The Fallon Brothers: Chance

by Esther E. Schmidt

  See? This woman is a special one. Good thing Pres noticed her qualities on sight and claimed her on the spot. Well, from what Aspen told me, it was more of a necessity as he caught her red handed and he made her an offer. A trade of favors is something Kinney thrives on.

  Turns out these two are a perfect match, and it makes the clubhouse smell like a home-cooked meal every damn day since this woman loves to cook.

  “The woman in my room? I’m working her case. She hired a guard,” I simply say and shove the laptop into the bag.

  “Riiiiight.” Aspen rolls her eyes. “We will tell Kinney and the rest of the guys that little scheme. Now, give me all the mush, because your face is all scrunched and...holy shit,” she gasps and jumps up. Pointing her finger in my face she squeaks, “You found your woman, didn’t you? All on your own.” Her shoulders sag and she grumbles, “Dammit, I wanted to help.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” I mutter and rub a hand over my face.

  See what I meant with the whole “deemed us besties?”

  She dramatically lets herself drop on a chair and glares at me. “You should have told me the second you found her.”

  “I was kinda busy saving her with some fucker shattering the window of her veterinarian clinic.” I glare right back at her and watch her face soften.

  “Is she okay? Did you catch the one who did it? Do you want my help? I want to help. Give me your laptop, I know you have a file if she’s a case you’re working on.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” I grumble again. “Listen, I appreciate it, but I’ve got this. Besides, it’s personal. She’s an old friend. Well, it’s been about twelve years since I’ve seen her, but all my sisters are friends with her. And why the fuck am I telling you this?”

  “Because we’re besties and you luuuuurve her,” she says in a singsong voice and I’m trying to see if I have laser vision I can hit her with since the woman needs someone to blast some sense into her.

  “I don’t,” I deny and yet the words leave a bad taste in my mouth. “Fine, I care. But like I said, we haven’t seen each other in twelve years and we didn’t have anything back then either. We only almost kissed and that’s it.”

  “Awwwww,” Aspen gushes.

  “I’m done talking to you.” I shake my head at her face which is clearly locked in swoon-mode. “Let me know if you can act like a professional and not some kind of lovesick matchmaker. Then I promise you can help.”

  Because there’s no way I would turn down this woman’s skills.

  Aspen’s head almost bounces off her shoulders from the way she eagerly nods. “All professional, I swear.”

  “Her stepbrother, Barry Myrons—” I start but Aspen instantly turns as white as a sheet.

  “Stop,” she croaks. “I need Kinney here with us if you’re going to talk about this guy.”

  I’m confused as to why she would need her old man, but I was going to talk to Kinney anyway, so we might as well bring him into the discussion now.

  “Come on, let’s find him,” I start, but Aspen is already on her feet.

  “He’s in church,” she squeaks.

  I don’t have the time to give her a reply since her ass is already rushing inside the clubhouse. An eerie feeling flows through my gut, alerting me that something is very wrong. When I follow her inside and into church, she quickly gets on her damn toes and whispers in Kinney’s ear.

  His eyes go wide and he bellows, “Nics, Kier, get the fuck in here.”

  He gathers the papers scattered across the table and stands to place them in a pile on the desk in the corner.

  “Kier, close the door behind you,” Kinney says as he stalks toward me. “There are some things that happened before you were patched in as a full member. Things you didn’t know since you were a prospect back then. It concerned Aspen and Mira and the shit they were wrapped in. And now you’ve brought a connection into our midst that stirs up said shit. So…mind telling me why the fuck Aspen just told me you have Barry Myrons’ stepsister stashed in your room?”

  The way he’s growling out his words, how Aspen reacted, and the fact he called both Kier and Nics in here with us? Filling the room with the President, the VP, and the enforcer? Yeah, needless to say I’m on fucking edge too. And like hell am I going to let anything happen to Vi. She’s mine to protect and I’m not going to let her slip through my fingers. Never again.

