Whiskey

RBMC – Book 1

Ruthless Bastards

Author: Chelsea Handcock

www.chelseahandcock.com

Copyright © 2017, Chelsea Handcock

First electronic publication: July 2017

All rights are reserved.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted works is illegal.  No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s permission.

Note from the Author:

This is a work of fiction.  Names, character, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real.  Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.  The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third party websites or their content.

Published in the United States of America.

She is his biggest regret and the only person he ever came close to breaking all the rules to have. He broke her, and it has taken ten years to forgive him the problem is will she ever be able to forget him?

Aiden "Whiskey" Frost decided to leave Defiance Kentucky ten years ago with a screw you that would make a lasting impression. Unfortunately, that wasn't the only thing he left behind. The actions he put into motion cost him more than he knew. Regret, he has lived with it so long, now the question is can he change it into something else. Or will the only woman he has ever loved run the other way when he no longer has her under his control.

Addison Sinclair has loved only one man her entire life, Aiden "Whiskey" Frost. She knew him as a boy and then the young man that broke her into a million little pieces before leaving town without looking back. Addy is in trouble and needs help. The RBMC can provide that to her, but Whiskey is a part of them, their family, she is nothing just a blip from his past. Even if it kills her there comes a time when surviving means more than your pride and Addy has hit that time. Addy will do what she has to protect and save the people she cares about even if she has to forgive and forget.

Will he help or will he turn her away? The bigger question can she forgive him for the past and finally move forward or will he finally destroy what little of herself she has at last found.

***WARNING: contains explicit sexual situations, violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language, and very mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up***

Photo: RLS Images Photography
Cover Model: Niko Nomas

Editing – Sandy Ebel – Personal Touch Editing

RBMC – Book 1

Ruthless Bastards

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Alpha Team

NAC & The Holly Group

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Aiden “Whiskey” Frost stood diner’s doorway watching one of his biggest regrets slink around yet another corner trying to avoid him, and he didn’t like it one bit. Addison Sinclair had always been his idea of the perfect girl and she had turned into a beautiful woman.  A woman he wanted.  Their issues were long and deep but his feelings for her had never changed.  As kids, they had screwed each other over, but Whiskey had been determined to have the final fuck you.  Obviously, he had delivered the message loud and clear or he wouldn’t be standing here watching her scurry away.  She might rank high on his regrets list, but he ranked high on her list of people to avoid, and in the small town of Defiance, that was one hell of a feat. He was kind of impressed with her commitment. 

Addison was the girl who could have brought him to his knees, and the main reason he had run like a motherfucker to get out of town.  Whiskey wasn’t running anymore, he was back, and he planned on staying.  That meant he had work to do.  Whiskey both loved and hated the time they spent together as kids.  She gave him everything he asked for and didn’t know he wanted.  She also made him feel, which for a Frost man wasn’t a good thing. Feelings led to nothing but disappointment and heartache, at least that was what he believed.  He was older now, his priorities and beliefs had grown and changed.     

When he left Defiance, Whiskey had believed she had done him dirty, but he still had questions as to why. Addison hadn’t seemed like a person who would cheat or betray what he knew she felt for him.  He might not have returned all of those feelings, but some were undeniable.  What made her change so quickly?  That was the question which played in his mind over and over again for the last ten years; maybe it was time to get some of those answers and knock some of the burden off his shoulders once and for all. 

Most times he tried not to think about it, but being back in Defiance and so close to her, his old feelings were coming back full force making him want again, only this time he knew better; he could have the things he denied himself of before.  Watching his oldest brother Sebastian fall in love and find happiness with Peyton made him believe it was possible for the rest of them.  They didn’t need to be like their parents only having toxic relationships until the day they died; the Frost brothers could have it all and he wanted it.     

If he could just get over the fact that she cheated on him, he could move on either with or without her.  Whiskey knew he still wanted her, hell he wanted her even more now; she had turned into a gorgeous woman, better than he could have ever imagined.  Her body was tight but curved in all the right places making him want to grab on and take her for a ride.  Hell, her boobs alone had starred in all of his fantasies since he got his first glimpse of the grown-up version of Addison.  Adjusting his cock in his now way too tight pants, he thought, damn, the one time they had sex had been far too short; he wanted hours to savor her body. 

Whiskey had plans for Addison; he wanted to strip her ass naked and drape her over his bike so he could take her hard and fast from behind.  He also wanted to spank that ass and demand the answers he had sought for so long.  After she apologized by sucking his cock, and all his frustration and anger subsided, he would fuck her slow and sweet like he should have done the day he popped her cherry.  But yeah, he was a guy, fucking her was the main objective; he just needed to come up with a plan to make it happen, and it would happen. 

Maybe that was the problem, he just needed to fuck her and finally leave the past in the past.   He cared for her, always had, and when she betrayed him, it fucking hurt. Shit, still did.  Was it even possible to let all that go?  If her reaction to his return was any indication, Addison had pretty strong reservations about him, could he change her mind to get what he wanted?  Licking his lips, he decided yeah, he could. 

Someone pushed the door open, hitting Whiskey’s shoulder and knocking him out of the past and straight in to the present. Shit, how long had he been standing there, and who the fuck would push a member of the RBMC out of the way.  Ah, hell, Whiskey thought looking down at his boots.

“Saw your little mouse running away, Whisk. Might want to tap that ass again just to give her a reason to run the other way.  If Tuck hadn’t put the no-touch notice out, I would have tried to sample a little of that myself.” 

Chance “Brass” Marks got his nickname from having the biggest brass balls, he wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone.  Brass had worked as an explosives expert in the Army and everyone knew those fuckers were crazy.  He was always looking for a fight.  Calling Whiskey out and bringing Addison into it was like waving a red flag in front of a fucking bull.  The bastard knew he was doing it, too, if the damn smile on his face was any indication. 

Shrugging his shoulders like it was no skin off his back, Whiskey said, “Yeah, too bad Tuck labeled the bitch.  Looks like she’s off limits to us, but then again, at least I got a taste, you never will fucker.  Whatever, it’s not that much of a loss, plenty of pussy to go around, right?”

“But, quality pussy, that shit is hard to find.  I wonder if little miss Addy has quality pussy?  What do you think, Whisk?  You tapped that shit in high school, was it quality or just regular old pussy?”

Whiskey was seeing red, he didn’t like Brass talking about Addison’s pussy or any other part of her, but he knew if he acted as if he cared Brass would only keep on.

“I wonder, you think I should put sweet Addy in my spank bank or keep on looking? I bet she’s tight as a vise once you get inside her.   Watch out for those good girls, they always have a bit of a naughty side, don’t you agree?”

Brass pushed, still looking to get a reaction that Whiskey wasn’t inclined to give him.  Shit, if the bastard knew his one and only time with Addison only lasted all of two minutes, the fucker would never let him live it down.

“Dude, no way in hell do I even want to venture into that territory. Your spank bank needs to stay just that, yours.  What you put in that fucked-up mind of yours is all on you, leave me the hell out of it.”  Laughing when he didn’t feel it, Whiskey punched Brass in the shoulder.  Whiskey knew better than to show any signs of weakness because his Brothers would latch on and never let go.  If one of them knew they could get a rise out of him, they would push that button until a person broke; it was just the way it was, living and working with family. 

“How about we think about filling one of your other needs and get us some breakfast?”

Brass looked over at the table, and his smile turned feral.  “It looks like our Brothers started without us, Whisk.  I’m thinking filling something up right about now sound like a fan-fucking-tastic idea.”

“You have at it, Brass. I’ll be over in a bit, I need to make a call.”

“Your loss, Whiskey, you know what they say, early bird gets the…”

Whiskey interrupted him, “The shit beat out of him because he annoys everyone?” he stated, punching Brass.

“Whatever, Brother,” Brass said as he was walking away, but the fucker just couldn’t let it go, “No, asshole, the early bird gets all the quality pussy, slackers get snatch.  Guess what I’m going to get?”

Whiskey laughed, “Dude going over there,” Whiskey said pointing to the table, “except for Reagan, you’re going to get nothing but snatch.”

He and Brass parted ways, and Whiskey made his way outside, lighting a cigarette.  He didn’t smoke often, but today he needed something to calm his nerves.  Walking down the sidewalk, Whiskey tried to get another glimpse of Addison, but she was nowhere to be found and that irritated him.  The past was haunting him hard today. 

Regrets, everyone had them. Whiskey regretted blindly following orders while in the service; maybe if he had asked more questions or brought his concerns to light, his team wouldn’t have suffered so severely.  He regretted that, for most of his life, he couldn’t stand his brothers, well at least two of them.  That wasn't exactly true; he loved his brothers, he just didn't always appreciate being around them.  Link because he was a controlling asshole, and Talon because he resented that Whiskey had left him behind without a second thought.   

Whiskey also had deep regrets about how he left this town, and the destruction he had left in his wake.  In his younger years, he had always felt he had something to prove.  It had a lot to do with his parents and the judgmental asses who ran this town, but what it came down to was his own insecurities.  Son of the town’s whore, and bastard child to a man who wanted nothing to do with him.  Those two things fucked with his head for a long time until he realized neither meant shit.  Whiskey was white trash, born and bred.  He owned it; it had made him the person he was today.  Back then he fought it with every fiber of his being. 

His plan back then had been jaded; get the town sweetheart and make her just as dirty as he was, then skip town with a big Fuck You.  Too bad it hadn’t been as simple as that. Damn the way a person thinks when they're dumb and naïve.  He never once thought Addison would be anything but a blip on his radar, let alone for her to become one of his biggest regrets.  Back then, he only thought of himself; too bad she had broken down some the walls he had so carefully erected and wormed her way into his soul. In the last ten years, she had yet to leave the once cold, dark place.

Little did she know that the thought of her and their time together got him through some of the roughest parts of his life.   Dreams of her welcoming smile kept him going when at times he thought he was done for and couldn’t go any further when the nights became too bleak to concentrate on anything else.  Addison was there welcoming him with open arms, as she had years ago, offering him peace when he didn’t deserve it.

Whiskey had been with women since, lots of women, but Addison was the only one who ever provoked any deeper feelings.  Had she not betrayed him, he would have given everything up for her in a heartbeat, but she had proved even the sweetest person has a devious side.  Still, the thought lingered, and he wondered if it was possible to fuck her out of his system once and for all.  They were adults now.  Whiskey had to believe those strange and foreign feelings were those of a confused, affection-hungry kid.  Whiskey wasn’t that person anymore; he tired of women quickly. Maybe if he fucked her a few of times, this shit he was feeling and thinking would finally leave his conscious. He could move on with his life instead of dreaming about what could have been.     

Whiskey had known Addison since they were little kids.  She lived close to the trailer his mom rented for him and his Brothers.  Addison’s grandfather owned the property and made weekly trips to “check” things out, which irritated his mother.  Thinking about it now, Whiskey knew the old man was doing his best to look out for them and he should have been grateful.  Shit, they needed all the help they could get. The problem was he hadn't been grateful, Pop attention only pissed his mom off and made their lives a more miserable which made Whiskey resent the old man for his interference.  His mom did her best until he was about six or seven and Link was eight, then she stopped caring or trying at all.  Leaving them with just enough money each week to get some meals on the table.  It was up to Link to figure out the rest.  Mother of the Year she wasn’t, never had been.

The place wasn’t bad, but not that great either.  Typical old mobile home, cold in the winter and scorching in the summer.  Paneled, paper-thin walls and spongy floors.  The only good thing about the old trailer was its location.  They had over ten acres of untouched land to explore and be free.  The place provided them a way to get away from their mother's rampages and just be kids.  He and his Brothers spent hours out in the woods, playing war games and slaying dragons. 

As they got older, those acres turned into their own personal party place.  Bonfires, drinking, drugs, and girls; what more could a bunch of teenagers want? No one bothered looking for them, which meant they could do whatever they wanted away from prying eyes.  The Frost Brothers were the bad boys of Defiance, Kentucky.  Shit, the name of the town fit them to a tee.  No rules, no boundaries left unstretched, and no one to tell them they couldn’t do anything they wanted.  They were feared and loathed by many of the townspeople.  Only tolerated because Pop had decided they were worth saving. With a few stupid decisions on Whiskey’s part, that was blown to hell.

Walking past the feed store, Whiskey remembered the last conversation he had with Pop, standing almost in the same exact place.  Whiskey had promised the old man he would never come back after everything had gone down with Addison, and until six months ago, he had kept that promise.  Too bad he never got the chance to show Pop he had changed into a better man from the angry teen he once knew. Pop had died a couple years back; another thing Whiskey could add to his growing list of regrets.  But, sometimes the draw of home was more potent than a man could resist.  Now Whiskey was wondering if it was all worth it. 

Chapter 2

Whiskey no longer cared what the people of Defiance thought of him.  Shit, those people that placed themselves above everyone else weren’t that good anyway, they just hid their dirty secrets a little better than the rest of them.  All Whiskey wanted now was to live his life on his terms and serve his Club.  He had given up the irrational thoughts he had as a kid of being held back by the sins of his Mother and Father, but he was still looking for something, redemption maybe, for all he had seen and done.  He sometimes wondered where those idealistic, fear nothing, rough and tumble little boys went. 

 After he had served his time in the Air Force, Whiskey knew there was only one place he wanted to go, back to Defiance, and his Brothers with the Ruthless Bastards.  He spent ten years living and breathing someone else rules and orders, now he wanted back how he lived as a kid.  No rules, no boundaries, and no paper-pushing bureaucrat barking orders that made no sense and cost people their lives. 

Since Whiskey retired, he wasn't adjusting to the real world as well as he would have thought.  Civilian life wasn’t working all that well for him.  Thank God for the MC.  The Ruthless Bastards saved his life when it was blown to shit, literally.  His last mission in the Air Force was a complete and utter failure.  Most of his team didn't make it back from that mission, and Whiskey was left with a bullet hole in his shoulder that ended his career on one of the elite Pararescue Teams of the United States Air Force. 

Whiskey continued to walk down the side walk and realized, much to his dismay, the town hadn’t changed after all these years.  It was still the same fucked-up place it always had been.  He could see it by the way the people wandering the sidewalks were acting, the pretty people or upper crust were on one side of the street and the ordinary citizens were on the other.  The upper crust still thought they ruled and looked down on people who didn't fit their criteria.  It was a joke because most of those upper crust fuckers were more messed up than the people they looked down on.  Shit, even the diner was proof of that. The place had the best food around, but it was on the wrong side of town, so only people like him and the guys ate there.  They were considered the low-lifes or undesirables of the town.  Whiskey knew better. 

Whiskey wanted to feel nostalgic or some shit, but he couldn't get himself to care all that much about the town.  The town wasn’t what brought him back home, it was with the Ruthless Bastards.  It was similar to any other little town in any other place.  Main Street had a few stores, a bank, and a gas station.  It also held the local police and fire departments, which the RBMC had in their back pockets.  It was clean, even wholesome, if you looked at it through rose-colored glasses. 

Whiskey knew better; he knew of the seedy side of things, always had been, he thrived there, was where he felt the most comfortable.  Wondered if the upstanding people of Defiance knew the Mayor spent his free time one county over at a little strip club the MC owned and ran.  He also wondered if any of them had a clue that the Chief of Police had a bit of a nasty habit of liking girls just above the legal limit.  Maybe he should pay Chief Parker a little visit and relieve some of the tension he had been feeling; the man deserved a good beat down for his proclivities.   

Whiskey had never once apologized for who and what he was, he accepted his assholeish ways.  That fact he was now even considering apologizing to Addison rubbed him the wrong way.  He made those decisions back then, and he should just nut up and accept it.  There was no changing the past, but the need to prove to himself and to her he had grown and become a better person was just as much of a draw. For some reason, he needed her acceptance and respect more than he had ever needed anyone else’s. 

Then again, Addison hadn’t been as sweet as he had thought, moving on at record speed to the high school quarterback, even before the blood of her innocence he had taken had time to dry on her thighs.  That day haunted him and yet kept him going.  Taking her innocence in the back of his beat up, rusty, old Ford wasn’t supposed to be memorable, it was supposed to prove some jaded, teenage achievement. 

Shit, he could still feel how she strangled his dick in a vise-like grip as he pushed into the tightest pussy he had ever felt.  He would always be her first, having taken without thought what no one else would ever get.  He thought that was his reward, and those memories got him through some awful times.  He had replayed those moments with her inside his head so many times over the years, it had become an obsession.  In his mind, he would change the two-minute pump and dump into a full-length porno. 

Whiskey started back to the diner, he needed to shake this mood, get some good coffee and great food, and Brass’ sarcastic self would help.  Glancing around he noticed people were staring at him.  Whiskey didn't give a damn what people thought of him anymore that time in his life was long past.  What he didn't like was feeling like a chump wandering aimlessly caught up in his thoughts.  Damn, memory lane sucked, so did rehashing all his regrets; that was not the way he lived his life.  He wanted to be done with it, and maybe Addison could give him a little of that peace he so craved.

Whiskey was just about to go into the diner when Crush, a new Prospect for the Club, came up next to him. He stepped aside to let him enter, not ready to go inside himself.  Whiskey really looked at the man for the first time.  Crush was a good guy recently out of the Air Force.  He was a big man, even larger than him or his brothers, and that was saying something considering they were well over six-foot-tall and weighed in at about 250 pounds. Crush was closer to seven feet tall and more than likely weight in at about 300 pounds; the guy was huge.  He was also an ugly motherfucker, having gotten his face and neck scarred up on his last mission.  Whiskey was sure the man felt the same way he did about his early dismissal from service. 

They were both still capable, but the military had deemed them unfit to continue to serve.  As far as Whiskey was concerned that was a bunch of bullshit.  The look in Crush’s eyes reminded him of the look he saw in his own mirror.  He was looking for a place to belong.  A place he could use his skills to better the world, to right wrongs. The RBMC provided that, but Crush needed to prove himself loyal to the club before any of that could happen.  The MC’s full patch members had high hopes for him. 

Crush, acknowledged Whiskey with a tip of his chin instead of approaching him and trying to talk.  Whiskey wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment.  Knowing a man’s mood was a good skill to have, both in the Club and the military, it could save his life someday.  He appreciated the man not bombarding him with the constant chatter like the other Brothers had a tendency to do just to get a rise out him.  Whiskey wasn’t a person to mess with, and with his current mood, the man had a right to be cautious. 

Whiskey remembered his Prospect days with mixed feelings of hate and love.  He loved being a member of this family, proving himself worthy and being granted the privilege of becoming a full-patched member.  But, he also remembered hating the shit jobs he had to do to get to this point.  He had a good feeling about Crush and knew he would go far with the Club. 

Whiskey took a couple of deep breaths and decided once and for all it was time to get his head out of his ass.  He would deal with Addison when the time came.  If they would be living in the same town, he didn’t want her to run every time she saw him.  They might not regain the friendship they once had, but maybe they could get over the stupid moves they had made as teenagers and live in peace. 

Before Whiskey put his hand on the door to pull it open, the bane of his existence pushed in front of him shouldering his way through the door.  Tank, that fucker, had a death wish. Unfortunately, Whisk couldn’t do anything about it because he was also a Brother.  His hands were tied from blowing the fucker away like he wanted. Brayden “Tank” Taylor had at one time been one of his closest friends.  Everything changed when they hit high school. 

Tank was everything Whiskey wasn’t in high school, quarterback for the football team and the town’s favorite son.  He had scouts checking him out, and everyone knew good things would happen for the guy.  The only aspirations they had for Whiskey were prison or death.  Funny how things turn out; Tank lost out on his scholarships when he fucked-up, getting loaded and taking his car out for a joyride.  The Dude wrapped his flashy sports car around a tree causing permanent damage by hurting one of his friends.  The man was now in a nursing home somewhere, and Whiskey wondered how much that shit weighed on Tank; maybe that was why he was such an asshole.   

From what Whiskey heard, the colleges vying for him dried up, and he joined the Air Force, only serving one term, but also making him eligible to be a member of the Club.  The RBMC had few rules, but one of them was that each member was required to have served at least one term in the military. 

Whiskey wasn’t around when the asshole was Prospecting, or he would have thrown one hell of a fit.  The man had rubbed him the wrong way back then and was still doing the same now.  Brothers were supposed to have each other’s back, and even though he hated it, he knew if push came to shove, he would have even his over-privileged back in a heartbeat.  The problem was Whiskey didn’t trust him to have his back.  Thankfully, the fucker passed without another word. 

Whiskey made his way inside and looked at the table his Brothers were occupying.   It seemed like the socialites were slumming again. Hell, he’d noticed them before but hoped they would be gone by the time he got back to the diner.  Whiskey hated those bitches.  Whiskey didn’t play that game like most of his Brothers.  These chicks didn’t do a thing for him.  They were overdone and fake from the tips of their cosmetically enhanced noses to their manicured toenails. Back in the day, he would have pity fucked one or two, but not anymore. They were once tried and overridden, and he was never one for sloppy seconds.

The ringleader of the little group, Val, was sitting on Link’s lap tongue fucking his ear.  How he put up with that shit Whiskey would never know, it grossed him out just looking at it.  Valerie Haswell had been around since high school.  She had been the skanky head cheerleader from the most prominent family in town.  She didn’t just act like she was better than everyone else, she believed it to be true. 

Whiskey knew why Link suffered through this shit; it was his job.  These chicks might irritate the hell out of them, but they served a purpose.  These women knew what was going on in town and who was doing what; the Club liked having that information.  Give the bitches a little booze and some dick, and they spilled all the secrets of Defiance’s elite.  It was a dirty business, but someone had to do it, and Val had always had a thing for Link.  The woman thought her pussy was platinum-plated, and Whiskey would bet it was just as cold as the metal itself. 

Val only came around when she wanted to piss off her husband or parents.  The entitled bitch would come back, bringing her crew, to slum every other month or so, then go back to her happy, privileged life.  Whiskey felt sorry for his brother in a way for having to put up with the bitch for so long, but was also thankful it wasn’t his job because he knew without a doubt he would have strangled the bitch long before now.  Whiskey also didn’t think he would be able to get it up or pull off the ruse.  Val disgusted him on every level.

Jen and Julie were with her today; those two didn't come as often as the others, but still came enough to gain a reputation with the Brothers.  Whiskey was sure they only came when they wanted to scratch an itch and allowed some biker dick to enhance the process.  Clutch was the center of their little sandwich.  Easy pussy was easy pussy and everything about these chicks was easy. 

His disgust must have shown on his face because the bitch had the nerve to address him, something he always discouraged by avoiding her ass.  Her bloodshot, overdone eyes were doing a thing, Whiskey wasn’t quite what; the bitch probably thought it was seductive or some crap.  Val had been after him for a while now, and he had no desire to take her up on anything she had to offer.  Val pulled her tongue of out Link’s ear and looked at Whisk, a smug look on her face.

“Hey Whisk, you want to join our little party?”  Damn he should have known better than to give that bitch any amount of attention, even looking at her for a second brought out the greed in her eyes. 

Val’s weak-assed attempt at enticing him, playing with her fake tits over her overly tight shirt and licking her lips, only further repulsed him. Whiskey knew the bitch had been through just about every member of the Ruthless Bastards.  She was just a well-used hole. It seemed to be her goal in life to have every last one of them in some lame attempt to rub her rich daddy’s and husband’s noses that she could and did anything she wanted.  Whiskey wasn’t even remotely interested in the bitch, never had been. 

Threesomes were fun, but the thought of crossing swords with Link was not something Whiskey ever wanted to experience.  He preferred his threesome action to include two chicks; those were fun times.  Dudes did nothing for him, he liked to watch, but stayed well out of the action, and planned on keeping it that way.  

“Bitch, I wouldn’t touch anything you got with Brass’s dick, and you know it.” 

“Dude, I resent that,” Brass said. “My dick is picky. Didn’t we just have a conversation about quality pussy?  Shit, Val’s snatch has seen so much action, I’m sure I felt callouses up in there the last time I was drunk enough to tap that ass.  Shit, Val you’re looser than a thrift store turtleneck on a hot day.  Next time you see that doctor of yours, you might want to ask him about that vaginal rejuvenation shit.  It would be like turning the miles back on your car, only on your pussy.”

“Fuck, Brass, I got to say man I’m impressed, I never knew you were such a poet,” Whiskey laughed.  “I don’t know man, that might take more work than one doctor could perform. I mean, shit, that snatch would need a complete overhaul.”

The Brothers at the table were laughing and from the looks of it, Val’s crew was having a hard time not busting up.  Val looked pissed.  If her overly Botoxed face moved, it might have cracked at the moment.

“I don’t know Whisk, I heard you’re a one pump chump.  I was only offering to give you a pity fuck because, well shit, somebody had to.  I mean why else would I have suggested a threesome? I had to get something out of it; at least Link can go all night.”

Val was baiting Whiskey, and he didn’t care.   He just stared back at the bitch.  It always unnerved her, and Whiskey liked it.  His Brothers said his eyes always looked psychotic when he was staring. 

“What are you looking at?”  Val demanded.

“I don’t know bitch, but I think it’s why revolving doors were invented.  How many dicks have you had just this week?  Shit, I think your cunt gets more action than a two-dollar hooker on a bad day.” 

Everybody laughed that time.  Val was a bitch in the first degree, but she served her purpose.  She was also easy to shut down.

The waitress, a sweet little thing, five foot nothing and curves in all the right places, came over to take his and Brass’s orders.  She looked young enough to be jailbait, but Whiskey knew better.  Whiskey respected the girl, she wasn’t afraid of waiting on them like some of the other waitresses.  She knew all their names and treated them like she would anyone else. She was probably one of the only chicks Whiskey knew who didn’t have an agenda.  She didn’t mix with the MC, but she also didn’t shun or walk away from them, either.

“Hey Whiskey, Brass, you two going to order or do you just want coffee?”

“Hey, Suzie,” Brass said, “are you gonna come out to the party this Friday?”

Brass had a thing for the hot little waitress, but other than waiting on him and serving him food, she never allowed it to go any further.  Whiskey didn’t question it; the Club didn’t have the best reputation as far as women were concerned.  They never did anything bad just never stuck around.  For a good girl like Suzy that reputation would be a no-go.  Brass just hadn’t gotten the memo yet.  He always asked if she was coming to one of the many parties the Club had, and she always turned him down, all you had to do was wait for it.

“Nope, sorry can’t this week, Brass, maybe some other time?”

“Sure, thing Suzie Q.”  Whiskey saw the disappointment in the man’s eyes before he shielded it.  She poured them coffee, took their orders, then walked away as if nothing was out of the ordinary. 

Reagan was about to get her rocks off, and Suzie had acted like it was just another day, no big deal.  Whiskey was sure Tank was playing with her under the table.  Reagan's beautiful face had a blush on it that was the telltale signs of her upcoming orgasm.  Nothing made a woman prettier in Whiskey's book.  Her copper eyes were hooded, and her breathing was escalated, the pink on her cheeks only made her skin glow brighter.  Tank was whispering shit in her ear, and Reagan was struggling to stay still and quiet.  Typically, Whiskey would enjoy the show, but today he wasn’t into it.  Today was just a different day with the same actions.  He knew when they got back to the Club, things would get much more interesting, and even that didn’t appeal to him at the moment. 

Reagan was Club property, a Puppet.  Dick Puppets were the girls that the MC claimed and protected because of their contribution to the Club on their backs.  Whiskey was surprised to see her out with the rest of this fucked-up little group.  Reagan was a local and grew up with most of them, but she had never been a part of the “in” crowd. Val and her crew treated her like shit.  Reagan was trailer trash, just like him.  The only difference was that Reagan tried to be better, and even though she had been a Club Puppet now for about six months, it was in the loosest sense of the word.  Whiskey knew she hadn't been with any of the guys other than Tank. 

Reagan was a Puppet in name only; she was more like a sister, always tried to make their lives a little easier.  She tended bar, cleaned toilets, did laundry, and tried to keep the Club house clean.  Unfortunately for her, no one else tried, so it was a moot effort on her part.  Reagan also had no problem with the lifestyle, or at least he thought she didn't; the truth was he had never taken the time to talk to her and find out anything more about her.  That was kind of messed up considering they all lived together.  It was a fucked-up form of family, but one that worked just the same. 

When Whiskey’s phone vibrated, he was almost thankful for the distraction.  When he heard the other Brothers’ phones also going off with an incoming text message, his mind switched from the fucked-up past to the present.  Something was up.  It looked like they had Church in twenty.  Church was a meeting where the Club, and only the Club’s patched members, discussed upcoming missions and other Club business.  It was a regular Sunday thing for them.  Calling all the patched members in on a Tuesday was unusual. 

