Charlotte’s been so busy using her new pads and pencils that she’s finally settling and allowing her body to heal. It’s been three days since the shooting, and on Saint’s orders, she’s getting up and moving around. I can tell she’s still hurting, but she’s recovering.
Unfortunately, we can’t put it off any longer. Charlotte needs to go and identify Paul’s body. Risk and Steady are coming along with us today. Noah’s with Steady in the vehicle behind us. I’m sitting up front with Risk, giving Charli the entire back seat to stretch out.
She’s being quiet. Too quiet, which means that she’s sinking into a dark place. It’s easy to slide back into the crazy shit that’s happened in the last few weeks. Her father’s appearance out of the blue and his abrasive behavior was bad enough. Then to find out that Paul is dead is a whole other level of strain.
Last night, Charli brought up wanting to bury her father. “Nothing fancy. But everyone deserves a decent burial,” she said. I wanted to disagree. Based on the atrocities Paul put her through, I think he deserves to be dumped in a ditch and left as food for coyotes.
Instead, I said, “Whatever you want, dollface.”
“Not near my mother,” she added quickly. “Maybe outside town.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“No. I should do it.” She sighed. “I can’t afford much, but—”
“I got this, baby,” I interrupted.
“That’s not right.”
That’s when I took her in my arms, making sure that I had her full attention. “This is us. That means we’re doing it together. There will be a day when I’ll need you to have my back, and you will. I don’t doubt that for a minute. It’s my turn now.” Although, I’ll do my best to never let that happen. I want my girl to live and breathe free.
“You’ve been taking care of me for weeks,” she countered.
“And I loved every second of it.” I gave her a little shake. “Let me do this.”
“Okay.”
We make quick work of getting the job done. We regroup outside the building, and I scan Charli’s and Noah’s faces for hints on how to handle the situation. I’m not sure what to expect. Neither sheds a tear. Noah’s expression remains stoic as he holds his sister’s hand. Charli continues to keep her eyes hidden, her gaze fixed on her shoes.
The ride back is just as melancholy. I glance over at Risk with a silent plea for help, but he simply shakes his head. Now’s not the time, he’s telling me. I heed his advice, letting it pass.
Later that night, Charli sobs herself to sleep in my arms. It wasn’t about the loss of her father; it was about never having had a father who loved his children. She cried for Noah and the life he should have had. She cried for her mother and the continual suffering she endured at Paul’s hand. At the end, Charli cried in frustration for how her father offered her up as a whore and didn’t give a single thought as to how it would affect her life.
* * *
We bury her father an hour away from town, far from her mother’s resting site. Charli kept quiet, didn’t ask anyone to come with us, but on Guard’s insistence, he and Ava arrive at the grave site to stand with us while final words are spoken. Guard clasps a hand on Noah’s shoulder and keeps an arm around Ava. Noah holds his sister’s hand, and I’m on her other side so she can lean into me for support.
The reverend keeps it brief and when it’s over, he steps back and returns to the main building.
“I didn’t even bring flowers,” Charlotte says, her voice icy cold.
“Lollie,” Noah whispers. He’s worried for her. He heard her cry the other night, and that was just another reason to hate the man in the casket.
“I keep wondering why he despised me so much. Was it me who made him so angry and hateful? I keep thinking that if I wasn’t there, maybe he would have treated Mom better or would have been around for you,” she says to her brother.
“Don’t say that.” Noah shakes his head. “You’re the best. You were the only reason I made it this far. I lost my way, and you never gave up on me. Never!” He points to the casket. “When he left, I didn’t care. I had no reason to love or hate him, but knowing what he did to you and how he’s making you feel, even after he’s gone, I wish I’d been the one to kill him. He got off too easy.”
Guard’s deep voice calls him back. “Bud, maybe not now.”
“It’s not her fault,” Noah retorts, looking at Guard.
“You’re right.”
“She’s gotta get that,” Noah insists. He glances over Guard’s shoulder and sees a sea of bikes.
The Pride is here, with their women, standing in a row and waiting for us. Charlotte hasn’t noticed them yet. After a moment, she turns and puts a hand to her mouth in awe.
