His eyes meet mine. “Need time.”
“Don’t we all.”
His eyes flicker with hurt again. “You should have come to me. You should have never suffered like that.”
“No, maybe not, but seeing you broken hurts me so much more. I just wanted to protect you.”
“Not your job,” he says, his voice rough. “Not your job, baby. It was mine, and I fucked it up.”
“Jacks?”
We both look over to see Mom at the door, a robe wrapped tightly around her, her eyes filled with tears. I stand, because I know she’s the only person who can fix him right now. I lean down and kiss his cheek, then I whisper again, “Forgive yourself, Daddy. I need that from you.”
Then I turn and walk over to Mom. She pulls me into her arms, and we hold each other for a good long time. When she lets me go, I give her a weak smile. “I’m so sorry, sweetie,” she says.
“Don’t be. I’m going to be okay.” I look to Dad. “Right now, he isn’t.”
Her eyes go to him and her face falls.
“Be with him. Tomorrow we’ll talk, okay?”
She looks back to me. “I wasn’t there when you needed me. I won’t let that happen again.”
I take her hand and squeeze it. “Lucas is waiting for me right now. Tomorrow, we’ll talk. Right now . . . he needs you.”
She nods, tears trickling down her cheeks. I hug her again and then step out of the shed. I turn and look back in before leaving to see Mom climb onto Dad’s lap. He drops his beer bottle, puts his arms around her waist, and I hear the pained sound he makes from deep in his throat. She holds him, and I know she’ll fix it for him.
She’s his one. She can fix anything.
Even this.
CHAPTER 34
NOW – AVA
It’s been three weeks since my major meltdown at the club, and things have slowly started getting better. My dad isn’t happy with me dating a cop, but he’s also in the position where he gets little to no say about the matter. My mom really likes Lucas, and so do Skye and Mercy. Danny and Max act like any good biker boys, and lecture me often about the matter.
It doesn’t matter. Lucas is everything.
Dating him is like coming alive. It’s like that first breath when you’re drowning, and it’s like laughter on Christmas morning. He’s kind, he’s sexy, and he takes care of me.
We connected that day in the club. We dug through any barriers and found that we are two of the same, fighting the same battles. I never thought I’d learn to breathe again after Bethy, but Lucas is showing me that there is indeed life after horror.
We’re taking things as slow as possible. Mostly we get together on his days off and go out, just getting to know each other. I can’t say the same for the nights. It’s in those times when Lucas and I connect, truly feel each other. Everything he withdraws and hides comes out when he’s inside me. Something explodes between us and creates a connection that gets stronger by the second.
Finally, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Ava?”
I jerk from my thoughts and see Michael leaning over my desk. I had to work late tonight, some big case he’s got going that he needed help with, and the longer the evening went on, the more tired I became, tending to slip off into my own little world.
“Sorry,” I say, doing a quick glance around to see that everyone has gone; it’s just Michael and I.
That makes my skin crawl in an unnatural way.
“Have you finished my papers?” he asks, sliding his rump onto my desk. I want to reach over and slap him off.
“Yes. I’m just checking them over now.”
“It didn’t look like you were checking them over; it looked like you were thinking about something else. We’ve had this discussion before, and I asked for you to keep your personal life outside of work.”
Jerk.
“I wasn’t doing anything, sir,” I say as kindly as I can, all while wanting to uppercut his chin. “I was thinking about, ah, what I was going to eat on the way home.”
He studies me. “If you like, I can get us some food and we can eat together.”
I’d rather poke my own eyes out with a fork. “No, that’s okay. I’m sure you’ve had a very long night and have someone waiting at home for you.”
Wrong thing to say.
He leans over and runs his finger—yes, runs it—up my arm. “Actually, I don’t, but if you’d like to join me I’m sure we could work something out.”
Keep cool, Ava. “I’m seeing someone.”
“He doesn’t have to know,” he murmurs, stroking his finger over my neck. I jerk back and force a smile.
