Savior (Blackwings MC - Devil Springs Book 3)

by Teagan Brooks

  I nodded and passed my phone to Avery. “Can you have Patch or someone look at her face? I think her cheek might be broken.”

  Phoenix’s eyes hardened and he nodded sharply. “If you’re not around to do it, I’ll make sure it’s looked at, but Savior, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. This seems pretty cut and dry to me.”

  “But he’s a police officer,” I argued.

  “So?” Phoenix countered. “He wasn’t in uniform or on duty.”

  “Whew! That’s going to be a bitch to clean up,” Ranger said as he suddenly materialized. I should have known he’d come with the crew. His face softened when he saw Avery. “How’re you doing, sweetheart?” he asked and held out a bandana for her.

  She took it and started carefully wiping the edges of her face. “I’m not sure,” she said shakily.

  “You’re going to have one hell of a shiner there. Look here at the camera but don’t smile,” he instructed.

  Avery turned to Ranger with a blank stare on her face. “Why?” she asked.

  “Evidence,” Ranger said right as the police arrived.

  “Nobody move, and put your hands in the air!”

  “Do they not realize we have to move to put our hands in the air?” Carbon grumbled.

  “Relax, rookie,” Phoenix called out. “Where’s Chuck?”

  “Fucking hell, Phoenix,” an older man said and stepped forward. “What happened?”

  “Can you call off the guns?” Phoenix asked, though it wasn’t a question.

  “Shit, sorry. Holster your weapons,” he said to his officers.

  Phoenix motioned for me to step forward. “This is one of my members, Kellan Ward. He can tell you what happened. Kellan, Chuck is the Sheriff of Croftridge County.”

  I cleared my throat and told the Sheriff exactly what happened. Well, almost exactly. I left out the part where Mark said he was a police officer, but I made sure to tell them he was the driver of the other vehicle involved in my wreck and that he clearly said he was going to kill Avery.

  The Sheriff listened attentively. When I finished, he looked to Phoenix and asked, “How’d you get here before us?”

  “Avery called me screaming and crying. Had my guy ping the phone for the location. He called it in while we headed out to see what was going on,” Phoenix explained.

  “Anybody been inside?”

  “Just Avery and Kellan, and I don’t think they’ve been back in since they came out,” Phoenix answered and I nodded in agreement.

  “Sheriff,” the rookie called from the back door. “We need you to come inside.”

  “Excuse me,” the Sheriff said and followed the officer inside.

  “I guess they’ve identified the body,” Ranger observed.

  “Avery,” Shaker said. “Let me help you over to the ambulance so they can take a look at your cheek.”

  She turned her worried eyes to me. “Everything’s okay, baby. Go with Shaker and at least let them give you an ice pack.”

  She reluctantly got up and walked with Shaker over to the ambulance parked on the street. I kept my eyes on her until she disappeared into the back of the ambulance.

  The Sheriff pushed through the back door and came right over to where we were standing. “Do you know the man you shot?” he asked abruptly.

  “No, I’ve never seen him before today,” I answered honestly.

  “He’s a State Trooper,” the Sheriff said. “I’m going to need you to come down to the station.”

  “That’s fine,” Phoenix said. “We’ll meet you and his lawyer there.”

  “He’s not under arrest,” Chuck explained. “But I know who he is, and we need to keep this under wraps until we know what really happened.”

  Avery suddenly appeared right in front of Chuck. “I’ll tell you what really happened. That man had an unhealthy obsession with me that started way before Kellan entered the picture. He used his position as a police officer to stalk me and interfere with my personal life. He meddled in my marriage, my family relationships, and when he still didn’t get the results he wanted, he tried to kill Kellan and my children by causing the truck they were in to go off a bridge. Yes, Kellan is the man who fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into Ian’s cruiser, but that has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. Having said that, Mark could’ve had something to do with the hit-and-run involving my mother. So, if by ‘keep this under wraps,’ you mean protecting a bad cop simply because he wore a badge, then, I’m sorry, but we won’t be cooperating with that,” Avery stated vehemently.

