Bear
It took Cordelia another two days to get back on her feet, which gave Surge the time he needed to handle their previous school records, vital records, and anything else that needed to be changed. The girls were now officially Cordelia and Piper Dupont, and if anyone went digging, they’d see Faith and I were married. All I had left to deal with was getting the girls into school, finding something reliable for Piper to drive, and figuring out what the fuck was going on with Spade and the Raging Demons.
It had been quiet since my new family arrived. Too quiet for that matter. I knew there was no fucking way that man would let them walk out on him and not want to retaliate in some way. So why hadn’t he made a move? Even if he hadn’t found them yet, Surge would have noticed some movement, wouldn’t he? I’d asked him to look into things. Virtually spy on the Raging Demons, and Spade in particular.
My phone chimed with a text and I checked it. Church in ten.
It would be my first time attending since claiming Faith and the girls. Since Fox hadn’t given me a heads-up, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Did he just want to make things official for my new family? Or was something else going on?
Cordelia and Piper were in the backyard, along with Zoe and Luka. I knew Piper probably wanted to meet people her age, but I was grateful Cordy would have some friends when she started school. Since it was Saturday, I wouldn’t be able to enroll her for a few more days. Until then, I’d invited the kids to stop by whenever they wanted, in hopes she’d make some friends.
I found Faith in the kitchen, baking cookies. My mouth watered at the scent in the air, and I had a feeling she’d be fattening me up like Santa in no time. I might not be quite as fit as I once was, but I still kept in shape. Or I had.
I walked up behind her and placed my hands on her hips. Leaning in, I kissed the side of her neck. “You and the girls going to be okay for a little while?”
“Are you leaving?”
“Fox called Church. Not sure how long I’ll be gone. I’d prefer it if you didn’t leave the compound without telling me. It could be dangerous, and I don’t want to risk losing any of you.”
“I agree. We’ll wait here.”
“If it’s an emergency, text my phone.” I kissed her again and walked out. I took the bike over to the clubhouse, leaving the truck for Faith. Even if she didn’t leave the compound, I didn’t want to walk if she didn’t have to. I knew the old ladies would be sending her invitations to various things in the near future.
A line of bikes sat outside the clubhouse, and I made my way inside. A few of the club girls were at a table in the back, each with a bottle of beer in front of them. Judging by the state of their undress, they’d been entertaining my brothers before I’d arrived. I headed to the back and pushed through the doors into Church. Most of my brothers were already around the table, except Marauder, Shooter, and Freak. I had a feeling they’d be here soon.
“Looks like you didn’t give us all enough time to get here, Pres,” I said as I took my seat. A few days ago, I’d wanted to give up this seat. Retire as the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms. Now I needed my position to keep Faith and the girls safe.
“Didn’t think we needed to wait. Joe will be joining us as well. He has information we need,” Fox said. “I’ll give everyone a few more minutes, then we’ll start.”
I leaned forward and caught Surge’s attention. “Everything done?”
He gave me a thumbs-up before focusing on his laptop again. I didn’t know what he was working on, but it likely had to do with this meeting. The fact Fox hadn’t told me ahead of time made me a little ill at ease. Did it have to do with my family?
Joe came in, as did the three remaining members. Once everyone took a seat, Fox stood up.
“I think most of you know Bear has a family now. I didn’t take it to a vote because of his daughter, Piper. Girl has brass balls.” Fox smiled. “She claimed Bear as her daddy in front of both me and Spider, and since Bear’s woman and daughters were tied to the Raging Demons, the girl knew what she was doing. They aren’t flying blind.”
“We had to rush here for that?” Iron asked.
“No. That’s only a part of what we need to discuss. Although, the next matter does tie into it.” Fox gave a nod to Joe.
The Prospect cleared his throat. “I came to Fox today because we have a problem. The Raging Demons aren’t happy Faith and the girls ran. It made it worse that they ran to another club, or that’s how the Demons are seeing it. They want to teach us a lesson.”
“How do they plan to do that?” I asked. “And why the fuck wasn’t I told before now? How the hell did they even find them?”
“We’re working on that. I think there’s a tracker somewhere in their belongings. Probably some place you wouldn’t think to look,” Surge said.