Whiskey got up to leave and heard Link telling Val he had to get going and Tank telling Reagan to get her ass in gear; nothing unusual, this shit didn't happen all the time, but it happened.  Reagan just grabbed her stuff and headed for the door.  Val, on the other hand, was throwing a fit wanting to know why Reagan got to go, but she didn't.  Whiskey just gritted his teeth and kept on walking.  The bitch didn’t know her place, but that was Link’s problem.

Throwing some money on the table to cover the food he never got to order, Whiskey walked through the dingy diner and out the door.  The call-to-action caused his adrenaline to pump, fueling his fire.  He heard some of his Brothers behind him, but didn’t stop to see if they were following; they all knew the score.  If the President of the Ruthless Bastards called, they jumped.

The Ruthless Bastards weren’t your typical MC; they were considered one percenters, but not for being ordinary outlaws; they didn’t run guns, drugs, or women, own strip clubs or sex shops.  The RBMC were mercenaries, paid killers offering their services to the highest bidders, vowing to use the skills that Uncle Sam had given them on their own terms.  Right the wrongs they wanted and never look back. Although the MC was a front to get them into places where ordinary life wouldn't let them, it didn't mean it wasn't the real thing.  They were an MC and lived by those rules; they just had a different purpose than other outlaw clubs. 

Their first and most stringent rule was that they didn’t go after innocents, period.  They only went after the worst of the worst, on U.S. ground.  Other clubs that did the bad—girls, guns, drugs, you name it, and the RBMC was doing its best to stop them.  No one ever saw them coming, everyone believed the front they put out there.  Most times they were still working for the agencies, getting paid bank to put others away.  The biggest difference was that they followed their own rules, and no one could force them to do shit, unlike the time they served in the Armed Forces.  This time, they had a choice, could steer and command their own lives.  Whiskey wanted to right wrongs on his own terms.  He never wanted to be at the mercy of some fucked-up asshole’s endgame, again. 

Living the MC lifestyle meant wild parties, hot sex, and a different woman every fucking night.  But, it also meant fidelity and loyalty to the MC, and the MC alone.  It wasn’t much different from life in the military.  You had a chain of command and followed it.  The biggest difference was his chain of command now allowed him and every other Brother a choice.  If any of them didn’t like a mission or task, they could ask questions or bow out.  They were a fucked-up family of men that would live and die for each. Whiskey wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The other major difference was that if a Brother needed a breather, to feel the wind in his face, he could take off for a while and not worry about the consequences.  All of them understood the need to be free didn’t make them any less loyal.  There were always jobs to do, places to go, and things to see; all you had to do was ask. 

Whiskey had gone on runs that could last a couple of weeks or a couple of months.  Runs were technically assignments, you got on you bike and went where you were needed.  Most times it was hooking up with other MC’s, watching and learning their operations.  Getting the scope on what other MCs were up to, and which ones were dealing drugs, guns or women.  The RBMC was different, they worked with law officials. but only on their terms.  If a club needed to be taken down, they did it; if the dudes in the club needed to spend some time behind bars, the RBMC made it happen.  They also took on other jobs, search and rescue and the like.  One of the reasons they all had to serve in the military was training was essential to them; it also kept them alive. The RBMC worked with other Chapters across the country.  It felt good to know he wasn’t tied down by anything other than the Club.  Then again, maybe that was his problem, he wanted to be tied down by something.  Maybe it was time to put down true roots. Wasn’t that one of the reason’s he had come back to Defiance? 

Getting on is bike, Whiskey made quick time of the fifteen miles from the diner to the Clubhouse.  The wind on his face revived him, and he craved a longer run; he needed to get his head straight.  Right now, though, he had things to do, mainly going to Church.  It was where they decided and voted on everything from Prospects joining to the missions they went out on. What a funny word that was, Church; civilians heard it, and he often wondered what they thought.  Some of the more jaded probably thought it was a place they did satanic rituals and sacrificed virgins.   

It was also a place that Brothers could air grievances and decisions were made.    Just last week, they had decided to get into the medical marijuana business.  A couple of the Brother’s wanted to look into getting a grower’s license up north, and the Club had voted the idea in, the potential profits fit well with Whiskey’s future, so he was all for it. Sometimes the items discussed were more mundane, like setting up a schedule to clean the johns.  That item for discussion didn’t go over as well.

The RBMC Defiance Chapter had thirteen fully patched members, four Prospects and four Puppets.  Most of them lived on premises, the only exception right now being Crank, the Road Captain who lived with his Old Lady Cathy not too far away.  Cathy was also the only Old Lady the Defiance Chapter had. She didn’t spend a lot of time at the Clubhouse, but Whiskey had a lot of respect for the woman.  Cathy was hard working and accepted their lifestyle without question.  She was also a badass in her own respect, training service and defense dogs. 

The Clubhouse came into view; it always surprised and took him back a little.  The place was an old Planation House, well, a better word for it would be mansion.  It was beyond huge and stately.  One of the things Whiskey liked was it was a place no one would ever think belonged to a Motorcycle Club.  To the untrained observer or passerby, the place just looked like a house or a museum.

The outside was typical of the Plantation style, three stories, big white columns, and wide porches.   It rested on over fifty acres and butted up to another hundred and fifty acres of reserve.  On the other side was the Sinclair farm, Whiskey’s old haunt.  They pretty much had the run of the area and no way in hell were they ever going to get a noise complaint or draw attention to themselves.  The place was a perfect picture of an upstanding southern gentlemen, at least until you stepped inside, then it turned into something entirely different.

The Clubhouse was where they all let loose, it didn’t matter what time of day it was; if you walked through those doors, you were sure to get a show of some kind.  None of the Brothers cared who was watching or who could see what they did or were doing, some even preferred to have an audience.  Two guys could be taking one of the Puppets on a couch in the corner and another could be getting his dick sucked right at the bar.  The Ruthless Bastards didn’t need an excuse to party, if they weren’t on a mission or a run, then their lives were a party all the time. 

Whiskey wasn’t a shrinking violet, in the past he had partaken in all that the Club offered and to some extent, still did. However, he preferred his sex dirty, kinky even, but also behind closed doors.  As he got older, he also wasn’t a fan of sloppy seconds.  He loved to watch, but if the chick offered him a taste after the show, there wasn’t a chance in hell he would take her up on the offer.  Maybe it was a part of getting older or maybe it was just preference, Whiskey didn’t know and didn’t care.  He chose the way he lived his life, and everyone else could just fuck off if they didn’t like it.

Chapter 3

Addison Sinclair was rushing around the building on Main Street and ran smack dab into someone.  It took her a second to gain her balance and the balance of the poor person she had just run into; looking up she was thankful it was just Cathy.

“Shit girl, I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going, are you okay?”

Cathy was a lovely woman with long blond hair and a killer body.  She was older than Addy, but the two had formed a quick and lasting friendship over their mutual love of animals.  Cathy had served in the military and now worked as a dog trainer.  She was also an Old Lady to Crank in the RBMC, the very people Addy was trying desperately to avoid right now. 

“I'm all right, Chica, where are you running off to in such a hurry?  Or are you running away from something?” Cathy asked, her raised eyebrow saying Addy wasn’t fooling her and that kind of pissed her off.

“I’m not running, Cath, just have a ton of shit on my mind and wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.  Sorry.”

“Okay, we can play it that way, if you want, but one of these days, Addy, you will have to face Whiskey and deal with all the shit that between the two of you.  This sneaking around, running from the past stuff will have to end, eventually.  You know they say the past always comes back to haunt you, maybe if you two sat down and had it out, then you could let it all go.”

“Shit, Cath, you know what? I wish you and every other person in this town would just let that past stay where it needs to stay, in the past.  I’m not running or hiding from Aiden.”

“Whiskey.”

“Okay, Whiskey, whatever, I’m not running and hiding from him.  It’s like everyone in this damn town is waiting for me to implode or explode on him, and that won’t happen.  You and the rest of these people need to get the hell over it.  That stuff went down ten years ago, we were children.  I’ve moved on, and he was over it the minute he walked out of here all those years ago.  It’s time the rest of you to let it go, I'm sick of hearing about it.” 

Cathy was just standing there like she was thinking really hard and staring at Addy it was unnerving. 

“What?”

“I was just wondering if your ass was getting jealous of all the shit your mouth is spewing.  I mean, that was the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard.  Are you over it?  Honey, you haven’t even started to move on from it. When was the last time you dated someone or hell when’s the last time you got laid or had a little fun?  I’ve been watching you, and ever since the Frost brothers came back to town, you are constantly hiding around corners and avoiding the Club.  Shit, honey, you have been avoiding the whole town.  I get that the farm takes a lot of your time, but I’m starting to think if you could have food and feed for the animals delivered, you wouldn’t ever leave the place.” 

“Cathy, listen, it’s not what you think. I am avoiding Whiskey, but not just him, all the RBMC.  I called Tuck earlier with a proposal, and I don’t want any of the guys to get a hold of me before he looks it over and makes a decision.” 

“What kind of proposal?”

“I’m leaving Defiance. Carri has been after me to move down to Lexington, and I’ve decided to take her up on it.  I offered Tuck and the Club the farm.  It’s time for me to move on. I have spent my entire life here in Defiance fighting for a dream that isn’t even mine because of Pop, but I can’t do that anymore.  I want more, and I’m not going to get it here.”

“Honey, I didn’t know it was that bad. Why sell the farm?  Why don’t you go ahead hang out with Carri for a while and see if you like it first?  This all seems kind of drastic and sudden.  Why not just take a little time to think about it some more?”

“Cathy, I have been thinking about this for years.  The farm has taken everything from me, my blood, sweat, and tears, and the people I love most in this world.  I’m just done, Cathy.  It’s time for a change, and I’m finally going to do it. As my friend, I don’t expect you to understand, but I do expect your support.  I love you, Cath, but you have to know this is the right move for me.  I’m stuck here, it’s time to move on from all of it.

“Damn, okay Honey, I will give you all the support you need, but please just think about this, once it’s done can't be undone.  There won’t be any changing your mind and coming back.  You are a country girl through and through, Carri’s world isn’t yours.  What are you going to do for work?  You might not see it now, but that farm is as much a part of you as the air you breathe. Giving it away will hurt.”

“You don’t think I know that? It already does, but I can’t stay here, it hurts too much.  I need a fresh start and moving is the only way I’ll get that.  Shoot, you and everyone else in this town keep on watching me, waiting for something to happen, and it’s freaking me out.  How can I move on when I am constantly reminded of my one major fuck-up for the rest of my life?  I need to go somewhere where no one knows me, so I can finally move on.  Don’t you get that?”

“Yeah, I get it, and I’m sorry for putting all that crap on you.  But, honey, don’t you think if you really are trying to make a fresh start, you need to put the past behind you and have it out with Whiskey?  I mean there is so much unsaid between the two of you, maybe if you had it out once and for all you could honestly move on without having to do something so drastic like selling the farm that has been in your family for generations.  The MC is good babe; but they aren’t farmers.  Damn, hon, you have worked so hard to make something of the farm, are you really willing to let it all go without looking back?”

“No turning back now, Cath, the deal is already in the works.  I can’t look back now, this needs to be done.  I want this.  Please understand.”

Addy was surprised she could say those words without crying or at the very least choking.  She didn't want to give up the farm, she just didn't think she had any other choice.  Addy wasn’t telling Cathy everything, and she felt guilty about that. Cathy was a friend, but there was more to her move then just getting on with her life.  Someone was messing with her; it started out simple at first with vandalism, but now it had turned into downright threats, and Addy couldn’t deal with it. 

Someone wanted the farm and wanted it bad.  The only way she could think to get out of it was to turn the farm over to the RBMC.  They could protect it; she couldn’t.  When the vandalism turned into dead animals and injured ranch hands, Addy knew she was in over her head, and she didn't want to put anyone else in danger.  If she took herself out of the equation, it would be better for everyone involved, at least that was what she tried to convince herself.  Maybe she was just naïve or worse than that, downright stupid.

She could have gone to the Cops or did any number of things, but this was the route she chose, and now she was stuck.  She hadn't questioned her motives; now listening to herself she didn't feel right about any of this.

Seeing Aiden, shit no, Whiskey after all these years only added the topper to her shit sundae.  It hurt every time she caught a glimpse of him.  No one in her life had hurt her as much as he had, she would never let anyone ever have that power again.  “Hey, Cath can you do me a favor?  I was going to call you later anyways.”

“Sure, Honey as long as you agree to think about all I have said, I want what is best for you girl.  I…”

“It’s okay, Cathy. Listen you’re right about some things, but I can’t do what you want. I'm sorry I just can't.  Would you mind coming out to the farm and taking care of the animals until the MC takes over?  There’s also an envelope on the kitchen table for Whiskey.  I might not be able to confront him as you want, but I do want to put everything right.  He might not give a shit, but I don’t want the decisions either of us made back then to come back and haunt us.  Could you get it to him after I’m gone?  It will make me feel better knowing there won’t be any secrets left between us once I’m gone.” 

Addy could feel the tears burning in her eyes, but she wouldn’t let them fall.  This had been one of the hardest decisions she had ever had to make, but it was for the best, and she was determined to follow it through.  Addy wasn’t lying when she told Cathy that she offered the farm to the RBMC. She had, but Tuck had put her off much like Cathy was doing, encouraging her to deal with the past and move forward, but none of them knew what all was going on, and that was her fault.  She didn’t plan on giving Tuck a choice, she had the papers in her truck.  Addy would turn the farm over to the RBMC whether they wanted it or not, she just needed to deliver them.

Addy was scared and running like a coward, leaving her mess right in the MC’s lap, but she knew it was the right decision or at least she thought it was until a few seconds ago. Hearing the words had only she thought out loud was making her question everything.  In her gut, she knew the people threatening her were after the MC, not her specifically; maybe by forcing their hand everyone would be better off.  She had to hope that that was the truth.

Cathy wrapped Addy in her arms giving her a hug she so sorely needed, and the warmth felt good.  It had been a long time since Addy had felt warm, the fear and indecisions she had been dealing with were overwhelming. It was taking everything thing she had just to keep her emotions in check and get through the next couple of minutes. 

“Shit, honey, I’m sorry. Of course, I’ll take care of those things for you, but please promise to call me before you leave town.” 

“I will, Cathy,” Addy said wiping her eyes. “I need to get going, there’s a ton of shit I need to get done before that can happen.  I know you don’t understand, but please, believe me, this is for the best.  I’ll keep in touch, and maybe after everything is settled, you can meet up with Carri and me.  We can have a girl’s night sometime soon. Lexington isn’t that far away, and Crank can do without you for one night. Carri would love it and so would I.  I know you think I am running from everyone and everything here in Defiance, but I don’t want to lose our friendship.  I love you, Cathy.”

“I love you, too, now get going before we both turn into blubbering messes.”

Addy walked away from her friend, a heaviness in her heart.  Cathy had a heart of gold, and Addy valued her friendship; if it was this hard to walk away from her, Addy had to wonder how hard it was going to be to walk away from the farm and everything else.  Life sucked.

Chapter 4

Walking into the clubhouse, his demons still haunted him.  Maybe if he could get one person he had wronged to forgive him, he could start to forgive himself and move the fuck on with his life.  He doubted it, but he knew it was time to do something. The booze, parties, and women his new lifestyle provided weren’t cutting it any longer.  Addison was a good place to start.  She’d said she loved him once, maybe because of that she could forgive him.  He knew the love was long gone, but maybe she could like him enough to give him a little peace and forgive him for dragging her down to his level back then.

Whisk shook his head trying to dislodge the thoughts that seemed to be plaguing him he needed to get into the game and on club business.  Looking around the clubhouse Whisk noticed the place was in need of a serious cleaning.  The Puppets and the Prospects weren’t doing their jobs.  The Club provided them with room and board with the understanding they were to keep the place clean and tight. 

The Puppets had other duties, mainly keeping the Brothers happy and stress free, which included copious amounts of no holds bar sex.  They always had the choice to either do as they were told or leave, no one was ever forced to do anything they didn’t want to do.  Most of the men in the RBMC didn’t have old ladies, so the Puppets took care of business on their backs or any other way the Brothers wanted them, but it was always their choice, and they knew where the door was if it all got to be too much.

The Prospects had to do whatever nasty jobs the patched members came up with.  They needed to earn their place within the Club by showing their loyalty and commitment.  Three of the four Prospects were good as far as Whiskey was concerned.  The fourth, Digger, was a lazy son-of-a-bitch.  He did the bare minimum just to get by while the other pulled hours of guard duty and spent the rest of their time bartending or any other task put to them.   It looked like all of them needed a little wake up call.  He would be embarrassed if an ally Club stopped by and saw the state of their Clubhouse.

Whiskey didn’t want to think about if another Club were to see the shit he was seeing, they would think the RBMC couldn’t keep their shit tight.  Motorcycle Club’s didn’t have the best reputation and cleanliness wasn’t even at the top of that list, but control and structure dominated their world.  If they couldn’t control their little slice of the world, then there would be issues.  Other Clubs might get the idea they weren’t as Ruthless as they really were, and that couldn’t happen.

Walking into their inner sanctum, the place they held Church, Whiskey took his seat by the wall.  He was a patched member, that meant that he had earned the respect of the RBMC by showing his loyalty during his Prospecting days, but not one of the officers. Only officers or old-timers sat at the table.  He watched as his Brothers filed in and it looked as though none of them knew what was going on.  If they had a mission that shit was prepped and prepared for days if not weeks in advance.  There were rare occasions that a mission would come up at the last minute, but Link was usually in charge of that shit, and he had been at the diner with him, so he doubted that was what was going on now.

Tuck, the President of the RBMC, walked in and took his place at the head of the table. It only took seconds for him to pound the gavel down on it to get everyone’s attention. 

“I won’t drag this out, we have a problem in Defiance.  Hank James came to me a week ago and informed me that Addy Sinclair has been having problems at her farm for a while now.  First, it was just kids’ stuff, broken fence lines, and property damage.  Now, it has turned into straight out vandalism and threats.  She hasn’t come to me with any of this, but about an hour ago she called and offered the farm to RBMC for half its value. 

“I tried to get her to talk about everything that was going on, but she wouldn’t listen, just kept on sprouting off some shit that it was just time, and she wanted a change.  The thing is, she’s adamant about only selling to us.  When Hank first brought this to me, I had Link look into it, but he didn’t come up with anything.”  Tuck looked at Link with a look of disapproval in his eyes.  Link was his brother, and Whiskey knew the man was good underneath his pissed off and pumped up exterior; he also knew Link had always had it out for Addison.  Whiskey had to wonder if Link had purposely not looked into Hank’s claims because she was involved.  He wanted to doubt it, but where Link was concerned, Addison had always been bad news.  He wanted to believe Link would put his personal feels aside and follow his President’s orders.

“So, I called in a few favors and have learned that Addy is getting the hard push from someone to sell. She owns the farm outright and has for a couple of years, but within the last six months she has received ten liens against the property for everything from delinquent taxes to personal injury from some fucker that lives in California.  From what I can tell, he hasn’t even stepped foot in Defiance or anywhere near Addy’s farm.  There are also contractor’s liens for work that hasn’t even been done.  Jinx’s is looking into the liens and there’s only one common thread; all of these fuckers are from out of state and have links to over the border.  They also have ties to one of our recent cases, Satan’s Vultures.”

Son-of-a-bitch, this wasn’t good.  Those fuckers were into everything, drugs, guns, women, and extortion, and that was only the tip of the iceberg.  RBMC had been sent in to get three little girls that had been taken and held for ransom a few months back. None of them had been over the age of seven, and the stuff those sick fucks had done to them turned Whisk’s stomach.

“Here is the problem we face, the RBMC can’t in good faith agree to buy the farm from her when we know Pop would turn over in his grave at the thought of the place going to someone other than family.  We also know Addy had no plans of leaving until recently.”  Tuck said looking right at Whiskey with that same disapproval he had given Link. 

“Bring her in and make her talk, if these fuckers are threating her, then we do what we have to do. She might not be family, but she is an ally to this Club,” Tank said.

Tuck held up his hand before any of the Brothers could speak, looking around. Whiskey noticed that Talon and Tank were about to jump out of their seats.  He knew both of them had ties to Addison and that bothered him more than he cared to admit. 

“Before you get you panties in a twist,” Tuck said looking to Talon, himself and Tank.  “We have another problem; she isn’t and has never been Club property.  RBMC has been taking care of the Sinclair family for years because their property butts up against ours, but Addy has made it clear she wants nothing to do with the Club other than for us to buy her out. She will run and try to lay this shit in our unprepared laps.  I’m cutting her some slack because of Pop and our long-standing relationship, but if it were anyone else, we would have already had her tied up out back.

“Addy is a good girl, but she is trying to play in a world she doesn’t have a clue about.  She thinks if she cuts and run, it will all be over with, at least for her.  I asked her for twenty-four hours and she agreed.  In that time, I want all hands-on deck; we need to figure out what is going on and how to prevent any further fall out.  If my feelings are right, Addy is just the way in for Satan’s Vultures to get to us.  We have brought our problems to Addy’s front door and no amount of running will deter them, that is what we need to make her understand. 

“Tank and Talon, I want you two to talk with her, she is closest to you, try to get her to open up about what is going on.  I don’t care what you have to do, fuck her, buy her chocolate, or wine and dine the shit out of her, your choice, just get it done.  I want her locked up here at the Clubhouse by the end of the tomorrow, your choice on how to make that happen.”

Whiskey walked out of meeting pissed the hell off. No way was either of those two fuckers doing anything with Addison. They had unfinished business, and he would be the one that brought her in, whether she liked it or not.  Before he could make it to his bike, Link stopped him by grabbing his arm, making him turn around.

“Don’t do it asshole, leave the past in the past where it belongs.  Addy isn’t yours and hasn’t been for a long fucking time.  Too much water under the bridge for that shit to happen now.  Follow Tuck’s instructions and let Tank and Talon handle it.” 

“Fuck off, Link. Addison is and always has been mine.  You understand me, from the day I popped that cherry to now, she is mine.  I don’t give a fuck about the fucking water under the bridge or any of that shit.  Addison will come in because I will make her, no one else.”

“Fuck, listen to yourself. You haven’t even laid hands on that women in ten fucking years.  She isn’t yours, and she sure has hell isn’t going to bow to your will. Fuck man, she runs every single time she sees your ass.  Leave it, grab a Puppet, a bottle, and find a place to lay low.  I didn’t do the shit I had to all those years ago just for you to throw it away now.” 

Whisk yanked his arm out from Link’s hold.  He didn’t know what Link was talking about and he didn’t care.  The one thing he knew, he needed to get to Addison and make her do what he wanted, didn’t have time to deal with Link, right now.  Talon walked up and Whisk braced for another fight.  “Let him go Link, it isn’t your place to hold him back.”

“Like fuck, it isn’t. I am the head of this family, and if that isn’t enough for you, I am also the motherfucking VP of this Club.  What I say goes.”

“That’s the thing, Link, your say only goes as far as Club business, and Tuck just said Addy wasn’t Club property.  If Whisk claims her, problem solved, he can bring her in and we can get the answer we need.  I think it’s time you kept your manipulative ass out of his personal life.  Hey, while you’re at it, consider mine off limits, too.”

Whisk got on his bike and revved the engine, he couldn’t have said it better himself.  But he couldn’t leave without a final shot at his brother, “You have my loyalty and respect as far as the Club is concerned, but don’t pull that big brother shit, again, asshole.  I’m not a punk-assed, little kid, anymore. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions without your help or influence.  You don’t have to agree with them, either.”

Yeah, that came out a little more childish than he wanted, but damn, Link was like a damn mother hen when it came to him and Tal.  He never knew when to just let them be.  Whiskey was also thinking Link may have had a lot more to do with what happen ten years ago then he ever thought, and if that were the case, he and his brother would have it out once and for all.

His older brother, Link, had planned their lives out to the smallest of details and at eighteen Whiskey had been all for it.  Serve his country for a term, then come back and join the Ruthless Bastards MC.  Simple—live hard and ride free were words that had speared him on, but as most things in life, the older he got, it changed for him.  Link’s constant rules and orders for his life pissed him off.  He was a free man and an adult, but every time he decided for himself, Link would push harder for him to follow his plan.  After years of putting up with it, Whiskey just stopped talking to him.

It was a little hard now he was back in Defiance.  Link was the VP of the RBMC, and he had to take orders from him as far as the Club was concerned, but that was as far as Whiskey was willing to let that shit go.  When Whiskey became a full-patched member, the President of the Frankfort chapter gave him a choice; stay at the Mother chapter, or come home to Defiance.  Whisk chose Defiance and every day since, questioned the decision.  He was loyal to the Club, but his blood brothers were another matter. 

Link never stopped trying to treat him like a child, and Talon just ignored him.  Whiskey couldn’t blame Talon, he and Link had left him when he was only sixteen, and although they came back from time to time, it was never the same.  Talon had pulled away from both of them as Whiskey had pulled away from Link.  He wanted to fix it with his younger brother.  They had another brother, Sebastian. He wasn’t a part of their MC world, but he was also the only one who still spoke to all of them regularly. Maybe it was the distance that helped that along, or that Bas never once tried to do anything but help and offer advice.  He didn’t intrude or demand anything from any of them.  He also didn’t come around that often, but called as much as he could. 

Chapter 5

Pulling out from the RBMC, Whisk knew there was only one place that Addison would be right now if she was planning on leaving town. His mind took another trip down memory lane, Whiskey cringed at how hard and fast he went after Addison. She was sweet and innocent, and she had no defense for what he had planned for her.  The hot, high school nerd that everyone wanted, and no one got to touch.  She didn’t give any of the guys the time of day back then; she was the prize, and Whiskey had been determined to win it at any cost.  Corrupting Addison worked right into his plan of leaving this two-bit town with a major Fuck You. To prove to the fucking wannabes and too goods he was somehow worthy. He’d used that poor girl and thrown her away.  Not caring until it was far too late to make any changes. Funny how things you thought were important as a kid don’t measure up when you got older. 

Shaking his head, Whiskey thought, man, he was an ignorant asshole back in the day.  Hell, he just hoped that he wasn’t making another mistake as far as Addison was concerned because once again he was going to go at her hard and fast.

Pulling up to the cemetery, he felt horrible.  Pop had helped them all out and not a single one of them even attended his funeral. Shit, he hadn’t even heard the man had died until years later.  Back then, he didn’t even think to ask if anyone attended the funeral to honor the man.  Now, it was just another regret to add to the many he had accumulated over the years. When his mother, Star, would go on one of her benders and forget to go to the grocery store or leave for days on end, it was Pop that brought over food and checked up on them, before Link was old enough to take over those responsibilities.

It was also Pop that taught them how to hunt and dress wild game to keep them through the winter.  He also brought them clothes and other things, never once making a big deal about it.  Say shit like, “The ladies down at the church were going to throw this stuff away.  Can’t have that now can we, waste not want no you know.  Figure out something to do with it.  Got too much crap at home, you boys can help me out.”  The old man had a way about him that made it seem like they were helping him instead of taking charity, something none of the Frost boys would ever do. 

During harvest Pop would come and get them early every morning before school and put them to work.  The work wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t back breaking either.  When they were done for the morning, Pop would direct them to the bunk house where clean clothes and fresh soap always waited for them.  He also had lunches packed and at the end of the week they all got a few bucks to put in their pockets.  As they got older, those time in the mornings came few and far between.  He and his brother found other ways to spend their time and make money, but Pop still watched out for them.  If the furnace broke or there wasn’t enough food to put on the table, he was always there. 

After leaving Defiance, Whisk never once looked back or tried to honor the man who meant something to him as a kid.  It hurt too much; Addison was his granddaughter, and he let the sins of their past taint the relationship he had with Pop. 

Getting off his bike, Whisk looked around the cemetery. It was the only one in town and looked pretty much the same as any other cemetery.  Tombstones, statues, or name plates littered around plush green grass and trees.  The wind was blowing slightly, and he could smell the scent from the dogwood trees surrounding the area. 

Letting his gaze wander, Whisk took everything in and realized he never wanted to be laid to rest in a place like this.  Whisk wanted his Brothers to throw his ashes to the wind that way he could be free forever. Whisk would also rather have his loved ones remember him at special places or times than be forced to come and remember him at some piece of granite, metal, or cement statue.  It was just the way he thought, and if others didn’t like it, too fucking bad.

Whisk walked up the winding path searching for Addison. He knew she was here, he could feel it deep in his bones.  People changed over the years, but Whisk knew she couldn’t stop herself from seeing Pop one last time before she left for good. 

It took a while, but he finally found her standing in front of a grave stone.  She was wearing a pretty, yellow sundress.  Damn, she had changed through the years, she’d only gotten more beautiful.  Her once thin tomboy shape had turned into that of a woman’s.  Lush and curvy in all the right places.  Her A-cup breasts had turned into a full D-cup, and Whiskey had the urge to feel their weight in his hands.  Her hips were more pronounced, her ass lush; the weight she had gained through the years looked good on her. 

