Defying Destiny (Forsaken Sinners MC Series Book 3) (14 page)

Jax was an old friend of Dani’s from high school. They lost touch after everything that happened to her and she fled her hometown after graduation. From what I heard, he showed up at the shop a couple years ago looking for a tattoo and stumbled across Dani. After that, he just stuck around, prospected for the club, and is now a full member. I haven’t spent a lot of time with him, so I wouldn’t know if he’s different or not, but I trust Dani. She would know and if she thinks there’s something wrong, there probably is.

“Have you talked to him about it?” I ask, even though it’s probably a stupid question. I heard her tell Blaze that he won’t talk to her, but maybe she just meant that he
wouldn’t
talk to her, not that she’s
tried
and he won’t.

She shakes her head. “Yeah, numerous times, actually. And every time I ask, he gets pissed off and says he’s fine before stomping off to either the closest club whore or a bottle of whiskey.”

“What about his behavior is off? I mean, what makes you think something’s wrong?” I’m trying to help, but I can see the irritation in Dani’s eyes and I don’t want to piss her off. “I’m sorry. Never mind. It’s not really my business.” I turn toward the door, but Dani stops me.

“Harlow, wait. I’m not mad at you for asking, I’m just mad at this whole fucking situation.” I turn back to look at her and now the angry pacing that I was waiting for before starts. “But no one knows him the way I do. After Zane left for college, Jax and I got real close. He was like a brother and best friend all mixed into one. So when I say something isn’t right, it’s not just a stupid feeling or me being needy or whatever. It’s because I know him and he’s not right. Ever since he became a member, he’s been off and I can’t figure out why.”

She’s getting really upset now and I don’t know what she’ll do if she blows her top, so I try a different tactic. It will get her talking, hopefully lighten her mood, but it will also give me some insight as well. “I don’t know him that well. I don’t even think I’ve said more than ten words to him since I’ve been back because I didn’t know him from before I left.” I move toward the chair in front of her desk and take a seat, hoping she follow suit. “What was he like before he got patched in?”

Laughing, she walks back over to her chair and sits. “He was annoying, that’s what he was. He always thought he had the answer to everything, and most times that answer was a party or getting drunk.” We both laugh at that, then she’s somber. “But he was also always there for me and never let me down. He cared about me and never let me forget it. I could always count on him for a smile or a shoulder to cry on.”

I think about how she describes him and just from her words, I can tell they have an amazing friendship. I know why she’s so upset over thinking there’s something wrong with him. He’s always been there for her, she just wants to be there for him.

“And now, he never smiles and barely talks. He’s always angry and drunk. And from the blackness under his eyes, I can tell he’s not sleeping. Something is
wrong
, Harlow. I just wish he’d talk to me about it. Let me be the shoulder for him like he always was for me.” It must all finally be too much because she drops her head into her hands and starts to cry.

I make my way toward her and take her into my arms. “Shhh. It’s okay. We’ll figure it out, I promise.”

Chapter 13

Louie

I hear a phone ringing off in the distance, but I don’t want to wake up yet. I just want to lie here with Harlow all day and shut out the world. Last night was amazing and earlier this morning was even better. Not just because she gave me the best blowjob I think any man has ever gotten in the history of all mankind. Okay, well, that’s not the
only
reason. But I felt like we really connected. Like she gave over a vital part of herself to me and me to her.

The phone goes silent, which makes me smile. Now I can go back to sleep with Harlow in my arms.

Reaching over to pull Harlow toward me because I need her closer, I realize that she’s not even in bed. Snapping my eyes open, I see that it’s probably about mid-day and that I’m alone inside the apartment. I don’t see her in the bedroom and I don’t hear her in the bathroom or kitchen.

Jumping out of bed, I rush toward my phone. The first thing I notice is that it’s almost four in the afternoon. Way later than I originally thought.
Fuck
! I’m late for work. How did I sleep this long? I never sleep more than a few hours at a time, even when I’ve been up for days on end and tired as hell.

Picking up my pants that are still lying haphazardly on the floor where I threw them last night, I yank them on and pull my shirt on over my head. I don’t even bother buttoning my pants before I’m out the door and heading down to the shop. I’m late and I know I need to get down there, but that’s not what has a fire lit under my ass. It’s because I know Harlow will be there and I need to put eyes on her. I fucking hate that I woke up without her next to me—without hearing her voice or feeling her body close to mine.

Pulling the door open harder than I probably needed to, it bangs against the wall, but I couldn’t care less.

I head right toward the front of the shop because that’s where I’ll most likely find Harlow, but Dani stops me before I make it that far.

“Whoa, where’s the fire, cowboy?” she says teasingly, but it’s lacking her normal attitude. Hm, I wonder what’s going on with her?

