I pull back and look at him. “I hope when you catch him you make it hurt.” That might be wrong, but anyone who hurts babies is the lowest scum of the earth and deserves everything that comes to them.
Joker looks down at me and smiles. “You got it. Come on, I came up to tell you Bailey was ready but got distracted by you strapping a gun to yourself, which I find extremely sexy, by the way. Maybe later we can roleplay. What do you say?” He grabs my hands, kissing the back of my knuckles while wiggling his eyebrows up and down, looking absolutely ridiculous, making me laugh.
“You’re crazy, Joker.” My face flushes at his comment. I swear this man is going to keep me on my toes. I walk out of his arms and grab my leather jacket from the closet, wanting to conceal my weapon from Bailey. As I walk out of the closet, I grab my bag and head down the stairs with Joker following close behind me. Let’s just pray nothing happens while heading to the compound because this bad feeling I have isn’t going away, but I’m going to do everything in my power to protect Bailey come hell or high water.
Five
Joker
I watch Madison walk down the stairs, well more specifically her ass in those damn jeans she’s insisting on wearing that mold to her every curve. Hell, watching her in her closet strapping herself with a gun really did it for me. She’s so fuckin beautiful that it hurts sometimes to look at her. She’s grace, beauty, fucking smart as hell, and protective of those she cares about. As soon as she said she was willing to give me a chance finally, I about dropped down to my knees. I want her to see the real me, not the joker everyone gets to see. We reach the bottom, and she walks to the front door, putting on her knee-high bootsand slipping her purse over her head before turning to me with that fuckin smile on her face that hits me right in the chest.
She has no idea that her smile has gotten me through some tough times in my life. All I have to do is picture it, and it makes the darkness go away. I lost my sister to a drunk driver while I was in high school, and it was as if I died right along with her. It took me years to get back to the person I had been before, and even then, I’m still not the same. So when we caught Bailey in the bakery, it caught me off guard because she was the same age as my sister. Hell, they have the same name, Bailey Grace. I couldn’t save my sister when she needed her big brother the most, but I will be damned if I let anything happen to Bailey now. When I get my hands on the stepfather, he’s going to wish he was never born. I may be the jokester of the group, but the darkness swirling inside me is just waiting to be let out.
I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here, but it was enough time for everyone to come back ready to head out with bags in their hands. The dogs follow with Bailey in the middle, ready to protect her.
“Okay, so the prospects are taking the dogs in the first truck with all the bags. I also sent them out earlier to pick up supplies for the house, so we should be okay for a bit. Let’s head out.” I walk out first, with Bailey and Madison in the middle with the dogs, and Hawk in the back. The prospects have pulled up the trucks as close to the door as they can, and we usher them in the back and close the door.
The prospects load the dogs into the other truck along with the bags. I search the neighborhood. Hawk turns to me. “Do you think we will have any trouble from this fucker?”
“If he knows what’s good for him, he will leave town and forget he even knew Bailey.” I get in the passenger's side while Hawk drives. I turn in my seat to look at Madison and Bailey, putting a smile on myface. “Are you ladies ready to go?” Bailey nods her head before looking out the window, deep in thought. I’m sure all of this is confusing for her. Madison gives me a small smile, nodding her head, and we pull out of the driveway with the prospects in front of us.
Everyone is quite lost in their own thoughts as we head to the compound. I'm hyper focused and ready for anything. Ten minutes into the drive, I notice a black SUV following us at a distance, and I know the moment Hawk sees it as he speeds up.
Madison notices something wrong as she sits up straighter, as the SUV speeds up and pulls up beside us. He tries to slam into us, making Hawk swerve and Bailey to scream. I pull out my gun, getting pissed off. I turn to the back seat. “Bailey, I want you to get on the floor and cover your ears. Can you do that for me?” I send a quick message to Blade telling him we are coming in hot. If I have to shoot someone, I'd rather she not see what I’m doing. She nods her head in fear as Madison helps her onto the floor, and I see Madison take off her jacket, covering her head with it.
“Madison, I’d ask you to get down as well, but I know you won’t.” I watch as she pulls her gun out and takes the safety off. It’s taking everything in me not to protest. It's my job to protect her, but I don’t think she would appreciate that right now.
She rolls down her window all the way. “You're damn right I won’t.” I watch as she sticks her damn head out the window.
“Fuck, Madison, get your ass back in the truck. Hawk, keep it steady.” I’m spanking her ass when we get back to my place for putting herself in danger like that.
“What the hell is she doing?” Hawk steadies the truck, looking in the rearview mirror.
“Giving me fucking gray hair is what she’s doing.” I turn my head in time to see Madison fire a bullet right through the front windshield,hitting Leo in the shoulder, making him slam on his brakes. As soon as she fires, Bailey screams again, breaking my heart. Madison takes it one step further and shoots out a damn tire, slowing him down. She comes back inside looking calm as hell, and that’s when Hawk floors it to the compound. She secures her gun and looks back at me and fuckin smiles as if she’s having the time of her life. Here I am, trying not to explode. I've never been so scared in my life.
Hawk looks in the mirror, looking back at her in shock. “Damn, Mads, remind me never to piss you off.”
Bailey’s cries seem to break Madison out of her stare down with me, and she removes her jacket. “It’s okay, Bailey, he's gone.” Madison helps Bailey from the floor and cradles her in her arms as she cries, whispering to her she’s safe.
We pull up at the clubhouse to see everyone standing with guns ready. We pull in, and as soon as the back tire is in, the gate slams shut. Bailey sits up and wipes her eyes as Madison slips on her jacket again before opening the door and helping her out. The prospects let the dogs out, and they race towards Bailey and Madison.
Blade steps forward, looking right at me. “What the hell happened? Is everyone okay?”
“We're good, but let’s take this inside. I just need a moment with Madison first. Bailey, why don’t you go in with Hawk and we will be inside in a moment, okay?” She grabs Hawk's hand, and everyone follows her, including the dogs. I watch the last person walk inside before I turn towards her.
“Joker, I know you're mad.”
I start to pace the lot. “I’m not mad, Madison. When you decided to hang out the damn window and start shooting without assessing the threat, I was fucking terrified. It’s my job to protect you, and here you are leaning out the window and shooting like you're Annie Oakley.” Iwalk towards her and pull her into my arms, needing to feel her body against mine, knowing she’s safe.
“I’m sorry for scaring you, Joker, but I’m not sorry for wanting to protect Bailey.”
“I know, angel, and that’s one of the things I love about you, but please, no more leaning out of windows. I can’t have anything happen to you.” I feel her body stiffen as soon as I said the word love, but, fuck it, she’s just gonna have to get used to it because she’s it for me. I’ve just been waiting for her to catch up to me. I pull back and tilt her chin up so she’s looking at me. “Please.”
She looks at me. I mean, really looks at me and gives me a small smile. “Okay, Joker, I promise I won’t put myself in danger like that again.”
My body relaxes, knowing that for now she’s safe. I lean down and kiss her forehead, letting my lips linger. I want to do a hell of a lot more, but they are waiting for us. “Let’s head inside and see everyone. The sooner we can get this shit sorted, the faster we can get Bailey settled at my house.” I grab her hand in mine and head inside, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness and see everyone here, including the woman, and can see Bailey sitting with them as they show her everything they bought for her, making me smile. This right here is what family is.
We walk over to the guys to see them all looking at Madison in shock, and I know Hawk told them what went down. Hell, no doubt Crow hacked into someone's security and got a video of it already. “Why are you all looking at me like that?” She scrunches up her nose, looking cute as hell.