Her hair was shorter, but no less captivating, a mixture of many, browns, blondes, and reds.  He had loved playing with it as a teen and longed to do it again.  He was also happy that it was still long enough that if he fucked her from behind, he could wrap it around his fist.  Damn, he needed to stop thinking this way. Adjusting his hard cock in his now too tight jeans, he stood there staring, trying to compose himself.  Addison wouldn’t be his toy this time around.

Whisk smiled thinking about the dress, it brought up memories from the past.  Through the week and Saturday, she always wore, jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and flannels, but every Sunday she wore a dress.  He remembered the first time she had done it when we were kids, and he had asked her if she was going to church or something? Addison just smiled and said no.  It wasn’t until years later and that conversation long forgotten, she explained the dress to him.   He kind of wished he could go back in time and change that day.  He had already decided what he would do, but he never thought about how it would affect the rest of his life.  

Whiskey had been teasing Addison, they were sitting on the top of truck and the wind kept on trying to blow the material way from her body.  He wanted a peek, so he didn’t really care, but Addison had always been such a tomboy he couldn’t help but give her some shit about her attire.  His plan was already in motion to win her, and he was putting all his seventeen-year-old charm her way. 

“Oh, come on Addison, just let the wind take it. I’m dying for a look at those little undies you have on under that prissy dress. 

“Stop it Aiden, I get one day to be a girl.  All week long I go to school, come home, work the farm, and then go work for Old man Harris.  I get everything on my clothes from mud to horse poop, but on Sunday’s I get to wear a dress and pretend, just for a little while that my life is a little different.  I can wear a dress and not get dirty.  So, I can feel pretty,” Addison looked down as if she was ashamed of what she just admitted to.

Whiskey had felt bad, he knew his intentions weren’t right, but in that moment, he showed her something he never showed anyone, softness.  Hugging her up close, he said and truly meant, “Addison you are pretty, jeans and mud or a dress and heels.” 

Brushing her bangs away from the front of her face she looked up at him with those startling hazel eyes made brighter by the tears she was trying to hold back.  Her little smile was too much of a temptation and he kissed her, right there in the middle of the field. Kissing Addison Sinclair turned into more right at that second with their lips pressed firmly together.  She was no longer the girl he played tag with, or went fishing with, and swam in the pond on hot summer days.  Right then and there, Addison became his.

God, he had forgotten about that, forgotten about the feelings; even now looking at her he felt the same.  Addison Sinclair was still his and still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.    

“What are you doing here Addison?  Why the dress, it isn’t Sunday?”

Addy heard that grumble and didn’t even need to look around, she hadn’t heard that voice in ten years; it had changed, now it was deeper, gruffer maybe, but still the same.  She would recognize it anywhere.  Aiden was standing behind her, and she felt an involuntary shiver run underneath her skin.  It was almost like a low electrical current connected her body to the man’s voice, and for about two seconds, she loved it, wanted to cherish and accept it, and then she remembered.  She remembered everything, the heartbreak, the devastation, and isolation this man had left her with all those years ago, without even a single thought or word. 

Straightening her shoulders, she did the only thing her broken soul could do and tried to run.   Feeling his hand on her arm, Addy wanted to scream, rant, and rave, but mostly she just wanted to be gone, be away from this. His voice, his touch was a drug, she wanted him with every fiber of my being, and yet she hated him just as much.

“Let me go, Aiden,” she said, not turning around to face him

When he didn’t answer or comply with her request, she yanked her arm hard trying to dislodge his touch from her body.  It didn’t work.  The bastard had the nerve to pull harder until she didn’t have a choice but face the man of both her nightmares and dreams.  She wasn’t ready for the devastation of what coming face-to-face with him for the first time in so long would do to her.  And, shit, she realized she could have never prepared herself for meeting Aiden Frost eye-to-eye again.  His deep emerald green eyes scolded her and his ruggedly, harsh face transformed her back into that sixteen-year-old girl again with stars in her eyes and fairy tales in her mind.  He wasn’t a boy anymore, but a devastatingly handsome man.  Why couldn’t he have turned ugly over the years, why did he have to still call to her when other men didn’t? 

His white blond hair was still cut military short, and he had a neatly, groomed beard.  His hard-muscled body was mostly covered, but she could see he had sleeves of tattoos running up and down his arms in vibrant colors and shapes.  His t-shirt and jeans were a little worse for wear, but fit him like a glove, showing every dip and turn over his chiseled body, the leather vest she was familiar with lined his torso.  The RBMC cut, another reason she needed to get away from him, Addy didn’t want to be associated with an outlaw motorcycle club.  Built as a kid, now he was enormous, not only in height, but in width.  He towered over her five-foot-six frame by at least a foot.  His arms had to be about as big as her thighs.  Damn, she wasn’t sixteen anymore, but this man destroyed her in ways no one else ever could. 

The anger in his brilliant eyes snapped her out of her perusal of his body. This was not the same man she had once known, and he kind of scared her. 

“What the fuck, Addison, I’ve been back for six months, and you haven’t even tried to talk to me.  You run around town hiding behind corners and buildings like I have the fucking plague or something, and then I hear you're selling the farm and leaving town?  The same farm Pop worked so hard to keep in your family, so he could pass it down the line to you and you could do the same.  Have you turned into such a selfish bitch you would dishonor him in that way?  Jesus, are you even at all like the person you used to be?  What the fuck happened to you?”

Fuck, Whisk was messing this up, he wasn’t supposed to be pissing Addison off, he was supposed to claim her and bring her back to the Club for safe keeping.  But the past kept on making its way into his mind, and he couldn’t let it go.  What happened to all that shit he thought about back at the diner, forgiveness and teenage shit? Guess that shit still ran pretty deep because he couldn’t resist cutting her one last time.

It took Addison a couple of seconds to let what Aiden said sink in. What the ever-loving hell?  He had some goddamn nerve questioning her loyalty and condemning her for doing what she needed to do.  She didn't want to sell the damn farm; she had years of blood, sweat, and tears in that place, it was her home, but she didn’t know what the hell to do.  The RBMC could handle the shit that was coming her way, she couldn’t.  Christ on a fucking cracker if he would have just stayed away, she would have been fine.  How could he not realize how much this hurt?  To see him day in and day out and not be able to talk to him or touch him.  To imagine… Oh hell no Addison wasn’t going there, not today, not ever.

“Look around Aiden, Pop is gone, so is everything else.  You don’t get to tell me what you think or who you think I should be now.  You lost that right when you walked away and never once looked back.  Shit, you talk about me hiding around corners to avoid you.  Let me ask you a question, Aiden.  In the ten years, or hell even the six months you have been back, has there ever once been a time when you regretted not even giving me a simple goodbye back then?  Or answering the millions of phone calls I made to you after you got out of basic?  Or how about a single regret for returning every single letter I wrote you without even having the decency to open them?  Don’t give me your holier-than-thou attitude, Aiden. I’m the one you left behind without a single word or thought, not the other way around, and you have the nerve to call me selfish,” Addy screamed, pushing him away.

Aiden was so mad his body was vibrating with it. Fuck, how dare she act like this was all his fault. 

“Are you fucking kidding me, Addison?  I fucking saw you coming out of Tanks house, I stood there and watched as he hugged you and kissed your cheek.  You hugged him back and laid your head right on his motherfucking chest.  What the hell was I supposed to do, accept that you cheated on me and just move on with you like everything was right in the world?  That shit is on you sweetheart,” the way he said sweetheart was so snide, Addy flinched.

“What are you talking about? I never once cheated on you, Aiden. Not in high school and not for a hell of a long time afterward. So, you might want to clue me the hell in here and explain exactly how I did you wrong.  I seem to remember getting an earful from Val and her cronies after you left, though, about how you were just with me to give Defiance one final Fuck You before you left.  Funny, I don’t ever once remember you telling me you had signed up to go into the military, but hey I was just a stupid sixteen-year-old girl.  So, believe whatever the fuck you want, I can honestly say I don’t care anymore.” 

“Bullshit, it was all everybody was talking about the next day in school.  Fuck, I saw the two of you, and even after all these years, you’re still denying it? Fuck babe, give it up, you weren’t worth it then, and you certainly aren’t now.  I just want to know why you would do this to Pop?”

That was the final straw for Addy. She’d had more than she could take and wanted to hurt Aiden just as much as he had hurt her.  Spreading her hands wide and keeping her voice as firm and strong as possible she said,

“Look around Aiden, everything I have ever loved has been laid to rest in this cemetery. Glad to know that what I once felt for you will finally be buried here as well.  I always knew you were an asshole, but I never once realized you were a bastard, too.”  Then Addy did the only thing she could and ran as far and as fast away from Aiden Frost as she could.

Chapter 6

Watching Addison, he barely heard the words that had come out of her mouth.  Whisk knew he was trying to hurt her, but he still needed to know why she would do the things she had planned.  But watching the remaining light flicker out of her eyes and seeing the devastation, hurt, and anger transform them, he was stuck in a spot he didn’t know how to get away from. Until that day in high school, Addison represented everything good in the world to Whisk.  She was light where he was dark, good where he was anything but.  Sweet, caring, and loyal.  What the hell happened?

He couldn’t leave without paying his respects to Pop.  This might not be the right time, but he would do it, anyway.  It had been too long already.  Turning around and walking to the gravestone, he wasn’t sure how to feel. Standing there in front of it and looking at the carved words actually hurt his heart.  Giving himself a second to gather the courage he needed, Whiskey turned his head to the side noticing the grave marker next to Pop.  It was a pretty little angel, so he read the plaque and nearly fell to his knees.  

Sunshine Frost

Beloved Daughter, Granddaughter.

June 1, 1990

Sleep with the angels my little one,

Our time was too short

But in that time, you stole my heart.

We will meet again. 

Mom

Oh, hell no, what the fuck was going on?  Aiden had only ever run from a single thing in his life, Addison.  He could fool himself into saying it was because her and Tank and everything everyone was saying, but that wasn’t the truth. Addison had broken heart his heart back then.  Now, he was running because he couldn’t comprehend what he had just seen.  Getting on his bike, Whiskey sped through the cemetery.  He would get answers, and Addison was the one who was going to give them to him.  How dare she use his name for a child he didn’t create let alone even know about? That was going too fucking far.

As the miles went on the open road, the wind and rumble of his bike didn’t help soothe him.  The closer he got to the farm and the answers he sought, the more pissed off he got.  Pulling into the driveway at Addison's house, Whiskey noticed her truck wasn’t there. Not taking a chance at her hiding from him, he jumped off his bike and stormed up the stairs.  Throwing the old screen door open, he banged on the door.  When the little coward didn’t bother to come and let him in, he kicked the fucker down.  Addison had a lot to answer for, and he would get those answers once and for all.

Storming through the house, he noticed how empty it was. All the family pictures and heirlooms were gone, the remaining furniture covered in sheets. Damn she was actually planning on leaving.  Running up the stairs, he checked all the bedrooms and the bathroom. Nothing.  The house was empty.  Walking down the stairs, he was trying to come up with a plan. Addison wasn’t here, and he had absolutely no idea where she would have gone.  Walking into the kitchen, he noticed a manila envelope on the table, so he walked over and took a look.  His name was on it; hell, he couldn’t deal with that right now, so he folded it up and put it in the inside pocket of his jacket. 

After hours of driving around trying to find Addison and coming up with nothing, Whiskey made it back to the Clubhouse.  Link was just pulling in when Whisk made it off his bike. Before Whisk could even say a word, he said, “Church in five.” 

Fuck, he didn’t have time for Church, they had just done that shit.  He needed to find Addison. 

“Listen up,” Tuck said, “Addy Sinclair dropped off the signed deed to her farm. 

“Her name is Addison.”

“No fucker, her name is Addy.  She doesn’t go by Addison anymore, hasn’t in a long time.  You would know that if you ever got the balls to talk to her in the past ten years.”  He and Tank had a contentious relationship; they were Brothers by the laws of the MC, but that was as far as it would ever go. 

“No fucker,” Whisk said, “her name is Addison, it’s the one her parents gave her, and you should respect her enough to fucking use it.” 

“Who the hell are you to talk about respecting Addy?  You were always so stupid, putting her up on some pedestal. What did you say back then? Your last Fuck You to Defiance, defile the town sweetheart, and all that shit.  Did you ever once bring your head out of your ass long enough to see what was going on right in front of your face?  That girl had problems, but as long as she looked pretty hanging on to your arm or waiting with bated breath for your next words, you were all good with it, right?”

“Shut the fuck up, asshole.”

 “You were pretty quick to believe what all those people said back then.  Why was that Whisk?  Why would you ever take the words of individuals like fucking Val and her troupe of bitches?  Christ, a blind man could see how much you meant to that girl.  She never even looked at another man, let alone let one touch her,” Tank scoffed.

“Well, considering I saw you rubbing up on her, I guess your self-righteous ass can shut the fuck up.”  Whiskey said pushing Tank away.

“What’s the matter, Whisk, things get a little too real for you back then, knocked up your high school girlfriend, and had to run for cover?  Seeing things that weren’t there so you could justify being a fucking coward?”

Whiskey turned around and blasted Tank so fast the man never saw the punch coming.  Whiskey was so far gone he wanted to kill him.  Grabbing his jacket and pulling Tank close, so there wasn’t any mistaking what he said next, “What the fuck are you talking about, I never knocked up Addison.  If anyone did, it sure as hell wasn’t me, fucker?”

Tank spit the blood and spit out of his mouth right at Whiskey’s feet.

“Addy hasn’t touched a single man in this room or this motherfucking town, except you.  Not back then and not since, asshole.  She never wavered in her faithfulness to you, motherfucker, ask around,” Tank said pushing Whiskey back.  “Fucking ask Link, he fucking knew it, even back then.  The asshole even sent flowers to Sunshine’s fucking funeral marked them from the Frost family, nothing else.  You guys should have stayed up in Frankfurt.”

Whiskey watched as Tank stormed out of the room.  When he turned around to face his brother, the rage he felt was unbearable.  He wanted to kill something, he wanted someone else to hurt like he was hurting, and his big, fucking brother looked like the best person to do that to.

Tuck slammed the gavel down on the table and yelled, “Everyone, get the fuck out now.  You two stay right where you are until I get back.  Don’t move a fucking muscle or breathe a damn breath.  This shit ends now.  I’m sick and tired of pussyfooting around all your damn lies, Link,” Tuck said leveling Link with a stare that would scare an average man.  Too bad Link was anything but normal.  He didn’t even flinch.  “One way or another this shit ends now,” Tuck yelled. 

Tuck was a big man, six-foot-six, and he had to weigh in around 280 lbs. of pure muscle.  The years he had spent away from the military hadn’t slowed the man at all.  Tuck was the President of the Ruthless Bastards.  No one messed with Tuck and if they tried, he proved why he was named President.  The man was ruthless to his core.  But one thing was for sure, the Club and the Brothers in it meant everything to the man.  Hearing him say he was done pussyfooting around Links lies infuriated Whiskey.

Whisk had thought about those days before he left to serve his country.  Link was the one that had pushed him to sign up, spouting shit about serving a term, then coming back to join the RBMC.  Back then Whisk hadn’t cared, he wanted out of town, but he wasn’t in a hurry to leave.  Talon was still in school, and he would stick around for him. That all changed when he saw Addison and Tank together; he couldn’t leave fast enough.  Come to think of it, Link had been the one to get him to go to Tank’s house that day. 

Remembering his time in the Air Force was bittersweet.  Basic was grueling, but easy. When it came time for assignments to be handed out, Whiskey was approached and asked if he wanted to specialize.  At first, he wasn’t sure, but the Officer sent to recruit him said, “Son, we will teach you to walk in the woods like smoke in the air.  We are the baddest of the bad; when the SEALS can’t handle their shit, we get them out.  When Delta fucks up and there’s no way out, we are the ones that save their asses.  Now the question is, do you have the balls to be a part of the team?”

Whiskey’s answer was, “Hell yeah, sign me the fuck up!” It might have fueled his need for validation or his ego, Whiskey didn’t know, but at the time he was all in and ready to go.  The training was intense and gratifying.  Every rescue fueled his fire.  His team became his family and his life until it was taken away.  Getting out, he was at loose ends. He could have joined any of the alphabet agencies or law enforcement agencies, but that wasn’t what he wanted.  He wanted to be free from the red tape and restrictions that had held him back for so many years.  That was the main reason he was back in Defiance and a fully patched member of the Ruthless Bastards Motorcycle Club. The only difference between now and when he was a teen was, this was his choice, Link didn't have a thing to do with his decision.  He would live his life on his terms and fuck anyone who thought otherwise.  

Watching his brother, Whiskey was getting more pissed by the second, Link just sat at the damn table looking at him like he didn’t have a care in the world.  The smug bastard was about to find out that blood and creed didn’t mean a thing if what Whiskey was thinking had happened, did.  His brother had a lot to answer for, and Whiskey would make him pay for those things in blood.

In a calm voice that Whiskey didn't feel he looked his brother square in the eye and said, “What did you do, Link?” 

The man didn’t even answer him, just stared back.  The man Whiskey had always looked up to and went to for advice as a young man and a child.  The same man that got him drunk and pushed him into moving on because Addison wasn’t what he thought she was.  The same man who just seconds ago, he would have died for, and now he wanted to kill.

“Who is Sunshine, Link?”

Whiskey noticed a small reaction. Link curled up the corner of his lip exposing his eyetooth.  Having known his brother his entire life, his tells were easy to spot.  A slight shift of his eyebrow or a twitch under his eye.  The vein that would pop out and pulse when he was pissed, but that little lip curl meant something different.  That curl said he was going to lie, like the taste of it in his mouth was something awful. Before he could even get the vile words out of his mouth that Whisk knew without a shadow of a doubt would break any kind of relationship they had forever, he stopped him. 

“Don’t even think about lying. Whatever the fuck happened back then will come out now, motherfucker, and you will pay for what you have done.”  Whiskey threatened, barely holding himself back from jumping across the table and annihilating his brother.

Tuck came back into the room, Tank following close behind.  Whiskey wanted to scream and then beat on the fucker some more.  What he didn’t want was to talk to the bastard.  He may have opened Whiskey’s eyes to things he didn’t really want to know, but that didn’t make him a friend.  Brother yes, friend, hell no.  What was that saying, you couldn’t pick your family?  Whiskey had been learning that lesson his entire life, and he wasn’t all that happy about it.

Tank also made him realize that he was right, Addison was a toy for him back then.  She was a good girl he wanted to corrupt.  A sweet girl he wanted to make nasty, and he had.  On the outside she was perfect, and he chose not to look one millimeter deeper.  She represented something that all the fuckers in town thought he couldn’t or shouldn’t have, and he loved rubbing it in their faces every time they went somewhere.  He was a Ruthless Bastard even back then.

Whisk wanted to scream and yell for the man to leave, but Tuck stopped him.

“Sit the fuck down.  This bullshit all ends now, got me?  I’m sick of watching this dissension in my fucking Club.  You’ll hear everything Tank has to say, Whisk, and then Link will say his peace.  After that, I don’t give a fuck what you three do.  Take it to the yard and beat the shit out of each other or turn in your patches.  I am fucking done.”

Tank started right in and the words he was saying caused pain so deep in his chest, he didn’t know if he would ever recover. 

“How did you not notice how fucking skinny she had gotten back then or, hey, how about the fact that no sixteen-year-old should have dark circles under their eyes?”

 “Shut the fuck up and tell the damn story, Tank, and leave your own thoughts and opinions out of it.  I don’t expect you two to become best buds or sing fucking kumbaya, this shit is a long time coming, and you two can beat the crap out of each other after it all comes out.  Don’t go making accusations when you have no fucking clue what Whisk did or didn’t notice,” Tuck snarled.

“Fine, listen, I found Addy outside of the bank crying; Pop was behind on the note to the farm and she didn’t know what to do about it.  She asked me if maybe my Dad would listen and be able to help her out with an extension since he was the President of the bank, so I took her home with me.  The bastard didn’t even listen to her.  What you saw was me trying to console her, nothing else.  I knew what you were up to so I didn’t set you straight back then, but I had no idea Addy was pregnant.  When you got early graduation and left, that was when everyone found out about the baby.  If I had known, I would have kicked your ass, and made you take responsibility for the shit you left for Addy to clean up.”

Whiskey didn’t like what he was hearing, but he listened. He needed to know it all, and since Addison hadn’t shared any of it with him, he was going to find out one way or another.  He still had a question, so he sat there seething listening to Tank’s smug ass talk.

“Addy had to drop out of school because Pop’s health was so bad. It probably didn’t help that the rich bitches were giving her so much crap for being the town whore.  But that didn’t stop Addy, she worked her ass off and held her head high.  Carri moved in with her after a while, but with all the work to keep the farm going, fuck man she lost the kid and dropped out of sight for a while.” 

“Why am I just hearing about this now, it’s been ten fucking years?” Whisk asked the men in the room with a calmness he wasn’t feeling.  They had all betrayed him. Ultimately, he was to blame, but damn, someone could have said something in the last ten years.  The whole fucking town knew, and he had been kept in the dark. That just pissed him off more.

“Listen, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can tell you I didn’t say anything to you because I didn’t want you to destroy Addy any further.  She waited for your ass, sent letters and called constantly.  It wasn’t until Link came back that she stopped talking about you.  What happened between them I can’t tell you, but I know for a fact that after that meeting, Addy never spoke your name again.  I also know that after that, her problems with the bank disappeared.  Why no one else told you, I have no idea.  Maybe they thought you were just as much as an asshole as I did.”

“Is that it?” Whiskey said through gritted teeth. 

“As much as I know, Brother. You set out to do her dirty, and you succeeded. Congratulations.  This shit is a long time coming. Addy is better than you, always has been, and I hope she makes you pay, motherfucker.”

Whisk didn’t even get up from the table to react to Tanks comments. The fucker was right, he deserved everything he got.

 “Tank, you can leave,” Tuck said.

That left Whiskey, Link, and Tuck, and he had questions for both of them.  Every time Whiskey came back from leave, he came to the Clubhouse, and no one once mentioned Addison or what she had gone through, and he wanted to know why.

“Why?” Whisk said looking right has his older brother.

“Listen, man, she was trying to trap you. I made sure that didn’t happen, and I won’t apologize for it.  You were a fucking kid.  You both were.  I gave her the money to get it taken care of and left. Not my fault she didn’t take my advice.”

“Dude, what in the hell is wrong with you?  You can sit here at this table and tell me you paid Addison to get rid of my kid when I didn’t even know the kid existed?  What about all that shit about her cheating on me with Tank, and how I was better off?  Fuck how did you even know the two of them were together that day or what I would see?  Did you know about Pop, too, and everything that was going on with the farm?”

Link got up out of his seat and leaned over the table. For someone else, the stance might have been intimidating, but this was his brother, the same man he had been fighting with his entire life, and Whiskey was too pissed off to think about anything else.  Link had known about his daughter and kept it to himself. Shit, so had everyone in this damn town. 

“Who didn’t, fucker? Everyone knew Pop was losing it both mentally and physically. Shit, you were there all the time, how the hell didn’t you see it?  And what the fuck, you couldn’t get out of here fast enough.  You want to put this shit on me, fine, but let me ask you this. How many times have you come back to Defiance through the years?  Ever once think about talking to Addy?” 

Whiskey went to get up and get right in his brother's face, but what he said next stopped him. 

“The answer is you didn’t.  You left, and until recently, you never looked back, not even once.  You put that girl up on a pedestal and never let her down.  You wanted that illusion, and I let you keep it instead of seeing her for the lying, manipulative, little bitch she really was.  I fixed it just like I have fixed everything, that is my job as head of this fucked-up family, and yeah fucker, I would do it all again.”

Link stormed out of the room, and Whiskey was left there sitting with a quiet Tuck.  Shit, that was just another slap in Whiskey’s face; he hadn’t known or cared to know about anything back then or since.  The real problem was he didn’t know if he would have changed anything that had happened if he did.  He wasn’t the same man back then he was now. Tuck let him stew for a few minutes.

“Listen, things are hardly ever the way they seem.  Addy is good people, don’t let Link’s issues with women taint what you are feeling, but you need to come back into the reality of things.  Addy is in trouble, and you need to decide what you are going to do about it because the Club’s hands are tied.  The rules are clear if she isn’t one of us then she is on her own, her being an ally only goes so far.   Laying this shit on our doorstep without warning or cause puts her in a dangerous place.  If this is Club related, I guarantee we will take care of it, but if this is shit that Addy brought on herself, unless you or someone else makes a formal claim, we have to leave that shit at the door.  Get what I am saying?”

“Yeah, I get it.  Fuck, Tuck, why didn’t you tell me?  Why did everyone keep this from me?  I have been a part of this Club since before I left for the service.  Not once in all these years has anyone ever spoke about this why?”

“Shit, brother, wasn’t my or anyone else’s place.  You made your intentions towards Addy clear, and as much as you don’t want to hear it, Link is right, you never looked back.  It’s been ten years, man, lots of water under that bridge.”

Tuck got up and left the room, and Whiskey was grateful for the reprieve. He needed a couple of minutes to himself because his thoughts and feelings were consuming him.  Addison had been pregnant with his child.  Shit, he had only fucked her once, and it was all of two seconds in his old, rusted up Ford.  He hadn’t even given her a good first experience, just pushed her down on the cracked, rough seats, lifted the skirt of her dress, pushed her underwear to the side, and ripped her innocence away like an animal.

He never once thought of how she felt or offered her any kind of softness or sweetness.  She had deserved that much. Now here he was thinking about the past and realizing all those thoughts and dreams that helped him get through the hard times had to be nightmares to Addison.  Did he really have the right to demand anything from her after the way he had treated her back then and since?  Did he really have the right to be pissed off because Sunshine had been kept from him? Did he even deserve to know about the little girl who would never be a part of his life because he had been too selfish and hurt to look back and try to fix things with Addison?  Would things have been different if he had?

Shit, the questions just kept on coming.  He remembered the last time he spoke with Pop.  Hindsight is twenty-twenty they say, but at the time Whisk had been so pissed that he didn’t take the time to pay attention to the little things.  The man was frail, unkempt, and sickly, but he still had the balls to ask him one question? 

“Are you going to do right by my girl?”  His answer and been no, and all the old man said was, “Okay, then don’t come back, you made your decision.  Addy said there was something more to you, but I guess she was wrong.  Leave her be and leave Defiance behind.  You serve your time and do well, stay safe, but Aiden, this isn’t your home anymore, you destroyed that all on you own.”

Damn, Whisk had been so mean that day telling Pop to fuck off, that Addison had been the one to destroy anything they could have had by spreading her legs.  Pop just laughed and waved him off like he was an annoyance only further adding to Whiskey’s mood.  Shit, he had been so stupid. 

Chapter 7

Addy was lying in bed; this would be the last night she stayed in her home, the only home she had ever known her entire life.  Addy had come home after her confrontation with Aiden, no Whiskey. She wouldn’t call him Aiden anymore that man or boy was gone.  What was left behind was a cruel man. Shit, if she thought about it, the younger version wasn’t much better.  Damn it, she needed to stop thinking about him, altogether.

The door was broken down, and the package she had left for him was gone from the table.  She hoped she made it out of town before he opened it.  She didn’t want to share Sunshine with him, but he had a right to know, even if he threw it all away. She would be able to sleep at night knowing she had at least tried to do the right thing. 

The horses were going nuts out in the barn.  Cathy would be there in the morning to take care of them, but there had been a mountain lion spotted not too far from the farm and Addy had a colt out there she didn’t want to come to any harm.  Shit, she didn’t want any of her animals to come to harm.  Addy got out of bed, got the shotgun out of the cabinet in the kitchen, put her boots on, and went to check things out.

Other than the animal’s noises, the barn seemed the same, the door had been latched, and the pens were all the way she had left them before going to bed.  She went down the row looking into each stall to see what the problem was.  Addy made it about half way when a shiver ran up her spine.  She wasn’t alone. 

She went to turn around to check things out, but before she got the chance, she was hit from behind knocking her head right into the stall door.  Wetness trickled down her forehead and into her eyes, the pain didn’t register right away because of the shock and confusion that plagued her mind. 

Addy could feel her body being pushed up against the rough wood of the stall, everything was spinning.  The uneven, rough surface of the wood cut into her cheek as someone held her face in place.  A large calloused palm covered the left side of her face, pushing her right side further into the grains of the wood stall.  The little slivers of wood digging into her skin, breaking through her soft flesh, embedding themselves.  The person behind her was large and male.  She could feel his clammy hand on her wrists holding them behind her back. 

Where did her gun go?  Addy’s head was so fuzzy, she had no clue how had he gotten it away from her, and why couldn’t she even remember it happening.

