Kraken (Hades Abyss MC 4): (Mississippi Chapter)

by Harley Wylde

  He parked as close to the front of the store as he could and reached for my hand as we walked up to the doors. It felt… nice. Normal. We got a few looks as we entered the store, but I didn’t care. I knew Kraken was older than me, and he looked like the kind of guy mommas warn their daughters to avoid. He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

  “You’re egging them on,” I whispered.

  “Good. They obviously need something to talk about.”

  I looked around, feeling as if people were staring at us. “Shouldn’t they be home in bed? It’s late. Like, really late.”

  Kraken’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Baby, last I checked, we’re here shopping late. Why wouldn’t other people be here too?”

  When he walked me to the jewelry counter, I tried to back away. He pressed his hand to my lower back, holding me in place. The determination etched on his face told me this was a battle I wouldn’t win. I didn’t know what he was up to, but I didn’t need shiny things.

  “Kraken, I don’t need anything from here.”

  “Yeah, baby. You do.” He waved over a store associate. The older woman eyed him, then me, clearly disapproving of the fact we were together. If Kraken noticed, he didn’t care. “Which one do you like?”

  I looked into the case and realized they were wedding rings. I sagged against him, the fight draining from me. “You’re buying me a wedding ring?”

  “Look, I may not have gone about things the right way, but I want the world to know you’re mine. You deserve something better than this store can offer, but I don’t want to wait another second to put a ring on your finger so everyone knows I’m the lucky bastard who goes home to you.”

  “Kraken, that’s…” Tears misted my eyes. It was the sweetest thing I’d heard in forever. I scanned the contents of the case. They were all so beautiful, and cost entirely too much. All I needed was a plain wedding band.

  “Don’t even think it,” he said.

  “What?”

  “I see you checking out those bands. Nothing ordinary for my wife. Now which one do you like?” he asked.

  The woman cleared her throat. “May I make a suggestion?”

  Kraken arched an eyebrow at her. “Depends. Is it your suggestion she leave me for another man?”

  The woman snorted. “No. But your wife has small hands, delicate bones. Anything overly large may be overwhelming for her. Unless you want people to see it from space.”

  “What rings would you suggest?” I asked.

  The woman pulled out three different wedding sets. Each was beautiful, without being flashy. I pointed to the one in the center. “What about this one?”

  Kraken took it from the box and slid it over my finger. It was a bit loose, but I loved it. The rings didn’t feel heavy, and I liked the way they looked on my hand.

  “We can send them out to be sized,” the woman said. “Shouldn’t take more than thirty days to get them back. Or you can take them to the jewelry shop on Clover. They might be able to do it within a few days.”

  “We’ll take them,” Kraken said.

  “Do you need a ring as well?” the woman asked.

  “Have anything indestructible?”

  She put the rings away and locked the cabinet before opening another. The woman pulled out a black band with an inlaid green design and set it on the counter. “Tungsten steel. Popular with men who work with their hands.”

  Kraken slipped it on and flexed his hand. “Fits good.”

  “You’ll have to pay for the rings here. If your wife wants to wear hers before you get it sized, I can help tighten it a little.” She pulled out a package of what looked like clear rubber pieces. “Just put one of these on the bands.”

  Kraken paid for our purchases, then the woman helped me with the rings. I had to admit, it felt amazing wearing something showing I belonged to him. The fact he’d wanted a ring too surprised me. My father had worn a ring, but as a preacher, he’d been a pillar of the community. Appearances were everything to him. I’d noticed a lot of married men in the congregation didn’t wear one. A biker seemed like the last person who’d ever want a wedding ring.

  Kraken was right. He wasn’t the same as the Sadistic Saints, not even a little. If my father, a man who preached from the Bible, had the respect of the community, and didn’t abide liars, had sold his own daughter, why couldn’t a man who looked as dangerous as Kraken be sweet and charming? I’d always thought when I met evil, I’d know it. With Deuce, it proved true. Everything else, though… My father looked like a sweet man. He clearly wasn’t. Not even a little.

