“Well, I’m throwing you a party to celebrate. Mrs. would have my neck if I didn’t and whether you like it or not we are your family.”
Lacey smiled. His face was so serious as if he thought she would reject him. “I like it very much actually, but I have to warn you. I am the ADA now and I will not cut you any slack if you step out of line mister.” She adopted her most serious face as he leaned down for her to kiss his tanned cheek.
“Saturday. We’ll start at six.” He said as he strode out of the office.
In only a few moments he was astride the powerful motorcycle beside a man that haunted her dreams. Shadow. His black eyes found her and she felt a shiver run through her body. He didn’t smile or frown. His face stayed blank, but his eyes made Lacey feel too warm and icy cold at the same time. She watched until they were out of sight, only then was the spell broken and she was able to move away. She hated the hold he had on her. She couldn’t even speak when he was with her. He had always been there. He had always seen to her safety. Every time Preach moved her and Nana, after her grandma had been killed, Shadow came to make sure the place was safe. Shadow was always near. She had no idea how he could have been near her and Preach, but he seemed to be everywhere. She had seen him at least once a week for the last fifteen years. No matter where they were he’d visited on her birthday and always on the anniversary of her parents’ death, but never close enough to talk to. He always nodded and met her eyes and it always made a cold shiver run down her spine. She could count the number of times they had spoken on one hand, but still he was a fixture in her life. She wasn’t sure if she was happy about that fact, but it was a fact and if she were truly honest, she wouldn’t change it.
Lacey had dated very little. It seemed that every time she grew close to a man Preach decided to move them. She had of course been with men, but nothing serious enough to warrant a ring and Shadow always seemed to be watching, to the point that she wondered if he had actually been in the bedroom with her at times. The night she had lost her virginity she had been sitting on the back porch after being brought home. The experience hadn’t been what she had wanted and she had cried into the darkness. She could have sworn that she saw Shadow in the darkness. He didn’t speak and when she wiped the tears from her eyes to get a better look he’d been gone. She still wondered though.
She shook her head and sat back down at her desk to try to figure out where to begin. The old chair creaked loudly as if telling her exactly where to begin, with a new office chair.
3
Preacherman lowered the gavel and called for church to begin. He looked around the table at the men he called brothers and two that were more than that. He’d called this meeting even though most of the brothers were away on business with Ace, but it needed to be done.
“I know this is out of the ordinary, but we have a situation that needs immediate consideration.”
The men all looked his way.
“A young woman, who I have claimed as my family, has finally come home.” Preach felt the dark eyes on him, but refused to look at his son. “The tricky part is she is the new ADA in town and she is also on the Devils’ hit list.” He held up his hand as a murmured grumble filled the air. “She has more right than most to hate Devils. Those of you who remember her, well you know why and those who don’t can take my word for it or ask in private. Three of us at this table were there that night and we all saw the horror of what happened.” He sighed. “We saw the loyalty of a man that was not part of this club and all he asked in return for his life and the life of his wife was the safety of his daughter.”
“I remember, so what’s the problem? If she’s family we shouldn’t have to worry about the brothers protecting her.” Moose declared with a shrug. “And she is family. She knows who loves her and she is as loyal as her father.” His voice made it clear that he would defend the fact if it came to it.
“I’m not worried about any trouble she may cause us, but her safety… The Devils killed her family and still have a hit out on her. We changed her name to Lacey Carson because that was her father’s first name and it was the only thing she would agree to.” He paused fighting a grin at the memory of the little slip of a girl standing up to him about her name. “We moved her around quite a bit as most of you know. Being the ADA may bring her into the public eye more than we would like and fact is, I want her safe. I gave my word to a man who was dying because he wouldn’t give up our secrets to the enemy and I will keep my word,” he met the eye of every man at the table. “Even if I have to do it by my fucking self.”
“Might be easier just to take her out ourselves. Do it humane like. Not fuck her up, just off her.” Lawless said as he cleaned his nails with his knife. He didn’t look up, but Preach knew the man would hate protecting anybody close to the law. He hated the law more than he hated the Devils and that was a whole hell of a lot. “It’s the nice thing to do.” Lawless lifted his dark blue eyes and kept his face blank, but Preach saw the hate swimming in them. Lawless was a mean son of a bitch.
“She is my family Law. An attack on her is an attack on me.” Preach made his voice hard. He hid his surprise when a new voice spoke up.
“And me.” Shadow spoke in a quiet voice, but the cold edge made every man in the room understand that he meant business.
All eyes turned to Shadow, which he hated. He didn’t allow his face to change, kept it blank as his brothers stared at him in shock. He had never spoken out in church and certainly never spoken up for anyone. He was speaking for this woman and to his brothers that was a big fucking deal. He remained blank and met each pair of eyes. He crossed his arms and stared at his father who sat at the head of the table.
“She your woman then Shad?” Law asked with narrowed eyes that made Shad want to cut the man’s throat. It was a not so subtle threat and Shad knew it.
“No.” That was all he said and all that he would say. He didn’t own them a reason.