“Where’s Harlow?” I ask, deciding to not get into what’s got her looking down. I’ll save that for another time, but right now, I need to see my girl.

“Of course you’re here for Harlow. What was I
thinking
assuming that you were just hurrying because you were late for work?” This time her usual playfulness is present in her tone and eyes.

Ignoring her comment, I continue on toward the front room where Harlow should be and she doesn’t disappoint.

But it’s not just her that I see. There’s a huge vase filled with dozens upon dozens of flowers. I don’t know for sure if they are hers, but why else would they be on her desk? If Blaze had sent flowers to Dani, she would have them either in her office or at her station. And if Toby sent Sara flowers, which he’s more apt to send them than Blaze, I doubt they would be sitting here when Sara is not.

Harlow looks up a few seconds later with a smile on her face, but it falters quickly. My face must speak of my confusion and quite honestly, my rage. But before she can ask me what’s wrong or for me to question her about the flowers, my phone starts to vibrate in my pocket.

“What?” I ask, irritated by the interruption. I want to get to the bottom of who sent those fucking flowers to my fucking woman.

“Watch your tone, boy.” Mack.
Shit
. “I’m calling church. Be here in ten,” he says, then hangs up before I can say anything.

Hanging up the phone, I look at Harlow once more, then turn on my heels and run right into Dani.

“Now where you off to?” she asks.

“Mack called church. I gotta go. Have Harlow reschedule my appointments.” I don’t wait for her to comment and I don’t look back to address Harlow herself. I just head out of the shop and jump on my bike.

Ten minutes later, I’m sitting around the table with the rest of my brothers, but I’m finding it hard to focus on what could be going on that we were all called here out of the blue. We hold weekly meetings, but we haven’t been called to an impromptu meeting for a while now. It must be something big for him send for all of us. Even the prospects are here. Of course, they’re not allowed in this room, so they’re out in the bar, but they’ll get filled in after, I’m sure.

Once everyone is seated, Mack gets right to the point. “I got word today that The Street Kings have reinforcements. About five of their brothers from an out-of-town chapter showed up a few days ago. I don’t know why they’re here, but we need to find out. I don’t want to be surprised by anything. If they are readying for something, I want to know about it. I want round the clock supervision on them and we need everyone here on alert. If this is going to turn ugly, I don’t want to be caught with my pants down.”

He looks around the room, making sure we are all taking this seriously and are all on point. As soon as he mentioned The Street Kings, all my rage from the flowers and Harlow got directed toward them. If they are up to something or trying to fuck with us, they’re going to be sorry.

“Any questions?” Mack asks, but no one questions him or his sources. “Louie, Blaze, Toby, and Tom Tom. My office to discuss strategy. Slayer, Jax, Tyke. I want you to take point with the rest of the brothers. I want at least three brothers close to them at all times. Keep tabs on their comings and goings. Report back to me with any sign of suspicion or trouble.” He slams the gavel down hard on the table.

Everyone dispenses, knowing what they have to do and what needs to be done.

I follow Mack, Blaze, Toby, and Tom Tom into Mack’s office. Since I’m the last one in, I close the door behind me, then lean up against it with my arms crossed.

“What’s your feelings on this? You think they’re preparing to go to war with us or are they just bringing brothers in for the fuck of it?” Toby is the first to ask a question.

Mack sits down behind his desk and steeples his fingers in front of his mouth, thinking.

“I honestly have no idea what to think of this, and that’s what worries me. I am completely in the dark on this one. When we got word that they first moved in, we heard all kinds of rumors and stories of their reputation. But we kept a close eye on them sonsabitches for a year and we saw
nothing
. We pulled back a bit, still watching, but
still
, we see nothing. Now, they’re bringing more fuckers in? For what?” he asks, but it’s a rhetorical question. He’s thinking out loud while the rest of us are thinking the same thing in our heads.

“Could it just be a celebration?” Tom Tom asks, but he doesn’t sound like he even believes it himself.

“For what? And why now? It just doesn’t make sense.” Blaze is the one to answer, but Mack nods in agreement.

“What have their business dealings been? Maybe something big is going down but it has nothing to do with us.” This comes from Tom Tom again.

We each think that over, but that still doesn’t sound right. “Nah, it’s something else.” This time, I’m the one to answer. “Mack’s right, we need to keep a closer eye on them. Until we know more, there’s no telling what they’re up to.”

“Make sure the girls are protected at all costs. I don’t want any of this spilling over to them. Not this time. They’ve each been through too much,” Mack says to Toby, Blaze, and myself. I’ve let them in on what happened with Harlow, and even though she hasn’t been hurt or brought into anything because of the club, I’m glad they feel like she needs protection as well. She’s one of us no matter how deep she’s in.

