“So what does this all mean? Like, I’m sorry for everything that happened to you, but am I gonna die? Ivy asks.
“No,” Kace butts in. “Noone is gonna die.”
“We’ll be taking you all somewhere secure. When it’s safe, we’ll bring you all back and life will be normal again,” I reply, hitting the joint I just rolled. I offer it to Ivy and she takes it, surprising the shit out of me.
“How long?” Ivy asks, passing it back to me.
Harper grabs her hand and forces a smile. “It won’t be long, I promise.”
She gets up to go to the kitchen and I follow. “I need to go for a little bit. My mom and the others will be here and I’ve got Finn and Porter here.”
“Alright,” she says, keeping her back to me.
“Babe,” I begin.
She turns around and grabs my cut, holding me to her. “Take me to our spot, when you get home.”
I run my fingers through her hair and grab it. “If it’s not too late, I promise.”
She pushes up on her toes and kisses me. It’s gentle, but it still sends a shock through me. “Be careful.”
“Always.”
Kace and I leave, heading to Kingsley’s club. Alex said something was going on, so we’re all on our way to see if that prick is back.
We keep our distance, but watch from afar. It is busy, but that could just be the crowd. I hate admitting it, but it is a successful business. That’s thanks to Harper though. This has nothing to do with Kingsley.
“That’s a lot of people,” Kace says.
I focus my attention on the front door and parking lot. There are people coming and going out the door. The parking lot is crawling with people. There is no sign of Kingsley, though. Actually, there’s no sign of any of the Vegas Kings.
“Maybe they are doing some kind of special. You know, buy one get one,” Porter jokes.
We all lightly laugh, but keep watch. But, after three hours of nothing, we decide to leave. We’ll get him, we just need to be patient.
When Kace and I get back to my place, I stop him outside. “I’m taking Harper for a ride. We’re gonna be gone for a while. I’d rather you, Riley, and Finn stay here with Ivy. Order food, drink, I don’t care. Just keep her safe.”
He nods. “Okay we’ll just chill here.”
He turns to walk away and I call his name. “Don’t fuck on my bed.”
“Fuck you,” he snaps.
We walk inside and I’m laughing, especially when I notice he’s really pissed. He definitely has a thing for that girl.
“How’d it go?” Gloria aks.
I’m surprised they’re still here. I expected them to be in and out. However, her question pisses me off. “Club business, you know that shit.”
“Relax, sweet boy,” my mom says, kissing my cheek.
I look around for Harper and when my eyes slam into hers, I grin. She’s got me all twisted with worry, but she looks contant. I cross the room and wrap my arms around her, kissing her hard. She doesn’t hesitate, she kisses me back just as rough. It’s exactly what I need. So, when she pulls away, I want to groan.
She smiles up at me and rubs my back. “Let’s get out of here.”
I grab her hand and push through the small group. “You’re all welcome to stay, but Harper and I need to take care of something. Kace was gonna order food. Beer is in the fridge and alcohol in the cabinet. We’ll be back in a little bit.”
I don’t wait for a reply or an argument. I open the front door and we leave. We get on my bike and she wraps her arms around my waist. I fucking love having her pressed up against me. Just to prolong keeping her there, I drive a little slower. She notices and laughs behind me.
Unfortunately, we get to our spot faster than I’d hoped. When she climbs off my bike, I lift her in my arms. She wraps her legs around me, giving me a soft kiss.
I walk us back by the lake and our tree. She wanted to come here for a reason and I don’t think it was to fuck. So, I sit down beside our tree and hold her against me.
It’s quiet for a while. Both of us probably lost in thoughts, but she finally clears her throat. I peek down at her and lift an eyebrow. “What’s up, babe?”
“Nothing, I just wanted time with only us,” she says, her eyes bouncing between mine.
“Anytime you want it, it’s yours.” I kiss her inviting lips and she smiles against mine.
I pull back and her smile fades. “It’s been a real shitty day, Z. I’ve got so much shit I’m carrying, I feel weighed down.”
I run my fingers through her hair and kiss her forehead. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“No, but I’m gonna,” she says.
I nod, surprised at her response. “I’m here, babe.”
She gives me a small smile, reaches up and cups my face. “You always are.” I don’t say anything, I wait for her to collect her thoughts. “Your mom, Gloria, and Nora believe my father killed my mom. They said a few days before it happened, she was at the park with me, they were all there too. So were you,” she smiles.
“Together even before we can remember,” I say.
She nods. “Yeah. They said that usually my mom would just play with me and keep her distance from them. Enemies and all, but that day, they said she sat on the bench with them. They made small talk while they watched us play. They said they always felt sorry for her, even though she was married to my father. Said there was always a sadness and worry that surrounded her. After a while she got up and looked at them and told them that whatever they were thinking was probably true. They wanted to ask questions, but apparently she picked me up and left.” She looks at me with glassy eyes. “She knew she was gonna die.”
“Fuck,” I whisper and hold her tight. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” she whispers. She clears her throat and pushes back a bit to see my face. “Even at that age, your mom said you were distracting me from the conversation. She said that she often wondered if you thought something was wrong. It’s incredible, isn’t it?”