The man twisted his hand against her face forcing Addy to open her mouth in a gasp.  Her teeth clamp down when he dug the heel of his hand into her jaw.  Biting down on the inside of her cheek she could taste her own blood and wanted to gag.  Hell, Addy wanted to scream, but his hold was unyielding and tight, all she could do was moan out her pain.

She tried to give herself a pep talk; focus Addy, fucking focus, what the fuck just happened?

Closing her eyes, she breathed in and was assaulted by the smell of him.  He smelled of stale cigarettes and body odor.  He was taller than her, but not as tall as Tuck and Aiden.  Exhaling, she tried to hold back her tears.  She wouldn’t give this man anything.   

Think Addy, think.  Damn it, victims die because they lose their shit.  Don’t lose your shit, there is plenty of time for that later.  Focus girl, figured out who the hell this is, and why he’s doing this.

He felt huge behind her, his weight pressing into her.  She felt the rough texture of a jacket maybe denim, or coarser, stiffer, Carhart maybe, on her bare arms.  Why the hell hadn’t she changed before she came out into the barn?  Her pajamas were no protection against this person.  Who is this man?

He will not break me, he will not break me, Addy repeated in her head as he kicked her legs apart.  I will not cry out, Addy reminded herself as a whimper escaped.  I have only ever been with one man, please God don’t let this man rape me.  Please.

The bastard pressed his hips into her ass and Addy could feel his erection pushing against her.  As his weight shifted, she could feel his longish hair as it brushed up against her arm while he dragged his tongue from her wrist up her arm.  The act sent cold chills up her spine.  This man was going to rape her.

“We warned you, Addison. We gave you time to sign over the farm.  Turning it over to those bastards sat RBMC, instead? That move cannot go unpunished.” 

That voice.  Who the fuck was he?  She had never heard it before.  For months now someone had been after the farm, but she could never figure out who or why. 

Inhale.

Exhale.

Survive.

Inhale.

Exhale.

The stench of the man engulfed her nose, his rancid breath brushed a crossed her face before licking her ear, making Addy shudder involuntarily.  This violation can’t be happening, Addy’s mind screamed. She was home safe in her own damn barn why was this happening?  Addy tried to kick back into him, however he was relentless, her kicks only spur him on. 

“Fight, Puta, I like it.”  His hold only tightened, causing more pain and despair.  The bastard pulled at Addy’s hair, peeling her cheek from the wall before twisting her head to face it.

Crack.

Addy’s head slammed back into the wall, blood pouring down into her eyes, again.  The room spun, darkness tried to consume her.  No, no, hold on, Addy chanted in her head, if she was unconscious, she had no control.  She continued her chant, hold the fuck on, trying in vain to remain conscious, right before her body betrayed her, and her world went black.

Coming to, Addy’s mind was fuzzy and disoriented, but completely aware of what had happened and how much danger she was still in.  She felt the rough wood of the stall and knew she had only received a small reprieve because the man was still there, only this time he had her pinned to the floor.  Her arms were twisted up behind her back at an awkward angle, and she knew if she moved even the slightest bit, the asshole would either break her arm or dislocate her shoulder.  His weight felt so heavy against her body, Addy was having a hard time catching a full breath in her starving lungs.

The man, no the evil monster, Addy thought, yanked at her tank top until the material gave way and exposed her bare breasts to him.  God, she should have changed or at least put a coat on, something to protect her from what was happening right now.  The feel of his hands roughly grabbing her breasts, cruelly pinching and pulling her nipples registered in her mind before the pain took her breath away. 

“You should have listened, but defiance might have its rewards, after all it has brought us together, right Addison?”  His voice wasn’t familiar, but Addy knew she would hear it for the rest of her life, the menace and cruelty of his words and actions promised scared the shit out of her.  But what the hell was he talking about, listened to what? Her mind wasn’t processing what he was saying because of the pain he was inflicting. She needed to hold it together long enough to figure out what the hell was going on. His vile words and touches kept on coming, and Addy found herself in a place of panic.  Her body was frozen her mind terrified. 

“This body,” he said running his hand down her stomach yanking the string holding her loose pajama pants in place, “might be worth it.”  She felt him tug harshly and then the cold air met her exposed bare flesh.  Grinding his body against her now bare ass, the asshole licked her shoulder and then sunk his teeth into her breaking her skin.  Addy couldn’t help crying out.  It was almost enough to break her, but her she knew what was to come would be far worse.   

“Please, don’t do this,” Addy begged just barely above a whisper.

“Oh, Puta this is going to happen, but no worries you will live to tell the RBMC every detail of what I have done to you in their honor.  You should have listened.”

What, why was he talking about the Motorcycle Club? She didn’t have anything to do with them beyond friendship with some of the guys.  Even her past relationship with Aiden wouldn’t warrant this type of treatment, that was over ten years ago.  She needed to think, she needed to calm down. Shit, she couldn’t wrap her mind around what was happening.   

His forearm pressed into her back as he adjusted his hold, forcing her bare breast onto the cold, unforgiving ground of the barn.  Then she felt it, the one thing she had hoped wouldn’t happen but was, his hand grazed her upper thigh very close to her core.  This man was going to rape her.  Addy tried to force her legs shut, when that didn’t work, she kicked out with them and fought with everything she had.  He only tightened his grip and continued his evil journey with his hand. 

Dear God, no. 

“Fight it, puta,” his gravelly voice came to the forefront of Addy’s terror-stricken mind.  “Let’s make it messy for your boys to see.”  Then he punched her in the side, so hard Addy saw stars. 

Still frozen, detached from what was happening to her, no, she thought she wouldn’t let this happen.  With all of her strength and what little power she had left, she struggled against him.  He told her to fight, and she was going to until her last breath because she would rather die than let this man continue to hurt her.  Her attempts at pulling away only caused the jerk to push her further into the ground causing more damage to her face.  She didn’t care, she would fight.

Addy tried to twist her head to get a look at the man who was hurting her so badly, but should couldn’t see him clearly through the blood and tears in her eyes. If this was her last day on this planet, she was determined to bring him down with her.  Trying to look around for anything to help her, she frantically tried to see something, anything.  

Addy could feel him shift behind her and heard the sound of his belt buckle as he unfastened it.  She was now hyper-alert and aware of every sound that was bringing her closer to what she feared most.  She could hear each and every tine on his zipper as he lowered it and the brush of the fabric on his body as he dropped his pants.  The chant in her mind continued, this isn’t happening, this cannot be happening to me, but it was.

Addy screamed for all she was worth.  In the midst of her screaming, she somehow heard voices and stopped for a few short seconds.  Maybe someone was here to save her, maybe Aiden had come.  No not Aiden, someone else; again, she didn’t know the voice and the words he was saying barely penetrated her mind, but the asshole on top of her wasn’t moving so maybe, just maybe she was saved. 

“Get the fuck off her, asshole. You heard the boss, no permeant damage, she has work to do, and you’re not going to fuck that up.” 

Boss, no permanent damage, shit, she was far from safe.  Addy started to struggle again. The asshole on top of her only ground his hips into her further, closer to violating her further.

 “Oh, come on man, me and Addison are just having a little fun.” He said it like she wanted this, like she had a choice.  Addy screamed again, but the man on her lifted her body and somehow pushed her face further into the ground muffling her cries.

“You heard me, fucker, get off her now.” 

The man who had been holding her down released her arms and got up.  Addy went to scramble away, but the asshole grabbed her by the hair hard and pulled until she was on her knees.  The man standing in front of them was someone she had never seen before; he was smallish, maybe five-foot-nine and had dark, slicked back hair.  He was wearing dirty jeans and a white t-shirt that had seen better days, his face craggy with old pock marks and old acne scars.  But his eyes had to be the coldest Addy had ever seen.  This asshole was not her savior, only a reprieve.

Two more men entered the barn, but Addy paid them little attention. her focus on the person they were dragging.  Shit, Cathy.   

“Oh, I see we have your attention, now, don’t we?”

Addy didn’t say anything just nodded and stared at Cathy.  She didn’t look any better than Addy felt, broken and bruised.  She had a black eye, and her clothes were torn and dirty.  Her mouth was also closed shut with duct tape.  But damn her eyes were telling a story Addy wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Cathy was a strong woman, but whatever these men had done to her had broken her in a way Addy wasn’t sure could ever be fixed.   

“This is what is going to happen Ms. Sinclair, you will fix this mess you have gotten us into or your friend here is going to pay for your little mistake,” the little man ordered.

Cathy was shaking her head no, pleading with Addy with her eyes.  She didn’t want her to do what these men wanted, but Addy knew she was going to.

Addy didn’t have a choice, so all she said was, “What do you need me to do?”

“You will go to the Ruthless Bastards and get the deed to this property back.  Once that is done, you are going to turn it back over to me, I will have the proper paperwork ready.  Since I'm not an unreasonable man,” he laughed, “I will give you twenty-four hours. For every minute you run over that time, Cathy here will be having a little fun with my guys. 

One of the men holding Cathy punched her right in the stomach causing her to bend over in pain.  Addy felt as if the blow had happened to her, and she wanted it all to stop.

“Okay, but if I do this, I want your word that nothing further will happen to her, and once you have those papers, you let us both walk.” 

“Sure, sweetheart, I’m not an unreasonable man, but just to make sure you keep up your end, I’ll leave Ogre here to make sure you follow through. You already tried to double cross us once, can’t have that happen again, now can we?  Just to add a little more incentive why don’t you give Carri Worthington a call and ask her how her car is doing.  I heard she got into quite an accident earlier today; wouldn’t want to have anything else happen to her, now would we?

“Why are you doing this?  It’s just a farm there isn’t anything for you here.”

“That isn’t your problem, Addison, you only need to focus on recovering the deed from the Ruthless Bastards and turning it over to me.  Then all your problems will be over and you can go on with your life.  Don’t do anything stupid or I will let Ogre finish what he started, do you understand?”

Addy nodded. Shit, she needed to figure out how to get both her and Cathy out of this and then make sure Carri was okay.  Carri was her best friend and the one who stuck by her through thick and thin.  It would kill Addy if anything happened to her.  Just knowing that these men knew her name or where she lived was enough to put fear into her heart.

Addy spent the next couple of hours sitting in her kitchen with Ogre staring her down.  The look in his eyes promised horrible things, and she didn’t speak a single word to him.  After a while, it got too much for her.  She needed to clean the blood off her face and body, but was afraid to ask.  Thankfully, another man entered her kitchen.  This man was big, dark, and a little scary, but his eyes didn’t hold the same evil the other men had.  He didn’t speak to her, but spoke directly to Ogre. 

“She needs to clean herself up, and we need to get the equipment on her before she meets with the RBMC.” Ogre didn’t say anything just stared and grunted.  Addy started to squirm in her chair. 

“Get in the shower and get some clean clothes, but leave your shirt and bra off.  Come back when you are done, so we can wire you up with our own little insurance policy.”  Addy stood on shaky legs, thinking if she got to the downstairs’ bathroom, she could make a break for it and get help for Cathy. The new man must have read her mind.

“Upstairs and don’t think about doing anything stupid. We are watching you when you don’t even know it, and that other chick will pay for any wrong move you make.”  Addy nodded her head and started for the door that led out of the kitchen into the living room. Before she made it all the way through, the man said something else that scared her even more if that was possible.

“If you become be a problem, I can always have Ogre here watch you shower and change.  I don’t think he would have a problem watching you get all slicked up and naked.”  Ogre grunted again and started to stand up.  Addy froze, she didn’t want that man anywhere close to her and hoped that she could stop him.

“No, I promise, I won’t be a problem.  I will do as you say.  I swear.”  The new man laughed.

“I figured as much.” Putting his hand on Ogre’s shoulder, he pushed him back down into the chair.  “Guess you’re just going to have to wait a little longer, old man.  Don’t worry once she gets the papers, she is all yours, just have to hang on a little longer to taste that pussy.” 

Addy felt the bile rise in her throat and knew that no matter what she did, she and Cathy wouldn’t get out of this unscathed.  The question was, how much could she take before it broke her completely?  What could she do and still survive? Addy showered, trying to come up with a plan that would save her and Cathy, but she was coming up blank. 

Something else was bothering her, too. Why did these people want the farm?  It didn’t make sense; her family had owned it for generations, it wasn’t good for anything but livestock and crops.  Even if they wanted it to grow something, the fields were already planted for the year. They would have to start from scratch and hope the weather held out, which was a big if.  What exactly were these people after?  She could only come up with one thing, and that was the proximity to the RBMC which bordered her land, but then again, why would that matter?  Tuck and the rest of the guys would already know something was up, especially if she just up and disappeared, turning it over to someone else.  None of this made any sense.

Addy got out of the shower and moaned; damn her whole body hurt.  The blows that man had hit her with and his rough treatment were now becoming more and more apparent.  Walking up to the sink Addy opened the towel wrapped around her body, revealing the bruises she had littering her ribs, stomach, and breasts.  She didn’t want to look lower remembering what almost happened and could happen again. 

Addy didn’t usually wear makeup, but she knew how to put it on. If she had any chance of pulling off what these people wanted, then she needed to get to it because no way would Tuck look at her in her current state and let her say or do anything.  The cut on her forehead was high enough up that her bangs cover it, but just to be safe she applied a small flesh color band-aid and went about covering the rest of the area with foundation.  Addy then applied a thick layer of concealing powder adding even more makeup to her eyes and cheeks, finishing it off with a horrid red lipstick.  She hated the stuff, but this was the only one she had.

Looking in the mirror, she almost cried. She didn’t even look like herself, she looked like a two-dollar whore.  She only hoped that Tuck would ignore her drastic change until she got what she needed.  Turning to her hair, she didn’t do much except brush a comb through it, no sense in completing the package, she thought almost laughing to herself.  Shit, maybe now Whiskey would look at her with more than just hate in his eyes; that thought almost killed her.  What the hell was going on with her mind?  Why Whiskey should play into any of this at all, and yet, she couldn’t help but hope he would come to her rescue and make all of this go away.

Damn, she would need a shrink after all of this.  Doing as she was told, Addy put on her underwear and jeans making sure she only grabbed her most ugly pair.  The pair she held back for that time of the month.  Not that it mattered, but she wouldn’t give Ogre anything else to look at, maybe the grannie panties would dissuade him?  Yeah, wishful thinking.  Addy wrapped the towel around her body and grabbed her t-shirt from the counter.  Time to face the evil men.

Addy walked into her kitchen with her head held high, and her shoulder’s squared.  She would get through whatever happened next and move on, getting through whatever happened after that.  At least that was what she kept on telling herself.  Over and over again in her mind. 

“Ah, Ogre see your new little toy can follow orders. Imagine how fun that will be for you?”  Ogre stood from his chair and walked to Addy ripping the towel from her grasp. 

“Now, she is following orders.”  When his hand came up and twisted Addy’s nipple roughly, she had had to bit her cheek to keep the whimper she felt from passing her lips.  Ogre just laughed and continued to violate her breasts. 

“Enough of that brother, let’s get this shit done.  I have places I need to be.”  The other man walked over and shoved a square plastic thing in the waistband of her pants and ran a wire up in between her breasts. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear.

 “Put your bra on, now.”  Addy quickly dropped her t-shirt and held on to her bra putting it on.  Normally, she would lay it under her breasts twist it backwards and attach the clasps turning it and putting her arms through the straps.  This time Addy put the straps through her arms and awkwardly tried to attach the tiny hooks from behind.  The man pulled her closer and did it himself when she fumbled one too many times.

“Damn, Ogre, might have to have a little taste of this myself if you don’t damage it too badly when she gets back.”  The man said while running his hand over the top of Addy’s breast. She wanted to cringe back and remove his hand, but she did neither of those things.  She stood there and took his filthy touch

Addy wasn’t looking at either man, she was trying to focus on the clock on the wall, anything to trick her brain not to react to these vile people.  She wanted to scream and fight, but she knew she needed to bide her time.  She just needed to make it one more second, one more minute, or one more hour, each tick of the clock was a victory for her. 

Ogre grabbed the hair at the back of Addy’s head and pulled, forcing her to look up into his cold, black eyes. 

“Ah, I might want to keep this toy for a little while, Blank.  Let’s see how good she can obey her new master.”

Ogre pushed Addy to her knees and started to undo his pants with his free hand.  Addy knew what was coming, and even though it disgusted her, if push came to shove she would blow this guy just to get out of the damn house.  Addy closed her eyes and started counting, praying she would make it through the next few minutes.  Then she heard the other man, Blank, laughing.  Damn, there would be no end to her humiliation. She would get through this and move on, like she always had.  Addy hoped that Cathy wasn’t suffering a similar fate.

A phone ringing brought her out of her clouded mind.  The man, Blank, answered while Ogre continued to undue first his belt and then his pants.  Addy could see his springy, dark pubic hair, the slack of his dick.  Addy felt ill, she didn’t want to do this. Everything in her fought against actually going through with giving Ogre a blow job. 

“That was the Prez. He wants her out of here in the next couple of minutes and on her way to the RBMC Clubhouse.  You will just have to play with your little pet later,” he laughed.  Ogre brutally pushed Addy back and walked off saying, “That’s the second time someone has cock blocked me from this bitch, there won’t be a third.” 

Blank started talking, but Addy wasn’t paying any attention to the man.  She was freaked out, and her mind was going a mile a minute.  There was no way out of this.  These people would hurt her and Cathy, regardless of what she did or didn’t do. Blank grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

“Listen up, you little cunt.  With this device, I can hear every word you say.”  He emphasized the fact by tapping the small microphone he had attached to her bra.  “You make one wrong move, and that other bitch is a dead woman.  Go into that Clubhouse and bat your fucking eyelashes or show some ass if you have to and get that deed back.  I'd tell you to flash some tit, but that wouldn’t be such a great idea, now would it?” the asshole had the nerve to laugh at his own joke.  Addy didn’t find it very funny. Addy nodded her head, letting him know she understood, but the lump in her throat prevented her from saying a single word. 

“Remember, Puta, I will be listening to every word you say, and every wrong word will cost your friends something.”

Addy put her t-shirt on over the device and her bra.  She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she had to do something.  The asshole smacked her on her ass and handed her the keys to her truck. 

“Best hurry up now, the Prez isn’t a very patient man.”

Addy walked numbly toward the door.  Once she made it outside, she caught sight of Ogre standing by the open barn door, and it sent a shiver up her spine.  Addy needed to figure out a way out of this for both her and Cathy, but she was coming up with a whole lot of nothing.  Getting into her truck, Addy put the key in the ignition and started it up. Placing the beast in drive, she drove toward the Clubhouse.

She only had minutes to decide what to do, and really, there was only one option.  Addy got out of her truck and walked up the steps leading to the door like she meant to be there.  What she really wanted to do was run crying and beg Tuck to pull her out of this mess, but right now she couldn't bring any attention to herself. 

The Clubhouse was really an old Plantation style mini-mansion.  The place had originally been large, but through the years the MC had added more rooms and space to the old girl.  Addy had always loved the building and property.  Once she got out of her truck, a Prospect came right up to her, asked who she was and what her business here was.  Addy had only come to the Clubhouse a couple of times and had never once been inside.  Not that she hadn't been invited, she had, but with her memories of Whiskey, she just couldn’t do it.  Now she wanted to see what went on behind those closed doors for herself. 

Living in Defiance all her life she had heard the stories, their parties were legendary in the area. Add in all the sex, and the house held a place of infamy in Defiance.  More than one groupie had spilled her guts about the no-holds-barred sex that went on in this place.  Orgy was too small of a word for what they said happened.  Members of the RBMC openly had sex with the Club Puppets or whoever else they wanted within those walls.  Twosomes, threesomes, and more.  Oral, vanilla, or kinky, anything and everything went on beyond those doors.  If you didn’t like it, then it was simple, stay the hell out. 

Until this moment, Addy had never once wanted to go inside.  Tuck the President was a good man, she liked him and several of the other guys, but she didn’t want to risk ever seeing Whiskey with another woman.  Knowing it happened and often, was enough, seeing it, she wouldn’t live through it.  There was still a part of her that longed to have her Aiden back.  A part of her that knew he would always be the only man for her.  It didn’t make sense, and it didn’t have to, it was just what it was. 

The Prospect came back and told her to go on in. Her body was stiff, and she hoped that Tuck would be waiting for her; he wasn’t, Whiskey was.  Damn it.

He stood in the middle of a large room. There were a few of tables and a long bar off to the side, couches and chairs all over the large space.  But what really caught her attention was how dirty the place was.  As she walked across the floor, her tennis shoes stuck to it and she had to work a little harder to lift her legs.  A couple of people lingered at the bar, and a few women were sitting at one of the tables.  All the windows were covered and only artificial light.  That worked well for what she was planning to do. 

Whiskey stood still as a statue in the middle of the room not saying a word, but Addy couldn’t deal with him right now.  She needed the past to stay there just a little while longer, so she could get through with what needed to be done.  She needed to talk to Tuck, or God forbid, Link.  Addy made it within five feet of Whiskey and stopped.

“I need to speak to Tuck.  Is he here?”  Praying he was because she was sure Lincoln Frost wouldn’t give her a glass a drink of water if she were in hell. 

“He's busy, but you and I have quite a few things I think we need to discuss, don’t you Addison?”

“No, Whiskey,” she said with disdain, “the talking we had to do should have happened ten years ago, not now, probably not ever.”  Addy didn’t know where her attitude was coming from.

She could do what she planned on doing to Tuck, but Aiden, no Whiskey, pushed every button Addy ever had, and she just couldn’t help herself. Addy seemed to always be on the defense with him. She also didn’t want the douche bags listening in on the other end of the wire in her bra to hear what Whiskey had to say. 

By the grace of a higher power, she was saved from having to saying anything else because Tuck and Link walked in from a hallway she hadn’t noticed in her quick perusal of the Clubhouse.  Turning towards Tuck, Addy lifted her t-shirt showing him the wire.

“I need you to sign the deed to the farm back over to me, I’ve changed my mind.” 

If circumstances were different, Addy might have been embarrassed showing every person in the room her bra covered boobs, but damn this was the only thing she could come up with on her short drive over here.  She wouldn’t be one of those girls that thought she could save the world by herself.  Hell no! The men in the Club were far more capable of getting Cathy and her out of this mess. 

Tuck looked at her with shock on his face, his eyes going from the wire at her waist to the microphone in her granny bra, then to her face where he only looked at her quizzically.  Link looked at her like she was Medusa; no change there, he always looked at her like she was evil incarnate, the jerk.  That man would always be a problem for her.  He might have respected her grandfather, but she sure as hell didn’t have any of that respect.  Addy kind of thought he hated all women.  Well, that wasn’t true, he didn’t have a problem using women, he just didn’t like them very much.

Whiskey, who she had been ignoring, started to say, “What…” but Tuck stopped him before he could get a word out by only holding up his hand and making several other gestures. Tuck came closer and looked at the wire.  It took a couple of minutes, but he seemed satisfied with what he saw.  What that was Addy had no clue.  He stood up and stepped back, made a few more hand gestures that got everyone in the room moving.

“I don’t know if I can do that, Addy, the paperwork was taken to the courthouse yesterday.  I’ll make a couple of calls and see if it can even be stopped.  Why don’t you have a seat at the bar and I’ll go to my office and see what I can do?” Addy nodded her head, but quickly remembered the damn wire and the people listening.

“Okay Tuck, please try, I really need the deed back.”  She tried to sound firm, but the last couple of hours were wearing on her.  Addy had so much to tell these people, but she didn’t have the first clue on how she was going to do it.  She didn’t know any Spidey hand gestures, and she didn’t even have her purse so she could write it out or fucking text it out on her phone. 

Tuck took her arm and led her to the bar where a crisp white pad of paper and a pen was sitting on the counter top.  There was only one line of text, write out everything that has happened.  Before he could walk away, Addy grabbed Tuck's arm and wrote in big bold letters, THEY HAVE CATHY, AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE CRANK IS.

Tuck looked at her in shock, it took him a couple of seconds, but then he nodded laying the pad of paper back down on the bar, turned, and left the room.  Addy wasn’t sure what she had wanted him to do.  Hug her, because damn, she really needed a hug about now, or make a scene, but the man was calm under pressure, unlike Addy.  He only tapped the paper looked her right in the eye winked and walked away like this was just another day.

Most of the men who had been in the room disappeared down the hall Tuck and Link had come out of, and Addy sat on that bar stool and wrote everything she could remember.  Every detail of the night before and what had happened just this morning in her house.  She also wrote about all the shit that had been happening, and why she tried to give the farm to the RBMC.  She also apologized for putting her crap right in their laps. 

When she would finish a page, the Prospect behind the bar would take the pad of paper and replace it with another one.  This process went on for about twenty minutes.  Addy hoped and assumed that the Prospect, someone she had never meet before, was taking the sheets to Tuck.  Shit, right about now, she didn’t even care if he was taking them to Link, she was that desperate.

When she was done, and there wasn’t anything else to write, she asked the Prospect for a bottle of water.  Her voice came out scratchy, and she had to clear her throat before the words came out so he could understand her.  When he brought the water back, Addy took a drink, and the cool water helped some of the pain in her throat and nausea in her stomach.  Addy prayed she had done the right thing.  She still didn’t see another way around it.  If she complied with those people's demands, she and Cathy would be dead, she knew that for a fact.

Chapter 8

“Listen up motherfuckers, I want Link and Tank to go find Crank.  He and Cathy were supposed to be spending the week doing shit at their house.  I wasn’t expecting to hear from him until the weekend.  I want to know where he is and what shape he’s in.  No way would he let some fucker take Cathy without taking his last breath.  Brass, get all non-essentials out of here, but do it through the back.  I don’t want these fuckers suspecting anything.  If they are listening in on Addy, then chances are they are also watching the Clubhouse, I’m not taking any chances.  Tal, do what you do best and hack the shit out of this mess, figure out who we are dealing with and why.  Call Peyton if you have to.  I don’t give a fuck if I owe NAC or not. 

Whiskey was standing there waiting for his orders.  He needed to do something before he exploded.  Addison had bruises all over her body, well at least all the parts he had seen, and that was enough to send him into a red-hewed rage.  He wanted blood. No one had the right to put their hands on Addison.  She was his whether she agreed or not.   He also needed to keep his shit together, or Tuck would pull him off of this all together, and that wasn’t going to fucking happen.

“From what Addy is saying, these assholes are from a Club.  They weren’t wearing their cuts or any colors that she noticed, but she stated that they used road names and called each other Brother.  They also mention a president.  Either that or they are playing some kind of game and trying to throw her or us off track on who they really are.  Their demand of the Sinclair Farm makes no sense except for its location to us.  Addy hasn’t been associated with the Club, but Cathy is Cranks Old Lady, and that makes this a Club problem.  Bigger fucking question, what happened to Crank? We don't leave Brothers behind.  These fuckers attacked family, and I for one will not stand for that.”  Everyone in the room loudly echoed the same feelings. 

 “That could be one reason, another one could be the caves.  You said Hank noticed activity and shit happening a while ago on the south side of the farm.  The only thing over there is the pond and further back the caves. The caves are a perfect place to hide shit you don’t want others to see.  It also opens a route out of the county if you know the layout.  Pop is dead and to my knowledge, that only leaves me, Whisk, Talon, Addy, and whoever she told about the caves,” Link spoke up

 “That’s not true, man.  There is one more person who knows those caves better than we do. Jaime,” Talon disagreed.

“Son-of-a-bitch, I haven’t thought of that asshole in years,” Link replied.  “Where the fuck is he and where has he been?  The last time I heard about his ass, he was serving a dime up at Big Sandy.  I haven’t heard anything else about him since, and that was right before I joined up.” 

“Someone will have to talk to Addy and see if he has contacted her,” Whiskey stated.

 “I don’t think Addy has heard from him.  When she was having all that trouble with the farm back in high school, I asked her about the possibility of him helping her out.  She said he called a couple of times asking for money.  She didn’t have any, so he got pissed.  I think that was the end of it.” Tank the bastard just had to put in his two cents. Whiskey had just about enough of the bastard’s interference.  It also pissed him off that as far as Addy was concerned Tank seemed to know more about her, then he did. 

“Yeah, well, chicks don’t always tell it like it is where family is concerned. Jamie is her brother, she has more loyalty to him than any of us.  We need to know if she’s been in contact.  I’ve heard some shit through the years, and I think he linked up with the Vultures.  I need you to confirm that Tal, but if that’s the case, then this just turned into war.”  Tuck wrote some shit down on the pad of paper and walked to the door, handing it to Creed who was standing outside guarding the door. 