  Chuck shook his head. “No, ma’am, that’s not at all what I was suggesting. I believe in honesty and integrity in all areas of life, but I’ve been Sheriff for many years now and I’m well aware of how the media likes to spin things. This story has all the necessary elements to become a giant clusterfuck in a matter of hours. Surely, you can understand that,” he explained.

  Avery nodded. “Yes, I know all too well how easily the media can get carried away. Obviously, Kellan does, too.”

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ve already heard his explanation. Let me hear yours and we’ll see about getting you two out of here while we finish up,” the Sheriff suggested.

  Avery proceeded to tell him everything that happened from the moment she woke up to the moment the police arrived. Her ability to recall so many details during a traumatic event was beyond impressive.

  Chuck looked up from his notepad and nodded. “Got it,” he said and glanced over his notes. “I don’t see any reason why either one of you need to stay. Just don’t leave town until we’ve officially cleared you both.”

  “We can’t stay here!” Avery blurted. “We live in Devil Springs! Our baby is in the NICU. I have to take more breast milk to the hospital today,” she said and pointed to her chest causing the Sheriff’s cheeks to flush.

  She turned to Phoenix with her hands on her hips. “Can they do that? Can they make us stay here if we aren’t under arrest? Because I’m telling the lot of you right now, someone will be taking my breast milk to my baby today and every single day that I’m stuck here!”

  Phoenix smiled. “You’re going to fit in nicely around here. As for you question, the answer is no; they can’t make you stay in town if you aren’t under arrest.”

  Phoenix turned to Chuck and glared. Chuck held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, it’s an old habit I’ve yet to break. Let me just verify your contact information and you’re both free to go. Though, we will be putting your firearm into evidence. I assume it’s registered to you.”

  “It is,” I confirmed. I expected as much, which was why I left it on the kitchen counter. That, and I didn’t want a new cop with a twitchy trigger finger filling my body full of holes if it was on or near me when they arrived.

  After confirming our information, I took Avery’s hand and started for my truck when Phoenix stopped me. “Go to the Croftridge clubhouse and let Avery take a shower before you drive back to Devil Springs. Annabelle’s bringing a change of clothes over for her.”

  “Thanks, Prez,” I said and shook his hand.

  He immediately pulled me in for a man hug. “Ranger and I will hang around here and make sure everything goes smoothly. Carbon and Shaker will follow you back to the clubhouse. You did good. Now, go take care of your woman.”

  He didn’t need to tell me twice. I helped her into the truck and got us to the clubhouse as fast as I could.

  40

  Avery

  After showering and changing into some clean clothes, Kellan and I got right back into his truck and started heading back to Devil Springs. I couldn’t stop replaying Mark’s words over and over in my head, each time sparking a new combination of feelings I wasn’t sure how to process.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Kellan asked.

  “Do you?” I returned.

  “I think we should. He had a lot of things to say. What do you think about what he said?”

  “I honestly don’t know what to make of i
t. I had no idea he had feelings for me. He was Ian’s best friend, for fuck’s sake. My kids called him Uncle Mark. Why would he pretend to be our friend for years if he really wasn’t? That just doesn’t make any sense to me.”

  “It doesn’t make any sense to you because you think rationally,” Kellan said simply. “Something was wrong with Mark that prevented him from thinking like a sane person.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I agreed.

  “Come on, Avery; get it out. Don’t hold it in and let it fester.”

  I inhaled deeply and let it out. “I’m fucking pissed. How dare that self-centered son of a bitch try to kill you and my children! Did he really think I’d want to jump into a relationship with him after suffering a loss like that? And what if he had killed the three of you? What was he going to do about Sienna? Kill her, too? Every time I think about those words coming out of his mouth, I wish I’d had my eyes open when you blew his head off,” I fumed.