  My eyes slide to Aspen and she still has this whole panic, shocked, devastating look on her and I have no clue why. I do know she’s standing next to my Pres because he was the one who claimed her when she killed someone. Giving her instant protection.

  The same goes for Kier who claimed a pregnant woman to make sure no one could touch her. My eyes connect with Kinney and I state the words I never thought I’d voice when I woke up this morning.

  “I have Barry’s stepsister in my room because she’s my old lady. And yes, that’s an official fucking claim.” I let my gaze slide over each and every one to make sure they see I will fight like hell if anyone so much as points a damn finger in her direction.

  “No, no, no, no...please don’t tell me I killed your old lady’s stepbrother. I’m so screwed. You’re going to hate me, and she’s never going to so much as like me. Dammit, what a total screw-up.” Aspen covers her face with her hands while Kinney wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her close while her words settle in my brain.

  “You did what?” Out of anything they could have said, I was not expecting that.

  CHAPTER SIX

  — Violet —

  “What’s wrong?” I croak in my sleep ridden voice.

  I just woke up and found Dustin staring at me from the chair he’s sitting in. He looks like he hasn’t slept all night and his face radiates worry.

  He shifts and inches forward, placing his forearms on his knees. “I have to tell you something and you have to promise not to freak out on me.”

  His words make me sit up and rub my eyes while I grumble, “You have four sisters and a mom. You know how women are. You’re seriously telling me I’m not allowed to freak out without knowing what you’re about to say?”

  “Yes,” the man simply states right beside me.

  My eyes fly open and my heart lurches at the jump scare the man just gave me. “You and your stealthy moves, warn a woman before you make some moves, will ya?”

  “Do you know what an old lady is?” Dustin questions and with it ignores my reprimand.

  Weird question, though. My eyes travel over him and I now notice he must have changed clothes sometime late last night and is now wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather cut with patches on it.

  “I know what TV series show about it. Those guys also cheat on their girl with those scarcely clad women they have running around the clubhouse. But they are fierce with the whole protection and kicking someone else’s butt if they touch what’s theirs and yet their dick can hop from pussy to pussy.”

  “You do realize you addressed infidelity twice, right?” The corner of his mouth twitches.

  I shrug. “I think a dude’s dick should shrivel up and die if it goes pussy hopping. I’m a one woman, one man, type within a relationship. You make a commitment, why make one if you’re not giving yourself solely to one person?”

  “I’m a one-woman man myself and value a relationship the way you do. You’re my old lady,” he blurts and it makes me blink very slowly as I process his words.

  “Old lady,” I say and drag the words out. “If I smack you on the back of your head and question your sanity...would you consider it as me freaking out? Because that’s about to happen.”

  “My bestie killed Barry,” he blurts some more words again.

  I can feel my jaw drop. Jumping off the bed, I point a finger in his direction and snap, “You need to stop blurting out crazy things. I swear you said bestie. Who even says bestie? And I know Barry was killed. The man who he killed, killed him. Sounds confusing but that’s what the police said when I went to tell them about the threats
I received. The threats contained demands. I had to pay them ten grand or I’ll end up like my stepbrother; stabbed to death in an alley. I don’t do so well with threats so I figured I’d spend the ten grand on protection. Because the police can’t do shit. But I guess I hired the wrong company since it teamed me up with mister crazy pants! Kill me now. No, wait... don’t make your bestie kill me. Sounds like your bestie is good with offing people. I’d like to meet this so-called bestie, I might need it to intervene with other people who are now ruining my crazy life. Wait…is your bestie dead?”

  “No one is going to kill you. Didn’t you hear me tell you you’re my old lady? You’re protected by the whole club.”

  He’s lost it. Sleep deprived or whatever. “Stop calling me your old lady. We haven’t even so much as kissed!” I seethe.

  “Well, I can hardly kiss you now,” he has the nerve to grumble.

  “No shit, Sherlock,” I snap, close my eyes, and try to catch my breath in an effort to calm down.

