Patriot (Hades Abyss MC 6)

Harley Wylde

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Copyright ©2020 Harley Wylde

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Changeling Press LLC
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www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Crystal Esau
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

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Table of Contents

Patriot (Hades Abyss MC 6)

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Dedication and Acknowledgements

Harley Wylde

Patriot (Hades Abyss MC 6)

Harley Wylde

MaryAnne -- I was sixteen when I learned a hard lesson. No, it wasn’t a lesson. It was worse. Kidnapped, tortured, abused in the worst of ways… I’d thought my life was over. Until the day my knight in shining armor came to save me. Patriot. Despite how scary he looks, he has to be the kindest man I’ve ever met. He not only rescues damsels in distress, but animals too. Under that hard exterior is a heart of gold. It doesn’t matter that he’s older than me. The more I get to know him, the harder I start to fall. But why would a man like him ever want someone like me? I’m dirty. Damaged. Broken beyond repair. Or am I? After all, Christmas is a time for miracles.

Patriot -- From the moment I saw her, she’s had me wrapped around her finger. I’ve done my best to chase the fear and shadows from her eyes, show her she’s safe. I’ve taken out nearly every man who ever hurt her, even if she doesn’t know it. And the two who are still standing won’t be for long. I want to see her smile. Make her laugh. What better time than Christmas to prove to her life is worth living? I’ll make it the best she’s ever had!

But there’s only one thing I want under the tree this year… MaryAnne. She deserves better. I’m no angel. I’ve killed. Lied. Stolen. And worse. I tell myself repeatedly to keep my distance… until I can’t. One taste and I know I’ll never walk away. MaryAnne is mine! And if she won’t listen to me, then maybe my whacky parrot can convince her. If there’s one thing the African Grey excels at, it’s talking when he shouldn’t.

Prologue

MaryAnne -- 1 ½ Years Ago

“You’ll be safe here,” said the gruff biker as he handed me off to two orderlies.

The men gripped my arms and I tried not to fight them off. My skin crawled where they touched me. The Sadistic Saints kidnapped, tortured, and raped me before they sold me to a brothel. When my cousin’s club, the Hades Abyss MC, found me, they assured me I’d be okay. I’d thought they were taking me to Sean, but instead I’d been brought here to The Dunbrooke Institute.

I couldn’t speak. Inside, I was screaming for them not to leave me here. The men dragged me away and behind a secured door. I couldn’t see the biker who’d brought me here, but I’d remember his name for a long time. Brick. I didn’t think he meant to be cruel, but he’d abandoned me. I didn’t like this place.

“Such a pretty little thing,” one of the orderlies said, running his hand down my hair. “The doc is going to love her.”

The other man chuckled. “I think we all will. Can’t wait to have a taste.”

No. No, no, no! I couldn’t go through that again. I just couldn’t.

I had no doubt what they meant. When they stripped me down and “helped” me shower, I knew I hadn’t escaped hell. I’d only transferred to another level. These men would hurt me like the others had.

A man in a white lab coat stepped into the room before I’d been given clothes. I shivered, my arms wrapped around my torso. I felt exposed. Humiliated. And without hope. The man looked me over with a critical eye.

“What do we have?” the man asked.

“Seventeen-year-old girl, Dr. Jones. Some biker brought her here. Said he found her in a whorehouse.”

A gleam lit the doctor’s eyes. “Really? Well, then. It looks like we have ourselves a proven cash cow. Let’s see how good she is.”

One of the orderlies started stripping off his clothes, a leer on his face. I went hot, then ice cold. Fog crept across my brain and as he reached for me, his hand squeezing my ass, I went to the safe place inside my head. A dark room where I didn’t feel pain and hopefully wouldn’t remember all the vile things they did to me.

It was the only way I knew how to survive.

I didn’t know how much time passed but I snapped back to reality when they submerged my body in icy water. I gasped and tried to claw my way out of the tub. They laughed and held me down, groping me.

“Oh, yeah. I’m going to like this one,” one of them said.

“Leave her in the ice bath at least fifteen minutes,” Dr. Jones said. “Then scrub her and put her in room 52K. I know exactly what we’re going to do with patient 2763.”

A number. They’d reduced me to a number.

What did it matter? MaryAnne Swenson had died the day the Sadistic Saints grabbed me and turned me into a whore. I was no one now. Nothing. A body for them to use as they saw fit. Maybe one day they’d kill me, then my suffering would be over. Until then, I’d escape inside my mind as often as I could.

Please, God. Send them back. Make them come get me. I can’t stay here. I can’t endure any more.

My prayers had gone unanswered for so long. I didn’t think now would be any different. Yet somewhere deep inside, I still wanted someone to come rescue me. I’d already learned I couldn’t save myself. Trying only caused more pain.

I only hoped if the Hades Abyss did return for me that there would still be some humanity left in me. I felt my mind slipping more and more every day. Soon, I’d only be a dried-up husk. Little more than a mindless puppet. If that happened, I hoped someone would end my suffering. I’d rather be dead than live like this another day.

* * *

Three Months Later

I’d been staying with Patriot for a few months now, and I still kept waiting for something bad to happen. No one had been mean to me, or tried to touch me since I’d come here. I wasn’t sure I believed I was safe. Except with Patriot. He was the only one I trusted in this place. Even my cousin made me feel hesitant. It wasn’t that I thought Sean would hurt me, but he’d changed and I didn’t know this new version.

I stared at the pale yellow walls and delicate white curtains at the window. The room was soft and feminine, and a far cry from how it had looked when I first arrived. Patriot had worked hard to give me a place to call a safe haven. He’d painted the room himself and hung the curtains. I’d been too timid to ask for anything, so he’d also purchased bedding he thought I might like.

He’d treated me better than anyone ever had, even before I’d been kidnapped. I knew he probably wanted his home back. Even though he’d been unfailingly kind to me, I couldn’t help but wonder if he only tolerated my presence. When I’d first arrived, Sean hadn’t been in any sort of shape to take care of me, so Patriot had permitted me to stay with him. My cousin was back on his feet now, and yet I hadn’t moved out.

I heard classic rock blaring out front and peered through my window down below. Patriot was on his back under the Bronco, his tools scattered around him and his jeans smeared with oil. I liked standing here, watching him. Maybe it made me a bit of a stalker, but there was something about him that drew me like a moth to a flame. I knew he was older than me, probably by quite a bit, but he was also handsome. I’d even go so far as to call him sexy, and I hadn’t thought I’d ever feel that way about a man. Not after all I’d endured.

He slid out from under the Bronco and yanked his shirt over his head, tossing it aside. My breath caught at the perfection of his body. His arms and chest were inked and covered in muscle. The sun glinted on his reddish-brown hair, making it shine with copper tones. I sighed and wondered how he wasn’t cold without his shirt. It was nearly December, and not exactly warm outside.

My phone rang, making me jump away from the window. I picked it up off the bed and saw it was my cousin.

“Hi, Sean.” He growled softly and I winced. “Sorry. Galahad.”

“It’s been three months, MaryAnne. Last thing I need is you slipping up and calling me Sean in front of my brothers. It shows a lack of respect.”

I sank to the floor, my back to the wall, and drew my knees to my chest. His tone of voice sent me back to a place I never wanted to go. My hand trembled as I held onto the phone. “Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I sometimes forget you’re still a kid,” he said. “Try to remember, okay? I’m not angry. Not really. You’ve been through hell and don’t need me fussing at you.”

The last thing I wanted was for anyone to call me a kid. I’d had to grow up fast after I’d been kidnapped. I’d met women ten years older than me who acted like they were still in high school.

“Why did you call?” I asked.

“Patriot isn’t answering his phone. I needed to ask him something. Can you get him for me?”

I chewed on my lower lip. Yeah, I could technically walk out and hand my phone to him. I wasn’t sure I was comfortable doing it. Taking a breath, I steadied my nerves and got up. Even though I had on fuzzy peppermint-striped socks that matched my red sweater and skinny jeans, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to go out without shoes. Then again, it was the end of November in Mississippi. There was a chance it was in the seventies outside. I liked to be completely covered, head to toe, these days. Even having bare arms made me feel exposed.

I padded downstairs and went out the front door. The music was even louder as I approached Patriot. He’d slid back under the Bronco so that only his legs stuck out. I nudged his calf with my toes. His body went tight, and he slowly came out from under the vehicle. My throat went dry and my hand shook as I handed my phone to him. A frown marred his handsome face as he stood and took it.

“Who is this?” he demanded, keeping an eye on me. He listened a moment and his eyes narrowed. “What the fuck did you say to MaryAnne?”

I sucked in a breath. I’d noticed he was protective of me, but my heart always gave a little kick whenever he got that tone with someone. He didn’t like it when anyone upset me, and it was only one of the reasons I’d started to fall a little in love with him. Except I’d recently turned seventeen and he was a grown man who could have any woman he wanted. Why would he want someone like me anyway? I knew he’d seen the videos of what happened at the hospital where they’d left me. Even if I ever felt I was ready to date, no one would ever want to touch me. Certainly no one who knew about my past, and I wasn’t comfortable leaving the compound to start a new life elsewhere. It wasn’t safe outside the gates.

He grunted and muttered something into the phone before disconnecting the call and handing the phone back to me. I took it and slipped it into my pocket, then shifted from foot to foot. He watched me, not moving or saying a word. Did he want me to leave? I backed up a step and he reached out, wrapping his fingers around my wrist only to release me just as quick.

“You have everything you need?” he asked.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“I’ll be done out here in about a half hour. I’ll need a shower, but when I’m done we can go grab a bite to eat. You feel up to going out somewhere?”

I hesitated. I loved spending time with him, but leaving the compound still frightened me a little. I knew they’d taken care of the rival club, and I’d heard the staff at the hospital were being picked off one by one. What I didn’t know was whether or not I’d run into anyone who’d purchased time with me during my captivity. I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to face any of those men.

Patriot moved a step closer and reached out, tugging a lock of my hair. “I’ll keep you safe, Little Bit. Promise. No one will so much as breathe wrong in your direction. If they do, I’ll gut them where they stand.”

My lips twitched with a smile. I knew he’d do it too. He’d slammed the doctor against a concrete wall when he’d come to pick me up at the hospital. Granted, the man was a rapist and murderer. He’d deserved what he got and so much more.

“All right. I’ll go.”

He eyed me a moment, smiling when he saw my socks. “Not Christmas yet, MaryAnne.”

“I like the bright colors. Makes me happy.”

His gaze grew somber and he reached out slowly. His fingers skated over a lock of my hair. Anyone else tried to get this close, I’d have bolted. But Patriot wasn’t just anyone. He’d saved me when no one else had bothered. I knew Titan, the President of the Hades Abyss Mississippi chapter, had sent him, but the way Patriot had knocked the doctor out and promised I’d be safe? It always made me swoon a little when I remembered how fierce he’d been. I’d been scared shitless at the time, but I knew now I could trust him with my life. Even then, I’d been drawn to him a little.

“I’ll be okay,” I said.

“I know you will.” His lips quirked in a half-smile. “Strongest woman I know, Little Bit. Don’t ever let anyone say different.”

I didn’t know how he could say such a thing. I wasn’t strong. The men who’d taken me had nearly broken me. I might still be standing, but I didn’t think I’d ever be close to the person I’d been before. That carefree girl was long gone. I’d seen the ugliness in the world, had it touch me, felt the darkness seeping into my soul. There were some things you didn’t bounce back from.

No, I’d never be that MaryAnne again. I’d be someone new.

Chapter One

MaryAnne -- Present Day

I shifted from foot to foot as I stared at the clubhouse. Even though I was eighteen now, I knew I wasn’t permitted inside. More for my safety than anything else. Well, that and I wasn’t sure I wanted to see the club whores hanging on Patriot. I’d come to think of him as mine, and I hated the thought of him being with those women. He’d never given me even a hint that he might think of me as something other than a kid sister or pesky houseguest, but in my dreams, he belonged to me and I belonged to him.

I exhaled, my breath fogging the air. December in the south wasn’t exactly freezing most of the time, but a cold snap had come through and it was now a chilly forty degrees outside. For a place that stayed over one hundred degrees in the summer, it might as well have been ten below zero. I clutched my leather jacket tighter and stomped my booted feet to warm up a little.

Music blasted from the building and I could hear the crowd inside. Not only was there a line of bikes across the front, but quite a few cars were parked in the lot too. I’d wanted to go to the clubhouse several times since Patriot had brought me here, to see what it looked like on a typical night, but I always chickened out. I knew they didn’t want me inside, and Patriot would likely blow a gasket when he found out what I was about to do. This was the closest I’d come to actually going inside when a party was in full swing. I approached the building and put my hand to the door.

Come on, MaryAnne. Stop being a chicken.

I pushed my way inside and fought back a cough as I sucked in a lungful of smoke. I waved my hand in front of my face and surveyed the room. No one had noticed me yet. It wasn’t like I was wearing a disguise. I went up to the bar and smiled at Riley. His eyebrows rose and he scanned the room before focusing on me again.

“Patriot know you’re here?” he asked.

I sank my teeth into my bottom lip and shook my head. Was he going to make me leave? He looked around again, his muscles tensing. Riley took a step back and pulled a clear soda from one of the mini fridges, poured it into a glass, added grenadine and mixed it before he topped it with two cherries. He handed me the glass and I eyed it a moment.

“I’m not giving you alcohol,” he said. “Why the hell did you come here tonight?”

I didn’t know how to answer his question so I took a swallow of my drink and pretended I hadn’t heard him. I felt heat along my back and a citrus scent filled my nose. I used the mirror behind the bar to see who it was and tried not to grimace when I saw Smoke practically on top of me. He braced an arm on the bar beside me and leaned in closer.

“Are you trying to piss off Patriot? Stop flirting with Riley and take your ass home.”

My back straightened and I slowly turned my head to look at him. “I’m not here to flirt with Riley, or anyone else.”

“Look around you, MaryAnne. What the fuck do you think women come here to do? Because it’s not sit at the fucking bar drinking whatever the hell Riley gave you.”

“It’s a Shirley Temple,” I said. At least, I thought that’s what he’d made. I’d never looked up how you actually made one, but I’d read a book where the heroine only drank Shirley Temples.

“Girl, unless you want to be bent over a table and fucked, you need to leave.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. A buzzing sound filled my ears and my hand shook, causing my drink to slosh all over the bar top. Riley cursed and leapt over it, heading into the crowd as darkness crept along the edges of my vision. I couldn’t breathe. Everything started spinning, and I felt myself sway on the stool. It could have been seconds or minutes that passed. Time had no meaning.

I heard a door slam into the wall and everything around me went silent.

“What the fuck did you do?” Patriot roared.

I felt strong arms close around me and I cried out, tensing and clawing at whoever had grabbed me. Lips pressed close to my ear and the scent of leather and motor oil filled my nose, calming me a little.

“Easy, Little Bit. I’ve got you,” Patriot said, his voice soft and low. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

“Fuck, man. I was only trying to get her to leave. I knew you’d be pissed to find her here,” Smoke said. “She wouldn’t listen to reason so I tried to scare her enough to send her running home.”

“She was having a Goddamn panic attack. What did you say to her?” Patriot demanded.

“Nothing! Christ, I told her to look around, that women only came here for one reason. I knew she wasn’t up for that. Hell, we all know it,” Smoke said.

My heartrate slowed and I sucked in a lungful of air, then another. I leaned against Patriot as the world came into better focus and looked around. Riley was heading our way with Pretty Boy on his heels.

“I didn’t know where you were,” Riley said. “I went to the office and found Pretty Boy. The second she looked like she was going to pass out, I knew she needed to get out of here, but I didn’t dare reach for her.”

“And then I texted you because I knew you’d want to be here,” Pretty Boy said.

Patriot turned me to face him and tipped my chin up. “What happened, Little Bit?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re not fucking fine. What did he say to you?”

Smoke started blustering but a quick glare from Patriot and Pretty Boy shut him up.

“He said staying meant being bent over a table and fucked.” Saying the words made my hands clench and my stomach drop. I’d thought I’d healed, but maybe I was still every bit as broken as when Patriot had brought me here.

Patriot moved so fast, he was a blur as he spun away and landed a punch right across Smoke’s jaw. Except he didn’t stop. He went after him like a rabid beast. Pretty Boy, Brick, and Cache all tried to pull him off. It was like someone had flipped a switch inside him, and he wasn’t going to stop until he’d made Smoke bleed all over the floors.

“Don’t fucking talk to her again,” Patriot said. “Don’t even look at her.”

Smoke worked his jaw back and forth, then spat blood on the floor. “Fine. But her ass has no business in the clubhouse on a night like this and you damn well know it. I was only trying to get her to fucking leave.”

“She was sitting at the bar, that’s it,” Riley said in a subdued tone.

“I thought you were here,” I said looking at Patriot. “I shouldn’t have come. I thought… I thought I’d healed enough that I could handle walking in here, having a drink and… I don’t know. But I was wrong. I’m not healed. I’m still broken.”

A tear slipped down my cheek, then another.

Patriot wrapped his arms around me again. “No, you’re not broken. You’ve come so far, MaryAnne. If you’d wanted to come to a party, even long enough to have a drink, you should have told me. I’d have brought you. We could have sat at a table or the bar together.”

My cheeks warmed and I looked away, finding a spot on the wall rather fascinating. “You don’t come here to babysit me.”

Pretty Boy snorted. “He doesn’t come here at all.”

My gaze shot to him. “What?”

I felt Patriot tense, his arms tightened even more. It was a little like being hugged by a boa constrictor, except I knew he wasn’t going to literally squeeze me to death. He didn’t come to the clubhouse anymore? I’d thought the nights he left he’d come here to party, to be with the women I knew hung out with the club. If he hadn’t been here all those times, then where had he gone?

Oh. My heart sank. It wasn’t that he’d been leaving to party. He’d wanted time to himself. I’d invaded his house, a constant unwanted presence. He couldn’t even be alone in his own home. I knew Sean didn’t want me staying with him, but maybe I could figure something else out. I didn’t have a job or money to rent a place in town, and I really didn’t want to leave the compound.

“Whatever thought crossed your mind right now is probably the wrong conclusion,” Pretty Boy said. “You look like someone killed your dog.”

“Come on, Little Bit. Let’s get you home,” Patriot said, carrying me out of the clubhouse. I glanced at the door that still stood open and winced when I realized he’d slammed it so hard into the wall it had cracked the drywall.

I’d walked to the clubhouse since I didn’t drive, and I’d planned to walk back. Patriot stopped at his bike, which I now realized hadn’t been in the line of motorcycles in front of the clubhouse earlier. He’d left it in the middle of the lot when he’d come in to save me.

Patriot eased me down his body and swung his leg over the seat. “Get on, Little Bit.”

I got onto the bike and placed my hands at his sides, gripping his leather cut. Patriot pried my fingers loose and pulled my arms around his waist until my hands settled over his belt buckle. My heart took off at a gallop and a weird feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. He took his time getting to the house, the motorcycle prowling the street at a near crawl. I wasn’t sure if he was worried I’d been drinking and would fall off, or something was on his mind. Maybe he wasn’t ready to go back home?

He pulled into the driveway and up under the carport. I got off the bike and backed up. When he shut off the engine, I felt like I should say something. He’d clearly had plans tonight, even if they hadn’t included the party at the clubhouse. Didn’t mean he hadn’t been on a date. Oh, God. Was he seeing someone? Pain pierced me at the thought.

“You don’t have to stay,” I said. “I won’t leave again.”

At least, not until I’d packed and figured out where I was going. It was clear I was cramping his style and he needed some space. I backed up another step and kept going until I hit the side door. Patriot watched me, his gaze intent. I reached behind me for the knob and twisted it, letting myself into the house.

I’d no sooner shut the door than it flew open again. I whirled, my hand at my throat and pulse racing as I stared at him. Was he mad at me? Would he hurt me? He never had before, but I knew even the nicest looking man could have evil inside him.

“We need to have a talk, Little Bit,” he said.

A small, gray puff ball raced into the room. Patriot hadn’t named the little thing yet, but he’d rescued the kitten three weeks ago and now it seldom left his side. I’d noticed he had a tendency to bring home strays. Like me.

“If you needed your space, all you had to do was say so. I’ll figure something out,” I said.

He stalked forward, slamming the door shut behind him with a violent shove. I trembled, my feet rooted to the floor. It felt like my heart might pound out of my chest. He kept coming until his body pressed against mine. I took a step back, then another. He followed, matching my pace, until he’d backed me to the kitchen counter. He braced his arms on either side of me, leaning in close.

“Why the fuck do you think I want you out of this house?” he asked, his tone low and even with a hint of steel. “What have I ever done to make you think you’re not welcome here?”

I licked my suddenly dry lips and forced myself to hold his gaze. “You needed time away from the house. Away from me. You shouldn’t have to leave your home for some peace and quiet.”

He closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring as he exhaled harshly. “Fuck.”

The little kitten pawed at my feet and ankles before bounding around Patriot and then running from the room. I heard a bark and knew another of his strays hadn’t liked being disturbed. For such a tough guy, he had a gentle touch when it came to injured animals. And people.

“I need a few days and I’ll find a place to stay.”

His eyes opened and he leaned in closer until his nose brushed against mine. My eyes nearly crossed, trying to hold his gaze. Before I knew what he was doing, his lips slammed against mine, his hand going to my hair. He grabbed a handful and held me still as he ravaged my mouth. I gripped the sides of his cut, holding on in case my legs gave out. It was my first real kiss, and it felt like I was floating, and burning at the same time.

He drew back, chest heaving, as he stared at me. My cheeks felt like they were on fire and my lips tingled. With anyone else, I’d have been terrified. But this was Patriot, the man who’d saved me, given me a place to live, taken care of me. And he’d kissed me.

“Fuck,” he muttered again. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

He started to pull away, but I gripped him tighter and held on. My brain was foggy, and I wasn’t sure I could speak yet. But I knew I didn’t want him to go. I wasn’t upset he’d kissed me. It was wonderful. He was wonderful.

“MaryAnne, I’m sorry. After everything you’ve been through, you don’t need me taking advantage. Christ! I’m twelve years older than you.” He ran a hand down his face and shook his head.

“Patriot, I didn’t push you away, did I?”

“What are you saying, Little Bit?” he asked.

I felt my cheeks get warmer. “I liked it. I trust you, Patriot. There’s no one else I’d want to kiss me.”

“Ronan. Call me Ronan.” He cupped my cheek. “If anyone should use my name, it’s you. Maybe I’m a sick bastard for feeling this way, but there’s always been something between us, a pull that I couldn’t ignore anymore.”

“Then don’t. You said I’m not broken, so don’t treat me like I am.”

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “You deserve better than me, Little Bit.”

“Why do you call me that?” I asked. “I’m not a child.”

A smile ghosted across his lips. “It’s not because of your age. You’re a tiny little slip of a woman and seemed more like a phantom when I brought you here. Like a wisp.”

“Wisp?” I asked.

“Will-o’-the-wisp. Little specters that roamed bogs and marshes. They appeared like little flickering flames. You reminded me of one. Here yet not, but I could see your fire hadn’t burned out completely.”

I smiled a little. “I can live with that.”

Archimedes, a coon hound mix, barked as he chased the kitten. His nails scratched the floor as he raced by us. Patriot didn’t even bat an eye at the chaos. The animals ran right back out and I heard a crash in the living room. Still he didn’t budge.

“Why did you think I was at the clubhouse earlier?” he asked.

“I thought maybe you went there to hook-up with someone. I know the women there will sleep with anyone, or do anything you ask them to. You haven’t brought anyone home since I came here.” I shrugged. “It seemed logical you would go there to have your needs met.”

He slid his hand back and gripped my hair, tilting my head. “Let’s get one thing straight, Little Bit. I haven’t been with a woman in more than a year.”

I felt my eyes go wide and he smirked at me. That meant… he’d been celibate since I’d come to live here? Even though he’d said he’d felt a pull toward me, I hadn’t realized he’d given up women once I’d come here.