“Look, thank you, I’m flattered but—”
“So we’re still going to play this game,” he snaps, and I flinch.
“What game?”
“The one where you come in here in those short skirts, smiling at me, leading me on—hell you even brought your boyfriend in here to taunt me, and now you’re acting like you would rather be anywhere else.”
He has to be shitting me.
“I wear the uniform,” I point out.
“The uniform states a black skirt. It does not state a tiny black skirt that lets me see the curves of your ass when you bend over.”
I gag internally and push back from my chair. “Not sure why you’d think I was doing anything to lead you on, but I can assure you I wasn’t. I think it’s best if I leave now.”
“You leave,” he says, standing and crossing his arms, “and you’ll have no job left.”
“You’re threatening to fire me because I won’t sleep with you?” I gasp.
He steps up close and I hold my own, my arms crossed.
“We could change that. If you enjoy your job, you could convince me to let you stay.”
“I’d rather eat shit,” I spit in his face. “Now step back.”
He lashes out and grabs my arm. “You and I both know you wanted this, but if playing hard to get turns you on . . .”
He yanks my arm and tries to drag me towards his office. I stomp on his foot, and he hisses in pain but doesn’t let me go. Instead, his hand goes to my skirt, pulling it up. Oh hell no. I’m not letting this happen. Over my dead body.
“Let me go, you piece of shit,” I spit.
“Keep fighting me. I like it.”
“I don’t.”
I hear the gruff male voice behind me and then Michael’s hands slip away from my body. Lucas takes three strides past me and lifts a retreating Michael by the shirt, like he weighs nothing. He slams him against the wall and gets in his face. “Do you know who I am, scum?” he hisses.
“I . . . I . . . she wanted it.”
Lucas pulls him off the wall and then slams him back so hard his head makes a loud cracking sound.
“She did not want it; I was witness to that. You put your hands on a woman who didn’t want it, that’s assault. I’m going to arrest you, you piece of shit, and you’ll wish you never did it.”
“No,” he cries. “I read it wrong. You have no grounds to arrest me. Please.”
“I can do you for harassment and you’ll lose your job. If she decides to tell me that what I just saw was correct, and you had your hands on her, forcing something she didn’t want, I can and will arrest you for assault.”
Michael’s face goes white. “Please. I can’t lose my job.”
“You’re going to,” Lucas says, spinning him around and jerking his hands behind his back, pulling cuffs off his belt and slapping them on. “I’ll make sure of it.” He pulls Michael to his side, one hand firmly wrapped around the linked cuffs, and stares at me. “You okay?”
I nod, rubbing my suddenly cold arms. “Sure. I’m fine.”
“See?” Michael screeches. “She said she’s fine.”
“Shut the fuck up before I make you,” Lucas barks.
“Take him,” I whisper. “I’ll be okay.”
Lucas scans my face. “Come to the station and make a c
omplaint.”
I glance at Michael, who is glaring at me.
“I have to lock up here if he’s going. I’ll meet you there.”
“You don’t have a car. I dropped you off remember?” Lucas points out.
“I’ll call someone; it’ll be okay.”
Lucas studies me, then he slams Michael down on a chair and growls, “Move, I’ll shoot you.”
Then he pulls out his gun and steps over to me, taking my hand and walking me to the door so Michael can’t hear. “You sure you’re okay, baby?”
I nod and look down. His finger goes down and curls under my chin, forcing my head back up. “Ava.”
“I’m okay—just a shock. I knew he was creepy but I didn’t think he would . . .”
“I did. It’s why I’ve kept an eye on you.”
I rub my arms again.
“Who do you want me to call?” he asks.
“I’ll call Danny. It’ll be okay.”
He studies me for a final time and then nods. “I’m taking this bastard to the station. If you’re not there in an hour, I’ll come looking for you, honey.”
I give a weak half smile. “I’ll be there.”
He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead before fetching Michael and leaving me.
