As soon as she hears the bikes, she grabs Ivy’s hand and rushes to the bedroom. She knows how bad this is gonna be. I turn my head when the door slams open. Brooks and Enzo come charging in and Nora is close behind them. Alex and Riley will be here any minute.
“What. The. Fuck,” Brooks roars, pinning me with fury in his eyes.
“I went back. I thought I could get Kingsley myself, but Dom and I got into it instead.”
Nora ignores everything going on and starts cleaning up my arm. The alcohol burns, but I refuse to even flinch right now. I can’t show any weakness right now. I need to take what I deserve.
He grabs my shirt, but Nora shoots him a look. He lets go and lights a cigarette. “Was I not clear when I said we are avoiding a motherfucking war? Did you not hear me when I said we would handle this as a goddamn club? What the fuck are you trying to do?” he barks.
I repeat to him everything I thought about in the truck. I just have to hope it’s enough. “I’m sorry, Brooks, I just wanted to save her.”
Nora squeezes my arm. I peek down at her and she gives me a wink and smiles. She’s proud of my decision. She’s telling me I should be too. “I need you to get the jeans off, Z. I need to see your leg. Your arm is superficial, it doesn’t need stitches,” she says.
I get my pants off and I let her get back to cleaning the blood. I look at both Enzo and Brooks. “I’m not asking for forgiveness here. I’m looking for understanding. The shit that’s been done to Harper at the hands of her father, it should enrage you just as much. Any real man wouldn’t stand for it. She’s my girl and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. You’d both do the same and you know it. We were just sitting there, playing right into their game. I made it worse, I’m well aware, but we can’t wait it out. We need to plan and we need it tonight. He’s gonna make sure Harper and I both suffer. So help me, as my family, fucking help me.”
“Fuck,” Enzo yells, scrubbing his face.
“Z, this leg is bad. It needs stitches for sure, but it’s gonna hurt. I don’t have anything to numb it,” Nora interrupts.
“Just do it,” I say.
She looks up at Enzo and Brooks. “Fucking patch him up, we’ll finish this when he’s not bleeding to death,” Brooks says, walking away.
They all go outside and Nora looks up at me. “You fucked up, but it was paved with good intentions. You need that girl as much as she needs you.”
I grin and nod. “Yeah you’re right. Now stitch me up so I can get this shit over with.”
The entire process is agony. I feel everything. The needle going in, the pulling of the skin, the tightening of the stitch. My eyes are squeezed shut and I’m doing my best not to scream out in pain.
“Almost done, Z,” she whispers. “I want you to shower when I’m done. Have Harper help you.”
I don’t say anything, just nod. I endure the pain, knowing it’s better than the alternative. I’ll do it all over if it means she’s safe and her father is dead.
A few minutes later, Nora goes to get Harper to help me shower. I want to protest, but it’s pointless. I walk into the bathroom and they stop talking.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing, baby. Come on, let me help you,” Harper says.
Nora leaves, closing the door behind her. Harper sets the shower and I strip the rest of my clothes off. “I’m alright,” I say, when she reaches her arm out to help me.
“I never said you weren’t, but I’m still gonna help you. Don’t be a stubborn ass,” she says, stripping out of her clothes.
I raise my eyebrow and run my greedy eyes over her body. “Oh you can help me, babe.”
She smiles as I step in the shower. She’s right behind me and I can feel her body close. “Not now. I’m gonna wash you and you’re going to handle your business.”
As much as I want to to argue, I know she’s right. I need to handle this mess. So for now, I stand still and enjoy the feel of her hands sliding over my body. My face is stinging from the punches. My arm and leg are burning, but I don’t stop her. She wants to feel needed and it’s the least I can do after all she’s been through tonight. After all I’ve put her through.
She finishes too quickly for my liking, but I do let her dry me. Just so I can feel her a little longer. When she’s done she pushes up on her toes and kisses me. I take advantage and deepen it, sinking my fingers into her wet hair. She moans and I hate that I need to end it.
I rest my forehead against hers and she lets out a sigh. “I’m going to deal with them and then I’m coming to bed so we can finish this.”
