“Please don’t be scared. I promise you no one will hurt you again. All those people there, the ones throwing you the birthday party, David and Charlotte, none of them are going to let anything happen to you. We might not be together right now, but you are safe, okay? You’re safe, buddy, and everyone is going to make sure you remain that way.”
Connor looks to me and I brush my tears away with the back of my hands as I nod.
“You’re safe,” I whisper.
“I’m safe,” he repeats.
“Yes,” Bishop says. “You’re safe.” There is a rustle from Bishop’s end as he mutters something to someone, and Connor looks at me for answers.
“He can’t talk too long on the phone,” I explain.
“Connor, I’m sorry, I have to go,” Bishop hisses and I picture his lip curling with anger as he says those words. “I love you and please remember what I said.”
“I will.”
“Enjoy your birthday, bud, and make a wish when you blow out those candles, okay?”
“Will you call me again?”
“We’ll work something out,” I answer for Bishop, hoping he hears my reply. Whatever it takes, even if I lose my job, I will make sure these two get to speak as much as possible.
“Okay,” he says, handing me back the phone. I glance down at the screen, watching the seconds tick as the call continues.
“Peaches, you there?”
My hand starts to tremble, and I close my eyes at the sound of his voice. Without thinking too much, I remove the call from speaker and lift the phone back to my ear.
“I’m here.”
“You earned your spot in Heaven, baby,” he says gruffly.
My cheeks shouldn’t flame.
My stomach shouldn’t flip.
My heart shouldn’t swell.
Yet they do and as they do, I fall far and deep into something I’ve never experienced. Something I never knew existed and don’t quite understand. All I know, is whatever this is, however I’m feeling, I don’t think I’ll ever come back from it.
“What are you doing?” A voice sounds, startling me and I lift my head to see Jack Parrish standing over me. Dark eyes full of mischief stare right through me and a smug smile spreads across his lips.
“Let me guess,” he continues. “That’s Bishop.”
-Twenty-
Charlotte
Past
Staring at the clock on the wall, I watch the secondhand tick. The speed of it matches the nervous twitch in my leg and I look away. I glance over my shoulder at the solid oak doors and silently will Schwartz to walk through them, but he doesn’t.
He should’ve been here by now.
They all should be here by now, but it’s just me and Mr. and Mrs. Clemins sitting behind the defense table. I look at Connor as he sits beside the lawyer and my heart clenches. Dressed in a suit, with his hair neatly styled he looks so mature and so utterly heartbroken.
Bracing a hand on the wooden partition separating us, I lean forward.
“Psst,” I whisper.
Connor lifts his head but doesn’t turn around and so I tap my fingers against the wood. He glances over his shoulder and his tearful eyes meet mine.
“Hey,” I murmur softly. “No worries, okay? Remember what your dad told you.”
Before court, I made my way to the Clemins house and asked if I could talk to Connor, I told them I just wanted to make sure he was okay and see if he had any questions before testifying. Mrs. Clemins doesn’t know after she led me to Connor’s bedroom room, Bishop called my phone and spoke with his son. He assured him he was safe, and no one would ever hurt him just like he did when he called on his birthday and then before he hung up, he told him he loved him.
“I’m safe,” Connor whispers.
“Thatta boy,” I say softly. Pride swells in my chest at his bravery and without thinking, I blow him a kiss.
Every child deserves to feel loved.
The doors swing open behind me and the hushed whispers filling the room come to a stop. Connor’s eyes go wide and a tear trickles down his cheek. Following his lead, I turn my head and watch as Six-Pack enters the courtroom with at least three dozen members of the organization behind him, all wearing their kuttes in support of their mission and the child they’re representing. They file into the courtroom and fill the seats until there are none left, some stand tall in the back of the courtroom.
Again, the doors open, and this time the men who enter aren’t dressed in leather. Jack Parrish, leads his men and they take a stand on the opposite side of the courtroom, giving respect to the Bikers Against Child Abuse.