  “Good, baby. Keep going,” Kellan encouraged.

  “And I’m upset about what he told Ian. Did Ian die thinking I was unfaithful to him? I just can’t bear the thought of that,” I cried. “I never cheated on him. From the day I met him, I never looked at another man while we were together. I didn’t even touch another man until I met you,” I confessed.

  Kellan inhaled sharply. “The first time we were together was the first time you’d been with anyone since him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fuck, Avery. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. If I had I would—”

  “Don’t apologize,” I interrupted. “I needed it to be that way. I wouldn’t have been able to handle sweet and gentle. Not then.”

  “I’m still sorry for treating you the way I did. It doesn’t excuse my behavior, but I was struggling with a lot and I had no idea the answer to my problems was right in front of me.”

  “I just can’t believe this happened. I thought we’d finally found a place where we could be happy together and then Mark goes and fucks it all up,” I blurted.

  Kellan jerked the wheel to the side and pulled off the road bringing the truck to a sudden stop. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean, Avery?”

  “What?” I asked, completely confused by his reaction.

  “What. Do. You. Mean? You don’t think we can be happy together because of Mark?” he demanded.

  “I just meant things had finally smoothed out for us and now we have all this bullshit to deal with. I’m sure you don’t want to hang around and watch me go through the loss of Ian, again, as well as the betrayal and hurt Mark caused.”

  “I told you I would never ask you to forget him. I meant that. I know you loved him. I know that just because he died, your love for him didn’t. He’s the father of two of your children. He will always be a part of your life. I accepted that the day I realized you were Avery Parker. Regardless of what did or didn’t happen between you and Ian will not change my stance on that. Do I want his picture hanging in our bedroom? No. The kids’ rooms? Sure, he’s their dad. If your wedding anniversary rolls around and you want to spend it in bed with a box of tissues, that’s fine, too. But whatever it is you’re going through, don’t hide it from me.”

  I unbuckled my seat belt and launched myself across the truck into his arms. “I love you, Kellan,” I said before I smashed my mouth against his.

  His hands threaded through my hair and he returned my kiss with just as much intensity. I didn’t care that we were on the side of the road. I didn’t care that only a few hours ago I’d been covered in the blood of a man I once thought was a friend. I needed him and I couldn’t wait any longer.

  Raising my hips, I pushed the yoga pants I was wearing down my legs and kicked them across the truck while I undid his jeans and reached inside. “Avery,” he mumbled against my lips, but I didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, I pointed his hard cock where I needed it and sank down as far as I could go, groaning when I was completely filled with him.

  His hands left my hair and firmly gripped my hips. “Fuck, baby. Move,” he rasped against my lips.

  Following his command, I began to move, reveling in the pleasure created with each pass of my hips.

  Kellan shoved my T-shirt and bra up to bare my breasts, but I froze when he took one nipple into his mouth. I was breastfeeding and any kind of nipple stimulation was going to have my milk dripping all over us.

  He landed a sharp, stinging slap to my ass followed by, “Don’t stop.”

  “But I—”

  “Ride my fucking cock, Avery, while I suck on your sweet tits,” he growled and squeezed my ass.

  When I still didn’t move, he looked up and his eyes softened. “Your body is providing nourishment and immunity for our child. Everything about it is amazing to me. Now, let me enjoy it.”

  Without giving me a chance to argue, he went back to sucking on my nipple and used his grip on my hips to guide my movements until I forgot about my insecurities and got lost in him.

  He switched to my other nipple and sucked hard. “Fuck, baby, you gotta come. I’m not going to last much longer.”

  “I don’t want to. It feels so good,” I moaned.

  I felt him grin against my skin. “Yes, you do, bad girl. You want me to spank that ass again?” he rumbled and slapped each cheek. “Fucking come, Avery. Squeeze my cock with that tight pussy.”