Whiskey wanted to scream at the fuckers in the room.  Addy was one of the most honest people he knew, if Jamie were causing this shit, she would have said so.  Jaime had been a part of their little tribe growing up, but there was something that was always off about him.  The dude had a bigger chip on his shoulder then Whisk did, and he could never figure that out.  Pop took care of those kids like they were his own.  They had to work on the farm, but they never wanted for anything.  Jamie just always thought he was entitled to more.  Addison was the complete opposite, she always strived to help others before she helped herself, it was just her nature.  But, fuck him, if Jamie was involved with Satan’s Vultures then this really would be war.  The Vultures were the type of people that the RBMC put down or got put away. 

“I can’t keep Addy out there much longer without whoever is listening in getting suspicious, but we need to discuss another matter; it might be related, or it might just be coincidence.  I don’t believe in coincidences, so it needs to be checked out. 

“Agent Rutherford Raimes is our new FBI contact, and two days ago he approached me and said we needed to lay off anything that came up in our territory for the next couple of weeks.  I told him where he could stick his orders. The fucker was none too happy.  He is new and trying to push his weight around, I figured he just needed time to see how to deal with us. Now we have this shit going on.  Makes me think there is a lot more going on right under our fucking noses than any of us knows of and that pisses me the fuck off.”

“Tal, once we figure out this fucking mess at our door, I want you to run everything you have on this little pissant.  I want to know who is pulling his string or if he’s working alone.  I want everything got me?”

“Understood.”

“Whisk, take two prospects and check out those caves.  I want to know if there is or has been any recent activity in them.  I also want you to map them out. We need to know if the routes are even viable.  I can’t believe I have lived here almost my entire life, and this is the first fucking time I’m hearing about caves routes in our fucking backyard.”

“Shit, man, it’s not like that, Pop showed us all as kids,” Whisk said.  “He also told us we couldn’t tell anyone about them because he was afraid of kids going back there to party and getting hurt.  He already had enough problems with the kids that snuck into the pond.  When we got older, we all helped keep people out, but it wasn’t until the Club bought this property, that the trespassing stopped.  And, fuck man, I haven’t even thought about those caves since I was a kid.”  Talon and Link echoed his response.

“Yeah,” Link continued, “Pop showed us, and we played back there, but without him, we always ended up getting lost.  It was cool for a little while, but if you didn’t watch out, then the place was a disaster waiting to happen.  Shit, I don’t know how many times I came back with cuts on every part of my body just trying to get back out into the light of day.  Tal even fell in one of the holes, and we had to get Pop to pull him out; shit, he had to of been down there for hours.” 

“Yeah,” Tal laughed a little, “I was about ten and scared to death.  Pop came, pulled me out, and then beat my ass for scaring him.  I remember I was pissed, shit, I was already hurt.  A couple of days later he came and got me, and we boarded up a couple of the entrances and then covered them with rocks and planted bushes.  The old man explained he was sorry that he beat my ass, but he was sorrier that he had ever shown us the caves.  He even cried a little when he explained that it would kill him if something happened to one of us because of something he had shown us.  I never went back.” 

“Whisk, do you remember how to get to those caves?” 

“Yeah, I remember, I wasn’t as respectful as Tal when I was younger.  Pop never beat my ass, but I remember him telling us to stay away after Tal got hurt, I just didn’t listen.  I’ll take one of the ATV’s and scope it out and report back, but I need to talk to Addison first.” 

“No can do, Brother. Addy is off limits until we have Cathy and Crank back.  That girl is out there trying to maintain her cover, and I won’t let you blow that because you have suddenly decided that she means something to you, again.  Once we have our people back, then you can talk to her all you want because she won’t be this Club’s problem anymore.”

“What the hell do you mean she won’t be this Club’s problem anymore? Addy is family.  She has been a part of everyone lives in this room for as long as I can remember.  What the fuck are you going to do?”

“Exactly what I said. Addy isn’t Club.  She hasn’t asked for our protection and doesn’t get it under the bylaws.  The most we can do is keep an eye out for any trouble coming her way, but if this shit goes back to her brother, then that’s on her.”

“You’re a cold motherfucker, Tuck,” Tank said.  “How can you throw that girl out after learning all this? She has always had the Club’s back, did whatever we asked of her and kept her mouth shut.”

Whiskey moved toward his President and friend.  He was going to beat the shit out of him for even thinking about putting Addison out.  Some of the other said things, but Whiskey was so filled with rage, he didn’t hear any of them.  It wasn’t until Link’s fucking, big ass arm landed around his throat and stopped him from going forward, that he even stopped. 

“Listen up assholes,” Tuck said.  “I don’t want anything to happen to Addy either, but unless one of you fuckers want to claim her…” Whiskey started to answer, but Tuck held up his hand and continued to talk, “and she accepts the claim, the Club’s hands are tied.  She will be treated like the civilian she is, do you understand?”

 “I claim her, and she will accept my claim by the time we have Crank and Cathy back I guaran-damn-tee it,” Whiskey didn’t even think, just blurted out.

Tuck had the nerve to smile.

“Okay, see to it, then.  Now, everyone, get the fuck out of here and find our people. Do what you have to do to bring them back safe.  Live free or die trying.”  All the Brothers echoed his words and left the room.

Whiskey shook Link’s hold off of him and exited the room, but Tuck stopped him, “Listen up, Whisk, you and Addy had a fucked-up history, and if you think that girl is just going to fall at your feet, you have another think coming.  But, I stand by what I said, if she isn’t claimed, then we can’t do anything, but watch out for her.  Maybe you should think about this shit before you make a bad situation even worse.  Addy wanted to go to Lexington when all this started, maybe letting her go with the best thing for everyone involved?”

All Whiskey said was, “No.”  When Link opened his mouth up, Whiskey got right in his face.

 “It’s time for you to listen up, big brother. As the VP of this Club, you have my loyalty, but that is it.  I will live and die for this Club, but your days of messing around in my life are over.  You had no right to do what you did to Addison and me, and even if she found it in her heart to forgive you, I never will.  Keep your mouth shut and stay the hell out of my personal business.  Addy is mine. I shouldn’t have listened to you ten years ago, and I sure as hell won’t listen to anything you have to say about it, now.”

With those words Whiskey stormed out of Church, he was done.  He had a job to do and a woman to win.  Only one of those tasks would be easy.

Chapter 9

Addy had been sitting at the bar for what seemed like forever.  The last thing she was asked was about her brother and whether she had heard from him.  She hadn’t; Jamie was a piece of shit, always had been, always would be.  He was never happy, always wanting more, but not willing to do the work to get it.  Shit, even as a child he would have rather stolen than work for anything.  By the time he was a teenager, he had gotten himself into bigger and worse trouble until he wound up in prison. 

In the last ten years, she had heard from him twice, both times he demanded money from his portion of the farm.  The first time Addy had laughed because his portion, even if he was entitled to one, was more debt than dollars.  The second time she was too numb to even respond and just hung up on his ass.  If she hadn’t, Jamie would have ranted for hours on how he had been wronged and everyone else took advantage of him.  Addy couldn’t take it anymore, so she stopped taking his calls.

He had always been that way, blaming others for his problems.  When their parents died in a car accident and they went to live with Pop, he blamed him for them being gone.  Addy loved Pop, but Jaime hated him; it was a constant push and pull until finally Addy just gave up.  It made their lives a living hell.  When he had taken off at seventeen, Addy had been happy and Pop seemed relieved, there just wasn’t anything either of them could have done to make Jaime happy. 

Looking around Addy spotted Reagan; she was a beautiful woman, sweet as can be, and good to her very core.  Addy watched her friend rushing around the room trying to clean things up.  But as soon as she would pick up something, someone else would lay something else down.  Addy also noticed the sneers and verbal barbs some of the people in the room were giving her sweet friend.  She wanted to get up and defend her, but she knew it wasn’t her place and could cause more harm than good, at this point. 

Addy admired Reagan’s sun-kissed skin, light brown hair, and copper cat eyes. She always thought she looked mystical like a fairy princess with the personality to go with the looks.  Addy always thought she should be in a little house with a white picket fence, caring for her prince charming and two-point-five kids, not living at the MC trading sex for a place to live.  She didn’t judge and never would, to each their own and all that, but Addy had hoped Reagan would have come to her is she was in trouble.  Then again, look where she was sitting; maybe this was the place to go when everything when to shit. 

Reagan's family was bad news, and even though Addy didn’t have all the details, she knew something horrible had happened that forced Reagan’s hand.  She also knew deep down, Reagan didn’t want to put Addy in the line of fire if things went bad.  Now, Addy wondered if she was any different from Reagan because the moment she got into trouble, she was beating down the MC’s door herself.  What would she be willing to do to save herself and Cathy from what those men promised?  The answer, pretty much anything.

Addy was getting madder by the second, the days and nights events catching up to her, but watching the Caddy women treat Reagan so poorly was getting to her.  Val and her tribe of vipers were leading the charge, even dumping shit on the floor just to antagonize Reagan further.  Addy had always hated Val, she was and always would be a mean girl.  There were many times that Addy just wanted to punch her face in.  Having lived in Defiance all her life, she knew the dynamic of the MC; several of the women were Puppets, Club property, but many of them were hanger-ons, women who came out to get the thrill of banging a biker and then went back to their normal lives.

Val and her crew were hangers-ons with a twist.  People who came to the Club to fuck and party.  She and Link had been hooking up since high school.  Val was married to a man that came from the wealthier side of the tracks, like Val’s entire family, but when she wanted to slum, she always came to the MC and acted like she owned the place.  The one thing that Addy and many others couldn’t figure out was why the Brothers in the MC allowed it.  Link was the Vice President, but he hadn’t claimed Val in any way other than to fuck her.  Cathy was an Old Lady and a good friend, so Addy knew how the Club worked from the outside looking in; then again, none of this was her business, and she knew it.

Val had just pushed and an entire bottle of red wine off the table and onto the floor right in front of Reagan.  Addy had had enough she got up from the stool she was sitting on and was just about to make her way over to the that fucking table and teach Valerie Haslet some manners.  Thankfully, Tuck walked in from the hallway he had disappeared into a while ago.

“I hope you're planning on cleaning that mess up sweetheart?”

The bitch-incarnate’s entire demeanor changed. She was beside herself trying to talk to Tuck.

“Of course, I am so sorry, I’m just so clumsy sometimes.”  She was batting her eyelashes and sticking her perky, doctor-made breasts out for all she was worth. Addy had to laugh at the display.  When Tuck turned away without saying a word, Addy looked right at the evil bitch and wasn’t surprised to see the same venom she always did, she and Val hated each other to the core.

Tuck didn’t notice the quiet underplay going on between her and Val or didn’t comment, Addy didn’t know and didn’t care.

“Addy, I got a hold of our lawyer, he said the papers are already down at county, but he would do his best to stop them from being processed.  Unfortunately, he has to be in court, so that will take some time.  If you want to head home, I can bring them by later if he gets them or you can hang out here?  If you hang here, I’ll have to ask you to hang out in one of the rooms, the Club is off limits to civilians except on Friday’s, okay?”

Addy had been watching Tuck carefully, he was saying more with his eyes than just the words that came out of his mouth.  He wanted her to stay, and she sure as hell was going to, but he also wanted her out of the view and hearing of his Club.  She could understand that, she kind of hoped he put her in a room with no windows and a big steel door

“I will stay here if that is okay, I really need those papers,” surprised her voice came out clear

“You got it, sweetheart, follow me.”

Addy followed Tuck upstairs, she assumed it was where the Brothers had rooms.  Maybe they had guest rooms. She didn’t want to think about what had gone on in any of the rooms or what still might be going on.  She wasn’t a germaphobe or anything, but she wondered what kind of scene a black light would produce.  The MC reputation was legendary.  The upstairs wasn’t as messy as the downstairs, but it was still far from clean. 

Tuck stopped at a door and then unlocked it; it didn’t take Addy long to figure out where she was, Whiskey’s room.  It smelled like him, a scent she would never forget even after all this time, woodsy with just enough musk to make her panties wet.  Damn, she needed to get it together.

“Stay here, okay? There is a stereo over there, play some music and just hang out for a while.  I will come and get you as soon as I hear back from our Lawyer.”  Addy didn’t ask any questions or say a word. No way was she going to let Blank and Ogre hear where she was or how it was affecting her.  Tuck nodded, turned, and walked out the door. Addy didn’t miss the scrape of the key in the door knob or the click of the lock engaging.  Tuck had sealed her in tight.

Looking around the room, she noticed it wasn’t as messy as the rest of the Clubhouse. The bed wasn’t made, and there were a few odds and ends on the tables beside the huge-assed bed.  The trash can was full, and there were clothes on the floor, but other than that, not too bad.  There was a big, flat screen tv in front of the bed and a chest of drawers underneath it.  At first, she didn’t know what to do, she didn’t want to invade Aiden’s space, but it looked like she didn’t have a choice. 

She walked over to the door opposite of the one she just came through and found a closet.  Before she could stop herself, Addy had stepped forward, grabbing the sleeve of a leather jacket and brought it to her nose.

Fuck, this was almost too much after everything else.  Forcing herself back out of the closet, Addy closed the door and walked to the only other door she hadn’t open.  Opening it, she found the bathroom, nothing special, but a clean enough tub, toilet, and sink.  Addy wanted to take a bath, her body ached from the abuse she had been gone through, but she knew that wouldn’t happen without taking off the wire.  She didn’t know if she could do that without causing more problems, so she left the bathroom and sat on the bed.  Soon sitting became laying, then cuddling into the blankets. With Aiden’s scent and things around her, the last thing Addy felt and thought before sleep took her away was that she was safe.

Chapter 10

Whiskey felt like a red-hot demon, he was so pissed. The only other time in his life he felt this was when the booze he was named after ran through his veins.  It was like a trigger had been switched, and he was someone else, mean, mad, and a bit psychotic.  Tuck and Link thought to push Addison out to fend for herself. Well fuck them, they had another think coming because that wouldn’t happen. He had a mission, and he would complete it then go back and claim his woman.  Addy might put up a fight, but he didn’t care, this was how it was always supposed to be and would have been if people would have minded their own business.

Shit, even in his rage he knew that wasn’t the truth, he had fucked-up back then, but he wouldn’t do it again.  Addy was safe. He knew that for the time being, Tuck would protect her, and he was okay with that, for now.  Creed and Slim were following him through the back of the MC property.  It would take longer to get to the caves, but he needed to keep his shit together another mile, and then they would need to set out on foot.  Whiskey didn’t want to take a chance in alerting anyone that might be at the caves to their arrival.

Parking the ATV, he signaled the other two men to do the same. Turning off the engine, Whiskey got off and took in his surroundings, everything was quiet. They were far enough from the caves not to draw attention, but close enough to observe any disturbances in the land.  This part of the farm was wooded, and Whiskey noticed right off the lack of any noise, no birds, insects, or anything else.  It could be because of the ATV’s, but he doubted it; waiting a little longer, there still were no sounds. 

All the men in the MC were ex-military, they could communicate without the use of words.  With a few flicks and gestures of his hands, he could let the guys know they were continuing on foot, but needed to be watchful, something was off.  Whiskey felt it, but couldn’t put his finger on it.  The closer they got to the cave the more concerned he became, there were tracks everywhere in the loose dirt.  Several different tire tracks and even more footprints littered the area.  Whoever had been back here wasn’t trying to be careful, and that didn’t bode well for them. 

Crouching down, Whiskey signaled Slim and Creed to branch off and recon the area.  The area was quiet, and he didn’t detect any movement, but that didn’t mean that someone wasn’t in the cave.  Inching closer, he waited and watched, still nothing.  About five minutes in, he heard a very human grunt and soon after a groan.  Someone was definitely in the cave.  Whiskey pulled his 1911 Colt 45 from his side holster and continued his slow advance on the cave.

Creed was coming in on the opposite side of him, but didn’t pay the man any more attention. They were trained for this shit, and he trusted Creed to do what he was supposed to if the situation warranted it.  Getting to the lip of the cave, Whiskey hung back, listening; there were two possibly three men standing, talking, taunting, and laughing at the man he assumed was the person who had groaned.  Years of training allowed him to visualize the cavern without stepping foot in the place. 

The voices allowed him to determine where everyone was standing. At the mention of Cathy’s name and some crude comments on what the fuckers planned on doing to her, Whiskey stood, stepped into the opening and fired, downing two of the men before they even realized what was going on.  The third man started yelling, but Creed quickly took him out.  Whiskey walked further into the cave and saw something he hoped he never would again in his life.

Crank was bound and gagged with cuts and bullet holes in his body.  The fuckers had done a real number on his friend, his friend that wasn’t moving and was breathing shallow breaths.  He needed to get him out of here and to help, ASAP.  Whiskey was aware of his surroundings, but was depending on Creed and Slim to scope out any threats.  Whether in the service or the MC you had to be able to count on your Brothers having your back, so business could be taken care of without worrying who was coming up on your six.

Creed called the all clear, but Whiskey still felt like something was off, they needed to move and move quickly.  Whiskey pulled his Bowie knife out of his boot and freed Crank then picked the behemoth up in a fireman’s carry and made tracks out of the cave.  Whiskey just hoped he was doing the right thing that Crank held on long enough to get him some help.  Whiskey looked back, Creed and Slim were right on his heels.

“Blow the entrance, I don’t want any of those fuckers coming out again.  Take pictures of the fallen and anything else, but blow the fucker up sky high, understand?” Whiskey ordered, making a split-second decision

Creed and Slim didn’t question him just turned back and did as he asked.  As one of the Enforcers, it was his job to protect the Club, and he took that shit seriously.  They needed to buy some time and blowing this fucker up would provide that.  Moving back to the ATV Whiskey moved at a steady pace, but nowhere near as fast as he would without 280 lbs. of dead weight on his shoulder.  He kept on talking to Crank, but not once did the man answer him back.

Once he made it to the ATVs, he laid Crank down and did another assessment of the man’s condition.  His pulse was weak and thready, and some of his wounds were open and spewing blood.  Grabbing the med kit attached to the ATV, he made quick work of patching up Crank the best he could. He knew he couldn’t help him much with the supplies he had on hand, but hoped it was enough to get him back to the Clubhouse for proper care.  Once he was satisfied with the job he had done, he called Tuck and advised him of what had happened. 

Tuck was all business, acknowledged his report and ordered him and the others to come back to base.  As soon as Whiskey hung up the phone, the compression of the blast nearly knocked him over. Shit, those boys didn’t mess around with the explosives, they probably took down half the cave instead of just blocking off the entrance.  Fuck.  Whiskey moved Crank onto the ATV, it wouldn’t be a pleasant ride for the man, but it would be quick.  Before he started the ATV, Creed and Slim ran into the area with big-ass grins on their faces.  Fuck, these guys were green.

“Now that you have alerted the whole county of what the hell is going on, get on your ATV and get the out of here.  Split up. I’m taking Crank directly to the Clubhouse, you fuckers are a diversion if anyone was close enough to hear that shit, understand?”

Both men nodded, no longer smiling.

Whiskey didn’t take his time getting back to the Clubhouse, pushing the ATV as fast as he could.  He hoped that Crank held on long enough to get him home.  Pulling right up to the back door, Whiskey noticed that Tuck was standing there with the doors open, a gurney at the door, and Doc was also waiting.  As soon as he pulled up, both men moved forward and retrieved Crank placing him on the gurney.  Doc assessed him while Tuck moved the stretcher into the building.  Whiskey took a couple of seconds to just take a breath. Things were about to get worse for the RBMC.

Whiskey parked the ATV and went into the Clubhouse.  The place was deserted, there wasn’t a single person in the front room, not that he had expected there to be; Tuck had issued his orders, and they had been carried out.  Whiskey was tempted to search out Addison, but refrained, other things needed to be done first.  Walking down the hall, he entered the room Talon called mission control.  The room was on the interior of the Clubhouse, no windows and only one door in and out. 

The room was bare, except the plethora of monitors, keyboards, and other technical equipment, several chairs, the desks, not much else.  Trigger was on monitoring duty. Whiskey stepped forward and watched the monitors showing every angle of the RBMC Clubhouse.  The parking lot was full of cages and bikes, but Whiskey knew the people had been ushered out without their rides.

Noticing nothing out of the ordinary, he was about to ask about the other teams when his eye caught one of the monitors that showed the back of the property.  Link was running up to the back entrance like the hounds of hell were after him, a small covered bundle in his arms, Tank close at his heels, moving just as fast. 

Whiskey took off at a run out of Mission Control. He was just able to open the door when Link and Tank barreled in.  Link started yelling for Doc as soon as the door closed.  It wasn’t Doc that came running in, but Tuck.  “Shit, what happened?” 

Link was talking a mile a minute.  “Shit man, we didn’t find Crank, but fuck man, those fuckers did a number on Cathy.  She needs Doc, I don’t know what all the have done to her man, but it is fucking bad.”

“Come on.” All of them started toward the rooms that had been made into a small infirmary.  Link gently laid Cathy down, but didn’t let her go.  Whiskey had medic training just like all the guys, but with the way Link was standing guard over Cathy, he couldn’t get anywhere near her to assess the situation.  Cathy was wrapped in the blanket with only her one arm and hand sticking out and from the looks of it, if the rest of her body was just as bad, then they were all in trouble.

Link had a look of cold fury in his eyes that Whiskey had only seen a few of times in his life.  He was on the edge of losing it and fast.  Someone needed to get his ass under control and get him the hell out of the room before he exploded.  Thankfully, he wasn’t the one who had to do it; Tuck grabbed his shoulder and made him look him in the eyes, “How bad is it?” 

“Fuck man, they, shit, I don’t know all they did to her, but it’s bad, real bad.  Doc needs to take a look. There isn’t a part of her that isn’t battered or bruised, but fuck man she fought.  Those fuckers looked just as bad as she did before I blew their fucking brain’s out.  Shit man, she passed out calling for Crank right before we got here. What the hell are we going to do?

“Crank’s going to be fine and taking care of his women before you know it. Doc is working on him now.  You need to call Katie and get her ass over here to take care of Cathy.  Let me and Whiskey take a look and see what we can do, but Doc is busy with Crank, so make that call Link, and then we will meet up and figure out what our next move is, all right?” 

Whiskey knew one of them could have called Katie, fuck, he was pretty sure that Brass was already texting her, but Tuck was giving Link a job so he could get himself back under control.  His brother might be one of the biggest asses on the planet, but seeing women beaten and bruised tore him up like nothing else. 

When Link finally relented, let go of Cathy’s hand, and walked out the door.  Whiskey pulled the blanket back and saw what nightmares were made of; those fuckers had not only beat her, but branded and stabbed her.  Her body was a mix of bruises, welts, and cuts.  There was so much blood, he didn’t even know where it all was coming from.  Shit, they needed to get her to a hospital, they were not equipped to handle this on their own.

“Prez,” Whiskey said. The tone of his voice must have triggered something in the man, or he was now focusing on Cathy’s exposed body because he started barking orders. 

“Creed, get one of the fucking SUV’s and bring it around back.  Whisk get on the phone and call Talon. We need him to make private arrangements at Defiance General, then call Katie and have her make arrangements with that Doctor we used a while back for Gypsy.  Have them fuckers waiting at the door for her and Creed to arrive.  Tell her I will be there as soon as I can.” 

Whiskey wanted to say that they probably shouldn’t move her, but Tuck beat him to it.

“The damage is already done, this is the fastest way to get her the help she needs.  Once Crank is awake, he’ll want to know we did everything we could for her, and I won’t disappoint him.  Now, get it done.”

Whiskey did a quick assessment and gave Cathy some basic first aid, it wouldn’t help, but he needed to do something.  He knew for a fact that one of her wrists was broken and at least a few of her ribs were either broken, cracked, or bruised.  It looked like her torso and face took most of the damage, but that wasn’t saying much because she had damage everywhere. He hoped like hell that his Brother and Creed had made the fuckers who did this to her pay and pay painfully. 

Cathy was a good Old Lady. She had Crank had been together for years, starting their relationship while they were both still in the service.  Cathy was one badass chick, and he had to wonder what the hell had happened to her dogs; those fuckers were trained to kill with a simple one-word command.  How had the fuckers who had gotten her and Crank made it by the dogs?  It didn’t make any sense.

Creed pulled up to the door, and Whiskey helped place Cathy in the back of the SUV.  Creed had put the seats down and created a little bed in the back for her so they could still keep her in a prone position. Whiskey was just about to jump in the back when Link surprised him by coming out of nowhere pushing him out of the way and climbing in next to Cathy.  Whiskey watched in surprise as Link took Cathy's hand in his.

“I have this, go take care of your woman.”

Link could be an epic bastard, and even though the word woman came out of his mouth with the slightest hint of disgust, he knew his brother meant what he said.  He might not like it, but he was starting to accept that Addison would be his woman and a part of his life for many years to come.

Whiskey watched as Creed and his brother pulled away with Cathy.  He hoped the best for the woman he considered a friend, but feared the worst.  This whole situation was fucked. How the hell had these people come so close to the RBMC and the territory, and them not know anything about it?  They owned this town, or at least, shit, thought they did. They needed to reevaluate friend from foe.

Whiskey walked back through the door and right into his President.  Tuck held them all together, but when he was pissed, the dude was one scary motherfucker.  Whiskey knew from personal experience that he had earned his place in the Club by being one of the baddest fuckers around.  Tuck was easy going until shit hit the fan and then watch the hell out because he could unleash hell like no other.

“I put Addy in your room. You need to get that wire and make her understand what is at stake here.  I don’t want anything to happen to her, but I meant what I said, if she doesn’t agree to your claim, then she is out.  I will give you until morning, but then I expect to see both of you with her answer.  We have an obligation to our members and their women, and from the looks of it, we are falling down on the job.  That doesn’t sit well with me.  The people committed to this Club and our lives have to be our priority, get me?”

“Yeah,” Whiskey didn’t like it, but he understood.  They had all failed Cathy and Crank.  Somewhere, they had let their guard down and not protected the people that meant the most to them, and that shit needed to end now.  Whiskey would make sure that Addison was one of those people, and if anyone didn’t like it, too fucking bad.

“Understood Prez, keep me updated. I will have your answer by morning.”

Walking to his room at the Clubhouse, Whiskey was full of apprehension, the next few minutes would seal Addison’s fate.  If she accepted his proposal, she would be safe and under the Club’s protection; if she declined, she would likely lose her life or at the very least, her sanity if the Vultures ever got a hold of her.  Shit, Cathy was one tough woman, and she was on the verge of breaking right before their eyes because of the things she had endured in little over a day’s time. 

Whiskey couldn’t figure out why Tuck was doing this shit; he knew the man didn’t believe in hurting women, but that was what he would be doing if he turned Addison out.  The question was why? The Club often helped out people in need who had no affiliation with the Club. Whiskey just couldn’t figure out why he was treating Addison differently.  Had she done something against the Club or Tuck himself to cause the man to turn his back on her when the Club and Tuck himself had watched out for Addison all these years? And, if she had, why didn’t Whiskey know anything about it?

Brass was following behind him, and the typically vocal Brother was unusually quiet, only adding to Whiskey’s confusion.  Something more than he knew was going on with the Club, and it pissed him off even more.  He was an Enforcer, loyal to the Club and had been for many years.  Why was he being left in the dark about something that was obviously so major that had everyone walking around on eggshells, but only around him?  Shit, all questions for another day; Tuck demanded that he have Addison’s agreement by morning, and he would make sure that happened whether she liked it or not.

Holding up his hand to stop Brass, Whiskey unlocked his door and stepped inside only to push the door closed and locking it again.  He needed to get the wire off of Addison and hand it off to Brass, then he and Addison Sinclair had a few things to discuss.  The room was dim, the only light coming from a crack in the blackout curtains he had installed, so it took his eyes a couple of seconds to adjust.  When they did, the sight that greeted him took his breath away. 

Addison was curled up in his bed hugging his pillow to her chest.  It wasn’t the most erotic pose he had ever witness in his life, but it tugged at his heart and filled places he didn’t even know were empty.  Seeing Addison in his bed curled up and a slight smile on her beautiful sleeping face made him feel like he had finally, after all these years, come home.  Damn, what he planned had better work or he would have to give up RBMC and his Brothers just to keep this woman safe.

Whiskey started to walk over to the bed, but stopped in his tracks. He was a mess, blood, dirt, and dust covered his clothes from his trip to the caves.  He didn’t want to scare Addison any more than she probably already was, so he detoured to the bathroom.  Shutting the door quietly, he took off his clothes, throwing them in the corner.  Damn, his balls hurt so bad; seeing Addison in his bed had done more than pull at his heart, it also ignited the lust he always had for this woman. 

Through the years, he had tried to wipe her from his mind, body, and soul, nothing had ever worked, and having her so close now only proved he never would.  He had been a fool when he was younger, running away from feelings he didn’t understand, taking the words of others instead of standing by his own gut instincts, but damn, he had been just a kid, and really, what could he have offered Addison back then?  He was so angry all the time and never thought of anyone but himself. If he had stayed, he would have more than likely hurt both of them even worse than he had. 