“Over a year?” I asked. I had a hard time believing a guy like him had gone so long without being with a woman.

“First time I went to the clubhouse after you came home with me, I had a club whore on her knees. The second she touched me, it felt wrong. I pushed her away. Haven’t tried to be with anyone since.”

“I was only seventeen,” I said. “I would have never asked you to give up women. What if I’d panicked when you kissed me tonight? What if I could never give you what you want?”

“MaryAnne, I like spending time with you. Did I like kissing you? Hell yeah! And I’d love to do more, but only at your pace and when you’re ready. Even if you’d never been able to give me more than your friendship, I’d have settled for that.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” I said.

He kissed me again, soft and sweet. “I’ll take whatever you can give me, Little Bit. I’m happy when I’m with you. Don’t want anyone else.”

His words made me melt a little and I cuddled closer to him, breathing in his scent. I made him happy? I smiled, realizing that what I’d been wanting was within my reach. The man I’d been falling for liked spending time with me, had kissed me, and wanted more.

Maybe he didn’t see me as a stray he’d brought home, like all his wounded creatures, but I adored him every bit as much as they did.

Chapter Two

Patriot

I couldn’t believe I’d kissed her! Or confessed that I’d wanted her for a while. Yeah, she’d been seventeen when I brought her here, and she’d needed to do a lot of healing, but even then I’d seen the beautiful woman she’d become. I would have never touched her when she was younger. It went against everything I believed in, but I hadn’t lied about enjoying her company.

Whistling from the corner drew my attention. I grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and added them to Hatter’s bowl. The African Grey dove in, cracking open the seeds. “Mmm-mmm. So good.”

I grinned at him. “You can have more later.”

I focused on MaryAnne again. Having her in my arms was as close to heaven as I’d ever get. There was too much blood on my hands for me to ever stand before the pearly gates. I’d have to settle for having an angel in my life, the little wisp who had more power over me than she realized. I’d do anything for her. In fact, I had already. I knew there were times she felt like one of my critters. I’d seen the way she watched them and the looks she’d give me, wondering if I’d brought her home because she’d been wounded like them. Little did she know, she did have something in common with them. They were all survivors. All they needed -- fur, feathered, and human -- was a little love and a gentle touch.

Wizard and several of his hacker friends had managed to get the institute shut down, and they’d ruined the lives of the men and women who worked there. But it hadn’t been enough for the savage beast lurking inside me. I’d wanted them to pay the ultimate price for what they’d done to my sweet MaryAnne.

I couldn’t let her find out what I’d done. She was too good, too innocent even after all she’d suffered. There was light inside her. She’d thought she was broken, but they hadn’t managed to destroy her. MaryAnne was stronger than she realized. I’d seen it the moment I carried her from that horrible place. If she only knew…

“You know what they did to me, what they made me do. And you still want me?” she asked, her voice nearly a whisper.

“None of that was your fault, Little Bit. What kind of man would I be if I held any of that against you? They victimized you, MaryAnne. Hurt you. Raped you. Tried to destroy you. But here you are, in my arms.”

“I’m sorry I caused trouble at the clubhouse tonight.”

“You didn’t. Smoke should have kept his mouth shut. There was no harm in Riley giving you a drink at the bar. Everyone in the club knows not to touch you.”

I’d be having words with Smoke later. Someone should have called to tell me MaryAnne was there. I’d have sat with her while she finished her drink and we’d have come home. It wouldn’t have hurt anything for her to sit there for a bit. Unless seeing my brothers fucking the club whores would have been too much for her. She knew those women were there voluntarily, but it might have been a trigger for her.

“You should take a shower and get some sleep,” I said.

MaryAnne nodded but held on tighter. Maybe one day she’d be in my bed, but I didn’t see that happening yet. She’d responded to my kiss and hadn’t regretted it. That was enough for now. A step in the right direction. I’d waited over a year for her. I could wait a few months more while she got used to being mine.

And yes, I was going to claim her. Hell, the club already knew how I felt. No one dared speak a cross word to her for fear I’d rip their spines out. I’d made it no secret she was under my protection. But more than that, they knew exactly why I’d stopped going to the clubhouse for the parties. I’d gotten some shit about it at first. It took a few months before they realized I was serious and backed off.

I lifted her into my arms and carried her upstairs. She didn’t seem willing to release me anytime soon, but I could tell she was exhausted. I eased her down on the bed in her bedroom and helped her remove her jacket and boots. She looked so small. Defenseless. How any could have ever abused someone so sweet and innocent was beyond my comprehension. I knew evil was in the world, fought it all the damn time, but I hated that it had touched MaryAnne.

“The smoke from the clubhouse is clinging to you, Little Bit. Go wash off and get in bed. You’ve had a long day and I can tell you’re tired.”

She reached out her hand and I took it. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“I’ll be down the hall like always.”

MaryAnne shook her head. “No. That’s too far. Please… hold me for a while? I know it’s not fair to ask that of you, not when you want so much more, but I feel safe when I’m in your arms. I know you won’t let anyone hurt me.”

I nodded, knowing that while I might be giving her what she wanted, I’d enjoy the hell out of getting to hold her while she fell asleep. Might make me hard as a damn post, but I wouldn’t make a move until I knew she was ready. Kissing her was one thing. Getting naked with her might be an issue.

“You’re safe, MaryAnne. Take a shower. I’ll be in my room when you’re ready for bed. Just give me a shout down the hall.”

I kissed her forehead and walked out.

When I got to my room, I pushed the door mostly shut and stripped out of my clothes, kicking my boots aside. She wasn’t the only one who needed a shower. I set the water as hot as I could stand it, then stepped under the spray, letting my mind wander back to the first month she’d been in my house. The haunted look she’d had in her eyes, the way she’d flinched whenever someone got close. I’d been pissed as hell and decided to take my anger out on someone who deserved it.

Wizard had tracked down one of the orderlies who’d raped and tortured her. I shut my eyes and let the memory wash over me.

Bart Zimmer glared at me, his gaze full of hatred as he struggled against the duct tape holding him to the chair. There wasn’t a point in taping his mouth shut. Besides, I was hoping he’d give me even more of an excuse to hurt him. Raping MaryAnne was enough reason for him to die, but I wanted to make him hurt first. Make him bleed.

I used the tip of my knife to clean my fingernails as I leaned against the table, ankles crossed and my posture as relaxed as I could make it. So far, he hadn’t admitted shit, but it wouldn’t take long to break him. I’d only been intimidating him so far. Once I started cutting, chopping off body parts, and having a bit of fun, he’d squeal like the pig he was.

“You ain’t got shit on me,” Bart said.

“That what you think? Let me guess. You’re innocent of any wrongdoing. I’ve got the wrong man.”

He nodded.

“Wrong. I saw the videos. I know exactly what you did to MaryAnne. Don’t worry. You’re the first, but you won’t be the last. Every single man who dared to touch her will pay the ultimate price.”

He paled a little and beads of sweat started to form on his brow. Good. Now he knew I meant business and he wasn’t leaving this damn barn. Not alive at any rate.

“She screamed and begged for you to leave her alone. You got off on her pain and her fear. Now you get to see what it feels like. Except I won’t be fucking you. Not my type. No, I have something else in mind.” I moved as fast as a rattler, pressing down on his hand as I hacked off the index finger on his right hand. “You didn’t deserve to touch her.”

He screamed and begged for his life, pleaded with me to stop as I removed each of his fingers. I walked over to the burn barrel and lifted the hot poker. With a smile on my lips, I pressed the iron to his bleeding hand, cauterizing the wounds. Couldn’t have him bleeding out before I was done with him.

The pussy passed out, so I waited. Gave him time to snap out of it. When I got tired of standing around, I tossed a bucket of icy water over his head, jolting him back to reality. The begging started again. Didn’t matter. He could say whatever he wanted, promise me the entire world, and I wouldn’t stop until he’d breathed his last. No one hurt Little Bit without paying for their sins.

Yeah, I was fucked. I already considered her mine, even if she was hands off and too damn young, and a little broken. If MaryAnne needed anything right now, it was a friend and a protector. I’d gladly take on both tasks. Making this asshole, and the others disappear, would ensure her safety. And if she ever asked about them, I’d let her know she had nothing to fear from them ever again.

I spent several hours removing pieces of Bart and keeping him from bleeding out. By the time I’d finished, I mostly had a pile of body parts and a torso to dispose of. I could have asked my brothers for help, but this was personal. I removed the corpse’s hair and teeth, bagged it into five trash bags, and disposed of dear ol’ Bart across several pig farms. Spreading him out, I knew the pigs would work through the remains in no time, leaving nothing behind.

A knock on the door brought me back to the present and I slicked my hair back from my face. Part of me wanted to tell her about the men I’d killed, let her know they’d never hurt her again. But I wasn’t entirely sure how she’d react. She was a sweet girl, and I didn’t know if she could handle the bloodshed, not to mention dismemberment, of my particular brand of justice.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” I yelled out. I finished my shower and quickly dried off, wrapping the towel around my waist. I hadn’t thought to bring clothes into the bathroom with me.

I stepped into the bedroom and every muscle in my body locked up at the sight of MaryAnne sitting on the side of my bed. I’d thought she’d head back to her room to wait when she’d realized I was in the shower, but I’d been wrong. Her eyes went wide when she saw me wearing so little. I could go back in the bathroom and shut the door, ask her to leave, then come get my clothes. Or I could act like it wasn’t a huge deal.

I decided to go with option two and went over to the dresser, pulled out a pair of sweatpants and slid them up my legs under the towel. Any other woman, I’d have dropped the towel to put them on. Last thing I wanted to do was scare MaryAnne. She’d seen me shirtless plenty of times, so I didn’t bother pulling out a T-shirt. I knelt at her feet and reached for her clasped hands, enfolding them in mine.

Her pink pajamas were covered in kittens and coffee cups, and she had fuzzy pink socks on her feet. I fought back a smile at how damn adorable she was. The thermal top and stretchy pants didn’t exactly hide her curves. Even covered from her collarbones to her ankles, she managed to be sexy without trying. I wouldn’t tell her that. Not yet anyway. I’d noticed from the beginning, even in the heat of summer, she tried to cover as much of herself as she could.

“You ready to go lie down?” I asked.

“Can I stay in here with you tonight?”

Fuck. I couldn’t exactly tell her no, but having her pressed up against me all night was going to give me a wicked case of blue balls. But for MaryAnne, I’d endure it. Nothing was more important to me than her well-being. If she needed to hold onto me tonight like a safety blanket, then so be it. I’d keep it to myself how much I would enjoy having her in my arms.

“Sure. You can stay here. Let me pull the covers down and you can get into bed. I want to do a walk-through downstairs before I call it a night. Need to put the animals to bed too.”

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, tugged the covers down, then walked out of the room. I went room by room on the first floor, making sure the windows and doors were locked. Before MaryAnne, I’d left everything unlocked all the time. Now that I had someone precious under my roof, I wasn’t about to take any chances. Too much bad shit had happened over the years for me to think no one could slip past our defenses.

Once I knew the house was secure, had put the dog in his kennel, made sure the kitten had everything he needed, and covered the parrot’s cage, I made my way upstairs. MaryAnne had remained on the edge of the bed but she stood as I entered the room. I shut the door and slowly moved closer, fearing if I moved too fast it would scare her. I motioned for her to slide into bed. She settled near the center of the bed, and I couldn’t hold back my smile. Looked like she meant to stick close, and I was all right with that.

I flicked off the light and got into bed, pulling her into my arms. She snuggled close, her breath ghosting across my bare chest. A tension I hadn’t realized I’d even felt suddenly released. Her scent filling my nose, her warmth pressing up against me, gave me a feeling of peace. It was like she was finally where she belonged.

“Do you think you’ll kiss me again sometime?” she asked.

“I guess it depends. Do you want me to?”

She nodded. “I liked it. I’ve never felt that way before.”

I tightened my hold on her and wished I could erase the past few years for her. I wondered what she’d been like before the Sadistic Saints had gotten their hands on her. Did she smile more? Had she been outgoing? I’d noticed she wasn’t only quiet, but she had a tendency to try and blend into the background. It was like she wanted to be invisible.

I’d give anything to see her stop hiding from the world. I’d taken out most of the men from the hospital, and the club had already erased the Sadistic Saints from existence. Still, there were a few out there I hadn’t been able to pin down yet. Not to mention the men they’d allowed to hurt my Little Bit, the ones who had paid for the use of her body. Wizard had tracked down anyone who’d been caught on camera, or left a paper trail. There was no way of knowing if there were others.

“I’ll kiss you anytime you want. All you have to do is ask.”

She lifted her face, her eyes wide. “Even now?”

I leaned in closer, my nose brushing hers. “You want a kiss right now?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

I pressed my lips to hers, trying to keep things somewhat chaste. I wanted to devour her, to touch every inch of her body, but I held back. She wasn’t ready for that yet. Might never be ready. I drew back and she gave a soft sigh.

“Such a sweet little angel,” I murmured. “I think kissing you is my new favorite thing to do.” Even in the darkness, I saw her cheeks flush.

“Maybe you should kiss me whenever you want?”

“Little Bit, don’t even offer me that. I’d be kissing you all the time.”

She was quiet a moment, then sighed again. “I think I might like that.”

Well, fuck me. She wasn’t supposed to agree with me. Now what the hell was I going to do? She didn’t know what she was asking. If I kissed her any time I wanted, we’d never come up for air. Never tasted anything so sweet as MaryAnne.

Instead of responding, I kissed her again. Longer. Hotter. Wetter.

Yeah, I was fucked.

Chapter Three

MaryAnne

I heard a giggle outside and cautiously approached the living room window. Patriot had insisted on finishing his work on the Bronco today. I’d left him to it, but as I peered outside, I saw one of the club whores leaning against the car. Despite the fact her breath was frosting the air, she had a skirt so short if she bent over Patriot wouldn’t have to wonder about what color her panties were. Assuming she wore any. She looked like the type who might go commando.

She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and giggled again at something he said. My hands curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms. He’s not yours. He can date or flirt with whomever he wants. Or was he mine? He’d kissed me several times last night. Even said he hadn’t been with anyone since I’d come to live with him. That had to mean something, didn’t it?

The kettle whistled in the kitchen and I rushed to shut off the burner. I had two mugs on the counter with some cocoa mix. It wasn’t as good as making it with milk and melted chocolate, but it was better than nothing. I filled the mugs and stirred them before topping each with a handful of marshmallows. I set them on the kitchen table.

I looked around the room as I took a deep breath. The dog and kitten dozed on a bed in the corner, and the bird eyed me. Probably wondered if I was going to give him a treat. He seemed to have Patriot wrapped around his feathers. You’re stalling.

Gathering my courage, I went out to the front porch, folding my arms across my stomach to keep from shivering. My green fuzzy sweater was soft, but it wasn’t doing much to keep out the frigid air.

“Patriot, the hot cocoa is ready,” I called out.

He flashed me a smile. I went down the steps, thankful the ground was dry since I was only wearing socks. Green ones with little elves on them. Christmas had once been my favorite time of year. Last year, I’d tried to wear cheerful things in hopes they would make me smile. It only half worked. As I healed, I was finding joy in more things again. Like the holidays. I’d even carved a pumpkin this past Halloween. It hadn’t looked all that amazing, but I’d had fun, and Patriot had made sure he lit the candle inside it every night. Until it had rotted and had to be tossed out.

“The grown-ups are talking,” the blonde said, narrowing her gaze in my direction.

Patriot reached over, gripped my folded arms and tugged me against his body. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to my lips. When his tongue flicked my bottom lip and I opened for him, he deepened the kiss, and I heard the blonde’s shriek of outrage. As a fire settled in my belly, the world fell away. It felt like I was tumbling head over heels. Freefalling. Patriot gently bit my lip and drew back, a slight smile curving his lips.

Something cold and wet hit my face, my eyes going wide as whatever it was slid down my cheek under the neckline of my sweater. Patriot slowly turned to face the woman, fury blazing in his eyes.

“You have to the count of three to apologize to her and get the fuck out of my sight,” he said.

The blonde folded her arms and tipped up her chin at a stubborn angle. “No. I won’t stand here and watch you kiss her when we were having a conversation.”

Patriot took a step and then another, his body nearly shaking with anger. When he reached her, he gripped her arm so tight she winced and tried to pull away. Patriot shook her like a rag doll.

“I don’t owe you a damn thing. You’re a fucking club whore. Easy pussy. I didn’t invite you to my fucking house, and I damn sure won’t let you insult MaryAnne.”

I tugged my sweater away from my body and realized she’d thrown a slushie at me. Who the hell drank an icy beverage in the winter? I heard the pipes of a bike approaching and looked down the road. A slight smile spread across my lips when I realized it was Sean. No, Galahad. I didn’t know how long it would take me to remember he had a new name. I’d been here long enough to learn it by now.

He came to a stop at the bottom of the driveway, eying Patriot and the club whore before his gaze swung over to me. It only took him a moment to figure out what happened, or at least the part where she’d thrown her drink at me. My cousin got off his bike and approached Patriot.

“Why the fuck is my cousin wearing your drink?” he asked the club whore.

She simpered and batted her eyelashes at him. Did that sort of thing really work? I’d always assumed it was a Hollywood thing only done in movies and on TV. When my cousin didn’t relax even a little, and Patriot didn’t seem to calm down either, I realized her antics weren’t working on them.

“Bitch got mad I wasn’t paying her enough attention when MaryAnne came out,” Patriot said.

“He kissed her while he was talking to me!” The blonde stomped her foot and huffed out a breath. I hadn’t seen her around before and wondered if she was new. It wasn’t that I hung out with the club whores, or saw them much, but there were a few who tried to win over the bikers by cleaning up or offering to do laundry. But this one I hadn’t seen around before, not even coming or going from the clubhouse.

Sean looked at Patriot and they seemed to do that silent communication thing I’d noticed most of the club seemed to do. Even the old ladies had their own version. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to look at someone and talk to them without words.

“She needs to apologize to her,” Patriot said.

“He called me easy pussy.” The blonde looked spitting mad.

Sean snorted. “You are. A club whore is only good for spreading her legs, not running her damn mouth. You keep opening that pie hole and someone around here might shove something in there.”

I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh. She looked absolutely gobsmacked that he’d said such a thing to her. Anyone else and I’ve have been offended for them, and outraged. But Patriot had explained about the club whores and assured me they were there of their own free will. I knew she’d chosen this way of life, even if it did seem like she was here to land a permanent spot in Patriot’s bed. How many of the others were hoping to end up with one of the bikers? All of them?

I almost felt sorry for them.

“She doesn’t have to apologize,” I said.

“Yes, she does,” Patriot said, a little growl to his voice. “She insulted you. She’s a fucking club whore and you’re…”

“I’m what?” I asked. “Your unwanted houseguest? Galahad’s cousin? I know you said you haven’t been with anyone, and you kissed me, but… I don’t know what exactly that means.”

“You’re mine,” Patriot said, not even looking my way.

My heart flipped, then flopped as my stomach dropped to my toes. His? He thought I was his? Sure, we’d kissed a few times now. I’d slept in his arms. But… his? I glanced at my cousin, but he didn’t seem the least bit surprised. Did the entire club know he thought I belonged to him?

The club whore squeaked as he gave her another rough shake. “Apologize now!”

“I’m sorry!” She struggled to break free. “I didn’t know you had an old lady. I’m sorry and I won’t do it again.”

Patriot released her with a slight shove that sent her sprawling on her ass. Sean snickered and walked past her, not even offering to help her up. Both men approached me, and I felt like a deer being hunted by wolves. The urge to run was strong, but I held my ground.

“Yours?” I asked softly.

“I’ve been giving you time to heal,” Patriot said. “And you can still take all the time you want, Little Bit. I haven’t wanted another woman since you moved into my house, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. But yeah, you’re mine and everyone around here knows it. If they don’t, they’re fucking stupid.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I decided to set all that aside for later. “The hot chocolate is cold by now.”

His lips twitched like he was fighting not to smile. “Guess we’d better make more, right after you shower and change.”

I nodded and hurried into the house, Patriot and Galahad on my heels. I went upstairs and grabbed a clean set of clothes in my bedroom before using the hall bathroom to rinse off and change. Thankfully, it hadn’t gotten in my hair. I pulled the long tresses up into a messy knot on the top of my head while the shower warmed. When steam billowed out, I stepped under the spray and washed the sticky drink off my skin.

I tried to hurry, knowing both Patriot and Galahad were downstairs. I didn’t know if my cousin had come to see me or Patriot, but I didn’t want to miss his visit either way. After I dried off, I pulled on a soft red sweater. I paired it with green leggings that had a Santa print all over them, and my candy cane-striped fuzzy socks. I left my hair up, and briefly lamented my lack of makeup. I hadn’t wanted any since Patriot had rescued me, but after seeing the way the club whores dressed and looked, I wouldn’t have minded a little blush or lip gloss.

Then again, Patriot seemed to like me the way I was so maybe I didn’t need any.

Archimedes must have followed me. He sprawled across the top of the stairs, watching the bathroom door as if he’d been waiting for me. I knew animals were sensitive and wondered if he’d felt the tension outside. I stopped a moment to scratch behind his ear. “Such a good boy.”

He panted and stood. Hurrying down the stairs, I heard Patriot bellow from the kitchen. “Slow the fuck down, Little Bit, before you fall and bust your ass.”

My cheeks flushed as I remembered the first time I’d raced down the stairs. My feet had gone out from under me and I’d slid the rest of the way down on my butt. I’d been bruised and sore for a few days, but mostly my pride had been hurt.

When I entered the kitchen, Patriot had three steaming cups on the table, and Galahad had already taken a seat. I picked up the bag of marshmallows on the counter and added extra to my cup before taking a seat. Patriot pulled out the chair between Sean and me, then sprawled in a way that I’d always found to be both casual and sexy. I didn’t think he intended to make me drool a little.

“You know you need to officially claim her,” Galahad said. “We may all know she’s yours, but if you want her to have a property cut it has to go to the table.”

Patriot flipped him off. “I’ve been in this club a lot longer than you, runt. I think I know how shit works. I was trying to give your cousin more time. If that fucking whore hadn’t disrespected her, I wouldn’t have said anything yet.”

“I don’t need time,” I said, surprising both them and myself. “I mean, I don’t know if I’m ready for… everything, but I liked being called yours. If there’s anyone I trust, it’s you, Patriot.”

Two years ago, even one year ago, I’d have said I never wanted a man to touch me, much less kiss me or do anything else. But with Patriot, I wanted to be whole again. I wanted to be the kind of woman who greeted him with a kiss when he came home, the type who didn’t only sleep in his arms all night but was ready for anything. I didn’t know how I’d react if he tried to strip me naked and touch me. I could freak out, but I wouldn’t know if I never tried. If anyone could get that close without sending me into a panic attack, it would be Patriot.

“You want me to make it official?” he asked. “Or do you want more time? Because I will wait as long as you need me to, Little Bit. I’d wait an eternity for you.”

My heart melted at his words and I held back a sigh. He could be the sweetest man ever. Of course, I’d also seen him knock a man unconscious. Patriot had a protective streak a mild wide, at least when it came to me. How could I not love him?

“If you’re sure you want to keep me, then you can make it official. I don’t want you to find out that I’m more broken than you realized and regret your decision later.”

He narrowed his eyes a moment, then glanced at Galahad. “Out. I need to have a conversation with your cousin, and you don’t want to be here for it.”

Sean didn’t have to be told twice. He downed his cocoa and took off, the front door slamming in his wake. I fidgeted in my seat.

“I’m trying to be logical,” I said. “It’s not fair to you. If I can’t give you what you want, what you need, then I don’t want to be hanging around your neck like an albatross the rest of our lives. You deserve to be happy, Ronan.”

“We already went over this. You make me happy, MaryAnne. I don’t want anyone else. It doesn’t matter if you never let me kiss you again, or if we never have sex. I like spending time with you, sharing my home with you. You’ve become my best friend since I brought you here.”

