by Debra Kayn
"Even after your brother died, you never tried to contact Anita or your daughter?"
Swiss stood and shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans. "No."
"But, she's your daughter." Gia heart twisted, and she pressed her hands to her chest. "She needs to know the truth about why you weren't part of her life."
"Why? As a teenager, Heather had already gone through enough shit. Her parents were divorced. My brother, the one man Heather thought of as a father and got to raise her, had died. Heather probably grew up hearing how I pulled a gun on Brad and ended up getting shot myself. To top it off, what was I supposed to tell her? That I was proud of being a member of Ronacks Motorcycle Club, that I live off splitting a pot of monthly wages for doing security work? That I don't always follow the law and the patch I wear profiles me as a questionable character anywhere outside of Haugan?" Swiss slapped his chest. "Look at me. One look at the scar on my face would remind her of how my anger ruined my chances at being a father to her. She'd be scared of me."
Gia stood and shook her head. "Oh, Swiss. No. She'd never think that."
"Yes, she would." His voice deepened, and he continued. "It's the truth. She had a better life with her mom, with Brad."
Gia went to him. He stiffened, and she ignored his nature to pull away from her and wrapped her arms around his waist and peered up at him.
"Listen to me. I'm looking at your face." She licked the stray tear that ran over her lip. "I see a man who has been unfairly judged."
"Don't say it," he whispered on a croak.
"I see a man that I'm falling in love with and he hurts because he's hurt for too long." She blinked to clear her vision. "I see a man who loved his daughter more than he loved himself and only wanted the best for her. I see a man who was scared of losing his family, who almost died fighting for them. I see a man who had no reason to protect me and did without any thought to himself. I see a man too strong for his own good. Too proud to admit he hurts. Too loving to admit that he needs more than sex in his life."
His chin came down, and he pressed his lips against her forehead. "You fucking scare me, Gia."
His confession meant more than his decision to share his past with her or his chivalrous attitude toward her since arriving in Montana or the sweet way he held her close at night after they'd had sex. Swiss was not a man to show weakness.
An expert at hiding his feelings and consciously taking responsibility where it wasn't due, he gave her the weakest part of him and trusted her to take care not to hurt him.
She swore on her life, right then, right there, that whatever happened in the next twenty-four hours and what had happened to both of them in the past, what he'd done for her to make her safe, would never be forgotten or used to hurt him.
Even though he promised her that she was safe and her troubles were over, he continued to protect her from the truth. In her heart, she understood what he wasn't saying. The Sparrows members who were after her were dead.
For him, she wouldn't question him more. For his loyalty to his club, she would respect his wishes.
For her, she understood and accepted that the only way for Swiss to save her was to kill the killers. She was safe.
He'd opened up and let her into his life. A life he'd hidden for too long.
Slipping her hands up his chest, she stopped when she reached his face and held his head. Her thumb stroked the scar she would always view as bravery. "Let me make love to you."
Swiss closed his eyes an extra beat. She understood what asking him meant. He always took control and made sure she ended up satisfied—more than satisfied— before they fell asleep. She wanted to comfort him and make him feel loved.
He opened his eyes and kissed her gently for an answer. She slipped her hand into his and led him to the bedroom.
Chapter Thirty Three
Gia pushed Swiss's jeans down over his hips. He had no plans to let her make love to him. That was his job and one he wasn't giving up because she'd spoken about loving him.
Fuck, she loved him.
His chest warmed.
Even after hearing about his past, she stuck by him and believed his intentions and not the results. No questions, only pure strength as if she could see inside his head and feel inside his heart.
Gia stood, inhaled deeply and crossed her arms in front of her, lifting the hem of her shirt over her head. She shook her head, spreading her hair over her bare shoulders, and his balls tightened. Then, she wiggled out of her jeans, adding more enthusiasm into her moves with a smile of temptation that left him dealing with the need to take control.
"You're enjoying yourself," he mumbled.
She laughed softly. "Oh, yeah. I figure I have about two more minutes before I lose my position as the seductress and become the seduced."
"Damn right, if that means I'm going to fuck you." He walked her backward to the bed.
Gia bumped into the mattress, then scooted on her ass to the middle of the bed, unabashed and open to him. He grabbed a condom and kneed the bed, hovering over her. She laid her hand on his chest. His heart thumped hard against her palm and ricocheted back to him, and that power was nothing compared to the blood pulsing in his cock wanting inside of her.
He lowered his head and kissed her, dipping his tongue in her mouth and stroking. He never tired of her warmth, her taste, her eagerness.
Pulling back, he gazed down at her. She aimed her aroused look at him. He wanted to be the only person who ever got to see her with her emotions written all over her face and in her touch.
"Gia?" He closed his mouth, humbled over how close they'd grown and her level of trust.
She rubbed his sides. "What is it?"
"You're falling in love with me." He settled between her legs and lowered his upper body, bracing on his elbows. The words meant everything to him, and he had to keep repeating them in his head to believe she could see past all his mistakes.
"I am," she whispered. "Deeply."
