Her eyes were solemn as she looked at me. “This is about my uncle, isn’t it?”
I nodded. No sense lying to her, even if I wanted to. Which I didn’t.
She bit her lower lip and seemed to consider her options. To her credit, she didn’t complain. She didn’t try to get out of it, no matter how badly I knew she didn’t want to be seen right now. She was stronger than she realized. “I’ll go to your parents’ house,” she decided finally.
I squeezed her thigh. “Thanks, beautiful. I know it’s not what you want right now, but they’ll be glad to see you.” It was a small consolation for her but still true. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
She nodded. “It’s okay, Maddox. I understand,” she assured me quietly. “Let me just freshen up a bit.”
I gently grabbed her at the waist as she moved to pass me, bringing my lips to hers. “You’re amazing, you know that?” I demanded against her mouth.
She pressed her hands to my chest, looking up at me in surprise.
“You are,” I insisted, unable to resist grabbing her delicious backside and pulling her even closer. “Fuck. If we didn’t have to go anywhere….” I grunted. Having a taste of her earlier had done nothing to quell my hunger for her. If anything, it had made it worse.
Her cheeks reddened with a sexy-as-hell blush.
I pulled away reluctantly, knowing that if I didn’t, we’d never leave. “Make sure you’re warm enough,” I called to her, swatting her ass as she walked away.
Her yelp of surprise and soft laugh had my gut clenching. Damn, this girl got to me like no other.
I knew I’d never want anyone else. She was it for me.
I just needed to be it for her too.
****
Not thirty minutes later we were barreling up the mountain road, headed for my childhood home where my parents still lived. The large lodge-style home surrounded by pine trees and wilderness had been an awesome place to grow up. Though it felt as though no one was around for miles, it was still relatively close to town, offering the best of both worlds.
Wanting to try something new, I’d chosen my apartment in town when I’d moved out on my own, but was already missing the privacy and scenery of the mountains.
“This is beautiful,” she breathed when we’d pulled up my parents’ drive and I’d cut the engine. “It smells so good. You grew up here?” She looked at me with wide eyes.
“I did. Wait till you see it in the daytime.” I smiled, reaching for her hand. I led her toward the house, knowing my mom was probably being physically held back from coming out to greet us both. I’d asked my pop to make sure she and Liv went easy. Francesca was overwhelmed enough as it was, and the timing wasn’t her choice.
We walked in the door, the muted sounds of a television on somewhere and the all too familiar smell of something burning greeting us.
I led Francesca toward the kitchen, where we found my mom pulling something unidentifiable out of the oven. “Hey, Ma,” I greeted with a chuckle.
She smiled, coming to us and wrapping her arms around me. “Hi, honey.” She turned warm eyes to Francesca, placing her hands gently on my girl’s face. “Hello, sweet girl. We’re so happy to have you.”
Francesca nodded, returning her smile a bit shyly. “Thank you.”
“Mom, what is burnin—” Liv cut off as she walked into the room, eyeing us both in surprise. “Oh hi, I didn’t hear you guys come in.” She shot Francesca a friendly smile. “I’m Olivia, this ugly mug’s younger sister.” She hooked a thumb toward me.
“Hi.” Francesca nodded a bit shyly. “Thanks so much for the clothes.”
Olivia looked down at the T-shirt and jeans Francesca wore. “So glad they fit! Just let me know what else you need.”
I put my arm around Francesca’s shoulders, kissing her head. “Baby, I gotta jet,” I told her regretfully. “You okay?”
She nodded, her arm around my waist, her hand gripping the back of my tee.
“We’ll take good care of her,” my mom broke in, offering a reassuring smile.
“Where are Holden and Caleb?” I asked after my younger brothers. “And Pop?” I added. I wanted to make sure Francesca would be protected.
“Your father’s in the garage,” Mom replied. “Holden’s out with friends, and Caleb, well….” Her eyes lit with worry. “I’m not sure where he is.”