Fox placed a hand on my shoulder. “Easy, brother. I called Church the second I found out what they planned. No time to discuss it with anyone. Let Joe finish.”
“Two of their club whores plan to infiltrate our clubhouse. While they’re here, they’re going to drug a girl, and make sure she’s found in a compromising position with one of the brothers.”
“How do you know all this?” Freak asked.
“The girl they want to drug is someone I know. They’re holding something over her head, forcing her to agree to this. She came to me in secret so we wouldn’t be blindsided. As to how they knew they could manipulate her, that’s her business.” Joe shoved his hands into his pockets. “I know it looks bad, but she’s a sweet girl. She’s trying to protect someone she cares about. They knew exactly how to get her compliance, which means they aren’t stupid. They watched, plotted, and figured out how best to get their revenge.”
“Who’s the girl?” Marauder asked. “Why would anyone give a fuck if she were found in the clubhouse?”
“She has political connections. Well, not her, but her family. Her mother’s cousin is none other than Judge Baskins. You may have noticed the campaign signs around town. He’s planning to run for Governor. If the girl is found here, and it looks like we drugged her, then raped her…”
“Motherfucker,” I muttered.
“So what are we going to do?” Hornet asked.
“We’re going to let them into the clubhouse,” Fox said. “Joe is going to watch for the girl. We’ll let them plant her in one of the rooms. Then Joe is going to pretend to be drunk and stumble into the room. We’ll give them a show. Make them think they’ve won.”
“Why do I feel like this is going to go horribly wrong?” I asked. “And what the fuck do the Raging Demons get out of this?”
“Spade knows how Faith feels about his club. He wants her to second-guess her trust in us. Specifically in you. The girls wanted to bait you, but we all know that wouldn’t work. Hell, you probably won’t even be at the clubhouse. You aren’t most nights anyway.” Fox folded his arms over his chest. “To be safe, I want to make sure all men who are taken avoid the clubhouse the night this goes down. We don’t have a date just yet, but we should know something soon.”
“What do I tell Faith?” I asked.
“Don’t let her leave the compound,” Fox said.
“The girls are supposed to start school this week. It’s not right to keep them home.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t want to tell those sweet things they’re on lockdown because of their shitty sperm donor. I know they’d understand, but I don’t like it.”
“Send them to school,” Joe said. “I know. I’m overstepping but hear me out. There’s a kid I’ve been mentoring. He’s like a little brother to me, and he wants to prospect for the club. He’s seventeen right now and a junior at the high school. If he keeps an eye on Piper, keeps her safe, then maybe you could agree to speak with him about prospecting? All he wants is the chance to talk to someone.”
“Fine. I’ll agree to talk to him but only if he helps Piper,” Fox said. “He doesn’t have to do anything stupid. If something doesn’t look right, or Piper seems scared, all he has to do is notify one of us. We’ll take it from there.”
“I’ll let him know,” Joe said.
“And Cordy?” I asked. “She’s only twelve. She’ll be at the middle school with Luka and Zoe.”
“I have someone inside who already keeps an eye on our kids. I’ll make sure they include Cordelia,” Knox said. “She’ll be safe once she’s on school property. As long you can get her there in one piece, and back home, she should be fine.”
“Any chatter about Faith?” I asked. Surge looked away. Hell, Fox wouldn’t hold my gaze either, which meant they knew something and didn’t want to tell me. “What?”
“Spade is holed up two towns over. One of the girls who comes here occasionally noticed his cut. Heard him running his mouth. When he started mouthing off about teaching us a lesson, she listened long enough to know she’d be in danger if he caught her. She got out of there and called us.” Fox turned to face me, and I saw the heartbreak on his face. Shit. What the fuck had the asshole said?
“Just tell me.”
“Once their plan with the girl works, and Faith is vulnerable, he’s going to take her. He doesn’t care as much about the girls. But Faith is another story. He said he’s going to get rid of the baby in her belly.” Fox audibly swallowed. “Then he’s going to let his club teach her a lesson. Bear… they’re going to…”
My heart slammed against my ribs. My imagination ran wild with all the things they could do to my sweet Faith. She’d already suffered horribly at Spade’s hands. How could he hurt her more?
