by E. C. Land
Victoria is the first one to speak up. “I wish I’d gutted the bitch that night rather than leaving her alive. I’d only thought about getting you out of there. She died all to easily, Luna. Just so you know, since you have the right to know Deanna Delancy is dead, that’s one less one to worry about.”
“Are you who I think you are?” my dad demands looking at Victoria through narrow slits.
“Depends why you want to know?” Victoria shoots back.
“Babe,” Tracker states, firmly from behind his ol’ lady.
“Are you Ryder Garnier’s niece?” he asks.
“I am,” she says, head held high.
“Well, shit, fuck me. No wonder you and Luna resemble each other. You’re second cousins who look more like sisters.” Stunned by this, I glance from him to Victoria and back.
“What?” I ask, baffled by this information.
“Your mom, she was a Garnier. S–She was Ryder and Victoria’s father, Reno’s cousin. I don’t remember the other two crazy bitches’ names. It’s why I allowed you to go to LSU without protection because you had it there.”
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.
Get a grip. You can handle this. Take a breath. Count to ten.
“Kitten, breathe. I’m right here. Don’t sink into yourself.” Shadow’s voice breaks through the fog hazing in my mind.
Nodding, I tilt my head in Victoria’s direction. “We’re family,” I murmur.
“Makes sense as to not only why we look alike but why I’m protective of you,” she smiles.
“How did Luna not know about being related to Ryder and Chains?” Shadow asks.
“Because, at Luna’s mom’s request we didn’t want her crazy bitches of cousins to find out about her being in the area. Didn’t matter if they were locked away somewhere. They had connections,” my dad answers.
“Daddy, can I ask you something?”
“Anything, Luna Bean. I’ll answer anything you need me to.”
Nodding, I lick my lips nervously. “W–Why did my mom die? And how is it I have two older brothers by my stepmother when you were with Mom?”
“Fuck,” Grant mutters. “Luna . . .”
“No, she has the right to know this,” my dad interrupts him not once taking his gaze from mine in the process. “I should have told you this a long time ago. Before, I met your mother, I’d been with your stepmother. We had Grant and Granger together. She decided our world wasn’t what she wanted so she took my boys and left. I met your mother not long after that, she was amazing and I’d married her the instant she agreed. Not long after that your stepmother came back wanting to give it another shot. She wasn’t happy I’d moved on. Your mother knew I loved her, but I’d also been in love with another woman who still had a place in my heart. She decided she wanted a divorce. Said we could share the house in order to raise you in it together and we’d remained friends. I agreed to her wishes and ended up splitting my time between both homes to be with all of my children. Was this wrong of me? Yes, in the world I deal in along with your brothers we show no weakness. It might not make sense to you but it’s what I’d done regardless.”
Taking a breath, he closes his eyes for a brief moment. “I should have paid more attention to how your stepmother treated you. For this I will regret because in the end I’d given her what she’d wanted and not you. If I had, you’d never have been kidnapped.”
“Does she know you all are here?” I ask.
“No,” Granger sneers. “She left a few months ago.”
“What?” I rasp.
“Uh, I hate to interrupt . . .” Nerd mutters from where he’s standing at the end of the table.
“What’s up, brother?” Stoney asks.
“Well, if the woman you’re speaking of is Mareena Devore, she’s checked into a hotel in the town over and she was also the one responsible for putting the order out for Luna’s kidnapping. You should also know she is Delano Delancy’s sister.”
“Fuck,” Shadow mutters from next to me and I’m immediately lifted out of my seat. “Be back.” I hear him but everything becomes a haze as everything around me becomes distant. I feel myself slipping back to that place as I start to count.
One. Two. Three. Four . . .
Chapter Ten
Shadow
I fucked up. Big time. I should have fuckin’ pulled Nerd to the side to hear what he had to say first. I didn’t expect him to find shit was this bad.
I regretted that move the instant Nerd relayed this information. I felt it before I saw it in her eyes and immediately lifted her out of her seat and carried her to my room.
