I shook my head to dislodge the memory.
“She made me afraid to be in my own workshop, Dad. My workshop became my safe place after I lost Sparrow and now she’s dirtied it with her sick threats. She’ll make sure I won’t see them coming next time. I need to feel safe, Dad. And right now I don’t. I don’t feel safe.”
My dad pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight and I felt the kiss he dropped on top of my head. I felt like I could sob my heart out against his chest but I didn’t. Because the next minute Dagger stormed into the bathroom and pulled me out of dad’s arms, hugging me so hard against him my ribs ached a tiny little bit. His breathing was ragged as he rested his face against mine.
“Fuck, Rivzie, my men were watching but the sick bitch was fucking clever. With that black wig she looked like some biker bitch coming to chat about a bike or something. They looked her over carefully and there was nowhere she could have hidden a weapon so she was allowed to get back here. This is my fault and it won’t fucking ever happen again. We’ll be more careful from now on.”
I nodded against his chest. “Did you watch the video Wrench made?”
He pulled away and frowned down at me. “No, what video?”
Wrench spoke from behind us and Dagger let me go but kept an arm around my shoulders. I walked between him and dad as they lead me back into the workshop.
“I recorded the entire conversation. I forwarded it to Ice but they’ve been called into church so I’m not expecting to hear from him until much later.”
“Send it to me.” Dagger said. “I’ll be outside setting up a new perimeter. Jinx is bringing Kaiser over to stay with you and I’ve got one of the brothers coming in to help him install a security gate in the passage and some more cameras. We’ll have a monitor set up in here. One of the brothers will be monitoring the situation from in here.”
He turned to me and smiled. “I promise you, little sister, I’m going to make sure you are safe. I know how much you love what you do and no bitch is going to take it from you. Fuck her and fuck the crazy train she rolled in on.”
I slid my arms around his waist and hugged him hard. “Thank you, Dagger. I don’t tell you enough but I love you, big brother.”
“Love you too, River. And I want you to stay here until I can take you home. Lie down on the couch and have a rest while I organise shit around here.”
Watching him walk determinedly out the small door set into the big roller shutter doors that were now closed I knew he would make it as safe as possible for me to be at work.
The problem was me. Right now I was terrified of my own damned shadow.
Dad’s arm came around me and he kissed my temple. I looked up at him when he drew in a deep breath. What now?
“Lake is on his way home.”
Oh shit. That definitely wasn’t good news.
My big brother hated motorcycle clubs. Really, really hated them. I don’t know why and he hasn’t ever given me an answer no matter how many times I’ve asked. He never approved of Sparrow and I knew for a fact he wouldn’t like Ice. Strangely they were too much alike.
“It’s the middle of the season. He has two races coming up. He can’t miss either of them, he needs the points.”
Dad shrugged. “You know your brother. He listens to nobody and always does exactly what he wants. He says he has enough time between now and the first race.”
I dropped my head against dad’s shoulder and groaned. “They are going to hate each other. Lake hates bikers and if he starts his shit with Ice I’ll have to choose sides and I really don’t want to.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Your mother will handle him.” Dad soothed.
So now not only do I have to worry about a psycho wanting to roll around in my blood while fucking my man. I had to worry about my brother losing his shit because once again I’m with a biker and this time I’m pregnant with not one but two biker babies.
I freaking hate my life.
No, not really. I just hated the shit impacting my life.
And to be totally honest it was my association with the Iron Dogz MC that had dumped me in the middle of the craziness that has become my life.
If I had never fixed DC’s bike I would never have gone to the family braai.
I would never have been introduced to Ice.
I would never have spent the night with him.
And I would not be carrying his babies inside me.
And I would still have been lost and lonely, missing Sparrow and raising our son on my own. Now I had a man willing to love my son like he was his own. A man who was careful and protective of me.
And who was going to lose his mind the minute he saw that damned video.
Shit.
I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text.
I’m okay, baby. There were some threats but she never touched me. Dagger and Jinx are here with Dad and Wrench. I’m safe.
I stood with my phone in my hand for a few tense seconds but when he didn’t answer I blew out a relieved breath and sank down on the couch. Maybe Dagger was right, I needed to lie down and have a little rest. Stretching out on the couch I sighed and closed my eyes.
I woke as I was lifted and held against a strong wide chest and his scent filled my head. My man had come for me. Opening my eyes I looked up at him and smiled.
He wasn’t smiling. His eyes were completely yellow and filled with rage. His voice was the same as he walked out of the workshop with me held in his arms.
“Taking you home, Blue. Wrench and Seb are going to finish up the bike so it’s ready when your client comes to collect it later. Dagger and Jinx have the security situation in hand. Kaiser will be coming home with us. He’s on loan to us until we can get our own dog which will be happening very fucking soon. I’ve got Jagger on it already.”
Dagger opened the passenger door of my bakkie and Ice put me inside and fastened the seatbelt around me then carefully closed the door. Kaiser was already on the back seat and wagged his tail when I reached over and scratched behind his ears. I watched as Ice stalked around the front of the vehicle while talking to Dagger, they nodded, slapped each other’s backs and then Dagger went back inside and my man got in and drove us home.
