“I suggest we all get some rest,” Creed stated. “If we’re going to leave before the sun comes up we should get some more sleep. Tomorrow might be another long day.”
“Oh, it will be,” Jack agreed as he grinned. “I texted Harry about our problem with Bandit and before I go to bed, I’ll text him this info. He’s usually up all night but I’ll bet you he won’t sleep until he knows everything there is to know about the Steele Brothers, Hector Gratis and Liam Stoughton.”
Lola shook her head. “Whatever he uncovers I don’t want to know. That info will get a person killed before they can even tell anyone.”
“Don’t worry little girl.” Jack barked a laugh. “They won’t be able to find him. Our Harry is very good at that sort of thing.”
Creed looked questioningly at his other brother but when Jack didn’t say anything else, he looked over at Lola. Sensing she was about ready to bolt, he moved closer. He didn’t know why but he couldn’t let her get away. While she may have told them most of what she was dealing with, he was almost positive she hadn’t told them everything. And it was that little bit she held back that might just get them all killed and that he couldn’t allow.
He’d already served his time for a crime he didn’t do, he’d be damned if he’d ever go back to that hellhole. The next few days would be crucial in discovering the truth and he had a feeling Lola would be very important in uncovering the biggest part of that truth. He didn’t know why but he had a feeling their paths crossed for a reason.
Now he just had to keep track of her. “Come on Lola, you’re with me tonight or what’s left of it.”
Lola was startled and glared at him. “Why? What did I do to get that honor?”
“Because I said so, now let’s go,” he grumbled. “I’m tired and I want to get a few hours’ sleep before we have to get on the road.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hall to a spare bedroom. He closed the door behind them with a soft click of the lock being set.
He watched her as she went over to the full sized bed and sat down. He could almost read the desperation throbbing out of her, smell the fear of him and while he hated she was afraid of him, he knew it might just work for him not against him tonight. He kicked off his boots at the door and went over to the bed. Going around the other side he laid out, almost groaning as his body sank into the softness of the mattress beneath him.
Reaching out, he dragged her down beside him and tucked her close. She fit rather nicely into the curve of his body, almost as if she was made for him. He threw his leg over hers and told her gruffly, “Sleep.” He curled around her.
It took several minutes for Lola’s body to relax.
Creed had learned how to fake sleep while in prison but right now, he was wide awake and holding perfection in his arms. He felt her snuggling in and then he felt her relax enough to fall asleep in his arms. A few minutes later, he dared to open his eyes and search her sleeping face.
Her red hair reminded him of a black cherry, almost black with highlights of red and gold and her skin was pale without looking washed out. It had a creamy texture and her eyes that were now closed were a brilliant violet color. He’d never seen eyes that color before. She was a small woman, yet she fit his body very well.
Her breasts were full and round, despite the oversized clothing she was wearing. They brushed up against his side and he could tell they were more than what they seemed. He’d seen the fear in her eyes earlier tonight and he hated that it was there. She didn’t deserve to feel that. No one did.
He settled down beside her and caught the scent of her skin. It was fresh and clean with a hint of cinnamon and spice. From what he remembered, most women smelled like flowers or were overly perfumed but Lola? She smelled like cinnamon and spices and the scent hit his gut with dull thud.
He snuggled in and closed his eyes with the thought she smelled like someplace he’d like to call home.
~*~
Creed groaned as his dreams went wild. He couldn’t remember where he was. He listened for the usual sounds of the other inmates. There were no sounds, except the soft breathing next to him. He felt a warm body close to him, a soft female body snuggled into his pelvis and whoever she was… she kept rubbing him in all the right places. He groaned but couldn’t bear to open his eyes in case she was only a dream. His big hands grabbed her waist and pulled her even closer to him. Arching his hips, he pushed his groin closer to her. Rubbing his hard cock into her softness, he groaned and his hands tightened as she tried to pull away.