“They’re going to rape her all night.” Surge cleared his throat. “He specifically said the club would rape her to death.”
I stood with a roar and slammed my fists into the table. The wood cracked, but I didn’t give a fuck. My chest heaved with every breath, and I looked around, needing a way to vent my fury. I stormed out of Church, not giving a shit that we hadn’t been dismissed. I stood on the porch and screamed my outrage to the sky. That sorry son of a bitch would pay. I’d gut him like a damn fish. Let him watch as his intestines spilled out. But not until after I’d tortured the shit out of him. He’d pay for every moment he made Faith suffer. I’d make him beg and plead for his life, but I’d grant him no mercy.
Spade might be a Raging Demon, but he’d just unleashed hell… and the devil was coming for him.
Faith
I knew something happened, but Bear wouldn’t speak of it. He’d come home in a bad mood, even though he’d smiled and tried his best to set us at ease. It hadn’t worked. I’d seen the darkness in his eyes, and knew he was ready to tear the world apart. I’d seen the same expression on Spade’s face, except it had always been directed at me. Piper noticed as well. We shared a glance as Bear drank a beer and watched TV.
If I were still with Spade, I’d have walked on eggshells, and given him a wide berth. So far, Bear hadn’t hurt us. In fact, he’d gone out of his way to do nice things for me and the girls.
Cordy went into the kitchen and came back with a plate holding two cookies. She carried it over to Bear and tugged on his jeans to get his attention.
“What is it, little one?” he asked, setting his beer aside.
“When I have a bad day, Mama always says a cookie will make it better. You look like you’ve had a bad day, Daddy.” She handed him the plate, and I watched as the big, tough biker melted. He gave her a slight smile and lifted her onto his lap.
“Thank you, Cordelia. I should have known I couldn’t hide anything from the three of you.” Bear winked at me over her head. “The three of you must be very perceptive. I’m the luckiest man in the world to have two beautiful daughters, and the sweetest wife.”
“What if our other daddy comes to get us?” Cordy asked, snuggling against him. “He’s really mean. I don’t want to go back with him.”
“You won’t. Not ever,” Bear promised her. “Not only will I do anything I can to keep you three safe, but so will my club. The Hades Abyss isn’t like the Raging Demons. We appreciate our women and children and will fight to the death to keep them from harm.”
Cordy’s eyes teared up and she sniffled. “But I don’t want you to die, Daddy. We just found you!”
My heart nearly broke at those words, and I had to admit I felt the same. I moved closer as Bear hugged her tight. I placed my hand on his shoulder and leaned down to kiss his cheek. I didn’t know how we’d gotten so lucky and found this incredible man. How the hell was he still single? I didn’t understand why some woman hadn’t tried to snap him up already. There were times he seemed too good to be true.
“Piper, why don’t you take your little sister for a walk? Stay inside the compound and keep away from the clubhouse.” Bear jerked his head toward the door. “Go on. Introduce yourselves to anyone you see.”
“All right, Dad,” Piper said. She helped Cordy off his lap and led her outside.
Once they were gone, Bear pulled me down and held me, much the way he’d just been doing with Cordelia. Something told me he’d sent the girls away so we could discuss whatever was bothering him.
“The Raging Demons are about to make a move,” he said, once we were alone. “I need you and the girls to be vigilant at all times. I’ve got them covered when they’re at school, but I don’t like the idea of you leaving the compound. From what we’ve heard, Spade isn’t that interested in Piper and Cordelia. It’s you he wants.”
“Me? He hated me. Why would he care if I ran or not?” I asked.
“It made him look like a fool. He wants revenge and plans to hand you off to his club.” Bear audibly swallowed and looked away. “I won’t go into details, but it’s not something you’ll survive, Faith. Whatever happens, Spade can’t kidnap you, or lure you away.”
“I’d never go with him willingly.”
“I know, but we’re not dealing with people who care what you want. If they can’t grab you outright, they may convince you to go willingly by threatening the girls. Can you tell me if they said they had Piper and Cordelia that you wouldn’t hand yourself over to them in an effort to save your babies?”
I sagged against him. “No, I can’t. But it would be the wrong thing to do, wouldn’t it? If he had them, he wouldn’t let them go just because I gave myself up.”
