by E. C. Land
“Just let him do it, Bethany. He’s not going to give in,” I murmur coming to Chaz’s defense.
Bethany glances from Chaz to me and then back again. She’s always been an open book, right now being no different as it dawns on her his reasoning. Finally, with a sigh Bethany nods her head. “Okay fine, but don’t think I’m going to be letting you carry me everywhere or making me stay in the bed like I’m helpless. Because I’m perfectly healthy and nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You’re damn straight nothing’s gonna happen to you,” Chaz states firmly, taking the vase completely out of Bethany’s hands.
As Chaz leaves the room, the attention turns back toward me and I wish I could fall in a hole as I meet Tanner’s angry gaze.
He’s pissed as hell about this. Granted he’s touched me but it hasn’t been like before, which really sucks. All I want is my life back and that’s not going to happen until this is all sorted. Then again will he still want me. Or think I’m too much of a headache to deal with.
“We need to get into rehearsal,” Hunter announces breaking the silence.
“Yeah, we’ve got that gig coming up this weekend at Outlaws and I think we should try out some of the new stuff. See what the fans think,” Lex suggests.
“Let’s get to it then,” Tanner states, leaning in to kiss my cheek before heading into the studio.
Feelings of uncertainty fill me as I think about everything that’s surrounding me. Can’t I finally have a drama free life? One filled with nothing but happiness.
When my phone rings, I nearly jump out of my skin. Glancing down at the screen, I groan. It’s Lori. I sigh as I pick my phone up and answer.
“Hello.”
“Alexis,” she sobs, and I stiffen. I don’t remember ever hearing her cry for anything. Not even when she broke her arm.
“Lori, what’s wrong?” I ask.
“I–I–I w–was j–just attacked and didn’t know who else to call. C–Can you please come get me? T–They t–took m–my purse,” she says between sobs of tears.
“Yeah, where are you? I’ll be right there,” I murmur and wait for her to tell me. When she does, I hang up and head toward the front of the shop with my keys in hand without saying anything to anyone.
I know I should have told the guys I was leaving considering everything right now, but I can’t leave Lori in the lurch either. Not when she has been hurt. We may not be the best of friends anymore but that does not mean I won’t help her.
Chapter 15
Tanner
Fuming, from reading the note I know I hurt Alexis’ feelings and I feel shitty for it. Can you blame me though? There is a stalker out there demanding she hand herself over to them and if I let her out of my sight, I’m sure that’s exactly what she’ll do.
Unfortunately, at the same time I need a moment away from her. Questions begin to form in my head at the idea this person is a part of Alexis’ life and that being said does my wife have the same beliefs of what this unknown thinks. Some of the notes have been very personal in talking about who she’s with, a black man instead of a white one.
The only thing I’ve noticed so far is this person doesn’t realize Alexis and I are married. So, it can’t be someone we know from around here.
At least I don’t think.
I’ve racked my head trying to figure out who this is and keep coming up empty. The only person I know who hates the fact I’d been with Alexis was her friend Lori, but she couldn’t have pulled something like this off.
Then there’s the guys who jumped me wanting me to pay my father’s debts off. I haven’t heard from them since that day, but it doesn’t mean I would let my guard down where they’re concerned. I know Dragon and a couple of his brothers went on that side of town and had a few words with Trevor.
As much as it chafes me that they did it, it came from a good place in their hearts. We’re all family to them even if we don’t wear the patch. It’s been that way since they first moved to town several years ago.
Glancing toward the mirror that separates us from where Alexis works, I frown at not seeing her sitting at her desk. Maybe she decided to go to the other room to get away from me for a bit.
“Did you see Alexis out there?” I ask Chaz soon as he steps into the room and closes the door.
“No why?” he frowns, shaking his head.
“I don’t know. She’s not at her desk, just wanted to make sure she was still here. I’ll be right back. I won’t focus until I know she didn’t leave,” I mutter as my gut turns.
Something isn’t right.
Leaving the room, I stop by Alexis’ desk and notice her purse isn’t where she keeps it nor is her phone on the desk. I rush toward the front of the shop where Bethany is sitting at her desk and glance around not finding my woman anywhere.
“Did you see Alexis?” I ask, my heart racing in my chest.
“No. I thought she was still in the back at her desk,” she says, frowning.
“Shit, she’s left,” I growl, scrubbing my hands over my face roughly.
“I’ll call Gadget, see if he can’t track her phone,” Lex states from behind me. I hadn’t even realized he or the others had followed me in here.
Nodding I pull my own phone out and call Alexis.
“I know you're probably pissed but I had to leave,” she says first thing upon answering the phone.
“You’re damn right I’m pissed. What the fuck babe?” I snarl.
“If you give me a minute, I’ll explain it to you,” Alexis snaps back.
“Start explaining,” I demand as I hear Lex disconnecting from his phone call. Turning to face him, his expression hard.
“She’s heading toward Lori’s house,” he mouths.