“No fucking problem,” Toby says.

“Maybe we should get the girls outta town this time. Send a prospect with them and have all three of ’em go to one of our safe houses with the kids.” This comes from Blaze. He’s being levelheaded right now, but I can see the fire in his eyes. If Dani doesn’t agree to go willingly, he’ll haul her ass somewhere out of the way kickin’ and screamin’. She’s been involved in the last few threats we’ve had, and been hurt every time in some way.

“I think that’s a great idea, but will she go for it?” Mack asks.

Everyone is quiet, thinking about the way Dani would react. Everything is so up in the air with her most times, we never know if she’s going to be reasonable or not. But this time, I think she will. I hate that I won’t have Harlow here and be able to protect her if need be, but I know she’ll be safer this way.

“She has the kids now. I think she’ll be agreeable if we approach it the right way. And with the other girls going, she’ll go no problem,” I say.

Blaze looks at me, trying to read if I really believe that or not. And I do. “You’re right. Maybe you should be the one to broach the subject.”

I want to joke and give him shit that he’s scared of his woman and too pussy to tell her himself, but I think he’s right. I might be the best person to lay it all out there without sugarcoating it, but to also get her to see that it’s the best option.

“All right man. I gotta get back to the shop anyway. I’ll talk to her then.”

Slapping me on the back, he says, “Thanks, brother.”

I take my time getting back to the shop. As much as I want to focus on Harlow and the flowers, I can’t because getting Dani on board is going to be tricky. I’m going to have to word what I say just right to get her to agree. And once I have her in agreement, the other girls will have no choice but to go along with her.

I park my bike and take a deep breath. Ready or not, this is going to happen. I only hope that it turns out the way we need it to. The girls
have
to be safe. The kids
need
to be safe. We need to know they are taken care of so we can focus on what is important here and that’s getting to the bottom of what The Street Kings have planned and if it involves us.

I spot Dani first, but Harlow comes around the corner seconds later. Ignoring her, I grab Dani’s hand and start to pull her toward her office. “What the fuck, Louie?”

Probably not the best way to get her alone so I can talk to her, but oh well.

As soon as we’re in her office, I close the door on a confused Harlow.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Dani asks, arms crossed.

I don’t answer, still trying to get my words straight in my head. “I’m sorry, but I needed to talk to you alone.” It’s the only thing that comes to mind off hand.

Still standing with her arms crossed, she levels a glare at me. “All right. Well, you got me alone. Now care to share what the fuck is going on?”

What the fuck was I thinking? There’s no easy way to tell her this or get her to agree to it, so I mind as well just spit it out and deal with it. Whether she likes it or not, she’s going to the safe house.

“There’s something brewing. We don’t know what it is or what it means, but it could get bloody. You need to go home, pack up some clothes for you and the kids, and get out of town. We’re going to have a prospect go with you, the twins, and the girls to a safe house. Until we can figure this out, it will be the safest place for you all.” There. Just like that it’s done. Now I just wait for the yelling or her to start throwing shit. Then I’ll break it down further for her. Anything to make sure she gets what’s at stake here.

But she doesn’t do either of those things. She doesn’t yell and she doesn’t throw shit. She’s not even looking at me like she wants to set me on fire.

“Did you hear me, Dani? You need to leave. It’s not safe for you here.” How can I make it clearer? I don’t want to have to tell her all the ways she and the twins could be hurt, or worse, but I will if that’s what it will take to get her to leave.

She finally answers. “I heard you.” That’s all she says. She doesn’t agree with me, tell me she’ll go, or tell me that I’m out of my mind.
Nothing
.

“You heard me? And you aren’t going to argue?” It’s crazy how much both she and Blaze have changed since the twins were born. I honestly can’t tell if I like it or not, but right now, I think it’s the latter. At least when she was bitching and fighting us tooth and nail, I knew what she was thinking. But now? I have no fucking clue.

“Yes, I heard you. And no, I’m not going to argue. You’re right. If something is going down, I need to get EJ and Harley and take them someplace safe,” she says, which has me speechless. That was easy. Almost
too
easy.

“But…?” I start, waiting for her to drop the bomb that has to be there.

“But nothing. Am I upset? Yes. Do I want to leave? No. But it’s the right thing to do. I know that you’re waiting for me to argue, but I’m not going to. Those kids are the most important thing to me. If this is what I need to do to keep them safe, then so be it.”

Letting out the breath I was holding, I finally start to relax. I was ready to fight with her, but now that I know that’s not going to happen, I’m relieved. I hate fighting with Dani and demanding her to do things. She such a strong person and I always want her to be in control, but in times like this, we don’t have a choice.

I close the distance between us and take her in my arms. “Good. I’m glad you agree,” I say quietly into her hair.