“We can be friends without you claiming me,” I pointed out.

“Do you not want me?” he asked. “Is that it? You don’t want to belong to me? Because if that’s the case, say so and I’ll drop it. I’m not going to force you to do anything, MaryAnne. I’m sure as hell not going to make you be my old lady if it’s not something you want.”

“I do want that, more than anything, I’m just… just scared,” I finished softly. “I don’t want to disappoint you, Ronan. You mean everything to me, and I never want to be the one to cause you pain.”

He leaned closer and kissed me, his lips whisper soft against mine. “Let me worry about the kind of pain I can handle, Little Bit. There’s nothing you could say or do to me that would hurt worse than not having you in my life.”

He deserved better than me, but I wasn’t strong enough to push him away. I wanted to be with him every bit as much as he wanted to be with me. I wasn’t sure it was in the same way. Yes, I wanted to know what it would feel like for him to touch me, wanted to see if I could handle being intimate with him. But I was also terrified that I’d fall apart, or worse. I didn’t want to see pity in his eyes. I could handle a lot, but not that.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him how I felt, that I was falling fast and hard for him. Yet I held back. One day I’d say the words. When I felt stronger, less broken, and more certain of where I stood. He’d said he would claim me, make me his officially, but until I knew I could give him everything he needed and wanted, I’d forgo any confessions.

Chapter Four

Patriot

Christmas was getting closer. A permanent chill had settled in the air, and our small town had decorations up on Main Street. Most of the homes were strung with lights, and the shops were overflowing with people buying presents. I’d always preferred to do any shopping online, but this year was different. MaryAnne was going to be mine, my old lady, and I wanted to make this Christmas special.

Which was why I found myself at the mall three weeks before the holiday. The place was packed, and everyone was out for themselves. I’d watched two women who had to be at least eighty bicker over a sweater. Two men in the tool section had nearly come to blows over a socket wrench. It was like everyone had lost what little sense they’d had. Only good news was that most people gave me a wide berth.

I’d managed to buy MaryAnne a pink scarf and a matching peacoat, a silver bracelet with a heart charm, and a tablet with an SD card I’d been assured would hold thousands of books. The woman loved to read, and I was all for her finding pleasure wherever she could. As long as it wasn’t with another man. I’d probably bought more than enough. Except last Christmas, I hadn’t known her very well so I’d picked stuff like bubble bath, nail polish, and hair stuff. Or rather, I’d let Phoebe pick out those things, then I’d wrapped them and stuck them under the small tree.

Now that I knew how much she loved Christmas, I was determined to make this one the best she’d ever had. A six-foot tree was being delivered later tonight, and I’d picked up some lights and ornaments. An electronics shop caught my eye and I paused to check out the display. It gave me an idea. Several, in fact.

I stepped inside and went over to the counter. The man gave me a wary look, but didn’t seem overly hostile. I was used to everyone assuming I was a criminal since I belonged to the Hades Abyss MC. They saw bikers wearing cuts with patches and figured we were all rapists and murderers. Granted, I’d slaughtered the men who’d hurt MaryAnne, and I’d gladly do it again, but I only took out the trash. Hell, I’d served my country and followed the rules for quite a while. I’d also learned sometimes those who deserved to burn were allowed to walk away. Now, I made sure those assholes paid the price for their crimes.

“How much for that one?” I asked, pointing to a small purple camera. He quoted me a price that seemed fair, so I paid for it and added it to the sacks in my hand. After several more stores in the mall, and a big box store on the way home, I’d made a dent in my bank account and hopefully guaranteed MaryAnne had a wonderful Christmas.

Hell, I’d even stopped at the pet store and bought a bag of treats and a bone for Archimedes, a new toy and some treats for Hatter, and a few toys for the kitten. Everyone in the house would have a gift.

Wrapping everything was another matter, and I didn’t know where to hide it all where she wouldn’t find it. So I stopped at Titan’s house when I reached the compound. I knocked on his door and smiled when Delilah answered.

“I need a favor,” I said. “I went shopping for Christmas gifts, except I don’t have anywhere to hide them at home, and no idea how to wrap anything so that it doesn’t look like it was mangled by a rabid badger.”

She snorted, then laughed. “Bring it in. I went a bit overboard buying wrapping paper and bags, so I should have enough to take care of it. If not, I’ll ask Titan to pick up a few more rolls.”

“I heard that,” the Pres yelled from somewhere inside the house. “I’m not buying another damn roll of Christmas paper. Make Patriot get his own shit. Fuck! Delilah, your son puked all over me, the couch, and the floor!”

I tried really damn hard not to laugh, but a snicker might have slipped out. Ever since Titan’s son, Walker, had been born, the Pres had been a little out of sorts. It was clear he adored the kid, but he didn’t handle puke well, and little Walker had a tendency to only throw up on his daddy. I personally thought it was hysterical. Although, the last time I’d laughed when it happened, Titan had smeared the puke on my cheek, which only made me throw up.

Delilah rolled her eyes and sighed. “Bring your stuff in and set it in the living room. If you happen to buy any wrapping paper in the next day or two, I’ll gladly take another few rolls. If I don’t use them this year, there’s always next Christmas.”

She walked off, presumably to save Titan from their kid, and I started hauling MaryAnne’s presents into their house. When I’d finished, I shut their front door and headed home. Seeing exactly how much I’d bought for MaryAnne made me realize she’d probably want to do some shopping of her own, but I also knew she wouldn’t take money from me outright. I’d have to be sneaky about it.

I sent Galahad a message. If I give you an envelope of cash, will you give it to MaryAnne?

He responded almost immediately. Why can’t you give it to her?

Because I don’t want her to know it’s from me. She probably will want to shop for Christmas presents.

I got a thumbs-up in response and shoved my phone into my pocket before I went into my house. I didn’t know exactly how much cash I had stashed in the small safe in my closet, but I knew I had at least a few thousand in there. I’d put a few hundred in an envelope and have Galahad give it to MaryAnne. She’d accept it from him easier since they were blood, even if he had been a dick to her on occasion.

I heard Christmas music playing when I walked in the door and smelled something sweet coming from the kitchen. I followed my nose and paused in the doorway, smiling as I saw MaryAnne dancing around the kitchen as she mixed something in a bowl. The kitten rolled on the floor with a paper towel, trying to shred it, while Archimedes stood at MaryAnne’s side, eyeing the stove. Jingle Bell Rock played from the radio on the counter, and MaryAnne sang along. Even Hatter whistled a bit while he bobbed his head. Too fucking cute!

Her red sweater had reindeer covering it in a small print, and her dark jeans hugged her legs. She had another fuzzy pair of socks on that were red with white snowflakes. I’d never seen her happier than I had this holiday season. Her first Christmas here, I’d tried to make it special without going over the top. I’d gotten some smiles from her, but this year was different. She’d healed more and seemed less scared. Although, she still didn’t venture outside the compound very often.

She poured the contents of the bowl into a pan, then rinsed the dish in the sink, completely oblivious to the fact I was watching her. The music was just loud enough she probably hadn’t heard the front door. She shook her hips side to side as the song switched to Last Christmas. I loved seeing her like this, so carefree. She’d come a long way since I’d pulled her from the mental hospital.

“What are you making?” I asked, moving farther into the room.

She shrieked and dropped the mixing spoon, spinning to face me. “You scared me!”

Archimedes barked at me before pressing against MaryAnne’s legs. Yeah, it seemed my woman had him wrapped around her finger too. She’d had me on my knees, ready to do anything for her, the moment I’d brought her home. She reached down and patted his head, and my heart warmed at the gesture. My rescues loved her, and she loved them back. I typically didn’t keep the animals I brought home and tended while they healed, but this crew hadn’t wanted to go anywhere.

“Sorry, Little Bit.” I went to her, wrapping my arm around her waist and tugging her against me. I gave her a slow kiss, my lips brushing hers. “What’s the occasion for all the baking?”

“I enjoy it. I know we can’t eat all this, but I thought you could take some of it to the clubhouse for the single guys. I’m sure Phoebe and Delilah are making stuff for Kraken and Titan. And I’ll give some to Galahad, since he’s family. Well, blood-related family.”

I pressed my nose to her hair and breathed her in. “You’re such a sweetheart. I’m sure they’ll love anything you want to send over.”

“Have you…” She stopped and drew back a little. “Did you talk to the club about claiming me? Is that where you were?”

Shit. I hadn’t thought to tell her I was going to the mall. I hadn’t exactly wanted her to know I was buying presents for her. In the past, I’d never told her where I was going. Only that I’d be gone for a bit. But things had changed between us. She wasn’t just staying in my house anymore.

“No, the club hasn’t had Church yet. I went shopping for some presents.” I kissed her forehead.

“Presents?” Her eyes went wide. “But I haven’t gotten you anything!”

I cupped her cheek. “You’re my gift, MaryAnne. But if you want to go shopping, you could always ask Phoebe or Delilah, or maybe check with your cousin. I don’t want you going out alone.”

“No worries. I don’t want to leave unless either you or about four other Hades Abyss guys are with me. Even then, I’ll be looking over my shoulder the entire time.” Her lips twisted. “Guess I’m not that brave yet. The kitten seems to have more courage than me.”

The floof in question was pouncing on Archimedes and biting at his ears. The coon mix gave an aggrieved sigh, but didn’t try to retaliate. One swat with a paw, the kitten would go sailing. It wasn’t more than eight weeks old and barely weighed two pounds.

“Little Bit, after all you’ve been through, you have every right to be overly cautious. Not a single person here will blame you for wanting extra protection when you leave the compound.”

She pointed to the counter. “I have two tins of brownies and two of cookies ready to go. I also have a cake I was about to put into the oven, and there’s another batch of brownies cooking too.”

When she’d moved in, I’d been in the process of renovating my kitchen. With the thought of a family in the future, I’d put in a double oven. Of course, I’d have to tell her about my issue and inability to get her pregnant the normal way, but we’d cross that bridge when the time came. I’d only thought of the double oven because Phoebe had asked Kraken for one, and I’d figured my woman might enjoy having the same thing. I’d also purchased more appliances the last year than ever before. There was a toaster oven on the counter and a crock pot in the pantry, as well as anything else MaryAnne had mentioned would be nice to have.

“I have a live tree being delivered in the next hour. Think you’ll be done baking in time to help me string lights and decorate?” I asked.

Her face lit up and she smiled so wide her cheeks had to hurt. “I can’t wait!”

I kissed her again, then left her to her baking. While she finished up in the kitchen, I organized the ornaments and lights in the living room and shot off a text to Riley.

Pick up some wrapping paper and drop it by Titan’s house.

I saw he’d read my message and knew it would get done. Riley had proven himself to be reliable, so far. I had a feeling both him and Morgan would be patching in before long. I didn’t see the vote going any other way.

I hadn’t thought to pick up any other decorations, or lights for the outside. I wondered if MaryAnne would want those things. As into the Christmas spirit as she seemed to be, I should have thought to bring home more stuff. Pulling my phone back out, I shot off another message to Riley.

Bring outside Christmas lights to my house, and clips to hang them.

I got a thumbs-up emoji which had me shaking my head. It bugged the shit out of me when they didn’t respond with actual sentences, and everyone in the club knew it. I sometimes thought they sent some mix of emojis and broken sentences to aggravate me.

There was a knock at the door, and I opened it right as MaryAnne came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. Morgan and Cache stood on the other side, my tree on the ground behind them.

“Where do you want this, Patriot?” Cache asked.

“Living room. There’s an empty corner where I think it will fit.”

They hauled it inside and I grabbed the base from my Bronco. I hadn’t thought to bring it in yet. While they got the tree into the base and situated into the corner, I showed MaryAnne the different ornaments I’d picked up. They weren’t anything fancy, but I’d hoped she’d like them. There were times she had a childlike wonder about her, so I’d grabbed a bunch of little animals, as well as the usual Christmas characters like Santa, the Grinch, and Frosty. The tree was going to be a hodgepodge of things, but I’d never understood those fancy trees where everything matched.

“They’re perfect,” MaryAnne said, leaning against my arm.

“We can always pick out more. This is your tree as much as it’s mine. You should get to decide what we hang on it.”

She brushed a kiss against my cheek and started digging through everything.

Cache cleared his throat. “Um, Patriot, you want us to help string the lights?”

I glanced at MaryAnne and realized as short as she was, she probably wouldn’t be much help getting the lights around the fat tree. I’d picked one that was close to my height, but the base was easily two of me. It definitely would take more than one person to get the lights on it.

“Go ahead,” I said, tossing them the boxes of lights. “Use all of them.”

Morgan’s eyebrows lifted. “There’s about eight hundred lights here. Are you trying to spot the tree from the moon?”

MaryAnne snickered and I thought the humor in her eyes and the smile on her lips were the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. She hadn’t had much reason to smile over the last couple years, but I’d made it my goal to keep her as happy as I could. She deserved the best in life, and while I didn’t kid myself by thinking I was the best, I did know I’d do anything for her. Even kill for her, which I’d done several times.

“String the damn lights, Prospect,” I said with a bit of a growl.

“Aye, aye!” Morgan saluted and I couldn’t contain my snort.

“I was in the Army, asshole. Not the fucking Navy.”

Cache punched Morgan in the arm, and they got to work stringing the lights on the tree. The kitten had charged into the living room and now eyed the tree like it was his greatest challenge. I had a feeling I’d be pulling him from the branches until I threw the tree out. Good thing most of the ornaments I’d bought weren’t breakable.

“We’re missing something,” I said. “Wait right here.”

She cast me a nervous look before glancing at the two Prospects. I hurried from the room, knowing they wouldn’t hurt her, and grabbed the radio from the kitchen. Archimedes lumbered after me, probably deciding he didn’t want to be left out. He flopped in front of the couch and huffed as he laid his head on his paws. I plugged the radio in near the couch and Christmas songs filled the air.

“Can’t decorate a tree without setting the mood,” I said.

She moved closer and reached out, wrapping her hand around my arm. I felt the way she trembled and hated that she didn’t feel safe in our own home. Cache and Morgan had always been careful around her. Hell, the entire club had walked on eggshells whenever MaryAnne was present, but it wasn’t enough.

I leaned in closer and dropped my voice so only she would hear me. “They won’t hurt you, Little Bit. You’re safe here, even when I’m not in the room.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“You don’t have to apologize. I wish you felt safe. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure no one ever hurts you again.”

She nodded and reached for the ornaments again. I kissed the top of her head. When the Prospects were finished, I stepped out front for a cigarette. I’d technically quit, but there were times I still indulged. As I blew the smoke out, I thought about all the men who’d hurt my sweet MaryAnne.

“Kurt Timms, do you know why you’re here?” I asked.

He tightened his lips and stared at me, hatred blazing in his eyes. I slid the blade of the knife along his thigh, leaving a trail of blood. He screamed and thrashed in the chair. The duct tape I’d used to hold him down didn’t give an inch.

“She’s a little whore. The doctor said so! Said some club had used her up.”

Wrong answer. I slammed the knife down into his thigh and twisted it. I yanked it free and worked on carving “rapist” into his chest. Kurt blubbered like a damn baby.

“She screamed. Begged. Pleaded with you not to hurt her.” I sliced a chunk of skin from over his ribs. “I saw the videos. You knew damn well what you were doing, that she didn’t want you to touch her. I also saw you get off on causing her pain, humiliating her.”

I reached for the branding iron. It had three bars, a throwback to an old ranch in the area. Once it was nice and hot, I used it to mark the asshole’s face. It burned through the flesh of his cheek.

When I’d finished with him, no one would ever recognize him. His teeth were gone, as were his hair and nails. Any tattoos had been burned off. I bagged him up and disposed of the body.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up my list. Using my finger, I marked off the name Kurt Timms. One by one, I’d take the fuckers out. Maybe after they were gone, MaryAnne’s nightmares would be too.

I tossed my cigarette onto the ground and stomped it out with my boot. I went back inside and ran upstairs to brush my teeth and spray on some cologne, knowing from past experience that MaryAnne would have a flashback of some sort if she smelled the cigarette on my breath or clothes. It was a large part of why I’d stopped smoking. Every now and then, I still craved the nicotine.

When I got back to the living room, she’d hung a few ornaments on the tree. The kitten had already climbed up the bottom part of the tree and tried to swat her while remaining hidden. MaryAnne ignored him and reached for another ornament. I joined her, working on the top half where she couldn’t reach. The next time she hung something on the tree, I snapped a quick picture. She probably didn’t know how many I had of her on my phone. One day, I wanted to frame some of them and set them around the house. I wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet.

From the kitchen, I heard Hatter whistling to the current song on the radio and knew he felt left out. I pressed a kiss to MaryAnne’s temple and went to get the bird. I’d made sure his cage not only could roll easily, but also fit through the doorways. I wheeled him from the kitchen into the front entry and parked him outside the living room. He had a good view of everything and started bobbing up and down to the music while he fluttered his wings.

Couldn’t decorate for Christmas without the entire family present. Even if more than half weren’t human.

Chapter Five

MaryAnne

I didn’t believe for one second the envelope of cash was actually from Sean. I loved my cousin, but he hadn’t exactly been warm and fuzzy toward me since I’d come to live with Patriot. No, the money had to have come from Patriot. I didn’t know why he hadn’t given it to me himself, but he’d been right about me wanting to buy some presents. Not having my own money wasn’t ideal, but I couldn’t exactly go out and get a job. Well, I could. But I’d run the risk of freaking out and getting fired.

Phoebe smiled as I got into her car. “You ready to shop?”

I nodded. “I mostly want to shop for Patriot, but I’d like to get a present for Titan, since he’s allowed me to live at the compound. And I should probably get a gift for my cousin.”

“Trust me, my dad is happy to have you. Besides, I think if you left, Patriot would follow you. That man is completely smitten.”

“Smitten?” I asked. “Does anyone use that word anymore?”

I heard the pipes of three bikes and noticed we were being followed by three patched members. It seemed Patriot had made sure I would feel safe, since he wouldn’t be with me.

“They do if they read historical romances.” Phoebe shrugged. “Seemed like an apt description. Has he said anything?”

“He wants to claim me. Said he’d bring it up in Church.” I twisted my fingers in my lap. “I don’t know why he’d want me. I don’t think I can give him the kind of relationship he needs, but he insists that he doesn’t care if we’re ever intimate. It doesn’t seem fair to him.”

Phoebe cut her eyes my way. “You love him, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“Then that’s all that matters.” Phoebe turned on the radio and started singing along with Jingle Bells.

Was she right?

The mall was packed, and we had to walk what felt like miles to reach the doors. Inside, Phoebe looped her arm through mine so we wouldn’t get separated. She stopped at a leather store first, picking out a wallet for Kraken. I browsed but didn’t really see anything that looked like something Patriot would want. There was a leather jacket I eyed, but once I saw the price tag I kept going. It cost more than what I’d been given.

Phoebe stopped next to me, looking at it. “You aren’t buying it?”

“It costs more than I have, and I want to buy several presents today.”

She pulled out her phone and started tapping on the screen. When it chimed a moment later, she showed it to me.

Can I use your credit card for MaryAnne to buy something for Patriot?

Sure.

I opened my mouth to protest, except Phoebe grabbed the jacket off the rack and practically ran to the register. I followed and felt myself pale when the clerk gave us the total.

“Four hundred, seventy-two dollars and thirty-three cents.”

Phoebe handed over the card and smiled at me. “Don’t worry. My dad wouldn’t have said to do this if he hadn’t meant it. Trust me. He won’t even blink when he gets the bill. I’ve put way more on there in the past. Kraken hates that I have it, insists he can take care of me, but my dad wouldn’t take no for an answer. Only time I use it is when I don’t want Kraken to see what I’ve bought or how much I spent.”

I’d have to make sure I thanked Titan. He had two kids, grandkids, and a wife to take care of. The last thing he needed was me holding my hand out asking him for money. My stomach knotted and twisted. It felt wrong.

Phoebe nudged me. “Hey. It’s really okay.”

I gave her a quick nod and followed her to the next store. In addition to the jacket, I bought Patriot a black sweater and a watch. Well, not just any watch. It was waterproof to fifty feet and did all sorts of cool things. If it hadn’t been marked down seventy-five percent, I’d have never been able to afford it, and I refused to let Phoebe buy anything else of mine with Titan’s credit card.

“I don’t know what to get your dad,” I said.

Phoebe pointed to a bookstore. “He likes to read, when he has the time. You could always give him a gift card, or pick up a new release. I’ll tell Delilah what title you get so we can make sure Dad doesn’t pick it up before he opens your gift.”

“He paid for a four-hundred-dollar jacket and sent Patriot to bring me to the compound. A book doesn’t seem like nearly enough.”

“Come on. Let’s see what they have.”

She tugged me into the store, and we approached the new release rack. They had a signed copy of a hardback she insisted Titan would love, so I bought it for him. I still hadn’t gotten anything for Sean, but I’d grown apart from my cousin and didn’t know what he’d like. I finally decided on a gift card to his favorite fast-food place.

“How am I getting this stuff into the house without Patriot seeing it?” I asked.

“Let’s stop at Target on the way back and get some stuff to wrap everything. I’ll ask Kraken to get Patriot out of the house. We can wrap everything at your place, then I’ll haul mine home. Besides, if I try to wrap with Ember underfoot, she’ll end up seeing stuff she shouldn’t. Not to mention she can’t keep a secret.”

We loaded our things into her car, then headed for Target. I checked the side-view mirror several times, ensuring our bodyguards were still there. Or rather mine, since Phoebe didn’t seem to mind going around town on her own. I picked up the boxes I’d need, as well as two rolls of wrapping paper, then grabbed gift tags, and tape. I couldn’t remember seeing scissors at the house, except the ones in the kitchen, so I picked up an inexpensive pair.

Phoebe got several rolls of paper and tags as well, then we made our way to the checkout. The lines were insanely long, and I found myself browsing the nearby items. I remembered seeing some baseball cards in one of Patriot’s dresser drawers so I selected a few packs to put into a stocking, only to realize, we didn’t have stockings. Thankfully, there were a handful on a display closer to the registers so I picked out one for each of us and hoped I could figure out where to hang them.

A bag of Christmas chocolates made it into my cart, as well as some peppermints. I found Patriot’s favorite gum as we inched our way closer to the counter and added it to the cart for his stocking. Then tossed in an Apple gift card he could use with his phone. I hoped I had enough, since I’d bought more than I’d planned, but when I heard my total I breathed out a sigh of relief. I was able to pay for everything and had a little left over.

Phoebe checked out behind me, and then we put our stuff into her car, with help from Stone and Philly. Brick was on his phone, even though he scanned the parking lot at least twice while we loaded the car. Once we were on our way home, Phoebe cranked the Christmas music and we both sang along.

At the house, Brick helped us carry everything inside, after assuring me Patriot wasn’t home. “I’ll keep him busy.”

I thanked him and started to spread everything out in the living room.

The kitten saw the wrapping paper and immediately pounced on it, sticking his little claws into the roll and leaving pinpricks. I didn’t think Patriot would mind. I pulled off a section of ribbon and cut it, tossing it in front of the ball of fluff. It diverted his attention and allowed me to wrap gifts relatively undisturbed.

“You really need a name,” I murmured, reaching out to stroke the kitten’s ear.

Phoebe took one half of the room and I claimed the other. I didn’t have as much to wrap as she did, so after I finished wrapping mine, I helped her finish up. If she’d already done part of her shopping, then Ember was going to be spoiled rotten. Even little Banner had a lot of gifts.

As I held the little bear dressed as Santa, my throat started to burn, and I realized I was close to crying. I pressed a hand to my stomach and wondered what it would be like to carry a baby. I didn’t know for sure because I’d been too scared to ask, but I didn’t think I could have children. It wasn’t until that moment I realized Patriot hadn’t said a word about kids. What if he wanted them some day? He’d said he wanted me, even if we never had sex, but he could change his mind.

“What’s wrong?” Phoebe asked.

“Sorry. I … I realized I don’t know if I can even have children. I was holding your son’s bear and it hit me that I may never have the chance to pick out gifts for my own kids.”