“They’re here for you, baby,” I say. “This is what family does. Good times, we celebrate. Bad times, we congregate.”
“Maybe Dad had a purpose after all. His mess brought me to you and to all of them.” She does a little wave toward the group waiting for us. I don’t want to negate her thoughts. I was coming for my girl anyway, and Charlotte was beloved by all way before the disaster with her father took hold. But if this is the solace she needs in order to move on, then she can have that.
* * *
Two weeks have passed, and in that time, Reno and Guard have met with most of the men who Paul owed money to. Most were convinced to write off the debt, mainly because Reno had his men make personal visits and they preferred to keep their fingers rather than collect on a debt from a dead man’s daughter.
As a favor to Reno, a man called Alessio stepped in and negotiated the money owed in Vegas. Alessio owns that city, and what he says goes. Marco from La Famiglia was able to eliminate any threats from his side, except for the original deviant who sent Mariano and Iano to take Charlotte to him.
Marco Moretti and his crew have sent messages out to have Crusher delivered to La Famiglia. It’s been over a week and they’ve heard nothing from their underground network. Guard and the Pride have put up a finder’s fee to get this done, and still, nothing. Crusher’s gone underground, and that’s a bad sign.
Demon and Risk are taking another run at the surrounding clubs. They’re hoping a ride out with Razor and his brothers will rattle some cages and they’ll get a lead on where Crusher might be hiding out. Orion’s hacked into the police network and has created warrants. He’s made Crusher a wanted man in three surrounding states. The best thing that could happen to Crusher would be getting caught by the cops. With all the digging Marco’s son, Nero, and his right-hand man Luciano have been doing, it’s been discovered that Crusher’s been intercepting product on the docks in their territory.
As part of the deal, if Crusher is found by any of our clubs, we’re delivering him to La Famiglia. I will personally be the one making the drive. But we might get a flat at the halfway point. There’s no way I’m going to miss out on getting retribution.
We’ve come to the conclusion that the drive-by was meant for me. Getting me out of the way would make it easier to get to Charlotte. Crusher is regrouping.
Priest is waiting outside with Noah.
“Noah’s spending the night at the compound,” Priest says. I lift my brow and wait for him to tell me why. He leans in, his hand lands on my shoulder and says, “You can thank me later.” Before I can respond, he’s in the car and they drive off.
Suddenly, I hear the fire alarm go off. I rush through the door and find Charlotte yanking open the oven door. A wave of smoke and steam gushes out, making her jump back a step.
“Oh no, no, no!” she shouts. “This can’t be happening. Not tonight.” She whimpers, grabbing two pot holders, which I take away from her, nudging her carefully out of the way. I pull out what would have been dinner. By the looks of it, it would have been roast beef and potatoes.
I dump the pot in the sink and open the kitchen window to let out the smoke, then grab a dishcloth to wave under the smoke alarm until it stops. When everything finally goes silent and the cloud of smoke dissipates, I notice Charlotte standing by the sofa. She’s wearing a fitted peach dress that falls just above her knees. Her dark hair is fluffier, with massive curls bouncing around her face. She’s wearing makeup, not a lot, but enough to notice. She’s gloriously beautiful, except for the sad expression and the fact that she’s going to make her lip bleed, the way she’s biting it so hard.
“I wanted everything to be perfect,” she blathers. “We have the place to ourselves, and I wanted to make a romantic dinner. I started dinner and got distracted doing all this.” Charli moves her hands down her body. “The next thing I know, the alarm is blaring and dinner is burnt. Completely inedible. I wanted tonight to be special.”
I’m still staring at the beauty before me as I walk around the counter. “Special?”
“We haven’t been alone since the night we moved in, and we never—I mean, I did, but you didn’t…” She expels a heavy sigh. “You didn’t, um, finish.”
I hold her hips and draw her closer.
“Were you planning on seducing me, baby?” I tease.
If she wasn’t already so horrified, I would start laughing, but her mouth is gaping and she shoves against my chest to get away. Instead, I pull her so that we’re melded together and I can feel her heat. Charli tilts her head back and meets my gaze.
