My heart is beating out of my chest so hard I can feel it in my throat.
“I don't feel guilty for loving you, Willow. I know in my heart that Cindy is up there smiling down on us right now. Smiling because she was right all along. Let go of the guilt, baby, it doesn't belong here anymore. Cindy is gone, but we're still here, still living, loving each other. We're having a baby, Will. Our baby doesn't deserve to be born to parents who feel guilty for loving each other when there's nothing to feel guilty about.
“It's not wrong, beautiful. This love of ours is so right, Willow. You know that deep down, don't you?” He leans his forehead against mine, my face still in his hands. “Let go and live, baby.”
Everything he just said is right. I need to let go of the guilt and live. Isn't that what I've been telling him since Cindy died? Let go and live.
We lost Cindy, but we still have each other. We're having a baby, we're going to be a family. Our child deserves to be born into a happy family, and it will be. I'm going to let go and live.
“Let go and live,” I repeat the words I spoke to him many times in the past when he couldn't get out of bed. When he couldn't eat. When he drank too much. “I'm sorry. I love you so much.”
He pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly, telling me, “I love you, baby girl. I will always love you. Now let me take you home.”
“I don't want to be there alone, Hammer. I miss you, but you won't stay with me.”“I'm sorry, I really have been busy. But no more. No matter what's going on, you're my number one and I will always put you first. You need to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow.”
I look up at him with curious eyes. “We do?”
“Yes. We do. We're going house hunting. It's time to let go of the past. We're moving forward. House. Wedding. Baby.”
“Wait, what?” I pull away from him. Did he really just say wedding? Is that his idea of a proposal? Not exactly heart and flowers. I know he's a biker, but could that have been more clichéd?
I know he asked me to marry him at the hospital, but we hadn't spoken about it since. He didn't even get me a ring, so I thought he'd changed his mind.
“You were born to be mine. You know it, I know it, soon the whole fuckin' world will know it.”
“That was your proposal?” I fold my arms around my chest. I'm going to milk this. I'm so amused, but I won't show it. I don't really give a shit about hearts and flowers, I know he's not about that. But I do want an engagement ring. I won't say yes until I have one.
I don't need one. But it would be nice to be asked properly.
“What? Not as good as last time?”
“If you have to ask, you'll never know.” I turn to leave but he grabs my arm and swings me around to face him. He looks at me for a moment, his eyes sliding to my lips and then back to my eyes. He's turned on, I know him all too well. Considering where we are right now, that is so inappropriate!
He smirks before leading me toward his bike. So, it's like that, is it? Well, I won't let him off that easily. No, sir.
Chapter Twenty
Hammer
I back her up against the wall, I've only just got the front door shut before my mouth is all over her. I need her, I've fuckin' missed her these past few days. I've neglected her, and that stops now.
Finding her at Cindy's grave, crying and begging her to help her find a way to help me. God, it killed me. I made her feel like that because of the way I yelled at her about Cindy.
I should never have said what I did, I really didn't mean it, it just came out. Willow has always understood me, has always been there for me in every way a person can be. I never meant to make her feel like she was second best to Cindy, she will never be that.
She is fuckin' everything to me. Every fuckin' thing! Ain't nobody ever gonna mean more to me than Willow does.
I rest my forehead against hers, my hand on her stomach, still flat but holding my child inside. It's such a fuckin' wonder to behold, my girl, pregnant with my baby. My fuckin' baby!
Her little hand slides over mine, holding it against her stomach, her other hand cupping my face, our foreheads still touching. “We love you, Sam – Hammer – Marshall.”
“I fuckin' love you both, too.” Our lips collide, tongues entwining. Ain't nothing like this in the world, nothing like kissing this woman, holding her, touching her. I don't give a fuck what others might say, they'll never know the beauty of our love.
Yeah, I fuckin' went there with the mushy shit. Don't give a fuck.
I lift her into my arms and carry her to bed. I strip her slowly, I want to savor this. God, she's beautiful, lying there looking up at me as I tear my clothes from my body. Soon as I'm as naked as she is, I climb onto the bed between her legs. Her eyes are on me, a smile on her gorgeous face.
She strokes the scar across my hairline and down past my eye, causing my eyes to close. Only she could find my scars beautiful.
I'm between her legs, tongue snaking out and tasting the honey glistening there for me. Her back arches instantly, a groan escaping from her plush lips. Just what I like to hear. I lick the length of her, back to front, and I'm rewarded with a gush of nectar and a scream of pleasure.
I chuckle against her pussy while sucking on her clit, her hands clutch my hair, hips grinding, fuckin' my face so fast she's practically suffocating me. Fuckin' perfect.
“I'm gonna come.” I can hardly hear her with the way her legs are wrapped around my head. “Hammer!” She screams, her pussy convulsing against my tongue.
God, she tastes good!
I climb her sexy body and lie between her legs. Her trusting eyes are looking right into my soul, and I know at this moment that I will do anything to protect her. I'll swallow my fuckin' pride and ask the one man I want nothing from to help me protect her.
There is nothing I won't do to keep her safe. I mean it when I say that she's my world. I mean it when I say that I won't survive if I lose her. I mean it when I say that I need her in order to live.