“Don’t tease me baby.” He groaned. It had been too long since he felt this need inside him. It had been a long time since he’d had a woman in his arms or his bed. His entire body was shaking in need. Then Creed cracked his eyes open and he saw the red hair. He sighed and tried to pull away.
Clamping down on the hands holding her hips, she whimpered. “Please…”
“Please what baby?” he whispered.
“Please stay and finish what you started.”
Creed felt a sudden calm from deep inside him, like a weight had been lifted from his chest. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” He knew he shouldn’t but hell, he wanted this woman badly. He fairly ripped her pants down her legs and then barely got his jeans down before he plunged deep inside her wet core. He hardly felt the thin barrier as he pushed himself deep inside her cavern. All he could feel was the warm tight walls around him.
“Christ baby, you’re tight.” He gritted his teeth and he began stoking her with his cock rather gently and slowly. When his fingers found her clit and he began thumbing it as she moaned with the pleasure radiating through her whole body.
As he continued to plunge into her she began pushing back, allowing him in deeper with each stroke. He held her tightly and smothered her mouth with his, kissing her deeply as their tongues met in a wild breathless kiss. He felt such a pull from this woman and he reveled in her scent, the flavor of her, the way she wrapped perfectly around his body and his cock. He’d never remembered sex ever feeling this good.
All too soon, they were cresting the edge and then they both clenched tightly to one another into a blissful oblivion. Creed growled as he came hard. He held himself deep inside her as he swallowed up her cries with his mouth.
Creed closed his eyes and relished in the feeling he hadn’t had in over seven years. He glanced at the window and while it was still dark outside he knew dawn wasn’t far off. As much as he wanted to stay right here in this bedroom with her, to explore this with her, he knew they had to get moving. He slowly withdrew from her sweet body and frowned as he caught the smear of blood on his cock.
At first, he couldn’t think—then it hit him. She’d been a virgin! What the fuck? Then he noticed the scars on her shoulder. Frowning even deeper, he pushed the oversized shirt further up.
Lola yelped and tried to pull her shirt down again but Creed held her hands in place. He took a moment to search her back, noting each and every scar she had. They were all old scars and some were wide enough to have been made by a belt. Some were thin and straight as if they were made by a cane. His rage grew as he noted the number of scars.
He loosened his hold and she scrambled away from him. Curling up into the fetal position, she didn’t say anything. Creed felt his rage growing and rather than let it loose on her, he got up and went to get a warm washcloth. He came back and she was still curled up. “Look, sweetness. I didn’t mean to scare you. I…” I what? He asked himself. I took your innocence in a fit of lust after being celibate for so long? Then to see the abuse she had suffered with for perhaps years, he just couldn’t handle it.
He gently turned her over and washed between her thighs. As he did so, he felt something stir inside him that had never been there before. Was it guilt? Or was it the fact that he needed her? Or needed to protect her. He hoped to protect her and it was the least he could do.
Buckling his belt he growled, “Get dressed, we’re leaving soon.”
With that, he stomped his way over to the door and slammed it open on his way out. He didn’t know what to do or say now and that bothered him too.
~*~
Lola laid there for a moment, her eyes were welling with tears, but she wouldn’t let them fall. She should have known better. She kept people away for a reason but this morning she’d let him too close.
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for what she knew was coming next. Pulling on her clothes again, she straightened the covers on the bed and left the room.
When she entered the kitchen, she found everyone was busy getting ready for the move. Kalinda was feeding baby Rose while Silas and Jack made breakfast. Creed was outside unloading the bikes from the truck while Kimber and Bear were setting the table.
She went to the back door and watched Creed for a moment or so. She couldn’t see him well because he was moving around in the dark but the sky was just starting to lighten. Her thoughts about what happened were chaotic and she had no clue why she allowed it to happen but she did know she didn’t regret it.
If only for a fleeting moment she’d had everything, she ever wanted with in her reach and she had the guts to take it. She might never find it again in any other man but she did find her dreams with him as he’d made her feel whole and complete for just a little while. Even if it was only meant to last a moment in the mix of time.
