by C. M. Steele
“I understand. You would probably have the entire town creeping in when they were bored.”
“Yes. So tell me more about the men you have meeting with my daughter.” I’d been waiting for the interrogation to begin. No father in his right mind would let his daughter get involved with a man without knowing everything he could about him.
“I belong to a motorcycle club in my town. We’re a bunch of former soldiers and friends who moved to the town our president built with his brother.”
“A town built around the club? That sounds dangerous.”
“Not in the least.” I paused and took another gulp of my coffee as I formed my response. I didn’t want him trying to take her away from me. Not that I’d let that happen, but I sure as fuck didn’t want a family rift, especially when I owed him so much. “Well, it didn’t used to be an issue. A few months before I left, we started to feel the hand of the cartels in our area. We got rid of some of the issues, but not before they got to us. The town is now monitored for safety at all times to keep our residents secure. It has grown over the past five years, but the town for the most part is peaceful, and we’d like to keep it that way.”
“So you were a soldier?” he asked, taking a seat at the breakfast counter.
“Special forces for six years.”
“Damn. You look young. How old are you?”
“Thirty-two.”
“Okay. That’s not too bad when it comes to Grace.”
“How old is she?”
“Twenty-five.” I knew she had to be at least twenty-four since she was a doctor, unless she was a super genius who skipped grades like people skipped rocks.
“There isn’t some boyfriend that I need to get out of the picture, is there?”
“No, but I will warn you that if you hurt my girl in any way, I’ll deliver your ass to the cartels myself.”
“That’s understood.”
“Enough. Eat, so you can get your strength back.” I dug into the bowl of oatmeal, and I was surprised at not only how good it was, but that I’d polished it off in minutes.
“I see you’ll be getting your strength back sooner than expected with the way you’re eating.”
“When can I start lifting again?”
“I’d give it another couple of weeks. The ribs are still healing, and we don’t want any added stress on them.”
“Thanks. I want to be able to protect Grace personally. I hate that I have to leave it to others.”
He nodded with genuine respect. As crazy as it sounded, I was in love with his daughter. I’d been given a second chance, and I wasn’t going to squander it. “Give it time. Any setback can make it a hell of a lot harder to recover from.”
“I’ll take that advice. Now I need some real food. Do you have any eggs?”
“They’re in the fridge. Help yourself.” He pointed to it and then refilled his mug.
“Thank you, sir,” I grunted, standing up to put away my bowl and hunt for some more food.
“What’s with the ‘sir’ business?” He set the decanter back into the machine and stared at me.
Giving him a smile, I let him have the truth. “I figure you’ll be my father-in-law very soon.”
“Understood.” He laughed, shook his head, and then left me alone to make some eggs.
Laying down, I had to rest after that full breakfast, then I showered and dressed in some of the clothes her dad had picked up for me. Still, I couldn’t get her out of my head for more than a few seconds to even consider all those who played a part in my fate. A lot of people were going to die when I got my revenge.
First, I needed the strength to claim my woman. I thanked fuck that I’d been in a coma and my body healed without me being aware because I would have lost my damn head if I’d been too injured to even touch my beautiful angel.
It was already after one and I hadn’t heard from Grace all day, which ticked me off, but what was I going to do? As a doctor, she didn’t have time to be making personal phone calls. Still, I needed to know about the guys. At least that was the excuse I told myself.
“Hey, you have some visitors,” Stanley said, popping his head into the living room. I stood up and saw Boomer, Doc, and Blade.
“Oh my fucking God, Rico. It’s so fucking good to see you alive.” They came up to me, but before they reached for me, Stanley stopped them.
He put his hands forward and said, “Sorry, fellas, but you’ve got to take it easy on him. He’s still recovering.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” They came up and gave me a gentle hug.
“We can’t believe it! Your brother and sister are going to be fucking thrilled.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t bring them.”
“Well, we wanted to make sure we weren’t tailed first.”
“Anyone lurking?”
“No, but we can’t be too careful. We can’t wait to get back home. I can’t stay. Crystal could go into labor at any moment.”
“Honestly, I think it’s best that I go back home with you. It’s definitely more secure there, and I want this wrapped up. I know who did this to me and who needs to rot in hell.” My mind went straight to Grace. I wanted her by my side, but I couldn’t ask her to just pack up her life for me.
“So you’re planning to leave Grace behind?” Stanley snarled behind me.
“No. I need a way to convince her to come with me.”
A bell dinged at the medical office. The doc went out there. “I’m going to see if he needs any help,” Doc said, following Stanley.
“Son of a bitch,” Doc shouted just as bullets whizzed through the air.
“Cortes,” Doc yelled for Boomer to hear. They crept into the main lobby and unloaded on two of Cortes’s men. They stormed them before they could reach for their guns again. I stayed out of sight just in case someone got away.
“Tie them up.” Blade reached in his bag for some flex cuffs and tied both of them up before setting them on a chair.
I looked for Stanley, but he was hiding in one of the rooms. Doc came back out with him and brought him into the main house. “Your friends brought trouble into my area.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not like we thought people made us at the hospital. We’re not from around here.”