After Caleb had inadvertently allowed Wren’s kidnapper access to our home, he hadn’t been the same. He hadn’t forgiven himself, though everyone else had.
As for my pop, he was likely steering clear on purpose, trying to give Francesca some space. My pop was intimidating as hell and knew it. He was also the most loving and fiercely protective man I knew. He’d been my hero from the moment I understood the term.
I nodded. With one final chaste kiss that I wished to be more, I headed for the door.
When I walked into the club soon afterward, I was met with the familiar smell of alcohol, grease, and leather. A few prospects played a game of pool in the corner, offering me chin lifts in greeting, while a couple of club cherries sipped drinks on the couches.
When a flurry of blond threw herself at me from the side, I grunted in surprise and distaste.
“Maddy, I’ve been waiting for you,” Stephanie whined, trying to put her lips on my neck.
I’d made the mistake of fucking her once, a year ago, and had lived to regret it nearly every day since. I hadn’t touched a cherry since. I’d learned my lesson.
I pried her hands off my neck and stepped away. “Get gone, Stephanie,” I grunted. I’d tried the nice approach already and was well past that.
Her glossy pink lips formed a pout. “But we had so much fun together.”
“Maybe you did,” I scoffed. “One thing I know, it sure as fuck ain’t happenin’ again. I have a woman. Stay the fuck away from me,” I ordered just as Cole came out of his office.
At close to fifty, Cole’s blue eyes and blond hair remained largely unchanged. Save for some wrinkles around his eyes, he was just as formidable as he’d been in his twenties. “Get gone,” he ordered Stephanie impatiently as I moved to follow him back to our meeting room. Obviously he wasn’t in the mood to dick around. And that suited me just fine.
All of Cole’s most trusted advisors were there, except for my pop. Gunner, Max, Cash, Sal, Ryker, Wes, Tag, and his son Tatum all sat around the table already. I lifted my chin in greeting. With the exception of Gunner and Cash, who had both joined the club later, the rest of these men I’d known my entire life. All of them had proven their loyalty time and time again. All of them were my brothers in every way that mattered.
“You have a little something….” Gunner gestured to my neck, his eyes alight with mirth. Gunner lived to fuck with me. Hell, to fuck with anyone when the opportunity presented itself.
My hand went to my neck, wiping away the lip gloss Stephanie had somehow managed to put there. “That bitch is crazy,” I muttered.
“You stuck your dick there, man.” Gun shrugged with a muffled grin.
“Unfortunately,” I muttered, sitting down and clasping my hands on the table. “Regretted it every damn day since. What’s the latest on Rossi?” I asked, wanting to get down to business.
“Spotted two scouts,” Cash responded, his ever-present toothpick between his lips. “Assholes tried to dress like tourists.” He snorted in disgust. “They’ve been angling for Hawthorne for too fucking long. We need to do something about this shit.”
“Frannie is the perfect excuse to up their game.” Max grunted, his eyes on mine.
I slammed a fist into the table, unable to control my fury. “It’s Francesca,” I corrected him harshly. “And they will not lay a fucking hand on her. She’s mine. She may have the Rossi name, but that’s where any association ends. And while I’m at it, if any of you doubt it—lay that shit out now, because I’m telling you, if she goes, I go too.”
“She saved Wren. I owe her beyond measure for that,” Max assured me. “Far
as I’m concerned, she’s part of the family.”
I received nods of agreement around the table. “I don’t doubt she wants nothing to do with Angelo Rossi. She has every reason to hate that fucker,” Gunner chimed in.
His knowing tone had my gaze whipping to his. “Why do you say that?”
“Bastard murdered her parents, didn’t she tell you?”
My gut clenched. “No,” I gritted out. “Fuck.”
The fact she hadn’t told me spoke to how far we had to go. She hadn’t let me in, not at all. But she’d been through hell, much of it alone. It wasn’t surprising she didn’t trust anyone—she’d had to protect herself. It would take time for her to give some of that burden to me. I’d take it and be glad of it every damn day.