Taking a deep breath, she turned and found everyone looking back at her. Blushing deeply, she walked over to the table and sat down.
Silas placed a plate of pancakes and eggs in front of her and told her to eat up, as they would be on the road soon.
She tried to take a bite but the food tasted like cardboard. She knew she should eat but she felt so confused.
Creed came into the kitchen and everyone but Lola looked up at him.
Lola then peeked over at him.
In his hand was a well-used worn backpack. He stared at her for a moment then looked at his family. “We got to go people. I know you don’t want to leave this early but we got to get out of town while the getting is good. I don’t want any trouble with the Steele brothers right now and if we wait, that’s what might happen.”
He looked over at his sister. “Kimber, I figure you can drive grandpa’s truck with Kalinda, Rose and Lola.”
Silas shook his head. “I ain’t gonna leave the women alone with no protection. I’ll drive the truck and you three can ride shotgun.”
Creed hesitated then finally nodded. “Ok Bear, Jack and I will ride our bikes while you and the women ride in the truck.” He walked over to where Lola was sitting staring at her half-eaten sandwich. Plopping the back pack on the table next to her he said, “I think this belongs to you. I found it in the back of the truck.”
Lola kept her eyes down and grabbing the pack, she held it tight in her arms and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Look at me,” he commanded softly, for her ears only.
Lola slowly lifted her gaze to him. She noted the regret and the stubborn denial in his eyes. Her heart was breaking and she knew deep down that while they might have given in to their own desires earlier, he didn’t feel the same thing she did. What happened had been earth shaking for her but not to him. To him, she was just another warm body.
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself to ignore her feelings and just get on with her life. She’d faced disappointment before and she knew she would again.
Creed lowered his face down to hers and whispered, “I’ll keep you safe, baby girl. No matter what else happens I will keep you safe. Trust me.”
Lola nodded. Funny enough she did trust him, he might break her heart, but she did trust him to keep her safe. She hugged her pack closer, what was inside would be worth more than just her life in the end. What she had taken from Lonny’s office would bring down his house of cards. That and what she overheard about Liam and Ginger would bring everyone down. All she had to do was get it to someone who could use the information for the good of Port Arthur, not bring it to its knees.
When Creed turned to his family, no one saw the single tear that rolled down her face. At least that’s what she thought but someone did see it.
Silas growled under his breath as Lola wiped the tear off her face. He turned his glare to his grandson but didn’t say anything.
A short time later, everyone was loaded and on the road. With Silas driving and Kimber in the front seat and Kalinda, Rosa and her in the backseat, Lola kept her head down until they got out of town. She didn’t want anyone to see her.
She knew the Steele brothers wouldn’t hesitate to bring down hell on these people if they saw her. She could hear the familiar sound of a bike behind her and beside her but she didn’t want to look in case it wasn’t Creed, Jack or Bear.
She looked over at the baby and smiled gently as she watched Rosa sleep. Her baby skin looked so soft and unblemished. Suddenly, the baby opened her eyes and the stark green of them reminded her of her uncle Creed’s eyes. She grinned when she remembered her dad had the same eyes, as did Silas, so green eyes must be a family trait.
She watched as baby Rosa slowly closed her eyes again. She was thinking that being loved and having family must be so nice. It was something she knew nothing about, something she’d only seen from afar, as she’d never known her own family. She’d been told she was found in a pile of trash behind a dumpster when she was only hours old. She had been a throwaway baby and the social services system never let her forget it.
In the foster system, you only got a place to sleep and not really any sense of belonging. At least that was her impressions of her life. She never fit in with any of the families that hosted her, except for Mrs. Harris. She almost belonged there for at least a little while almost, but in the end that fell apart for her too. She had learned at a very early age to take care of herself and depend on one. That way, her heart didn’t get involved and the disappointment wasn’t as bad for her when things went wrong.
