The Fallon Brothers: Chance

by Esther E. Schmidt

  Her chin lifts. “I know people who have a ranch and specifically rescue dogs used in dogfights to give them a home or relocate them if possible. I could go with you and help those animals.”

  “Good. We’re leaving within the hour. Do you need anything?” Kinney questions.

  She shakes her head. “I have a bag with me with basic stuff. Everything else would have to be seen on the spot.”

  “Good enough.” Kinney turns to face me. “No need to ask if you’re going with, right?”

  “I’m not leaving her,” I snap and reach out to snatch Vi by her waist and drag her flush against my body.

  Her hand goes to my chest to balance herself but stays there. Kinney eyes the movement and gives me a smirk and a nod before he stalks out of the room.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  — Violet —

  I can hear dogs barking. My heart is beating in my throat and fear is running hot through my veins. Dustin explained everything on the way to this large house at the edge of town. There are trees and bushes surrounding the place, making it the perfect hideout for shady business.

  The thoughts of animals hurting and even dying is unthinkable and is crushing my heart. I can’t believe these guys have been active for years and years. My stepbrother and stepfather both involved. Well, Barry not any longer since Dustin also explained how he had a brain tumor and didn’t even have another month to live. So, even if he wasn’t killed, he would have been dead soon anyway.

  With all the information those bikers and Dustin obtained I was told they needed the money they were trying to squeeze out of me to run off and relocate in another state because they screwed up big time. Barry borrowed money from some son of a mafia boss and was past the deadline of paying. They beat him up. Something both Barry and my stepfather didn’t anticipate because they thought they would be long gone before they would come and get the money.

  Something about blowing the money on coke and another deal going wrong made the whole relocating deviate. Hence Barry getting killed and them coming after me for money since they had to pay some pretty shady people back otherwise they would turn up dead too.

  And seriously, how the hell can a group of bikers just barge into someone’s home? Dustin ordered me to stay in the SUV, but I’m too itchy. I’m standing near the SUV—I’m not that stupid—but the loud barking is heart-wrenching.

  Gun shots ring out and right about now I’m second-guessing the whole “getting out of the SUV part.” Even more when I notice a man crawling out of a window on the side of the house. I quickly get back inside of the SUV and keep my eye on the man.

  He’s half running, half stumbling this way toward me and it’s this moment I recognize who it is. My stepfather. Anger spikes even more and when he’s almost near the SUV, I swing the door open, making him crash smack into it. He bounces off it and crumbles to the ground. I don’t think twice and jump out. He looks rough, as if he was already beaten up. But even that doesn’t stop me from kicking him in the balls and everywhere else I can connect with.

  An arm suddenly wraps tight around my waist. Fear slams into me and I start to scream and claw at the person holding me. Curses and growls flow through the air as his grip on me tightens. I’m trying like hell to get away but this man behind me is huge and strong by the way he’s holding me in a death grip.

  “Vi.” Dustin’s face appears into my vision. “Vi, it’s okay. Calm down.” His eyes go past me. “Let her go, Pres. She’s fine now.”

  “You sure about that, Chance? She’s hell on legs this one. Do you see that fucker? I doubt she left any life in ‘em,” Kinney chuckles and I feel the rumble of his chest against my back before he lets me go.

  Dustin takes my face into his hands. “You okay? I need for you to come with me. I counted about four dogs alive in the barn. It seems they were about to clean up since we found some carcasses out back. A pile of puppies, just a few weeks old, in a fucking corner.” He gives a quick shake of his head. “I don’t know how you can do this shit. There’s a dog with big lacerations and it’s making me queasy. I could kick a man’s ass to a pulp, put a bullet right between someone’s eyes if it means saving a life…but seeing an animal hurt? Fuck.”

  “Show me,” I tell him and turn to the SUV to grab my bag. “Animals are strong and may surprise you. I thrive on those things; it makes you push harder and give all because they give so much in return without thinking twice. Even these dogs who are tormented still have all the love to give, hesitant or not, broken or not, all they need is a chance.”