My heart is breaking in my chest, but I’ll always be strong for her. “Yeah babe, it’s really incredible.”
“Do you remember in high school when Travis Daily was trying to get in my pants?” she asks, laughing. I smile and nod my head. “You beat the shit out of him. Told him if he even looked my way again you’d bury him alive.”
“He transferred schools,” I say, chuckling.
“Yeah, I remember,” she laughs. “I also remember everything clear as day from the first time we hung out to the last night I left your bed. You were protecting me, I knew that, but it hurt. It’s part of why I left. I wanted a clean break from you and my club.”
I gently kiss her lips, resting my forehead on hers. “Even back then, I knew I loved you. I didn’t give a shit about the clubs, they didn’t matter. I just wanted you. The older we got, the more I knew I had to protect you.” I close my eyes and sink my fingers into her hair. “But I didn’t.”
“Hey, look at me,” she demands. I open my eyes and she puts both hands on my cheeks, keeping me in place. “You did protect me and I protected myself. I did what I needed to do to stay alive. Just like you’ve done things to protect yourself. None of this is your fault, nothing.” She kisses me quickly, keeping her mouth next to mine. “You saved me.”
I want to throw her down, fuck her, and show her how she’s saved me too. I don’t though, because I think she’s got more to say.
“These last few weeks have been the happiest of my life. Which is saying a lot considering the awful shit that’s happened.” She tries to smile, but I see the tears in her deep blue eyes. “It’s you, Zane, you are the reason. You’re the only person who’s ever cared for me, protected me, loved me.”
“Babe,” I say, holding her hair tighter. I can’t find the words, but I feel like she’s saying goodbye.
“Promise me something,” she continues, ignoring me.
“Anything.”
She smiles and her eyes are piercin
g through me. “You will always know that as hard as you love me, I love you more.”
“Impossible,” I whisper.
“You promised,” she says back.
I don’t say the words because there is no way it’s true, but I nod. “Babe, are you trying to tell me something?”
She throws her head back and laughs. I lift an eyebrow in confusion. “I thought I was making myself clear here. I’m saying you loved me from the start and you’ll love me until the end. I get it now.”
“I’ll never let you go, Harper. You’ll never be out of my arms again. Do you understand me?” I need her to say the words, to know she’s not leaving. That my world isn’t going to crumble around me.
“I don’t want you to let me go, Zane. I’m yours until the end,” she whispers.
“Fuck,” I growl.
What was just an emotional moment is now pure lust. Her words are what I’ve been wanting to hear for weeks and I’m done listening. I need to fuck her.
“Get your pants off,” I demand, lifting her so she can unbutton them and push them down her legs. I make quick work of mine, pushing them down my hips.
She is standing in front of me and her pussy is level with my mouth. I take full advantage, my mouth attacking her. She lets out a moan as my tongue lashes against her, tasting her excitement. I savor the taste, knowing I will never get enough.
“Please, Z, I need you inside me,” she begs.
Not able to ignore her begging, I pull back, licking my lips. “Sit on my hard dick. Take what you need.”
She sinks down onto me, causing me to shudder. Her pussy wraps around me so tight, squeezing me. It takes me a minute, but she doesn’t wait. She rocks her hips, moaning into the silent night. Her hips roll and she all but screams.
I push her shirt up, sucking on her hard nipples. “Oh God,” she groans.
I begin moving, thrusting into her. I grab her hips and lift her slightly, bringing her back down when I slam into her. After a few times she understands what I want. It's an uncontrollable need. We are frantic, clawing at each other while my cock is buried deep inside. Our moans and the slapping of our bodies are echoing around us, being swallowed into the dark night.
“Fuck, I’m gonna come,” she screams.
Her back arches and I watch as her body gives me exactly what I want. I can’t hold out any longer and my orgasm chases hers, filling her with all I have to give.
We stay connected until our breathing is under control. I kiss her sweet lips and we both smile. “I love you, Harper.”
“I love you too, Zane.”
The ride home is fast and when we get there, everyone is asleep except for Kace. We walk in like teenagers, hands all over each other.
“Finally,” Kace says. “Damn, didn’t you get enough?”
Harper laughs and kisses his cheek. “Did you?”
“Shut up. Nothing happened,” he says.
“When did my mom leave?” I ask.
He looks at the clock. “Shit, hours ago. They all left shortly after you. Since nothing happened tonight, they were all happy to get home.”
Harper looks between us. “What was supposed to happen?”
“Nothing, just went to see if your old man was home yet,” I say.
“Z,” Kace warns, shooting me a pissed off glare.
“You didn’t see him?”
“Nah, it was just really busy at the club tonight. You know how to run a successful business, I’ll give you that,” I say. She drops her water and covers her mouth. “What the fuck?”
“He’s home,” she whispers.
Chapter 20
Harper
My heart is pounding and my stomach is churning. He was back when he called today. I knew it was a test. A test I failed and he’s going to seek his revenge. We don’t have time. We need to get everyone to safety. He’s going to kill anyone in his path to get to me and Zane. I will not allow him to hurt anyone else.
“Harper,” Zane yells. “How do you know he’s back?”