Glancing around at the others in the truck, she knew this baby would be loved and cared for. She also knew they would protect her with their lives if it came down to it. Little Rosa was one of the lucky ones.
She settled down into the seat and closed her eyes. She was so tired, tired of running from the brothers, tired of being blamed for something she didn’t do, tired of being alone and not having a home. Since she was a little girl, she’d wanted to find her forever home.
Everyone had their own dreams and this was hers. She wanted to find the one place she could call home. She’d been on this earth for twenty-four years and fought against the tide for most of those years, scrambling to find some sense of belonging but up until now, she hadn’t even caught hope that such a place even existed. But here and now she was beginning to feel something deep in her soul. She wasn’t sure what it was but this feeling was different.
Was this feeling hope that she could find her forever home?
Snuggling down into the seat a little further, she was praying she would live long enough to find any kind of a home in the near future. Closing her eyes, she felt a tear roll slowly down her cheek.
She couldn’t help it, she’d fought for her place in the world all her life and seeing this family hurt. With Creed this morning, she’d found at least a little bit of forever, then he got so cold afterward, like he regretted sharing even that much with her. She had to fight to get her wall rebuilt so the pain of rejection wouldn’t hurt so bad this time. She’d done it before and she could do it again.
But damn, each time she had to rebuild that wall inside to protect her heart was getting harder and harder for her to do.
She slept right through the day dawning and the rest of the ride. It wasn’t until Silas pulled into a driveway and stopped the truck that she knew they had arrived at their next destination. She rousted awake when Creed’s bike came to a stop just outside her door.
She woke with a start and looked out the window with a jerk. She shrank away at the face beside hers. She didn’t mean to but the fears she lived with everyday still held her in their grip. She turned her head away from Creed but not before he saw the look in her eyes.
He got off his bike and opened her door. Holing out his hand, she hesitated then reached out to take it. His grip tightened for a brief moment then he wrapped his fingers in hers and helped her out of the truck.
He held her hand all the way to the front door, where Silas and Jack were greeting another man who could only be another brother. His dark hair was longer then Creed’s, hanging down his back in a ponytail and his arms were covered with tattoos but he hugged Silas and Jack like they were family.
This sight warmed Lola’s heart as they approached the door.
When he saw Creed, his green eyes widened and teared. “Oh Creed, you’re home again,” he whispered. “Thank god.”
Creed smiled and embraced the other man. “Hey, Harry, damn good to see you again, little brother.”
The brothers embraced and Harry pulled his family inside his house.
There, they were met by a pure black German Shepard dog and a woman with long dark hair and tattoos sleeves. She was dressed in jeans and a tank top. She smiled when she saw them. “You have all got to be Harry’s family.” She grinned.
Silas grinned and stepped up. “I would be his grandpa Silas, and who would you be darlin’?”
She smiled back and held out her hand but got pulled into a tight hug. “I’m Annie.” Her words came out in a whoosh of expelled breath.
He looked over his shoulder as his arm slid over her shoulder and grinned at Harry. “She’s your woman Harry?”
Harry nodded. “Sure is Grandpa.”
“Damn, you boys got fine tastes in women, I’ll give you that much.” Silas grunted stepping back.
Jack briefly hugged Annie next and when he stepped back, he smiled. “Annie, I’d like you to meet my woman, Kalinda and our daughter Rosa.” He wrapped his arms around his family and brought them in close.
Annie smiled and shook Kalinda’s hand then smoothed a finger over the baby’s cheek.
Then Creed came forward with Lola. He too, wrapped her in his arms.
Annie was squashed in his embrace. “Whoa there big guy.” She took a step back away from him and smiled. She turned to Lola and smiled then shrugged and admitted, “Sorry ‘bout that, but he’s huge and big guys scare me just a little.”
Creed frowned. “I would never hurt you, I hope you know that.”
Annie nodded. “I do, really I do, but guys I don’t know always make me leery. I hope you don’t mind.”
