White Heat (Lost Kings MC #5) (12 page)

“Can’t you stand to be away from him for five seconds,” I grumble at her.

“You want him giving your man ideas? No. You don’t. Trust me.”

Remembering what Rock told me he plans to put in our basement, I snicker. “Too late.”

“Sucks for you. Your ass doesn’t have as much padding as mine does,” she says while dropping my hand to run hers over her ass for emphasis.

“Oh, good grief.”

“What on earth were you two discussing that my wife felt compelled to rub her ass in public?” Damon asks when we reach the guys.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Mara snips back. She’s too slow to evade Damon’s grasp and ends up tucked tight to his side.

“I asked Damon about performing the ceremony at the property,” Rock says.

“Oh. Can you?”

“Yeah, absolutely. Any time you want.” He and Rock share a look and now I
am
wondering what they were talking about before we interrupted.

“Is that it?”

“We’ll talk about it later, babe,” Rock says, pulling me closer.

Trinity comes over and rests her forehead on my shoulder. “Heidi’s exhausting,” she whispers and I try not to laugh too loud.

She shakes her head and grins.

After I introduce her to Damon, he asks what she does. Trinity blinks a few times before Wrath, comes up behind us and answers for her. “She designs book covers. She’s very talented.”

“Oh. Interesting.” Damon peppers her with more questions, which Trinity nervously answers. I feel bad because I know how much she hates having the spotlight on her, but she
is
good at what she does. I glance at Wrath and smile, happy he seems to appreciate her and brags about her skill.

“She’s a fantastic photographer too,” I mention with a straight face.

Wrath glares at me.

“I dabble. Hope’s exaggerating.”

The rest of the afternoon goes pretty much the same. I’m happier than I remember being in a long time.

“What are you thinking about, Baby Doll?” Rock asks the next time we’re alone.

“How happy I am.” I wave my hand at the scene around us. “See everyone’s mixing nicely.”

“Yup. I take back anything I said otherwise.”

After everyone gorges themselves on Trinity’s amazing ice cream sandwiches, people start leaving. As Wrath predicted it’s just Lost Kings left. Well Lilly’s still here. Sitting in Z’s lap. Even the sight of them together fills me with joy.

As the sun sets, the guys get a small fire going in the patio fire pit.

I raise an eyebrow at Wrath and the corner of his mouth lifts, so I know he’s almost ready to present Trinity with her patch. 

I’m so happy I could burst.

Trinity left to go inside and clean up a while ago. “You ready?” I ask Wrath.

“Yeah. Just need to grab it. Can you two lure her out here?”

“Yup.” Hope whips out her cell phone and taps out a text to Trinity. Wrath and I both stare at her. “What? I don’t want to miss anything.”

Wrath grins and stalks off.

“As soon as that’s done. We need to go home,” I explain, as I gather Hope in my arms.

“What’s wrong?”

I press her tighter against me, so she can
feel
what’s wrong. “I’m so fucking hard for you it hurts.”

“Aw.” She snuggles and nuzzles against me, presses her lips against my neck and kisses her way to my ear. “Why don’t I take care of you before we leave, Mr. President?”

Fuck yes.

I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but she nips my earlobe, licks and kisses my neck. It’s almost dark, but there are still people all around us. Not that I plan to stop her.

“I can’t wait to be your wife. I love you so much,” she whispers in my ear, right before sliding her hand down over my dick. Rubbing back and forth, just enough to drive me nuts.

“Fuck,” I breathe out. My fingers inch toward the hem of her dress, touching her bare thighs. “Love you too, Hope.”

“I’ve got very tiny panties on, and they are very damp right now, Rochlan,” she murmurs against my lips.

What the fuck’s happening here?

Hope’s not usually this forward, so the fact that I’m already eager to fuck her and the way she’s rubbing herself against me, has me ready to blow in my jeans like a fuckin’ teenager.

“Rock!” Wrath breaks into our sex-crazed bubble. Hope laughs as she pulls away.

“What?” I snap.

“Cops pulled up out front.”

“What?”

All playfulness vanishes from Hope’s face. The fear in her eyes infuriates me the most.

“What’s wrong, Rock?” she asks.

“Nothing, babe. Neighbors probably complained about the noise or fire or something.”

I have to wait a few seconds before I can walk straight. “Stay here, Baby Doll.”

“Like hell.”

“At least until we know what’s going on.”

Thankfully, she listens. I stride down the driveway with Wrath and Bricks at my back. “What the fuck is it with cops crashing our parties?” I toss out as we walk down.

Then I stop. There are two state troopers along with a local Empire PD car blocking the driveway. This is much more than a simple noise complaint.

“Can I help you?” I call out.

“Rochlan North?”

Cold fear slices through me, but I answer with complete calm “Yeah.”

The fucker actually touches his weapon.

This is bad. Whatever this is, it’s
bad
.

“Hands where we can see them.”

“Why?”

“We’ve got a warrant for your arrest.”

Jesus Christ.

“For what?” Wrath snaps. His low deadly voice only triggers the cop to reach for his weapon again. “Don’t,” I mutter at Wrath. “Whatever it is. I’ll be fine.”

“Can I see it?” I keep my hands stretched out in as non-threatening a gesture as I can come up with, still hoping this is a mistake.

“You two need to step back,” the taller trooper says to Wrath and Bricks.

“Like fuck,” Bricks snaps. “You’re trespassing.”

“We have a warrant, asshole. Now shut the fuck up and step back.”

“Guys, it’s fine. Back up.” My heart’s hammering like crazy, but I don’t want to show any fear in front of the cops or my brothers. We’ve been through whatever this is before, we’ll get through it again. It’s New York State Troopers, not ATF or FBI, so our grow operation is probably fine.