“Shad, you check out the security at her house, take moose with you this time. I want the word put out that she is un-fucking-touchable. Get it done boys. And,” he said as the men began to shift in their seats, “there will be a party for her Saturday at six. The women will get the shit together, but spread the word, I want her to have a warm welcome home.” He let his eyes fall on Lawless. “She is family and a member of this club by blood and by bond.”
Law made no acknowledgment except for a slight smirk.
Preach banged the gavel and the men began filing out of the room, all except Shadow.
“I don’t need Moose to fucking baby sit me while I deal with the security shit. You know I don’t like anybody looking over my shoulder. What the hell? You lost faith with me?”
Shadow didn’t let his anger register in his voice or on his face and Preach wanted to shiver. That shit was plain creepy at times. Preach wondered, not for the first time, if anything would ever crack the man’s composure.
Preach slapped his son on the shoulder, “Fuck no, she is a corker and I think Moose will be able to distract her while you do whatever the fuck you do.”
“You remember.”
Preach nodded. “I remember.”
“I could have dealt with it just then.”
Shadow studied his father closely. He knew it made the older man nervous, as it did most people, it made him wonder what the man had to hide though. As always, he told himself he would find out when the time was right. As it is now though, he suspects the man is just being cautious. Shadow decided not to be angry. Instead he nodded and left the room to grab his gear and Moose.
4
Lacey stood, arms crossed over her breasts and scowled at the man who had haunted most of her nightmares and refused to let him into her house. He stood calmly in front of her, insisting on entrance with his manner if not by expression. She was terrified, but refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing it. She had to make a stand.
“I have an alarm. If you think I’m going to let you into my house so you can put me und
er some sort of surveillance for your sick thrills, you are crazy. Now get off my porch before I call the sheriff.”
Moose didn’t try to stifle the laughter her words caused. His huge 6’6” frame shook with his mirth as his caramel colored eyes danced with moisture.
“She’s got ya there Shad, you are one sick bastard.” He laughed and Lacey’s glare only worsened his shakes.
Shadow’s face remained calm as he spoke. “I was given an order and I will carry it out if I have to lock you in the closet to do it.” He shrugged as if it mattered very little to him. “If I see something I want to watch, I’ll look.” He lowered his voice to a gravely whisper. “I always have.” He allowed his eyes to run up and down her body and was rewarded with her uncomfortable shuffle. That was the opening he was looking for. He shifted so fast she couldn’t stop him and winked as he made his way through her living room.
Lacey huffed out a breath as the man forced his way into her house. She stood back and allowed Moose to enter. She accepted his hug. She had only met him a few times, but he was huge and for some reason she felt safe with him. She let her eyes find the shadowy figure that she thought of as the phantom of her nightmares. Why did he terrify her so? She had barely found the courage to stand up to him and what good had it done her? Moose distracted her and she got the idea that was the idea of his company.
“See this?” He held out his arm so she could look at the tattoo of the tiny foot on his forearm. “That’s my baby girl, Katie. She’s two now but she is still so tiny, like her mama. We’ll bring her to the party on Saturday so you can meet her. She is by far the best thing to happen to me since I found Bambi.”
Lacey smiled because the love in the big man’s voice rang so true. She had been loved like that once. Her throat ached at the thought of her kind father and the things those monsters had done to him. Could this man be so very different from them? If so then why did he share such an odd lifestyle?
“You sound like my dad. He always said mama and I were the best parts of his life.”
Lacey watched sorrow wash over Moose’s tanned face and knew right then that this man was different, he had to be. These men were the only family she had left and her father had entrusted her to them.
“Your dad was a good man and he loved you. He was more honorable than many twice as tough. He was so proud to have been able to save you. He told Preach and Shad where you were and made them promise to keep you safe. I can’t imagine the strength it took for him to hang on until then.” Moose broke off when his voice roughened and shook his head. “He even told Preach that you were afraid of Shad.”
Lacey felt so proud that she almost burst, but instead she just reached out and slipped her little hand into Moose’s big one. She didn’t notice Shadow standing just out of sight, but the words Moose said struck him. He remembered those words too.
“Thank you for telling me that, and I think you would do no less for Katie.” She smiled and purposefully changed the subject. “I’m not sure there should be a party. I’m not part of that life; I won’t know what to do.”
Moose grinned. “You will do just fine. It’s just a little back yard barbeque Nothing to worry over.”
Lacey raised a brow. “Am I expected to wear leather and a do rag?”
Moose burst out laughing and shook his head. He looked up to find Shadow standing in the door way watching carefully. His eyes were narrowed and Moose was shocked by even that small change. “Done Shad? Did you get the cameras up in Lacey’s bedroom and bathroom like you wanted?”
Lacey scowled and vowed to search the house and make sure there was nothing in those rooms especially.
“I put them where I wanted them.” Shad said casually.
“Mmmmhmmm, and will Preach have access to all the cameras set up out here?” Moose raised his eyebrows in question.
Shad gave the slightest lift of his brow. “Preach will be able to see all the cameras I installed here today.”