  I lock eyes with Dustin and realize the last few words I said are the ones that hold double meaning; all I need is a chance too. Not just a chance, this Chance; Dustin.

  As if he hears my thoughts, he reaches out and takes my hand. “Come on, darlin’ lots of time for talk and thinking later. Let’s give these dogs all we have to offer and make sure they get this chance, huh?”

  I’m glad he doesn’t look back at me since I can feel my eyes start to burn. I’ve been trying for weeks to get this insanity to stop and Dustin just swoops in and with his friends...his brothers...the Fallon brothers...they manage to jump on a speed train and end the whole situation and save these dogs from future fighting. Sadly, this chance comes too late for some of them.

  My head is still spinning due to the turmoil of events. I’m standing in Dustin’s room and I’m openly checking out the man who has gone through life these last few years with people calling him Chance.

  He’s holding the puppy he found in a corner underneath dead puppies from the same litter. The little guy was still alive and only has an injured hind leg. As if he’s been kicked aside and scurried off to hide, and rightfully so. It’s a good thing we came when we did. I saw the syringes ready to use. They were going to kill them all. I’m glad to say we managed to save and relocate four of the dogs.

  Dustin told me there were three guys in the house and there were pictures of me lying on the table. There was a notepad with a plan of action so to say. It involved kidnapping me as a money cow. It’s true I might have some money I inherited from my father but no way near the extent those guys thought I had.

  I can’t believe Dustin keeps giving me these flows of information. He doesn’t hide anything. And the way he’s holding this sweet, blueish gray puppy who fell asleep in his arms where he snuggled in as soon as Dustin spotted him? Swoon worthy.

  I’m almost sad this whole turn of events is now behind me since it’s the reason Dustin needed to swoop in and save the day; all of it is handled. Does this mean the both of us will go our own way?

  “We’re keeping this one,” Dustin says as he stands and carefully places the sleeping puppy in the box I created into a makeshift bed.

  “Okay,” I answer in half a whisper.

  He steps closer to me and tilts his head. “You don’t have any animals, why don’t you? Well, until now since we’re keeping this one.”

  Wait. What?

  “Did you just say we are keeping the dog? As in you and I?” My eyes bulge. “We’re not even living together. Are together. I thought—”

  “You thought wrong.” He places his arms in front of his chest and braces himself as if he’s getting ready for a fight. “I might have claimed you to protect you, but it still stands.”

  I mimic his stance. “And just how did you picture this working out between us?” His eyes flare and I know exactly where his thoughts went. “Head out of the gutter. Beyond the sex, how do you think that’s gonna work? I live about an hour away from here. I work all day. And we only just reconnected.”

  “I could move in with you. We could get a house somewhere in between. Split days so we’re half the time here, half the time at your place, whatever. It’s how every other relationship starts and builds up; one day at a time and look for the easy solutions to comprise and make it work. Because we will make it work. You’re the only girl I ever wanted and I’m not letting you go. I might have been barely eighteen the last time and didn’t have a choice whe
n your father rightfully took you out of the fucked-up mess you were in, but for sure no one’s going to stop me now: I’m not letting you slip through my fingers again.”

  My heart skips a beat. I really thought we’d be going our different ways since he made sure I was safe. It might have crossed my mind how he only did it as a favor, or out of guilt due to the past. Hell, maybe he did it because I’m friends with his sisters.

  But the man standing before me, openly radiating the need for me and telling me we’re together and will find a way to make it work? Only a woman who lost her mind would turn him down. And for me it feels as if everything is finally falling into place.

  I take a step forward and cup the side of his face. Rising on my tiptoes I press my lips against his. Telling him without words, I’m in this too.