“I want my daughter away from this.”
“She’s better off coming with us. We’d keep her safe. This place doesn’t have any real security.” He scoffed at me. His clinic had been shot up. Luckily there were no more patients in there. “I’m sorry, sir, but the moment you rescued me, you let in the cartel.”
“No, the cartels have always been there. They took my son’s life through drugs.” He ran his hands through his dark brown hair with the streaks of grey at his sides. “Can you promise to protect her?”
“I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep her safe.”
“Good.”
“Will you come with us?”
“I think I need to handle some things before I can join you all. I need to patch up these holes before I go anywhere. I can’t have someone looking for answers to questions I don’t want asked, but I want Grace out today.”
Boomer came into the house and said, “We’re going to question them. You can listen in, but I don’t want them to see you.”
“Understood.” I nodded.
Blade had a knife at one fucker’s throat. “What are you doing here?”
“We saw an opportunity and we took it,” he choked out.
“You killed my brother,” the other one said to Boomer.
“So you thought you’d follow us?” Boomer snarled, grabbing the guy by his collar.
“When you’re handed a golden ticket, why pass it up?”
“You’re going to die for it.” Boomer and Blade disposed of the trash while Doc and I helped patch and paint the bullet holes.
Chapter 7
Grace
During the drive back to the ranch, my mood lightened and then I became anxious to see Ricardo. I knew I shouldn’t, but m
y feelings were hard to deal with. I entered the house, and it was eerily quiet. Before I knew what happened, a hand wrapped around my mouth and my waist. “Calm down, mi amor.” It was Ricardo.
“What’s going on?” I asked as he rushed us back to my car. Boomer and another man I didn’t recognize were scanning my car. “What’s going on?”
“We’re all leaving for Steeleville. Your things have been packed,” Boomer stated as a matter of fact.
“What? Why?” She freaked out, looking around us for my father.
“We need to protect Rico and get him the care he needs where no one will be asking questions. Steeleville is the best place. Even your father agrees, but Rico won’t leave without you.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He cupped my cheek, and I did my best to not press into it like I wanted.
“Oh goodness.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to keep you safe.” I closed my eyes and another man came up, startling me. “Blade, this is my Grace. Sweetheart, this is Blade. He’ll be driving us back.”
“Blade?”
“Yes, his name is Blade.”
We got in the SUV with its black-on-black and tints. I knew I'd gotten myself into more than I could handle, but I wasn't scared. I had Ricardo and his friends.
"Where's my dad?" I looked around and didn't see any other vehicle leaving with us.
"He's seeing patients with Doc to help, and then they'll be joining us." Ricardo rubbed my palm, calming me down as if he had a special hold over me.
"We have a group meeting us just in case someone is looking for a fight, but I promise nothing's going to happen to you. I know this is coming from a man who almost died at the hands of his enemies, but that was when I had to work within the confines of the law and I'd been betrayed by someone on the inside."
"From your law enforcement agency?"
"Yes," he chewed out through gritted teeth. His hand slid into mine. My heart broke for what had happened to him. Who could you trust if it wasn't those who were supposed to have your back?
"It's not really safe for you to be travelling. Does your head hurt?" I squeezed between his thumb and first finger, trying to ease any pain in his head.
"Not right now, but they gave me some strong meds."
"Those were fucking ibuprofen, Rico. Those ain't gonna help much," Blade huffed from the driver's seat. They called him Rico. So far there was Doc, Boomer, Blade, and Rico.
"Mind your damn business, Blade."
"He's right. With this drive, you'll need something stronger."
"No. Thank you. Please drop it, angel."
"Fine. Then rest, please." I pulled his head down to rest on my chest. My hands threaded through his hair, kneading it gently. Low moans and a grunt told me where it helped and didn't. Slowly, his breathing steadied.
"So you are his saving Grace. We can't thank you and your father enough. His sister and brother are going to lose it. They have been trying to deal with the news. They couldn't bring themselves to believe it."
"My father's the one who did it. I just assisted."
"It's a miracle that he's here. We've had a rough seven months in Steeleville, and we know it's not over."
"It really is a miracle. I don't know what's going to happen at the hospital. I don't want to lose my position. It would ruin my insurance and credibility in the medical profession."
"Don't worry. Doc has an office and we're building a hospital in Steeleville, so you and your father will have a place to work.”
"Thank you. What are you guys?"
"We're friends who either served together or knew each other before Boomer and his brother Jackson created Steeleville."
"Does Jackson have a street name like all of you do?"
"It's the Architect or VP, but it's our motorcycle club names."
"Bikers?"
"Yes."
"You don't look like bikers."
"Ha. Some of us do, but we're not representing because we don't want to make our presence known in the area.”
“Makes sense.” I nodded and then looked down at Rico who had his hand between my legs inches from my pussy. Quickly darting my eyes back up, I refused to get turned on. God, it’s been so long without a guy that his innocent touch was sensual.