  And that did it. The tension coiling suddenly released and pleasure exploded from within. “Yes, yes, yes,” I chanted.

  “Fuck,” Kellan groaned and slammed my hips down while he thrust into me several times before stilling.

  I collapsed against his chest, sweaty and gasping for breath but completely sated.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Are you? Did I hurt you?”

  His big body shook when he laughed. “No, but I wouldn’t have given a shit if you did. That was worth it.”

  We held each other in silence for a few more minutes before I started to climb off of him. And that’s when I realized what we did, or didn’t do. “Shit,” I cursed at the sticky mess between my legs. “We didn’t use a condom.”

  “Were we supposed to?” he asked.

  “I’m not on any kind of birth control and I don’t want to get pregnant.”

  “Right now or ever?” he asked seriously.

  I gaped at him. “What?”

  “Do you mean you don’t want to get pregnant right now or ever again?”

  “Well,” I started and chose my words carefully. “I hadn’t planned on having any more children after Braxton, so I wasn’t really planning on having any after Sienna, but it’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought to.”

  “Give it some thought. I want more kids,” he said. “With you.”

  My breathing increased and my heart started to pound against my chest. “You what?” I squeaked.

  “I want to have more babies with you. I’ve always wanted to have a large family,” he said quietly.

  And suddenly I understood. He only had his grandfather after his parents died. Having a large family would have prevented some of the loneliness I’m sure he felt.

  “Kellan—” I started.

  “I shouldn’t have brought it up after everything that just happened. Put it on the backburner to think about. If it’s about money, I have plenty of it. If you’re worried about the physical aspects of pregnancy and birth, maybe we could adopt,” he suggested.

  I exhaled slowly and tried to stave off the panic attack that was working its way onto the scene. I could think about it. Later. Much Later.

  41

  Savior

  When Avery and I arrived at her house, I was supposed to change clothes and go straight to the clubhouse for Church; but, after one look at her face, I knew I couldn’t leave her to share the story with her parents by herself.

  “Happy New Year!” Frank greeted as soon as we stepped through the front door. “Did you two have a good time?”

  Avery shook her head and burst into tears. F
rank wrapped his arms around his daughter and glared at me over her head.

  “What happened?” Claire asked from her perch on the sofa.

  I looked around the room. “Where are the kids?”

  “Upstairs,” Frank and Claire answered in unison.

  “An intruder broke into the cabin early this morning and attacked Avery,” I said carefully.

  Claire gasped while Frank immediately pushed Avery back to look her over. His eyes hardened and his jaw clenched when he saw Avery’s bruised and swollen face. “Has a doctor looked at this?”

  “Yes,” I answered since Avery was still sobbing in her father’s arms. “Two paramedics and a physician looked at it.”

  “And where in the hell were you when this happened?”

  “Daddy,” Avery cried. “H-he, he,” she started but couldn’t get the words out.

  “I was asleep at first, but the yelling woke me. I knew something wasn’t right, so I grabbed my gun from the nightstand and walked around the outside of the house to come in from a different angle. I didn’t see him hit her, but he was going to kill her, so I shot him.”

  “Oh, my baby,” Claire cried. “Bring her to me,” she ordered Frank, who immediately complied. He helped Avery to the couch where she practically fell into her mother’s open arms.

  “It was Mark,” she wailed.

  “What?” Claire asked.

  “It was Ian’s friend, Mark,” I clarified. “Apparently, he’s had a long-standing obsession with Avery. He admitted to being the one who hit me and the kids,” I explained.

  “Did you kill him?” Frank asked.

  I nodded sharply. “Yes, sir.”

  He stood from the couch and took purposeful steps in my direction. When he reached me, he pulled me in for a hug and lightly slapped my back several times. “Thank you for saving my girl,” he said, and I could hear the emotion in his voice.

  “I’d do anything for her, sir,” I told him honestly.

  “Just so you know, when you want permission, you’ve got it,” Frank said quietly and stepped back.