Without putting Luna down, I reached in my pocket, pulled out my key and unlocked the door. Throwing the door open, I push through and use my foot to kick the damn thing shut behind me.
Placing Luna on her feet. I stand directly in front of her. “Look at me, Kitten,” I command.
Her eyes lift to mine but they’re blank, just as they’d been for almost two years.
“Luna, I won’t tell you again. Look at me.”
“I am,” she murmurs.
“You are not. You’re stuck in your head and right now you need to focus on me,” I snap, forcefully.
Luna shakes her head and her body starts to tremble. “Good girl, come back to me. Remember I told you nothing touches you. Never again. Cruella fuckin’ de Vil will not get her hands on you again. She will never get close to you. I won’t let her.”
“She’s the one who’s been watching me.” Luna surprises me by this announcement.
“Come again?”
“I’ve felt someone watching me. When you’re not around that is. I don’t know how to explain it. I guess it feels as if my stomach were being twisted into a thousand knots.”
“That’s your gut speaking to you, Kitten. Why didn’t you tell me this before now?”
“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal and I didn’t want you to think I was crazy. It’s bad enough you put up with my other quirks, I don’t need you to think I’m insane.” Tears well in her eyes and I know she can’t handle much more.
Nodding, I pull her against my chest. “Alright, Luna. This is what we’re going to do. We’re staying here tonight. I’m going to go out to the main room. I’m sure the food is here by now. I’ll send Rachel and Victoria in here. You all eat, talk, do whatever. I’ll be back in a bit. Gotta get some shit straight with everyone else out there. When I get back you best be prepared for me. Got it?”
Rather than answer she nods her head.
“Want the words, Kitten,” I mutter.
“Yes, Sir,” she whispers, breathlessly.
“Good girl.” Leaning down, I reward her with a gentle caress of my lips against hers causing her to sigh. “Love you, Luna,” my mouth brushes hers with each word.
“Love you too, David. I’m sorry, I’m a freak.” A tear slides down her cheek and I reach out to swipe it away.
“Talk about yourself like that again, Kitten, and I will make sure when I get back in here the spanks you were going to get for this morning are double to the amount. You won’t be able to sit for the remainder of the weekend,” I growl, squeezing her to me.
“Yes, Sir,” she says, her eyes shimmer with need.
Fuck, I need to get this over with and get back in here.
Releasing my hold on her, I step back and grin. “Be good, Kitten.”
Turning on my heel I head out of the room making sure to close the door behind me.
I’m bombarded by questions the moment I return to the main room where everyone was waiting for us.
“Where’s Luna?”
“Is she okay?”
“Does she need anything?”
“Why didn’t you bring her back in here with you?”
Holding my hands up to halt further questions, I scan through the group of people. Landing on Rachel and Victoria, I ask them if they’ll go hang out with Luna.
At their nods they dash off in the direction carrying a bag o
f food. I’d been right. The prospect Rachel sent to get the food for everyone, had brought the food back.
Everyone stays silent as those two leave the room, my gaze darts over to Momma B, Tinsley, and Raven. “Could you give us a few minutes to discuss things?” I ask.
Momma B and Tinsley nod immediately, though I’m sure they both wanted to stay. Raven on the other hand crossed her arms over her chest in refusal.
“Raven,” Blaze mutters her name in warning.
“I know. I know. I know. No women for this part. I get it but I want to say something first,” she snaps, unfolding her arms. Resting one hand on her stomach the other she brushes through her hair. “With this knowledge of Luna being a member of the family, you should know and this is something that I’m finding somewhat alarming, Mareena is in the next town over. She’s also Delano’s cousin. Delano is a fuckin’ dick, Vicky doesn’t know about his involvement with her parents’ death. Only reason I do is because I spent more time around the clubhouse. My concern; however, isn’t for that tidbit. It’s for the reasons she could be here. See those crazy bitches you spoke of, they’re in the same place I sent Dixie.”