I kiss her again and we both get dressed. She goes back into the bedroom and I go out to face the club. I’m limping and need something for the pain, so I grab the pain pills Nora offers, before she kisses my cheek and leaves.
The guys are all in the living room so I sit down. “Alright, let’s do this.”
“We are pissed, no we are fucking livid. You started a war no one wanted. That’s on you. Any blood spilled or lives lost is on you.”
He’s right. This is all on me. Everything that happens now is because of my decision. I should feel bad about that, but I don’t. Not when I know it’s because I need to save Harper.
“You’re lucky you’re my brother’s son,” Brooks continues. Am I?
“We have no choice now, we all know that,” Enzo says.
I grab the beer Kace hands me and hope it helps with the pain. “So we talked while you were in the shower,” Kace says, warning me with his eyes not to argue.
“Tomorrow we will lay low. You’ll have everyone over for a barbecue, keep it laid back and fun. I don’t want anyone worrying about this fucking mess you got us in,” Brooks hisses. “Tomorrow night, you’ll go into Club Kingsley. No one is going to kill you, they know better. Kingsley wants that for himself. Alex will kill the cameras. Porter and Riley will get the accelerants around the building. We’ll keep the rest back and make sure it’s just you and Kingsley. You’ll kill him, no fucking around. Put a fucking bullet in his head. We’ll handle anyone who gets in the way. We burn that fucking place down and let the bodies go with it. There is no other option. This is it, understand?”
I look around at all their faces. No one is pissed, except for Brooks and Enzo. I’m fine with it though, hell they could’ve put a bullet in my head. I tip my beer to them and shake my head. “Completely understand.”
It’s what we should’ve done to begin with. Tomorrow night, Kingsley will be dead. Harper and I will finally be free.
Chapter 22
Harper
“Is this really necessary?” I ask for the tenth time.
Zane wraps his arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “I told you it is. It’ll be fun.” I lift an eyebrow and he laughs. “Okay it won’t be fun, but it’ll be a distraction.”
He won’t tell me what was said last night. I want to push, but I know better. Since everyone is coming over, I know he made amends with his club. It’s my club I’m worried about. That’s why I think this barbecue is a ridiculous idea. The weight of the world is crushing me and I’m told to smile and pretend. Sadly, I know all too well how to do it.
Ivy is still here, she slept on the couch again. She’s nervous about today, but I told her to relax and enjoy herself. If she has a shot at wanting to get with Kace, she’s got to get them to like her. I’ll introduce her and stay by her as much as possible. I’m not going to feed her to the wolves. Plus, if I’m right, I think Kace will be right there with her. It makes me smile and I kinda hope they make a go at it. It would be nice to have her around all the time.
“Harper, can you help me?” Ivy calls from the bathroom.
I kiss Zane’s cheek before going to see what she needs. “What’s up?”
“Do I need more makeup? Is this outfit alright?” she questions.
I smile and look her over. She has on tight jeans, ripped in places. Her dark blue shirt has one arm and the other is bare. Her makeup is a little darker than normal,
but not overwhelming. She finishes it off with her long blonde hair in loose curls around her head. “Ivy, you look beautiful.”
She visibly relaxes and shakes her head.
After a few hours, the barbecue is in full swing. The drinks are flowing, the food is eaten, and the laughs are loud. I’ve been with Zane, Ivy, and Kace most of the time. Zane doesn’t want me far from him. He’s constantly touching me in some way. Maybe a reminder that I’m still here or that he is. I really don’t know. After last night, I think it could be both.
He’s limping today, but otherwise showing no signs of pain. I’ve asked several times, but he cuts me off with a kiss each time. I’m not complaining though.
“I’ll be right back,” he whispers.
He goes with Kace and I grab Ivy’s hand. “Come on, we’re going to sit with the women.”
“Shit,” she whispers, squeezing my hand.
I laugh as we walk over. “Ivy and I are gonna sit,” I say.