“When?” I demanded. I wasn’t surprised Gunner had looked more deeply into her background. He was tech security and research for the club when it was needed. He could find anyone or anything with a few keystrokes. It was damn impressive.
Gunner eyed me with concern, his trademark levity nowhere to be seen. “She was ten.”
“How?” I demanded before holding up a hand. “You know what? Don’t tell me. I want her to do it when she’s ready.”
He nodded.
“Francesca has our loyalty and our protection,” Cole proclaimed firmly. “Anyone questions it, they answer to me.”
I eyed him steadily. “All due respect, Prez, but she’s my woman. Anyone makes her feel uncomfortable or like an outsider—they’ll answer to me.”
He looked at me and I saw respect reflected in his gaze. “All right,” he agreed before turning eyes to the rest of his men. “Now, we need to take care of these assholes.” At the nods of agreement around the table, he continued. “Been doing some digging, making some calls—we’re not the only ones who want that. The Rossis have been in power a long time but they’re not as large as they used to be. Seems Angelo isn’t as popular as he’d have everyone believe. The Carpino family has been angling to expand in Vegas for years—they’ve agreed to help.”
Wes’s dark brows rose. “We really want to be makin’ deals with the mob?”
“Not a deal.” Cole shrugged. “Just fact. A fact that helps us. They want him taken out. They’ll handle Vegas. Angelo comes here, we’ll do our part. This is our territory to protect. Only agreement I made was that the Carpinos will stay out of our territory and we’ll do the same.”
“I hope those assholes give me an excuse,” I muttered darkly. I wanted the chance to avenge my girl.
Cole looked to me, understanding lighting his expression. “You may get your chance.”
I nodded once. I’d never wanted blood more in my life, but the most important thing was keeping the club and Francesca safe.
Maybe, just maybe I’d have both.
Chapter 14
FRANCESCA
“You mix in the dry ingredients,” I reminded Sophie, as Maddox’s mom had insisted I call her.
After only a little bit of awkwardness, Sophie had thoughtfully pointed me toward where I was most comfortable: the kitchen.
Now, a few glasses of wine later, Sophie, Olivia, and I were chatting like old friends while I attempted to give Sophie some baking tips.
“It’s hopeless,” Liv stage-whispered to me with me a wink. With her blond hair and blue eyes, Olivia was a beautiful girl.
I fought a grin as Sophie huffed indignantly at Liv’s comment. Watching them together made me miss my own mother desperately. I could only hope I was lucky enough to experience the same thing when I had a family of my own someday.
It was the first time I’d allowed myself the thought, I realized with surprise. For so long I hadn’t even thought of a future for myself. I’d merely been surviving day-by-day.
“Mad is on his way,” Liv shared, looking down at her phone.
“Already? You just got here,” Sophie complained.
Liv snorted. “With the way Mad was looking at this one before he left, I’m surprised he’s been gone this long.” She hooked a thumb in my direction.
I blushed, busying myself checking the cookies I’d put in the oven. As much as I wanted to see Maddox, I hoped I was at the house long enough to take them out of the oven. Something told me that despite explicit instruction, they’d get burned if I wasn’t.
“Is there anything else you need?” Sophie asked, her gaze serious. “I know Mad’s place is pretty bare.”
Olivia snorted at the statement. “That’s putting it mildly.”
I fought a smile. “It’s certainly minimal.”
“I’ll never understand why he chose that place. He could build something ten times better,” Olivia commented.
My eyes popped wide. “Really?” Maddox had mentioned casually that he did some construction for the club but clearly he’d been being modest.
“Really,” Sophie chimed in, pride clear in her tone. “He built a few of the businesses the club owns, including the coffee shop downtown. He has a real talent.”
“Wow,” I replied, wincing slightly at the dull throb that had begun at my wound sites. After all the activity of the day, I was reluctant to admit I might have to resort to more pain pills.
Sophie didn’t miss my expression. “Are you still in pain?”
It was the first time she’d referenced my attack.
“No, I’m okay,” I assured her quietly as both women eyed me with concern. “I really appreciate the clothes. Thank you again.”