Phoebe’s jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. “Wait. You don’t know if you can have them? What about…”

“Patriot?” I asked.

She nodded.

“We didn’t discuss kids. What if he wants a family and I can’t give that to him?”

“Oh, MaryAnne,” she said in a near whisper. “I’m so sorry. Wouldn’t the doctor be able to tell you?”

I hadn’t seen a doctor since Patriot had brought me here. Well, Bones had tended to me whenever I’d gotten sick, but I couldn’t stand the thought of going to a clinic, or seeing anyone dressed in scrubs or a white lab coat. I didn’t know if a fertility test was something Bones could do or not.

It wouldn’t matter if I couldn’t get over my fears and let Patriot do more than kiss me. If we never had sex, there wouldn’t be kids anyway. I hated that he’d have to give up the chance to have a family. Maybe I should ask him to hold off on claiming me.

The front door opened, and Phoebe squealed, quickly wrapping the last of her presents. Patriot walked in, a bemused look on his face as he took in the mess we’d made. I’d put his presents under the tree, but it didn’t look like much. He stepped over the rolls of wrapping paper, tape, and scraps, then knelt next to me.

“Hey, Little Bit. Have fun shopping?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You aren’t supposed to be here!” Phoebe stood and folded her arms. “What if she hadn’t been finished wrapping your gifts?”

“Need help loading your car?” he asked.

Phoebe smiled. “Did you just tell me to pack my shit and leave?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Not in so many words. Don’t need Kraken getting pissy, but yeah… I need to talk to my woman, preferably without an audience.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Fine. I can take a hint.”

She started carrying everything out to her car and I heard the door shut after her third trip. Patriot cupped my cheek and leaned in to kiss me. He could be so sweet. I knew as part of the Hades Abyss he’d done his share of bad things. The men weren’t saints by any means, but they did treat women right. Or at least the women they wanted to keep. Even though the club whores were here voluntarily, I still cringed a little whenever I saw the way the club talked to them. Although, Patriot had been nice enough to the one who came here, until she’d insulted me.

“So, it seems we need to have a talk,” he said.

“You heard?” I asked, thinking of the conversation I’d been having with Phoebe.

“Yeah, I heard. Why didn’t you ask me if I planned to have kids some day?” he asked.

I didn’t like admitting there was something wrong with me. Hated it. Didn’t change the fact I was damaged, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I had my share of scars, but for the first time, I wondered about any damage done to the inside of me.

“Little Bit, I’m going to say this once and only once. So listen up. I can’t have kids. Not the regular way. I have some sperm frozen and on hold at a sperm bank. Had it done when I was eighteen before I enlisted, in case something went wrong. Got sick overseas with a bad infection that made me sterile. So if you can’t carry a baby, don’t feel like you failed me. Because you haven’t. We can adopt. Or if you’re able to get pregnant, you can still have my kid even if we have it the old-fashioned way. Well, sort of. In the sense you’d carry the baby and give birth.”

I wasn’t quite sure what to say to all that. I hadn’t realized he wasn’t able to have children. Some of the tension eased from my shoulders. I didn’t feel like a failure knowing there was a chance we’d have never had kids together anyway. From what I’d seen on TV, getting artificially inseminated didn’t always work.

“Any other objections to being mine?” he asked.

“No. I wanted to be yours, I… I didn’t want to hold you back.”

He pressed his forehead to mine. “Little Bit, you’re the reason I wake up smiling every morning. No more doubts, all right?”

“Okay.”

“I need to pick up your presents from Titan’s house. Delilah was going to wrap them for me so they wouldn’t look like a badger had mangled them. When I get back, we’ll go out to eat.”

“I could make something,” I offered.

“Not a chance. We’re celebrating.”

“What?” I asked.

He kissed me hard and fast. “You being mine. I made it official while you were gone. Had Brick and the others with you text in their votes. It was unanimous. You’re mine, Little Bit.”

My heart warmed and I couldn’t stop smiling. While he went to get my presents, I cleaned up my mess and changed my sweater. My hair was tumbling out of my clip so I ran a brush through it and decided to leave it down. It was a bit chilly outside today and I didn’t think we’d go out on his bike, but if we did I’d make sure I had a ponytail holder in my pocket so I could pull my hair back.

I heard him moving around downstairs and rushed to the living room. He’d put so many presents under the tree I wondered if he’d bought out the mall. Archimedes and the kitten were nowhere to be seen, which meant they’d likely gone to the kitchen. I was surprised the paper and shiny ribbons hadn’t attracted the kitten’s attention like it had when I’d been wrapping gifts.

“Ronan, you got too much!” I protested.

“No, I didn’t get nearly enough.” He stood and pulled me into his arms. “It’s our first Christmas together as an official ‘us’ and I wanted to make it memorable. Last year I did the bare minimum because I wasn’t sure you were ready for more.”

“You’re so good to me,” I said. “I don’t know why Titan picked you that day, but I’m glad it was you who came to get me.”

“Me too, Little Bit. I’ve been thankful every day that you’ve been a part of my life.” I rubbed his thumb along my jaw. “I’d thought I was going to rescue a girl. It never occurred to me Titan had sent me after a young woman who would be perfect for me. Maybe we should get him a present.”

“I already did. Phoebe helped me pick out a signed hardback for him. But if you have an idea for something else, we could always give him two presents. I told her a book didn’t seem like much.”

“I’ll think of something. He’s talked about getting a custom leather seat for his bike at a shop not too far from here. Maybe I’ll pay the deposit on it and get them to contact him about what he wants.” He kissed my forehead. “Now where do you want to eat? We can go anywhere.”

“Well, it’s Christmas. Almost. What about the buffet on Market Avenue? I heard they were going to have turkey, ham, dressing, bread pudding, and a bunch of holiday treats all month long.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go.”

He took my hand and led me out to the Bronco and helped me onto the seat. When he started it up, he turned up the heat and made sure the vents were pointed my way. With it being an older vehicle, it didn’t blow hot or cold very hard, but I knew he loved driving it. And since it’s what he’d brought to rescue me, I rather liked it too.

Chapter Six

Patriot

I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever seen MaryAnne smile so much. Seeing the joy on her face, hearing her excited chatter as she talked about all things Christmas, and watching the look of rapture that crossed her face with every bite of her food made me wish the night would never end. All I wanted was for her to be happy, and at the moment, she was. I knew eventually another nightmare would creep up on her, but she hadn’t had one in over a week. At least, not that I’d heard.

After dinner, I took her by the coffee shop for some hot chocolate, and then we drove around looking at Christmas lights while she sang along with the carols on the radio. One house in town had animated lights that matched the music on a particular radio station. We watched for at least ten minutes before I moved on so someone else could have a turn. It made me wish I’d thought to ask every brother at the compound to put lights up, just so MaryAnne could see them and smile.

At the house, she went straight upstairs, her steps slow as exhaustion hit her. I could see the fatigue in her eyes, but she’d struggled to keep going. I locked up and shut off all the lights, let Archimedes out one last time and put the animals to bed. When I’d finished, I headed up to my room, only to hesitate outside the guest room she’d been using. Now that she was officially mine, my room was now our room. I lifted my hand to knock and tell her as much. Until reality crashed in. She might never be ready to share a room with me, and the last thing I wanted was for her to think I was pushing her. Even though she’d wanted to sleep by me the other night, it didn’t mean she wanted to do that all the time.

I went to my bedroom and shut the door before stripping off my boots and clothes. I started the shower, not bothering to turn the heat up too much. I’d gotten used to cold showers, especially the last six months, when MaryAnne had started to come alive. Stepping under the spray, I pulled the door closed and let the water beat down on my head. Goose bumps covered my skin. The cold didn’t seem to bother my cock since it stood upright. Hiding my reaction from MaryAnne had gotten easier lately. Mostly because I knew she wasn’t looking below my belt, so as long as I held myself a certain way, she didn’t pay attention to the fact my cock was trying to escape my jeans.

I reached down and gripped my shaft, squeezing it at the base, willing my erection to go down. It never worked, but I always tried anyway. I slicked my palm with soap and started stroking my dick with long, hard tugs. Bracing my other hand on the wall, I closed my eyes and imagined MaryAnne was the one touching me. It didn’t take long before I was coming. My heart pounded in my chest as cum splashed the tiled wall. Even after my release, my cock hadn’t softened.

“Ronan.”

My body locked up tight and I turned my head, opening my eyes. I’d hoped it was only my imagination, but no. MaryAnne was standing in the bathroom, staring at me with wide eyes. Fuck!

“You shouldn’t be in here, MaryAnne.”

She shifted from foot to foot, wringing her hands in front of her. “Since you said I was officially yours now, I thought… I mean… Do you want me to share the same room with you?”

“I’ve told you that I’ll never ask for more than you’re willing to give, Little Bit.”

Her cheeks turned pink. “I liked sleeping in your arms.”

Yeah, I’d liked that too. A little too much.

“I’m not sure you’d like it tonight.” I looked down at my cock. If anything, it had gotten even harder with her standing so close.

“I’ve seen naked men before,” she said. “I know what happens when a man gets turned-on. You won’t shock me.”

“Dammit, MaryAnne! You weren’t given a choice! You have one now. I won’t force you to be around me while I’m like this. You’re not obligated to share my bed and feel my cock digging into you all night, because it’s not going to get soft anytime soon. If anything, having you next to me will only make it worse.”

She moved closer, pressing a hand to the glass door. “Were you picturing me while you…”

“Yeah. I was,” I admitted, not wanting to lie to her.

“Then you should at least know what to picture. I know you saw me naked that first day, when you came to the hospital to get me, but you didn’t look. Not really.”

She reached for the hem of her shirt and I nearly choked on my tongue as she pulled it over her head and let it drop to the floor, then shimmied out of her pants. She wore plain white panties but fuck if they weren’t sexy on her. She removed those too, then opened the shower door. She shivered as the cold water hit her and I reached for the knob, turning up the temperature.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

She held her arms out. “Look at me, Ronan. Really look. My body isn’t perfect. What they did to me took its toll.”

I knew I shouldn’t look, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. My gaze skimmed over her breasts. Plump with pretty pink nipples. As I looked closer, I saw what she’d meant about not being perfect. There were silvery lines that marred her skin. Scars, most likely from a knife. There were more across her stomach and all the way down to her pubic bone. When she turned, I saw the brand on her right ass cheek. I knew that symbol. I’d seen it on a finger I’d cut off in the last year.

I growled and reached for her, lightly touching the scarred, puckered flesh. “I wish I could kill him all over again.”

Her back tensed and she looked at me over her shoulder. “What?”

I took a breath and knew I needed to tell her. Confess what I’d done. “I’ve spent the last year tracking down every man identified as one of your rapists. I’ve slaughtered them. Slowly. Made them suffer, beg, cry. The man who left this mark is gone. I saw that symbol on his ring when I cut his fingers off.”

She turned to face me, her eyes wet with tears. “You’ve been tracking them down and killing them? All of them?”

“Any that were recognized with the software Wizard has. He used it on the videos the hospital had of you. They recorded a lot of what happened.” I held her gaze. “I’ve done everything I can to wipe every last one of them from the earth. There are only two I haven’t been able to kill because they live too far away. One moved to Montana and another out to California. I’ve put the word out I want their heads.”

She threw herself against me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I knew you were my knight in shining armor.”

“Don’t make me out to be something I’m not, Little Bit. I have blood on my hands. A lot of it. I’ve done bad things. But I will fucking die before I let anyone go unpunished who dared to cause you pain.” I put my arms around her, holding her close. “I want you to feel safe, MaryAnne. To know you can leave the compound without fear any of those men will come for you.”

“I always feel safe with you,” she said in a voice so soft I nearly didn’t hear her.

I didn’t know why, especially since my dick hadn’t softened yet and was now trapped between us. After everything they’d done to her, how could she stand here, naked and in my arms? I’d have thought removing her clothes would terrify her, much less being pressed against me without anything between us.

Maybe I didn’t know as much about her as I’d thought. I’d known she was stronger than she realized, but perhaps her strength was greater than even I had discerned.

“If you want to shower, I’ll get out. I meant what I said before. I don’t expect anything of you, Little Bit. We can go at your pace, however slow that might be.”

“What if I want to try? I want to be normal, Ronan. I’m tired of being scared, of only remembering pain when it comes to men. You’ve kissed me several times now. It didn’t scare me. I liked it.”

“It’s not a good idea, MaryAnne. Not while we’re both naked. Even I don’t have that kind of control.”

She reached up and cupped my cheek. “I think you do.”

“You were wrong, you know? I still think you’re beautiful. These scars…” I reached out and traced one of the silver lines across her breast. “They don’t make you ugly. They show your strength. Your determination to survive.”

Her nipple hardened and she sucked in a breath. I kept my gaze on her face, watching for her reaction, as I let my finger slide down, then lightly caress the pretty pink tip. She bit her lip, but her eyes darkened. Not from fear but from need. I cupped her breast and rolled her nipple between my fingers.

“Feel good?” I asked.

She nodded. Christ. I was going to hell. I knew I should get the fuck out and put some space between us, but I wanted to show her pleasure, to give her a good memory to associate with being touched.

“I do anything you don’t like, or that scares you, I want to know. Understood?”

“I understand,” she said.

I leaned down and kissed her, tasted her. Before I realized it, I’d backed her to the glass wall. She didn’t protest. If anything, she leaned into me, silently asking for more. I cupped her ass with both hands and lifted her. MaryAnne wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms looped around my neck.

“We don’t have to do this, Little Bit,” I murmured before kissing her again.

“I know, but I think I need this as much as you.” She blinked at me before giving me a hesitant smile. “I need to know I can enjoy being with you, that sex isn’t painful. Take away my memories and give me new ones. Please, Ronan.”

Fuck me. When she asked so sweetly, how could I tell her no?

“If you get scared…”

She silenced me with a kiss. “I won’t.”

I reached between us, rubbing her clit. Her lips parted and I saw the pulse in her throat start to race. It only took a few strokes before she cried out, hips bucking against me, as she came. The flare of surprise in her eyes, the startled expression on her face, was enough to tell me she’d never had an orgasm before.

“That’s it, Little Bit. Come for me. Let go.” I kept rubbing, not stopping until the last tremor had raked her small frame. While she was loose and wet, I positioned my cock against her pussy and eased inside, giving her time to tell me to stop or push me away. “Fuck, MaryAnne. You feel so damn good.”

Her nails bit into my shoulders. “Don’t stop.”

I placed a hand on her hip and drove into her. She tipped her head back, her eyes narrowing to slits as she stared at me. Soft cries escaped her as I thrust into her tight pussy, over and over. I felt my balls draw up and knew I wouldn’t last much longer. I rubbed her clit again, and when she found her release, I came inside her.

It had been too fucking long since I’d been with a woman. If it had been anyone in here with me other than MaryAnne, I’d have been embarrassed. I knew she wouldn’t judge me.

My cock twitched and throbbed, but I wasn’t ready to pull out. The way she tightened her hold on me, it seemed she was okay staying as we were for at least another minute or two. I smoothed her hair back from her face.

“You all right?”

“I’m perfect.” She smiled. “Thank you, Ronan.”

I shook my head. “Trust me, Little Bit. I’m the one who should be thanking you. And I know this is a little too late, but I’m clean. If you were wondering, you are too. Bones tested you for STDs when he examined you the first time.”

The smile slipped from her face. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I only brought it up because we should have discussed it beforehand. If I weren’t sterile, we’d have had that conversation too. Seeing as how we got that part out of the way…”

She cupped my cheek. “I don’t care that you can’t have kids, Ronan. Like you said. If I’m fertile, we can try the sperm you had frozen. If I’m not, or the artificial insemination doesn’t work, we can adopt. Family doesn’t have to be blood.”

My cock started to soften, and I pulled out, letting MaryAnne slide down my body. I took my time washing her, letting my hands caress every inch of her soft skin. She leaned into me, like a little kitten seeking attention. How anyone could have ever hurt her wasn’t something I could comprehend. I’d never met anyone sweeter.

“Ready for bed?” I asked. She nodded but something in her eyes made it seem like she didn’t want to get out of the shower yet. “What is it, Little Bit?”

“Where am I supposed to sleep?”

I kissed her soft and slow. “Anywhere you want. You can keep your room, or you can share the bed with me. I told you… at your pace, MaryAnne.”

“I’m yours. You said so.”

“Yeah, Little Bit. You’re mine. Sleeping in a different room won’t change that.”

She pressed her cheek to my chest. “I want to stay with you. I slept better the night you held me than I have in years.”

“Me too.” I wrapped her in my arms again and held her until the water started to cool. I shut off the shower, dried us both off, and led her into the bedroom. I handed her a T-shirt to sleep in. “You can move your clothes in here if you want to sleep here every night.”

“Is there room?” she asked.

“I’ll make room. You tell me what you need, and I’ll make it happen.”

She crawled into bed and I turned off the lights before joining her. She cuddled close and I breathed in her scent as I shut my eyes. It was like everything inside me settled. Having her here in my bed, lying against me, made it feel like everything was right in my world. MaryAnne had been mine since the day I pulled her from hell, but this was the first time she was where she belonged.

And if she changed her mind later, I wouldn’t stand in her way. I knew she needed to feel like she had some sort of control over her life. As much as I wanted to pull a caveman act and tell her she wasn’t fucking leaving my bed, I couldn’t do that to her. It would crush her, possibly destroy her. I’d do anything to protect her, even if it was from my own needs.

Her breathing deepened and I knew she’d fallen asleep. I hoped she wouldn’t have nightmares. If what we’d shared set her back, then I’d keep my dick in my pants until she could handle more. Even if it did give me blue balls. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d had them since she came to live with me. Doubted it would be the last.

At least I no longer had to hide what I’d done. It hadn’t felt right keeping it a secret. Now that she knew I’d killed the men who’d hurt her, maybe she wouldn’t be so scared to leave the compound. Hopefully it wouldn’t take long for someone to handle the last two men. I’d pay whatever price they asked, as long as those fuckers were dead when it was all said and done.

Anything to keep a smile on her face, to chase the shadows from her eyes, and give her the life she deserved. I wasn’t ready to admit it out loud, but I knew damn well I didn’t just like MaryAnne. I loved her.

Chapter Seven

MaryAnne

I stretched and tensed for a moment. A hot, heavy arm was draped over my waist and I felt a male body up against my back. A hard cock nestled in the crack of my ass. The room spun for a minute and I couldn’t breathe. Panic beat at me until I remembered everything.

It was Ronan.

Not the men who’d hurt me. I wasn’t being restrained. Nothing bad was going to happen.

I looked over my shoulder and smiled at how peaceful he looked. I was safe, with the man I’d fallen in love with. A biker who wouldn’t let anyone hurt me ever again. He’d gotten rid of my demons, sent them to hell where they belonged. I’d never be able to repay him for what he’d done.

I eased out of bed, careful not to wake him. After I used the bathroom and went down the hall to brush my teeth, I went to my old room. I put on panties and my warm pajamas, along with a pair of fuzzy socks. As I pawed through the drawer, I realized I had at least a dozen pair or more. Every time I saw a pair, I had to have them. If I didn’t slow down, I’d run out of space for them.

Once I was toasty warm, I hurried downstairs to make breakfast for Patriot. He always took care of me, and I tried to do the same for him when I could. Before I’d come here, I hadn’t known how to cook. I still wasn’t that great at it, but I was learning. I’d never been interested in things like making cookies or learning how to cook from scratch. Until the day I’d been snatched by the Sadistic Saints, I’d been too busy worrying about my next trip to the mall, who was dating which boy, or what I’d wear the next day to school.

Things were different now. I’d had to grow up fast, and the stuff I’d always thought was so crucial didn’t matter anymore.

Before I got started, I let Archimedes outside and put down fresh water and food. I uncovered Hatter’s cage and took out his bowls. His water bottle was still half-full so I left it alone. After I put his bird food into one dish, I stuck it back in his cage. The second dish I knew Patriot used for fruits and veggies. Hatter had his own storage tubs in the fridge. Today it looked like he’d be getting apples, grapes, and carrots. I sliced them up and dropped them into the dish before giving it to him.

“Mmm. So good.”

I smiled and reached through the bars to stroke his head. “Eat up, Hatter.”

I let Archimedes back in, then decided to get started on feeding the humans. I pulled out eggs, bacon, and a can of biscuits. I’d looked up how to make bacon in the oven after I saw someone make it that way in a movie, and now I preferred it baked over fried. I laid out the strips on a baking sheet while the oven preheated. I also preheated the toaster oven so I could make the biscuits at the same time.

After I had the bacon and biscuits cooking, I brewed a pot of coffee for Patriot. I took out some diced ham and shredded cheese to add to the eggs. Before I could get them started, I heard a knock at the front door. Archimedes stood and shook himself before leaving the kitchen. I heard a soft bark and hurried after him. Any other time, I’d have cowered and been afraid to open it, even knowing I should be safe here. Now I knew Patriot had killed all but two of the men who had hurt me. It made me realize I didn’t have to hide anymore.

I answered the door, peering around the edge of it since I was in my pajamas. Archimedes pressed against me. Smoke stood there, hands in his pockets. He rocked back on his heels when he saw me.

“Patriot is still asleep,” I said.

“Actually, I came to see you.”

My hand tightened on the door. “Me? Why would you come here to see me?”

He raked a hand through his hair. “I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have said what I did at the clubhouse. No one here would ever expect anything from you, MaryAnne. Even before Patriot officially made you his. It was a dick move and I’m sorry.”

I opened the door a little wider. “You’re sorry?”

He nodded. “Shouldn’t have said it. The second I saw you, what I should have done was call Patriot, and make sure the club whores didn’t bother you. I won’t fuck up again, all right? You want to come drink at the clubhouse, I’ll make sure the club whores keep their distance.”

“Thank you.” Not that I wanted to go there anytime soon. Well, not on a party night anyway. The days the clubhouse was for family only was another matter. I enjoyed going when Phoebe, Delilah, and the kids would be there.

“Right, so… I’m gonna go. I just needed to come say that. You need anything, let me know.”

He backed away and I shut the door. Archimedes followed me into the kitchen and laid down near the table. The kitten immediately went over and started to chew on the poor dog, but Archimedes ignored him. I checked on the bacon and biscuits, then cracked the eggs into a bowl and beat them. I put in a dash of milk, a handful of diced ham, and a good bit of shredded cheese. I tried to be quiet as I dug the skillet out from the bottom cabinet, then set it on the burner to warm. By the time I’d finished the eggs and plated our breakfast, I heard Patriot coming down the stairs.

“Something smells wonderful,” he said as he stepped into the kitchen.

“Wonderful!” Hatter said and fluttered his wings.

“I thought I’d make breakfast. It’s not anything fancy.”

He paused long enough to kiss my temple before going straight for the coffee. I smiled as he drained a cup, gulping it down, then poured a second one. I set the plates on the table along with forks. Patriot nearly collapsed onto a chair. It always took a few cups of coffee to get him going in the morning. I poured myself some juice before I sat down.

“You doing okay?” he asked. “After last night… I wasn’t sure what to expect today.”

“You worried I’d regret what happened?”

“Something like that.”

“Eat your eggs before they get cold. I’m fine, Ronan. Better than.” I smiled before I dug into my food. “Smoke stopped by. He wanted to apologize.”

“Good. Means I don’t have to kick his ass again.”

“The first time was more than enough. You shouldn’t beat on your brothers.”

He grunted and kept eating.

“Do you think someone would take me to the store? I want to get some more baking supplies. I seem to do better at that than cooking most of the time. I’d also love some eggnog. It’s nearly Christmas and I haven’t had any yet.”

“I can take you.”

“Really? You don’t have club business to handle?” I asked.

He paused, fork halfway to his mouth, and stared at me. After a moment, I squirmed and wished I hadn’t said anything. Had I overstepped? Or come across as too eager for his company? I didn’t have much experience with men. Not the right kind anyway. I’d never had a chance to date, or have a boyfriend.

