Steal His Heart: a bad boy romance novel

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Steal His Heart: a bad boy romance novel Page 18

by Casey, London


  I turned and led the charge.

  We had the exact apartment and of course the fucking door was locked. I had no time to waste. Pounding on the door was a huge risk. Someone could have been standing behind the door with a powerful enough shotgun to blast through the cheap wood and fill my chest and gut with pellets.

  That was a risk I had to take.

  I pounded my fists on the door.

  There was no response—big shocker.

  So I pounded again.

  “Let us the fuck in, Jade!” I yelled. “I don’t have time for this! You have to hear this out!”

  Besides needing to know her position in this mess, she needed to know that we had attacked Johnny. That he was going to be out for blood.

  I was fucking livid when I got no response from her again.

  She was not going to stand on the other side of that door and just wait for me to go. I fucking loved her. My heart swelled in a way I never knew it could. I never knew what love really was, what it meant or felt like. My mother never showed it to me. My old man rode the outlaw rails until he fell off. And from there on, all I had was the club. Brotherhood came with a sense of love, but nothing like what I felt for Jade in that moment as I pounded on that door.

  I felt the door start to give way. Pushing in. Ready to explode.

  “I know you’re in there!” I yelled.

  I stopped pounding and stepped back. I threw my shoulder at the door and felt it almost break. I looked back at Jasper and he nodded. Together, we hit the door at the same time and we won the fight. The door swung up and I charged in.

  “Jade!” I called out, hearing my voice carry through the apartment.

  I heard a noise coming from the back bedroom. Something squeaky and rusted.

  A window.

  She was trying to get out of a window?

  I pointed and both me and VP ran. When I turned to enter the bedroom, I saw Jade crouched down, one leg out the window. She was really trying to get away from us. Get away from me. I made it to her just in time to grab her right ankle and tug at her.

  “Jade, what the fuck are you doing?”

  She turned her head and looked at me. The look on her face I’d never forget. She looked at me as though I were an evil monster, the creature from under her bed that scared her as a kid. That I was going hurt her. But at the same time, her eyes spoke the truth. Her eyes didn’t want to run. She didn’t want to do any of this.

  Next to me I heard Jasper say, “Oh, shit, check this out.”

  I looked, quick. Well, I was going to look quick but I ended up staring, blinking fast. There was a fucking pregnancy test on the nightstand. A positive pregnancy test.

  I looked at her again. “Jesus Christ. Is that— Jade, what the fuck did you do?”

  She didn’t respond.

  That wasn’t the question I meant to ask. It wasn’t what she did, but what we did. Together. Our bodies, our love, our lust and passion. We had created a life.

  The few moments I took, trying to comprehend what was happening, served as a big mistake for me.

  Jade jumped up and grabbed the railing outside the window. She pulled herself up and swung her left foot through the open window right at my mouth. I saw it happening and did nothing to stop it. Her foot smashed against my mouth and I stumbled back, letting her go.

  She was free from me. Rushing over the railing and letting herself down.

  I couldn’t stop looking at the pregnancy test.

  “She’s getting away again, bro,” Jasper said. “If she’s not working with Johnny, he’s going to get her. And he won’t just kill her, Max. You know what that means.”

  I snapped back to reality and started to move through the apartment.

  I had the pregnancy test in my hand.

  I jammed it into my back pocket.

  I had my life in my hands. I had Jade’s life somewhere outside as she tried to escape. I had my baby’s life in her belly—and the proof in my pocket.

  Now I finally had a good reason not to die … too little, too late.

  33

  (jade)

  What the fuck was I going to do now?

  I wasn’t an escape artist. I wasn’t some smart and crazy con-woman who could get out of a jam like this. If I had a problem during my cons, I would simply scramble the IP address, mess up a firewall or two, before I broke the computer or cell phone and left it somewhere as I casually drove away.

  But running?

  Where was I going to run to?

  Max had found me in record time. And considering he didn’t know a thing about the secret apartment? That meant the MC was smarter and more dangerous that I had thought.