Ice never said a word through the entire drive. His phone pinged constantly with calls he didn’t answer, he declined them one after the other. The calls didn’t stop, they continued the entire ride home. Eventually he shut his phone down.
When we got home he carried me inside and set me on my feet next to my bed. He wordlessly and carefully undressed me leaving me in my panties then pulled one of his black tees over my head and tucked me into bed. Only then did he speak.
“I’m going to get you something to drink, baby. I want you to try and sleep. We will have a talk once you’ve rested.” He kissed me on my forehead before he left the room.
One instant I was lying there wide awake and the next I was asleep.
I dreamt a smiling Sparrow stood at the foot of our bed. He held two tiny little bundles wrapped in blue blankets against his chest and Duncan was leaning against his hip.
“Don’t worry, Rivzie. Our boykie and the babies are safe. I won’t let anything happen to our family.”
I woke with a gasp and immediately looked at the bottom of the bed. Nothing. Then looked over at the bedside table where his photo stood in its silver frame. His smile was the same as the one in my dream.
But it wasn’t real.
It was a dream. Just a dream.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Ice
They had been back in the meeting for maybe twenty minutes when there was a knock on the door and Ice’s blood froze.
But it wasn’t for him. Sam came in with a call for Hawk.
His president must have made the same arrangements he had. Any urgent calls was to be brought to them immediately.
Hawk looked at the caller ID before he answered.
“Wimpie, what do you have for me?”
His prez lis
tened intently, nodding as he stroked over his beard.
“Okay, brother, I want you to repeat what you just told me to the brothers. I’m putting you on speaker.”
Wimpie’s disembodied voice sounded tinny as he spoke. And very strange for Wimpie, he spoke in his normal voice, none of the Game of Thrones shit.
“Someone I trust approached me this morning with invaluable information. He only gave me the information after I gave him my word he would remain anonymous. He assured me the information is legit. He said Jane Warne is back in the city. She came back to organise and lead several hits against club soft targets. All three clubs have been under surveillance and according to the informant they know exactly where each club will send those who are the most vulnerable. Your women and children. You have to warn the other clubs and protect your people, Hawk. I don’t know if they plan to hit the compounds or the homes but I know this is real. My guy would not lie to me. Keep your people safe, brother. If I hear more I’ll call immediately.”
“You have our gratitude, Wimpie. Thank you, brother.”
Hawk slowly set the phone down in front of him then swept his eyes over the men in the room.
He drew in a deep breath. “Now we know what’s coming next. Sin, prepare several escape routes in case it becomes necessary to get the women and children into the Sanctuary. Jagger and Ziggy, I want security to be jacked up to the max. I want the perimeter patrols stepped up. Ziggy, dig deep brother and see what you can come up with. Beast, choose the brothers you want on your team and start securing our most vulnerable positions. Rider, I want you and your family back here today. You are sitting ducks in the hospital. Take a cage and go fetch them. Wolf, you’re with him.”
As he turned to speak to Ice the door slammed open and Sam came storming in with wide shocked eyes.
“Ice, brother, you have a video from Wrench. I opened it to see if it was urgent but didn’t watch all of it. Fuck, brother.”
Ice grabbed the phone but before he restarted the video he saw the text from his woman and his blood ran fucking cold.
I’m okay, baby. There were some threats but she never touched me. Dagger and Jinx are here with Dad and Wrench. I’m safe.
Jesus. Fuck.
Before he could watch the video Hawk took his phone from him and handed it to Ziggy. Within seconds the video was playing on the plasma screen against the wall. Around him he heard the shocked and angry reactions of his brothers. But he was cold, so very, very cold.
He couldn’t look at the shit on the screen a minute longer but as he shoved out of his chair his dad and Spider were there on either side of him. It was his dad’s voice that pulled him out of the killing madness.
“Easy, son, easy now. According to the message Wrench added at the end there Dagger and his men have the situation under control. Your old lady is safe.” His dad’s voice soothed but nothing could soothe the knowledge that his woman was in danger because of him. He had brought the bitch into Blue’s life. And that meant he had to take her out of his woman’s life. It was his responsibility.
“She’s dead. If I lay eyes on her ever again, I don’t give a fuck if it’s in public, I will kill her. She won’t lay a hand on Blue or my babies. I swear it.”
Ice wasn’t a very religious man but right now he was silently praying to whichever deity was in charge to keep his family safe. Not only River and their children, but his mother, sisters and nieces as well. Thank fuck Gail and the kids have already been moved into his parents’ house.
Hawk’s hand on his shoulder calmed him, but not much. “Brother, we aren’t going to allow that psycho to get anywhere near your woman. We’ve got your back. Okay?”
Ice could only nod because if he opened his mouth he had no idea what would come out. Hawk’s hand tightened as he continued.
“This video is exactly what we needed. She made threats against your woman and children and threatened to cut Wrench’s throat. We have options on how we use it to our best interests. We can open a case against her with the local pigs, which won’t mean much, or we can share it with the taskforce. My suggestion is we share it with the taskforce. They are already involved and we won’t have to try and explain what the hell has been happening.”