They all showed.
Everyone who cares about this boy showed up for him.
Connor has an army behind him.
The double doors open one last time and this time it’s my tribe standing in the doorway. My mother’s eyes lock with mine and I lift a hand to my mouth, biting back a sob. Next to her, Gabby stands. She winks at me, and they move away from the door. Six-Pack and another member of the organization give them their seats and I watch them slip quietly into the row. Surrounded by a sea of bikers, they look totally misplaced. The last my mother and I spoke, I mentioned I was worried about Conner’s upcoming court date. I never expected her to show up and I’m sure Gabby has a lot to do with her presence.
After another moment, I peel my eyes away from my family and look back at Connor. The sad look in his eyes isn’t there anymore and every second he looks around the courtroom, at all the people there supporting him, his eyes filled with hope.
His lawyer whispers something into his ear and I watch as he turns around just as Pete is brought into the courtroom. The vile piece of shit looks towards the back of the courtroom and back to the innocent boy he abused and anyone with a working pair of eyes can see the fear in his.
You’re not so tough now, are you?
No, now, you’re scared.
Now, you’re helpless.
Now, you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt you’ve messed with the wrong child.
Justice is served and court isn’t even in session.
He takes a seat next to his lawyer, and the judge is the last to enter the room. It’s all very routine until Connor is called to the stand. My breath catches and I fight the urge to run to him, to wrap him in my arms and hold him tight. To never let go.
You’re safe.
You’re loved.
We jump and we fall.
We get back up.
We stand tall and proud.
We realize we’re stronger than we thought.
The legs of the chair scrape against the floor and Connor stands. Tugging the sleeves of his suit over his little hands, he starts for the stand.
“Connor, wait!”
At the sound of Schwartz’s voice, the entire courtroom turns around. Ignoring all the stares, he makes his way down the aisle.
“Order in the court!”
“My apologies for the interruption your honor, David Schwartz, attorney at law.”
“I know who you are Mr. Schwartz, what I don’t know is why you’re here.”
“I’m the attorney representing Connor Bishop’s father, Gabriel Bishop, and I have discovery that is pertinent to this case and ask for permission to approach the bench.”
“Objection, your honor!”
Chaos breaks out into the courtroom as both sides start to argue. The judge slams the gavel down ordering everyone to the bench. I don’t know what Schwartz says or where this so-called evidence miraculously found its way to his hands, but the judge calls for recess and orders all attorneys, Schwartz included to her chambers.
Confused and terrified, Connor looks at me. His lower lip quivers as tears threaten to spill from his eyes. Leaning over the barrier, I take his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
I whisper his father’s words over and over until the judge enters the courtroom. Apparently, the evidence Schwartz presented was enough to incriminate Pete on three counts of child pornography
charges. The judge ruled Connor remain with the Clemins and Pete was taken out of the courtroom in cuffs.
“Does this mean, I don’t have to tell the judge what he did to me?” Connor questions, looking between me and Schwartz after court is adjourned.
“That’s right,” Schwartz tells him.
“So what happens now?”
“Now, you come home with us,” Mrs. Clemins says.
Connor lifts his blue eyes to mine and silently questions me. I’m about to explain this is a step in the right direction, and soon he’ll be able to visit his dad, but I get sidetracked when Parrish steps between Schwartz and me.
“Nice work,” he praises, slapping Schwartz on the back. “Can I have a word?” There’s something about the tone of his voice and the way he looks at Schwartz that sparks my curiosity. They step away from the crowd and out of the corner of my eye, I watch them converse. Excusing myself, I try not to make myself noticeable as I follow them.
“Remember that talk we had?” Parrish questions.
“You’re going to have to be more specific. You say a lot of shit and I only listen to half of it,” Schwartz volleys.
“I spoke to Grace about applying for guardianship of Connor, she’s a go.”