  When I open my eyes, they lock with Dustin’s calm ones. Always assessing, always controlled, always with a hint of something more when he’s focused on me.

  Benefit of the doubt; I know him. Have been friends with all his sisters for a large part of my life. I take care of his mother’s dog when needed. This is Dustin. The Dustin I almost kissed and yet it wasn’t meant to be and there had always been this nagging feeling of “what might have been.” Well, I guess this is our “what might be” given a second chance right here.

  Another deep gulp of air fills my lungs and I decide I should hear him out. “Okay, start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out.”

  “What I’m about to tell you is confidential. It’s completely between me and you, understood?”

  “Is that the reason for the whole old lady thing? To make sure I won’t spill your secrets to the police? You do understand those two words are just words, right? They would have to hold the value of respect and loyalty. A connection between the two persons who agree to be together.” His eyes narrow and I know I’ve hit a sore point but he also needs to be aware, “I know you, Dustin. I know your family and the person you are. I might not have seen you for all those years, but when I look in your eyes and how you reacted yesterday? All of it makes me aware you’re still the person I remembered you to be. Someone who gave me comfort and safety when I needed it without questioning things. You have my respect and loyalty, with or without the whole old lady thing.”

  He closes the distance between us and takes my face in his hands. A million things run through my head as his lips inch closer. My body starts to heat and crave his touch until the connection breaks due to loud knocking.

  “Motherfucker,” Dustin curses underneath his breath. “Second time I want to kiss you, twelve damn years apart, and we’re interrupted a-fucking-gain.”

  He stalks to the door and swings it open, snapping, “What?”

  A beautiful woman is standing in front of him, wringing her hands while she asks in a small voice, “Did you tell her? Explain everything? Does she hate me? Does she hate you?”

  “Well, I’m hating you right now. I was about to fucking kiss her and you had to knock. Couldn’t you wait a few more minutes?” Dustin growls, making the woman’s shoulders sag some more.

  I straighten my dark blue pajamas and head for the two of them. “Hi, I’m Vi. Don’t mind grumpy here.”

  “He usually isn’t grumpy. He’s like a big loyal dog but ever since he brought you here, he’s turned into a guard dog who bares his teeth at every turn. A good thing, Chance. I meant it as a compliment.” Aspen smacks him on the chest before she takes my hand and shakes it.

  She steps back and her shoulders sag again. “Did Chance explain?”

  “He was about to but we got stuck on the whole old lady part where he basically labeled me as such to slap me with a non-disclosure agreement, without my agreement.” I shoot him a glare to get my point across again but he glares right back.

  “That’s not why he claimed you,” Aspen says. “He stated his claim to protect you. To make sure you were untouchable to the club and everyone else. He didn’t do it to silence you. That’s actually what my old man did when I met him. Protection and tape my mouth shut all in one go.”

  I’m intrigued by her flow of information and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to think Dustin would protect me without thinking twice. Even when I wasn’t as friendly when we met after years. Still he stood up for me.

  “Can you explain some more? Because you’re making more sense than he does,” I ask.

  Aspen smiles at me but again she looks like I’m about to turn on her any second with a flow of hate. Which makes the dots connect in my head.

  “You’re his bestie. You killed Barry,” I state, and I launch myself at her.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  — Chance —

  Vi launches herself at Aspen. Neither one of us are expecting the move and the momentum makes them slam right into me. I brace myself and steady them.

  “Thank you,” Vi croaks.

  Aspen pulls back and her face shows shock mixed with surprise. “Why are you thanking me?”

  “Because Barry was an asshole who made my life miserable. The night before my mother died, he tried to rape me. My mother managed to get him off me when she heard my screams. The next morning my stepfather told me my mother had an accident. She fell down the stairs and died. I never believed it was an accident. Barry pushed her, I’m sure. I hate him so much.” Vi growls out that last part and winces right after.