“Are you feeling good?” I ask. She nods. “Leg’s good?” I get another nod. “I’m not hungry for dinner, but starving for a taste of my woman.”
Her face lights up with a sexy grin. “Really?” Her fingers inch upward, circling my neck. Our kiss is long and wet. I thread one hand through her lustrous rich locks, holding her to me as I take my fill. I flex my hips forward so she can feel my aching cock against her belly.
“You do that to me,” I tell her. “I’m loving this package you wrapped my present in, baby, and it’s my right to unwrap it.” I watch as her eyes grow large. “I’m in a mood.” I nuzzle my nose along hers, and drift lower to the side of her neck, smoothing my lips over her sensitive skin. My fingers find the zipper at the back of her dress and slide it lower and lower as I continue to kiss her throat, cheek, and then find her mouth once more. I slide the straps of her dress off her shoulders and down her arms, stepping back to see it pool at her feet.
Christ have mercy! She stands before me in a white lace bra and panties. The bra accentuates her perky breasts, and the panties hug her hips and ass. She’s wearing heels, but I’m sure she shouldn’t be putting that much pressure on her leg. Not to worry, she won’t have them on for long. I skim my fingertips over one taut nipple and down over her silky bare skin.
“Will you do something for me, dollface?”
“Anything,” she whispers.
“I want you on my bed, just as you are. On your knees, sitting up, waiting for me.” I move her hair off her shoulder, kissing her there. “Are you mine?”
“Yes,” she pants.
“And I’m yours. Now and forever.”
“Now and forever,” she repeats.
“Go, before I ravage you right here. I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell her.
She moves past me slowly, not looking back, but she gives me a show by putting a little wiggle in her walk.
I make myself busy cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. I toss out the black potatoes and brick-like roast. Charli never got to the green beans, so I put them back in the fridge. There’s a bottle of champagne on ice. I’ll come get that later. I hate the stuff, but I’ll swallow down a glass to make her happy.
Now that I’ve had some time to regain control, I can take my time with Charlotte. That’s what I think, until I see her on our bed, just as I asked. She’s a siren, a seductress, and I can’t resist her.
Our gazes are locked as I strip off my clothes. I climb up the end of the bed to sit on my haunches in front of her. I can’t resist her full pretty pink lips and kiss her passionately. Our tongues tangle together, exploring and tasting, as I move her onto her back. It’s a kiss where her body yields, letting me set the pace, and yet her response is fevered with excitement. Her nails dig into my arms.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time,” I tell her as I tear my lips from hers. “The only way I’m going to last is if you’re a good girl.” I take her hands and raise them above her head. “These stay here. Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispers. I kiss her hard and fast. Thank fuck the clasp on her bra is in the front. With one smooth flick of my wrist, her globes are free from their constraints and open to my view. I can’t wait any longer. I have to taste these tasty morsels. My lips close on a nipple, sucking it gently, my reward a low moan and her body quivering beneath me.
“You like that?”
“Yeah. Don’t stop,” she begs.
“Not a chance of that,” I say before returning to the task at hand. Laving, licking, and teasing her with love bites. As I slide down to her belly, my fingers tease and twist her nipples playfully. “Spread your legs nice and wide,” I command. She does as I ask, and I glide farther down to her pussy. I admire my view. The prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen, and mine, all mine.
I slip my fingers through her slit, and a keening mewl escapes her lips. That alone is enough to make me come. But I’m on a mission to explore her body thoroughly, so I better get to it. Sliding my hands under her ass, I lift her to my mouth and set about my task. It’s not long before my little wanton is a quivering mess, begging, pleading for me to let her come.
“Em, please. Please. I need to come,” she pants and thrashes about. I lick her slit for good measure. Her fingers curled into my hair hold me to her core as she gyrates her hips to create the friction she needs to take her over the edge.
“You gonna take me in your mouth if I let you come, baby?”
“Yes, yes!” She squirms. I give her the release she needs, sucking her clit into my mouth and watching her convulse as she free-falls from the precipice of her orgasm. She’s beautiful always, but she’s sensational when she lets go for me. Her face is flushed, and her dewy skin and messy, sexy hair are absolutely perfect.