“There’s only one rule, Little Bit. I will tell you anything you want to know, as long as it isn’t club business. But to answer your question, no, I don’t have other obligations today.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “Sorry.”

“Not mad, Little Bit. But I need you to know that’s one thing I won’t discuss, even now that you’re my old lady. Speaking of, you should have your property cut in the next day or two if all goes according to plan. It’s been ordered.”

“Like the ones Phoebe and Delilah have?”

He nodded. “Yep. Except yours will say Property of Patriot.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

He winked and finished off his food, then carried his plate to the sink. “Better get ready, Little Bit. I’ll clean up in here. Won’t take me but a minute to change.”

I eyed his beard and bedhead. “Might want to use a comb or something too.”

He looked at me over his shoulder. “You saying I look rough?”

Not exactly. More like extremely sexy. He looked like he’d recently gotten out of bed, which he had. Except any woman who saw him like this would be imagining what he might have been doing other than sleeping.

“Keep looking at me like that and we won’t be going to the store,” he said before facing the sink again.

Part of me wanted to see if he’d really take me back to bed. But the other part wasn’t sure I was ready for something like that in the light of day. While my nightmares had mostly happened at night, it had felt like the darkness outside had somehow wrapped me in a cloak, made me braver. I couldn’t explain how else I’d gotten the courage to do what I’d done. Removing my clothes in front of him, letting him touch me and so much more… it hadn’t been easy, but with the sunlight streaming through the windows, I didn’t feel as confident as I had in the shower.

I hurried upstairs and went to my old room. Last night, I’d said I wanted to move into Patriot’s room. Waking up in his arms had been wonderful, after the initial scare of thinking someone else had pinned me down. I still wanted to move my things in there, but it would have to wait. I picked out a pair of jeans and another Christmas-themed sweater and socks. It didn’t take me long to change. Since I’d showered last night with Patriot, I didn’t bother taking another one.

After I ran a brush through my hair, I pulled it up into a bun. I ran my fingers down my neck as I turned my head one way, then another. I seemed so bare with no earrings or necklace. My jewelry was probably still in my room at home. I hadn’t been able to face my family, except Sean. What little of it I had left. I knew it was wrong to push them away, but I wasn’t the same girl they’d known before and they expected me to be. I’d been told more than once I’d bounce back, like they could only love me if I wasn’t damaged by what had happened.

Sean had helped me make a break from them. No one called anymore, or tried to come see me. There were times I missed them. Until I remembered they didn’t want the new me. They wanted the old MaryAnne, and I wasn’t sure she existed. The innocence had been burned out of me. The people here had become my family. The Hades Abyss accepted me as I was.

“I’ll help you move your stuff later,” Patriot said, leaning against the bathroom doorframe.

He’d managed to tame his hair and beard, and he’d pulled on a gray long-sleeved shirt and jeans. He’d already put on his cut and seemed to be ready to go. Patriot looked down at my feet and smiled. I curled my toes and studied my socks. Green with Santa hats all over them.

“Cute, Little Bit, but I think you’ll want some shoes.”

“I’ll grab some. Meet you downstairs?”

He nodded and pushed off the doorframe. “I’ll get the Bronco going so it can start to warm up. There’s a bite to the air today. Might want your coat.”

“I’ll get it.”

He left, his steps heavy as he went down the stairs. I put on the ankle boots he’d bought me when I’d come to live here and grabbed the denim jacket lined with sheepskin. I rushed downstairs and out to the Bronco. Patriot opened my door and helped me onto the seat. I fastened my seatbelt while he walked around the front and got in.

“You want the grocery or one of the super stores?” he asked.

“I think the grocery is fine. If we go to one of the other places, it will be even more crowded. This close to the holidays it seems to be packed everywhere.”

“Grocery won’t be much better.”

“Maybe not, but at least we won’t be fighting people shopping for presents. Besides, they have some boxes up front where we can donate non-perishables. It would be nice to make sure someone else can have Christmas dinner.”

He reached out and brushed his fingers along my cheek. “Heart of gold. My Little Bit is an angel come to earth.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I do want to make someone happy.” I chewed on my lower lip. “Do you think… could we find a family who maybe can’t give their kids a Christmas this year? I’d like to get a few toys to give them. Make sure they have a good holiday.”

“Why don’t we get the entire club involved and adopt a few families?” he asked.

“Even better! Think we can do it?”

He nodded. “Sure. We’ll stop by one of the churches on the way to the store.”

I watched him a minute. I wondered if he knew how amazing he was. Had anyone ever told him? He’d called me an angel, but he’d come and saved me, gave me a home and everything I could ever need, and now he was taking my idea and making it even better.

“Does anyone else know how big your heart is?” I asked.

He cut me a quick glance before focusing on the road again. “Don’t go spreading that shit around. You’ll ruin my rep. I’m a badass biker and don’t you forget it.”

I smiled. “All right. I’ll keep your secret.”

He pulled up to a small church on the outskirts of the rougher side of town. Patriot scanned the area before helping me out of the Bronco. With one hand at my waist, and the other free to most likely pull whatever weapons he had on him, he ushered me into the building. A man in dress slacks and button-down shirt greeted us with a smile.

“What can I do for you folks? Interested in joining the church? We can always use more youngsters in here,” he said.

“We actually wanted to ask you about some opportunities to better a few lives this holiday season,” Patriot said. “Assuming you don’t have an issue with me being part of Hades Abyss.”

“We’re all God’s children,” the man said. “I’m Reverend Burson. Now what did you have in mind?”

Patriot nudged me and gave me a slight nod. “I know the local grocery takes up donations of food for families in need, but I wondered if there might be some families who were struggling to give their kids a Christmas this year. Even though there are programs out there to help with that sort of thing, I’m sure not everyone gets the assistance they need.”

“Bless you, angel! You’re the answer to my prayers!” The man lifted his hands. “It just so happens I have three families who come to this church who have fallen on hard times. Each has small children and I know their parents would be grateful for anything you’d like to donate.”

Patriot rubbed his hand up and down my back and I leaned against his side. I was so glad he’d brought me here. With his help, maybe we could make a difference, no matter how small.

“Would you happen to have a list of toys those children might like to see under their trees this year? Or could you get one for us?” I asked.

“Well, I don’t have anything right now, but I could have it for you within the next hour or two. But as for putting presents under the tree, I don’t believe any of those families actually have a tree. It was on my list of things to accomplish. I thought I might be able to get some older fake trees donated, ones that aren’t being used anymore.”

“We’ll do one better, Reverend. We’ll pick up three new pre-lit trees and some ornaments for each. I don’t want to go scaring anyone, and I know people around here don’t always look too kindly on my club. We can bring everything here and you could arrange for them to get everything?” Patriot asked.

The man held up a finger. “You wait right there. Don’t move, and certainly don’t leave!”

He hurried off and I took the time to admire the inside of the church. Stained glass windows lined both sides of the sanctuary. Each was beautiful in its own way and filled the room with a sense of peace. I trailed my fingers over the back of a pew and tried to remember the last time I’d been to church. I breathed in and held it a moment before releasing the air in my lungs, and some of the tension. I didn’t feel like I belonged here anymore, and yet I didn’t exactly want to run away either.

The reverend came back, a piece of paper in his hand. “I spoke with all three families, and they were overjoyed. Each has experienced a hardship in the last few months and they’ve struggled. In fact, two of the mothers started crying. You’ve brought them a Christmas miracle.”

He handed the paper to Patriot and I leaned over to read it along with him. Four boys and five girls were listed on the paper, along with their ages and the top three things on each of their wish lists. At the bottom, the reverend had included some information on the parents as well. A warmth filled me, as well as a sense of purpose. I hadn’t been good for much of anything since Patriot brought me home, but this year I could do something that mattered. No, we could.

I hesitated only a moment. “Reverend, you said they’ve been struggling. Do they need help with other things? Like maybe groceries?”

His eyes lit up and he eagerly nodded. “They do indeed. They’ve gotten what they can from the food pantry, but as you can see there’s a lot of kids on that list between the three couples. Not easy to feed that many mouths.”

I looked up at Patriot and he winked at me. “Guess we better go shopping, Little Bit. We’ll get the stuff you wanted to make your desserts and grab some items for these families too. If it’s all right with the reverend, we’ll bring the food by here, and then we’ll go hunt down some trees and ornaments.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Reverend Burson said.

Patriot and I went back out to the Bronco and drove straight to the grocery. We each grabbed a cart since we now planned to buy more than double the food. I got the baking supplies I needed, then focused on what to feed three families with children, stuff that wouldn’t necessarily spoil easily. We grabbed several packages of fresh pork chops. I noticed the pork tenderloins didn’t expire for nearly a month so I grabbed one of each flavor for all three families.

“What else you want to get them, Little Bit?” he asked.

“I don’t want to spend all your money.”

He tipped his head and studied me a minute, then pulled out his phone. He tapped the screen a few times, then put the phone on speaker with the volume turned down so the entire store wouldn’t hear.

“I’m tired. My kid keeps puking on me. What the hell do you want?” Titan asked by way of greeting.

“Little Bit wants to adopt a few families for Christmas. They’ve fallen on hard times and need food and toys for the kids. Club interested in chipping in? She’s worried she’ll deplete my account if we tackle it by ourselves,” Patriot said.

“I think it’s safe to say the club would agree to help with such a worthy cause,” Titan said. “I’ll have Wizard shift some money into your account. You need more, let me know.”

He apparently hung up since the phone went silent. Patriot held onto his phone and motioned for me to keep going.

I grabbed bags of frozen chicken breasts, knowing while they may not be the most nutritious thing in the world, it was better than letting those kids starve. And what kid didn’t like chicken nuggets? I added two bags each for all three families. We circled around to another section and I loaded the carts up with bacon, sandwich meat, and even found some pre-sliced, pre-cooked hams that wouldn’t expire for a long while. I added six to the cart.

And then it hit me. All this food might last them a week. Possibly they could stretch it two weeks. And then what? My shoulders sagged and my eyes pricked with tears as I thought about those poor children. Hungry. Probably scared. And their parents? I couldn’t imagine the fear of wondering how to feed their kids, or keep a roof over their heads. I’d felt good about this, but it wasn’t nearly enough. It might give them a slight helping hand, but… they needed more than this.

“What’s wrong, Little Bit?” Patriot asked, his voice soft and low.

“What happens when they eat all this food? What about next week? Or the one after? This isn’t a good enough solution, Ro -- Patriot. Yeah, it feels good to help them, but are we helping enough?”

“One day at a time, MaryAnne. We’ll deliver the food, pick out trees and ornaments, and then we’ll sit down and figure out the next step.” He reached out to cup my cheek. “We’ll help however we can. If it means that much to you, I’ll find a way. Nice save, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

He pressed a quick kiss to my lips, then walked off with one of the carts. I caught up to him just as he grabbed several packages of cookies. While he stuffed his cart with those, I selected some crackers, then rushed over to the dairy section. I added milk for each family, two large blocks of cheese each, and even included packages of yogurt. If the kids didn’t like it, maybe the parents would. Eggs, bread, and a bunch of canned vegetables and macaroni finished off our shopping carts.

We checked out and made sure everything got divided in a way that would make it simple for each family to collect their groceries, and I made sure my baking stuff didn’t get mixed in. After Patriot paid and we’d loaded the Bronco, we drove back to the church with our haul. The reverend smiled so wide I thought his face might crack. We sorted the sacks into three groups and as we turned to leave, a man in worn jeans and a thin sweater stepped into the church.

“Is this them?” the man asked the reverend.

Reverend Burson nodded. “These are our very own angels. Folks, this is David Boscoe. His family is one of the ones on your list. I hope you don’t mind, but he’d hoped to meet you.”

“I’m Patriot and this is MaryAnne.” My good-hearted biker shook the man’s hand.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doing,” David said. “Ever since I lost my job, it’s been a constant struggle to feed my family, keep the lights on, and not lose our home. I appreciate everything you’re doing for us. You have no idea what a relief this is.”

My throat grew tight with unshed tears. I didn’t know why I was so emotional. For whatever reason, I felt compelled to help. Not only in the small way we had already, but I wanted to do more.

I tugged on Patriot’s hand and he leaned down. “Ronan, I… I need to…”

“I got you, Little Bit.” He kissed my forehead. “Mr. Boscoe, I know we’re strangers, and I also know how hard it is to accept help even when you need it most. Would you let us help a little more? MaryAnne and I have so much more than we need, and my Little Bit here has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. It’s tearing her up, thinking about your kids not having a home, food, or any other basics needed to survive.”

I licked my lips and looked up. “Mr. Boscoe, it wasn’t so long ago I was in a bad place. Patriot saved me, and I’ve kind of been drifting this past year. Healing at my own pace, but this holiday season has been the best I’ve ever had. Everything seems brighter. Happier. I want to share some of that joy with other people. I’ve been blessed by having Patriot and his club in my life. I only wish other people could be so lucky.”

Patriot pulled out his wallet and took out a chunk of cash. “Before you say no, think about your family. Use this however you see fit. If you’re behind on the utilities, put it toward that. Use it for rent, or whatever. It’s a gift with no strings attached. There’s only a few hundred there, but maybe it will ease a little of your stress over the next few weeks.”

The man’s eyes got glassy and he nodded, his lips pressed together tightly. He accepted the money and sounded choked up when he spoke. “Thank you. So much. This will keep us in the house another month, give me some time to figure out what we’re going to do next. You have no idea what a tremendous gift this is.”

Impulsively, I reached out and hugged him. It was quick and I immediately stepped back to Patriot’s side. It was the first time I’d hugged anyone who wasn’t part of the club. The way Patriot curved his arm around my shoulders and gave me a slight squeeze told me he knew what it had cost me. I could also see the pride shining in his eyes when he looked down at me.

“We’ll be back in a little while with something else for your family,” Patriot said. “We heard your little ones don’t have a Christmas tree this year, and we can’t very well let them spend the holidays without a bit of cheer.”

David nodded and I could tell he was close to crying.

“Come on. Let’s get our shopping done,” I said, nudging Patriot.

I was a woman on a mission.

Chapter Eight

Patriot

I couldn’t have been prouder of MaryAnne. Not only for hugging that man, but everything she was trying to accomplish. She’d picked out three pre-lit trees and ornaments that wouldn’t break easily, not wanting the little kids to get hurt. She was a complete wonder, and I was so fucking glad she was mine.

“Since we’re here, why don’t we see if they have any of the items on the lists? Although, if the families didn’t have decorations, they may not have stuff to wrap the presents either. Better grab some wrapping paper and tape,” I said.

“Did you ever check your bank account? What if we’re spending too much?” MaryAnne asked. “I want to do some good, but not if it means spending all your money. Oh no! The animals! We’ve been gone so long already…”

I sent a text to one of the Prospects, asking them to let Archimedes out and check on everyone’s food and water. Then I pulled up the banking app on my phone, checked my balance, and let out a whistle. It seemed Titan wasn’t kidding about the club helping. I showed her the screen and her eyes went wide.

“The Pres had Wizard deposit ten thousand into my account, Little Bit. That means we get everything on their lists, maybe something for the parents too, and even give them some cash to help in the upcoming weeks. And that’s after the expense of the food and all the other things we stuffed into these carts.”

“That’s so amazing!” She smiled and flung her arms around me, giving me a tight hug. “Thank you! I couldn’t have done all this on my own.”

“Anything for you, Little Bit. In fact, we can make this a yearly thing. Each December, we can check in with Reverend Burson and see if he has any families in need. And maybe a few times a year, we can drop off some non-perishable food at his church for anyone who needs it.”

“You’re the best.” She kissed me. It was brief, but it was the sweetest kiss I’d ever had.

“Come on. Pick out some wrapping paper, I’ll grab the tape, and then we can buy the presents for these families.”

We ended up having so much stuff, we had to check out and go back in for more. Seeing her so happy, so carefree, made it all worthwhile. Not only were we going to make someone’s Christmas a little brighter, but helping someone had given MaryAnne the last little push she needed to become whole again. I could see it in her eyes. The shadows were gone, leaving a vibrant, sweet woman I got to call my own.

We dropped everything by the church, along with an envelope of cash for each family, and a few hundred as a donation to Reverend Burson’s church. I wasn’t ready for the day to end just yet. I pulled into a parking spot outside the diner and led MaryAnne inside. It had been hours since we last ate, having missed lunch because of all our shopping, and I knew she had to be starving.

“I know you like their pie,” I said. “Figured we should grab a bite to eat. If you’re as worn out as I am, I know you don’t feel like cooking when we get home.”

“This is perfect.”

We were seated in a booth near the window and given menus. After we placed our drink order, the woman scurried off. As many times as we’d been here, I didn’t really need the menu but I decided to see if there was anything new. This time of year, they usually had some holiday specials.

“I think I want the chicken and stuffing sandwich,” she said. “It looks interesting.”

“Chicken, stuffing, and gravy on toasted bread. Does actually sound pretty damn good. Think I’ll get the same.”

A server rushed to our table with our drinks and set them down, a smile on her face. “My name’s Beth and I’ll be waiting on you today. Do you need more time?”

We told her our order and promised to save room for dessert. Although, I’d have much rather had MaryAnne’s pie or cake than anything the diner had. My woman could bake like no one else. There’d been some burnt disasters along the way, as she taught herself how to follow recipes, but she’d become a pro. In my opinion anyway. And I knew my brothers damn sure liked it when she sent goodies over to the clubhouse for them. They’d devoured everything she’d made the other day.

She hadn’t realized I’d shared with a few of them in the past. If I ate every cookie she baked, I’d be too wide to fit through our front door. So I ate my share and pilfered a few here and there to pass off to someone else. I’d never told her, not wanting to hurt her feelings. If I told her I couldn’t eat them all, she’d probably think I didn’t really like them, which was the furthest thing from the truth.

“Christmas is nearly here. I know we didn’t do much last year. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Is there anything you’d like to do this year?” I asked.

“The Christmases I spent with my family, we’d go visit our distant relatives on Christmas Eve night, usually at my grandparents’ house and later at an aunt’s home. When we got back to our place, everyone got to open one present. Mine was usually a book and I’d spend the rest of the night reading.” She smiled and leaned forward. “Christmas morning, my mother would get up before everyone else and make a breakfast spread. French toast casserole, small ham steaks and rolls, and another casserole which had ham, eggs, cheese, onions, and hash browns in it. The smell would always wake us up.”

“And you’d sit at the table to eat together?” I asked, trying to imagine having something like that. My childhood had definitely been different from hers.

“Not exactly. Mom would put it all out on the dining room table, like a buffet. We’d grab a plate and get whatever we wanted, then find a spot in the living room. My dad would put on one of those Burl Ives animated movies like Rudolph. I think they were Claymation or something. Anyway, we’d watch it while we ate and after everyone finished and we’d taken our dishes to the kitchen, we’d claim a spot in the living room again and Mom would pass out the presents.”

“That sounds pretty great,” I said.

“It was. I miss those days sometimes, but I think…” She worried at her lower lip. “I think everything that happened changed me in a way that made me better. The MaryAnne from before wouldn’t have thought about anyone else this time of year. I’d have been too busy trying to talk Mom or Dad into some expensive present or something. I’m not saying I’m glad I went through all the pain and humiliation, but I do think it had a positive effect on me as a person. I had to have ugliness and darkness touch me to realize what I had before.”

I reached over and placed my hand over hers. “Little Bit, you were always remarkable. You just hadn’t had time to grow into the woman you were supposed to be. You were still a kid when those bastards kidnapped you. The fact you survived, and came out even stronger than before, makes you one badass lady.”

She gave me a slight smile. “Guess I’d have to be for someone like you to want to keep me. If anyone in this relationship is amazing, it’s you.”

I sighed and leaned back. Before I could say anything, our food arrived, and Beth topped off our drinks. I waited until she’d walked off before I decided to tell MaryAnne a little more about my past. We hadn’t really discussed me much.

“I didn’t have a home like yours. My dad was a drunk. A mean one. When I was eleven, he walked out and didn’t come back. We found out two days later he’d been so plastered he’d stepped in front of a moving car. His wallet had been knocked so far away from him, it hadn’t been found right away. As soon as he’d been identified, they knocked on our door to give us the news.”

“Oh, Ronan.”

I should have corrected her, since we weren’t alone, but she’d said it soft enough no one had heard. I never told anyone about my past. I didn’t want their pity -- or worse, having them think I used it as an excuse.

“Mom worked twice as hard, trying to pay the rent on our trailer and keep food on the table. Some weeks we didn’t quite make it and went hungry. Others we had a little extra if she got nicer tips. I’d just turned eighteen when she passed away. Doctors said her heart gave out. I think she held on just long enough for me to officially be an adult.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Long time ago, Little Bit. Anyway, I joined the Army. Fulfilled the terms of my contract and decided I was tired of following orders. Drifted a bit until the Hades Abyss took me in. Our chapter is pretty new. I was with the original charter in Missouri until this one started up. I volunteered to come with Titan.”

“The compound here seems too well put together to be so new,” she said.

“It’s new compared to the Missouri chapter. Titan has built it up a lot just in the last few years.”

She eyed her sandwich, then picked up her knife and fork, cutting into it. I had to admit, picking it up wasn’t an option. The chicken and stuffing spilled out of the sides and the gravy pooled under it. As we ate, I tried to think of ways to make Christmas feel more like the ones she’d had before. Neither of us would be going to visit family on Christmas Eve, but we could start our own tradition.

“I have an idea,” I said.

She paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. “Does it involve more shopping?”

“Um. Sort of.”

“It’s either shopping or it isn’t.”

“It is, but I think we can do it from home and just have stuff delivered. I thought we could buy a handful of Christmas movies. On Christmas Eve, we could make a bunch of different finger foods to snack on all day and watch back-to-back movies. Then that night we can each open one present, just like you used to do with your family.”

She set her fork down. “Really?”

I nodded. “I don’t want you cooking all morning on Christmas, though. Maybe I could help you put one of those casseroles together the night before so you’d just have to pop it in the oven when we wake up. We can open presents while it warms up, or whenever you’d like.”

She picked up her fork again and studied me. “Why are you being so nice to me? Not just now, but from the very beginning you’ve gone out of your way for me. Even when we were strangers.”

“Because I’ve always known you were mine,” I said. “Even when I didn’t think of you in a sexual way, you were still mine to protect.”

She ate a few more bites before she started pushing her food around her plate. “The two who got away. If no one finds them, do you think they’ll come back here?”

“Are you asking if you’re safe?”

She nodded. “I haven’t been overly cautious today. Didn’t look over my shoulder constantly because you said you’d taken care of all but two.”

“I won’t let them anywhere near you, Little Bit. I told you, they’re states away. There are enough clubs out there who are outraged by what happened to you they’ll be extra vigilant. Those men get anywhere near a member in those clubs and their days will be numbered.”

We finished our meal, and had dessert, but MaryAnne had grown quiet. I worried those two remaining men were going to give her nightmares tonight. Unless something else was bothering her. The fact she wasn’t telling me what was on her mind didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t want to push, but I wouldn’t let her fret all night either. I’d give her until we reached the house. If she hadn’t opened up by then, I’d find a way to get it out of her. I couldn’t help if she didn’t tell me what was wrong.

I paid for our meal and left Beth a good tip. With the holidays so close, I figured she could use some extra cash like most people. Being on her feet all day wasn’t easy, and I knew people could be assholes and either leave no tip or shitty ones. Getting a decent tip had always made my mom smile. Now I tried to do that for others when I could, but especially close to Christmas.

I took MaryAnne’s hand as we walked outside. She closed her fingers around mine and leaned her head against my arm. This little slip of a woman made me want to be a better man.

I unlocked the Bronco and helped her inside, reaching over to buckle her. I gave her a wink before I shut the door. The second before I turned, I saw the reflection of a man standing behind me and MaryAnne’s eyes went wide. I ducked as he swung an iron bar at my head. It smashed into the glass, making MaryAnne scream as it sprayed across her. Little cuts dotted her fair skin. Seeing her bleed let loose the monster I tried to keep locked down tight.

