"Thanks, brother,” I tell him. Between Prez’s woman, Lynx, and the other two friends she’s familiar with from the auction house, I’m hoping my angel won’t be too anxious.
The church room at the clubhouse is thick with smoke and the low hum of dangerous men when I walk in. I don't wait for an invite. I slam my hand down on the table, silencing the room.
"Vance is the fucking kingpin behind this entire thing,” I say forcefully. “And he’s fucking missing?”
Prez stands up, his eyes turning into flint. "Take it down a notch,” he grunts. I glare at him, knowing it’s disrespectful, buttoo amped up to stop. He was this crazy about his woman, Lynx, so part of me knows he understands.
"It’s hard to chill when we’ve lost contact with the evil bastard who’s been supplying the Sons of Destruction with a lot of their 'inventory.' He’s the head of the snake, Prez. If we cut him off, the whole operation collapses."
“Got him!” Shadow shouts from the back of the room. His face is inches from his phone screen. “He just drove up to the mansion the auction was held at. It looks like he’s throwing a garden party to distract from the mess they’re still cleaning up on the inside. Lots of Sons of Destruction members, too, mostly on clean-up duty.”
“The contracts,” I mutter.
“Speak up, what are you talking about?” Prez snaps at me.
“He’s going back for the contracts. Ledgers. Transactions. We have to get to him.”
"It’s a suicide mission, Rogue," Shadow says, though he’s already checking the magazine of his sidearm. "Hitting a guy like that... the fallout will be nuclear."
"Then let it be nuclear," I growl. "He tried to take what was mine. He’s the one ultimately responsible for putting Lynx, Mika, Athena, and my Melodie in danger. We should all want him dead." I lean over the table, my voice dropping to a dangerous, vibrating register. "I’m going to rip his world apart piece by piece until there’s nothing left but him and me in a room. And then I'm going to show him what happens when you mess with a Wicked Rider. I’m sure a few men in here would like the opportunity to face the monsters who threatened their women, too."
Prez looks around the room, gauging the temperature of the brothers. One by one, they nod. We aren't just a motorcycle club. We’re a family. And this family has been threatened for the last time.
"Load up," Prez commands, his voice like grinding stones. "But we don't move tonight. If Vance is as connected as Melodie says, he’ll have his guard up high right now while the party is going on. No, we’ll hit him and the Sons tomorrow at dawn, when they’re tired, complacent, and thinking they got away with it. Shadow, I want a floor plan of his estate by midnight. Rogue, you lead the vanguard."
I nod, my jaw tight. The delay chafes, every instinct screaming at me to huntnow, but Prez is right. A sloppy hit gets brothers killed. A calculated one gets the job done.
"I’m going back to her," I say, not asking for permission.
"Go," Prez says, his expression softening just a fraction. "Keep your eyes open, brother. If Vance knows she’s with you, he might not wait for dawn."
The ride back to the house is a blur of dark asphalt and moonlight. My heart doesn't stop thundering against my ribs until I pull into my driveway and see the lights on in the kitchen. Mika’s car is parked across the entrance like a barricade, and I see a silhouette pass by the window.
I kill the engine and stride to the porch, my boots heavy on the wood. I don't even have my key out before the door swings open. Melodie is there, wrapped in a blanket that looks twice as big as she is. Her eyes search mine, looking for blood, looking for an ending.
"You're back," she breathes, the tension leaving her shoulders in one long, shaky exhale.
"I'm back," I growl, stepping inside and pulling her into my chest before the door is even shut. I bury my face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the scent of her - soap, paper, and the faint, sweet smell that is justher. "I'm not going anywhere tonight, angel. I'm right here."
I nod my thanks at the women who stood guard at my house tonight, then scoop my Melodie up, blanket and all, and head forthe bedroom. The war starts tomorrow. But tonight, there is only us.
I set Melodie down in front of my bed right as the lock for the front door clicks, indicating we’re alone again. My lips find hers, our hands grabbing and exploring each others’ bodies with a heated fervor.
“What do you need, angel?” I whisper against her neck before kissing her there. “I can hold you. Kiss you. Taste you. Or…”
“Or…?” Her voice is husky with desire as she slips her hands under my shirt and drags her nails across my abs.
“Or I can show you how much you mean to me, how much pleasure your curvy little body can handle. I can claim you, sweet girl, as much as you already claim me. Would you like that?”
“Yes,” she hisses, tugging at my clothes.
“As much as I love your enthusiasm, beautiful, I need to know you’re okay with this. With us. You’ve been through so many horrific things–”
“And now I want to experience something pure and perfect,” she says, cutting me off.
I smile against her lips and kiss her again. Carefully, reverently, I slip the straps of her dress off her shoulders and watch the fabric pool at her feet. I lean down and kiss her neck again while reaching for the clip in her hair. My beautiful girl is standing before me completely naked, her red silky hair hanging over her shoulders.
“Turn around for me,” I purr. She hesitates for a second, but then slowly she spins around, showing off her breathtaking body. I don’t even think she realizes how seductive she’s being, which makes me want her all the more.