I kiss my way back up her body, take her mouth, and let her taste her scent. “My dollface is spectacular,” I murmur in her ear. She curves a leg around my thigh and, with a mischievous grin, rolls us so that I’m on my back.
“A promise is a promise,” she says, and proceeds to kiss her way down my torso and between my thighs. Just when I didn’t think Charli could get any hotter, she proves me wrong. Sitting between my splayed legs, she fists a firm hand around my cock and dips her tongue over the tip like she’s tasting an ice cream cone.
“Don’t fuck with me, baby,” I warn. There’s only so much a man can take, and I’ve been waiting a very long time to be inside her. If she keeps looking at me like that with her mouth teasing my slit, I’m going to roll her to her back and drill that pussy until I’m done.
That’s when she closes her lips over the tip and moans, the vibration alone making my cock jolt. Charli takes me deeper, working her hands and mouth simultaneously. I throw back my head, closing my eyes tight, breathing deep. I don’t want to come yet. I vowed the first time would be inside her sweet cunt.
I allow her to play a little longer until I can’t take any more and yank her off my cock.
“I wasn’t done,” she gasps.
“You’re done. We got all night. You can take your fill of me later,” I tell her as I flip her onto her back, spreading her wide. “Guide me in, baby,” I say, my voice hoarse with need. She aligns my cock at her entrance, and I move in slow, allowing her to adjust to my girth.
Sweet Jesus, her heat is going to be the death of me. Her groans get louder, her breathing more erratic as I fully seat myself inside her.
Charli’s nails dig into my back, her eyes fluttering shut.
“Legs around my waist,” I moan in her ear. “Gonna take you nice and slow. If you need me to stop, you tell me.”
“Okay,” she breathes.
I take my time, getting into a slow, steady rhythm. It’s not until she writhes beneath me that I pick up the pace. It’s been too long, and I’m not going to last. I slide my hand between us to find her sensitive clit. She’s so wet for me.
“Gonna take more, baby,” I warn, and move harder and faster in and out of her heat.
“Em, I’m going to come. I—I can’t…” She trails off as she bucks her back off the bed, a tremor running through her. I lean over, kissing her soundly on the mouth, taking in her scream of delight. That’s all it takes, and I come hard, sinking my teeth into her shoulder to mark her as mine.
I wait for our breathing to regulate before laying her back on the pillows. “Be right back, dollface.” I move to the bathroom, clean up, and bring back a warm cloth. Charli’s cheeks turn a bright pink when I move to clean her.
“I can do it,” she says.
“Yeah, but I’m doing it,” I tell her softly. When I’m done, I pull the sheet up to cover her, but not before I give her nipple a nip. “Be right back.”
I scour the cupboard for crackers and cheese and find her favorite snack instead. I grab the champagne and two flute glasses along with her treat, and make my way back to her. As soon as she sees what I’m holding, she bursts out laughing.
“Pop-Tarts and champagne,” she says with a giggle. “Not quite what I planned.”
“Better,” I reply, and climb in next to her. She takes a giant bite of the strawberry-filled goodness, leaving a trace on the corner of her mouth. I wipe it off with my thumb. “Delicious.” I pop the champagne and pour her a glass, then my own. She takes a sip and smiles huge. She’s happy. It’s simple for her. “This is all it takes to make you happy?”
“Well, yeah. Pop-Tarts are the best. Champagne makes my nose tickle. And you. You’re everything. Thank you for turning what would have been a disaster into the best night of my life,” Charli says, her eyes bright as she shares with me.
“Best night ever.” I force the rest of the champagne down. I still haven’t acquired a taste for it but I couldn’t give a shit. If drinking champagne in bed makes her happy, then I’ll do it. “Fair warning, I plan on making this a weekly ritual.”
“Fine by me, Em.”
I noticed that Charlotte calls me Em whenever we’re in bed. I hated my name for the longest time. Couldn’t wait to get my road name just so I could drop it. But when Charlotte says it, it sounds like the answer to a prayer.