by Debra Kayn
"Notus found me before he could..." Gracie shook her head. "The killer is dead. My mom can finally rest in peace."
"But, can you?" whispered Erikka, knowing she shouldn't pry and unable to help herself.
Gracie swiveled and looked at her with wet cheeks from the tears that had fallen during her retelling. "Yes, and it's because of Chuck that I have hope that someday, I'll find peace, and I won't be scared, and I won't spend every waking moment afraid that something will happen and I won't stay up all night afraid to shut my eyes. I'm not there yet, but I've come a long way since they found me tied to the killer's bed. To the same bed my mother was probably tied to, too."
"Oh, Lord," whispered Erikka, closing her eyes briefly.
"My sister dropped everything to help me afterward, but she had a bar to run and a man she was in love with." Gracie inhaled deeply. "I'm here because I want you to know it was Chuck who stuck by me, who slept on my couch at night so that I could sleep without being afraid. He taught me how to go outside when I refused to leave the house. He treated me normal when even my twin treated me as if I was damaged and scarred. He saved my life."
Erikka reached out and held Gracie's hand. "I didn't know."
"Of course, you didn't." Gracie paused. "It hasn't been easy on Chuck either. The man who killed my mother, who tried to kill me, was also the man who killed Thalia. Chuck has his own healing and understanding to go through after all those years."
"Oh, my God. I feel like such a —"
"You couldn't have known. Chuck is the most honest, dependable guy you would ever be lucky enough to know, and he doesn't share what other people have confided in him. Besides Clara, I know I can trust Chuck with anything because when he says I'm his friend, I'm his friend for life." Gracie squeezed Erikka's hand. "I love him. But, I'm not in love with Chuck. There has never been anything but friendship between us."
Ashamed of her thoughts and behavior, her throat closed. Erikka swallowed hard and nodded. "He's told me the same thing about you, but I didn't believe him. I was jealous. I've seen how many women contact him and how easy it is for him to flirt."
"That was Chuck." Gracie's eyes softened. "We all handle what life has given us, and you're probably learning some of the heartbreak that Chuck has lived through, and continues to deal with because he chose to search for missing person. When a job is over, he doesn't let them go. He takes every person he couldn't safe, he couldn't find, and it scars him. All his drinking, fighting, women were Band-Aids that temporarily made him feel better." Gracie stood. "I've already said too much. I should go."
"I'm..." She walked down the steps and caught up with Gracie beside her car. "I'm in love with him."
Gracie nodded. "Tell him. I think he'd like to hear you say it."
Humbled by Gracie's dedication to Chuck, Erikka asked, "Why did you tell me?"
"Because I love Chuck and I want to see him happy. And, I do see him happy with you."
She nodded and stood in the driveway as Gracie drove away. Numb from hearing about Gracie's recent past, she stared into nothing knowing all her insecurities about Gracie were misplaced and wrong. She wouldn't want Chuck to be anything different, and that included supporting a female friend who needed him.
Interrupted in her musing by a loud noise, she raised her chin and found Chuck rolling into the driveway on his Harley. Caught up with all the emotions growing inside of her, she couldn't take her gaze off him.
He toed the kickstand, took off his helmet, and stalked toward her. Within six feet of her, she spotted the bandage on his eyebrow, the swollen eye and the crooked nose, and rushed to him. Stopping herself from throwing her arms around him, she braced herself on his stomach and studied his abused face.
"What happened to you?" She reached up to touch around his eye and stopped before she made contact.
"I got in a fight." He cupped her face and caressed her cheeks with his thumbs.
Confused because she'd just seen him at his house and he was fine, she ignored the way he was holding her. "Who did you fight?"
"All of them." He kissed her lightly. "I fought for you. I'd fight anyone to be with you."
Her eyes closed as he put more pressure on her lips. The love inside of her for him had only grown knowing more about him and what kind of man he was, not only with her but with those he let into his life. She should've known when he'd struggled through waiting and receiving the news about his friend, Rich. But the significance hadn't impacted her at the time how much his experiences in life had made him into the man he was today, standing in front of her.