  I dropped from the last railing. I misjudged the fall and it felt like a hundred feet. When I hit the ground, pain shot through my ankles. I dropped to my knees and realized what I had just done.

  With a baby inside me.

  Tears filled my eyes.

  I popped back up and looked left to right. I was in the clear, so far. I just needed to get around the building and get to my car. I’d have no phone, no laptop, no clothes. That was fine though. I was sure Cade probably tracked me down to the apartment from that damn phone.

  I went to the left and started to go around the building.

  Two seconds later I saw Jasper.

  I had no fucking clue how he moved so fast.

  I put on the brakes and stepped back.

  He showed me his hands, a sign of peace.

  I made it back a few steps before I felt something behind me.

  I spun and swung my hand.

  Max somehow knew I was going to do that though.

  He blocked my swing and threw his arms around me.

  He lifted me up.

  “I love you,” he whispered to me. “I fucking love you, Jade. You have no reason to be afraid, to run, or be alone.”

  I thought about swinging at him. Thrashing. Screaming.

  But I looked up at him.

  He was sincere. He was beautiful. He was … my outlaw.

  Behind me I felt Jasper touch my back. “Jade, I don’t know what’s going on here—but I can promise you, the club is behind you.”

  “I know who did it,” I blurted out. “I got into Johnny’s emails. I know who Mr. Y is.”

  “Let’s get back upstairs,” Max said.

  “We don’t have much time,” Jasper said.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “The club took its stand,” Max said. “We’re in serious danger here, Jade. Get upstairs and get your stuff. We have to ride. Like right now.”

  “I don’t need anything,” I said. “Leave the phone and laptop there.”

  “Let’s destroy it at least,” Jasper said. “And grab a bag of clothes.”

  “Okay, fine,” I said.

  Max let me go but quickly grabbed my face. His thumbs stroked my cheeks. “Why, sweetheart?”

  “You and Cade were talking—”

  “No,” he said, showing his teeth. “Fuck, no. You didn’t hear the entire thing then. Goddammit. I swear to you, sweetheart. I love you. And you’re pregnant?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “So I’m?”

  “Outlaw Daddy,” I said and grinned.

  “How—I mean …”

  “You really need to know how?” Jasper asked.

  “Max, it’s yours,” I said. “I’ve been with you and nobody else. This is ours. Our fate and future. I can take care of this any way you want. Raise the baby alone. Raise the baby without knowing you. Whatever you want.”

  “Christ,” Max said. “That’s not who I am, Jade. That baby is going to see me the day it’s born. That baby is going to nestle tight to my leather cut and feel safe. That baby is going cry in the middle of the night and I’m going to be there to comfort it. Never doubt that for a second.”

  He was melting my heart.

  “Yeah, if this moment is passing, we need to move,” Jasper said.

  “Right,” I said.

&nbs
p; “Who is Mr. Y?” Jasper asked.

  “Someone named Yury,” I said.

  I saw the look on their faces.

  Jasper grabbed my hand. “Say that again.”

  “Yury,” I said. “I can show you the email if you want. It’s coded though. Talking about cars, but I know what it means.”

  “You’re sure, sweetheart?” Max asked.

  “I’d bet my life on it. Why?”

  They didn’t answer me.

  Jasper walked away, grabbing for his phone.

  I looked at Max.

  The hole had just gotten dug even deeper.

  *

  We were on the road, the plan being to get to the Back Down Devil MC clubhouse to safety. From what I gathered, Yury was part of the Russian group of men which had been at the clubhouse. He, or the entire organization, had decided to turn on the MC and were funneling money to Johnny with the sole purpose to destroy the Back Down Devil. To me, it was almost all foreign, but to Max and Jasper, it was a big deal.

  I clutched my hands tight to Max’s leather cut and wanted it all to go away.

  But that wasn’t going to happen.

  Jasper had taken a different route back to the clubhouse, needing to make a stop. There was something about a full barricade going on. I guess if these Russian people were all against the MC, they were more powerful and scarier than Johnny and his entire family.

