“I’ll be right down,” I tell him with a sigh.
When I stand from the bed, I glance down at Natalie’s sleeping form. She’s fucking pretty even in her sleep; it pisses me offbecause the woman already has too much power over me. I hate to leave her, but I need to deal with it before we can truly move forward in our life. I shove my legs through a pair of jeans and grab a hoodie before tracking to my father’s study. A scoff falls from my lips when it opens with the code of Natalie’s birthday. It helps me in this situation, but the reminder of their past grates on me. I grab the gun from one of the shelves and double-check the chamber is good before putting it into the waistband at my back.
The night is cold as I walk down the driveway, the cast of their motorcycle lights leading my way until I’m a few feet from the gate. Security moves to my side as I stare at the men who I used to consider my friends. As soon as I’m visible to them, their shouts quiet, tension thickening the air.
“Left your cut, and a lousy five grand. Nothing to say?” Davie sneers.
I crack my neck side to side, then shrug. “All I had to offer. Money isn’t mine.”
“So you’re shacking up with your stepmom like a little bitch.”
My eyes narrow at him. “Shut the fuck up. You have no clue about anything.”
“I know we helped you out, and you’re leaving us high and dry,” Davie says. His hand slams against the gate, metal ringing into the dark night.
The guard at my side stiffens, and I shake my head.
“You guys saw a paycheck. I had to work for everything you offered, and I was grateful for the opportunity. It’s why I left what I had, but I don’t owe you anything else.” It took me amoment to realize that myself. My gratitude felt heavy for a while before I realized I didn’t owe them more than what I had already paid in. The apartment I had, the rent was gouged from my check, plus whatever they took to help support the club. At the time, it felt great to be a part of the community, but the way they were only concerned about my inheritance was the wake-up call I needed.
“We’re not leaving until you give us what we’re owed.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Like I said, I don’t owe you shit. The five grand should have been more than enough, but you can’t help but be greedy bastards.”
Davie steps toward the gate again, baring his teeth. “You get us the money, or I’ll pay that bitch of yours a visit.”
There it is. I can't hold back the smile on my face. I knew he would eventually resort to what he knows best. Threats.
“You get that?” I ask the security guard.
He nods. “Yes, sir. He’s threatened bodily harm to Mrs. Dansworth.”
I walk up to the gate, pulling out the gun and cocking. He doesn’t register what’s resting against his forehead until he feels the touch of the metal.
“Wanna say that again?” I purr.
Davie swallows, and takes a step back. “Three years, and that’s how you wanna leave it?”
I shrug. “It took me a while to reason why y’all kept me around when I don’t drink, smoke, or fuck around with the women much. It’s because y’all wanted my money so badly. So yeah,fuck you and the club. This is how we’re gonna leave it.” I flip the safety back on and shove the gun back into my jeans. “Come around here again, I’ll authorize my men to shoot on sight. Then you’ll realize the power of money means your bodies won’t be found, police won’t investigate. It will be like y’all never existed.”
His eyes burn into mine, and we stare at each other for another moment. Davie breaks first, shaking his head and moving back to his bike.
“When that bitch kicks you out, don’t think of coming back around or we’ll treat you with the same courtesy. We don’t have money, but we got pigs.”
We watch them drive away before I turn back to the guard.
“That wasn't an empty threat. Any of those men or men wearing cuts of the club—shoot them."
He nods. “I got it, sir.”
I walk back to the house, some of the adrenaline draining and the exhaustion creeping back in. I hate the feeling of carrying a gun on me, but I’m thankful my dad taught me a long time ago where to access one if needed. When I get back inside, I put it back in its place and then stop short at the empty bed when I return to her room. My heart picks up in fear. Was the gate a distraction? I was a fool to leave her in here alone. The sound of a toilet flushing fills me with so much relief that I stagger against the doorframe. Fuck. It was only a few seconds, but the terror that coursed through me is going to keep me up a lot longer.
“What happened?” she asks, coming from the bathroom. Her hand is rubbing her belly, and I watch her with a smile. It’s still so surreal to know she’s growing my baby.
I pull her into my arms, squeezing her ass before kneeling to kiss her bump. “Just had to tie up some loose ends.”
“The club?”
I nod, pressing another kiss. I would have hated to put a bullet in his head, but I’d do anything to protect Natalie and our child.