With a roar, I spun to face the man and slammed my fist into his face. He swung the pipe at me, and I blocked it with my arm, snarling at the pain radiating up into my shoulder. I didn’t think he’d broken it, but it would be bruised by morning. I went after him again, landing a punch to his ribs, one to his nose, then kicked his legs out from under him.

He sprawled on his back on the pavement. Hatred blazed in his eyes as he struggled to his feet. I didn’t give him a chance to come after me again. I landed a right hook to his temple and he went down, knocked out cold. Sirens sounded in the distance and it wasn’t long before red and blue lights came into view.

I opened the Bronco door and reached for MaryAnne. She shook so damn hard I thought I heard her teeth rattle. I unbuckled her and helped her down. I was trying to shake the glass from her clothes when two officers approached, guns out and pointed at me.

“Hands where I can see them,” the older of the two said.

I slowly lifted my hands and turned to face them. “Just trying to get the glass off my woman. The asshole on the ground smashed a metal pipe into the window. She’s been hurt.”

Two of the diner employees rushed out, both leaping to my defense. I noticed one was Beth.

“He didn’t do anything but defend himself and his wife!” Beth wrung her hands. “I called you. That guy came out of nowhere.”

Wife. I liked the sound of that. I tried to look at MaryAnne to gauge her reaction. She took a step closer to me, but her eyes were huge and full of unshed tears. I wanted to hold her, but I didn’t dare move in case either of the officers was a little trigger happy.

The older cop lowered his gun a fraction. “Self-defense?”

I nodded. “I was just having dinner with my wife. Came out and helped her into the Bronco. Soon as I closed the door, I saw his reflection. He swung at me and ended up busting out the window. The glass cut my wife. He swung at me again and caught my arm when I lifted it to block him from hitting my head.”

The older one eyed me a moment. “Raise your sleeve. Nice and slow.”

I lifted it and winced, noticing the skin had split open. Didn’t look bad enough to need stitches, but it didn’t exactly feel amazing. The older cop lowered his weapon the rest of the way and motioned for the younger one to do the same.

“Name’s Officer Bowers, and this is Officer Jenkins. We’ll get the guy into cuffs and put him in the car, but I’m going to need an official statement from you if we’re going to hold him.”

“I need to finish getting the glass off my wife’s clothes, and she needs medical care.”

“So do you,” Officer Bowers said. He reached for the mic at his shoulder. “Dispatch, need a box at 223 Main. Two injured.”

“Box?” MaryAnne asked.

“Ambulance,” the officer said. “Looks like a box on wheels.”

She smiled faintly and I started shaking the glass from her clothes again. Getting the window on the Bronco repaired wasn’t going to be fun. Normally, I’d do it myself, but I might pay someone else this time around. Wouldn’t be too hard for an auto glass place to track down one that would fit the big beast.

When the EMTs arrived, I had them check MaryAnne first. They cleaned and treated the wounds on her face and neck, which seemed to be superficial, then worked on my arm. I’d been right about not needing stitches, but they put some butterfly strips across it once it had been disinfected.

Officer Bowers came over with a wallet in his hand. “Says here the man’s name is Walter Wilcox. Lives two towns over.”

“Never heard of him,” I said.

“He didn’t say anything before he attacked?” Officer Bowers asked.

“No. Just appeared at my back and swung. I have no idea why he came after me. Never seen him before. I typically recognize anyone I’ve pissed off.”

The officer chuckled. “Well, we’ll haul him in and see what we can find out. On the off chance he isn’t acting alone, might want to keep a close watch on your wife. And be careful.”

I shook his hand and walked over to the Bronco. There was too much glass for her to sit in the front, so I folded the seat down and helped her into the back. “Sorry, Little Bit. Can’t have you riding up here with all this glass.”

“I just want to go home. Are you sure you’re all right?”

I kissed her forehead. “I’m fine. Promise. I’m afraid it’s going to be a bit cold since the window is gone. I’ll get us home as quick as I can.”

I’d have Wizard look into Walter Wilcox and see what he could find out. I didn’t think this attack was about MaryAnne. I hadn’t seen him in any of the videos, and she hadn’t seemed to recognize him. This was either personal, or had something to do with the club. Unless it was a case of mistaken identity. Either way, I needed to know it was over now that he was being hauled off to jail, or I’d be looking over my shoulder every time I went out with MaryAnne.

I helped her into the house and held her hand, keeping her still a moment. “You know, Beth referred to you as my wife, and so did I. You didn’t look too startled by it.”

Her cheeks warmed. “Maybe it was wishful thinking.”

I tipped her chin up. “You want to be my wife? You’re already mine in any way that counts with the club, but if you want my name too, it’s yours.”

“You’d marry me?” she asked.

“Either the old-fashioned way, or I could ask Wizard to hack the county and state systems to make it happen. I’m good with whatever you want.”

“I don’t think I’d like a crowd of people at a wedding. If it’s just us anyway, I don’t see why we should go to the cost and trouble of standing in front of someone to say vows. Can you ask Wizard to do it?”

I nodded and pulled out my phone, putting it on speaker as it rang.

“Patriot, everything okay?” he asked. “Got an alert you had a chat with the police.”

I snorted. Of course he had. Any time anyone in the club was linked to an incident in the police systems, he got a notice about it. Illegally, but still accurate.

“Some asshole smashed the Bronco window and tried to bash in my head. I’m fine, and MaryAnne is good. Got a few cuts, but she’ll be okay.”

Wizard whistled. “What do you need?”

“Two things. First, can you do whatever magic Wire has done in the past to make MaryAnne my wife?”

“I’d love to! Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” Mary Anne said.

“What else?” Wizard asked.

“The man who attacked me is Walter Wilcox. I’ve never heard of him and didn’t recognize his face. See if you can find out why he would come after me. I need to know it’s safe for MaryAnne to leave the compound.”

“I’m on it. I’ll text when I have something.”

I ended the call and shoved the phone back into my pocket. “Do I need to bring your baking stuff in tonight?”

She shook her head. “It’s not anything that will ruin. Unless it rains.”

Shit. I hadn’t even thought of it raining, or maybe even snowing. “Give me a minute to put something over the window, and I’ll go ahead and bring your stuff in. Why don’t you head up and take a shower? Might feel better. Just be careful with those cuts.”

She went up on her tiptoes to press her lips to mine. “Don’t be long.”

My dick went hard as steel. I ran my hand down my beard as she went upstairs. Fuck but she was sexy. And mine. Once Wizard did his thing, she’d be mine in all ways. I had to be the luckiest bastard alive.

I rushed through taping a trash bag over the busted window and left the sacks of her baking supplies in the kitchen on the counter. After I let Archimedes out, covered Hatter’s cage, and settled the kitten, I let the dog back in and kenneled him before locking up. Taking the steps two at a time, I hurried to our room. The shower was still going. I stripped out of my clothes and boots, then went to join my almost-wife. And this time, I’d make sure I fucked her in the bedroom like I should have the first time instead of up against the shower wall.

Or maybe I’d do both.

Chapter Nine

MaryAnne

The moment I heard the shower door open, my nipples hardened. I could have rationalized it as being from the cool gust of air. I knew that wasn’t it. No, my body responded to the nearness of Patriot. The door shut and his hands settled at my waist. I felt the heat of his body press against my back and I leaned into him.

“Should you get your arm wet?” I asked, thinking about the bandages holding his cut together.

“Probably not. But if you think I’m letting you shower alone, you’re wrong. Couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hold my sexy wife.”

“Wife?” I asked. “Did Wizard message you?”

“No. But if he says he’s going to get it done, he will. You might as well get used to being called MaryAnne Caffee.”

“I like it.” I tipped my head back and looked up at him. “I like everyone knowing I’m yours.”

He traced his fingers down my cheek. “Do these hurt?”

I shook my head. “Not really. I think they’re mostly scratches and will heal in a few days.”

He kissed me, his tongue delving into my mouth, his hold tightening on me. I should have been scared. Terrified. I didn’t have a single flashback. All I felt was pleasure. It was Patriot holding me, kissing me, and that made all the difference. I knew he’d never hurt me.

And I loved him.

“Not taking you in the shower right now,” he murmured against my lips. “You deserve better… a bed and me taking my time.”

“As long as it’s you doing the taking, I don’t care where we are. Well, maybe not somewhere out in public with other people watching, but in this house? It doesn’t matter what room we’re in.”

He slid his palm across my belly and a little lower. His other hand settled at my shoulder and bent me at the waist. I slapped my hands against the glass wall so I wouldn’t topple over.

“Should I take you now? Fast? Hard?” He worked his hand between my thighs and cupped my pussy. He stroked my clit with his thumb, and I couldn’t hold back my whimper. It felt so good. He felt good. “Or maybe I should make you come a few times.”

“Ronan, please.”

He lifted me into his arms and spun so that he faced the opposite wall. He eased me down onto the built-in bench, then shoved my thighs apart, spreading me open.

“Hands above your head, and keep them there,” he said. I lifted them over my head, crossing my wrists. He groaned, his eyes darkening as he stared at me. “Can you thrust those pretty breasts up? Offer those nipples to me.”

My breasts grew heavy and my clit pulsed. I pushed my shoulders back and he dropped to his knees in front of me. Patriot slid his hands up my thighs, then back down. When he moved them up again, he used his thumbs to spread my pussy open. As much as I ached and wanted him to make me come, he just looked.

“So beautiful,” he said. “And mine. All mine.”

“Yes, I’m yours! Only yours.”

His gaze clashed with mine. “That’s right. No one will ever touch you, kiss you. Only my cock will stretch you wide, fill you with cum. You belong to me, and I belong to you.”

“Please! I… I need…”

He leaned forward and took a nipple into his mouth. When he sucked on it, drawing hard on the tip, I cried out and my hips jerked. His thumbs grazed the sides of my clit, right as he gently bit down on my nipple. It was enough to make me come. I screamed out my release, my body bucking and tensing, every nerve ending coming alive. He slid his thumbs up and down, drawing out my climax.

Patriot switched to my other breast, giving the hard tip a nibble. He grazed my clit again and I trembled. “You… you’re going to… I’m going to… to…”

He rubbed his thumb across my clit, pressing down tighter as he circled the little bud. I screamed out his name as I came again. A roaring filled my ears and it felt like the world had tipped sideways. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t hear or see. Everything came back into focus a little at a time.

Patriot pulled my ass to the edge of the bench and bent down. He licked my clit before sucking on it. I felt a fullness and realized he’d slid his fingers inside me. He stroked them in and out while his tongue teased my clit. My arms started to slide down the wall and he growled, his gaze locked on mine.

“Keep your hands there.”

I tried. I really did. When he made me come again, I couldn’t help it. I reached for him, my fingers sliding into his hair. I rocked against his mouth, but he pried himself loose and sat back on his haunches. Something flashed in his eyes and before I knew what was happening, he’d lifted me and taken my place on the bench. I somehow ended up on my knees between his splayed thighs.

“Warned you, Little Bit. Think you can handle paying the price?” He ran his fingers through my hair, his touch gentle despite the hard edge to his words.

“What price?”

He gripped his cock and gave it a stroke. “Want those lips wrapped around me.”

I took a steadying breath and placed my hands on his thighs, then lowered my head and swirled my tongue over the head of his cock. He groaned again and I took more of him into my mouth. I’d barely managed half of his length when I felt his fingers in my hair. He tugged on the strands, then I felt pressure against the back of my head and knew what he wanted.

I gave up control to him, something I’d feared doing. His murmured words of encouragement, and the fact I knew it was Patriot, kept me from going to a dark place. He forced more of his cock into my mouth. On his next thrust, he slid to the back of my throat and held still.

“Swallow,” he said. “Swallow for me, Little Bit.”

I did as he’d commanded, and it seemed to snap his control. He gripped my face between his palms and pumped into my mouth with hard, fast strokes. I felt his cock swell against my tongue and then spurt after spurt of his hot cum filled my mouth. I tried to take it all, but I felt some slide from the corners of my mouth.

Patriot pulled free, his chest heaving but his touch gentle. He smoothed his hand over my hair. “So good. Fuck, Little Bit. You’re Goddamn amazing.”

I wiped his cum from my chin and mouth. The soft expression in his eyes made me want to give him more. I liked pleasing him. It hadn’t been scary, like I’d thought it might be.

“I think I owe you a few more orgasms,” he said, standing and holding out his hand. “But let’s move this to the bed.”

My legs felt like rubber when I stood, and he helped me out of the shower. He briskly dried me with a towel before using it on himself, then it tossed it into the hamper. I followed him into the bedroom, where he tugged down the sheets and motioned for me to get on the bed.

He kissed me, slow and deep before drawing away. “Anyone else ever lick your pussy?”

I slowly shook my head. “No. I… I was a virgin when they took me. No one cared if I enjoyed what they did.”

A shadow crossed his eyes a moment but cleared almost instantly. “I’ll do better about bringing up past sexual experiences. Sometimes I forget for a moment how young you were… I’m sorry, Little Bit.”

He toppled me to my back and pushed my thighs apart. Dropping to his knees beside the bed, he tugged my ass closer to the edge of the mattress. The first swipe of his tongue sent a shockwave of pleasure coursing through me. I’d read books where guys did this sort of thing, but experiencing it firsthand was another matter. His tongue was soft, wet, and hot… and wickedly talented. I moaned as he flicked it against my clit.

“Feels so amazing,” I said.

Patriot took his time, bringing me right to the edge multiple times, yet never letting me come. It was both frustrating and exquisite torture. I loved every second of it and wanted more, but I also wanted an orgasm. Now that I’d experienced what it felt like, more than once, I was greedy and wanted lots more.

“Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop, Ronan.”

He sucked at my clit until I saw stars. My toes curled from the intense pleasure, and I forgot to breathe for a moment. The weight of his body settled over me and I hugged his hips with my thighs.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his cock brushing against me.

“More than. You don’t have to ask permission, Ronan. I want you every bit as much as you want me. I’m yours. As long as you don’t cause me pain, I’ll try anything you want. We won’t know what will freak me out if we don’t experiment a little.”

“You’re fucking amazing.”

I felt the hard length of him enter me. He didn’t slam home. No, he took his time. Every stroke was drawn out, and so perfect I nearly cried. The push and pull of his cock kept me on the edge of another orgasm. I dug my nails into his shoulders, never wanting the moment to end. I kept my gaze on his, watching as his eyes darkened.

“Make me come, Ronan, then take what you need.”

I felt the vibration of his growl before I heard it. He did something with his hips, a slight twist on the next thrust that had my pussy clenching tight. It didn’t take long before I was coming again. He drove into me, taking me hard and fast, his hips slapping against me.

“Yes! Yes! More!” I held on tighter as he seemed to lose control. When he came, he let out a roar, sounding more animal than human, his cock driving into me again and again, as his hot cum filled me up.

His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath and I reached up to run my fingers over his beard. Patriot turned his face to kiss my palm, and my heart warmed at the gesture. For a tough man, one who’d killed, he could be incredibly sweet.

“I didn’t hurt you?” he asked.

“Not even a little.”

“Let me catch my breath and we’ll try again. Maybe a different position.”

“If you want. Or you could just hold me. I’d be happy either way.”

He kissed my cheek, my jaw, and finally my lips. “Love you, MaryAnne. Never loved a woman until you. And before you bring up my mom, she doesn’t count. She gave birth to me. It’s not the same thing.”

I smiled and ran my fingers through his hair. “Love you so much it hurts, but in a good way.”

He got off me, his cock sliding from my body. I felt his release leak out of me and didn’t know if I should run clean up, or leave it. He took the matter out of my hands when he picked me up and settled me against the pillows. Patriot walked into the bathroom and I heard the sink running. After a moment, he returned with a wet rag. He gently cleaned between my legs, then tossed the rag back into the bathroom before getting into bed with me.

“Get some rest, Little Bit.”

I sighed and closed my eyes, snuggling against him. When I heard his phone chime, and then go off again, I reluctantly let him go. Patriot rolled out of bed and went to retrieve his phone. His brow furrowed as he scrolled through the messages.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes and no. The man who attacked me doesn’t have anything to do with your past. That’s a blessing. Means no one is out for revenge because of the men I’ve killed. But he does pose a problem. If he gets out of jail, he’ll come for me again.”

“Why? Or is it club business?” I asked.

“It is, but you’re a small part of it. Remember the club whore I told to leave? The one who insulted you?”

I nodded.

“She’s apparently married. To the man who attacked me. All we can figure is he saw my cut and decided to get even. No way of knowing if he wanted me specifically, or any member of the club. Although, I don’t know why Blaire would say anything to him about me knocking her on her ass.”

My jaw dropped and I didn’t know what to say. Why would a married woman come here to be a club whore? Had she been sent to spy? Or was it something else?

“What happens now?” I asked.

“If he’s released, I’ll handle it. Either way, that bitch has a lot to answer for. I’ll be back in a minute, Little Bit. Need to call Kraken and let him know what’s up. I’ll be to bed as soon as I’ve handled this. Can’t have the club blindsided, and if the bitch is still hanging around, she needs to go. Immediately.”

I couldn’t have agreed more. I rolled to my side and snuggled into the pillow. Yawning so wide, I felt my jaw pop, I closed my eyes. I felt sleep tugging at me when the bed dipped, and Patriot pulled me into his arms.

“Kraken said he’d handle it.” He kissed my neck, then my shoulder. “Let’s get some rest so I can wear you out some more.”

I couldn’t help but smile. After I’d first been brought here, if anyone had told me I’d be lying in bed with a man, willingly, and looking forward to sex, I’d have told them they were fucking crazy. But Patriot wasn’t just any man. He’d saved me, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.

He may not have given me my life back, but he’d helped me create a new one. Given me a home. More than that, he’d given me his love, and had an infinite supply of patience. He’d never once pushed me to do more than I felt comfortable doing, whether it was leaving the compound or visiting with people. He understood me better than anyone.

The heat of his body curled around me made me feel safe. I didn’t just want to be with him because of that, though. It was so much more. When I thought about the future, it was Patriot I saw by my side. Even before he’d claimed me, I’d always seen him as being part of my life. I’d just thought I didn’t stand a chance of him seeing me as more than a kid. I was glad I’d been wrong.

It didn’t matter how many presents were under the tree because the most important gift had been his love. This wasn’t going to be just a good Christmas, but it was going to be an amazing one. All because of Patriot.

I only hoped one day he’d understand when I said I loved him, it was more than three little words. It meant everything.

Chapter Ten

Patriot

The club whore who’d thrown her drink at MaryAnne had been tossed from the club, but she hadn’t gone quietly. Blaire Wilcox was more trouble than she was worth. She’d thrown a beer bottle at Kraken, kicked Brick in the nuts, and raked her nails across Gravel’s face before we’d managed to toss her out the gates, right on her ass. She’d shrieked and cussed, promised she’d get even. Wasn’t anything we hadn’t heard before.

We just hadn’t expected her to follow through. And that’s where we fucked up.

We’d had two days of quiet before all hell broke loose. Not an avalanche exactly, more like a slow trickle of bad luck. A few bikes had flat tires when my brothers came out of the clubhouse after partying. We’d thought it was a coincidence until other things started to happen. We still hadn’t figured out who had let the air out of the tires. It had to be someone who still had access to the Hades Abyss compound. Wizard had been going through video footage trying to get a look at the culprit.

Phoebe’s car had had whore spray painted on the driver-side door when she’d gone to the store the next day, which had sent Kraken and Titan both on a rampage. Two nights after that, someone poured a gallon of bright pink paint across the driveway outside the gate and wrote pussies in it before it had dried. They’d been far enough from the gate, we not only hadn’t seen or heard them, but they weren’t caught on camera either. But I’d known it was Blaire who cut the fence line and destroyed my yard and outside Christmas lights when I found three slushie cups tossed into the grass nearby. Bitch hadn’t been as smart as she’d thought. Her DNA was all over the straws, and her fingerprints had been on the outside of each cup.

It wasn’t until Wizard ran her prints I realized we needed to start vetting the women we let into the compound. The webcam girls were one thing, but it wasn’t enough. We needed to vet the club whores too. Blaire was wanted in three states for prostitution, robbery, and had spent a year locked up for possession with intent to distribute. And her husband wasn’t much better.

MaryAnne sat at the table with a cup of hot cocoa, Christmas songs playing softly from the radio on the counter, as she stared into space. Hatter whistled along with White Christmas, while Archimedes lay out beside MaryAnne with his head on her foot. Even the kitten seemed subdued.

“You all right, Little Bit?” I asked.

“I’m fine. Just wish this mess with Blaire and her husband was over with. They haven’t caught him yet?”

I shook my head. The day he’d been headed to court for his hearing, somehow Walter Wilcox had managed to escape custody. He was still at large, and most likely off somewhere with Blaire, plotting their next move. She wanted revenge because I’d chosen MaryAnne and then humiliated her, and her husband hadn’t liked the idea of his wife spreading her legs for a bunch of bikers. Free of charge, of course. Had we been paying her, he likely wouldn’t have minded, since he appeared to be her pimp.

“Come on, Little Bit. Let’s go watch some movies and have some quality time together. Seems like with everything going on, we haven’t had a lot of time to just relax and enjoy each other’s company.”

She stood and gave me a wan smile. “All right, but I’m not sure how Christmas-y I feel right now.”

I took her hand and led her into the living room. I left the radio playing for Hatter, but Archimedes and the kitten followed us. The kitten climbed the couch and curled up in MaryAnne’s lap. I watched her stroke the little ball of fur while I selected a movie.

“I think you should name him,” I said. “He seems to like you best.”

She toyed with his little ears. “He’s always getting into trouble. What about Rascal?”

I nodded. “Sounds like a good name. How about it, kitty? You like the name Rascal?”

The kitten purred and rubbed his face against MaryAnne. I laughed and reached over to pet him.

“I think he likes it,” she said.

“Seems that way. I had a feeling he wasn’t leaving here. I know you try not to bond to the animals I bring home, but I saw the way you looked at him that first night. All wet from the rain and covered in fleas and blood. Little thing was half-starved and dying. You didn’t see all that, though, did you?”

“No. He might have looked mostly dead, but I could tell he wasn’t ready to give up.”

“Like you,” I said, taking her hand.

“You have a tendency to bring home wounded things. All your animals. Me. What’s next?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. Since she’d brought it up, it was the perfect time to talk to her about something. I wasn’t sure how the conversation would go. Either she’d be thrilled, scared, or just outright refuse. Only one way to know for certain, and I was about out of time.

“Since you brought it up… there is one other thing I’d like to bring home.”

She turned a little to face me. “What?”

“Remember those families we helped? The ones from the church.”

“What about them?” she asked.

“One of those families has a fifteen-year-old daughter. She wasn’t raped, like you were, but she did fool around with a boy who was old enough to know better and she ended up pregnant.”

MaryAnne’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand where this is going.”

I tightened my hold on her hand, hoping she’d hear me out. I loved her, and I’d be happy with just the two of us and the animals, but I knew she wanted more. She wanted a family, and honestly, I did too. I wanted it all, as long as MaryAnne was the one by my side.

“The girl can’t keep the baby. The family can barely feed everyone as it is, and at fifteen, she’s just not ready to be a mother. The boy who got her pregnant signed away his rights. They were going to put the baby up for adoption when it’s born.” I stroked her hand with my thumb. “It’s a girl.”

I saw the pulse in her throat pounding. “A baby girl? And they don’t want her?”

“Not so much that they don’t want her, but they want her to have a good life. One where she won’t struggle and will have more opportunities.” I cleared my throat. “Told them we might be interested in adopting her, but I’d have to talk to you first. Then all this other shit started happening and there hasn’t been a good time to bring it up.”

“A baby,” she said softly. “And she’d be ours? They wouldn’t try to take her back later?”

“No, Little Bit. They won’t take her away from us. We’ll sign papers, do everything legally. Or mostly. I did tell them Wizard could help move things along faster and they seemed okay with that.”

“Can we really adopt her?”