"Erikka, love," he whispered. "I thought I knew fear but yesterday when you went missing, I wasn't sure I'd survive. Then, you walked out on me today, and I lost it."
She tenderly touched his cheekbone. "You did?"
He nodded. "I won't allow you to leave me. I want you for the rest of my life, and I will spend every day fighting you, fighting anyone or anything, that keeps me from you. If you need proof that I love you, I'll give you proof."
She shook her head. "Just love me."
"I can do that." He stroked her face, wiping her cheeks. "Every day. For the rest of our lives."
"I love you, so much," she said, her voice breaking. "So, so much."
He kissed her softly and groaned.
She pulled back. "Your poor face."
"You'll have time to make it better." He grinned, and because of the swelling on his cheek, it came out lopsided.
She tugged his hand. "Let me finish cleaning Rachel's house and then get you home."
"Hang on a second." His whole demeanor changed to serious, and he dug his hand into his vest pocket and then picked up her hand and placed something in it.
She looked down at the set of keys and frowned. "I gave these to Notus for payment."
"The club was never going to take your business. I never agreed that we would. You love running Bail Bonds. It was your father's legacy to you and Rachel."
"But, I have no other way to pay the club," she said, holding the keyring out to him.
He shook his head. "It's our purpose as a motorcycle club to search for missing persons. We don't take money from people who only want to find a missing loved one."
"I will figure out a way to pay you back." She put the keys in her pocket and kissed him.
He smiled against her lips and murmured. "Never leave me. Stay with me for the rest of my life, and we'll call it even."
"I can pay that." She nipped his bottom lip and tugged him forward.
He came willingly. Her stomach fluttered. She couldn't wait to pay off her debt.
Chapter 35
On her hands and knees on the bed, Erikka flipped her hair over her back. The end of the strands tickled Chuck's stomach, and his balls tightened. Not missing a stroke, he wrapped the hair around his fist and held her still, restrained, in front of him.
"Yes," said Erikka, her breath hissing out of her mouth.
From day one, her openness to go with whatever he tried pleased the hell out of him. But, for the last week, they'd become even more open after he'd claimed her. When she stepped out of her clothes, she made sex about whatever felt good at the moment. He thrust into her. And, when she felt good, he felt great being at the receiving end of her loving.
The comforter bunched under his knees as his momentum changed gears. One hand in her hair, holding her tight in front of him and the other hand on her hip, holding the sweetness of her body.
A soft burst of air escaped Erikka's mouth each time his cock sunk into her pussy. He held on to her as her ass bounced against him with urgency, driving him faster into her.
"Chuck." She panted. "Chuck."
His name a litany, matching the compression on his cock. His jaw relaxed, and he gazed at her before him, nothing hidden, nothing held back.
"That's it, love." He grunted, giving her more and giving it faster. "Ride it hard."
Her lower back dipped as his urgency arched her neck and the hair in his hands tightened
. He held on tighter as her pussy squeezed over and over, sucking him in, until every time he withdrew, he was pulled back into her until he wanted to stay.
"Ch...Ch...Ch...." She could no longer say his name.
Then, her hands came off the bed, her back arched as her orgasm constricted her body. He grunted, holding himself deep inside of her, letting her ride out her pleasure on him, and he was there. Right there. As her body released all the goodness on him and he came hard.
Her little trembles flowed over him, and he absorbed every jolt, every last twinge, every sigh as her body returned from its high. He let go of her hair and curved his upper body over hers, planting his hands on the mattress.
She laughed softly. "Your beard is tickling me."
He sucked hard on her neck, marking her. "Give me fifteen minutes, and I can tickle other parts of you."
She groaned in what he suspected as regret. "My sister and Tony will be here soon."
He harrumphed and pushed himself off her, slipping his cock out of her body. There were other things he'd enjoy doing more than the dinner Erikka planned to have with Rachel and Tony. Like go to the dentist or change the top head on his Harley.