“Fuck,” Blaze mutters.
“You think she knows this?” Tracker asks, clenching his teeth.
“I don’t know. That would be a question for Ryder. He’s the one who put them there,” Raven mutters.
“This is bullshit. Mareena is a selfish fuckin’ bitch who is nothing but a gold-digging whore,” Gentry sneers.
“She’s not my fuckin’ mother that’s for sure,” Granger snaps.
“Dad, don’t think we won’t kill her. She may have pushed us at each other but she’s heartless. I’m surprised at just how much she was able to fool us all up until recently,” Grant states.
“Don’t worry, son, I’ll pull the trigger myself,” Devore snarls.
“You won’t get the chance to,” Gabriel seethes.
“Exactly,” Granger grunts.
“Enough,” Stoney roars, gaining everyone’s attention on him. “Doesn’t matter who pulls the trigger or not. My suggestion is, we do our recon, find out exactly what this cunt is after, and go from there.”
“Prez, Luna just informed me she’s been feeling as if someone were watching her.” I’m fuckin’ pissed about the fact Luna hadn’t told me before now about this. I could have had a man on her to keep an eye out.
“Shit,” Stoney grumbles, raking a hand through his hair he brings it across his face and lets out an aggravated sigh. “Alright, this shit just wants to become a clusterfuck of all fuck ups.”
“You got that right,” I mutter as crying fills the room.
“Raven, go check on Matthew,” Blaze states soothingly to his ol’ lady but her eyes had done that thing I’ve seen them do a few times. It’s freaky but when her gaze lands on me, she blows my mind.
“Handle her the way you have, but note, it’s not just her life you have to protect. Keep the dark at bay, Shadow. She’s vulnerable right now if she’s not protected and the darkness shows itself, she may not be able to make it back to herself again.”
Fuck me.
Is she saying what I think she is? Is my woman carrying my kid?
Shit.
Raven wouldn’t say something like that unless she means it.
I knew this was a possibility. We didn’t use protection. I didn’t give a fuck if I got her knocked up. It just meant I’d get to tie her to me even more. Luna is my fuckin’ woman. I cherish her and I’ll do the same for any child we have together.
“What the hell?” Grant mutters.
“Oh fuck, you’re Fury and Ela’s daughter,” Devore states as he stares at Raven.
“Baby,” Blaze says, softly as he pulls his ol’ lady tighter into his arms. Raven sags into his arms as she regains her wits about herself.
“Sorry that was intense,” she murmurs, her gaze focused on Blaze.
“You’re telling me. Go ahead and go to Matthew. He’s crying for you,” Blaze orders, leaning down and kissing her forehead before releasing his hold on her.
“Okay,” she whispers and takes off toward the room set up for all the kids when they’re not in the bedroom with their parents.
“Now, does someone want to explain to me how the fuck not only do you have Ryder’s niece up here but also Fury’s daughter?” Devore asks inquisitively.
“Victoria is my ol’ lady,” Tracker states.
“Raven is my ol’ lady,” Blaze declares at the same time.
“I understand this part but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that. My question is how is it the Silence of Dark women are here?”
Oh fuck.
“Excuse me?” Tracker snarls, shoulders going back.
“You want to say that again?” Blaze growls.
“I don’t have a problem with them. Calm down. They aren’t the ones I dealt with when I needed to handle business. I used a group Shadow was with,” Devore grins.
“You’re treading thin ice, Devore. I suggest you back off right fuckin’ now. Yeah, I used to be with the group who took care of shit for you. This means you also know what I’m capable of and I have no problem slicing your throat,” I sneer, ready to do what needs to be done if need be.
“Shadow, brother, don’t let him get under your skin,” Stoney mutters. “Devore, you are here at the request of your daughter wanting to talk to you. That doesn’t give you permission to provoke my men into a fight that you will not win. You have an alliance with our club in South Carolina but if you don’t get your shit together and show some fuckin’ respect that alliance will be voided.”