“Not this again,” Schwartz groans.
“You said it yourself, Davey, Bishop is going to have to fight like hell to see his kid. If Grace gets guardianship over him, he can see Connor sooner rather than later and whenever he wants.”
“How many times do I gotta tell you it doesn’t work like that?”
“Just make it happen, Davey,” Parrish demands.
I have no idea who Grace is, and I don’t really care to know either. If anyone is going to apply for guardianship of that boy, it’s going to be me. Stepping out from behind the pillar, I fake a smile.
“Hey, what are you two talking about?” I ask.
“Nothing,” Schwartz barks as Parrish spins around to face me. The same mischievous grin that broke out across his face when he caught me on the phone with Bishop appears as I smile sweetly at him.
Back off, Parrish.
Your pal Grace isn’t needed here.
-Twenty-one-
Bishop
Past
“Something going on with you and the paralegal?” Foley asks as he escorts me to the visitor’s room. The question jars me and forces me to stop in my tracks.
“Why would you ask me that?”
Glancing over his shoulder, he pauses and cocks his head to the side as he chuckles.
“C’mon man, I heard you on the phone with her a couple of times and not to mention she’s here more than any lawyer.”
“So much for privacy,” I mutter. Charlotte and I have been talking more often on the phone. Sometimes I call for an update on Connor, other times I call just to hear her voice. I don’t know if she’s aware of that, though.
“You’re in jail, brother, there’s no such thing. Now, come on, she’s waiting.”
Raising an eyebrow, I narrow my eyes.
“What?” he asks. “You didn’t know she was coming?”
I shake my head. She was just here two days ago with Schwartz when they came to tell in person what happened at Connor’s court appearance. It was literally the best news I could’ve hoped for and seeing her so happy for me and my son, did something to me. It made me feel things I’ve never felt before, things I didn’t even know existed. Ignoring all the guards and Schwartz’s watchful eye, I reached for her hand and she didn’t pull away. She didn’t care if her boss saw and neither us flinched when the guards ordered us to keep our hands to ourselves. Things were changing between us.
My sentence modification was coming up and soon, there would be no more excuses, no guards telling me I couldn’t touch her and no fucking timed visits. I’d be free to do and say whatever the fuck I wanted, and no one could stop me. No one could hold me back from claiming Peaches. I might be incarcerated, and it may be a long time since I’ve had a woman, but I know when one wants me, and Charlotte does a shit job of hiding her attraction to me.
She still shies away from my advances and any time I slip in a little sexual innuendo on the phone, she threatens to hang up on me. But it’s there. It’s in her voice when we’re talking at night and she’s lying in her bed. It’s in her eyes when she stares at me from across the table. It’s in every aspect of her body language. The way she touches her neck when she sees me walking into the visitor’s room. The heat that flushes her cheeks when I let my eyes wander over her. It’s the subtle way she licks her lips when it’s time for us to part ways.
“Well, surprise. Let’s go.”
Snapping out of it, I start to follow Foley down the corridor. As anxious as I am to see her, I’m also a little apprehensive. She didn’t answer when I called last night and now, suddenly she’s here the next day. What if something happened with Connor? What if someone realized Parrish planted that evidence against Pete?
Reaching the door, we’re buzzed in and as soon as I step inside my eyes wander around the room in search of hers. I spot her immediately. Dressed in an oversized sweatshirt that slips off her shoulder and a simple pair of black leggings, she twists a tissue nervously in her hands. I leave Foley at the door and start for her. It takes her all but two seconds to feel the weight of my stare and she lifts her head. Those gorgeous hazel eyes find mine and I struggle to breathe. I’ve never been so affected by a woman in my life and I know for certain, I never will.
There’s only one Peaches.
I close the distance between us and pull out the chair across from her. Taking a seat, I fold my hands on top of the table. It’s a feeble attempt to stop myself from touching her, from taking her face and smashing my mouth against hers.