Which meant there were others installed at a different time or would be that Preach would not have access to. Moose wanted to laugh. Shad was one slick bastard and if he was going to this kind of trouble to get a look at this woman, he must have it bad. He stood and slapped the solemn man on the shoulder. “Let’s go! You’ll be able to watch Lacey rant and rave as she looks for the cameras you hid in her room.”
“She can look.” Shadow shrugged as his eyes met Lacey’s. Her slight shiver caused a frown to tug at his lips, just slightly and she looked away. “Why do you always do that?” He was truly puzzled.
“What?” Lacey asked still not looking at him.
“Shiver.”
“I don’t.” She insisted and forced herself to look into his black eyes. She could not restrain the slight shutter, but she was sure he hadn’t seen…wrong.
“You fucking did it again.” His voice remained steady and held no inflection. He crossed his massive arms over his chest. Lacey let her eyes drop to his broad chest encased in a black t shirt. His cut hung from his shoulders and his bronzed arms were crossed stubbornly over his chest. She noticed the tattoos then, chains. The wide manacles bound both wrists to the dark chains that snaked up his arms, encircling them several times before disappearing into his sleeves. He cleared his throat and she went red to her hairline. Had she really been staring at his body as if she were a drooling girl who hung around the clubhouse?
“I’m sorry, what?” She asked as she forced herself to look up.
“Never mind.” He took Lacey by the chin in a surprisingly gentle grasp. “We can discuss it another time, but we will discuss it Lacey. There is not one fucking reason for you to be afraid of me and I will prove that to you someday. God knows I’ve tried to for the last fifteen years, but you are stubborn as hell.” He turned and left the house without a backwards glance climbed on his bike and cranked it.
Moose shook his head and followed wondering what the hell he had just witnessed.
5
Saturday came around way too soon. Lacey had bought three outfits and now she couldn’t figure out which would actually work. A knock on the door gave her a welcomed distraction. She opened it to find Mrs. and Angel standing on her tiny front porch. They both greeted her with huge smiles and pulled her in for hugs.
“Oh my God! Angel you are huge!” Lacey said before she thought of herself.
“Bitch.” Angel said with an airy laugh. “You look fantastic! I couldn’t believe it when daddy said you had moved back home! I am so glad to have you back. This baby is going to need a strong aunt to combat all these uncles. I can’t believe you kept it a secret from me!”
Lacey beamed. Angel had only been six when Lacey had become an honorary member of the family and Lacey loved her. “I can’t wait until….”
“It’s a GIRL!!!” Mrs. squealed. Can you believe my first grand baby will be a little girl? I can’t wait to see all those big tough men fall all over themselves for her like they do with little Katie. Preach fusses that the cuts will have to be made in pink if somebody doesn’t start having some boys to carry on the club.”
The three women laughed and talked as they made their way to the kitchen where Mrs. unloaded her bags and started making lunch. Lacey started to protest but was cut off with a look from the woman who had become her mother over the years. So she just sat at the table with Angel and watched as the hardened biker chick turned into a loving mother preparing a meal for her children.
Mrs. was a whirlwind. She was taller than Lacey by just a little, maybe 5’8” or so. She had bleached blonde hair and the greenest eyes Lacey had ever seen in her life. They always made her think of new leaves in the spring and they were always filled with love and joy. Lacey had only heard of Mrs. getting angry once in the fifteen years since she had known her. Mrs. had walked in and caught Preacher with one of the club whores straddling his lap. Mrs. had walked right up to her husband and informed him that she would be visiting friends for a while. She didn’t raise her voice or acknowledge the whore in any way, but
preach got the message loud and clear. Mrs. had taken her girls and left for a month. Lacey had loved it because they had come to stay with Nana and her. She didn’t understand what had been going on, but she knew Preach was a different man when he came to visit that time. That night Mrs. had laid down some rules and Preach never strayed again. Lacey respected her for it.
“I figured you ladies would be busy at the clubhouse today, planning my party.” Lacey commented.
“Oh sweetie, we have that under control, but if that man of mine asked about you one more time I was going to kill him so I figured I’d come out here and spend some time with you and help you get ready.”
“Why is Preach worried about me?” Lacey was truly confused.
“God knows ‘cause I sure don’t.” She caught Lacey’s worried look and rushed to reassure her. “I think its more excitement that worry honey. He can’t wait for you to be under his roof for a while. That’s just the way he is.” She patted Lacey’s hand. “Shadow is watching over you night and day, you needn’t worry about a thing. You are as safe as can be without moving in the clubhouse or to the house with me.”
Angle choked on her drink and sputtered, but made no comment. Mrs. shot her a glare and turned back to Lacey.
“Now then, that can cook while we figure out what you are going to wear tonight.”
“Oh thank heavens! I have no idea. I don’t own any leather or anything.” She ignored Angel’s snort. “I’ve never been to the club house as an adult and only a few times as a kid.” She blushed and tried to explain.
“You don’t have to wear leather Lacey.” Angel said with a laugh. “I would look like a real cow if I tried to wear leather.”
Shadow (Defenders MC Book 1) Page 2