Getting in the shower, he let the hot water soothe some of the tension in his body.  Damn, the hot water felt good, Whiskey hadn’t realized how tense he had been. Rubbing his body with soap, he became hyper-sensitized, every touch of his hand made him think of the woman sleeping in his bed.  He wished the hands touching him were hers.  He knew her touch would be soft and silky next to his hard and rough touch. 

His dick throbbed along with his heart beat, and his balls were so tight he knew it wouldn’t take him long to bust a nut, but he wanted to savor the moment for just a little longer.  Relish the pain and pleasure his body was going through with thoughts of Addison being so close and soon becoming his.  She didn’t know it, but both of their lives were about to change, and there wouldn’t be any turning back.  Once he had her again, he was never letting go.

Grabbing his hard, steel shaft with his soapy hand, he imagined the one and only time he had experienced heaven.  Addison’s cunt had been so wet for him he had lost his mind, taking without thinking.  She had been so tight, hot, and sweet, his control had snapped, and he took her like a mad man.  The thought of her tight pussy speared him on, and he yanked harder on his dick, feeling the cum bubbling in his balls.   

This same scene had played in his mind over and over again through the years.   He regretted how he had taken her so roughly their first time.  Shit, her first time, ever, but it was like his mind had snapped, and his body had taken over, pushing into her untried body over and over again until he finally came with enough force to blow the top of his head off, making him deaf, blind, and dumb all at the same time. 

He had changed what had actually happened in his mind during their years; apart from wanting more, wanting to show her how it could be between them, he wanted the chance to give her more pleasure than pain.  To prove that he wasn’t the same man he had been back then who only thought of himself.  He wanted to lick every inch of her body and have her screaming his name.  He wanted the same from her. 

Whiskey craved Addison putting her mouth on him. Having her warm, supple lips around his cock as he fucked her face.  Watching as she watched him through half closed eyes as she sucked him dry.  Tipping his head back, he imagined the way she would look on her knees as she caressed his aching balls.  How she would submit and let him do anything he wanted, knowing it would only bring them both more pleasure than either could imagine.  How he would demand she spread her legs further so he could watch as she gave not only him pleasure but also herself. 

Thinking of how he would make her play with herself, rubbing that tiny bundle of nerves over and over again watching as her cream coated her fingers and thighs.  The thought made him pump his dick harder, faster.  He imagined how she would look so close to release but waiting for him to come at the same time.  She would tighten her lips around his shaft working him over, sucking harder, waiting for that moment they both could explode.

He imagined her beautifully tortured face as she experienced both the pleasure in giving him what he needed and finding her own release.  His movements with his hand become rougher, quicker, and stronger. He could no longer hold the image because his balls erupted and one word exploded from his mouth, Addison!

That was when he heard it the bathroom door closing. Fuck, he had been so into his fantasy and getting off, he hadn’t even noticed that Addison had been watching him, listening to him.  He didn’t allow himself even a second more to enjoy the aftermath of what he had just done.  Whiskey rinsed off the evidence of his release and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his waist.  Looked like he and Addison were going to talk a little sooner than he had planned.

Addison was sitting on his bed looking confused and flustered when he walked into his bedroom.  Whiskey liked the look on her and planned to keep it there just a little longer.  He also liked her on his bed, even more.  Addison’s cheeks were tinged pink, and her breathing was a bit fast.  Not giving her a second to say anything, he approached her and crouched down in front of her.  Looking into her eyes, he lifted her shirt grabbing the electronic device at her waist. 

At first, she struggled, not knowing what he was doing, but quickly settled down when he grabbed the box and removed it.  Once that was done. he followed the wire that went up under her bra with his hand.  Pushing up underneath the fabric, he detached the microphone from her bra but couldn’t resist allowing his pinkie finger to brush against her diamond hard nipple causing her to gasp, and his semi hard cock to inflate, tenting the small towel that covered him. 

With one more swipe of her nipple, Whiskey removed the wire.  He put the device in an old shopping bag that had been laying on the floor and walked to the door.  Unlocking it, he opened the door, handing the bag to Brass.  Again, the fucker didn’t say a word just took the bag and walked away.  Shit, maybe he was just paranoid; the shit that had just gone down was affecting all of them.

Leaning against the closed door, Whiskey didn’t take the few seconds he had before to look at Addison.  They needed to talk, he just hoped that he could convince her this was what was best for both of them. 

“Addison, we need to talk.” 

Addy's head snapped in his direction, like those words alone infuriated her.  He couldn’t blame her. For the last ten years, he had been avoiding her and then when he got a chance to talk to her, he jumped all up in her shit.  He hadn’t been the nicest guy back in high school, but then what happened at the cemetery and after were not votes in his favor either.  

“You want to talk now?  How about ten years ago? Don’t you think that would have been a better time to talk?”  She emphasized the word by scrunching her fingers like quote marks, it was cute, but he didn’t comment because of the fury he could see in her eyes.  “Or maybe we could have talked six months ago when you got back into town?  Shit, pick a day, Whiskey, we could have talked anytime. The only difference between then and now is you didn’t want to talk; well guess what, asshole, I don’t want to listen, how about that?”

Damn this woman got his blood boiling faster than anyone else.  He was trying to help here, he wasn’t trying to piss her off.  The Addison he knew back in high school wouldn’t have bit his head off like this, she would have just listened and done what he said.  Damn, he didn’t know which version he liked better; the steel rod tenting the towel said this one, but his head still wanted the sweet, innocent, obedient Addison.

“I can’t change the past, babe, but I can do something about the future. Right now, that is what we need to talk about, all the other shit will just have to take a back seat.  You brought a shit storm to the Club’s doorstep, and I’m just trying to figure out a way I can protect your ass so it doesn’t get in any more trouble, understand?”

Addison’s quick intake of breath clued him in that he had hit a chord.  Maybe she would be more willing to listen to him now that he laid some cards out on the table.  Well, he had a few more to lay out before she got her bearings and started more shit with him.

“We found Crank and Cathy, neither one of them is in good shape.  Doc is working on Crank, but we had to take Cathy to the hospital.  She, fuck Babe, let’s just say she isn’t in good shape and leave it at that.  I don’t want you to end up that way, so you’re going to listen to me and do what I say.  I left you high and dry once, I’m fucking not doing it again.”

“I want to see Cathy.”

“Not going to happen, babe, you are on lock down until we can figure out what we are up against. These fuckers came after you and the farm, we need to find out why.  I found Crank out at the caves; that means that someone has been talking, and if it wasn’t you, then we need to know who.”

Addison looked confused, but she was still pissed, her cheeks were bright red, she had her fists held tightly, but she was still sitting on the bed; he liked her there more and more.  Whiskey knew what he had to say next would throw her over the deep end. 

“You need to talk to Tuck and tell him you accept my claim.  That you agree to be my Old Lady and everything that goes along with that.”

“What! Are you fucking crazy? We have barely spoken to each other in ten years, and now you want me to play biker house with you?  Oh, wait, let me guess, you expect me to follow you around like a little puppy waiting for some scraps you might throw my way or are you expecting me just to lie down and spread my legs in front of you and your Brothers and say, please daddy take me?  No, wait, I know, what you really want is a mixture of both, right? You expect me to follow you around like a puppy like I did in high school, but on your command, you want me to fall down on my knees and suck your dick whenever you get the urge.  Making me the real slut you tried and failed to make me before.” 

“What the fuck, Addison, I didn’t make you into anything, you did that all yourself.”  Yeah, he knew as soon as he said the words it was the wrong thing to say, but he was beyond caring, right now.  She needed to get with the program, fast.  “Where the hell do you get off, Addison? I’m trying to save your ass, babe, but, hey, if you ever get the urge to fall down to your knees, know the gesture would be appreciated.”

“Pig!”

“Bitch!”

Addison wasn’t backing down to him, and he liked it.  She stood her ground and was staring right into his eyes.  His girl wasn’t afraid of him, even in his pissed off state.  That should have shocked him, but it didn’t. He liked that she knew deep down she could trust him not to ever physically hurt her.  Emotionally hurt her, that was a different story and he had a feeling she was putting up as many walls as she could, just to deal with him. Underneath all that fire was his sweet Addison.  He knew it.

“You better fucking believe it. I’ve learned a lot over the years, Whiskey.  All those pretty words and promises men spout to get in your pants don’t mean shit when the going gets tough.  As soon as they have it, they fucking walk or walk all over you.  Those were the lesson’s your two-minute fuck taught me, and every man since has just proven the lesson over and over again.” 

The way she said his road name pissed him off.  Addison shouldn’t be calling him that when they were alone, in front of the guys or in public, sure, but in private, he wanted her calling him Aiden.  He also didn’t like the thought of her with other men or learning any so-called lessons from the assholes; he would have to kill the motherfucker if he ever found out someone other than him had touched her.  She was his, always had been, always would be.  So, she needed to keep her mouth shut about other dudes if she knew what was good for her or them.

He didn’t have any right to expect her to have waited for him. He sure as hell hadn’t been waiting on her.  During his years in the service and since being out, he had fucked every woman he wanted.  He was far from a saint, but Addison had always represented innocence to him, and he wanted to believe she still was.

“When we are in this room or in private, you will call me Aiden just like before,” Whiskey said stalking toward her; once he reached her, he grabbed her arms and stared right back at her.  “In public, you will play this part to the hilt and make everyone believe you are just as much in love with me as you were back in high school. Your fucking life depends on it, do I make myself clear, Addison?”

“Crystal, asshole, but let’s get something straight. I don’t go by Addison anymore.  If I have to call you Aiden, then you have to call me Addy.  Addison died the day I buried our daughter.  I don’t want to be her, I don’t want the life she dreamed of with you, and I sure as fuck don’t want you anymore either, do you understand?”

Mentioning their daughter was like a punch to his gut.  He didn’t want to think about the baby they had created and then lost before he even had a chance to know her.  It was wrong of him, and Whiskey knew it, but he needed to keep that little person to himself for a while before he dealt with all that with Addison.  He still didn’t know the whole story, and he was sure when it all finally came out, he would become unhinged and kill more than a few people in his path.  Too bad he couldn’t beat his own damn self to a bloody pulp because he was the biggest offender.

“Oh, Addison,” he emphasized her name, feeling the slight flinch in her body when he said it, “I will call you whatever the fuck I want, and you will do exactly as you are told just like the good little girl you have always been, and then when the time is right, and you are begging me, I will take that sweet pussy and give you what I should have all those years ago.”  He pulled her closer, crashing his lips down on hers.  At first, she resisted him, but when he nipped her bottom lip, she gasped, opening for him a little, and he took full advantage. 

His tongue explored every nook and cranny of her mouth, something he had been craving to do for years, and Addison didn’t disappoint, she was still everything he remembered and more.  It took a little while, but soon she was kissing him back with just as much heat and want as he had.  Whiskey justified the act by thinking if Addison honestly hated him she wouldn’t have kissed him back like she was. When she relaxed in his arms and started to get into the kiss, he pulled back, first kissing her cheek then further down her neck. Once he had her right where he wanted her, he moved up to her ear and whispered.

“So much pleasure you’ll be screaming my name for everyone to hear.”  To add to it, Whiskey sucked her earlobe into his mouth and bit it, kissing away the sting. Pushing her back down on the bed, Addison sat speechlessly as he walked to his dresser like what had just happened didn’t affect him in the slightest, when all he wanted to do was push her back on the bed and take what he had been craving, over and over again.

Grabbing some clothes, Whiskey dropped the towel and got dressed, giving Addison a full-on view of what she had waiting for her, all she had to do was ask, and from the look on her face, she wanted him.  She might not like him, but she wanted his body, and he could deal with that, the rest could come later.  Pulling up his jeans without fastening them, he shoved his feet into his boots not bending down to tie them.  He needed to get the fuck out of this room before he did something he regretted.  He had a plan now, and in order for him to get what he wanted, he needed to walk the fuck away.

“Take a shower babe and get some rest. Tuck will want to talk to you first thing in the morning. You know what you have to say, we can talk more about it after you accept my claim.  I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, Addison, but I will push you to accept what we both know you want.  But don’t think for a fucking second that I will accept anything but a yes as far as being my Old Lady is concerned. You owe me and this Club for the shit you pulled.” 

Yeah, he knew his next words would hurt his sweet girl, but she needed to do this, and Whiskey knew these words would get that point a crossed better than anything.

“You owe Cathy this; if you had come to any of us sooner, none of this shit would have happened, and you know it.  You chose this route, now you’ll have to pay that price, and that price is being with me.”

Whiskey saw the tears gather in Addison’s eyes, and he felt like a major asshole for laying that shit on her, but she needed to understand what was at stake here.  Cathy and Crank had already paid the price of whatever the hell was going on, he didn’t want Addison or someone else to be next. At least this way, he could protect her with full Club support.  The alternative didn’t bode well for either of them; Whiskey was good, but he couldn’t fight an entire MC on his own.

Shit, what the hell just happened?  She had been furious with Aiden, and then she’d been kissing him like there was no tomorrow.  Damn, she hated to admit it, but some of the things Whiskey had said were true; she was a selfish bitch, and she didn’t have the first clue who she was up against.  Those men were awful, and the Club and Whiskey had been the lesser of two evils.  But he had been right, she brought this to their doorstep and expected them to take care of it.  Now Cathy was hurt and so was Crank because she thought she was smarter than the person trying so hard to pull her strings and get her to sign over the farm.

For months, she had been hiding and sulking around buildings trying to avoid the RBMC members because she had always known what she would do if things had gotten too bad.  She made arrangements with Carri to leave town and never look back, laying this shit right at the RBMC’s feet, but why?  To punish them or to get payback for the pain and hurt she was feeling?

Damn, it had been ten years and the pain of losing first Aiden then her daughter was still just as fresh today as it had been back then, she hadn’t even started to get over the loss.  What did that make her?  Shit, she really was the selfish bitch that Aiden had called her. Somewhere deep down, she blamed the MC and all the Brothers for what had happened, when they had nothing to do with it.  If she should blame anyone, it was herself.  She let Aiden take her in the back seat of his truck knowing he would leave.  Thinking she could get him to change his mind.  Thinking she was more important than any plans he had made. Who the hell was she?  She also put the blame on the MC like it was their fault, they could have done something about the chain of events that had happened.  Who the hell had she turned into?

Over the last ten years, she had shut more people out than she let in.  Only a select few got through her walls, and she thought she had wanted it that way, but that wasn’t the truth, she was holding a grudge.  If Aiden hadn’t wanted in the MC, then he would have never gone into the service.  If he had stayed, then he could have helped her with the farm and their daughter might still be alive, but none of that was true.  Aiden would have never wanted to help her with the farm or all the shit that had gone on after he left.  He wanted the life he had chosen, and she wasn’t on that list back then.  She knew it, but again, wanted to remember things another way.

The first time he came back to Defiance after basic, he went right to the Clubhouse.  Addy had been waiting for him, wanting to talk to him about the baby and what she needed.  She thought with one look at her he would instantly change everything he had planned and stay with her to work the farm and take care of Pop.  She waiting for hours outside the Club until he arrived. When he did, a Club Puppet had been waiting with the rest of the guys on the porch; all he had to do was crook his finger, and she jumped right into his arms and kissed the hell out of him. 

Addy had stood on the side of the yard just watching, not believing what she was seeing until Aiden went inside with the woman wrapped around his waist, kissing her back.  She had heard the other men talking about partying all night long and that the Puppet on the porch was just the beginning for their newest Prospect.  Addy didn’t want to believe what she was seeing, but she couldn’t deny it.  When Link walked up to her, she had already been crying, cradling her stomach where their child had laid and put the final nails in her and Aiden’s relationship once and for all. She still remembered his words.

“He doesn’t want you.  Hell, he didn’t even want you when he had you, he just wanted to make a point before he left town and he did.  If you had any doubt over the last few months, this should have proved it to you. He came here for pussy instead of seeking you out.  Do you understand Addison? He doesn’t want you or that kid you’re carrying.”

Damn those words had hurt, but hell even back then Addy knew there was some truth to them.  Aiden could be an ass, but he was an honest one.  When they first gone out, their time was limited, but she thought she had some kind of superpowers and would change his mind. She had loved him so much, but she had been wrong, like every other teenager caught up in a dream. 

Link handing her the check sealed her and Aiden’s fate.  The check was enough to cover all the debt her Pop owed and provided a little extra to get them through the months to come.  It was the answer to pretty much everything she had been hoping for, all except Aiden.  Link told her if she took the check, she needed to stay the hell away from Aiden.  She couldn’t call him or try to contact him in any way.  If she had the kid, she was on her own, if she didn’t that was her choice too.  After seeing Aiden and that Puppet, Addy took the check and went back home, never looking back.  Shit, she was just as bad as she made these men out to be.

Now when the chips were down, she was trying to act all holier-than-thou and trying to put them all in place.  It wasn’t right.  Tuck, damn that man had done more for her through the years than her own family did, he made she had heat when money got tight, and helped her with Pop when his disease had eaten away so much of his brain he had to be placed in a nursing home.  Shit, he had even found the nursing home and helped her to get the state to pay for it.  Talon and Tank worked the farm right alongside her and Carri before they left to serve their country and never once asked for payment of any kind. There were others too along the way.  Damn, how could her grief have caused her to be so blind to what she had been doing all this time?

Addy had turned into a woman she didn’t like. Shit, she hadn’t even been with another man since Aiden and hadn’t wanted to.  She let all this feaster and get out of control, and it was her fault.  Whiskey was right if she would have come to the Club or even to Tuck after the first threatening letter, he would have taken care of everything and Cathy and Crank wouldn’t have been hurt.  If she would have approached Whiskey when he first got back in town and talked to him maybe she could have put all this crap behind her. She would always mourn her daughter, but it was time to move on.

Whiskey was still a total ass, but he was trying to help in his own way, so she would let him, to a certain extent, she would be his Old Lady as far as the Club was concerned.  She would let him protect her, and she would play the part to the best of her ability, but she would also guard her heart.  Aiden, no Whiskey, was trying to make up for the past. She could see how important it was to him, so she would let him, but once the danger was gone, she was leaving.  The MC could keep the farm as her way of saying sorry for all the shit she had caused, but then she was going to finally live her life outside of the shadow of the past.

Link, though, was another problem. Addy didn’t think the oldest Frost brother would go along with or like what Whiskey had planned.  Link had always hated her, even when they were kids, he didn’t want her around his brother.  Once she and Aiden got together in high school, he became worse, always telling her that Aiden was going to leave, not to get too attached, and that all she was to Aiden was a piece of ass.  Damn, it might have been true, but Addy always wondered why he had to be such a jerk about it. 

After he and Aiden left, his taunts continued because he had made sure Val and everyone else in school knew she was nothing but a slut, Aiden Frost’s leftovers.  Addy had heard it so often, she became immune to it.  When she found out she was pregnant, Val and her tribe only made the rumors and Addy’s life worse.  There wasn’t anywhere she could go to escape the vile woman's wrath.  When Pop had gotten too sick to take care of the farm, Addy was almost relieved when she was forced to drop out of school to take care of things.

Addy needed to look past all that background shit.  She would never like Val and her bunch of bitches, but the others, well except Link, she owed all of them an apology, starting with Tuck.  Yeah, she should probably start with Whiskey, but she needed more time and strength to deal with him.  He still got to her, and what really bothered her was that she still wanted him just as badly as she had all those years ago.

If she was going to do this, and she was, then she needed to protect herself because she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Whiskey would drop her once again, and she couldn’t go back to being that person again.  She wanted more, she wanted a life with love and friendship, she didn’t want to continue to live in the shell she created to protect herself.

Maybe if she approached this whole Old Lady thing as her coming out party, then she would be okay.  No expectations, no demands, have fun while it lasted, and realize that it would end. She would have a good time while it lasted.  She didn’t know if that was the right way to think of this, but she really couldn’t come up with anything else. Addy could let Whiskey in only so far because this time their relationship would be on her terms.  She wouldn’t let feelings and thoughts of the future anywhere near what they were doing.

First things first, she needed to get a hold of Carri. Those assholes had mentioned her and something about her car that scared Addy. When she talked to Tuck tomorrow, she would mention it, but right now she needed to talk to her dearest friend.  Whiskey had left his phone on the dresser when he left the room.  Dialing the number she knew by heart, she waited to Carri to pick up the phone.

“Where the hell have you been? I have been trying to get a hold of you for two fucking days.”

“Well, hello to you, Carri. Is that how Lexington’s brightest lawyer is supposed to answer the phone?”

“Fuck you, Addy. What is going on? I’m out of town with a client and someone messed with my car.  Then you don’t show up, and I can’t get a hold of you, only to have Tuck call to tell me you’re at the MC and not to worry about you.  Well damn, the man isn’t too bright if he thinks he can say that, and I will instantly not worry. I’m stuck here, but if you need me, I can be on a plane in a matter of minutes.” 

“No, Chica, I am just fine right now. I’m at the Club. Some stuff went down, and I needed to come to them, but I wanted to make sure you were all right.  These people who were after the farm mentioned you and your car.  You need to watch yourself and keep safe.  Tuck was right, though, don’t worry about me. Whiskey is taking care of me, and the Club is taking care of the farm.”

“You don’t sound right, Addy. What’s really going on and what do you mean Whiskey is taking care of you?” 

“Damn, Carri, a lot has changed. Aiden knows about Sunshine and pretty much everything that happened back then, but this stuff and all that has made me realize some other things. I’m not all that happy with the way I have been acting.  I’ve been blaming the Club and everyone else for what happened to me instead of looking at the real reason, Carri. I was just as much to blame as anyone else, probably more.  I’ve been taking a real hard look at myself, and I don’t like what I am seeing.”

“Oh, Addy, that’s not true. You needed to work through it all, you were so young, and everything happened so close together.  Shit, I don’t think you have had a moment to take the time to think about all that happened.  You and Aiden, the farm, and the baby, then Pop and Jamie.  Dang honey, just a few of those things would have broken someone, but you made it through.  Even my stuff back then added to the problems. You never got the chance to just live for you.  Now you can do that, without worrying about anyone or anything else.  Get through this stuff with the Club and Aiden, put it all behind you and then you can finally move on.”

“Yeah, that is what I am hoping for, too.  Stay safe, Carri, I don’t know if I would make it through if something happened to you.  These people are bad news, please, just watch yourself.”

“I know it won’t matter what I say, but don’t worry about me.  I’m at a client’s estate, and trust me, this place is safer than Fort Knox. Take care of yourself and keep in touch.” 

“Will do, Carri, I love you.”

“Love you too, honey.  Stay safe.”

With that out of the way, Addy felt a little better knowing Carri would be safe. She could focus on what was happening here, and what she was going to do going forward.  That was just about as much self-reflection as she could take.  Getting up, Addy made her way to the shower, the same shower she had watched Whiskey jerk off. Well turn about was fair play.  Addy needed a little tension reliever of her own because the next few days would be hell on her body. 

Chapter 11

Whiskey made his way downstairs, the place was still deserted, but a couple of people had wandered back, and the booze was flowing. Blade was behind the bar, as usual, serving up the drinks and talking with the people at the bar.  Blade was one of the old-timers in the Club having come down when Link took over as President. 

The old President, Stony, had decided that the Defiance chapter would be filled with young blood and that was why he voted Tuck into his position when he decided to step down.  Blade decided that us young fucks needed a little guidance, so he stayed behind to help out, and truth be told, the man had become invaluable to them.  He was the ear that always listened and the old soul that knew a thing or two, so he could offer just enough advice to help you make your own mind up.  The man was like a father to all of them. 

Shit, Whiskey was getting all girly mushy. He was glad that the guys couldn’t hear the thoughts that had been going through his head in the last couple of day, they would never let him live it down.  He was changing, and although he liked the changes, he was sure some of the guys would have problems with them, because the Club wouldn’t be his first and only responsibility anymore, Addison was going to take center stage.  He just hoped he could keep her there.

“What’s weighing on you so hard young blood,” Blade asked?

“Ghosts from the past old man.  What do you got behind that bar that will help with the exorcism?”

“Damn son, from the looks of it, those ghosts won’t disappear with any spirits I have.  Just remember to stay away from the drink you're named after, nobody needs the crazy that liquor causes in your brain,” Blade laughed

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Whiskey laughed. Whiskey knew it, too. He couldn’t drink the booze he was named after because he did go a little crazy or a lot crazy, depending on who you talked to or who had witnessed the phenomenon.  He wasn’t a mean drunk, but one shot of his nemesis and all bets were off.  It was like a match lighting a stick of dynamite in his blood. 

“How about just a beer?”

“Now, that I can get yah.” As Blade made his way to the cooler, Talon came up and sat next to him.

“How’s Addy?”

“You don’t need to worry about Addison, Tal, I have her now, and that is all you need to know.”  Whiskey felt a little sorry for his tone, but Talon had kept shit from him too, and he was still a little raw from finding that out. 

“Listen, I get that you're pissed, if I were in your situation, I’d be pissed too.  Maybe I should have told you, but at the time I was sixteen years old and both my brothers had just up and left me.  Link told me to keep my mouth shut and to continue with our plan.  I didn’t agree with him, but damn, Whisk, he was the closest thing I had to a father until Tuck came along.  I knew the shit he was saying about Addy wasn’t true, but I didn’t want to rock the boat, and truth be told, I was pissed at both of you.” 

“Yeah man, I get that, but shit, dude, she was pregnant with my kid, you could have said something.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, and I won’t beat a dead horse, but, shit man, would it have made a difference?  You’re not the same person you were back then, you’ve changed.” 

Blade brought both of them a beer and for a long while they sat there not saying a thing.  Tal was right.  After he drank the rest of his beer, Talon stood up and clamped his hand on Whiskey’s shoulder.

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad your back and are helping Addy out.  You were so mad back then you never saw what the rest of us did. You and Addy are made for each other,” with those words, he walked away.

Whiskey thought about his younger brother, man they had done him wrong. Left him with no family and hardly looked back or thought about what it might have done to him. Talon was a good brother, both in the Club and by blood, but if Whiskey had to think about it, this wasn’t the life for him.  He was too soft-hearted, always had been.  Talon never got off on the adrenaline high like him and Link.  He was cautious and smart, or at least he had been as a kid.  The truth was, Whiskey didn’t know much about the man.

Talon kept his shit close to the vest.  He couldn’t remember a time when they talked about anything more than superficial matters or Club business.  Talon was the Clubs information specialist, he had more computers and programs then Whiskey had ever seen in his life, and he made those puppies purr.  He was proud of him. Shit, had he ever once told him that?  Damn, these come to Jesus moments were really getting on his nerves.  He needed to pull his head out of his ass and get to work.  Getting up, he slapped his hand on the bar to get Blades attention, nodding to the Old man in thanks. 

Walking down the hall, he stopped at Tuck's office and knocked. Tuck’s bellowed yeah came shortly after.  Whiskey wasn’t surprised to find Link in the office with Tuck.  This room was where they conducted most of their business outside of Church.  Whiskey really didn’t want to deal with Link, but his brother needed to know what was going on and that Whiskey would no longer tolerate his treatment of Addison.  Once a Brother claimed a woman as their Old Lady, she was to be respected, and Link better get on board, PDQ. Whiskey didn’t start with that, though, he had a few other things on his mind. 

“Any new information? Do we know who took Crank and Cathy?”

“Yeah, it was the Vultures, Crank confirmed it before he passed out.  He also confirmed that Addy was just a means to an end.  They wanted the property because of its proximity to us and the caves.  He overheard them talking, and someone had the place all mapped out,” Link growled.

“Fuck man, how the hell did they even get them? Crank alone could take down an army, and Cathy’s dogs are trained, highly trained.  I just don’t get it.

“I don’t know about the dogs, but Crank and Cathy were celebrating their anniversary.  They had thought that Peyton had sent them a bottle of champagne so they both drank it but it was drugged,” Link said.

“Peyton would never do that, hell, she loves Cathy. She even left her business and her dogs in her care when she went to live with Bas.  That does make any sense,” Whiskey argued.

“Fuck, man, I know that, I’m just telling you what happened.  After they drank the champagne, they both passed out.  Crank woke up in the caves, but whatever they drugged him with made him slow.  They had them all of one fucking day.”

“What about the surveillance we set up around the property, why didn’t that pick anything up?  Hell, man, we spent weeks locking that place down.”

“Crank asked me to take it down he had something planned that he didn’t want to be caught on tape, I’m not going to get into it, but I had Jinx do it two days ago,” Tuck was the one that answered.

“Shit, fuck, this whole thing sucks. How’s Cathy doing?”

