“Harlen told me tonight that you want Jordan out. That shit can’t happen.”
“Pardon?” Wes asks, and I move my eyes through the men in the room to meet his once more.
“Jordan has been sent into the club to recruit the lower-ranking members and eventually take over by offering them a different kind of lifestyle.”
“You have got to be shitting me,” Wes growls.
“Nico knew you’d be pissed.”
“If he knew that, then he should have fucking talked to me about it.”
“He couldn’t, and if you think about it, you’d agree that he couldn’t. You would have lost your mind and blown his case. I know you don’t want the dirt Jordan is bringing into the club, but it’s already here and spreading. I know for a fact he’s gotten to a few of the guys, and he’s been putting feelers out to a few of you to see what you think and to test your loyalty to Wes,” I say, looking around, and a few of them nod.
“He approached me and Jinx a week ago,” Blaze says, and Wes frowns at him. “He didn’t go into detail. He just asked a few questions about our thoughts on making more money for the club.”
“You didn’t think to tell me about that?” Wes asks, and Blaze cuts his eyes to him.
“No, I didn’t think anything about it until right now. We didn’t even take him serious.”
“So what the fuck is Nico waiting for?” Harlen asks.
“I’m not sure. I only know he wanted me to keep an eye out and tell him who Jordan approached.”
“This is bullshit,” Z clips, looking at Wes. “Our fucking hands are tied and this motherfucker has free rein. He’s been around my wife and kid. That shit is not okay with me.”
“Does Jax know about this?” Wes asks, and I shake my head.
“No one does outside of this room and Nico’s team.”
“Fuck,” he barks, running a hand over his hair. “How many clubs have they taken over?”
“Three that Nico knows of.” I let out a breath then continue, “None of the other clubs put up a fight. Most of them were already leading themselves down the road the Southern Stars are traveling, and were all too happy to hand them over the reins, while keeping some control of their clubs and gaining a bigger profit in the long run.”
“We need to know how many of the guys have agreed to follow Jordan,” Harlen says, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “If he’s spreading that shit through the club, we need to know who’s willing to take him up on this offer.”
“As far as I know, only a couple of new guys have seemed interested. I don’t think the Stars did much research before sending Jordan into our midst. They don’t know that most of the men in this club are ex-military and loyal to a brotherhood stronger than theirs. If they would have looked into us, they would know this is the wrong type of club to bring that shit to.”
“We need a plan,” Harlen conveys, and all eyes go to him. “Jordan’s dad is Vice President. We can’t just take the kid out without blowback, but we also can’t let this stand. I understand Nico is working this case, but I say we give him a timeframe, and if he doesn’t get this sorted within that time, we cut ties with Jordan and make a statement that won’t go misunderstood.”
“Harlen’s right,” Mic agrees, and I look over at him, surprised he’s throwing in his two cents. Mic never has much to say. He’s the guy who is always observing everyone, keeping his opinion to himself. “One way or another, we’re going to have to make a statement about this shit, or we will have men who are wearing our patch committing crimes, using our name as a scare tactic. That shit is not okay with me, and I know it’s not okay with anyone in this room.”
“He’s right,” Wes cuts in, looking at me. “Others will think it’s okay to test us if we let this shit slide and don’t make a statement. We can’t have that. Regardless of what Nico wants or what he thought my reaction would be, he should have brought this shit to me. This is our club, our name, and I’m not okay with being used.”
“I didn’t want to keep this from you guys, but I got what Nico was saying.” I shrug. “I won’t apologize for my actions. I did what I felt was necessary at the time, and if given the same situation again, my choice would remain the same.”
“I know,” Wes mutters, patting my shoulder. “I get why you did what you did, and there are no hard feelings, but this shit isn’t okay with me, and I won’t let our name be dragged into some fucked-up turf war just so Nico can close a case. I won’t risk something happening to July or any of the brothers who wear the Broken Eagles cut.”
He was correct. There could be blowback on the club if shit went sideways, and at the end of the day, protecting our families and the men who have had my back since I walked into their club is more important than helping Nico. “I’ll talk to Nico, fill him in on tonight, and explain he has a limited amount of time to do what he needs to do before we step in.”
“I’ll also be talking to him,” Wes says, crossing his arms over his chest. “He should have talked to me about what was going down and let me decide my course of action.”
“You know with what happened to July, you would have shut him down,” Mic retorts, pinning Wes with his gaze. “I get why he went to Evan with this. He knows Evan’s loyal to us, but also knows what we stand for and that we wouldn’t want Jordan or anyone not loyal to what we stand for riding with us. You would have gotten rid of Jordan and any member loyal to him without hearing Nico out, and brother, as much as I hate to say this shit, I agree with what Nico is doing. I didn’t spend years fighting for what I believe in to take the easy way out when some slimy motherfucker thinks his balls are bigger than they are. He and his crew might think they found a group of men easy to turn, but they are going to learn the hard way that’s not the case.”
“Well, there you go,” Z mutters, and the rest of the guys chuckle, while Wes lets out a sigh then looks at me.