She's the air I need to breathe. Without her, I won't last an hour.
I kiss her softly. “I love you, baby girl. Ain't nothing I won't do to protect you.”
Little hands slide around my big shoulders. “I know. I love you, and I am never going to leave you. You're my life, Sam, and I do mean literally.”
Her words hit me right in the heart and I kiss the shit out of her while entering her tight body. And it's so damn good that we both call out in pleasure.
I had every intention of fuckin' her tonight, but I want to make love to her more. Just because I'm a biker bastard doesn't mean I can't make love to my woman, I'm just a man.
I slide my arm underneath her, lifting her against me, her arms around my neck, legs around my waist. I want her as close to me as I can get her, and I'm so deep that the sensations in my cock are out of this world.
We're out of breath, sweating like crazy, fuckin' against each other like we'll die if we don't, and all the time, our eyes are locked on each other. This feels so different. Somehow, it feels more intimate. It feels perfect.
“Sam...,” She groans with her head tipped back, her hips rolling, fingers in my hair dragging down my scalp.
“You feel so fuckin' good, Will.”
“I'm so close.” I can feel how close she is.
I hold onto her hips and rut the fuck out of her body. She's screaming, body tightening, and I ain't far off coming. “Come for me, Willow!”
“I... I... Oh, fuck! I'm coming.” Her legs lock around my waist, her pussy gushing all over my dick as she comes for me.
“Jesus, fuck!” I can't hold on, I'm shooting right inside of her so hard, both our orgasms so powerful that we can't unlock our muscles. Fuck, I've never come so damn hard!
I pull her flush against me, holding her close, my hips still pumping slowly inside her. “God, you make me come so hard.”
“Ditto, man of mine.”
I chuckle and kiss her head. I've missed this. Ain't gonna go so fuckin' long with
out touching her again. It's been torture.
But there's something I have to do. Soon. It can't wait much longer. Soon as tomorrow comes, I'll do what I swore I'd never do. I'll speak to my Mafia Don big brother and ask for his help.
If there was ever a bitter pill to swallow, it's that.
What the actual fuck am I doing here?
I don't know why I thought this would be a good idea. Since when do I act like a pussy and ask anybody for anything? But what other choice do I have? I swore that I would do anything to keep my girl safe, and I won't back down now. I need to end the cunt avoiding me. I say me because everyone else in that stupid little club is dead.
But that one fuck, Jimmy, VP of the club has gone into hiding. Ain't stopped him from sending me threats. Threats on what he'll do to my girl when he catches her alone. Won't happen, fuckin' stupid piece of shit! He's got fuck all in his life now, no club, no family. All he's got is words.
It's those words that are driving me insane. I won't have anyone threatening Willow, she's been through enough in her life. Finding her by Cindy's grave only reinforced that I have to do whatever it takes.
I've tried fuckin' everything to find the fat sack of shit, but I keep coming up empty-handed. Of course, the guys are keeping their eyes and ears peeled, but it's like he's disappeared. Ain't stopped him getting the word out that he'll end me and my family. Stupid cunt. All this bullshit because I refused to hand over the gun run I'd set up with a Russian arms dealer.
Who in their right mind would hand over thousands of dollars worth of guns and ammo to a small time biker club?
The truth is, that's how all this small time bullshit started. Motherfuckers. Going up against the big boys? We'll fuckin' end anyone who tries. Just that fat sack of crap to deal with and this bullshit will be done with.
Until the next one comes along.
But right now, I need the help of my Mafia Don big brother in order to find that cunt and end him. It's all well and good having pride, but there's no room for that when I need to protect Willow. I'll get down on my fuckin' knees and beg the motherfucker for help if that's what he wants. I'll humiliate myself just as long as he helps me with this.
I don't care what he has me doing as payment, 'cause there'll be something he wants me to do in return for his help. As much as I don't wanna do this, I swore to Shepard that I'd keep his daughter safe no matter what.
So, Vidal, it is.
Fuck my life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Draven
I'm staring into the eyes of my biker half-brother as he stands in my office, the office in my huge ass house. I wasn't expecting him to come to me any time soon, yet here he is. My men were warned months ago not to touch one hair on my brothers head. Biker or not, he's my blood, and blood is everything to me.
Sure, I got shit from the famiglia about the damage it would do to my reputation if I claimed this biker as my brother. But I won't deny him, no fucking matter what it might look like to those outside the family. And if anyone in my company, anyone who works for me, no matter their rank goes against me, I'll not only kill them slowly and painfully, I'll make damn sure they watch the torture and deaths of every member of their family first. Every fucking one.
No one crosses Draven Vidal and lives. No one.
“What can I do for you, little brother?
I notice the slight sneer curving on his lips, but he hides it well. He hates me, and I can't say as I blame him, I'm the worst kind of bastard. I have to be in my position. There's no room for friends in my business. Can't seem to make myself hate him, though. It's not like me, I can cut my feelings off like a light switch. But when it comes to my sister, my cousin, and now my brother, I can't seem to turn them off.