He smoothed her hair off her forehead. Her devotion knocked him on his ass, and a possessive need to keep her in his life swept through him. "There's no way I'm letting you leave Haugan."
Her eyes softened. "Is that your way of telling me you feel the same way about me?"
He grunted in agreement.
She smiled in reply.
He reached back for the condom, went up on his knees, and rolled the protection on his hard cock. She understood him and accepted him.
His woman.
His girl.
His Gia.
Ownership felt good, and his body pulsed in pleasure. Gia had pushed her way into his life and ended up cooking for him. Hell, no. He wasn't letting her get away.
He pressed his cock against her pussy without going in, letting her heat wash over and caress him. Her hands trailed down his arms, and he linked his hands with hers, pinning her to the mattress.
Her breasts squished against his lower chest, and she trembled in anticipation. The ultimate thrill she got over being fucked by him always took him by surprise. He inhaled deeply to slow himself down. He could smell her arousal and feel the shudders rolling through her, and he wasn't even inside of her yet.
Skin to skin, he influenced every reaction, and in return, she had him bent in all different directions. He couldn't get close enough. The need to be inside her, be a part of her, was too much for him to go slow. He thrust into her with one plunge.
Gia arched her back at the sudden fullness. He held still and groaned as her pussy clenched around him, squeezing tight, stroking the length of him. And, damned if a chill hadn't swept over his skin and his balls warmed.
He tasted her, using his tongue, his lips, before pulling his mouth away and kissing her neck. "Hold on, sweet."
He pushed up using his hands. The pink marks along her neck pleased him. He wanted everyone to know, she belonged to him.
He withdrew, plunged, and stroked her with his cock. Slow and warm, until she closed her eyes and arched her neck to give him mo
re room.
Wanting to touch more of her, he braced his weight on one arm and moved his hand down the side of her breast. His light touch hardened her nipple, and he licked his bottom lip. He could no longer tell who was turning who on more.
He cupped the back of her knee and brought it up to his shoulder, opening her wider and slipped his hand between their bodies without missing a stroke with his cock. He found her clit and circled the small nub with his finger.
She gasped and pulled her legs down closer to her chest, pressing her ass up against him.
He slid his cock in and out in determined and yet irregular sweeps. Any faster and he'd lose control.
Her breasts swayed with the movements.
Her wetness spread all over his fingers.
His dick powered by greed left him curling his toes as he dug his feet into the blanket at the end of the bed, aiding his need to be fully inside of her.
Gia reached for him, and he lowered his head and captured her mouth. His tongue mimicked the rhythm of his body as he fucked her.
Her hips came up, faster, urging and begging him for harder. He always believed he was in control, but damned if she wasn't a bossy woman in bed, demanding what she wanted and letting him know what to do. Her passion surpassed anything he'd ever experienced, and he'd become addicted to her. Morning, afternoon, night, it never mattered. His dick wasn't picky. His mind was obsessed.
She lowered her legs from his shoulders. He moved his arms wanting to feel her around him. She rubbed the inside of her thighs against his hips. Her urgency to orgasm grew and tightened around his body. He plunged harder, faster. In. Out. In. Out.
His jaw dropped open on a gasp of breath, and he grunted with each stroke, pounding into her, moving her up on the bed with his demanding movements. His head roared. So close. So fucking close.
Her breasts squeezed together. Her nipples skimmed his chest, and his ass tightened.
"Come on, sweet," he said with a growl
"Yes. Yes." Her neck arched and her legs tightened around him, drawing him in more. He couldn't take anymore, and when her release hit her fast and hard, washing through her body, he exploded.
The pressure in his balls released, flooding his body with pleasure. His muscles seized. Unable to stop, his hips pumped fitfully as if his dick was happy to be home, buried forever in her.
He shuddered.
Jolt after jolt, proclaiming his territory. She was his.
The tension in Gia's muscles gave way to softness, and she let her legs widen and relax on the bed. He lowered his head and rested against her neck until he grew heavy on top of her and rolled to the side. He held her tight until he had to finally leave her body and rid himself of the condom.
Using one of his shirts to wipe himself clean, he then returned to bed and held her longer.
She snuggled onto his chest with a sleepy sigh. He cupped her hip possessively. With her problems with Sparrows settled and behind her now, he should be able to get some sleep.
But, he was wide awake.
For the first time in over twenty-two years, he couldn't beat back his need to see his daughter. What made her send Gia to him? Was Heather okay?
Questions he once refused to ask because it hurt too fucking much to think about came flooding back and opened up old hurts.
Chapter Thirty Four
Monday morning, Swiss kissed Gia goodbye as he walked out the door headed to Watkin's Repo and Towing. She stood in the doorway and watched him start the Harley— no doubt waking everyone on the street— and ride away. It was the first time since she'd moved in with Swiss that she'd be spending the day alone.
After an emotional weekend, she needed the time to accept and understand the many changes that had come over her life, not only running to Haugan but to realize what she'd gone through at work and accepting she'd lost two people she thought of as friends and never had a chance to mourn them. She walked back into the duplex and locked the door. Even now, she had a hard time understanding how she had ever taken each day for granted.