“I want to know how long he thinks this shit is going to take. When we have that information, we’ll figure out our next step,” he mutters and heads for the door. I do the same, lifting my chin to the guys before stepping outside behind him.
*
“Lane’s free. All charges were dropped yesterday,” Jax says as soon as I put the phone to my ear, before I even have a chance to say hello.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” I growl, and June, who is asleep, draped half over me, her leg thrown over mine with her hand across my waist, stirs. “Hold on a sec,” I mutter to Jax, dropping my phone back to the nightstand.
Kissing the top of her head, I move out from under her, being careful not to wake her as I slide out of bed and pick up my sweats off the chair. Putting them on, I grab my cell and leave the room, shutting the door behind me.
“I thought they had a case against him?” I prompt, when the door is closed.
“Nothing stuck. His lawyers made it look like he was just a good, wholesome college kid with a bright future, and a fucked-up family who happens to be into bad shit.”
“Fuck.” I run my hands over my face, taking a seat on the edge of the couch and putting my elbows to my knees. “Is the no-contact order still in place?”
“No. Like I said, he was cleared of all charges.”
“I want a restraining order against him. I don’t want him anywhere near June,” I say, while trying to keep from roaring or crushing my phone, which is exactly what I want to do.
“I’ll see what I can do, but my guess is that won’t be possible. He hasn’t harassed or threatened her in anyway, so it won’t be easy to convince a judge there is a need for one.”
“Try,” I demand.
“You know I will.”
“If he shows up here, I won’t be held responsible for what I do to him.”
“I don’t think he’d hurt her,” he says quietly, and my teeth grind together. I don’t think he’d hurt her either, but the fact that he’s touched her is enough of a reason for me to put a bullet in him. “Evan,” Jax calls, and I let out a breath, realizi
ng I had gone quiet.
“If it were Ellie, how would you feel?”
“Point taken,” he mutters. Ellie and her daughter Hope, who Jax adopted as his own, are the two most important things in his life. Jax would never let anyone he perceived as a threat anywhere near them, and knowing that, I know he understands where I’m coming from.
“I need to talk to June. See what you can do about the restraining order and get back to me. I’m sure Nico already called her dad, and with my luck, he’s going to show up here, wanting to talk to his girl in person.”
“You learn quick,” he laughs.
“No, I just know what I would do if I had a daughter.”
“Right.” He sighs. “I’ll get back to you on the restraining order.”
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“Have June call me when she’s up. I need a favor.”
“What’s up?”
“I made reservations for Ellie and me weeks ago for Diego’s in Nashville. Mom and Dad were supposed to watch Hope, but they had to go out of town, and Ashlyn’s busy, so I need to see if June minds watching her.”
“Bring her over.”
“You sure?”
“June will probably need the distraction, and we’ll be home.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll give you a call back,” he says then hangs up.
Dropping my eyes to the carpet, I sigh. This shit is fucked up and not what we need right now. Knowing there is nothing I can do at the moment, I look at Ninja, who is lying on the chaise with his head hanging half off the side, watching me as his head lifts and tilts to the side.
“Come on. Let’s go outside.” I stand then move to the backdoor, turning off the alarm before sliding the door open and letting him out. I watch him for a few minutes while he wanders around the backyard, sniffing everything he comes in contact with. Leaving him out back, I head for the kitchen and start a pot of coffee then hear June’s phone ringing from somewhere in the house. It’s not in the bedroom, but where the fuck it is, is anyone’s guess. Half the time, I wonder why she even has a cell, since she never has it on her and can’t find it most of the time.
Heading for the laundry room, planning to start my search for the phone there, I hear a loud thump and cry from the bedroom. I rush back in that direction then laugh when I open the door and find June on the floor, the blankets tangled around her and her hair in disarray.
“I fell off the bed.” She shakes her head, looking around.
“I see that. Are you okay?”
“I haven’t done that since you’ve been back,” she mutters, looking confused and completely adorable as she blows a strand of hair out of her face.
“That’s ’cause when I’m in bed with you, you’re attached to me like an octopus,” I explain, walking fully into the room and picking her up off the floor.
“I don’t attach myself to you like an octopus!” she cries. “You attach yourself to me. I can’t even move an inch in the bed without you following me and pinning me in place.”
“Babe,” I chuckle, “if I didn’t control you in your sleep, you’d roll off the bed or knee me in the nuts.”
“Whatever,” she huffs, trying to unwrap the twisted sheet from around her naked body.
“Let me help you with that,” I insist, taking the edge of the sheet from her grasp, giving it a tug, and making her fall into me while the sheet falls to the floor.
“Ev,” she gasps, looking up at me with wide eyes.
“What’s up, baby?” I run one hand up her back, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, while the other slides down, cupping her bare ass cheek.
“Ev,” she breathes against my mouth that has lowered, an inch from hers, pressing her chest into mine, while her hands slide around my waist and down the back of my sweats.