Gloria looks her up and down, sipping on her beer. Adalyn smiles. It’s Nora who makes me laugh. “You look like you’re about to shit your pants, sweetheart. Relax, we don’t burn our club name into you the first day we meet you.”
“Nora, stop it,” Adalyn laughs. “Give us the details.”
“Oh umm, alright. I grew up here and I’m a waitress,” Ivy begins.
All three laugh and I fight mine by biting my cheek. “We know who you are, sweetheart. We mean, tell us what’s going on with you and Kace,” Nora says.
I widen my eyes and look at them. “I think that’s not something even in the talks yet,” I say.
“Can she not answer for herself?” Gloria asks.
They are purposely being bitches. I don’t fucking like it. They are making her see them as the nasty, scary women she thought they were.
“I can speak for myself. There’s nothing to tell. We’re kinda friends,” she says with a shrug.
“Kinda friends?” Nora questions, blowing smoke in our direction.
“I don’t know what you want me to say. Do you want me to lie and say we’re something we aren’t? Do you want me to lie and say we’re more than friends? I have no place here, I sure as hell am not welcome, but I’m not gonna lie either.”
I smile with pride. I didn’t know she had it in her. “Fuck yeah,” I say.
They start laughing and I roll my eyes. Of course it was a test and she passed. Bitches. “Oh we really like you,” Nora says.
After a half hour I go inside to use the bathroom and I stop when I hear Zane in the kitchen.
“I love her more than I could ever express,” he says. “I will do anything to protect her. If I die doing it, she’ll know it was the only way.”
Tears sting my eyes and I rush down the hall. Something isn’t right. I can feel it in my soul. Whatever they have planned, isn’t good enough. Especially if he’s going in with the mentality that he’s fine with dying. I look at myself in the mirror and wipe away the single fallen tear. I blow out a breath and grab a hold of the sink. I’ve never backed down from a battle. Never hid from my fears. Never let my emotions get the best of me. I’ve survived more things than any one person should ever have to face. I have the internal scars to prove it. In my heart I hold deep hatred, but I also hold love. Love that was only shown to me by two people, my mother and Zane. She made sure I knew what love felt like and Zane made sure I never forgot. He’s my greatest hope, my deepest desire, and my truest love. He’s ready to risk it all, for me.
I know what I need to do. It’s never been more clear. I’ll end this war.
Hours later, everyone finally leaves. Except for Ivy, Kace and Finn stationed at my front door as always. It doesn’t matter to me though. None of it does. I need time with Zane, that’s all I care about. So when he suggests we go to bed, I’m more than willing.
“If you like him, make your move,” I whisper to Ivy, hugging her.
Zane and I go into the bedroom and he slams his mouth to mine. I let him take what he needs, but when he tries to push me onto the bed I stop him. “What’s wrong?” he whispers.
I smile and run my hands up his solid chest. “Nothing, baby. I’m gonna ask you for something though.”
“Anything.”
I knew he’d say that, he always does. “I want you to make love to me, not fuck me.”
He searches my eyes and steps back. I watch him as he pulls off his shirt, my eyes taking in all the ink and muscle in front of me. The cut on his arm is prominent. His pants are next to go, his solid legs flexing as he removes them. The stitches look painful, but there’s no redness. It makes my heart beat faster. He bled for me.
He steps closer and very slowly undresses me. We’re both exposed, both needing each other in more ways than one. When his lips gently touch mine, I whimper as he softly kisses me. He backs us up until my legs hit the bed, slowly lowering me down. He kisses my neck, moving down my cheek to my breasts. He takes his time, loving each one, until my nipples are painfully hard. My hands are rubbing his back, enjoying the feel of his strength. His hand moves between my legs and rubs at me, making sure I’m wet, which is not necessary at all. I’m dripping with need.
He, without hurry, pushes his hard cock into me. I’m stretching, feeling every inch of him. We start moving together, slow and steady. He runs his hands down my arms and grabs my hands. Our fingers interlock and he moves them above my head.
“Look at me, babe,” he whispers.
I obey and his blue eyes slam into mine. They are heavy with desire, but full of love. It’s the most amazing sight I’ve even seen.
