He looked over at me, his gaze steady. “I’m not worried because I’m gonna teach him how to handle himself.”
“You mean how to fight?” I demanded. “He’s only seven! And I don’t want him solving problems with his fists.”
“We’re not raisin’ a bully here, baby. We’re raising a kid who’s had it rough. We can shield him at home but he has to fight some of his own battles. The earlier he makes it clear he’s not to be fucked with, the better. He needs to learn how to handle himself,” he reiterated. “In the meantime, I told him that if anyone fucked with him to tell them his pop is Cal Jackson.”
Dammit. Those words made it virtually impossible to stay angry. “I bet he liked that,” I murmured.
He nodded. “He did. Now what the hell are you doin’ all the way over there?” he demanded, spreading his legs and indicating I should stand between them.
I did as he asked, pressing in between his muscular thighs, my palms pressed to his chest. “Is that why you’ve been so tense tonight?” I murmured. “Because Max was being picked on?”
“Didn’t realize I seemed tense. We’ve done enough talking anyway.” He looked at me with his gaze half-mast and his voice deepened. “What I want now is you to get on your knees for me.”
His quiet command had heat rushing between my legs as I dropped to my knees.
That weight bench got a hell of a workout.
Chapter 27
The heat confirmed summer was just around the corner as I headed to the club to pick up the ribs Scarlet had made before heading over to Pipe and Ry’s. It was the night before their wedding and we were in full celebratory mode. I’d picked Mason up from day care and Cal had already picked up Max and Emmie. Em had a few sniffles so we’d kept her out of day care for the day. We’d been spending more and more time at the club. I was learning to embrace my role as the Prez’s old lady.
The last few weeks had been some of the best of my life. Mason and I had officially moved in to our new home. The kids were settling in remarkably fast. Max was doing better in school and before I knew it, summer vacation would be upon us.
Even the oppressive heat couldn’t detract from my joy. I was loving days spent by the pool watching Cal play like one of the kids in the water and nights spent wrapped up in my man. We were building a family together and it was beautiful.
Tag’s motorcycle revved ahead, leading us to the exit that would take us to the club. The Knights had maintained their vigilance as the hunt for Tim continued.
The road stretched out in front of us as Mason babbled in the backseat. When an SUV came barreling onto the road seemingly from nowhere, my heart rate immediately spiked. It hadn’t been behind me, that much I knew, which made it likely that whoever it was had been lying in wait for us.
The realization sent ice down my spine.
The SUV sided up aggressively to the driver side of my car, forcing me to crank the wheel to the right to avoid a collision.
I bit my lip hard against the shriek that nearly escaped. I didn’t want to scare Mason despite it being obvious that there was something to be very much afraid of.
Tag banked his bike hard, his expression full of rage as he headed straight for us.
The SUV sided up to my car once again, this time making contact with the left front bumper. The impact sent my car into a spin.
Gunfire erupted in the air as I fought to gain control of the car.
Mason had started to wail. The thought of him afraid and in danger had me gripping the steering wheel with renewed focus. I didn’t have time to be afraid. I had to protect him. I’d do that with my life if need be.
In a heartbeat.
My car righted itself, now facing the opposite direction on the road. I pressed my foot to the gas, ready to gun the engine, but another shot tore through the air. The car immediately swerved, careening out of control and hitting the guardrail at the side of the road.
They’d blown out one of the tires.
My heart hammered in my chest as I dove from the driver seat, determined to get to Mason. A man I’d never seen before was already there. He grabbed my arm roughly, towing me from the vehicle.
My only moment of relief came as Tag raced to stand in front of Mason’s door, guarding it like a fierce warrior, a gun pointed at a second man who seemed determined to get to Mason.
“I will fucking shoot you if you come one step closer.” Tag glowered.
The second man raised his gun as well. His arm shook and I took in his bloodshot eyes and bedraggled appearance. The man who held my arm began dragging me bodily to the waiting SUV. I struggled against him until I felt the cold press of steel against my temple.
I sucked in a ragged breath as sheer terror shot through me.