“If that’s what you want. I know you wanted kids and since I know for sure I can’t have any, and you were worried you can’t, it seemed like a good opportunity. Not just for us, but it will give that baby a chance at a good life, and the girl can finish school without worrying about raising a kid.”

Tears misted her eyes, and she flung her arms around my neck, dislodging Rascal from her lap. “Oh, Ronan! I can’t think of anything I want more.”

I hugged her tight. “Then I’ll make some calls and let them know we’ll take her. I’ll have to get a room ready. Think the girl is due before Christmas.”

“This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

“Not sure I can ever top this one. I get the woman I love and a daughter.”

“That can’t be all you want in life,” she said.

Was it? I had brothers I knew would have my back no matter what. A woman I loved who wanted me as much as I wanted her. And we were going to adopt a baby girl. Toss in my rescues and life was close to perfect. Almost.

“I want the last two fuckers who hurt you to pay the price, and I’d like Walter and Blaire Wilcox out of our lives forever. Other than that, I can’t say there’s really anything else I want. I have everything I need already.”

She pressed against me and I held her close. Yeah, I definitely had everything I needed already. Even if the adoption fell through, it wouldn’t matter to me. I’d love the little girl like she was my own flesh and blood, and I knew MaryAnne wanted a baby, but as long as I had her I didn’t need anything else.

“We should bring Hatter in here. Everyone else in the family is ready for a movie night,” she said. “Don’t you think he feels left out in the kitchen by himself?”

I smiled and kissed the top of her head. “Making sure my bird doesn’t get depressed?”

“Just doesn’t seem fair is all.”

“I’ll get Hatter. We’ll see how well Rascal does with him. I haven’t trimmed Hatter’s flight feathers lately, so if the kitten goes for him, he can fly away.”

“I’ll get a movie going. Any requests?”

“Whatever you want, Little Bit.”

I went to get Hatter from his cage. He ran up my arm and settled on my shoulder with a rustle of his feathers. When he started grooming my hair, I reached up and rubbed the top of his head. I carried him to the living room and sat on the couch next to MaryAnne. She immediately leaned into my side and clicked PLAY on the movie. The Year Without a Santa Claus started up. My girl was nothing if not predictable. She loved her animated holiday movies. Didn’t matter if it was Christmas or Halloween.

Hatter moved from my shoulder to the back of the couch. So far, Rascal hadn’t noticed him. Or just didn’t care the bird was roaming free. Archimedes groaned and rolled to his side, stretching out more on the floor. Rascal batted the dog’s ear before curling up next to him. The two had become fast friends.

I heard a scraping sound outside and my gaze strayed to the window. I didn’t see any movement through the blinds, nor did I hear anything else. It was possible one of my brothers was out there, probably taking a smoke break. Philly lived on one side of me and Poison was on the other. When we’d been assigned our houses, I’d joked with Titan and asked if he was trying to keep all the P names together.

Honestly, I didn’t mind having Philly and Poison as neighbors. Neither was overly loud, and I got along with them. Hell, I got along with everyone in the club, even if Smoke had overstepped with MaryAnne recently. And Galahad tended to get on my last nerve with the way he treated her. Or more accurately, the way he seemed to not give a rat’s ass. I knew that wasn’t the case. He’d about fallen apart when he’d found out she’d been taken, and he’d done some shit he shouldn’t have.

Another scrape from a different area caught my attention again. What the fuck was going on out there?

“Little Bit, I need to step outside for a second. Stay inside, okay?”

She tipped her head. “Are you going out to smoke?”

“Need to check on something. It’s warm in here and you aren’t wearing shoes.” I kissed her temple. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

I went to the door and slowly pulled it open. I didn’t want to worry MaryAnne, so I didn’t pull the gun I kept on me. Not until I’d gone outside. I stepped off the porch and made my way around the side of the house facing Philly’s home. His lights were off, which didn’t mean much. This time of night, he was most likely at the clubhouse.

I’d almost missed it, but there was a small footprint outside the house below the guest room window. Could have been MaryAnne’s, except she didn’t make a habit of hanging out on the side of the house. There was another outside the living room. This time, I knew for sure it wasn’t MaryAnne’s. The footprint faced the window, like someone had been trying to look through the blinds, or perhaps anticipated scaling up to the second floor.

“What the fuck?” I muttered. I looked around and didn’t see anyone. No more scraping sounds.

I walked the perimeter and didn’t see anything else out of the ordinary. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong, but fuck if I could figure out what it was. I glanced at Philly’s house again. I squinted a little and studied his home, noticing the front door seemed to be partially open. It could have been a shadow, but I needed to make sure.

I approached his house, gun still gripped and ready. A quick glance at my place, showed the door was still shut. I didn’t hear Archimedes barking, or any screams. I hoped that meant MaryAnne was still watching her movie. Using the toe of my boot, I nudged the door open. Even through the darkness, I could see the shadow of a body on the floor. The leather cut had me moving closer. Shit! I knelt next to the body, feeling for a pulse. It was there, and strong.

“Philly.” I gave him a nudge. Something shiny caught my attention and I realized he was bleeding. It looked like someone had bashed the side of his head. I pulled my phone out and sent a text to Titan.

Someone knocked out Philly.

There wasn’t a lot I could do for him at the moment. I checked his house, making sure no one else was there, then went outside to scan the area. Had the footprints outside my place happened before or after Philly had been attacked? On the other side of Philly was Brick’s home. On the off chance he wasn’t out partying, I checked his home. He was out cold too, but he hadn’t even made it into his house. Whoever had taken him out had caught him getting off his bike, or getting on it. Either way, he was knocked out in the carport. Had they started here, then moved to Philly’s place, then mine?

MaryAnne! I took off for my house, not bothering to stay quiet. I rushed through the door and froze when I saw Blaire pointing a knife at MaryAnne. Her eyes were wild and bloodshot, and it looked like she hadn’t combed her hair in a few days.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I asked.

“It was supposed to be me!” Blaire yelled.

“What was?”

“Why couldn’t one of you have picked me? I needed you! Do you know what it’s like being married to Walter? He doesn’t love me. The only thing he loves is money and power. He uses me.” She sniffled, but I wasn’t sure if she was about to cry or if she’d been doing coke. “He made me a whore.”

I saw the pity and understanding that crossed MaryAnne’s face. Yeah, my girl knew something about that. If Blaire had come to one of us, been honest, we might have been able to help her. She’d gone about everything the wrong way, and now she’d taken out two of my brothers and held a knife on my woman? Bitch was going down.

“So you thought breaking into my house, threatening my wife, and knocking out my brothers was going to help your cause?” I asked.

“Wife!” She shrieked and jabbed the knife at MaryAnne. “You bitch!”

MaryAnne tried to scramble away, but she wasn’t fast enough. The knife sank into her thigh. I saw her face pale as she bit her lips. My beautiful, strong girl refused to cry or scream.

Before I could make my move, Archimedes growled from the corner of the room. He slunk along the wall, then darted toward Blaire. He bit down on her ankle, making her squeal like a fucking pig. Rascal decided to protect his family too and puffed up, hissing and spitting at Blaire before he sank his claws into her other leg. She flailed, screamed, and cussed as she toppled to the floor.

Hatter came out of nowhere. He flapped his wings as he dug his little claws into her scalp and pulled on her hair. “Bitch! Bitch! Kill her!”

MaryAnne’s jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. I hadn’t taught Hatter that one, so it made me wonder just what my sweet MaryAnne had been saying when she’d been alone with Hatter. “Something you want to share, Little Bit?”

“Get them off me!” Blaire yelled.

I nudged Rascal and Archimedes aside and waved off Hatter. Grabbing Blaire by the arms, I flipped her over and gripped her wrists at the small of her back. “Little Bit, get the cuffs out of the bedside table drawer.”

“Out of… where?” MaryAnne’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. “Something you want to share?”

“Stop being a smartass and get the cuffs, woman. Unless you want me letting this she-devil go?”

MaryAnne scurried off the couch, or tried to. She cried out and collapsed. I saw the bleeding seeping through her pants leg and cursed. I couldn’t release the bitch on the ground to check on her. Riley ran into the house with two more brothers on his heels. I sent him upstairs for the cuffs and tried to keep an eye on MaryAnne. Riley tossed the cuffs to me and I put them on Blaire just as Kraken came through the door. I sat back on my haunches and looked over at him.

“Are you shitting me?” he asked. “A fucking club whore took out three of our brothers?”

“Three?” I asked.

“She got Poison, Philly, and Brick.” Kraken nudged her with his boot. “What the fuck is your damage?”

“I think she’s on something.” I hurried to MaryAnne’s side and helped her back onto the couch. Blood gushed through the tear in her pants. “Get me a fucking towel or something. Need to tie this off.”

“Did her husband really make her a whore?” MaryAnne asked, her voice soft and low. I could tell it bothered her. In other circumstances, I’d have felt bad for Blaire.

“She’s been arrested multiple times for prostitution,” I said. “Don’t you fucking feel sorry for her, Little Bit. Her situation is nothing like yours.”

Riley hauled Blaire off the floor and shoved her toward Kraken. He got a good grip on her arm and started marching her out of the house. I got a better look at her face and knew I’d been right. She was on something. Probably more than one thing. I didn’t know what the club would do to her, but she wasn’t my problem right now. I needed to focus on MaryAnne.

“Bones is tending Poison, Philly, and Brick,” Kraken said. “I’m taking this one out to the barn. Think we need to have a chat.”

“Find out where her husband is. I’d prefer not to have any more surprises tonight.”

“Um, Patriot,” MaryAnne said, her voice sounding a little thin. “I think I’m bleeding a little too much.”

“Fuck!” I swung my gaze back to her. “Little Bit, I need your pants off to see how bad this is.”

“Take her to the hospital,” Kraken said. “If she needs stitches, it would be better if Bones doesn’t have to do it. Text Bones and see if he has anything to help with the bleeding until you can get her there.”

I lifted MaryAnne into my arms. “Come on, Little Bit. Kraken’s right. Need to get this wound checked out. Maybe the hospital will give you something for the pain.”

I carried her out to the Bronco, only to remember the damn window hadn’t been fixed yet. I kept walking, heading to the clubhouse. We’d have to use a club truck. And I needed to get the fucking Bronco working, especially if we were bringing a baby home. Or maybe I needed to buy something new.

I eased her onto the front seat of the first truck and ran inside to get the keys. The hospital was twenty minutes away, and I didn’t like the amount of blood soaking into her pants and the rag I’d used as a tourniquet. MaryAnne looked too pale.

I stopped long enough to text Bones. Anything to stop MaryAnne from bleeding? She got stabbed.

He responded almost immediately. I had some Celox but I’m out.

I reached over to squeeze her hand as I broke every speed limit in town, trying to get her some help as fast as I could. I also needed to come up with a story because if they went looking for Blaire, it would cause problems for the club.

“Little Bit, when we get there, we’re going to have to tell them something.”

She didn’t answer and I glanced her way. She’d slumped against the window and her eyes were closed. Panic clawed at me and I brushed my fingers over her wrist, searching for her pulse. I found it, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as I’d have liked. I stopped the truck at the ER entrance. Getting out, I ran to her side and pulled her from the truck before hurrying inside. I hoped like fuck she’d only passed out from pain and not blood loss.

“My wife’s been stabbed!” I yelled out, hoping to get some help quickly. A nurse ran over and started asking questions. “I-I don’t know. It happened kind of fast. We were taking a walk in town and someone came at us. A woman.”

I was fucking this up and sounded like a damn idiot. But it was MaryAnne, and she was bleeding entirely too much. If my story was full of holes, I’d deal with it later. I finished answering her questions and stayed by MaryAnne’s side. I held her hand as they took her back to a curtained off area.

“Sir, we need to get her undressed and into a gown,” a nurse said.

“I’ll do it,” I said. “She’s my wife. I can’t leave her.”

The woman gave me an understanding smile and set a gown on the bed. “If you need help, just call out.”

After she’d closed the curtain again, I worked at getting MaryAnne undressed and into the hospital gown. It wasn’t easy since she hadn’t woken yet. The wound looked worse than I’d thought, and blood still gushed from it. It wasn’t near an artery, so I didn’t know why it was still bleeding so bad.

I yelled out for help and the moment the nurse saw the wound she started barking out orders. MaryAnne was wheeled away from me, the medical staff running alongside her. The nurse who had been helping us stayed behind, keeping me from following.

“Sir, you have to go to the waiting room. Your wife needs surgery and you can’t go with her.”

Surgery? Had it really been so deep?

“I can’t lose her,” I said. Even in combat I’d never been this close to coming undone. MaryAnne was my everything. I’d have rather faced several thousand insurgents than even think of living the rest of my life without her.

The nurse briefly touched my arm. “We’re going to do all we can for your wife, but in order for us to do our jobs right we need you to remain in the waiting room and try to keep calm. As soon as we know something, we’ll come find you. Is there someone you can call to wait with you?”

I nodded and followed her back to the waiting room, where I collapsed into a chair. I pulled out my phone and sent off a quick text to Titan.

MaryAnne is in surgery. They sent me to the waiting room.

The Pres didn’t answer right away, and I figured he was dealing with Blaire, or tracking down her husband. When he did answer, I felt a moment of relief.

Delilah is heading your way, along with Pretty Boy and Stone.

Chapter Eleven

Patriot

I got up and paced until I found the coffee. I poured myself a cup and leaned against the wall as I sipped at it. It gave me something to do, but it didn’t slow down my mind. All I could think about was how still she’d been, how pale. If MaryAnne died, I’d personally send Blaire straight to hell, and her husband too.

My phone chimed and I checked it, seeing a message from Kraken.

Bitch is high as a fucking kite, but she’s talking. She acted on her own tonight. Another club whore helped with the tire incident. She’ll be dealt with too.

Great. That meant Walter was still out there, and possibly gunning for the club. All because his wife tried to whore herself out to us in hopes we’d save her. Or that’s what I’d gathered from all the screeching she’d done tonight.

My phone went off again.

Wizard is tracking Walter. Just focus on your woman.

I pocketed my phone and tried to do as Kraken said. It wasn’t like Walter would come into the hospital, guns blazing. Well, he might, but I didn’t think he was entirely stupid. The man had managed to escape police custody. It either made him incredibly lucky, or smarter than I liked.

The doors opened and Delilah rushed in with my brothers following in her wake. She came straight for me and gave me a hug.

“I’m so sorry, Patriot. How is she? Have they said anything?” she asked as she pulled away.

“Nothing yet. Thanks for coming.”

“Phoebe offered to watch Walker. Titan went to help Kraken.”

Pretty Boy stared at her. “You know more than you should.”

She glared at him. “I’m married to your President. While he doesn’t share everything with me, he does try to tell me enough that I don’t worry myself sick over him every time he walks out the door. If you have an issue with it, by all means, tell Titan. Just let me get popcorn first before the show starts.”

Stone snickered and slung his arm around Delilah. “I knew I liked you.”

She rolled her eyes and faced me again. “We’re here for however long you need us. Let Titan and the others handle everything else. Just focus on MaryAnne. She needs you more than the club does right now.”

“She’s not wrong,” Pretty Boy said.

I finished my coffee and poured another cup. I found a spot and sat down with Delilah next to me and my brothers sitting directly across from us. I appreciated the three of them coming. It felt like forever before a doctor came out. He scanned the waiting room.

“Family of MaryAnne Caffee.”

I stood, along with Delilah and my brothers. The doctor came over.

“How is she?” I asked.

“Are you her husband?” I nodded. “Mr. Caffee, the wound to your wife’s thigh wasn’t just deep, but whoever stabbed her must have twisted the blade a little. We were able to stop the bleeding and put in stitches. I don’t think she passed out from blood loss but more likely from the pain, which is a good thing. We didn’t have to give her any blood.”

“She’s going to be okay?” I asked.

“She should heal just fine as long as she follows her aftercare instructions. We’re going to keep her for a few days, make sure she’s healing well. Once the anesthesia wears off, we’ll put her in a room, and you’ll be able to go sit with her. Are you going to stay the night?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m not leaving until she can go with me. One night. Four. Doesn’t matter. I’m staying by her side.”

“I figured as much. I’ll be sure to let the nurses know. Someone will come get you as soon as Mrs. Caffee is settled into a room.”

“Thank you,” Delilah said. “For everything.”

The man flashed her a smile and hurried off. It felt like a weight lifted off me and I could breathe again. Pretty Boy patted my shoulder and wandered off a moment, pulling his phone from his pocket. I didn’t know if he was giving everyone an update on MaryAnne, or doing something else.

“We’ll make sure the two of you have whatever you need,” Stone said. “If the hospital asks for payment, stall them. I have a feeling the club will step up for this one.”

I hadn’t even thought that far ahead. I vaguely remembered handing over a card when the nurse was asking me a shit ton of questions. I pulled out my wallet and noticed my bank card was missing. Must have grabbed it instead of a credit card. “I think I may have already paid and overdrawn my account. They have my bank card.”

Stone cursed and rushed toward the triage desk. While he spoke with the woman, waving a hand in my direction a few times, I sat again and stretched my legs out. Delilah retook her seat and placed her hand on my arm. “I know Titan will handle the bill. If they’ve charged you, he’ll reimburse you from club funds. MaryAnne got hurt because of a club whore. That’s not on you.”

“Thanks, Delilah. I wasn’t even thinking. They kept asking me shit and all I could think about was MaryAnne bleeding to death before they helped her. I don’t even remember everything I said or did when we got here.”

Tension rose in the waiting room and I glanced toward the door in time to see two police officers stroll inside. They went straight to triage, where Stone was still trying to get my card back from the nurse. I had a feeling they were here for me. At the very least, they’d have questions about how MaryAnne got stabbed. I couldn’t remember what the fuck I’d told the nurses. Now what was I going to do?

The officers headed my way, and I recognized one of them from the other night. Officer Bowers. Looked like he had a different partner this time. One who didn’t seem to be quite as wet behind the ears. I wondered what had happened to the younger guy.

“We meet again,” Officer Bowers said. “Care to take me through the events that led to your wife being stabbed? Because I have to say, you have the shittiest luck.”

“Or he stabbed her himself,” the other officer said.

Bowers gave him a glare. “Already made up your mind, Taylor? I’ll make a note of that in my report.”

The guy backed off, but the red tinge riding his cheeks told me he was pissed about it. Officer Taylor refused to look my way, staring at a spot over my head. Guess he wasn’t as seasoned as I’d thought.

“The night is kind of a blur right now. My wife just got out of surgery and I’m still processing everything.” I stood to speak to him. “There was a woman. I remember her eyes being bloodshot and she kept sniffling. I wondered if she’d been doing drugs.”

Officer Bowers nodded. “The hospital said you were attacked in town. Why didn’t you call 9-1-1?”

“I didn’t think MaryAnne had time to wait for an ambulance. Even if someone had been available right away, it would have taken longer for them to reach us and get here than if I’d just put her in the truck and brought her myself. I had a towel in the backseat. I tied off the wound and got her here as fast as I could.”

“Any idea who the woman was?” Officer Bowers asked.

And here’s where it got tricky. If I said I didn’t recognize her and they somehow later discovered it was Blaire Wilcox, there would be more questions. If I admitted who it was, they’d look for her, and then her husband would be connected to the club. So I decided on partial truths.

“Looked like a club whore. Some new woman. I haven’t been to any club parties since MaryAnne moved in, so I haven’t officially met her before. And everything happened so fast tonight, I could be wrong. Might have just been someone who looked similar.”

“Got a name?” Officer Bowers asked.

“Something with a B. I don’t really remember. Just know some of my brothers have talked about her.”

Pretty Boy had heard everything and must have figured out what I was doing. He gave me a subtle chin lift and approached. “Her name is Blaire. Don’t know her last name. Haven’t had the displeasure of being with her, but she’s been hanging around the club for at least a few months. I think. Just popped up one day out of nowhere, looking to have fun. Those women come and go so much it’s hard to keep track.”

“A description would be nice,” Officer Bowers said.

“Average height. Blonde hair.” Pretty Boy shrugged. “I can’t really help beyond that. I can see if Stone knows her better. He might be able to tell you more.”

The club Treasurer headed off in the direction of the triage desk, where Stone either wasn’t having any luck with my card, or was getting lucky with the nurse. It could go either way. Despite his stoicism, the ladies loved him.

“You and your wife seem to be having a rough time,” Officer Bowers said.

“Wrong place at the wrong time. I’m starting to think we should just stay in our house until after the holidays. This time of year makes me people crazy.”

He chuckled. “No truer words were ever spoken.”

“I heard the man who attacked us escaped custody. Y’all find him yet?” I asked.

Officer Bowers shook his head. “Thought we’d tracked him down, but when we got there, the place was empty. We’re keeping an eye out. Although, since he attacked you once already, this could be a related incident. Woman might know him.”

“True. I hadn’t thought of that.”

Stone and Pretty Boy came back. Stone handed my card to me and I put it back in my wallet.

“They hadn’t charged your account yet,” Stone said. “Pretty Boy talked to Titan. You don’t need to worry about the bill.”

“Thanks, brother.” I rubbed at my forehead where a headache was building. “Wonder how much longer until I can see her. Shouldn’t she have come out of it by now?”

Officer Bowers took a step back. “We’ll head out for now, but give me a call if you think of anything else. Even something small might help us find the woman who attacked your wife.”

He handed me a business card and walked off, his silent partner trailing after him. Pretty Boy, Stone, and Delilah all waited with me until a nurse came to take me to MaryAnne. They followed us up to her room, got a list of things we might need, and left. I tugged the recliner closer to the bed and reached for MaryAnne’s hand.

“I’m here, Little Bit.”

Her eyes slowly opened, and she gave me a slight smile. “Hey.”

Her voice sounded scratchy and I reached for the cup on the tray by her bed. I pulled out an ice chip and held it to her lips. She took it and sucked on it. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Scared me too.”

“They had to do surgery, but think you’ll be okay. You have to stay a few days, though. They need to make sure you’re healing right.” She gave my hand a slight squeeze. I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I asked Delilah to bring you a change of clothes for when you can go home. Something soft like your leggings. And my brothers will drop off some clothes for me too. I’m not leaving until you can.”

“Get bored,” she murmured.

“I won’t be bored. I’ll be with you.” I winked at her. “Besides, I’m sure we can find some Christmas movies to watch. Want me to turn on the TV?”

She nodded and tried to focus on the screen across the room. I flipped on the TV and went through the channels until I found something I thought she might like. It was one of those sappy romantic Christmas movies. She only watched it a short while before she fell asleep. I angled the recliner so I could still hold her hand but lean the chair back too and see the TV. I let the movie keep playing, on the off chance she woke up before the ending.

Another started after the first one. While it wasn’t my usual type of movie, this wasn’t about me. It was about MaryAnne and what she needed or wanted. Even though she dozed off and on, I played things I knew she’d enjoy for the moments she was alert. She watched a bit of the second one before sleeping a little more. The nurse stopped by and assured me it was normal for her to doze off and on. My stomach rumbled but the cafeteria was closed. I shot off a text to Riley, hoping he was available.

Any chance I can get some food before my stomach eats itself?

He sent back a thumbs-up. Be there in thirty.

I didn’t know what he was stopping to get, and I didn’t much care. As long as it filled me up, nothing else mattered. MaryAnne woke again, her fingers lightly squeezing mine.

“There she is.” I smiled. “You keep falling asleep. How do you feel?”

“Hurt,” she said and licked her lips. I got her cup and handed her another ice chip. I wasn’t sure when they’d give her more medication for the pain, or if that’s what was in one of the IVs.

“Want me to find a nurse?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I’ll be okay.”

“The officer who came the other night stopped by. I told him about you getting attacked on our walk.” I glanced at the open doorway, hoping she wasn’t so loopy she couldn’t take the hint. “Think it was a club whore, but I can’t be sure.”

She nodded and I knew she understood.

“Riley is bringing me some food, but you’re at the mercy of the hospital staff right now. I have a feeling you need a special diet, at least the next few days. I don’t think they’d appreciate me feeding you fries and a greasy burger, or ordering a pizza.”