I go over the list of crimes I’ve committed in the last few years, and it’s a surprisingly long one for an outlaw who keeps trying to live as close to the right side of the law as my world allows.

“Walk down a little farther, hands up, sir.”

Everything in me wants to tell them to fuck off. Thank fuck, the rational part of me is in control. Fighting this will only make it worse in the end. I’m maybe three feet away from them when the youngest-looking trooper lunges at me, tackling me to the ground. “I was doing what you asked,” I grunt out.

Most men, I suppose would be scared shitless. And I won’t lie, I’m unnerved. But above all else I’m
pissed
and
I’m worried about Hope.

As if she heard me, she comes running down the driveway. “Rock!? Oh my God. What’s going on?”

Shit.

“Are you at least going to let me see the warrant?” I ask with a civility I’m not really feeling at the moment.

The little fuck lifts himself off my back, only to slap cuffs on me. That’s when I panic. I can’t leave Hope unprotected. This is starting to feel like a set-up. Although we’ve had peace with the other clubs in the area, that last meeting I had with Ransom isn’t sitting well right now. They’ve never used police to do their dirty work before, but there’s a first time for everything. Even for that worthless crew. If I’m locked up, they might decide it’s a good time to come after her.

The officer cinches the cuffs tight around my wrists and I wince as he lifts me off the ground. There’s no hiding the pain of my skin mercilessly scraping against the unforgiving metal or the way my teeth rattle when he slams me up against the car.

“Go inside, Hope,” I gasp out. This is the last image I ever wanted in her head.

Of course she ignores me. “Officer, you’re mistaken. You can’t—”

“Miss, we have a warrant.” At least the tone they use with her is respectful.

“Let me see it.”

“What are you his lawyer?”

Even with my face mashed up against the cold metal of the trooper’s car, Hope’s in my line of sight. I should’ve known better. She won’t leave. No, instead my girl straightens up and nails the cops with her tough-girl, lawyer face. “I’m a lawyer, yes. I’m also his fiancée, and you’re interrupting our engagement party.”

The pig can’t meet her stare. “It’s all in here.” He hands over the warrant and Hope immediately flips through the pages. Right away I know it’s bad. “Jesus Christ,” she whispers. She sways backwards. Her eyes meet mine, wide and scared. The raw grief on her face cuts worse than the metal digging into my wrists.

“Don’t say anything, Rock,” she warns me as one of the cops starts reading me my rights. Some form of a smile pulls my mouth up. “I know.”

Christ, her big green eyes shining with terror are all I can see. “I can’t do this,” she says.

The way she’s struggling to stay calm even though horror is clearly written over her face, shreds my insides. “I know, Baby Doll. It’s okay. Call Glassman,” I reassure her as smoothly as possible.

Wrath moves in behind her, settling his hands on her shoulders. My brother nods as if he already knows the thought forming on my tongue. “Keep her safe,” I order anyway.

One of the officers pats me down. “Weapons?”

“No.”

He yanks my keys and cell phone out of my pocket and turns to Hope. “Miss, you want to take these?” One of the other officers steps between us, stopping her from getting too close, and hands over my stuff.

“Where are you taking him, officer?”

Piece of shit hesitates before answering. It’s not a complicated question. “You can’t ride with us, Miss.”

“No kidding,” Hope snaps. “He needs counsel present, and right now, that’s me.”

Absolutely fucking not.

Faced with the thought of her following me to the police station, I manage to find my presidential voice. “Take her home, Wrath.”

The cop at my back presses his hand against my shoulder blades. “Shut up.”

Hope, whips open my cell phone and takes a picture. “I know exactly what condition he left in, officers. He better arrive at the station the same way,” she warns before slipping my phone into her pocket. I both love and want to strangle her at the same time. Wrath wraps his hand around her arm. “Come on, Hope.”

She attempts to shake him off. “No. Where are you taking him?”

One of the other troopers rounds the car. “Barracks. You can meet us there.”

“Could you be more specific?” my courageous little spitfire snaps. Under any other circumstance, I might laugh at the way she’s so brazen with six armed officers.

They ignore her. Someone grips my arm and shoves me into the back seat.

As if I’d been watching this scene unfold from above, my body jolts and panic grips me. This is it. I struggle to draw in a breath. This is really happening.

“Take care of her. Do
not
let her out of your sight,” I choke out with a lot more calm than I’m feeling inside. Wrath nods and pulls my girl back. Those are the last words I’m able to get out before the door slams in my face. No chance to reassure Hope. Tell her how fucking much I love her. Beg her to go home and do what Wrath asks her to do so I know she’s safe.

I have to twist to see out the window. Catch sight of her as she falls back against Wrath and he holds her up. “It’s gonna be okay, baby. You’ll be okay,” I whisper to myself.

Trinity and Z form a circle around her. I’m absolutely gutted leaving her this way. The pain in my arms and shoulders is nothing compared to the wrenching in my chest.

My eyes close and I struggle to take deep breaths. She’ll be taken care of. The brotherhood we’ve worked so hard to create is solid. She won’t be alone. I have to assure myself she’s taken care of before I can even deal with the bullshit I’m about to drown in.

Fuck.
Even though I trust every one of my brothers, cold sweat and fear crawl over my skin. Whatever this nightmare I’ve walked into turns out to be, it means I’m leaving my girl alone.

In an instant my life’s been ripped out of my control. Hope’s become the most precious thing in my life and now I have to trust her safety to others.

CHAPTER EIGHT