Creed studied her for a moment then nodded and brought Lola into the circle. “This is my woman, Lola.”
Lola gasped in shock. His woman? Since when? He just—
Annie gave her a quick hug interrupting her shock then stepped back.
Harry came over and wrapped an arm around Annie’s shoulder. He gave Creed a look and said, “Well brother, I know this isn’t a social call completely. Maybe we should catch you guys up on what we did find.”
Creed nodded and everyone moved over to the kitchen table. Sitting down, they all gazed at Harry and Annie.
“We’ve been looking into your arrest and trial. We found a consistency in errors that were overlooked at your trial. The DA railroaded you and we all know why, don’t we?” Harry sneered. Picking up a sheet of papers, he handed them to Creed. “We found out that the DA, Justin Walker is a second cousin to Bandit, whose real name is Dale Westerly.” He paused then added, “We looked more into Bandit’s family tree and discovered more than just Justin. His mother was divorced from his father, Wyatt and she remarried a man named Lyle Montgomery.”
“Montgomery?” Creed frowned. “Any kin to a Luke Montgomery?”
Harry nodded. “Yeah, Lyle has a son named Luke why?”
“Because I just spent the last seven years rooming with Luke Montgomery,” Creed informed them. “He told me he thought he’d been set up, that his trial was just a little too pat and there was missing evidence. Sound familiar?”
Harry growled. “Yeah, that sounds a little familiar. I will look into that but when I was tracking down the police files, I noticed there was something missing that should have been brought up and submitted to evidence.”
“And what was that?” Jack wanted to know.
“Mickie’s autopsy report. There was never a cause of death listed for her,” Harry announced to the room. Tension was high as the family sat there and thought about what he said. “The trial was focused on you and how you stunk of beer and the fact you were under the influence of something.”
‘ I tried to tell them at the time someone spilled a glass of beer on me and I don’t remember taking anything else that night. But the cops treated me like shit, thinking I would drive either drunk or high.”
“The truth is you were neither,” Harry assured him. “You were rufied.”
Creed stared over at his younger brother. “Did you find Mickie’s autopsy report?”
Harry smiled briefly. “Yeah, I did and I was surprised by what it said.”
“What did it say?” Silas growled.
“It said Mickie Reese died of blunt force head trauma and strangulation rather than the accident,” he announced.
Creed frowned and stared at his brother. “What?”
“She was already dead at the time of the accident. That’s why there was hardly any blood in her vehicle. According to the M.E. she’d been dead for two hours before her car smashed into that tree,” Harry explained. “Not only that but someone else’s DNA was all over her body.”
“What does that mean?” Silas asked.
Annie turned her head to stare at the older man. “It means that someone other than Creed raped that girl then proceeded to beat her and finally strangle her. They may have suppressed the report but they couldn’t destroy it.”
Creed stared at her for a long moment then turned his head to look at each member of his family. “That fucking bastard set me up. But why? Why would someone set me up to take a fall like that?”
“He was running drugs and guns to a club in Wichita Falls,” Harry replied.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Creed growled. “The Lost Sinners didn’t run drugs for anyone. Dad would never have allowed that.”
Silas agreed. “Not everyone in the club was happy about that fact either. Tate always said if you don’t like the rules then leave. He didn’t mind the guns though, there was good money in the gun trade.”
Jack scoffed. “We found out as soon as Dad disappeared and Bandit took over that he had his route already set up and he’d been doing it for years behind the old man’s back. Dad finally found the missing pieces of Bandit’s network and the reason you went to prison when he disappeared. He was gonna bust his operation wide open but he never got the chance.”
Harry continued from there, “Bandit just took over the presidency and if they stayed they’d better be prepared to do thing his way.” He snarled. Looking over to Silas, he told Creed. “When grandpa objected, Bandit had grandpa forced out of the club and beaten.”