“I love that.” My words are spoken against her mouth as my hand slides down farther, cupping between her legs, feeling she’s already primed for me. “Hop up.” I tap the back of her leg then catch her when she does, and wrap my hands around her thighs. I carry her toward the bathroom while her tongue licks up my neck, ending its ascent at my ear which she nips. The sensation obliterates all thoughts of this morning’s phone call and the conversation we need to have.
“We need to talk, beautiful,” I tell June, once we’re out of the shower and in the kitchen. Taking the coffee pot off the heater, I pour her a cup then turn to look at her when I notice she hasn’t answered me. I find her digging through a big box she brought into the kitchen a few minutes ago.
“What’s up?” she asks, distracted, pulling odds and ends out of the box and setting them on the island.
“What are you looking for?” I move to her side with her cup of coffee in my hand, wondering what she’s searching for.
“Found it.” She grins, holding up a small, silver paper box. Opening it up, she takes whatever is in the box out, and holds it out between us, before sliding it on her finger.
It takes me a second to recognize the shiny piece of gold metal sitting around her ring finger. A piece of metal I put there years ago. A piece of metal I never thought I would see again. The ring I gave her when she became my wife. It was what I could afford at the time. I knew that one day, when we were settled and I could afford it, I would put a diamond on her finger. A ring worthy of her. But after everything that happened, I never thought I’d get the chance.
“Ev?” she whispers, and I drop her cup of coffee to the island then lift her up, planting her next to it.
“Do not move,” I demand, pointing at her while speaking through the lump that has formed in my throat, as I let her go and head back to the bedroom. I dig through my bag sitting in the bottom of the closet until I find what I’m looking for, and shove it into the pocket of my sweats.
Going back to the kitchen, I find her where I left her on the counter. Her eyes are on me, but her guard is up. I can tell she doesn’t know what to think. “Take that shit off your finger,” I growl when I’m close. Her eyes widen and her bottom lip trembles as she drops her gaze from me to her hands. Rolling the ring around on her finger, she swallows then slowly slips it off.
“I’m sorry. It was stupid.” Her head shakes. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Grabbing her knees, I open her legs wide, making room for my hips, then take the ring from her hand and hold it up between us. “Look at me.”
“I should get breakfast started,” she murmurs to her lap, where her eyes are still pointed. The sadness and defeat in her tone makes my gut clench.
Pressing closer, I soften my voice. “Look at me, beautiful.” Her head slowly comes up and I see tears swimming in her eyes. “This ring was put on your finger by a coward,” I say, and I watch anger fill her eyes, anger that catches me off guard. It’s an emotion that makes me realize for the millionth time the kind of idiot I am, because I know that anger is her wanting to defend me. “It was put there by a man who wasn’t strong enough for you. A man who didn’t deserve you,” I continue quietly, closing the ring tightly in my fist.
“No.” She lifts her hands, pushing at my chest, trying to shove me away. “No!” she repeats, yelling this time.
Grabbing her wrists, I hold them to me, watching her chest rise and fall quickly. “The kind of man you deserve wouldn’t have left you. He wouldn’t have given up on you. He would have done everything possible to make sure you never doubted his feelings for you. I wasn’t that man before.”
“Stop!” she screams, and I let go of her left hand, reach into my pocket, and then drop to my knee in front of her.
“The man I was didn’t deserve you. He didn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as you. But I do. I’m not the man I was then, and I vow, every day until I take my last breath, to prove myself worthy of you.” I hold up the ring, which I picked out weeks ago, between us. A ring worthy of being on her finger, given to her by a man worthy of her. “Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”
“Oh, God.” Her hand covers her mouth and tears fall f
rom her eyes as she looks between the ring and me. “Oh, God,” she repeats, dropping forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, shoving her face there, and sobbing, “Yes.”
“Calm down, baby. You’re scaring the fuck out of me,” I whisper, rubbing her back while listening to her loud sobs as her body shakes.
“I can’t calm down!” she cries on a hitched breath, pulling her face out of my neck. “Who could possibly calm down after that?” she asks, using her hands to wipe the tears off her face.
“Can you at least pull it together long enough for me to put the ring on your finger?” I request, picking her up and placing her back on the top of the counter.
“Yes. But only after I say something,” she breathes through her tears, resting her warm hands against my chest while searching my face. “There was never a time you didn’t deserve me.”
“June,” I warn, giving her knee a squeeze.
“No.” She shakes her head. “You have always, always been good enough for me. I fell in love with you—all of you—not just one piece of you that I thought was perfect. There was never a time I didn’t love you. You need to know that.” She slides her hand up my chest to my neck and under my jaw. “I love you, Evan, all of you. Even the parts of you that you don’t like.”
“I don’t deserve you,” I get out through clenched teeth.
“And I don’t deserve you either, but I’m keeping you anyway.” She smiles and tilts her head to the side, smiling brightly. “Can I have my ring now?”
“Yes.” I lean forward, kissing her softly, then pull back and take her hand, sliding the three-carat, cushion-cut diamond ring on her finger, transfixed by the sight of it.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispers, holding her hand to my chest, turning it one way then the other and watching the light catch on it before looking up at me. “But when we get married, I want my old ring sitting next to this one. I don’t want something new, when my something old was perfect to begin with.”