“I got a call from Lori she’s hurt and needed someone,” Alexis says, confirming what Lex just informed me of. Damnit, of course that stupid fuckin’ wicked bitch would call my woman. No matter who it is if you call Alexis she’ll be there. She cannot stand to see anyone hurt. It’s why I’ve been keeping a close eye on her to make sure she didn’t do anything stupid. I turn my back for five fuckin’ minutes and look what happens.
“Baby, if she’s hurt then she should have called someone else. Not you. You need to get back here where you’re protected by us,” I say calmly even though I don’t feel remotely close to it.
“I’ll be back soon. Besides, one of the guys from the club is following me,” she says, and I stiffen.
That’s not possible. The club needed all hands-on deck today with something they had going on with one of their businesses. We’d offered to help as well, but Twister said they’d had it under control. Something to do with the Fire Marshall being called and having to do some renovations on one of the businesses otherwise it’d be shut down.
Now she’s out there with a biker following her and doesn’t even realize that it might not be one of the good guys.
“Alexis, listen to me. That’s not one of the guys from the club. Turn around and come back to the shop.” I close my eyes and wait for her to let that sink in.
“Tanner, I can’t leave Lori. She was attacked and needed someone to help her. I’ll grab her and come right back to the shop,” she states.
“No, come back now. I’ll go over there and get her for you,” I offer.
“I’m already pulling into her driveway. I’ll call you back soon as I get back in the car. I love you and you can yell at me later, but I’m not going to let her be alone while injured and hurt.” This is why I love this woman so fuckin’ much even though right now I want to strangle her. She’s got a big as fuck heart and doesn’t know when to use her head first sometimes.
“Fine, but don’t hang up, Alexis. I’m not taking any chances that this isn’t a fuckin’ setup for you,” I snap as I head for my car. My brothers follow directly behind me.
“Okay, but it’s just Lori she’s harmless,” Alexis says, sounding annoyed.
Harmless my ass that bitch is known for setting people u
p. I mean hell the bitch set Alexis up that one time where she had the cheerleader start kissing me. I’m not one to put anything past the vindictive skank.
As I put the key in the ignition and my Bluetooth connects to my phone, I put my phone down and hit the gas as I shift gears. I’m not about to let anything happen to my wife.
Through the speakers, I can hear Alexis knock on the door to Lori’s house and then sobs of the woman herself.
“Alexis, thank you so much for coming,” Lori cries.
“Shh, it’s okay what happened?” Alexis asks soothingly.
“He happened,” Lori says right before screams of terror pierce my ears.
Fuckin’ hell. Who is he?
Chapter 16
Alexis
“He happened,” Lori cries as she points to the man sitting on the couch. A man I’ve seen several times but didn’t pay much attention to.
Lori’s brother.
Matthew.
Shit.
He’s always given me the creeps with his leering looks and beady eyes.
One minute he’s sitting there grinning the next he’s lifting a gun and pointing it at Lori and pulling the trigger.
Screaming, I jump backward, my hands coming up to cover my mouth.
“Lori, no,” I whisper, eyes widen at the sight of the blood pouring out of my once best friend's head. Glancing back to Matthew, I see the grin has turned into a demonic looking smile. I need to get out of here. Turning I bolt toward my car; however, I’m stopped by the biker who’d been following me.
“Please let me go,” I cry, fighting against his hold on my arm.
“Not a chance sweetheart,” he laughs, tightening his hand around my arm as he drags me back into the house past Lori’s lifeless body lying on the floor.
“Why are you doing this?” I demand, tears freely streaming down my cheeks.
“My sweet, sweet, Alexis. You’ve very much disappointed me. Don’t you remember me?” Matthew chuckles as he stands up.
At his full height, I let my gaze drift over him taking in the cut he’s wearing and the gun still in his hand.
“I know who you are. You’re Lori’s brother.”
“Yeah, I was her brother. And she also disappointed me by not doing the one job she was supposed to do,” he sneers as he makes his way across the room to stand in front of me.
“What job?” Matthew chuckles at my question as he grips my other arm and pulls me to him as the biker who’d been holding me lets go.
“Isn’t it obvious sweetheart? She was to keep you away from the dickhead and keep you pure for me. I claimed you the moment you first came to town. I’d have had you long before now if it wasn’t for my uncle sending me away when he did. He’s dead now and so I’ve come home to find not only the girl who belongs to me is still fuckin’ a black dude, but another club has come into my territory.” I can’t stop from grimacing in pain when Matthew tightens his hold on my arm.
“Please, let me go. I don’t belong to you. I’m sure Twister or Horse would talk with you about this situation,” I plead.
“Sweetheart, that's not how this is going to go down. I’m not worried about those pussy fucks. I’ll get my territory back in no time. No one fucks with the Dragon’s Fire MC without repercussions and they will soon learn that they’re in for a rude awakening. For now, it’s time for us to get out of here.” Matthew states before everything goes dark.
Waking up, I don’t know how much time has passed. Sitting up, I find myself in the back of a moving van.
My ankles tied together.
Great.