~*~*~*~
“I would have killed the fucker,” Danny mutters, pacing the office as I pack up my stuff.
“Lucas is a cop, D. He can’t do that.”
“I could. So could your dad. So could anyone from the club . . .”
“If you’re about to end that sentence with ‘so you should have picked one of us’ then please don’t. I’m sick of hearing it. If you dislike Lucas, that’s your choice, but I love him and nothing you can say will change that.”
Danny goes quiet. “You love him?”
I blink, not even realizing that came out so effortlessly. I look up and meet Danny’s eyes. “Yeah, D. I do.”
“Fuck.”
“That about covers it.” I laugh softly.
“Still,” he says, “that fucker should be dead for trying to touch you.”
“Lucas will sort him out. Don’t doubt it.”
“Lucky he came in, eh?”
I shiver at the thought, but squelch it down. “I would have kicked his ass.”
Danny laughs, not full and rich, but a laugh all the same. “I’m sure you would have, tiger.”
“We better get to the station before Lucas sends a search party.”
“By the way,” Danny says as we leave, “I called your dad.”
“Danny!” I cry. “He doesn’t need this stress.”
“We got given strict orders that if anything happens with you or to you he is to know, sorry, Ant. You’re my friend, but I gotta follow rules.”
I thump him in the shoulder, and he winces. “You suck.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, well, so do you.”
We get on his bike and ride to the station. It’s a cool night out, with the beginnings of winter starting to make itself known. The air is crisp and a light breeze trickles through, making my hair sail out to the side.
The station is bustling when we get in and Amelia quickly smiles and waves us through to Lucas’s office.
“Not sure I wanna go in here,” Danny mutters, crossing his arms, causing his leather jacket to squeak.
“Stop whining.” I laugh softly.
We get to Lucas’s office, and he’s pacing beside his desk. The moment he notices us, he strides over, hauling me up against his body. “Said an hour, baby. It’s been nearly two.”
“Traffic was bad,” I lie, looking into his eyes. Really, I just needed time to gather myself before calling Danny.
Lucas nods and looks over my shoulder at Danny. “Thanks for bringing her.”
Danny grunts.
Lucas lets me down and I turn, giving Danny a look that has him rolling his eyes and stepping up to my side, throwing his arm around my shoulder. Lucas doesn’t even flinch.
“How long will this statement take?”
“Long as it takes,” Lucas says, and the two hold eyes.
Yeesh.
This is going to be a long night.
CHAPTER 35
NOW – AVA
Lucas takes my statement and my dad shows up halfway through, demanding to see me. He and Lucas share hostile glances, but Dad listens when Lucas goes over what happened. It’s nearly midnight by the time we’re done, and I’m exhausted. All of us leave the station at the same time, and I am looking forward to crawling into my bed with Lucas, or crawling into his bed . . . either way is fine with me.
“Get on my bike. Takin’ you home,” Dad says, when I head towards Lucas’s car.
Lucas and I stop.
“I’m going with Lucas,” I say carefully.
He shoots me a warning glance. “My baby has been through enough without adding this on top, I’m takin’ you home so I can assure myself you’re okay.”
“Daddy, I’m fine,” I whisper.
“Then you’ll let me take you home.”
I glance to Lucas, expecting a protest, but he’s holding out a helmet. “On the bike, kid.”
I blink. “But . . .”
“On. The. Bike.”
His eyes hold mine and remain firm, unwavering. I snatch the helmet from his hands and turn to Dad, who is staring at Lucas for the first time without anger, but instead, maybe respect? I hope that’s what I see.
Because of that, I climb onto Dad’s bike without protest. Lucas breaks the stare and looks to me, nodding, before walking to his car.
Broody.
Dad gets on and then we’re off. The entire ride gives me a chance to breathe in the cool air, relaxing my wound up body. I really wanted to be with Lucas tonight, but I can understand why he didn’t fight my dad. I’m sure if it was his daughter, he would want the same respect. My man is a good one, without a doubt.