  CHAPTER NINE

  — Chance —

  She’s in. Not just an agreement to benefit her safety, but the real fucking thing. Her lips brush against mine and they flame up a fire that’s been burning for a long damn time. My control is slipping and I grab her hips to pull her flush against me.

  Our kiss deepens and all I can think about is burying myself deep inside her. I walk her backwards until she tumbles onto the mattress. Shrugging out of my cut, I toss it on the nearby chair and grab the hem of my shirt, dropping it to land on the floor. My boots, her shirt, my jeans, her pants, everything hits the floor until we’re naked.

  Skin to skin has never felt so good. My cock is pressing against her pussy and if I shift my hips I would be able to slide home. Not yet. How I was craving to get inside her, I now want to take my time exploring every inch of her.

  My mouth covers her puckered nipple and her hands dive into my hair to keep me in place. I reach out to tweak her other nipple and she buckles underneath me.

  “Dustin,” she pleads.

  I can’t begin to describe how it feels to hear my given name fall from her lips. This woman knows me. Who I was growing up and who I am now, and she’s still begging me for more. My lips travel down her lush body and I make sure to worship every inch with my lips until I finally get to the place I’ve been dying to taste.

  I connect my gaze with hers as I slowly lick her pussy. She takes her lip between her teeth and the look she gives me as I devour her is displaying pure lust mixed with adoration.

  I’m pretty damn sure I’m mirroring this because I feel it deep inside my bones; this woman was made for me. I close my mouth over her bundle of nerves and start to suck and flick my tongue, making her whimper. I can taste and feel how close she is when I slowly pump two fingers inside her. She’s so damn tight.

  I curl my fingers and feel her inner walls tighten. Her taste hits my tongue and her whole body explodes with pleasure. The way my name spills from her panting lips in a worshipping tone nearly makes me come.

  Without thinking I crawl up her body and slide deep inside her body. I still above her to let her accommodate to my size but also to make me focus and not blow my load within a second of being inside her.

  She’s gripping my shoulders, nails digging in while sexy as fuck noises slip past her lush lips. Magnificent. The way she envelopes me with her presence and energizes me with an addictive craving only she can satisfy is overwhelming.

  My hips start to move and pick up speed. Each thrust forward is met with a fierce one of hers. We fall into a rhythm where raw need mixes with tender adoration and it’s a way of making love with body and mind which is utterly satisfying.

  There is no prolonging this heightened feeling and right when I feel my balls draw up, her pussy starts to clamp down on my cock, ripping the orgasm right from my body as I empty myself in her pussy.

  The both of us are panting for our next breath, drained from energy, but utterly satisfied.

  “So good,” she murmurs.

  I place a kiss on her neck. “Only gonna get better from here on out.”

  Sneaking an arm around her waist I hold her to me and roll over so she’s now draped over me. I feel myself slide out and realize I didn’t wrap up.

  “A little late...but I’m clean.”

  She snuggles closer and replies, “Me too. And I’m on the pill so we should be good.”

  “We are good,” I instantly agree.

  A giggle flows from her and the sound makes my dick twitch. Damn. She just ripped a massive orgasm out of me and already my body craves her again at a mere sound flowing through her body.

  She slowly draws circles along my abs with her finger and tells me, “So...if we’re keeping the puppy, we’re gonna need a name.”

  “And a dog bed, a leash, many other things along with it.” I close my eyes and caress her back.

  Feels damn great to have a woman draped over me while chitchatting about future shit we’re planning together. Even if it’s only about a pet. This woman is already halfway rooted in my heart because of our past. Who am I kidding? I’m pretty damn sure she stole my heart the day we almost kissed twelve years ago.

  It’s safe to say the whole “falling hard and fast” is active in full force.

  “What about Dreamer?” Her breath heats my chest, distracting me.

  “What was that?” I murmur and press my lips to the top of her head.

  “The puppy. What about naming him Dreamer?”

  “Dreamer,” I echo.

  She shifts and lifts herself on one arm to connect our gaze. “Yes. You know, because he’s able to, and since this is the moment where we move past the here and now and start to dream, plan, whatever.”