Kimber finally spoke, “They killed dad I know it. Then when I found Gramps…” Her voice wavered as tears ran down her face. “At least he’s alive. I know that if Dad were alive, he would’ve found some way to let us know.”
Everyone thought about the man their father had been and what his disappearance meant to them.
Harry reached out and took Annie’s hand. “We still don’t know anything more about what really happened. There’s been no sign of him.” He turned and nodded at Kimber. “If Kimber hadn’t followed Bandit and Snake that day it would have cost Grandpa his life. We were all targets.”
Silas nodded. “Those bastards told me I wasn’t welcome at the club I fucking started. I told them they were all pussies, stealing a club that wasn’t theirs. Sneaking around and dealing drugs. They left me with four broken ribs and a severe concussion, not to mention a busted ankle. That bastard Snake stomped on my boot when they had me down on the ground. It took four of them to do it and I got back at them as much as I could but then that little fucker, Axe hit me from behind with a jack handle. That bastard always carried one in his saddlebags. Always said he had it for protection. After that, I don’t remember much.”
“It took a month for him to recover,” Kimber took up the tale. “Bear and several others were watching the ranch the whole time.”
Bear nodded. “All in all, about fourteen of us left the club. We joined under your dad’s leadership not Bandit’s. That he could do something like this just didn’t sit well with us. Hell, the little fucker even changed the name of the group to The Sinner’s. Now they think they can do whatever they want to anyone that gets in their way. Even the cops can’t stop them.”
Creed looked enraged. “Thanks for protecting my family when I couldn’t be there to do it myself.” He nodded at the other man with a cold glare in his eyes.
Bear shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me man, it was an honor. And just so you guys know, Kimber and I are together and we plan on making it legal.”
Total silence blanketed the room.
Creed glared at Bear as his fingers curled into fists. “Is that a fact?” His voice was low and calm and that was a sign most in the room recognized. When Creed’s voice lowered to a certain pitch and was calm, things were going to go to hell in a hurry. He still didn’t like what happened with Kimber, while he just remembered her being a kid when he left.
Kimber leaned over and touched his fist.
Creed slowly turned his head to look at her.
“Yes, big brother. We are together. He’s been a loyal brother to you and everyone else here. He’s been looking out for me and grandpa for years. He didn’t want to get on the family’s bad side but I wouldn’t let him push me away. I had a choice in this and I chose him.”
“Do you love him?” Creed asked.
“With all my heart.” She nodded solemnly.
Creed turned his head to glare at Bear. “Do you love my sister?”
Bear nodded. “Yeah, I do. I know I’m too old and too rough around the edges for her but I would take a bullet for her. I don’t deserve her but I’m not walking away from her now. Our hearts beat as one and will for the rest of my life.”
Creed searched the other man’s eyes and found he was telling the truth. Holding out his hand he said, “Then welcome to the family. But know this, if you ever hurt her, I will end you. Do you understand?”
Bear as big a man as he was, visibly broke out in a sweat. “Yeah, I understand.”
“Then we’re good.” Creed gave his hand a squeeze that was both hard and firm, though he still looked pissed off.
Silas chuckled. “Go easy there, Creed. I mean you are wound up tighter than a dammed cheap watch. You came out of the joint looking like some weightlifter and that’s okay, but you are carrying another kind of weight too, with that damn heavy chip on your shoulder.”
Creed sighed and looked up at his grandpa with a raised brow.
“No need to say a thing. We know it had to be hard, serving time for something you didn’t do. But you gotta remember, we are all a unit, not just an MC, not just blood, we are all the family we got left. We do this. We make sure we take back what’s ours and take out this trash. No attitudes needed.”
The men in the room all shook their heads as they smiled. Silas always had a way with words that got attention even from the meanest of men. It was partly why he’d gotten beaten so badly by Bandit and his men.
The women stared at Silas in a sort of awe.
Kimber looked amused and let out a snort-chuckle.
At the silly sound, the whole group started to laugh with her.