Before he could continue there was once again a loud knocking at the door and Ice and their eyes swivelled to the door as Wolf unlocked it.
Sam came through and it was clear he was pissed. “Prez, there are some commando types out here who are insisting they need to talk to you. They won’t take no for an answer.”
“Fuck. What else is going to happen today?” Hawk muttered as he left Ice’s side and stalked to the door. He stood in the open door and started speaking to someone we couldn’t see and we couldn’t hear what he was saying either. Their voices were pitched really low.
“Dad.” Ice said softly to his father who had dragged a chair close to the back of his own when he sat down again. “I need to get out of here. I can’t leave River to handle this alone. I’m going to give you my seat and go to my woman. Okay?”
Bulldog clapped a hand down on his shoulder and nodded. “I’ve got your back, son. You go and take care of your family. I’ll keep you up to date on what’s decided. I need only one promise from you. Promise me you won’t ride alone.”
That one was easy. “I promise, Dad.”
Hawk turned around and pointed at Rider. “You and Wolf ride now. Do not waste any time packing shit. Get in and get out as fast as you can. The club doc will be standing by in case your old lady needs him.”
Then he turned to Ice.
“Ice, brother, I know you are burning to get out of here. Go. Boots, Spook, go with our brother and watch his back. For tonight you will be safe at River’s house. We’ll re-evaluate tomorrow. I’ll call later to give you an update on decisions taken.”
Ice didn’t wait for more as he hugged his dad and brother and got out of there with Boots and Spook following him closely. On his way out his eyes caught the smirking fucking face of Flash. It seemed as if the bastard was enjoying the goings on.
He took the time to text Hawk and suggested that the fucker be locked down, right now.
They flew down the highway to the semi-industrial area where the Anderson’s business was. He hated having to slow for the robots but didn’t dare sneak through any of them. He didn’t want the law on his ass today. He was carrying more than one weapon.
He breathed easier when they pulled into the yard in front of the workshops and saw the very visible presence of the Sinner’s Sons. They were controlling access not only to the property but to the buildings themselves as well. Jinx and his guys were up on extension ladders setting up lights and cameras on the flat roof of the building while others were adding a second layer of razor wire to the top of the electrified perimeter fence. They were making the building as safe as they possibly could.
Dagger was waiting at the small door set into the roller shutter doors which were usually open but were now closed.
“She’s okay, brother. The bitch never touched her but she did scare the fucking crap out of her. I convinced her to lie down on the couch and she fell asleep. I’ve got things in hand here. Why don’t you take her home so mum can fuss over her before fucking Lake arrives and the third fucking world war breaks out.”
Dagger shook his head when Ice frowned. “Know the man is her brother but he’s a fucking prick. Hates the club, hates bikers. He refused to acknowledge Sparrow in all the time they were together. Hasn’t been home for one of Duncan’s birthdays. He sends fucking big presents for the kid so I suppose it’s okay. Apparently he was involved with some biker bitch before he became a famous F1 driver. Don’t know exactly what happened but I can guess. Sparrow didn’t like him and avoided him as much as possible. River doesn’t know much about it either.”
Ice sighed. “I’ve got enough fucking problems without some fucking pussy getting in my face about my relationship with his sister. He had better stay the fuck out of my way. Not in the mood for anyon
e giving me shit right now.”
Dagger grinned. “Got you, brother. I’m going to finish up here but I will make a turn at the house later. Oh, one other thing. You keep your eye on that prospect of yours, he’s going to turn in to a real asset for your club. If I could I would steal him from you.” He laughed as walked away.
“Fucker’s not going to steal our fucking prospect.” Boots growled as he stomped inside behind Ice.
He immediately saw her. His Blue. Curled up under a dark grey blanket on one of the wide couches in her small reception area. He immediately started to walk towards her.
“Boss.” Wrench straightened from where he had been working on a bike. His gun on the seat within easy reach.
Ice changed his course, dragged him into a tight hug and clapped a hand on his back. “Thanks, brother, for having her back and keeping her safe.”
“No worries, Boss. Not going to let anything happen to her on my watch. She’s my family and I’ll fucking die for her.”
“Don’t want you dying, little brother. You keep yourself alive and keep your eyes on our girl. Okay?”
Wrench nodded slowly. “You got it, Boss. She crashed after that shit went down. Vomited quite a bit so she might be hungry when she wakes up.”
“I’ll take care of it, brother. Come by the house later before you head over to the clubhouse, okay?”
“I’ll be there, Boss.”
Ice gave a slight chin lift as he walked over to where his old lady lay sleeping. She looked so fucking peaceful but she was far too pale.
Carefully picking her up he was walking out when she woke and he reassured her. Told her he was taking her home.
After another quick word with Dagger filling him in on the latest developments he drove his old lady home.
He dressed her in one of his tees because he wanted her surrounded by his scent, by him. Settling her in bed he leant over and kissed her forehead then glanced at Sparrow smiling from the photo next to the bed.
Lost And Found In Blue (Iron Dogz MC Book 2) Page 24