“Not great, she’s been in surgery now for a few hours, the fuckers messed her up.  Crank is still in the infirmary; I had Doc knock his ass out, he’s in no shape to be running around right now. Brass and Tank are at the hospital waiting for any word on Cathy’s condition.  I know we won’t be able to keep Crank down, so I’m sticking around until the big ape wakes up, and then I’ll take him to the hospital myself. I let the boys know the Club is open for a party, but a mild one, limited to Club people.  I want the Vultures to think it’s business as usual until we find out where they’re holed up.  Then we will take them down like the bitches they are.”

Whiskey could see the pain in Tuck’s eyes, he and Crank were close, probably closer than any of the Brothers.  Having this happen to him and his woman had to be weighing heavily on their Prez.  The bitch of it was, Whiskey would only add to his problems. 

“Damn straight, Prez. I wanted to get an update and tell you I talked to Addison.  She is on board and will talk to you in the morning.”  Looking right at Link he said, “But I want to make one thing very clear, Addison is my Old Lady now, and that means she is to be treated as such.  Any Brother that doesn’t, will have to abide by Club rules, got me?” Link wasn’t the one that answered, Tuck was.

“No Brother in my Club would ever disrespect an Old Lady. I get that you two have some shit you need to work out, but get it under control.  We are going to fucking war, and I can’t have you two fuckers at each other’s throats. Link, you are the VP of this Club, get on board or get the fuck out.  I’m not going to say that shit, again.  Addy is here to stay and is a part of our family, deal with it.”

Link didn’t comment, just got up and walked out the door.  Damn, looked like he was going to throw a temper tantrum just like he always did when he didn’t get his way.  The fucker couldn’t handle it if he didn’t get his way.  The thought caused a small smile to crease Whisk’s lips.

“Listen up asshole, I don’t know what you did to convince Addy to follow through with this, and I won’t ask, but if you hurt her again, I won’t stand on the sidelines and let that shit fly this time.  I need your head in the game, things are going to get bad.  We have the Vultures, and that FBI prick breathing down our necks. I can’t have two Officers at each other’s throats over some stupid ass shit.  Understand?”

“Loud and clear, Prez. Just to let you know, I have no plans on hurting or letting Addy or this Club down, in any way.”

“Glad to hear it. Be ready to ride in the morning. I want every patched member out and about to find where these fuckers are holed up.  I don’t care how many rocks we have to turn over to find them.” 

“Understood, I’ll be ready.” 

Whiskey didn’t know what to do with himself. He could either go back to the bar and drink himself into oblivion or go upstairs and torture himself.  Neither seemed like a good idea at the moment, so he made his way to the infirmary. His Brother was hurting, and his woman was in the hospital.  Addison wasn’t directly to blame, but she had a part in everything that had happened, making it his responsibility.  He thought nothing he could say or do would make what happened right, but he could support Crank.

Chapter 12

Addy was having the best dream, Whiskey was laid out before her like a smorgasbord, and she was running her tongue all over his delicious tattoos.  She was hot and bothered, but determined to complete her task.  The dips and curves of his muscles were calling her name, and she wanted to taste every inch. 

SMACK!

Addy bolted awake, the sting on her backside enough to break her pleasant dream.  When she looked up, she expected to see Whiskey there smirking at her knowing what she had been dreaming about, and that really pissed her off.  But, when her eyes finally came into focus, it was to see someone she hadn’t seen in a very long time.

“Cinny!!  What the hell girl,” Addy said, rubbing her abused butt and trying to untangle herself from the blankets on the bed, so she could launch herself at her friend.

“Heard you had fascinating couple of days, cut my trip back home short, so I could come back and see for myself what was going on.”

Cinny was someone who had never met a person she didn’t know.  She was friendly and beyond beautiful.  Her Hispanic heritage added to her beauty in a way that few people could pull off.  All that tan, smooth skin and dark, glossy hair only added to her appeal.  If Addy swung the other way, Cinny would be on the top of her list to experiment with.  She was also a genuinely nice person.  The one thing that Addy liked best about the woman, she made no excuses for the way she lived her life.  She was a Club Puppet just like Reagan, but unlike Reagan, she really owned her place in the Club.

“You have no idea,” Addy laughed and hugged her friend.

“Oh, I don’t know about all that. Rumor is, Whiskey claimed you, and now you’re an Old Lady.” 

“Yeah, that’s not all of it. Shit, Cinny, what am I going to do?  I don’t even know where to start,” Addy bemoaned, the smile falling from her lips.

“Well, how about we start with you getting yourself dressed? You have an appointment to see a very unhappy president.  After that, we can catch up on everything else that has been going on.”

Leave it to Cinny to cut to the chase.  Addy knew what she had to do, but she had expected Whiskey to come back and talk to her sometime last night.  She should have known better than to expect anything from him.  He was a runner, and Addy doubted he would ever change.  It also made her realize that she needed to stick with her plan, let this thing between them play out, but not let her heart into it. 

Cinny pushed some clothes into Addy’s hands and pointed her body toward the bathroom.  With one quick smack to her bottom, she tried to send her on her way.  Addy gasped, and Cinny laughed.

“Hon, I’d get used to the love taps if you’re going to be Whiskey’s Old Lady, that man likes it kinky.”  She said bobbing her eyebrows up and down. 

Addy looked to Cinny questioningly, did she really want to know if the two of them had been together or should she just let sleeping dogs lie?  Thankfully Addy didn’t need to ponder the question further.

“Nope, not going to do it, you know what I am, and what I do.  If I had had that boy, it’s in the past; when a member of the Ruthless Bastards takes an Old Lady, they don’t mess around.  That shit is for life.  So, get those thoughts right out of your head.  From what I heard, you agreed to this, so you need to get a thicker skin, babe, because if you’re sticking around, you’ll see things that will fry your brain. You have one duty and one duty alone, support your man and this Club.  If you can’t do this, then don’t agree, your choice.” That was the other thing about Cinny, she was blunt as hell, an attribute Addy used to love about her, now she wasn’t so sure. 

Addy went into the bathroom and did her business, taking care of her personal needs, and then showering.  She knew she needed to talk to Tuck, and she would give this thing with Whiskey a shot.  In the end, if she needed to leave town to move on with her life, she would do it.  But, right at the moment, being an Old Lady and acting like one was her only option.

Drying off, she grabbed the clothes that Cinny had handed her; the bra and underwear were luxurious and her size, they also had tags on them, so Addy had no problem putting them on.  She might love Cinny, but she didn’t want to share underwear with her.  Once she put them on, she looked at herself in the mirror.  The bruises Ogre and Blank gave her were still vivid, but the dark purple, satin and lace bra and panties were the bomb.  They fit her like a glove and made her boobs do things Addy had never seen before.  The panties made her feel even sexier, if that was possible, the lace highlighted the plumpness of her butt in a sexy way. They were French cut, high on the hips, there was lace on the outside that framed her ass, and the satin felt amazing on her skin. 

Addy got a little perverse joy in thinking about what Whiskey would do or say if he saw her right now.  Maybe he would be the one to beg.  She grabbed the black tank and stared at it.  Damn, did Cinny buy the thing in the children’s department.  It was so small she didn’t think she could get one of her boobs into it, let alone both.  The only other option she had was the shirt she had worn yesterday, and that wasn’t an option at all considering she had already had to put it on twice. Forcing herself into the small garment, she gasped at her reflection in the mirror. 

The wondrous things the bra did to her boobs, the tank only emphasized more.  Little pieces of purple lace peeked out giving whoever looked a small glimpse at what she was hiding underneath.  Addy had never been a showy girl.  Shit, she still wore dresses on Sunday just to feel kind of feminine; maybe she needed to go shopping with Cinny.  At least, that was what she thought until she had to force her ass into the tightest shorts she had ever come into contact with in her life.  Damn, these things put Daisy Dukes to shame, they wouldn’t work. 

Addy picked her jeans up off the floor and put them on instead.  Those shorts were just too much change for one day.  Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, Addy looked at herself in the mirror and hardly recognized herself; the thing was she liked what she saw.  Her eyes had fire, something she hadn’t seen in a long time.  Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. As long as she could keep her heart to herself, Addy might find the women she was meant to be.  If Whiskey gave her a few orgasms along the way, more power to her, right? When she walked out of the bathroom, Cinny was sitting on the bed and laughed.

“I knew you wouldn’t wear those shorts.  Damn, I tried, but shit sugar you look beautiful even without them. Come on let’s get this meeting with Tuck done, and then I’ll give you a crash course in Old Lady 101.  I might not want to be one, but honey do I know some things.” 

Addy couldn’t help but laugh with her.  When Cinny locked elbows with her and started for the door, Addy realized she missed this since Carri had left, she had isolated herself so much that she missed having a girlfriend.  Talking on the phone wasn’t the same. 

Addy wondered what Cinny could teach her about being an Old Lady even though she wasn’t one, but she assumed that Cinny would know more about Club life than anyone. The one woman she could have gone to was hurt and at the hospital because of things Addy had set in motion.  If she had just spoken up sooner or told Tuck what was going on, Cathy would have been the one to show her the ropes.  Damn, she really hoped Cathy pulled through.

Tuck was in his office, a place Addy had never seen before, and from the looks of it, the man needed an assistant.  There were papers everywhere, she wondered how he found anything.  She didn’t miss was the scowl on his face.  Tuck was a friend, had been a friend for a long time, helping her when she was at her wits end and had nowhere else to turn.  He stood by her when Sunshine died and did the same when her grandfather passed.  The look on his face hurt Addy, she had let him down, and that was the last thing she had ever wanted to do.

“Addy, have a seat.” 

She wanted to cringe at the formality she heard in his voice, but this was her fault, and she needed to own up to it.  Taking a seat, she straightened her back and waited for what was to come.

“I understand that Whiskey spoke to you, and you have accepted his claim.”  He said nothing else, so Addy just nodded. 

“Not good enough, Addison, I needed the words. By accepting Whiskey’s claim, you are agreeing to be his woman and in the eyes of the Club, that is as close to being his wife as you can get without the preacher and the paper.  Do you understand what I am getting at?”

“Yes,” Addy answered

“Okay then, I asked Cinnamon to give you the basics. Usually that would fall to Cathy, but as you know, she can’t do that right now.  We also can’t bring in an Old Lady from another Chapter to show you the ropes, so you’re just going to have to deal with what’s available.” 

Addy swallowed the spit in her almost dry mouth and almost choked. She hated this tension between her and Tuck, but she didn’t know what to do to change it.  She hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him what was happening and ask for help, and now he was as much caught up in this mess as she was.  Addy also felt like she was lying to him, if not by deed, but by omission.  For the time being she was Whiskey’s Old Lady, but she had no plans of making that a permanent title. 

“Okay, Cinnamon is waiting for you in the bar.” 

“Tuck…”

“No, Addy, I can’t talk to you right now. I have two members of my Club in the hospital because of something you could have prevented. I asked you what was going on and you chose not to tell me and put yourself in front of this Club. That is your first lesson, the Club always comes first, before your man, before your kids, and before yourself.  Learn that lesson well, Addison, your life might depend on it.” 

Addy wanted to say more, but Tuck wasn’t even looking at her anymore, he was glaring down at the papers on his desk.  She wanted to cry, but she wouldn’t do it. He was right, she had caused some of this, and she would do what she needed to fix it.  She just didn’t know what that was yet.

Cinny wasn’t at the bar when she got out there, but Reagan was. At least there was one friendly face in the group that tried to stare her down.  A couple of Brothers were sitting around, and Addy noticed two other women.  None of them looked happy to see her.  Making her way to the bar, she sat down right in front of Reagan. 

When Reagan set down a drink in front of her without saying a word, Addy smiled. That smile quickly faded when Reagan just walked away.  She and Reagan had been friends since kindergarten, her snub hurt worse than Tuck's disapproval.  Addy had had enough.

“Reagan what’s going on, did I do something to piss you off?  Does me being here bother you? Would you rather I left or stayed in Whisk’s room away from the Brothers and others?”  Addy asked loudly, indicating the people behind her with a sweep of her hand. 

Reagan turned around to face her, but her expression was blank.  There was no welcoming smile or anything friendly about the other woman’s stance. 

“No, you’re fine, Whisk claimed you, and you have more right to be here than most of the women in the room.” 

Okay, so she still wasn’t going to tell her what had crawled up her ass and what was all this bullshit about her having more rights than any of the other women in the room.   

“Why do I have more right to be here than anyone else?”

“Shit, Addy, why won’t you drop it? You don’t know all the rules yet, so let me clue you in Old Ladies and Puppets do not mix.  We don’t talk to each other and we don’t hang out with each other, period.” 

Addy was stunned at what Reagan was saying, she didn’t understand. She didn’t care about a person’s so-called title, it didn’t make a damn bit of a difference, and until Whiskey claimed her, it hadn’t been an issue. She and Reagan had been friends forever, and in Addy’s mind, no matter what, that would never change.

“And why is that, Reagan?  Why would someone I have considered a friend for the last twenty years suddenly be someone I don’t associate with because Aiden said some words that mean nothing beyond this Club?” 

“Damn, you really don’t get it, you’re an Old Lady now Addy, and I am a Club whore.  I sleep with the men here that want me, and I don’t have a problem with it.  I fuck them, suck them, and let them do whatever they want to my body.  It doesn’t matter if they are in a relationship or freakin married if they want me I spread my legs.  Get me, I would do it without question or even taking your feelings into consideration.”

Addy would have believed her except Reagan had tears in her eyes.  She also knew for a fact that Reagan hadn’t been with any other man in the Club except for Tank.  She loved him, and the twisted bastard used that to his advantage, leading Reagan on for years, only to hurt her over and over again.  Addy also knew there was more going on here than what Reagan was saying; she was warning her, but also stepping back from their friendship because of some line drawn between Puppets and Old Ladies.   

“Okay, Rea. If you can answer two questions truthfully, I will do what you want and stay on my side of the proverbial fence.  The first question is, how many Brothers have you slept with, or had any kind of sexual contact with?” Reagan started to answer, but Addy held up her hand stopping her. “The second question is, are you my friend or have I imagined that for the last two decades?”

“Shit, Addy you still just don’t get it, those questions don’t matter.  It doesn’t matter that Tank is the only Brother I have been with, if he said I was open to the rest of the Brothers tomorrow, I would have to be with them.  It also doesn’t matter that we have been friends all our lives, we aren’t the same, never have been its time you accepted that.”

Shit, right about now, Addy wanted to nut check Tank into next week.  The bastard was playing a major mind fuck on her friend, and she didn’t like it one bit.  She was saved from having to say anything else, Cinny had finally decided to show up.

“Hey, Rea, I don’t know what that stuff is spewing from your mouth, sister, but I am the Head Puppet, and if Addy is down for treating me like she always has, then I’m all for it. I don’t know where you're getting your information from, but I look at it this way, as long as I stay off Whiskey’s dick, then Addy and me don’t have a single problem, wouldn’t you agree?” 

Addy just nodded her head, but Cinny was far from done. 

“Unless she invites me into the action, then we could have some real fun.” To press her point, Cinny grabbed onto Addy’s boobs and pushed them up further.  “Damn, girl, I have some great taste in clothes, don’t I?  I always wondered what you would look like a little slutted up.”

Reagan's face was red and her eyes were glossy with tears.  More was going on here then the division of Old Ladies and Puppets. Addy laughed at Cinny and pushed her hands away.

“Oh, no way, sister, I don’t think I could keep up with your moves, and damn, but I believe you might ruin me for all men if you ever got your hands on me.” It was a joke, Addy was one hundred percent into dick, well at least one dick. 

Speaking of the man, she saw him walking her way, and she had to force herself not to lick her lips.  Damn, he was fine, and the way he was looking at her, blatantly scoping out her body, not caring what she or anyone else thought, turned her the hell on.  She should hate him, she should turn away, shit, she should do anything but what she was doing, imagining him naked, laid out in front of her like in her dream, but she couldn’t do anything but stare. 

Whiskey walked right up to her, grabbed her ponytail, and pulled, forcing her to look right into his eyes.  Then his mouth crashed down on hers.  She was so shocked, she gasped, opening her mouth a little, and that was all the invitation the man needed.  He devoured her, tongue, teeth, and lips.  He tasted of coffee and chocolate, and Addy couldn’t get enough, giving as good as she got.  She should have cared that people were standing around watching them, but she didn’t.  When he grabbed her butt with his free hand and pulled her closer, Addy moaned at the contact of his rock-hard cock. 

She craved him, wanted him with a passion she had never felt before.  She had loved this man, even wanted him, but now she needed him.  So much so, she was almost willing to take him right there in front of everyone. He messed with her mind so much, she didn’t know if she was coming or going.  The bastard stopped the kiss as quickly as he started it, squeezing her ass, then letting her go.

“Missed you last night, Babe, won’t happen again.  The boys and I are going on a run, won’t be back for a couple of hours. Be ready for me, and Cinny, she is mine, hands off,” he said with a wink.  Then he slapped her ass and walked away, leaving her panting and breathless at the same time; how the hell was that even possible?

“Damn, girl, I think I might need to change my panties after that little show, it was H-O-T!”  Cinny declared.  Addy was too embarrassed, and honestly, she didn’t have enough breath in her lungs to respond for a few seconds. 

“Yeah!” she exhaled; she sure she had that dreamy, stars-in-her-eyes look on her face.  Damn it, what the hell.  She didn’t do dreamy, breathless or starry-eyed for anyone.  Well, at least she never had before, shit.

 “Okay, come along my little protégé, time to learn the tricks of the trade. Rea, you’ll help, too.  This won’t be a one-woman job,” Cinny laughed. Reagan reluctantly followed them. Addy didn’t know where they were going at first, but quickly figured out it was to the kitchen. 

“Oh, my God, do you people cook in here? It’s just as bad as the rest of the place.”  There were dishes with dried food and other gross stuff all over the place.  The floor, which Addy assumed might be an off-white, looked more dingy brown.  If she looked beyond the dishes and trash, the appliances, all looked new, but dirty; if cleaned, the place would be a cook’s dream.  Right now, she just wanted to get the hell out of there because, damn, it smelled. 

“Okay,” Cinny laughed, “lesson one, overgrown boys do not do dishes, laundry, or cook.  They also do not take out the trash without being asked or bribed.  Club women don’t look at anything beyond getting dick and trying to figure out how to tie said dick to them.  It is your job as the only Old Lady on premises to fix that little problem. You, my dear, are now the Puppet Master,” Cinny proclaimed, complete with a curtsy English Royalty would be proud of. 

Addy just blinked, she didn’t know what to do or say. What the hell was she supposed to do about this mess?  The whole Club was a mess, and somehow, because Whiskey claimed her, she was expected to fix it.  Hell, no.  She went to walk right back out the door when Cinny grabbed her arm.

“No, No, No, Missy, this is your mess now. You said the words, and baby, that makes you the boss. The boys are out on a run, they will be gone for several hours. We have until then to get this place cleaned up and food on the table. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me! What is this, the 1950s? I mean, seriously, aren’t all these men former military, don’t they know how to clean up after themselves?  I know for a fact that even a monkey can wash a fucking dish, I saw it on YouTube.  What the hell, you can’t tell me that Cathy put up with this crap, she would have shot anyone who told her that her place was in the kitchen, serving the men.”

“Ah, see that is where you are wrong, an Old Lady’s job is to serve her man and the Club.  This shit wouldn’t be like this if Cathy were around.  Shit, it’s only this bad right now because Reagan can’t do it all herself and I’ve been gone a month, and it looks like the other bitches haven’t even lifted a finger to help out, not to mention the Prospects.  The boys have gotten lazy thinking the women would take care of shit. Well, I’m here to tell you that shit doesn’t happen without someone cracking the whip, and sweetheart, you need to slap that ass into some leather because you’re the one that will wield that whip, understand?”

Addy didn’t understand, but, hell, when in Rome.

“Okay, so, I just need to tell people what to do, and they will do it because Whiskey said I was his Old Lady?”

Cinny, and this time Reagan, laughed so hard, both of them were having a hard time standing up. 

“Damn,” Cinny said, “this is going to be fun. The first rule of business, you need to empty the Club of anyone not willing to help. With the guys gone, we have two Prospects on guard duty and two in the building; those two will help. We also have the other two Puppets, Bambi and Flo, here.  Those two will fight you, but this is your battle, you need to show them you are in charge, and they can’t mess with you. I’ll let you figure out how to do that.

“There are some hanger-ons out there, some of them good chicks, a few not so much; if they won’t help, make them leave. I’ll make some calls and bring in some reinforcements.  No way we can get this place cleaned up by ourselves before the guys get back. My suggestion, you and Reagan take the kitchen, leave the common area and bathrooms to the bitches.” 

Addy gave herself a little pep talk before walking out into the common room.  She could do this; the Club was keeping her safe, and she owed them, so if she had to spend the next few hours cleaning, so be it. She didn’t have a problem with hard work.  What she did have an issue with was confrontation, she wasn’t any good at it, and it looked like she would be getting a crash course.  Shit.

Addy tried to speak loud enough for everyone to hear her, but no one paid her any attention.  She then whistled loudly a couple times, and a couple of the people hanging around looked at her, but quickly dismissed her; that really got her going.  Walking over to the bar she noticed an older man with a beer belly and Santa’s beard watching her with a smirk on his face.  She walked right up to him and put her hand out.  He obliged and helped her get up on the bar. 

Addy leaned back and grabbed a pitcher, filling it with water.  The Puppets and hanger-ons were all congregated on one end of the bar.  Once she had her vessel filled to the brim, she stood up on the bar and walked over to the girls.  Without flourish or warning, she flung the contents of the pitcher right at them.  Several started cursing and sputtering, but Addy paid no mind. She finally had the glare of all their eyes on her.

“Okay, now that I have your attention, I’d like to say a few things.” 

There were several women, but they all looked the same, big boobs, big hair, tight, barely there clothing, and nasty attitudes. 

“And why the hell should we listen to anything you have to say, bitch? You just threw water on all of us. Why don’t you come down here and get what’s coming to you?” The one paying Addy particular attention asked.

Addy continued like she hadn’t just been threatened with bodily harm.

“Hi, my name is Addy, many of you know me from town, but what you may or may not know is that I am Whiskey’s Old Lady.” 

“I don’t know about that, little girl,” another big boobed blonde said, “I was with him last night, and he didn’t say anything about having no Old Lady, maybe you got your signals crossed. Fucking one of them don’t make you unique, shit, if that were the case, we would all be special.”  The group laughed. Damn, were they really all that stupid? The woman just insulted herself, and she was laughing about it.  Addy didn’t even want to think about the comment she made about being with Whiskey.

“Yeah, well contrary to your wisdom, I am an Old Lady. I’m sure if you asked one of the guys, they would tell you as much.”  Addy looked to Santa for a little help, and he didn’t disappoint, nodding his head in acknowledgment of her statement.   Addy didn’t know quite how to explain the instant change in their demeanor, it went from slightly pissed to murderous.  Seemed being an Old Lady might bring some power, but also a lot of envy and hate.  Shit. 

“Okay, here’s the deal, the guys are out for a while, so, for the time being, the party is over.  All those wanting to hang around will have to get their hands dirty.  This place needs to be cleaned up.  If you are not going to help, then I suggest you get the hell out, or Santa over here will escort you from the premises.”

Addy looked at the man and felt bad, she didn’t even realize she had said the name until it was already out of her mouth.  She shrugged her shoulders and looked at him apologetically.

“Not a problem, hon, name’s Blade.  Listen up, bitches, you heard the woman, either help or get the fuck out.  No time for playing now.”

Addy didn’t know if it was her little speech or Blade's, but people moved pretty darn quick.  What surprised her was that Bambi and Flo were two of the people walking toward the door.  Shit, Puppet Master she was not. 

“Bambi, Flo, I suggest you turn your asses around and hunt up a mop.  This is your job,” Blade said before Addy could do or say anything more.  The two women sneered at her, but went in search of said mop. 

Addy walked down the bar and Blade once again held his hand out to her, helping her down.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, hon, good job.”  With that, he winked, walked down to the end of the bar, and took a seat.  Addy knew enough about the MC now to realize Blade would not be participating in their little cleaning party. 

Addy and Reagan had been cleaning the kitchen for a while when a beautiful blonde came in carrying containers of food.  She hadn’t ever seen her before, and in a town like Defiance that was odd, everybody knew everyone.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“Oh, hey sorry, Cinny called and said you guys might need some help. I’m Katie.”  Reagan hugged the woman.  Apparently, Addy was the only one that didn’t know the mysterious Katie. 

“Hey girl, thanks, this smells amazing.”  Reagan took the foil pan out of Katie’s hands and moved it to the table.  Addy had to admit, whatever the woman had brought smelled amazing. 

“Thanks, Rea, there is more in the car. I figured with the Army you feed nightly, I needed to make sure there was more than enough.”  The woman was sweet and young, maybe early twenties. She also didn’t look like any of the women that Addy had seen hanging around the MC or the Clubhouse.  She was wholesome in a way that made you think of white picket fences and freshly baked cookies. 

Addy was so caught up in her observation, she hadn’t noticed that both Katie and Reagan were staring at her now.  Damn, maybe it was all the fumes from the hours of cleaning they had been doing. 

“Please, forgive my manners. I’m Addison Sinclair, Whiskey’s woman,” Addy said walking up to the young lady. Damn, saying those words out loud felt weird. 

Addy hated lying in any shape or form.  From the outside looking in, she was Whiskey’s woman, but that was all there was to it.  The chemistry the two of them had was off the charts, but the baggage was almost unbearable.  Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she couldn’t resist asking.

“How are you connected to the Club?”  The woman looked like she should be in a library or preschool somewhere, not in an Outlaw Motorcycle Clubhouse around a bunch of bad boys. Katie didn’t give her a chance to think any longer, she walked up and gave Addy a hug.

 “Congratulations. I don’t know Whiskey that well, but from what I have seen, he’s a really nice guy. My Dad was a member of the Ruthless Bastards up in Franklin, he passed away, and I came down here to get away for a while before school started up again.”

 “Oh, don’t let her schoolgirl looks fool you, Addy, Katie was raised in the Club, but the only reason she is here is Tuck,” Reagan laughed. That surprised Addy, Tuck was a great guy, but he was also the epitome of rough around the edges.  The contrast between him and Katie was huge.  He screamed badass biker, and she screamed school marm, but in a good way.  Maybe sexy librarian worked better.  Addy knew Tuck liked his women on the skanky side. This girl just didn’t fit, plus she had to be at least ten to fifteen years younger than the man, not to mention, innocent as all get out.

The bright red blush on her beautiful face only proved the point to Addy. Katie pushed Reagan’s shoulder playfully.

“Oh, shut up, you. I might want the man, I won’t deny it, because, damn, he is fine, but he hasn’t even noticed that I’m alive other than to tell me to go home.” 

Addy felt sorry for Katie because, although, she was making a joke out of what Tuck said, Addy could see the deep-seated sadness in the other woman’s eyes. 

“Anyway, when Cinny called, I decided to help out, hence the food.  It is also my way of saying goodbye to the guys. I’m headed out in the morning.  As Tuck would put it, I finally got a clue in this thick skull of mine,” Katie made the statement, complete with a deep, over-exaggerated man’s voice.  Addy and Reagan both laughed because it did kind of sound like Tuck.  Too bad she could also see how sad the words made Katie.

“Oh, hon, one of these days that man will get his head out of his ass and realize what he has lost.” 

“Yeah right, Rea, we both know with the amount of unstringed pussy hanging around this place, Tuck won’t be looking for anything else for a long time.  It’s his loss.  It’s also not his fault he doesn’t feel the same way about me as I do him, it’s time to move on.  School starts soon and I need to get my head back in the game, it’s been too long.

The three of them chatted while they stored the food and continued to clean the kitchen.  It was finally smelling good instead of something you would find in a frat house.  Addy discovered that she really liked Katie, she was amazing. At only twenty-one, she was already in her second year of medical school, going into her third.  She reminded her a lot of her best friend, Carri. Katie didn’t seem to belong with a bunch of bikers.  Addy asked if Katie would stick around to say goodbye? 

“Nope, the guys have been good to me, but I doubt any of them will notice when I’m gone. I just wanted to do something, you know.”

Addy could relate because she too wanted to do something nice for the men that were helping her.  They had a way of worming themselves into your life without you knowing how it happened.  Tuck, Tank, and Talon had been there for her and Carri when she had no one.  Shit, even Link, in his own black-hearted way, looked out for her. Brass and a few of the other guys had come to the farm over the years and offered to help her out with the animals or harvest, and Addy had been too blinded by her grief to pay much attention or put any stock into their actions. So, instead of giving Katie a hard time or trying to figure out what was going on with her, she simply said, “I get it,” hugged Katie goodbye, thanking her for the food.

“I hope they find out who is after you, Addy,” Katie surprised her by saying. Addy had never said anything about what was going on.