  When we’d finished at the jewelry counter, we got a shopping cart before we started gathering the other things we needed. We went to the baby department to get another package of diapers, more wipes, and some clothes for Ember.

  “What about this?” Kraken asked, holding up a pink shorts set with unicorns on the shirt. “Ember would be cute in it.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “She would. Although, I didn’t think you’d pick something so… girly.”

  “We have a daughter not a son. Yet. Pink seemed appropriate.”

  I took the outfit from him, checked the size, then put it into the cart. He chose a few more outfits for Ember while I gathered baby shampoo, towels, and anything else she’d need. Kraken tossed in a rubber duck with a tiara, one of the more expensive thermometers, and anything else that caught his attention.

  “Kraken, you’re going to spoil her.”

  “Kind of the point.”

  He dragged me to the women’s department. Once he learned my sizes, he started tossing stuff into the cart. I’d tried to stop him, or slow him down, but he was like a force of nature. There were far more clothes in the cart than I’d ever owned before, and I didn’t know where he wanted me to put them all. I’d seen his closet and dresser. There wasn’t much space available in either.

  “Think we need another cart,” he said.

  “Exactly how much do you plan to buy tonight?”

  He ran a hand down his beard. “Everything you need?”

  I held up a lacy bra he’d tossed in. “And I need this?”

  He smirked. “No. The pretty underthings are purely for my benefit because I have a sexy wife who will look hot as fuck in them.”

  “I can’t even be mad at you. The things you say make me feel…” I shook my head. “I can’t put it into words. Special? Yes, you make me feel special, Kraken.”

  He pulled me closer and gave me a quick kiss. “You are, baby girl.”

  By the time we checked out at the front, he’d filled another cart with a five-drawer chest for my new things, made sure I had no less than four pairs of shoes, and every possible bathroom or makeup item I could ever want. Although, I’d assured him I didn’t care much for makeup, I did get a few things for times I wanted to dress up.

  Kraken loaded the piece of furniture into the bed of the truck and all the bags went into the backseat. He stopped at a drive-thru on the way back and got milkshakes for us, a treat I hadn’t had in years. The man beside me wasn’t what I’d expected the first time I saw him. Deuce had done me a favor when he sent me off with Kraken.

  I reached over and placed my hand on his thigh. “You’re amazing.”

  He cast a glance my way before focusing on the road again. “I’m just me, baby girl. Only an idiot wouldn’t treat you like the queen you are.”

  Yeah, he was pretty perfect, and I knew it wasn’t a matter of if I completely fell for him, but when.

  Chapter Six

  Kraken

  Four days passed. Quiet, uneventful days waiting on our test results, getting a nursery set up for Ember, drawing Phoebe out of her shell, and doing my best to show her I’d meant everything I’d said. Didn’t stop the gnawing at my gut. There hadn’t been a word from the Sadistic Saints since I’d carved up Deuce and left him on their bar top. No fucking way they’d let this go. I’d warned them, and I’d meant it. Smart men would heed my warning, but the Sadistic Saints were a
bunch of dumb fucks.

  Titan called in reinforcements from the Missouri chapter of our club, as well as three other clubs, under the guise of bringing old ladies here for Phoebe to meet. Those men really were bringing their families, but they were coming for another reason too. If the Sadistic Saints made a move, I wanted reinforcements here. We had a bunker where the women and kids would stay. It had been penetrated once, when Slider and his women were here. Since then, we’d made improvements.

  The clubhouse was off-limits tonight for the club whores. Phoebe and Ember would meet everyone for the first time. I even had a special gift for her. I looked at the box on the bed, and the smaller gift bag next to it. I just needed my girls now. Ember giggled down the hall and I heard the splash of her playing in the tub. Smiling, I went to check on them. There was more water on the floor than in the tub as Ember smacked her hands, sending another wave over the side.

  “Guess she loves bath time,” I said.

  Phoebe looked at me over her shoulder. “Well, she should. Do you see all this?”