"Give them a chance." Erikka rolled off the bed and slapped his ass as he walked to the bathroom to get rid of the condom.
Everyone had a right to live their life the way they wanted, but he had a big problem with any man who compromised the safety of a woman. He couldn't find any reason for Stoddard to take Rachel out of the country away from her safe-net and hide out with her—threats or no threats. That wasn't the way to protect someone you loved. Stoddard had made bad choices.
Chuck had learned early on that sometimes the best of intentions were the worst choices, and had irrefutable consequences.
After washing up, he went downstairs and found Erikka in the kitchen bent over looking into the oven. He gave her inviting ass a pat.
"Hey, you." She turned and threw herself at his chest, kissing him hard. "Are you getting hungry?"
Her flushed cheeks from having her head in the hot oven had him thinking he could go another round. "For you."
"No time." She ran her fingers over his cheekbone. "Your swelling is all gone, but the skin around your eye is getting greener than it was last week."
"It only makes me look sexier." He leaned back, pressing his cock against her, and grinned. "Girls love a guy who can fight."
"Not this girl." She narrowed her eyes at his teasing, but her amusement broke through in a smile. "Okay, maybe a little."
"I'm hot, huh?"
She snorted. "Don't start something we can't finish, honey."
"I can finish." Hell, he could go all day with her.
The doorbell rang. He grunted as she hurried away from him. Grabbing two beers, he contemplated drinking both of them. It was going to be a long day until he had her alone again.
The feminine excitement from the other room drew him out of the kitchen. Letting the females have their fun, he walked up to Stoddard and shook the man's hand. He'd be civil, for Erikka's sake. Her sister meant the world to her, which mean he'd do anything for her. Including, letting Stoddard in his house.
"Hey, man." Chuck handed Tony a beer bottle. "How's it going?"
"Feels like I've been given a new life." Tony sniffed and shook his head. "I'll admit there were more than a few times when I thought I'd be spending the rest of my life behind bars and away from Rachel."
"What, baby?" Rachel walked over to Tony and slipped her arm around his back. "Did you call my name?"
"Just telling Chuck about our week." Tony kissed Rachel's forehead.
He watched them, wondering how real their relationship was and if Tony was doing the right thing by sticking with Erikka's sister. Usually, he sided with the law. Though there were exceptions. Every Notus member had played judge and jury and dealt out their own punishments. Men who'd avoided prison time because of a technicality and were known killers, rapists, and abusers disappeared from the community and landed in a six-foot grave in the wilderness.
"Even though it was absolute hell being in jail for two days, I have to say that the St. John's Police Department listened and when Tony gave them the information on how to get the proof of Teegan Markham's hand in the crimes, they really supported us. I still think having Lieutenant Gomez and the Notus Motorcycle Club president standing up for us and talking to the judge made it possible for all the charges to be dropped." Erikka smiled at Chuck. "We will always owe your club for everything they've done and the support you've given Erikka and both of us."
Chuck reached out, hooked Erikka's neck, bringing her to his side, and nodded at Rachel. "Stay safe and happy, that's all that we expect."
The timer on the oven dinged. Erikka and Rachel went into the kitchen, and Chuck motioned Tony to the couch. The last quarter of the Seahawks versus Giants game played on the flat screen.
During the first penalty, Chuck asked, "Your mom doing okay after finding out the whole story?"
"She is." Tony set his beer between his legs and stared at the screen.
Chuck studied him. He wasn't watching the game.
"When we talked to your mom, she never wavered in her support of you. You must have a good relationship," said Chuck.
Tony gave a sharp nod. "I hated running, but I knew if I stayed Markham would either go through with his threat to kill my mom or I'd end up killing him, which would end up devastating my mom. She'd already lost a husband and a daughter to murder."
"Shit," mumbled Chuck.