“It was no trouble, honestly,” Olivia replied. “A couple of the girls and I will be at the club this weekend. There’s a barbeque. We were hoping you’d come.”
I fingered my face delicately. “I’m not sure….”
“It’s still a few days out if you’re worried about the bruising, but I can promise you, no one will make you feel uncomfortable about it. A fair share of the women you’ll meet have had their own cuts and bruises over the years.” She turned eyes to her mom.
“It’s true,” Sophie murmured. I sensed a story there but didn’t pry.
“I’ll talk to Maddox about it,” I agreed. The truth was, after my evening with Maddox earlier and now with his mom and sister, I was feeling much more willing to consider a fresh start with the rest of the club.
“Yay!” Olivia clapped her hands with infectious exuberance, pulling me into a gentle hug.
“Don’t break my girl, Liv.” Maddox’s voice surprised me as he eyed us with raised brows from the entryway.
“I’m not gonna break her,” Olivia huffed. “I like her too much for that.”
His eyes turned to me, his gaze glittering with intensity. “That’s good, since I’m keepin’ her.”
Well, damn. That was pretty hot. For a moment we stared at each other across the room, the electricity between us nearly tangible. It had only been a few hours but I’d missed him.
He cocked his head to the side. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. “Let me just pull these cookies out.”
Sophie went to her son, hugging him briefly and murmuring something to him that I couldn’t hear. He nodded once before holding a hand out to me. When his strong, callused hand engulfed mine it was as though something settled in me.
It was awesome and scary as hell at the same time.
“Let’s get you to bed, baby. Thanks, Ma, Liv. Tell Pop I’ll check in soon.”
“Everything okay?” I asked as he led us toward his giant black truck.
“Yeah,” he replied, helping me up into the cab. “How was everything here?” he asked once he’d climbed into the driver seat and started the engine.
“It was good. I really like your mom and sister,” I told him honestly.
He shot me a gorgeous grin. “Good. They like you too.”
“Liv invited me to some barbeque at the club this weekend,” I added, toying with the hem of my tee. “That might be fun.”
He glanced over at me briefly, surprise clear in his expression before he turned eyes back to the road. “Not gonna lie, babe, I
’d be fuckin’ thrilled if you wanted to do that, but there’s no pressure. We can always decide the day of—sound good?”
His thoughtfulness continued to surprise me. “Sounds good,” I agreed softly.
“Baby, we’re home.” His gentle voice woke me a little while later. I had no idea I’d fallen asleep. Before I could even fully wake up, I was lifted gently in his capable arms.
“You don’t have to carry me,” I protested groggily.
“I want to,” he assured me firmly as he took the stairs with no visible effort.
He lay me gently on his bed and left, returning moments later with a glass of water and my pain pills. “I think you need these tonight.”
I grimaced but nodded, swallowing both pills obediently. “Don’t let me sleep the day away tomorrow,” I mumbled.
He swept my hair back from my forehead tenderly. “If you need it, that’s exactly what I’ll do.” He dropped a kiss to my forehead.
“You’re so good to me.” I sighed, accepting the pull of sleep willingly. “Maybe I’ll keep you, too.”
Chapter 15
FRANCESCA
I woke slowly the next morning, aware of the desire radiating through my sore body as I took in my surroundings. I was wrapped around Maddox like a vine, my nose pressed to his neck, my leg hooked over his hip. I wondered if he was awake as I became aware of the steel rod pressed against my core. I moved against it reflexively, eliciting a deep groan from Maddox. His grip flexed on my hip, guiding me to continue my movements.
That answered the question as to if he was awake or not.
“Christ,” he hissed as my hips began to move on their own accord, any trace of inhibition eradicated by lust. “Can you come like this?” His voice was guttural and full of awe.
“I… I don’t know,” I replied honestly. My experience was limited at best. I’d lost my virginity to the one boy who was brave enough to offer me any attention in high school. It had been a clumsy affair, over before it began.
Maddox Page 8