  Vi steps back and starts to pace the room. “I’m normally not as hateful, but Barry really was an evil human being. A couple of months ago he suddenly appeared at my clinic and demanded I gave him five grand. He needed it for some kind of debt he had to pay so he could leave the state. Soon after the threats and demands for more money started to come in.”

  “Did you give him the money?” I question.

  Vi shakes her head. “Of course not. I wouldn’t give that vile piece of shit anything. I showed him the door and told him if he ever came back, I would have his ass arrested. I also told him that I’d get a restraining order as soon as my legs could rush me to the police station. He turned and left, took his buddy with him. It’s his buddy who is asking for the money and threatening me, right? I didn’t have a name, I told the police but they said they couldn’t do much with just a description and a note with demands. Nothing happened, so they couldn’t help.”

  “They can’t. We will,” Aspen says. “And you’re really okay with me being the—”

  “Hush. It’s all in the past. Help me get these assholes off my back who are threatening me and demanding money, and we’ll be even. Hell, we’re even now. You’re my—” She glances at me and waves her hand. “My whatever’s bestie.”

  “Your old man. Not your whatever,” I grumble.

  “I really want to hug you right now,” Aspen says, her voice filled with relief.

  “And I’d really like to fucking kiss her but neither of us are gonna get what we want,” I grumble. “Pres wants a meeting within half an hour and I need to talk to Vi alone.”

  “Well, okay. But you’d better not scare her or be angry,” Aspen warns.

  I place my hands on my hips. “Really?”

  Vi chuckles. “You two are adorable. Besties, huh?”

  Aspen shoots her a grin which Vi returns.

  “Okay, that’s it. Out.” I grab Aspen’s forearm and guide her out the door, making sure to lock it behind her.

  “That was kinda rude, don’t you think?” Vi scolds.

  “She’ll get over it. Mind telling me why you didn’t come to me the night Barry assaulted you?” I barely manage to keep my anger at bay.

  The hatred I had for that man doesn’t compare to what I feel for the fucker now. He should be fucking glad he’s dead. If I could, I’d go to hell to kill him all over again. I guess I have to settle with aiming my rage at the one—or ones—who are extorting her. />
  She starts to sputter, “What? Why would I? You were...I didn’t...I—”

  I shamelessly shut her up by stepping into her personal space and slamming my mouth over hers. She freezes for half a second before her lips part as an open invitation to slide my tongue inside and devour her mouth. And I fucking take the invitation, lighting up my whole damn body along with it.

  The moan rumbling from her delicious body spurs me on. My hands roam down her body until I’m gripping her ass so I can pull her forward to make sure she feels what she does to me. This kiss has been a long time coming, but fuck. It’s worth waiting a lifetime for. One damn taste and I know this woman was made for me.

  Knocking on the door disturbs us again and this time I choose to ignore it. Her nails digging into my cut and dragging me closer is an indication she’s as fully into it as I am. The knocking gets louder and the harsh voice coming through the door is hard to ignore.

  “Open the fuck up or I’m going to break it down,” Kinney bellows.

  I regretfully end the kiss. “I have to open the door. Can’t ignore my Pres.”

  “Okay,” she says and my cock twitches at the sight of her lips, all red and perfectly used from the kiss we just shared.

  Quickly stepping away from her—otherwise I won’t be able to since I’m dying to get inside her—I open the door.

  Kinney stalks inside and to my surprise he addresses Vi. “How badly do you want to end this shit, and how much can you stomach and deal with?”

  Vi doesn’t blink or think twice and replies, “I can handle everything needed to end this. I’m ready now.”

  “Even if you get your hands bloody? Because we’re about to clean out those fuckers who worked with your stepbrother. Which means your stepfather is one of the fuckers we’re going to end. Dogfights means taking care of those dogs too, since there won’t be anyone left to take care of them, get my drift?” Kinney towers over her and I’m itching to shove him back but I’m also proud of the way Vi handles herself and doesn’t back down.