"My dad took my younger sister and me to the convenience store after school to get a candy bar when I was little. I stayed in the car, not knowing that they'd walked into an armed robbery taking place." Tony rubbed his jaw. "It's been my mom and me ever since."
Chuck's resolve to not like Tony disappeared. The guy had made choices on instinct to protect those he loved from being hurt. He would've done the same thing if in his position.
Chuck finished his beer. "You wouldn't happen to be a cigar smoker..."
Tony grinned. "Hell, yeah."
Chuck stood and retrieved two stogies from the box beside the door and walked outside. He cut, lit, and passed everything to Tony. Taking a seat on the railing, he blew the smoke away from the house. That first puff, combined with the beer, and his woman with her sister in the kitchen, was so close to perfect, he took in the moment and let himself relax.
"Does that thing have one of those new I-4 engines under the hood?" Chuck pointed his cigar at Tony's Mustang.
Tony chuckled and puffed on his cigar. "Three-ten horsepower. It'd probably give your Harley a run."
"Bullshit." More than the engine power, winning depended upon the rider and he was confident he could outrace Tony with his eyes closed.
"We'll have to find out. Maybe one of those days when the women are shopping or doing whatever it is that women do together." Tony inhaled deeply and inspected the end of the cigar. "I know a guy down at Portland International Raceway. He could open up the track for us."
"Look forward to it." Chuck turned at the sound of the front door of the house opening.
Erikka stepped out and walked over to stand between Chuck's thighs. "Dinner's ready."
He stubbed out his cigar and dumped what was left in the sand-filled coffee can on the porch. "I'm ready."
Tony walked into the house ahead of them. Chuck pulled Erikka back before she could step over the threshold and kissed her.
She looked up and smiled. "What was that for?"
"You're mine, love." He kissed her nose. "That makes me a happy man."
She tucked herself under his arm and squeezed his ass as they walked into the house. Good company or not, he hoped Tony and Rachel finished eating fast because he had plans. And, those plans only involved him and Erikka.
Epilogue
Six months later ~
The afternoon crowd at Vavoom's Bar provided a lowkey atmosphere perfect for a seven-month-old baby to offer smiles for the crowd gathere
d around her. Erikka leaned against Chuck in the booth and wondered if Avi Bowers could possibly be the most beautiful baby she'd ever seen.
Chuck used his finger to rock the car seat on top of the table holding Avi. Maternal pangs hit Erikka every time she was around the baby and witnessed the way Chuck was naturally drawn to the baby. He never shied away from holding, pacifying, or changing the baby when help was needed. If it was possible, she loved him more for the way he loved everyone associated with Notus Motorcycle Club. She also loved to view how each member of the club understood the significance of Avi being named after her Aunt Thalia. The stories she'd heard since learning what drove the men to search for missing persons gave her a clear understanding of what the men had gone through losing someone they loved.
While she hadn't known Thalia, she had a suspicion that if it were possible for the woman who had inspired all these men to devote their lives to saving others, Thalia would be proud of Wayne, Glen, Thad, and Chuck.
"Does she have a tooth?" Gracie leaned over the table and clicked her tongue, making Avi kick her little legs.
Lena planted her elbows on the table across from Erikka and crossed her arms over her breasts. "Yes, two of them, and they're sharp."
Erikka laughed softly. "She's growing up."
"Too fast." Lena put the rattle that fell onto the table back on Avi's belly. "She'll probably follow you down the aisle when August comes around."
"She'll be the perfect flower girl." Erikka gazed at Chuck. "Won't she?"
He nodded, putting his arm around her shoulders. "I still don't understand why we have to wait a damn year."
"Rachel and Tony are having a spring wedding, and since she announced her engagement first, it's only fair we go in order." She rubbed Chuck's stomach. "We can wait."
Gracie snorted. "Chuck, wait? I might as well take bets from everyone that by Easter, he's already taken you to the courthouse and had the judge declare you his wife."
Chuck's arm around Erikka jostled her. "That's not a bad idea."