Our bodies drag against each other, skin on skin, steadily. I’ve never had someone make love to me. It’s more powerful than I expect it to be, and tears start filling my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, never stopping his steady movements.
“Absolutely nothing. It’s all perfect, baby,” I breathe.
He picks up the pace, but just a little and I’m starting to feel my body tighten. He knows, he feels it. When his fingers rub my clit, I see stars.
“Fuck, Harper, you’re beautiful perfection.”
I start to shake and he pinches my clit, sending me over the edge. It’s the strongest orgasm I’ve ever had, ripping me in two. “Zane,” I moan as my body continues to convulse.
“I’m right behind you, babe. Your pussy is wrecking me,” he growls. A few more strokes and he’s groaning my name.
We hold each other, tightly. My face is buried in his neck. I want to remember this moment, when our hearts are completely exposed. “I love you, Zane. More than you’ll ever know.”
“I love you, Harper. Forever.”
We unknowingly doze off. I didn’t want to sleep, but being in his protective arms relaxed me too much. I look at him, studying the way the moonlight highlights his strong features. He hasn’t looked this peaceful since we first got back together. It makes me happy. Proves I’m doing what’s best.
I very carefully slide out of bed, making sure he doesn’t move. I watch him carefully as I get dressed, taking note he never moves. I grab my gun and stick it in my waist. I place the note I wrote earlier on his nightstand, nodding my head. I peek back one last time as I open the door and sigh. He’s worth it.
Getting out of the house isn’t going to be easy. I need to get past Finn who’s in the kitchen and Kace who’s in the living room. I very lightly pad down the hall and I want to thank a higher being, because they are both passed out. I am able to slip out the front door without being noticed.
I don’t have my car and I couldn’t take it if I did. They’ll hear it immediately. So, I walk. I walk miles to Club Kingsley. Ready to end this war, coming out victorious, with my father’s blood on my hands.
I walk in and there’s only members here. They don’t say shit because they know I’ll kill them. They aren’t going to get in between my father and me. It’s the only smart thing they’ve ever done.
I go toward my father’s office and Dom comes toward me
. “Touch me and I’ll fucking shoot you in the heart,” I hiss. He looks like shit, much worse than Zane. Pride pumps through my veins knowing my man is such a badass.
“Fuck you,” he says, stepping closer.
I grab my gun and point it at him. “I warned you.” I pull the trigger, but spare his life, for now. I shoot him once in the foot and once in the leg, right where he stabbed Zane. He screams in pain as my father’s office door slams open.
He looks at me and smiles. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“I’m sure you have, you piece of shit,” I scoff.
“You’re dead, you stupid bitch,” Doms yells.
I hold my gun up and point it at him, but keep my eyes pinned on my father. “Tell him to shut the fuck up or I’ll kill him now.”
My father has a disgusting grin on his face and it makes me want to puke. He loves this, gets a thrill out of it. He’s a sick bastard. “Dom, shut up.”
I want to turn and laugh at him, but I know better than to take my eyes off my father. I let my guard down for a second and I’m dead. His guys are standing behind me, probably with guns drawn, so I nod my head. “Get them out of here.”
He instructs them to leave and they do. “You’ve disrespected me and this club, dear daughter.”
“Consider it payback for all the shit you’ve done to me. All the photos I found, all the guys you made me pay your debts to, all the hate you’ve put in my heart.”
He laughs and walks into his office and leans against his desk. “You sound like your mother.”
I see red, my vision is blurry, and my head is spinning. He never speaks of her. He’s never once even mentioned her since her death. I thought it was grief, but how wrong was I. Bringing her up means he knows I know.
“You killed her,” I yell.
“She was a sick woman, Harper. She wasn’t strong like you. I did what needed to be done.” He grabs his gun, sliding it across the desk. He doesn’t pick it up, he keeps his hand on it, ready to take me down. “You’re acting more like her,” he says.
“I’m more my mother than I will ever be you.” I can’t let my emotions get the best of me. He’ll sense my weakness and exploit it.
Shattered (Shattered Souls MC Book 1) Page 17