  Ember sat in a little bath seat I’d found online and had overnighted, as her rubber duck bobbed beside her, along with the foam letters Titan had dropped off and a boat from Poison. Other things had started showing up on our doorstep too. A purple teddy bear from Wizard, a rag doll from Boomer, and a collection of baby-sized party dresses from Pretty Boy. I’d given him shit over it, but truth be told, Ember looked fucking adorable in them.

  “Our girl about ready?” I asked.

  “Think so.” She pulled the stopper on the tub and lifted Ember out of the seat. I held open the soft baby towel and took my daughter from her. My daughter. The little cherub had me wrapped around her finger.

  I carried Ember to her now-finished nursery and set her on the changing table. I’d become a pro at putting a diaper on my girl, and soon had one of the frilly little dresses on her. I cradled her against my chest and checked her diaper bag while Phoebe got ready. “Is Daddy’s beautiful girl ready to meet some people?”

  Ember babbled at me. I kissed her cheek and breathed in her sweet scent.

  I heard the click of Phoebe’s shoes and turned in time to nearly have a heart attack. The skirt of her dress swished around her knees. It was modest, but seeing her like this made something inside me shift. I’d admired her, cared about her, but it wasn’t until this moment I started to fall in love with her. She’d put her hair up with little pieces curling around her face.

  “Your mommy is beautiful, Ember.”

  “Bet you say that to all the women sleeping in your bed.” She gave me a sassy smile.

  “Only one woman in my bed. My wife.” I pulled her to me, kissing the hell out of her. “And she’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever known.”

  Her cheeks flushed and she bit her bottom lip. Cute.

  “We’ll be late if we don’t hurry,” she said.

  “They can wait a minute.”

  She pushed at me. “Blake, be serious. You said they’re here to meet me. It’s rude to keep them waiting.”

  “And there’s the proper preacher’s daughter I married.” Her lips tipped down at the corners. It seemed my words hadn’t had the effect I’d hoped for. “Baby girl, what those bastards did to you doesn’t define who you are. You were raised to be a proper young lady. Taught right from wrong. Your parents will get what’s coming to them, and same for the Sadistic Saints.”

  “I’m not some naïve girl anymore,” she said.

  “No, you’re not. You’ve seen the evil in the world. Survived it. You’re stronger now than you were before. Instead of a scared young girl, you’re a mom. A wife. An amazing woman.” I kissed her again. “And I’m damn lucky to call you mine.”

  “You’re going to make me cry,” she said.

  “It’s all right, as long as they’re happy tears.”

  The gifts I had could wait until later. I needed to get my girls to the clubhouse before Phoebe talked me into staying home. I led her from the house. Since I hadn’t gotten a car for Phoebe yet, I still had one of the club trucks. Ember’s seat was in the back, so I buckled her in. I helped Phoebe into the passenger seat, lingering a moment. She gave me a smile, and I couldn’t help but think she was so damn beautiful. Didn’t know what a pretty little thing like her wanted with a guy like me.

  I shut her door, then went to the driver’s side. It didn’t take long to reach the clubhouse, but it was far enough I hadn’t wanted to walk. Especially with Phoebe all dressed up. I heard her indrawn breath when the line of bikes came into view, along with several trucks and SUVs. My particular chapter wasn’t as large as some clubs I’d been around, but since we had guests, the place was packed.

  I unbuckled Ember and carried her inside with Phoebe walking slightly behind me. I knew she was scared, or maybe just nervous, but everyone would love her. They’d never hold her past against her. Even if she’d chosen that life, the simple fact she was mine meant they’d welcome her with open arms. Just hadn’t been able to convince her of it yet.

  The sound of laughter and music spilled from inside as I pushed open the doors. It wasn’t nearly as loud as party nights, and I didn’t see a single club whore. I’d worried when the Pres had ordered them out of here at least one would cause problems. I saw Titan at the bar and moved farther into the room, reaching back to pull Phoebe up beside me.

  “Come on, baby girl. Let’s tell the Pres hi.”

  I held her hand as we moved through the crowd. Titan sipped his beer, leaning casually against the bar, but I saw the way he observed everything going on around him. These were our allies, but he knew as well as I did the Sadistic Saints could attack at any moment. In fact, so many clubs being here could very well lure them out. They couldn’t just try to take down my chapter of Hades Abyss, but they could cripple a few other clubs as well.