“No, he wouldn’t. The club has a plan. I need you to trust me, and my brothers. We’ll keep the three of you safe.” He placed a hand on my belly. “Four. The four of you.”
“Were they upset you claimed me and the girls?” I asked.
“Not at all. I think Fox is still laughing over Piper declaring me as her father in front of him and Spider. Girl has guts. Maybe I’ll teach her how to ride a motorcycle. Something lightweight. One of the old ladies at the Dixie Reapers can ride.”
“She’d probably love that,” I said. “I guess we need to figure out how I’m getting the girls to school this coming week.”
“I’m going to register them,” Bear said. “As for getting to and from classes, Cordelia can ride with Luka and Zoe. I’m going to get rid of that junker you drove here and get Piper a decent vehicle. Something safe. Won’t be brand-new, but it will be reliable.”
“You’ve already spent so much on us,” I protested.
“I’ll check around. Maybe someone is ready to upgrade and has a small sedan Piper could drive. As for you, if you aren’t comfortable driving my truck, we’ll find something for you too.”
“You didn’t listen to me at all, did you?” I asked.
He smirked. “Nope.”
“What do the other ladies drive?”
“Some drive SUVs, some have cars. One drives a truck. Just depends.”
I sighed. “Fine. I don’t think I’d be comfortable with something as large as your truck, but I’ll need a car big enough for the girls and a baby seat.”
“We don’t have to rush out and get one right away. But I do want a car for Piper before she starts school this week. I’ll have one of the Prospects follow her to and from school. Maybe one of my brothers too.”
“Don’t smother her. I know you want to protect her. I do too, but we need to talk to her about it. I know Piper. If she thinks we’re going overboard, she’ll balk.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. We’ll tell her you’re in danger and she may be as well. She seems sensible enough to understand why she’d need bodyguards when she leaves the compound.”
“She really is.” I sighed. “I wish it wasn’t the case. She should have had the chance to be a kid. Instead, she grew up fast because I couldn’t bring myself to leave Spade. I let fear rule me, until I saw how brave my daughter had become. If it weren’t for her, I’d probably still be with Spade. Or he’d have killed me when he found out the baby I’m carrying is a boy.”
“Don’t plan anything for dinner. I’m going to ask everyone to gather at the clubhouse for a potluck. If you want to take something, make a dessert or some rolls. It’s time for you and the girls to meet everyone. It’s why I told Piper to introduce herself on their walk,” he said. “They need to see she’s not a pushover.”
I snorted. “She certainly isn’t. Are you sure you want them to meet Piper when we aren’t around to hold her back? If anyone says something insulting, she’ll probably put them on their butts.”
“Good. Makes her a fitting daughter for the Sergeant-at-Arms. I may be getting too damn old for this job, but I want them to know my girl is tough. If they touch her, they not only have to deal with me, but they’ll have to put up with her too.”
“Was Spade the only thing bothering you?” I asked. “Nothing else? It seemed as if you had the weight of the world on your shoulders when you came home.”
He reached up to cup my cheek and I leaned down to kiss him. The touch of his lips on mine was enough for my toes to curl, and all my cares to melt away. I drew back and ran my fingers through his beard. Bear’s beard was far longer than Spade’s. Thicker too. Then again, so was his cock. I smiled and kissed him once more.
“It’s my job to worry, Faith. You’ve done enough the last eighteen years. Let someone else carry the load for a while.”
“If you aren’t careful, I’m going to fall hopelessly in love with you.”
He touched his forehead to mine. “That’s the idea, sweetheart.”
I noticed he said nothing about loving me in return. I wondered if he’d ever been in love. Not once had he spoken of other women. At his age, it wasn’t likely I was the first woman he’d taken an interest in. Had he dated before? Had a serious relationship? As much as I wanted to trust everything he said, part of me still held back a little. Life had taught me to be cautious.
He’d mentioned two pregnancy scares, when he’d told me how he discovered he couldn’t have children. Were those women he’d cared about? Maybe even loved?
I’d lived without it all this time. At least with Bear, I didn’t fear for my life or those of my children. I’d take what he offered, even if it meant I never had his heart. It would have to be enough.