“Apologies, I simply want to make sure my daughter is in good hands. We’re going to head out and find a hotel for the night. Tell Luna I will see her tomorrow. Maybe then it will be better for everyone,” Devore states.
Nodding, I watch the five men leave the clubhouse and at the same time hear Stoney call church. It’s time to get a game plan together for the shitshow I feel brewing.
Chapter Eleven
Luna
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Rachel asks as I scoop another heaping portion of my dinner on to a tortilla chip.
“I will be. It was just a shock to the system, and I didn’t handle it very well. I reverted to what I know.” I say, shoving the chip into my mouth.
“Well, that was a lot of information to take in. Shit, it was a shock to my own system,” Victoria states.
“You’re telling me. I hadn’t even known I had family on my mom’s side of the family. Then to find out you’re my cousin.” Shaking my head, I let out a deep breath.
“Yeah, that shocked me as well. I seem to find out a lot of things that blow my mind. But I have to ask, how is it you’ve gone from freaking out to calm within minutes?” Victoria asks.
I lick my lips nervously as I glance from Victoria to Rachel to see her blushing.
Does she know about Shadow?
“Shadow helped me,” I murmur, nonchalantly.
“Helped you how?” Victoria pushes.
“Vi, maybe you shouldn’t ask about something that should be between the two of them,” Rachel suggests.
“I’m sure it should be, but I want to know regardless.” God help me.
“Well, you’ll just have to continue wanting to know because Luna doesn’t have to tell you anything that is personal between her and Shadow,” Rachel retorts, this time throwing her attitude into it.
“Fine,” Victoria huffs. “I just wanted to know if he’s the one who gave Tracker the idea to put me over his damn knee.”
“What?” I gasp, choking on the chip I’d been chewing. Rachel reaches out and pats my back.
“It was probably Stoney,” Rachel suggests trying to pull the attention from Shadow.
“Maybe,” Victoria shrugs.
“Can we get away from this conversation please?” I mutter.
“Sure, why don’t we put a movie on while we eat the rest of our food,” Rachel says hopping off the bed and
grabs a set of DVDs off the dresser next to the TV. “How about? John Wick? Or better yet, San Andreas?”
“San Andreas,” I say smiling. It’s one of my favorites along with the Fast and the Furious movies. Fast Five being my favorite.
Okay, so I don’t do sappy movies, I love my action flicks.
Rachel pops the DVD in and rejoins Victoria and I on the bed. The three of us sit back with our food and eat.
Halfway through the movie, I fall asleep snuggled into Shadow’s pillow.
Feelings of warmth surround me and I snuggle deeper into them wanting to soak every bit of them up.
“Kitten,” Shadow’s gravelly voice pierces through the fog of sleep.
“Hmm, I don’t wanna wake up,” I grumble, sleepily.
“Don’t have a choice,” the tone in his voice changes and a shiver shoots down my spine to the apex between my thighs as he rolls me to my back. Somehow, he’d gotten me out of my clothes without waking me when he came into the room.
Shadow moves to hover over me as he settles between my legs. His dick pressed against the heat of my core. I pull my bottom lip in between my teeth to keep from moaning in need.
“Fuck, you always wake up weeping for me to slide inside you, you know that, Kitten?” he says grinding himself into me.
I nod my head in response.
“Not how I want you to answer, Luna,” he mutters.
“Yes, Sir,” I croak.
“Good girl. Now you’re going to take your punishment for yesterday. You did two things you know you’re not supposed to do,” Shadow mutters and thrusts inside me. “Are you supposed to get up without me?” I shake my head at this. “Are you supposed to revert into your head when things implode around you?” Again, I shake my head. “That’s right, Kitten, you’re supposed to talk to me, lean on me, and let me take the weight of shit around us. Told you more than once, nothing touches you and I’m not about to let anyone or anything harm you in any way. That includes you doing it to yourself as well.” Shadow thrusts slowly into my sheath as he makes this statement.