  “Good to see you, Phoebe,” Titan said. “Although, you look about two seconds from bolting out of here.”

  “She thinks no one will like her,” I said.

  Titan snorted and motioned to someone across the room. Rocket came over with his woman and two girls. After the way he’d slaughtered the men who had hurt Violeta, I wasn’t surprised Titan had asked him to come. Of course, he was also a great choice because of the age difference between him and his woman. Violeta was about four or five years older than Phoebe, and Rocket was a little older than me.

  “Phoebe, let me introduce you to Rocket from our Missouri chapter,” Titan said. “And his lovely wife, Violeta, and their two girls Zoe and Carlota.”

  Violeta gave her a little wave. “My sister would have come, but her husband doesn’t let her leave the area without him.”

  Phoebe pressed closer to me. She gave the woman a polite smile, but I felt a tremor rake her. I released her hand and put my arm around her waist, drawing her tighter to my body. Violeta glanced at me, a flash of understanding in her eyes. She looked away, motioning for someone else, and soon we had more women gathered in front of us.

  “I’m Mara,” said a woman wearing a property cut for the Dixie Reapers. “I’m with Rocky. Our son, Owen, is with us but we left our daughter at home with Isabella and Torch.”

  “I’m Jacey and this is my daughter, Danica,” said another woman. “I’m with Cowboy. Our boys, Jackson and Langston, are somewhere around here.”

  I saw Phoebe eyeing their property cuts and wished I’d given hers to her. “You have one of those too,” I said. Her gaze lifted to mine. “I was going to give it to you earlier, but decided to wait. It’s at home, along with a little something for Ember.”

  Titan snorted next to me and muttered something sounding like dumbass. He leaned over the bar and spoke to one of the Prospects and the guy took off nearly at a run. I had no doubt the Pres had just sent him after my woman’s property cut so she wouldn’t feel left out. Yeah, he was right. I was a dumbass.

  “I’m Jordan,” said another woman, elbowing her way closer. “Didn’t bring my hellions with me, but Havoc is nursing a beer acro
ss the room. Don’t worry. Those men come after you, we’ll give them hell.”

  “We?” Phoebe asked, her eyes going wide.

  Jordan smirked. “I’m not the kind to sit on the sidelines. Oh, I’m sure Havoc will tuck me somewhere safe, but don’t worry. I’m always armed, so no one will get to you on my watch.”

  I glared at Titan, wondering why he’d invited the psychotic woman here. Havoc was one thing, but Jordan? I’d heard all about the way she’d gone after her man in South America, and how she’d located him. The woman was batshit fucking crazy. I didn’t mind Phoebe coming out of her shell. Hell, I encouraged it. But the last thing I wanted was her trying to de-ball a man, and I had a feeling Jordan would talk her into it and so much more.

  The Pres smirked at me and gave a nod of his head. I followed, hating to leave Phoebe behind. I didn’t make it two feet before she rushed me, snatching Ember from my arms. I pressed a kiss to her cheek, then caught up with Titan as he claimed a seat at a table in the corner.

  “Is there a reason we just fed my wife to the wolves?” I asked.

  “The only rabid one over there is Jordan, and Havoc is here, so she’ll at least moderately behave herself.”

  “Thanks for making sure some of the ladies showed up, even if they did bring the kids.”

  Titan eyed someone across the room and I realized he was checking out Cowboy’s eldest daughter, Danica. The more I studied her, the more I realized she was close to the same age as Phoebe, which meant if the Pres decided to make a move, at least it wouldn’t be illegal. Cowboy might have something to say about it, though.

  “You really think this is going to work?” I asked.

  “Which part? The women giving Phoebe a sense of support and community? Or the Sadistic Saints making a move on your wife?” Titan turned to face me. “You left them a pretty powerful message, Kraken. They may give us a wide berth. To them, she was a piece of ass. Not sure they’ll want to start a war.”