  It felt like being attacked from every angle.

  Speaking of that—I turned my head and saw a car behind us.

  Something about it just didn’t feel right. A burning feeling in my gut as the car started to speed closer to us.

  I pulled at Max’s leather cut. I propped up a little and put my mouth to his ear.

  “We’re being followed!” I screamed.

  Without hesitation, Max cut the wheel to the right. We crossed lanes and went off the road down a dirty path. There were bushes all around us as we bounced and plowed through dirt and rocks.

  Glancing back, I saw that the car was on the edge of the dirt path.

  “Max!” I yelled.

  He cut to the left and somehow found a small opening that led back to the road.

  He put his foot down to the ground and kicked the back wheel out and around. Then he hurried to get me off the motorcycle.

  Turning, he faced me and wasted no time. “Go to the clubhouse. Right now. Don’t stop for a thing.”

  “What?”

  “Take the motorcycle,” he said.

  “No. No way.”

  “I’m not asking,” Max said. “I’m telling you. Get to the clubhouse. Tell Trev that I was kidnapped. Tell Cade to find me.”

  “Find you—how?”

  “I took one of his trackers with me,” Max said. “Insurance policy. I stuffed it in my boot. He just has to track me. Wherever they take me.”

  “They’ll just kill you! Leave you right here!”

  “Then it’s my grave,” Max said.

  “I can’t—”

  Max put a hand to my stomach. I gasped and jumped. “Sweetheart, this is about family now. Not me and you. But family. It would be an honor to die for you and die for my unborn baby.”

  “Where are you, asshole?” a voice called out.

  “That’s Don,” I said. “Johnny’s guy.”

  “Okay,” Max said. “So we know who’s here. Now get out of here.”

  “Max, I don’t want to leave you.”

  “You don’t have a choice. You stay and they’re going to kill me and take you. And if they take you—” I watched an anger and hurt I’d never seen wash over his face. “I won’t let it happen. You fucked Johnny over. You helped the club fuck him even harder. You’re the prize here, Jade. I’m just a dirty biker. My life is worth nothing. But you? You’re the queen, sweetheart.”

  “If I’m the queen, then you’re my king.”

  “Then listen to your fucking king,” Max said. “Go. Right now.”

  I touched his face. I moved to my toes and kissed him. “I love you, Max. I’m sorry I tried to run.”

  “Don’t be,” he whispered. “You were protecting yourself. I respect that. I love that about you. I’ll see you soon.”

  I let those words sink in.

  I climbed on the motorcycle, wearing Max’s helmet. I couldn’t believe I was stealing his motorcycle, again.

  I looked back and watched him put a cigarette between his lips. He looked so fucking hot when he did that. Standing tall, not giving a shit.

  I’ll see you soon …

  I wanted to believe him. I really did. I wanted to believe him for not just his life or mine, but the life inside me.

  I rode away and felt a tear escape my eye. It was cold as it dried to my cheek.

  I had the sudden feeling that my baby would never meet its father.

  34

  (max)

  I thought about Yury. That fucking prick. One of Ivan and Peter’s goons. The real question though was to find out if it was Yury acting alone or if the entire Russian organization was trying to push at the MC.

  Don appeared first, gun in hand.

  I took a deep drag of my smoke and exhaled, smiling.

  Ruley was behind him, arms flailing, his large size unable to keep up with the much skinnier Don. Sweat poured off Ruley’s face as he reached into his pocket. I thought he was grabbing a gun, but he took out something that looked like beef jerky. He took a bite and bent over, chomping on the cured meat as he tried to catch his breath.

  “Where is she?” Don asked.

  “She stole my ride again,” I said. “That crazy bitch.”

  “You fucking asshole,” Don growled. “You realize what you’re up against?”

  I took another drag. “Definitely.”

  “Give me your weapons, Max.”

  I took out my gun. I let the clip drop and then tossed the gun aside. I had a knife on me, too, and I willingly gave that up.