We arrive at my house, and both of us climb off the bike. Dad leans against it, watching me intently as I hand him the helmet. “You still serious about the cop?” he asks, crossing his ankles and stuffing the helmet beside him.
“Yeah, Dad, I am.”
He studies me, then stands. He walks over, leans in and kisses my forehead. “He wasn’t a cop,” he murmurs there, “he’d be a good man.”
I laugh softly and shake my head as Dad stands back, grinning down at me. “There’s some logic if I ever heard it.”
“Got plenty more where that came from.”
“I’m sure you do. Now go home. I’m tired and need a damned bath.”
“You okay?” he asks, seriously this time, all humor wiped from his face.
I smile softly and nod. “I’m okay.”
He studies me, and then nods. “You comin’ to the cookout on Saturday?”
“Is Lucas invited?”
He glares.
“Then no.”
“Ava,” he warns.
“Daddy, you’re a biker, and I understand and respect the boundaries. You don’t want him in your club, I respect that too, but he’s important to me, and I’m not going to exclude him from everything.”
“So you’re goin’ to use it against me?”
I shake my head. “No, it just means I won’t be at all of those cookouts, but I will be at most. That’s the best I can offer right now.”
“Then it’s what I’ll take.” He steps forward, looking down at me. “Don’t let this come between us.”
“The only person that can do that, old man, is you. I know the two worlds can never mix, but sometimes you just have to be Jackson and he just has to be Lucas, and you simply have to be a father and the man your daughter loves, getting along.”
“You make that sound easy,” he mutters.
“It is, if you want it to be.”
He sighs. “Stubborn bloody daughters . . .”
I grin. “We learned from the best.”
He throws me a smile before getting on his bike and speeding off.
Y
eah, he’ll be okay with this.
In time.
~*~*~*~
I groan as I sink into the water. It’s as hot as I can handle it, and filled with pretty-smelling soaps. The water cascades over my skin, soothing all the pent-up stress of the day. I have no idea what will happen to Michael, my job, any of it, but I do know it was for the best. He was the kind of man who would do more of those things, and I couldn’t be the one girl who ignored it and let him go on to hurt someone else.
“Don’t hear you groanin’ like that for me.”
I jerk up and see Lucas standing at my door, one arm above his head, resting on the frame.
“You scared me,” I whisper, pressing a hand to my heart.
“Sorry, baby,” he murmurs, clearly not meaning it as his eyes travel over my body.
“I didn’t think I’d see you,” I say, my voice thick with lust as I watch him shrug off his jacket and unbuckles his belt.
“Let your dad take you home, gave you the time he needed, but he ain’t here now and nothing was keepin’ me away from you.”
My heart flutters. “No?” I breathe.
“No, honey.”
He drops his pants, and my eyes go to the bulge in his boxers. My blood heats as he jerks them down, freeing his cock. He curls his fist around it, stroking as he walks towards the bath. “You like what you see?”
“You know I do,” I say, my voice heavy with lust.
“You wanna move over so I can get in and show you how much I like what I see?”
I scoot up and make enough room for him to climb in. He does, his body falling over mine, arms bracing either side of the tub so he doesn’t squash me. His eyes are flaring and his big body is hard and hot. Yum.
“If you’re going to have your way with me, can I at least get a kiss first?”
He grins and leans down, kissing me deeply, his tongue dancing with mine, his hips rocking down into the water so his cock glides up against my pussy. When the kiss ends, he pulls back and looks to our left, where a mirror can be seen. It’s full-length, and when you’re in the bath, you can see yourself rather clearly.
“I have an idea,” he murmurs.
“I don’t know . . .”
“Trust me, baby.”
He curls an arm around my waist, hauling me out of the water. He puts me on the edge of the bath, positioning me with my pussy exposed to the mirror, and then he gets back in the bath, coming up behind me on the ledge and curling his arm around my waist. I can see his head next to my body, and our eyes meet in the mirror.