Funny how she’d grown used to seeing him in the halls, grabbing coffee, or in meetings. Each time, without fail, her chest tightened and the butterflies she’d come to expect fluttered in her stomach. She’d been a fool to think she could work around him and remain untouched.

  The phone on her desk rang, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the extension and grabbed the receiver.

  “Hello, Heath. Sure. I’ll be right there.” She grabbed her notebook and pen, then hurried to his office. The urgency in his voice concerned her only a little. He always seemed to have one urgent situation or another for her to tackle since she’d started. She pushed the door open, surprised to find Jace and Kade at the table.

  “Have a seat, Amber. We’ve got something to discuss with you.”

  Her stomach clenched at the severe tone of Heath’s voice and the tension she saw on his face. Her eyes darted between the three men as she lowered herself into a chair.

  “You know a little about my situation, correct?” Kade asked her.

  “Only what you and Brooke have told me. Why?”

  “It seems the object of our concern is closer to Fire Mountain than we thought.” He pushed a file toward her. “Go head. Take a look.”

  She took the manila folder, then hesitated, looking up at Kade.

  “It’s all right. Nothing gruesome.”

  Amber opened the file to see several photographs. She looked through them once, then started over, taking more time on each one. All were of men wearing what she knew to be club colors.

  “The photos are members of Satan’s Brethren, the club I rode with while on assignment with the DEA. This one,” he pointed to a grainy image of a lone man with long hair and beard, an almost feral smile on his face, “is Robbie Moran. He took over leadership of the club when his father, Sonny, was arrested. Note his jacket. His cut, or vest, has the same colors on the back. On this one,” he pointed to another photo, “is an SBMC tat. The initials refer to Satan’s Brethren Motorcycle Club. Most of the brothers have this tattooed somewhere on their body. These men are Robbie’s top two bodyguards. This one is Swinger and this is Joker. Don’t let their smiles and good looks fool you. Both will kill on an order from Robbie and won’t lose any sleep over it.” He pierced her with his deep green eyes. “And that includes women.”

  Amber swallowed and tried to clear the dryness in her throat. “Why are you showing me these?”

  “You need to know how to identify them. I’ve given the same photos to all the others—Brooke, Lainey, Cassie, Annie, Caroline, and the men. It’s part of what I planned to review with you this weekend when we met again for training, but the urgency has escalated. I felt it couldn’t be put off.”

  She sat back, a shaky hand pushing a few stray strands of hair away from her eyes. “You know you’re scaring me.”

  “I wish I could tell you it wasn’t my intent, but it is. You need to burn these images into your head, study the pictures, and learn to identify the colors. If you see anyone who resembles these men, or wears clothing with these emblems, get in touch with me right away.”

  “Should I follow them?”

  “No!” Kade, Heath, and Jace said in unison.

  “Oookay…” her voice trailed off as she lowered her head to look over the pictures again.

  “You are not to go after or follow them—under any circumstances. The information and training is for defensive use only. What I’ve shown you and the others is as much as I can provide on short notice. I’d hoped to have more time or that the intel about the gang coming after me would prove false.”

  Heath leaned in, resting his arms on the table. “We won’t think any less of you if you resign, leave the area. Plus, it might be the smartest move. No one should have to start with a company then find themselves in the middle of something like this. When it’s over, you’ll be welcomed back.”

  Until Heath mentioned it, the thought of resigning hadn’t occurred to her. His suggestion held little temptation now.

  “Thank you for offering, but I’m staying. You can use one more set of eyes, not one less.” She turned her attention back to Kade. “What else can I do to help?”

  “You’re doing all you can. I’ll be in touch with everyone else to give them a heads-up.”

  Amber picked up the folder and stood. “I know this is difficult for each of you. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do—anything.”

  They nodded before Kade spoke again. “Be aware we may get to the point where you’ll need an escort to and from your place.”

  “But—”

  “There’s a good chance of it, all right. Just be prepared.” Kade watched her leave then picked up his phone. “Eric, I’m here with Heath and Jace. We need to talk.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “So the rumors are true.” Amber sat at the bar between her kitchen and living room in her apartment, sipping coffee before leaving for the office. It had been a couple of days since her meeting with Heath, Jace, and Kade, and she still hadn’t quite come to terms with the full implications or dangers.

  “Definitely true. I got to work about an hour ago. My supervisor wanted to see me right away. She gave me an envelope which included my notice and information on a severance package.” Dana took a shaky breath, still in shock from the news. She thought she’d prepared herself—guess not.

  “When is your last day?”

  “Today,” she choked out, collapsing into her desk chair. “Perfect, huh? She said they don’t need my services any longer and I should use the time to find something else.”

  “And severance?” Amber felt miserable for her closest friend. She knew the feeling of being tossed out as if you didn’t matter and all your time with the company meant nothing.

  “Three months, plus they’ll pay my medical for that long. Oh, and I get my vacation pay.” The line went silent for a moment before Dana spoke up again. “Well, I need to pack up. I know I need to keep searching for a new job in Denver, but what I want to do is take a break. Maybe I’ll just get a waitress job. Decent hours, good tips.” She laughed, but Amber could tell it pained Dana to leave a job she loved.

  “Call me tonight. We can talk about you coming out here for a while.” Amber cringed as soon as the words were out, knowing Fire Mountain was the last place Dana should be right now.

  “That may be the best thing I’ve heard since waking up this morning. I’ll call you tonight.”

  Amber set down her phone and finished her coffee. Maybe she could take a trip to Cold Creek, Colorado where Cam ran the MacLaren bucking bronc business. He’d invited her out and it was just a few hours east to Denver.

  She grabbed her coat and purse, knowing she’d never leave Fire Mountain right now, not with the MacLarens and Sinclairs dealing with such a serious threat. She and Dana would have to keep in touch by phone and email. She’d go through her contacts to see if anyone might have something for Dana, a friend who felt much more like a sister.

  Amber pushed the key into the ignition as her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID, seeing it was Eric.

  “Are you back?” she asked.

  “Not until this weekend. I hope I’m not interrupting you.”

&nb
sp; “No. Just leaving for the office. What’s up?”

  “I wanted to check to see how Jillian is doing. If you’re aware of anything she needs from me.”

  “I thought the two of you talked every day? Do you have some concerns?”

  “We talk and all seems fine, no real concerns. I’d like your input.” Eric rested against the headboard of his hotel bed, having no worries at all about Jillian, but needing to hear Amber’s voice. He’d never admit to it, though.

  She sat in her car and smiled. “Jillian’s bright, resourceful, and pretty much a perfectionist. I think she also has a crush on you.”

  He pushed straight up, holding the phone tight to his ear. “What? Not a chance. I hardly know her.”

  “I didn’t imply anything, just letting you know. I’m certain the crush will pass once she gets to know you.” She bit back a snicker.

  Eric didn’t respond, making Amber wonder if he’d heard her.

  “Have you said anything to her?” he asked in an odd tone.

  Amber’s brows drew together in confusion. “About what?”

  “Us.” He stretched out the word, his voice low and smooth.

  Her mood changed from fanciful to somber. “No, I’ve said nothing to anyone. I wanted to talk about it more, but since you’re asking, are you certain it’s what you want, to try again?” She felt certain he could hear the hard thudding of her heart, which felt almost painful in her chest.

  Frustration seeped through him. He didn’t believe he could’ve been more clear about his feelings. “Damn straight I’m certain. I love you and want you in my life—always.”

  “All right.” Her voice came out as a whisper.

  Eric fumbled the phone, finally dropping it and scrambling to grab it. “What did you say?”

  She let out a breath, her heart racing. “I said yes. Let’s try again.”