Why didn’t I listen to Tanner when he said to come back? Because I’m an idiot who thought nothing would happen in the time it took to go get my friend. Or who I thought of as my friend for so long. Now I’m not sure if she was ever really my friend. Thinking back now she’s always been mean to me about everything. If it wasn’t about her then she didn’t want anything to do with it. I swear I’m a complete idiot.
“You think this is a good idea Prez?” Shaking my head to clear it as someone asks the question, I wait to hear the response holding my breath.
“This is our fuckin’ territory those Devil pussies should never have come here. Too bad my uncles couldn’t see further than the drugs in front of them or the pussy on their dicks,” Matthew sneers.
I guess that answers my question about who Prez is.
Matthew.
“What about the girl?” The guy who’d asked if it was a good idea asks.
“Don’t you worry about Alexis. She’s mine. Always has been and that fuckin’ rockstar wanna be took her from me. Lori had one fuckin’ job and she couldn’t do it. Thanks to Flame I ended up in prison for six years. All she had to do was make sure my woman stayed mine. Now I’m takin’ what belongs to me. I’ll kill anyone who tries to get in my way. I don’t give a fuck if it’s that little abomination of a niece either.” A chill flows through me with each word.
“You know it’s not going to be as easy as you think, Prez?”
“I fuckin’ know what I’m doing, Spark. You may be my VP but don’t think you can question my every move. We’ve come too far to not take back what those Devil pussies have done to our club. The Dragon’s Fire MC is rising from the ashes and it’s time for war,” Matthew snaps.
“Got your back, Prez. Just making sure you’ve thought this through.” Spark says.
“I’ve more than fuckin’ thought this through brother. I’m takin’ back what’s ours and I’m doing it with my ol’ lady at my side,” Matthew chuckles and my eyes widen as they clash with his when he turns around to see me awake. “Isn’t that right sweetheart?”
Oh, shit the evil glint in his eyes scares the hell out of me.
Lifting my chin, I refuse to cower. I do that I’ll never make it out of this alive.
Then again, standing up to him might be a bad idea as well.
“I don’t belong to anyone but my husband,” I say, narrowing my gaze.
“That’s bullshit. You’re not married at least not yet,” Matthew growls.
“Yes I am. I’ve been married to Tanner since I was nineteen. You can’t belong to someone unless you want to, and I refuse to be yours. You’ll have to kill me first.” That’s it. I have completely gone insane.
Matthew gets out of his seat and moves to where I’m sitting on the floor in the back of the van and crouches down over me. “I suggest you not give me any ideas, my sweet Alexis,” he sneers, gripping my hair in one of his hands holding me still while using the other to grip my chin with bruising strength.
When he goes to lean in to kiss me, I spit in his face.
“Bitch, you’ll pay for that,” he chuckles and slams my head against the wheel-well.
My vision spins as I try to regain my senses but then a fist comes down on the side of my head and everything goes dark.
Chapter 17
Tanner
Stepping into Lori’s house, my heart stops. In the doorway is the woman herself with a bullet hole in the back of her head.
“Holy fuckin’ shit man. She’s dead,” Lex mutters from behind me.
“No shit and Alexis is missing,” I snarl, bending over and picking up my wife’s phone from the floor.
“Calm down, Tan,” Hunter commands as he pulls his phone out.
“Who are you callin’?” Chaz asks.
“Bishop.” I nod as he turns and steps outside.
“Might want to call Twister or Horse as well. Alexis said she was being followed by a biker, and it wasn’t one of them,” I say, glancing at Chaz who nods in agreement and pulls his own phone out.
Tossing Alexis’ phone in my hand, I take a look around the room as I play the last part of what I’d heard over the phone before I guess she’d dropped her phone.
Who the hell was Lori talking about?
Me?
No, it couldn’t be me. Besides, whoever it was is the one who shot her.
Hate to say it, but karma is one mean ass bitc
h and when she wants payback, she gets it with a vengeance. I’m not saying I wanted her dead. I just wanted her to stop fuckin’ with Alexis’ life and leave us alone.
I’d never want to see anyone dead but fuck, the bitch made my life miserable all because I chose Alexis over her.
“Bishop and Jackson are on the way,” Hunter calls out as he comes back into the room.
“Horse said they were on the way as well,” Chaz states.
Nodding I go back to looking around the room landing on a handful of pictures sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. Stopping on one picture I see a younger Lori standing with two older men and a guy who looks to be a few years or so older than us.
For some reason he looks familiar, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.
“Do you all know who this is?” I ask, picking up the picture to show the three of them.
Chaz takes the picture out of my hand to get a better view before shaking his head and passing the frame to Hunter. Who does the same and hands it to Lex. None of them know who the guy is.
“He looks familiar for some reason, but I don’t know him,” Lex states as he hands it back to me.
“Yeah I thought the same thing. I’m taking a guess as to whether one of these older men is Lori’s dad and the younger guy is either a brother or cousin,” I grumble, setting the frame back down before going back to look around.
Moving down the hall, I peek into one room and holy fuck what I find staring at me is something from one of those crime thriller Lifetime Movies that Alexis loves to watch. Pictures plastered against the walls covering every inch of them. Some of them are of Alexis but most of them are of me.