Of course, I know this is dangerous, many have tried to use this against me many times already. My family. It always ends badly for those fuckers. But don't mistake this and think I slack on security where my sister and cousin are concerned, I don't, never will. Whatever I have to do to keep them safe, I'll do it. Don't matter to me that Avery's now with a biker who's quite capable of taking care of her. My mind would never quit nagging me if I didn't have her safety covered.
Christ, the shit I got from the family for allowing Avery to be with a biker. I thought they were going to try and overthrow me at one point. Sad that I had to kill a handful of my men to make the rest of them understand that I am the Don, what I say goes, in the end.
As for Maria? Never in this life will I allow anyone, and I mean anyone to get close enough to notice the color of her eyes before he or she'd die. I have big plans for that beautiful girl, plans my mother would be proud of. I may not have saved Avery from falling for a filthy biker, but I'll make damn sure the same doesn't happen to my baby sister.
Yes, my brother is a biker, doesn't mean I agree with his lifestyle, any more than he does mine. But we can't have everything.
“I don't wanna be here, Draven. This ain't a social call,” Of course it's not. Why the hell would it be? “But you're my brother and I need your help.”
My eyes narrow. I don't want to gloat, but I can't help it. He's finally acknowledged that I am his brother.
“Take a seat.”
He does.
“What do you need from me, brother?”
He rubs his hands over his tired face before pulling on his cut. My brother is a tall fucker, bigger than I am, and I'm a big guy, makes this man a damn giant.
“I can't afford to be proud right now, Draven. You said that if I ever needed your help, you'd give it to me.”
“And I meant it. Whatever it is, just name it.” I'd do anything for my brother, no matter what that might be.
“I need help finding the fucker who's threatening my woman. I need to keep her safe. You have the power to find anyone.”
“And your club doesn't?”
“I wouldn't be here if we could. There is nothing I wouldn't do to protect her, Draven. She's pregnant with my child. I can't lose her.”
Every man's weakness is his family. They'd be a liar or a full-on psychopath if they said it wasn't. That's why many Mafia Don's and bikers alike don't get too attached to people, including family. If people think you don't give a fuck, they won't bother. Or they will, depends how crazy the asshole is. The only people I'm attached to are my family, looks like my brother and his club are the same.
“I'll get on my knees if that's what you want.”
“You really must be desperate.”
“I am. I almost lost her once, I won't - can't go there again. I ain't ashamed to say that I won't survive if anything happens to her. I'm asking you as my older brother to help me. No matter what I have to do, I'll do it, just help me end this so I can keep my family safe. I know there's no love lost between you and my club, but help me with this and we'll be at your disposal whenever you need us.”
I lean back in my chair and take in the giant that is my brother. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to help him, but he must be really fucking desperate to come to me with this offer.
It's no secret that I fuckin' hate bikers. I'd wipe the slimy fuckers off the face of the earth without blinking if I could. Well, I can. But I'd be a liar if I didn't say I know there are one or two clubs out there who fight for the rights of innocent people. My brother's club included.
I've heard over the years how they've avenged women who've been abused, sex trafficked, even kids who've been hurt in the same way. As for pedophiles? Yeah, my brother and one of his men, Roman, I think they call him, I've heard the stories of what they personally do to those men. The fuckin' torture they inflict upon those people.
My God, could I be any prouder of this man?
No, I don't think I could.
I'm honored that he'd come to me for help, no matter how much he didn't want to. He needs me. Despite how hard he might have prayed that this ain't true, that we're not really related, we are, and if he can't come to his big brother for help, who can he go to?
“Liste
n, Hammer, I know you'd rather be asking anyone other than me for help,” He shifts in his seat, the big leather chair on the opposite side of my large oak desk. Large. Jesus, he dwarfs the fucking thing. “But you came to me because you knew I'd help you.” His face gives nothing away, his shoulders, on the other hand... “Whatever you need, I'll help you with. There is no doubt about that. Give me names, places, it will be dealt with. That I can promise you. I know it's that Jimmy fuck that's getting to you the most. Trust me, I will find him, and when I do...” I leave the sentence hanging in the air. He knows what I mean, I don't have to verify it.
He sighs, leans forward in his seat with his hands on his face. I can't say I know what it's like to be terrified something bad will happen to the woman I love, I've never been in love. But I know what that girl means to Sam, I see the depth of what he feels for her written all over his face.
He's gonna marry that girl, they'll have more than one child, their life will be a happy one. Even if he is a biker. A bikers life ain't for kids, but then neither is a mafia life. Kids adapt well to what they know, my brother turned out all right, so did Avery, and Maria turned out perfect.
“Thank you... Brother. I mean that.”
“No thanks necessary. I'm your brother, I'd do anything for you, Hammer.”
Anything.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Willow
“Yay! You're such a clever girl, Ember.” Pretty little thing is clapping her hands wildly at me. We're building blocks while her mom is out on business. I never ask what she's up to, it's easier on my conscience if I don't. It's probably something terrible knowing her.
I agreed to watch Ember for her. I love taking care of my niece, she's amazing. Always smiling, always happy. I've never known a little girl to be so happy in my life. That's saying something when my mom always says what a happy child I was growing up.
All For You (Snakes Henchmen MC Book 2) Page 18