Clearing my throat, I lean forward and do the next best thing…I breathe in her scent.
So fucking sweet.
So goddamn forbidden.
I close my eyes and for the briefest moment, I allow myself to wonder if her pussy smells and tastes just as good.
“Hey,” she murmurs.
My eyes spring open and I drag roll my neck, trying to release the tension, knowing it’s a wasted effort. I need to fuck, and I need to fuck Peaches.
Hard.
Dirty.
Rough.
“Bishop, are you okay? You’re sweating.”
A groan rumbles past my lips as my dick grows painfully hard. Swiping my hand over my face, I try to focus.
“I’m fine,” I grunt, eyeing her exposed shoulder. Her skin looks so smooth, so fucking inviting.
“Are you sure…you look—”
“Fix your shirt,” I interject.
Her eyes follow mine and she lifts her fingers to her shoulder. Sucking her lower lip between her teeth, she looks back at me, but instead of fixing her shirt, she drops her hand away.
“Charlotte,” I warn through gritted teeth. “You’re killing me.”
“Is that why you’re all flushed?”
Unable to take another second of her taunting, I lean forward.
“Pretend to drop something and look under the table,” I whisper roughly. “I dare you.”
Something flickers in her eyes and she glances around the room. I watch as she nonchalantly pushes the box of tissues off the edge of the table. She pushes back her chair and I close my eyes. Clenching my fists, I think back to the day she wore that tight t-shirt and recall the way her nipples hardened under the thin fabric.
Charlotte groans, alerting me that she’s aware of what she’s done to me and I open my eyes. She slowly straightens, her cheeks a beautiful shade of red as she touches her neck.
“We can’t do this,” she whispers, hoarsely.
“So, you keep saying, but you still haven’t fixed your shirt, and I’d bet anything, right now you’re sitting there, wondering what my cock will feel like buried inside your cunt.”
“Bishop…” she pants.
“It’s going to make it real good for you, Peaches. Gonna make you c
ome like you’ve never come before, over and over, until your pussy throbs and you can’t feel your legs.”
“Oh my God,” she cries, covering her mouth. “Stop. You have to stop.”
“You sure because I can make you come right here, right now, in front of all these people and without even touching you. Tell me, when was the last time you came?”
She looks away and at first, I think she’s making sure no one is listening to us, but then it dawns on me...she’s embarrassed.
“Answer the question,” I demand, lowering my hand under the table. The motion causes her eyes to snap back to me. “Answer me, Peaches.”
“Last night.”
My blood runs cold at her admission and my hand falls away from my cock.
“Is that why you didn’t answer my phone call, you were with someone?”
“No,” she shakes her head. “Can we please not do this?”
“Tell me,” I demand, clenching my jaw. Anger flashes in her eyes and they grow a deeper shade of green as she narrows them at me.
I’ve pushed too far, and I love it.
I love seeing her unravel.
“I didn’t answer because I was in the bath, fingering myself,” she hisses.
“Were you thinking of me?”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“The biggest one of all,” I admit, cocking my head to the side. “You were, weren’t you?”
She rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath, slamming her palms against the table. Fixing me with a narrowed gaze, she licks her lips.
“We do this once and only once,” she says, pausing for a beat. “Yes, it was a long day, and I had a little too much wine when I got home. I needed to unwind, so I took a bath and of course I started over analyzing everything, wondering if I was doing the right thing. Ever since I met you it seems like all I do is question my motives. So, yeah you were on my mind and one thing lead to another and I started thinking about you and replaying some of the things you’ve said to me. I started to touch myself…”
Her voice trails and I swear on my son, it takes every ounce of self-control for me to hold my shit together.
“I came three times and harder than I ever came before, but that’s where it ends. This is where it ends because I came here today to ask you for your consent to apply for guardianship of Connor.”
Breaking The Chains (Satan's Knights Prospect Trilogy) Page 16