Her lips twitched and she smiled a little. “Pizza sounds good.”

“Then our first night home that’s what we’ll do. Order whatever pizza you want.”

“Ruining Christmas,” she said, her throat still a little scratchy. I offered her another ice chip and kissed her brow.

“Little Bit, you could never ruin Christmas. It’s far enough off we should make it home from the hospital in plenty of time. Need to get you healed up a bit first.”

“How’s everyone?” she asked.

I felt like an ass for not even checking on my brothers, but I knew they were in good hands with Bones. I shot off a text to him asking about Philly, Poison, and Brick, then showed her the response.

Too hardheaded to die. They’ll be fine.

She smiled and laughed a little only to wince. I’d imagine any jostling she did would pull at the stitches and cause pain for at least a few days. We watched the movie until Riley arrived. He handed me a sack from the diner, and I pulled out a container with a big ass burger and what looked like a double side of fries. He’d even gotten me a bottle of soda from somewhere.

“Thanks, man. Didn’t want to leave her, but my stomach was demanding to be fed.”

“No worries.” Riley reached over to take MaryAnne’s other hand. He glanced down at the IV needle stuck in the back of it. “Glad you’re doing okay. You had everyone worried.”

“Worried me too,” she said.

“She was under anesthesia and seems to be a bit groggy still. She’s dozed off a few times since I’ve been in here with her.” I shoved a few fries in my mouth and nearly swallowed them without chewing I was so hungry. I chased them down with some of the soda. “Would you make sure the animals are okay? Keep them fed and watered while I’m gone?”

Riley nodded. “I have no fucking clue how to take care of your bird, though. Damn thing about took off my fingers when I put him back in his cage.”

I smiled, remembering how even Hatter had tried to save MaryAnne. Hatter, Archimedes, and Rascal all going after Blaire had ensured their place in our home forever. Of course, I’d already planned to keep them, but they’d more than earned a spot in the family.

“There’s some containers in the fridge with fruits and veggies. Cut up a little of each for Hatter and give him a handful of his bird food. You’ll have to wash his bowls each morning too.”

“Where do you keep the cat food and dog food?” he asked. “And the bird food.”

“Everything is in the bottom cabinet near Hatter’s cage. Archimedes is used to going out every morning, at least once during the day, and again before I head to bed at night. If I had a fenced yard, you could leave him out for a bit. It’s cold but not cold enough he couldn’t run around for an hour.”

“Don’t worry about your furred and feathered family members. We’ll see they have everything they need,” Riley said.

“They saved me,” MaryAnne said. “They attacked Blaire.”

Riley grinned wide. “Then they deserve the very best. I’ll get extra treats for them. I don’t want to tire you out, and I’m sure your man over there would rather have you to himself. Y’all call or text if you need anything.”

Riley waved and headed out. I finished my food and took MaryAnne’s hand again while we watched TV. Eventually, we both fell asleep. Didn’t help much. The nurses were in and out about every hour or two checking on her. I wasn’t sure who was crankier the next day. Me or her. Either way, I’d be glad when I could take her home. I fucking hated hospitals.

Chapter Twelve

MaryAnne

Eight miserable days of nurses constantly checking on me. My wound had bled through the stitches the first two days and set back my recovery, which meant more time in that horrible room. I knew they were doing their job and wanted me to heal. I wasn’t really upset with them, but the constant in and out at night when I’d tried to sleep had annoyed me after the first night. Not to mention the food was terrible. It didn’t have much of a taste, and I’d had to force myself to eat it. But now I was free!

A nurse wheeled me out to the truck. Patriot had pulled it up outside the hospital doors. I was more than ready to get out of this place. The doctor had been impressed with how well I was healing once they’d stopped the bleeding. I’d felt like telling him after all I’d been through, one little stab wound was no big deal.

Patriot lifted me into his arms and set me down on the passenger seat. He reached across and buckled me in before shutting the door. The nurse gave me a wave before heading back into the building. Patriot had Christmas music playing on the radio and I reached over to turn it up a little. Now that I was outside again, and no longer confined to the bed, I felt in the holiday spirit once more.

“Ready to go home?” Patriot asked as he got behind the wheel.

“So ready!”

He grinned and leaned over to kiss me. “Missed sleeping next to you, Little Bit.”

He wasn’t the only one. Even though he’d been in a recliner next to my hospital bed, it hadn’t been the same. Getting to hold his hand and having him wrap his arms around me were two very different things.

“Let’s go see what Archimedes, Rascal, and Hatter have been up to. I bet they’ll be happy to see you.”

“And you,” I said.

I sang along to the carols on the radio, feeling more like myself. My leg still hurt if I put weight on it, and I knew I couldn’t overdo it. But at least I’d get to go home. There was a huge difference in being in my own home, around my own things, with our furry family members, and being in the hospital on that hard bed with the smell of antiseptic burning my nose.

The gates to the compound opened and Shay waved as we pulled through. The clubhouse looked packed for the middle of the day and a strange feeling settled in my stomach when Patriot pulled into a spot out front of the building.

“I thought we were going home?” I asked.

“We are. Have to make one little stop. You can sit at a table and have a soda. I won’t be but a minute.”

Before I could protest, he got out of the truck and walked around to my side. He carried me into the clubhouse and when I saw everyone there, even the old ladies and kids, my jaw dropped. Someone had put a tree up near the bar and strung lights all over the place.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I have a surprise for you. The day you went to the hospital, someone else did too.”

My brow furrowed. How was that a good thing? I looked around the room, trying to figure out who else had been hurt. Philly had a bruise at his temple and a black eye. He gave me a slight wave and I smiled back. Had he been in the hospital too? Was this a welcome home type of thing?

Footsteps drew my attention and everything in me went still. A young girl and an older man approached. A small wrapped bundle lay in her arms. My gaze shot to Patriot and he hunkered down next to me. “Ready to meet our daughter? She was born the night you were hurt. They kept her a few days to make sure she was all right since she was a week early.”

Tears blurred my vision as I looked back at the girl with that sweet baby in her arms. “Are you sure?”

The man, who I figured was her father, gave me a nod. “We’re sure. Your generosity to strangers, giving our family and others a wonderful Christmas, proved to us you have a good heart. My daughter and I prayed with Reverend Burson. We’re certain the baby belongs with you and your husband.”

I held my hands out and the girl placed the baby in my arms. She was so tiny, and so perfect! I felt the tears slip down my cheeks as I ran my fingers over her. “Thank you. Thank you so much. We will love her and give her the best life we can.”

The man nodded and the young girl smiled. “We’ve signed the papers. The baby is yours. All we ask is that you don’t tell her she’s adopted unless it becomes necessary. There’s no reason to cause the child pain over thinking her mother didn’t want her.”

“I understand,” I said.

The girl leaned over to give me a hug and whispered in my ear. “Thank you for giving her a home.”

I cried some more as they left, and I stared at the miracle in my arms. Patriot ran his hand over her hair. It was nearly the same shade as his. Our daughter opened her eyes and blinked at me.

“Delilah and Phoebe put together the things we’d need the first few nights,” he said. “I know we never got a chance to pick out nursery furniture or get the room set up the way you wanted it, but we can redecorate later if you don’t like it.”

“I don’t care. We have a daughter! Isn’t she wonderful?”

Patriot kissed my temple. “She’s gorgeous.”

“Her hair has so many shades of red and brown. It looks like yours.”

“What do you want to call her? The birth certificate hasn’t been sent in yet. They were waiting to see what we wanted to name her.”

“I bet her hair looks like fire in the sunlight,” I said. “What about calling her Blaze?”

Patriot bit down into his bottom lip and I saw the humor flashing in his eyes. “Blaze? Are you trying to give us a rough road? Sounds like the perfect name for a hellion.”

“If she’s anything like her daddy, she’ll have the spirit to match her hair.”

Patriot kissed me again. Soft and slow. “Love you, Little Bit. We can name her whatever you want. I think Blaze will be perfect.”

“Blaze Cara Caffee,” I said softly. “I already love you more than anything.”

“Best get your wife and daughter home,” Wizard said. “As soon as you both sign these.”

He set some papers on the table, and I saw other signatures. I didn’t bother reading anything. I knew Wizard wouldn’t have us sign something we shouldn’t. Patriot and I both scrawled our names on the documents, then bundled Blaze up and took her home. We’d need a baby seat, but since the house wasn’t very far down from the clubhouse, I kept her in my arms and Patriot drove at a crawl.

Archimedes met us at the door with a happy woof. Patriot stopped to scratch behind his ears and greeted Rascal and Hatter. The animals seemed curious over Blaze, but I didn’t let them get too close. Mostly because I wasn’t ready to share her yet. Even Patriot hadn’t tried to take her from me.

He led me upstairs and showed me the nursery. They’d put it next to our room, and someone had painted the walls a pale lavender. A white crib, changing table, small dresser, and rocking chair had been put together, and the crib even had bedding. The room was bare except those things, which meant we still got the chance to decorate it the way we wanted.

“I don’t want to put her down,” I admitted.

“Little Bit, you walked to the truck carrying her, and walked into the house and up the stairs. You need to get off your leg before you end up hurting yourself.” He shook his head when I kept staring at our new daughter. “Hold on tight.”

I gave a squeak as he lifted me into his arms, with Blaze clutched in mine. He carried us downstairs and set me on the couch. Patriot put on an animated Christmas movie and stepped out of the room. I heard him letting Archimedes out the back door, and then he sounded like he was talking to Hatter.

“Welcome home, Blaze. You’re going to be loved so much,” I said to the baby in my arms. She yawned and closed her eyes.

“There’s formula and bottles in the kitchen,” Patriot said as he set a cup of hot cocoa on the table next to the couch. “Looks like someone bought a bottle warmer too. It’s plugged in on the counter.”

“They thought of everything,” I said.

“Phoebe said she put some outfits in the dresser upstairs. She washed everything so it’s ready for Blaze to wear. They wanted to give us a few days to settle in with her, and give you more recovery time, so there should be enough for at least three or four days of clothing changes.”

“We have an amazing family, don’t we?” I asked.

“We do. Those men and their women would do anything for us, same as we’d do anything for them. And they’d give their lives to protect the kids in this club, including Blaze.”

I reached for my cocoa, then hesitated. What if I spilled any on Blaze? It would be hot enough to burn her delicate skin. Patriot reached over and plucked her from my arms.

“Hey!”

He smiled. “Sorry, Little Bit. You can’t hold onto her forever. I get a turn too. Drink your cocoa and we’ll watch the movie. You can have her back in a little while.”

I sipped my drink and leaned against his arm. As much as I loved the movie, my gaze kept straying to our daughter. I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. And she was ours! My vision blurred again, and I knew I was close to crying. It seemed like everything I’d wanted was within my grasp. Patriot had married me, loved me, and now we had a baby.

“Our lives are perfect, aren’t they?” I asked.

“Yeah, Little Bit. They are. Might have had a rough road to get here, and I have no doubt more shit will head our way, but we have a remarkable future ahead of us. All three of us.”

“What about Blaire’s husband? What if he comes after us? And what about her?” I asked.

“Blaire has been handled. I didn’t ask Kraken for the specifics, but he’s assured me she won’t be a problem. As for Walter, I should have told you. Officer Bowers let me know they found Walter Wilcox. He’d holed up with some friends. They have him in custody again. Even if they go searching for his wife, they won’t find her. Wizard will make sure it looks like she left town.”

“So no Blaire and no Walter,” I said. “What’s left?”

He pulled out his phone and showed me the screen. “Well, in about ten more hours it will be Christmas Eve. I think what’s left is our first family Christmas, and a lot of happy memories to make.”

“I don’t know how you were still single. You’re pretty amazing,” I said.

He kissed me again. “Had to wait on the right woman to show up.”

When he said things like that, I completely melted. It wasn’t fair. He wasn’t only sexy and smart, but he had to be the kindest man I’d ever met. And so protective! I didn’t know why Titan had asked Patriot to come get me that day, instead of one of the others, but I was glad. Without him, I’d have remained lost and never become the woman I was today. He’d healed me, but more importantly, he’d loved me and shown me I was worthy of a man like him.

“I think she’s asleep,” I said. “Why don’t we put her to bed?”

He stood and went to the stairs, pausing to wait for me. I moved slowly as I climbed to the second floor. I let him put Blaze to bed and made my way to our room. I’d kill for a real shower. The nurse had put a waterproof bandage over my stitches before I left so I could get good and clean when I got home. I stripped out of my clothes and let the water warm. Steam billowed from the space and I stepped under the spray.

“I’ll never get tired of this view.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw Patriot removing his boots and clothes, his gaze locked on my body. “Neither will I.”

The man was a work of art. Between his tattoos and his muscles, I would gladly stare at him all day. He stepped into the shower and I reached out, my hands pressing to his chest. I traced the ink and pressed a kiss over his heart.

“I can’t seem to resist the temptation of you all naked and wet,” he said. “I told myself last time I would wait until we made it to the bed. I’m not even going to bother lying to myself anymore.”

“Then don’t wait.”

He skimmed his hands over my hips. “What about your leg?”

“Guess you better find a way to not pull my stitches. Think you’re up for the challenge?”

“Oh, yeah.” He smirked and rubbed his cock against me. “Definitely up for it.”

“That was so terrible it was kind of funny.”

He rubbed his nose against mine. “I aim to please. Speaking of… you ready to scream my name?”

“Do your worst.”

He nudged me toward the bench, then sat and tugged me onto his lap, my legs on either side of his thighs. “This okay? Not hurting you?”

“It’s good. It would be better if I was coming already.”

He swatted my ass. “Impertinent wench. I’m getting there.”

I leaned back, thrusting my breasts up and he latched onto a nipple, giving it a gentle nip before sucking on it. I threaded my fingers into his hair and held on, letting the sensations wash over me. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

I felt his hand against my belly, and then his fingers rubbed against my clit. I cried out, tugging on his hair as I arched into him. I should have been embarrassed over how fast I came. Patriot didn’t seem to care. He didn’t slow down, just kept rubbing and sucking until I’d come two more times.

“Lift up, Little Bit. I’ll do the work, but I think this position will put the least amount of strain on you.”

I went up higher on my knees, then lowered myself onto his cock. I moaned as he filled me up, the stitches pulling a little. Patriot gripped my hips, taking almost all my weight, and thrust up hard and fast. I cried out and clutched at his shoulders. “Ronan! God, feels so good.”

“Not God, Little Bit. It’s only me.”

He took me like a man possessed. His grunts and my cries filled the space. The world spun around me as I came so hard I forgot to breathe. I felt the hot spurts of his release, then he gathered me against his chest.

“Fuck! Every time with you is more amazing than the last,” he said.

“Because we’re perfect for each other,” I said. “You’re the other half of my soul, Ronan.”

He kissed me, his lips devouring mine. “Love you, Little Bit. So fucking much.”

“Love you too.”

“Let’s clean up and head to bed. As much as I want you again, I don’t want to put a strain on your leg and tear your stitches. Only a few more days and you can take them out. Bones will do it if you want him to.”

“I’ll gladly let him do it.”

“Come on. Before you tempt me again.”

I lifted myself off him and stood on shaky legs. Only Patriot had the power to reduce me to a puddle of goo. I hoped that never changed, not even after we’d been together twenty years. He washed me with a tenderness I wouldn’t have expected from such a big, badass biker. But I knew that inside, at least with me, he was a big teddy bear.

By the time we’d finished, and he’d dried me off, I was yawning and ready for a nap. It was still too early for bed, but I knew the baby wouldn’t sleep forever. If the movies and books were right, I’d need to sleep while I could. Patriot helped me into my pajamas, then he crawled into bed next to me.

“Sweet dreams, Little Bit,” he murmured.

“Always,” I said. And it was true. Other than my first night as being his and sleeping in his arms, I hadn’t had any more incidents of waking up not knowing where I was. I now knew it was Patriot holding me each morning. He’d not only destroyed my demons in real life, but he’d chased away the monsters lurking in my head as well. Patriot had saved me in every way possible and give me the greatest gift ever -- a family.

Epilogue

Patriot -- Christmas Day

Blaze slept in her new bouncy seat while MaryAnne and I opened our presents. For a newborn, she was a rather great kid. She slept at least six hours at a time, and hardly ever fussed. If she stayed this easygoing, I’d be amazed. Something told me we were in for one hell of a ride when she became a teenager.

MaryAnne opened the small box and her eyes went wide. “Ronan.”

“Put them on. My wife deserves to have something pretty on her hand, something that tells everyone she’s taken.”

She removed the wedding set from the box and slid the bands onto her finger. “They’re beautiful. Thank you!”

I’d opened all but one of my gifts, and I’d loved everything she’d picked out. It seemed my woman knew me rather well. As I opened the last package and pulled out a leather jacket, the love I felt for her swelled even more. “MaryAnne…”

“It looked like something you’d like, and it will not only keep you warm but it will protect you if you’re in an accident on the bike.”

“Love you, Little Bit.”

She finished opening her presents, excitement flashing in her eyes with each gift. But the glances she cast toward Blaze told me our daughter was even better than anything I’d put under the tree. I had to agree. She and MaryAnne were my true gifts this year. As long as I had them, I didn’t need anything else.

The front door opened and heavy steps came our way. Galahad entered the room with a few boxes in his arms. He’d reached out yesterday, taking me by surprise. Even though he was MaryAnne’s cousin, he’d been a bit harsh with her at times. I’d worried their relationship would always be strained, but it seemed he’d pulled his head out of his ass. Finally.

“Sean!” She stood quickly, then winced. “Sorry. I meant Galahad.”

He looked at me before focusing on her. “We’re all family. It’s fine. I come bearing gifts.”

He passed a box to me, one to MaryAnne, then set one next to Blaze’s bouncy seat. MaryAnne toyed with hers and seemed reluctant to open it. I knew what held her back. “Hey, Little Bit. Grab that envelope on the bottom branch of the tree.”

She picked it up, saw her cousin’s road name on the front, and handed it to him. I winked at her, hoping to set her at ease. Galahad opened the card and pulled out the Harley Davidson and restaurant gift cards inside with a wide smile.

“This is awesome. Thanks, guys.”

“Welcome,” I said.

Thank you, MaryAnne mouthed to me. I gave her a quick nod and she tore into her present. It was an oval-shaped locket with the word Mom engraved on the front.

“Oh, Sean. It’s beautiful! I love it.”

“Figured you could have a picture taken of Blaze and put it in there. Maybe get a family shot for the other side.”

I opened mine and pulled out a Ride or Die long-sleeved tee with a skeleton riding a Harley on the back. “Thanks, brother. This is great.”

“Why don’t you help Blaze with hers?” Galahad asked MaryAnne.

She reached for the present and opened it. It was a large box with several gifts inside. A floor mat with toys that would dangle over her when she lay on her back, a silver keepsake rattle with her name on it, and a soft purple blanket. It looked like Blaze had melted Galahad’s heart and he was ready to help spoil her. MaryAnne thanked him and set the box aside.

“Want to stick around for a while? I think MaryAnne is going to put some holiday movies on the rest of the day, and she has a small feast she’ll be making in a bit. Although, she cooked some of it yesterday so she just has to warm it up.”

“You okay with that?” he asked her.

“Of course. You’re my family, Sean. The entire club is now, but you’re my blood. You’re always welcome here.”

He swallowed audibly and stood, going over to give her a hug. “Love you, MaryAnne. Sorry I’ve been a dick lately.”

“It’s okay. I forgive you.” She smiled. “But don’t do it again, or I’ll be sure to send Blaze to your house whenever she throws tantrums for the next eighteen years.”

He held up his hands. “Whoa. No need to threaten violence.”

MaryAnne stood and I tugged her down onto my lap. “Merry Christmas, Little Bit.”

“Merry Christmas.” She kissed me, her lips barely touching mine before she pulled away. “Thank you, Ronan. You’ve made all my dreams come true.”

Her body tensed and her eyes went wide. I knew she’d just realized she’d said my actual name when we weren’t alone. But as Galahad had pointed out, we were family. And not only in the brotherhood sense. If I didn’t make an issue of it, maybe she’d realize I wasn’t mad.

“No, Little Bit. You have more dreams ahead of you, but I’ll gladly stand by your side while you achieve each and every one. Because you’re an incredible woman. Beautiful, smart, determined… and you’re mine.”

“Um, if the two of you are going to keep up with the mushy love crap, I may take my chances at the clubhouse.”

I narrowed my eyes at Galahad. “Shut it or you’re on baby duty.”

“Nope. I’m good.” He leaned back in his seat and crossed his ankles. “Let the movie watching begin. Anything except changing diapers.”

“Wuss,” MaryAnne muttered and I snickered.

“Pick a movie, Little Bit. Let’s start making those family holiday memories. The first of many.”

With my wife in my lap, our daughter nearby, and Galahad lounging on our couch, it was a happy Christmas. I had the family I’d always craved, and the love of the only woman I’d ever wanted. She was my everything, my entire world, and I knew I’d do anything to keep her safe and happy. Whatever it took, I’d keep the monsters away from my girls, because I’d rather die than see either of them hurt.

I’d always heard Christmas was the time of miracles. It seemed they were right, because I’d gotten mine, and I’d cherish them for the rest of my life.

Dedication and Acknowledgements

Dear Reader,

Thank you for purchasing a copy of Patriot (Hades Abyss MC)! Your support means so much to me. If you have a moment, it would be amazing if you’d leave a rating or review at the retailer of your choice, Goodreads, or even BookBub to let other readers know what you thought of the book. I’d really appreciate it.

If you’ve read Kraken, Titan, and even Demon in the Devil’s Fury MC series, then you knew about MaryAnne and her predicament before now. For those of you reading about MaryAnne for the first time, her abduction happens in Kraken’s book. I try to write each story so that you can jump in mid-series without feeling too lost. Hopefully, I succeeded.

MaryAnne had a long, hard road to travel. Some would say it’s a miracle she recovered at all. The type of abuse she suffered can affect people in different ways. One person might retreat inside their minds and never want to come out, while another might charge forward and try to take control of their life again. There’s no right or wrong way to react to something like that. As each person is different, so are their reactions, emotions, and the ways in which they heal.

While there is a pretty strong Christmas theme to this story, the biggest theme of all is hope. If you take nothing else away from Patriot’s book, it’s my greatest wish that you’ll remember even in the darkest of times there’s hope. It may not seem like it, and you may feel like giving up at times, but tomorrow is always a new day -- and new days mean more chances for better things.

Wishing you all the best~

Harley

* * *

There are always so many people who help make my books possible, it would take forever to thank them all. But I’m going to try…

Thank you to the team at Changeling Press. From my editor, to the line editor, proofreaders, formatter, and Bryan Keller who made the beautiful cover, thank you for helping me make Patriot shine! Couldn’t have done it without you!

To my Wyldlings -- you guys are so amazing! You keep me motivated, make me smile, and brighten my day all the time. So thank you!

A super big thanks to MC romance author Ciara St. James. Your medical knowledge was a life saver (pun intended). Thank you for keeping me from relying on Google, because we all know how well that works out.

Coffee Fairy! I don’t care how b*tchy someone says you are, thanks for helping me stay sane, and somewhat focused. As far as I’m concerned, Starbucks white mocha (and eggnog latte) is like nectar from the gods and you keep me well-supplied -- does that make you related to Hermes?

Last but not least… Thank you to my husband. While there are times I may think for one brief moment about smothering you with your pillow, usually when you’re snoring right in my ear or take over my side of the bed, you’re the main reason I get up every morning -- or make it into my office to actually work. Love you! Keep cracking the whip when I try to sit on the couch and read all day… Well, maybe not every time. I do need some R&R here and there.

Oh, and thank you to Tanto. My cat. Mostly for not sitting on the keyboard when you decide to sprawl across my desk. Because I love you dearly, but no one wants to read your version of the book.

Harley Wylde

Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.

When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better – off-the-charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.

The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.

Harley at Changeling: changelingpress.com/harley-wylde-a-196