It was normal for her to fall into her routine.
She woke up every morning at six o'clock.
She went to work from eight to five and had an hour for lunch when she liked to walk with her Fitbit on her wrist.
She spent eight hours with her coworkers and generally enjoyed their conversations when business slowed in the office.
Most evenings, she'd go home to do laundry, clean, watch her latest Netflix obsession. Occasionally, she dated on Friday and Saturday night. Her bills were paid once a month. She shopped on Sunday mornings when the store was less crowded. Life definitely had a good versus bad vibe, and she let a lot of things go, letting karma play the role of her best friend.
Before the murders in Seattle, her biggest worry had been if she'd ever find someone she could love for the rest of her life.
During that time, if someone had asked her if she believed her life was full, she would've agreed. She was content. Happy.
She sat down on the stool at the kitchen counter. Now, she had no idea what was happening in her life, and yet she was more excited over her feelings toward Swiss and having them returned the euphoria left her intoxicated. Then, the next minute, guilt grabbed hold of her. Why had she lived and Trinity and Sean had not? Were her co-workers' innocent or involved in the Ponzi scheme?
What would've happened if she never ran to the woman's shelter and met who she believed was Bianca? What if she had never came to Montana and found Swiss?
She swiveled on the seat. Swiss had taken care of her and in return probably killed the men who had murdered her coworkers and she couldn't bring up an ounce of fear or regret for the loss of their lives. The police had taken a passive-aggressive stance from the beginning.
Life went on, and she had no idea what was expected of her.
The phone Swiss gave her sat on the counter mocking her. Never letting her forget there was one important person in the middle of everything which had changed her life—saved her life. Had Heather used her in a game against Swiss or genuinely believed she'd be safe in Haugan?
She picked up the phone. Having already talked to Swiss about her calling his daughter, she'd respected his stance that it was up to her if she wanted to make contact and since Heather already knew she was with Swiss, there was no problem with letting Heather know that she was aware of her non-existent relationship with her dad.
Swiss claimed he wasn't ready for any type of conversation and needed more time to understand how Heather became the one to send Gia to him. Yet, he assured Gia that she was free to call and reach out to Heather if that was what she needed.
She suspected Swiss's reluctance came from wanting to dig into Heather's past and find out how his ex-wife played into the situation before making any contact with his daughter. In some ways, she understood his reasoning.
His ex-wife ruined Swiss's life, and almost got him killed.
Gia rested her head against her upturned hand. She feared losing Swiss to the unknown and the ghosts that plagued him from the past. Their relationship was new and so far, abnormal, she wondered how they'd both survive.
Swiss had lived most of his life, protecting himself and alone. She needed to be loved.
But she couldn't let her fears stop her. Swiss had shown her that.
She tapped out the phone number for Heather with her heart racing and her stomach protesting, urging her to wait, to hide, to ignore the truth.
The phone rang in her ear.
After the third ring, Heather answered, "Hello?"
"It's me, Gia." Her voice shook.
"I'm so glad you called. How are you? Are you safe?"
Gia inhaled deeply. "It's over."
"Over?"
"The men are gone." Gia looked around the room in the duplex. "I'm free to go wherever I want without any worries now."
"The killers are locked up?"
"I don't know the whole story, but Swiss has assured me that there is no more danger for me
. I'm safe."
"Oh, Gia." Heather's exhale of relief came over the cell. "I knew sending you to Montana would be the best choice. You're safe, and Trinity's killers were brought to justice."
Gia rubbed her forehead. Heather took her explanation that it was over without questioning every single detail. A concerned friend would want to know exactly what happened and where the killers were and how long they'd be locked up in prison because that was how the world worked.
"Yeah, it's great news," Gia whispered.
"Are you coming back to Seattle?" Heather paused. "I'd like to see you and talk about what you've been going through and be here if you need support."
"I, um..." Gia grimaced.
She couldn't do it.
Protective of the man she loved, she swallowed hard. It wasn't her place to step in between Swiss and his daughter. Whatever the reasons behind Heather sending her to Seattle would come out later if Swiss and Heather decided to reconnect.
"I'm not sure." Gia turned on the stool and gazed at the picture of Heather as a child with her dad. "I might see what kind of jobs are open around here and start over fresh. I don't think I could go back to my condominium and feel safe again."
"I understand."
"I better let you go, but I wanted to update you on everything and tell you how much I appreciate your help." Gia slid off the stood and stood. "All your support and understanding helped to keep me safe, and...thank you, Bianca."
She couldn't call her Heather. She loved Swiss and would step back from the situation. She couldn't pick sides.
"No thanks are needed. It's my job." Heather paused. "Please, keep in touch, Gia."
"I will," she whispered. "Bye."
Gia disconnected the call, walked over to the couch, and sat down. Pulling her legs up, she hugged her knees and stared across the room until everything blurred and the first tear rolled down her cheek unchecked.
Her stomach seized into a tight ball. She rocked, pushing away the hollowness building inside of her, telling her life with Swiss would be impossible.