I take a deep breath to try to calm myself before I look up at him. “Those weren’t customers for the club, those were his customers and dealers. He drops off the big loads on the way home. After that, it’s like a fucking dispensary. They all come, every single time. The drugs are gone before the night is even over. He spends the rest of the time counting his money.”
Zane picks up a chair and throws it across the room. “Fuck,” he yells, running his hands through his hair.
“We need to get everyone somewhere safe. There’s no time,” I say, glancing between Zane and Kace.
Zane is on the verge of exploding, so Kace is the one who touches my shoulder. “It doesn’t work like that. We have to decide on it as a club.”
“Fuck, get everyone here. Right fucking now,” Zane yells, picking up his phone.
I walk into the living room and Ivy is sitting up with wide eyes. “What’s going on?”
A tight smile hits my lips and I sit next to her. “War,” I breathe out.
“Harper, this isn’t shit I’m used to. I’m goddamn terrified here. I’m expecting a bullet to hit me in the chest at any minute. Tell me I’m exaggerating,” she pleads.
I try my best to compose myself. She’s scared and I need to be a friend, not a club member. “Nothing is going to happen to you. It’s me and Zane my father wants. But, we are probably going to have to go somewhere for a while. Just as a precaution. I’ll be with you and so will Adalyn, Nora, and Gloria. Think of it as a big sleepover.”
“You didn’t have many sleepovers as a kid did you?” she asks, only half joking.
I lift my shoulders. “No, but I always wanted to.”
“You didn’t miss much. There’s always that one bitch who waits for you to fall asleep and draws on you or puts your hand in water. This seems way better,” she grins.
I lightly laugh and put my arm around her. “I’m sorry I got you dragged into this, Ivy. I swear it was never my intention. I had no idea the things that would happen over the last few weeks.”
“You mean you falling head over heels in love with the guy that everyone knew you were head over heels for?”
I sigh and look at her. “Yeah pretty much.”
We sit in silence, for a bit. My head is spinning. I’m so scared of the outcome of all this. I’m equally as pissed when I think of everything I’ve discovered. The feelings I’ve become expert at hiding, have become impossible. Once the walls started cracking, the emotions escaped. Just like everything that is happening now, it’s out of my control.
“Take Ivy into the bedroom,” Zane says, pulling me back to reality. I nod and we stand up. He grabs my elbow and I look back at him. “Trust me.”
I spin and step into his warm embrace. “Always.”
He holds me tight and buries his face into my neck. “I won’t let anything happen to you. We can’t survive without each other. We’ll vote on everything tonight, but no matter what happens, I will keep you safe.”
“I know you will,” I whisper.
The door swings open and I pull away. I don’t say anything else, I just go into the bedroom with Ivy.
“Now what?” she asks, pacing the floor.
“Now we wait to see what they decide,” I say, sitting on the bed. “Come sit, it’s gonna be a while.”
She listens and sits next to me. Turning her head, she sighs. “I don’t understand. What are they deciding and why are they all coming to do it?”
I smile and turn my body to hers. “This club, any club, is a family. No decision is made without a vote. They all need to agree. Nothing happens without that. In order for that to happen, they all need to be here.”
She chews her lip and twists her hands. “So do they vote on relationships?”
I laugh and put my hand on hers to stop her nervous movements. “No, sweetie, that’s up to the couple. She just needs to understand the club will always come first.”
“I need a drink,” she mumbles. I smile and wish I cou
ld go get us both one. “Is it hard?”
I tilt my head in question. “Is what hard?”
“Being with Zane?”
“You can’t compare us to anyone else. This is some Romeo and Juliet, bullshit.” I think back to the conversation with my father when I say it. I never actually thought we’d be living it for real. But here we are, that dagger getting closer to doing someone in. Ivy’s moving hands bring me back to the present. “I think it depends on the couple. If they can both handle everything, it’s like gaining a huge family.”
She nods her head, over and over. I don’t even think she realizes she’s doing it. “Doesn’t seem worth it. Not with all the illegal shit that goes on.”
“You’re focusing on what you’ve always thought an MC was all about. It’s not what you think, but you need to see that for yourself,” I say.
“Yeah,” she whispers.
I hear the yelling from the living room, so I try to talk over it to keep her relaxed. “You like him, huh?”
“What’s his deal?” she asks, not needing me to clarify who he is.
The door swings open and Finn stands there. “I’m checking on you and seeing if you need anything,” he says. It couldn’t have been any better timing. He brings back a few beers and some leftover pizza. I thank him and tell him to stand on the outside of the door.
“He listens to you?” she questions.
I laugh and take a bit of my pizza. “He’s a prospect, so yeah he does.”
“What’s that?”
I guess because this is the only way of life I know, all these questions seem crazy to me. But, I have to remind myself that Ivy has never been around a club. She has no idea what it’s all about. I spend the next half hour trying to explain everything the best I can. She seems to understand, but I’m not sure.
“You asked me before what Kace’s deal was.” She nods her head and I continue. “Kace has a huge heart, like Zane. He’s fierce and protective. He’s also cautious when it comes to his heart,” I explain.
Shattered (Shattered Souls MC Book 1) Page 15