  “I’m not here to fight,” I said.

  “What is this? A setup?” Ruley asked.

  “Call for backup,” I said. “Whatever you need to do. I’m alone here. I thought I could save her but she took my motorcycle. Again. I really need to get a car, huh?”

  “I don’t fucking believe you for a second,” Don said.

  He rushed at me, jamming the gun to my chest. I stepped back, my cigarette nestled nicely between my lips.

  For all I knew, it was my last smoke.

  Either way, it probably should be my last one. I had a kid on the way. Bad enough I lived the outlaw life, the last thing I should do is tempt the reaper even more.

  But first, I had to get through what waited for me now.

  “Give me a reason to believe you,” Don said.

  “Fuck yourself. Either pull the trigger or back away.”

  Don curled his lips. He showed all of his crooked and nasty teeth to me.

  “You going to bite me?” I asked with a grin.

  Ruley snorted in laughter.

  Don spun around and pulled the trigger.

  The bullet was through Ruley’s forehead, spraying his brains out the back of his skull even as he was still smiling.

  The big guy toppled to the ground.

  Right behind him stood a man in a really nice suit.

  “Finally,” he said. “That fat fuck is dead.”

  “I couldn’t take anymore, Boss,” Don said.

  “Johnny,” I said.

  “And you must be Max,” Johnny said. He stepped over Ruley’s dead body. “It’s a great pleasure to finally meet you.”

  “Fuck off,” I said.

  “Outlaws,” Johnny muttered.

  “Can I shoot him, Boss?” Don asked.

  “No. We need him alive for a little bit longer.” Johnny walked right to me. I could smell the cologne pouring off his body. “Where is Jade?”

  “Not here.”

  “Max …”

  “You trained her well,” I said. “Second she gets into trouble, she takes off. She has my moto
rcycle. Again.”

  “Damn shame,” Johnny said. “I should have killed that bitch a long time ago. But she made me a lot of money. Of course, that money is frozen right now. Kept away from me. Because of you and your dirty motorcycle club.”

  “You were working for an enemy,” I said. “We had to take measures to find out what we needed to know.”

  “Did you find out what you needed to know?”

  “Actually, we did. Side dealing with the Russian organization? That’s a bold move, Johnny. Your family approve of that?”

  He grinned even wider. “I’m on my own here, Max. I’m almost like you. A renegade. A loner. Saying fuck you to the world. So I can respect what you do. However, we all know how these games work, right? Winners. Losers.”

  “Some games tie,” I said and shrugged.

  “Not this one,” Johnny said. His smile faded instantly. “I’m sure you know Jade’s story.”

  “You were supposed to help her father.”

  “I tried.”

  “You killed him.”

  “Apples to oranges.”

  “You were supposed to get him a good liver.”

  “I tried what I said I would do, Max. And she agreed to my terms.”

  “Deal’s up.”

  “You’re right. I told her that, too.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. The deal is off. It’s over. She just has to give back what I gave her to begin the deal.”

  “Meaning?”

  “A liver,” Johnny said. “And since she’s not here—”

  I saw movement from my left. Don wound up with a good swing. If it was a normal punch, I would have absorbed it and fought right back. But here’s the thing—Don had slipped on a nice set of brass knuckles. And he was apparently a goddamn pro at using them.

  He smashed me so hard against the temple that I was out cold before I even started to fall.

  I guess it was one step better than having my brains blown out like Ruley had.

  Then again, they were going to cut me open and take my liver.

  35

  (jade)

  I stood there, nervous as anything, watching as Trev took in everything I had to say. I wasn’t sure who trusted me and who wanted to kill me. At least I had Jasper on my side. His pull as Vice President was a definite help in my situation.

  I had explained everything I knew, heard, and researched. The information on Yury seemed to really send Trev in a bad mood. With a snap of his fingers, he had Trent and Duke off to make some phone calls. They returned and gave nods, some kind of silent code between the President and his outlaw men.

 

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