  Her smile is addictive and I have to say, “I think it’s perfect.”

  “Tomorrow we’ll swing by the store and get everything he needs.” Vi yawns and settles back down on top of me.

  I give her a little squeeze and spill my thoughts. “Maybe we could pick up a couple of extra bags of dog food and bring them by the rescue holding the other four dogs. Or donate some money to support them. I hated seeing those four caged up and some wounded. Fuck. They were going to kill them without thinking twice. I can’t begin to imagine how they used those poor animals.”

  “We could do all. Pick up a couple of extra bags, donate money, and check on them. These people are amazing with the work they do. It’s also the reason why I always help them for free. Whatever they need when it comes to medical attention for the animals they rescue.”

  “You’re amazing,” I murmur against her hair and breathe her in.

  “You’re pretty amazing yourself there, babe. And those brothers of yours too. I can’t believe you just...fixed the problem. Not to mention saved those dogs. Even if we couldn’t save them all. It boggles my mind. I can’t believe it took me three days to find the nerve to call the security company. And talk about fate with you working there and getting assigned to my case. I can’t start to imagine what would have happened if you weren’t. Because they were ready to clean up everything and disappear.” The hitch in her voice betrays the emotions still scratching at the surface.

  “There’s no need to think things through or wonder about the whole ‘what-if.’ Everything is handled. You have a few days off scheduled and you should keep them to give your mind some well-deserved rest before you dive back into work mode. Time you can easily spend on me, our dog, work out a schedule where we end up in bed together each night. That kinda stuff.”

  “That kinda stuff, huh?” she whispers against my lips and it makes me grab her hips to grind her against my growing hard on.

  “Yeah,” I reply in a husky as fuck tone. “That kinda stuff.”

  I give her a hard kiss and for the rest of the night we explore each other’s bodies, talk about tiny shit in life that matters. Past, future, and everything in between because this moment is ours, and we’re grabbing hold with both hands.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Seven months later

  — Violet —

  “Did you drop Dreamer off at home? I could swing by to pick him up with your car if you’re stuck here. Then we’ll both head for the clubh
ouse as soon as you’re done,” Dustin says as I take off my white coat and trade it for my leather jacket.

  I hit the lights and grab my keys to lock up the clinic. “No need. I’m all done and Dreamer will be waiting for us at the clubhouse.”

  “At the clubhouse? What’s he doing there?”

  We head for his bike and a little thrill flows through me. I absolutely love being on the back of his bike. The feeling of freedom with the closeness of his body in front of me is exhilarating.

  He hands me my helmet and as I strap it on I tell him, “Aspen came by to pick him up earlier. Something about needing a third one to match. Heck if I know, but it’s the whole ‘Halloween’ thing, and you know how much Dreamer loves kids.”

  Dreamer might have a massive appearance with his all grayish blue fur, muscles, and big head, but he’s one huge softy. If he sees a kid he just plunks down, rolls over, and expects belly rubs for hours.

  Dustin groans. “I wonder what outfit Aspen picked for the little dude. Can’t be good if she’s in charge.”

  A huge smile spreads my face. Yes, Aspen is a little crazy at times but she’s a good person. One I’m very lucky to have as a friend. Mira too. She’s Kier’s old lady and Aspen’s friend. The both of them live at the clubhouse so I run into them a lot.

  “Did you need to swing by home first?” Dustin questions as he straddles the bike.

  “Nope. Naomi said she’d be fine by herself. Or did you want to drag her with us to the clubhouse? It might be good for her to meet some of the guys.”

  Dustin shoots me a horrified look over his shoulder. “None of my sisters are allowed around those horndogs. She just got out of a screwed-up marriage. I’d say staying at home is good for her right now.”

  “Maybe some hot and dirty action would be better.” My thoughts flow out without thinking and a low growl rumbles though his chest.