He moved upward, cupping my mound through my shorts and then whispered in my ear, “You smell so fucking fantastic. I can’t wait until you give me the all clear because I’m going to make you come so hard on my cock that you’ll always be walking around with that blush.”
“I don’t think I’m the one to tell you when you’re ready.”
“Why not, Dr. Holden?”
“Because it’s unethical when I want you in me.”
“Bad girl. Soon.” He kissed my neck, and I let out a moan loud enough for Blade to hear.
“No, we can’t have that. We’ll save the rest until we can be alone.”
Bastard. I wanted him like I wanted my next breath, and he knew it. I bet he could smell the heat between my thighs, and all I could do was picture him eating me out like a man who's been starved. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted him to take me right now. It was wrong. I'd seen him naked and knew without a doubt that he'd break me in half with his baby-making bat. Babies. Fuck, I was losing my mind.
"What are you thinking about, angel?"
"Not very angelic thoughts, Mr. Martinez."
"No? Could they be about my cock? Because he's thinking about your pussy, hoping to fill it until you're swollen with my babies."
"Are you a mind reader?"
"No, I just know what I want." His cock throbbed against the material of the joggers they brought him. He grabbed my hand and put it over his thick shaft. My tongue slipped past my lips.
"God, if we were alone, I'd feed those hungry lips, Grace. I'd love to watch you on your knees sucking me until I couldn't handle it anymore and then flip you over and fuck you hard."
I couldn't stop myself. I reached into his joggers and stroked it up and down. "Go ahead, sweetheart." He relaxed with his lips on my throat. "I'm already close to coming. Be a love and finish what you started." I continued to pump him until he came in my hand.
"My angel." I pulled my hand out and sucked off my fingers. Blade didn't bother looking back the entire time. "You're going to get your pussy eaten out until you pass out."
"Could you two fucking stop? I'm trying to drive, and a hard dick ain't helping." I let out a giggle and pulled some wet naps out of my bag to clean up my hand. "It's like a fucking porn back there."
"Not yet, but we'll behave," Ricardo said with a sigh.
"You better, or I'll stop and wait for your dad and he can ride with us."
“Bastard,” I hissed.
“Yep.” He winked in the rearview mirror.
Chapter 8
Ghost
It felt so damn good when we hit the “Welcome to Steeleville” sign. Almost as good as Grace’s hand on my cock, jerking me off. Damn, my dick wouldn’t stay down, but I controlled myself because I was killing Blade up there. Besides, I didn’t need the fucker getting off to images of my future wife working my shaft.
“We’re almost home,” I whispered in her ear, kissing just underneath.
“We’re having a little gathering at the clubhouse. Everyone is already there. We didn’t tell them why, so I’ll bring your girl in with me and then get their attention. Trust me, people are going to lose their shit.”
“Are Demi and Asher there?”
“Yes, they are. Boomer said he had more information and wanted everyone there to hear it.” We pulled into the clubhouse lot and then into a spot closest to the entrance. The gates were secured after the attack on Mick and Morgan, so I felt safe when we exited the vehicle.
Blade led Grace inside, and I stood just out of sight so Blade could say whatever he wanted before I came out. “Hey, can I get your attention? Demi, Asher.”
I heard movement and then Crystal said, “Boomer said he was still an hour out.”
“Does she know about our brother?” Demi said.
“Yes, she does,” I said, stepping out of the shadows. The room exploded in cheers and excitement.
“Whoa, whoa,” Blade said, stepping in front of me. “Be fucking careful. The man is lucky to even be alive and he shouldn’t have been traveling, but he’s insane.”
“You’re alive,” Demi cried, hugging me gently. I wrapped her up, squeezing her as best as I could.
“Rico,” Asher broke down, hugging us both. Damn, I had to hold back my own tears. I missed the fuck out of my family. I’d brought them so much pain, but I’d never do it again.
“I knew it. I knew you would find a way back somehow,” Demi said as she pulled back, looking up at me with tears destroying her pretty eyeliner.
Crystal came over with a box of tissues. “Here.” Hell, I guess I needed one as well.
I took Grace’s hand and said, “I wouldn’t have been here without this amazing woman or her father, who saved my life.”
Demi threw her arms around Grace, pulling her tightly. “Thank you. Thank you,” she sobbed.
Asher picked her up and twirled my woman around. “Get your fucking hands off her,” I growled, dragging her back to my side like a fucking caveman. I loved this woman, and I’d do anything to keep her at my side.
“Someone has got the Alpha snarl down,” Morgan teased.
“Ha. She’s my new little sister.” Asher tossed his head back and laughed.
“Actually, she’s older than you two,” I informed my baby brother.
“Still. She’s pint-sized.” He patted her head.
“We can’t even believe it. Boomer didn’t say anything,” Demi blurted out, clearly still in shock. Most of the room stood in awe.
“That’s because at the time, he didn’t know anything other than I was still kicking.”
She slammed her hands on her hips, eyes turning into slits as she glared at me. “Why haven’t you contacted us sooner?” There was my tough little sister.