“You don’t have to say anything, I can see the bruises, and I know the RBMC doesn’t tolerate any violence against women.  I also know the Club is on the verge of a lockdown, another reason I am high-tailing it out of town before that can happen. I might be wrong, but I think it all stems back to you. Also,” she said winking, “don’t judge a book by its cover. I’ve lived in the MC world my entire life, you’re the baby in this pool. 

Shit, Addy didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t going to tell this sweet woman what was going on with her, the Club, or Whiskey, but Katie proved herself to be rather astute because she had figured out a lot of it already. 

“Hey, why don’t we exchange numbers? Maybe you can give me some pointers while I make my way into the deep end,” Addy suggested.

“I’d like that. When you’re ready to get rid of you water wings, I’ll help you swim,” Katie smiled, and they both laughed. Now that she had gotten to know Katie a little, there was a part of her that thought Katie would be good for Tuck; maybe she could help.

Addy made her way out into the bar area, and although it wasn’t as clean as the kitchen, the place looked better than it had before she set out her little mandate.  Well, at least her feet weren’t sticking to the floor anymore, and the all the tables and other surfaces in the area were clear of litter. It was a start, but not an end.  If it was her responsibility to keep this place clean and tidy, she needed to get with Cinny and Reagan, and work out a plan because they hadn’t even scratched the surface.

She noticed that only Blade and one of the Prospects, she couldn’t remember his name, were in the room, the Puppets nowhere to be seen.  Going up to the bar, Addy took a seat next to Blade.

“Hey, please tell me the girls did this and not someone else,” Addy asked, indicating the room. 

“Well, hon, I have never been a man to lie to a beautiful woman, and I won’t start now. All you need to know is those girls used their particular talents and made sure the job got done.” 

Argh, that wasn’t good. Damn.  Addy put her head down on the bar.

“Oh, now darlin, it ain’t all that bad, the shit got done, that’s all that matters right now.”

“I’m not very good at the Old Lady thing,” Addy said dejectedly, peeking up at Blade.

“Damn, hon, guys like Whiskey and me don’t give a shit how an Old Lady handles a bunch of Puppets. What matters to us is that you keep the bed warm and a smile on your face when we come to yah. Cooking and cleaning don’t mean shit at the end of the day. Take it from an old codger like me, honey, Whiskey might appreciate what you did here today, but it’s not what matters most.”

Addy couldn’t help it, she buried her head in her arms again.

“I don’t know if I will be any good at that either.”  She whispered, hoping that Blade hadn’t heard, but she was out of luck.

“Yeah, I heard some stuff you kids have gone through, can’t live in this town and not hear shit.  But, the way I look at it, you’ve got to ask yourself a couple of questions. Can you support your man and his Club for the long haul? If the answer is no, then leave that boy alone and move along because he’s not thinking of this in terms of a few nights, hon, he is playing for keeps.”

Addy didn’t believe him. Whiskey wasn’t playing for keeps, he was playing for the here and now, and he always walked away. He wanted to make up for the past so they could both move on.  She wanted that too, but was afraid that she couldn’t keep her heart out of it.  She still loved him, and a small part of her wanted to be there for him for the long haul, she just didn’t know how to make that happen or if it was even possible. 

“Hon, I can tell that you don’t believe me, and that’s okay, only time will tell.  I’ve been watching over these boys for a long while now, and I can tell you that Whisk has changed since coming back to Defiance.  He isn’t the same man he used to be. For a while there, I was worried he was going to Nomad because he wasn’t finding his place, but I’ll be damned, if the moment you walked into this room yesterday his eyes didn’t light up like nothing I have ever seen before.  That boy has it bad for you.  Claimed your ass in front of his Brothers and his Club. The only thing left for that man is to sign on the dotted line and get his ink slapped on your ass.  Now, it’s time for you to decide if he’s worth the chance you’ll have to take.

“Another thing, hon, you can’t hold something against a man that happened before he knew how to be one.” Blade got up, patted Addy on the back, and walked away.  He was right, she was either going to be a hundred percent in or a hundred percent out, there couldn’t be any in-between with her and Whiskey.  If this was the final chapter, she had to accept that, and everything that went with it; if they were back at the beginning, building something, she needed to put everything she had into that and hope it was enough.

Addy heard the rumble of bikes before she ever saw any of the guys; the sound was unbelievable.  The windows shook, it was almost like a freight train or, hell, twenty bikers were coming right through the walls.  Addy laughed a little to herself.  Looking around, the once empty room was filling up. Bambi and Flo came out of hiding, and Cinny and Reagan walked in from the kitchen.  Crash made his way into the room from down the hall where Addy knew the offices sat.  Tuck was the first one through the door, ever watchful, he seemed to make quick work of assessing the Clubhouse and smiled.

“It looks like you have been busy.” He might have said the words while looking at Addy, but Bambi was the one to take the credit for the state of the Clubhouse.

“Oh, Tuck, we have been working hard since you all left. I hope you like it, there’s even food in the kitchen just waiting for you.” Addy snorted, she couldn’t help it, the woman was acting like she did more than just give a Prospect a blowjob. Tuck in true biker fashion patted the woman on her head.

“Right, maybe I’ll let you suck my dick later for a job well done.”  Bambi looked so excited by those words, her smile was nothing less than beaming. 

Addy didn’t know what to think, she wanted to feel bad for the other woman, but couldn’t find it within herself to do so. She could call her out, but, if Tuck wanted to believe the woman worked herself to the bone for the Club, so be it.  All Addy cared about, at this moment, was getting her eyes on Whiskey.  She needed to see him, make sure he was okay, and that he was still here. Damn, that he was still in this with her; that little insecurity wouldn’t be leaving her for a long while. 

Her eyes caught on the man she seemed to have waited a lifetime for; he looked pleased. He also looked, dared she think it, horny.  The man had lust in his eyes, and it was all directed at her.  She liked it.  His gait, as he made his way to her at the bar, was steady and sure. He was a man on a mission, and it looked like she was the mission. He didn’t stop until he reached her, and, in a move she was learning was pure Whiskey, he grabbed her head and kissed the sense right out of her. After he broke the kiss, it took her a while to figure out he was saying to her; damn, the man had a way of making her mind go completely blank.  Well, not completely, he just filled it with thoughts of him and him alone.

“Missed ya, Babe, did you do all this?” Whiskey asked. Addy still wasn’t with it and could only stare into his gorgeous green eyes. The same eyes she had been dreaming about for ten years.  They may be older, and probably wiser with little lines around the edges, but those eyes could ignite every naughty dream she’d ever had.  Addy managed a small yes to answer his question and then did something she had been longing to do for a long time.  Reaching up she grabbed the back of Whiskey’s head and pulled him closer to her lips.

This kiss was the first she had ever instigated with him, and she was going for it as if her life depended on it.  Someone cleared their throat, and from the sound of it they were close to her and Whiskey; she didn’t want to stop the kiss, but she didn’t have a choice.  Giving him one last chaste kiss on his firm and supple lips, she told him, “Missed you too.” She had wanted those couple of seconds before the real word intruded on them.

“Are you ready to beg, Addison?” Whiskey whispered. She could feel his erection through her jeans, pressing right into the place she desperately wanted to feel him again.  Addy wanted to say yes and beg for him to take her to his room and fuck the hell out of her, but something was holding her back.  She just couldn’t take that final step that would put them together once and for all. Whiskey didn’t make her answer, instead kissed her one last time.

“It’s okay, babe, sooner or later you will beg, and I’ll give you what we both want. I can be a patient man our time will come,” he promised, tweaking her nose; what he didn’t do was walk away.  He stood there, and they talked about everything and nothing, it felt perfect. 

They spent some time at the bar, before Addy went into the kitchen, and, with Cinny’s and Reagan’s help, brought out the food Katie had brought. The guys pushed a bunch of the tables together, and they all sat down as a family. It was nice, but what was even better was that Whiskey was by her side the entire time. If he was talking to someone, he rubbed her shoulder or held her hand. 

She and Whiskey hung out with the guys, talking and drinking.  It was fun, and the most relaxed Addy had felt in a long time.  She noticed that Whiskey, Link, and Talon were distant from each other, but still interacted trading jabs and jeers.  Brass, though, that man was a hoot, you never knew what would come out of his mouth.  He seemed always to be trying to piss one of the guys off, but in a way that made everyone around them laugh. They were all feeling a little loose from the booze when Brass started talking to her about quality pussy.

“Now, the way I see it, sweetheart, if a man like me finds quality pussy, he is obligated to keep that shit. Get what I’m saying?”

“Sure,” Addy laughed, because what else was she supposed to say. 

Whiskey had been sitting next to her with his hand draped behind her chair, not paying attention to the conversation she and Brass were having. 

“See, you get it. I told Whisk that yesterday, quality pussy makes a man come back for more, do you have quality pussy Addy?”

Um… no way in hell she would answer that question, and thankfully, she didn’t have to because Whiskey lifted Addy out of her chair and placed her on his lap.

“Brass, you don’t need to be talking to Addison about pussy.”

“But, Brother…”

“Nope, no buts, Addison’s pussy is off limits. You’re not going to talk about it, think about it, or ever see it, so fuck off.” Addy would have laughed at the disgruntled look on Brass’s face if they weren’t talking about her private parts. The man actually looked upset by not getting his answer. How the hell would she have replied that anyways? 

“Come on, babe, time for bed.” Addy wasn’t really tired, but she didn’t put up too much of a fight when Whiskey picked her up and placed her on her feet, grabbed her hand, and started for the stairs.  She was getting kind of excited, she wanted to be alone with him. 

Once they made it into the room things changed, the relaxed, laid-back vibe they had been feeling downstairs disappeared.  Whiskey looked tense and stressed, and Addy was having a case of nerves she couldn’t quite explain. 

“Hey, babe, why don’t you hit the shower?” Addy didn’t know what to do with herself, but after cleaning for hours and then spending time with the guys drinking, she felt dirty, so a shower sounded perfect about then.  She looked at Whiskey and was tempted to ask him to join her, to get the elephant between them out of the way, but he just looked at her and shook his head. Coming over, he hugged her.

“Not the time, babe.” She should have left it at that and gone on her way, but she couldn’t.

“Why not?

“Babe, you’re not ready, and to be honest, I don’t think I am, either. We have a lot of shit to work through that that sex won’t fix. But, if you believe that for one minute I don’t want you and that tight-assed body, you’re fucking delusional.”  

“But…”

“No, babe, I can walk out of this room and get a quick fuck anytime, I don’t even need to ask for it. What we have going here is more than that, and before it happens, which it will, I want you to realize that, because once I get in there again, I’m never leaving, understand?”

Addy nodded her head, not knowing what else to say. She wanted to believe him, but something was still holding her back.  The problem was she didn’t trust him to stick around and only time would change that.  She started for the bathroom, but realized she didn’t have anything to change into. Cinny had brought her clothes that morning, but she had nothing else that was clean. 

“Ah, Aiden, can I have one of your shirts to sleep in?”

He said nothing, just went to the dresser and pulled out a t-shirt, handing it to her.

“Love the thought of you wearing my shit, babe,” giving Addy a small kiss. That kiss was nothing compared to the others he had given her recently, but for some reason, it felt like more.  Addy could feel all those bricks she had laid so carefully around her heart cracking. 

Addy took her shower and walked out into the room. Whiskey had been messing with a guitar she hadn’t seen before. He wasn’t playing a song, more like just making noise, but she liked it.  He seemed to be so into his task he didn’t notice her coming out of the bathroom.  She listened for a little while.

“Bathroom’s all yours, I even left you a little hot water.”

This time he smiled, and she was taken back fifteen years to the first time she had ever seen him smile a real smile.  It was still as breathtaking as it had been back then. 

Addy didn’t know what to do while Whiskey, no Aiden, shit, she needed to get a handle on what to call him. He wanted her to call him Aiden when they were alone, but she was starting to like Whiskey. Aiden was the boy who had hurt her, and Whiskey was the man she was starting to crave.  Getting into bed she pulled the covers up over her chest, hell, she brought them all the way up to her neck, thinking to herself, this was so weird. She had never spent the night with a guy, she didn’t know what to do or how to act.

Whiskey came out of the bathroom, dressed only in a pair of black, boxer briefs. Damn, the man was H.O.T.  He could be on an ad selling underwear.  He walked over to her side of the bed and just stared. When she didn’t say anything, just looked back, and told her to scoot over. 

“Babe, this is my side of the bed, you get the other one.”  Addy kind of felt weird, so she scooted over, and he got into the bed.  She stayed on her side, nervously fiddling with the blanket. Gone was the arousal she felt earlier, in its place was a kind of panic she didn’t know what to do with. What now?  They were in bed together, and he said they weren’t going to do anything. She was too keyed up to sleep, but what else was she supposed to do now, stare at the ceiling?

Damn, he fucked-up again. Addison had been all hot and heavy for him, and now she was trying to fit herself into a one-foot section of his California King. He wasn’t having any of that; once he got himself into bed, he pulled her body over so that her head was cushioned on his chest.  At first, she was stiff, and Whiskey was afraid she would move away, but then she put her arm around his waist running her fingers around on his chest.  Damn, not fucking her would kill him, but she needed to know he was here for more than that.

“Babe, what's going on in that head of yours?”

“What's not going on in my head?  Shit, Aiden, I don’t even know where to begin.  Two days ago, we hated each other, and now I’m your Old Lady, and we’re sleeping in the same bed. Not to mention, everything else that has happened. I don’t know which end is up right now.”

“Yeah, I get that, but, Babe, this thing between you and me, I’ll let you in on a little secret, I never once hated you. I was pissed, but hell that can happen anytime, you like pushing my buttons. I’ll let you in on another one, I might have left you ten years ago, but you were with me on every mission and every dark hole I found myself in.  I would think of you sitting on my truck in the sundress smiling at me, and somehow, I always made it through all the bad shit going on around me.

“We have a crap load of shitty history, babe, and I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to forgive me for the part I played in it.  But you need to know I’m not that scared little boy that ran away from his feelings all those years ago, I’m a man who takes what I want, when I want it, and right now I want you.”

Addy looked up to him with tears in her eyes.

“That’s the problem, Aiden, for how long.  Do you only want me for the here and now to work this thing out between us, or do you want me for the long haul?”

“Can’t answer that, babe, neither of us know how all this will play out.  Right now, at this very moment, I can tell you that I want forever, but I don’t know what the future holds.  Shit, babe, I live in a dangerous world, we might be the good guys, but that doesn’t mean we always do good things.  Hell, tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, all I know is, right now, I am right where I want to be, you are a part of me. I never really had a home, but somehow, when I’m with you, I feel that way; you, Addison Sinclair, are my home.” 

Those walls Addy built around her heart crumbled and crashed. Aiden was saying everything she had wanted him to say all those years ago.  He was choosing a life with her; that he considered her his home warmed her in ways she couldn’t even start to explain.  This strong, confident man was laying himself out on a silver platter, all she had to do was accept him for who he was and forgive him for what he had done. 

“I’m laying it all out for you, now you need to decide if you can forgive me enough to move forward.  I can’t tell you I would have changed how things went down, I don’t think I would have.  The baby, you, me leaving, I wasn’t in the right place to take care of any that, I was so angry it took me years to realize I was trying to live my life to impress some nameless, faceless people, and move on.  The question is can you or will you move on with me?”

“Yeah, I think I will.”  

“Glad to hear it, babe, because I wasn’t going to accept any other answer. Now sleep, we have a hell of a lot of shit to figure out and I for one am dogged tired.” 

Whiskey pulled her in a little closer, and Addy had never felt more loved or safe.  The kiss to her forehead was like the cherry on top of a sundae, not needed, but savored just the same.  Addy knew her love for Aiden had never died, it just took a detour, and she was liking the direction it was heading now, after all this time. She fell asleep for the first time in years looking forward to what was to come. She should have known things would change because real life wasn’t a fairytale.

Addy woke up feeling very warm and trapped.  It took a moment for her mind to get online, and then she remembered she was in Whiskey’s bed and the warmth she was feeling was coming from him. She thought about everything that had happened and the things that were still yet to come, and for the first time in a long while, she felt excited. 

Her life wasn’t a bad one, but it was lonely. She had friends, but running the farm took up most of her time.  If she wasn’t tending to the animals, then she was tending to the crops.  It was never-ending hard and dirty work, and for the most part, she loved it, but something had always been missing from her life.

Laying there in Whiskey’s arms, she realized what that was. He said she felt like home to him, and at first, she hadn’t really understood.  Her home was the old farmhouse she grew up in, or at least that was what she had thought, until now.  Now, she understood, they say home is where your heart is, and Whiskey invaded every inch of hers. 

She wanted him. Not only that, she wanted whatever this was that was building between the two of them.  Addy loved the feel of his hands on her and craved more kisses, not to mention other things.  She wanted that moment where they came together and everything exploded into lights and fireworks like she had read in romance novels.  It might have been a simple thought, but damn this man made her want to dream again.  To be free and wild like he was and live for the moment.  Having spent so much time living in the past, she was ready to escape the box she had built for herself.

Running her hand over his rock-hard abs, Addy was tempted to take it further, she wanted to follow that little line of hair that disappeared into the waistband of his boxer briefs and explore the man he had become.  Taking a chance, she couldn’t resist the temptation, Addy brushed her finger down the line of fine springy hair. She was almost to her goal when a big hand stopped her movement.

“Morning, babe, I see you still like to play with fire,” Whiskey’s gravelly deep, morning voice greeted her and sparked the fire in her panties to inferno levels.  Damn, his regular voice always caused a reaction in her body, but hearing him in the morning, after spending the night being held close, that was something she wanted to feel and hear every day for the rest of her life.

Whiskey rubbed her arm and back, waiting for a reply, but when she wasn’t fast enough, he pulled her body up until she was laying on top of him, straddling him and his very hard erection.  Addy couldn’t have stopped her next move if her life depended on it.  She ground hips down over him and moaned at the contact.  Looking into his eyes, she kissed him long, deep, and hard, bringing her hands up to hold his face in place for the best possible exploration of her tongue. 

Addy should have known better than to try to take control. Whiskey wasn’t a man to let her just have her way.  He was dominant, always had been, always would be.  He flipped their positions, and took over the kiss, placing his covered cock in the very place she needed him most; Addy couldn’t help but arch her back at the sensation.  It felt so good, his weight, his dick at her core, the heat, and the frantic kiss.  He was moving his hips in a way that she wished the clothes they both had on would spontaneously combust, so she could feel him deep within her body.  She wanted nothing separating them anymore, she wanted it all.

“Are you ready to beg baby, are you willing to trust me to give you what we both need and want?” Whiskey asked between kisses and grinds.  Addy was so close to coming, she couldn’t say a word, only nodding in response. “Not good enough, babe, you need to say the words.  Tell me how you want me to fuck you.  Tell me if you want it hard and rough or soft and sweet.” 

Addy moaned when his dick made another pass at her extended clit, she was so close just a little more friction, and she would fly.  But she didn’t want to come without him being inside of her, she wanted to feel him penetrating her body like he had her heart.  She wanted it all or nothing.

“Please, Whiskey, please.” 

“Not good enough, babe, you know what I want to hear.  Say it, Addison.”

Addy had heard the rip of fabric before she felt the sting on her hips.  Whiskey had literally torn her underwear off, now she was bared to him, but he was still covered.  Moving her hands down his back Addy pushed the offending fabric over his ass then moved one hand around to the front of him and releasing the monster he had hidden from the fabric’s grasp.  He was so much larger than she remembered and so very hot.  She wanted to flip him back over and devour him, but she wanted something else even more. 

“Say it, Addison, make us both happy, give me what I want.”

Addy knew what he wanted her to say. She wasn't sure she could say it.  He didn’t simply want her to beg for him to fuck her, he wanted her to give him everything.  To forgive him for the past and move forward.  To accept the man he was today as well as the boy he had once been.  God, she wanted to.

“Please, Whiskey, fuck me!” 

“Say it, Addison, give me what I want, what I need.”

Addy didn’t have a choice and couldn’t deny him or herself any further.

“Oh God, please, Aiden, I need you, please!”

“Damn right, baby, beg me!”  Whiskey growled as he plunged into her without stopping.

“Fuck, Addison, you feel so damn good.  Shit, babe this is going to be quick, I’m so sorry.  Damn, I didn’t want this, I wanted to make up for the last time, but, baby, shit, you’re so tight and wet for me.  I didn’t believe it, Addison, I thought I remembered it wrong, made things up in my mind, made it better than it actually was, but, hell babe, this is everything.”   

Addy was overwhelmed, the feel of him being inside her so full and intense, it was like they were one person.  Her body was tingling, and she knew she was going to go over the edge, but she couldn’t seem to get there.

“Aiden, please, harder, please do something, do anything, please!”

Whiskey picked up speed, thrusting into her body like the bats of hell were on his ass, and Addy loved every second of it. The headboard was hitting the wall, and she was moaning and screaming so loudly, she knew her voice was going to give out.

“I got you, babe, I know what you need.” Changing his angle and thrusting harder, Whiskey hit the spot within her body that made tingles run up her body and curled her toes.  The feeling was so intense, she couldn’t breathe; her body was strung so tight, she was afraid to do anything.

“Let go, baby, come for me.”

Addy exploded, bright lights, fireworks, and everything in between.  She felt like she was in a place between time and space where everything stopped, and it was only her and Aiden.  

Addy vaguely remembered hearing Aiden grunt out her name and move off of her body.  He was still holding her tight, his arms around her waist, his head pillowed on her breast.  She wanted to move her hand up and run it through his hair, offer him the same comfort and affection he was giving her, but she couldn’t move.  Her body was on fire, every few seconds another spasm would rack her body, bring her more and more pleasure.  Damn, this was everything she had hoped for and more.  Aiden looked up at her with the emerald green eyes, the ones that were so familiar, yet so foreign.

“Babe, are you okay did I hurt you?”

Finally, finding her strength, Addy brought her hands up and sifted them through his hair.

“Oh, Aiden, I am more than okay.” 

“Then why are you crying?”

Addy hadn’t even realized she was crying, everything had been so intense, so powerful that she got caught up in the moment.  Even if Aiden walked away, she knew he would always be the only man she ever loved.

“Just happy, that was incredible.” 

“Yeah, it wasn’t that bad,” Aiden teased. Addy was about to get really pissed, but then he got a big, shit-eating grin on his face and sucked her nipple into his mouth, hard.  Addy pushed him away.

“No boobs for you, mister.  I was basking in the glow, and you had to ruin it with your smart mouth.” 

“Oh, think I have a smart mouth?  How about a sexy mouth, maybe even a tantalizing mouth?” 

“Oh, Aiden talk dirty to me, tantalizing is such a naughty word, big, too, I’m surprised it's in your vocabulary,” Addy teased, trying not to laugh. 

“I’ll show you tantalizing.” Whiskey started laying open mouth kisses all over her body and Addy was nearly at her breaking point once again when suddenly, the door to his room flew open and Cinny walked in. 

“Oh, this is going to be fun, how about I pull up a chair? I love a good show.” 

Addy was mortified and scrambled to find something to cover her body.  They had destroyed the bed, so her only option was Aiden.  Yeah, probably not the best choice; having him on top her only made her want to continue what they had started, regardless of Cinny's presence.

“Get out Cinnamon,” Whiskey yelled.

“No can do, Whiskey, you have a meeting in ten and Addy needs to get up and get dressed. Breakfast isn’t going to make itself, and we all know I can’t cook.”

Both Addy and Whiskey groaned.  Shit, she didn’t want to get out of bed and make breakfast.  She wanted to stay in bed and eat Aiden for breakfast. 

“Out Cinnamon. Now,” Whiskey grunted.

“Damn, you claimed boys take all the fun out of everything. You two have five minutes and then I’m coming back in whether you like it or not.”  Seconds later, Addy heard the door slam.  Whiskey brushed his hand over her cheeks.

“Morning, baby,” he murmured and kissed her, which turned into a lot more, but the pounding on the door for the minute countdown wasn’t helping either of them.

“Damn, okay babe, I got to go.” Grinding his hips forward, he said, “Shit, I really don’t want to go. Think Tuck would beat the shit out of me if I blow him off and stay here instead of going to Church?” 

“Think your Brothers will make themselves breakfast and not throw a fit?” Addy laughed.

“Damn.”

Chapter 13

Whiskey walked into Church for the first time not wanting to be there.  He wanted to be back in bed with Addison.  Shit, what they had done was more sex.  They made love, and it changed him.  He knew he had wanted her before, shit, even craved her, but now he wanted everything.  The jacket, the tattoo, the ring, and the paper.  He wanted to own every single part of Addison Sinclair. 

“What up, asshole,” Brass was the first one in his face. “You look like you’re not happy to be sharing this quality time with your Brothers, what could possibly be up with that. Hmm? Could it have anything to do with that quality pussy you found yourself in this morning?” 

“Shut it, asshole.”

“Dude, I’m just saying maybe you should send Doc to your room to check Addy out. Damn, I was sure we were having an earthquake right here in Defiance, even jumped out of bed and ran for the doorway to save myself. After all that screaming and shaking, I thought the world was ending. Once I woke up and figured out what was going on, I still stood in the damn doorway cuz I thought you two were going to break through.  Damn, now do you see what I mean about quality, nothing like that shit,” Brass said slapping him on the back.  Whiskey couldn’t help it, he laughed along with the other guys sitting at the table.

“Damn, dude, Addy’s a screamer, I heard her myself,” Tuck said shaking his head, “just proves you can’t judge a book by its cover, an angel on the arm and a demon between the sheets, Congratulations, Bro.”  Whiskey didn’t need to look at any of his Brothers sitting around the table, all of them were snickering and trying to hold back their laughter. Damn.

“Yeah, laugh it up boys, at least I know how to please my girl, you're just jealous.”

“I don’t know about that, man, I timed that shit start to finish, maybe five minutes and I’m being generous. Starting to think Link’s teeny weeny syndrome isn’t the only thing that is going to bring the Frost name down. Stamina, Bro, that’s the key, they even have pills for that shit now,” Talon joked. 

“Okay, assholes, simmer down,” Tuck said slamming the gavel against the table. “I realize Whiskey’s sex life will be the topic of conversation for, shit, God only knows how long, but we have more important things to discuss.

“Crank has confirmed that the Satan Vultures are responsible for the attack on him and Cathy, as well as Addy. They weren’t wearing their cuts during any of the attacks, but some of the guys had loose lips, thinking Crank wouldn’t make it through his stay with them.  Those assholes have been on our radar for a while now, so we know their MO; snatch, keep, and distribution.  They are strictly muscle, someone else is always pulling the strings. Addy heard them mention a boss, so did Crank.

“We need to figure out who that boss is, and why they have decided to start a war with us.  Going after Addy and the farm was one thing, but the shit they did to Cathy and Cranks puts this on a whole different level.  Last night, two Vultures tried to finish the job by getting into Cathy’s hospital room.  Crank was able to stop them, but he sustained some more damage he didn’t need. I posted Creed and Crash on the door until further notice. 

“Here are the questions we need answered, like yesterday. Are these fuckers coming after the RBMC specifically, and if so, why? We fucked-up one of their transfers, took down their guys, but even that doesn’t warrant this kind of retaliation.  Two—Why did they want the farm so badly, and how do they have detailed maps of the caves?  Shit, I’ve lived here most of my life and didn’t know about those caves.  Three—What was up with that wire Addy was wearing when she came here, it wasn’t even transmitting?  We have enough security in and around the Clubhouse that it would have picked up on that before she even hit the door.”

“Oh, hell no, you don’t think Addy is involved with those fuckers,” Whiskey growled, slapping his hand down on the table.

“Shut the fuck up, Whisk, no one thinks Addy is involved with the Vultures. It doesn’t make sense, they had to know she would ask us for help instead of doing their bidding.  Why go to such elaborate means to make sure she ended up here?” Link admonished.

Made sense, Whiskey thought, and it was true Addison had a good head on her shoulders and even scared, she would work out the best way to help everyone involved.  Their past wouldn’t have even played into it.

“I’ve done some digging, and I’m not coming up with a whole lot, so I gave Peyton a call.  Her and Wyatt were able to track down an order on the dark web.  It’s pretty vague, but the gist of it is, someone seems to want our attention diverted elsewhere for a while,” Talon explained.

“My sources are confirming that. A couple of junkies and some gang bangers have been paid bank to keep our focus on the Club and the Club alone.  Of course, I changed their minds about going through with whatever they had planned,” Tank boasted, cracking his split knuckles.

Whiskey might not like Tank, but the Dude was a badass, and one mean motherfucker.  It was almost like he’d lost the switch that tells a person the difference between right and wrong somewhere along the way.  No, that wasn’t exactly true, he knew what was right, but chose to do wrong.  Several of the Brothers have had the pleasure of dragging him out of one of his spins.  Not a fun time, but his aggression and ability to get the answers the Club needed was why the guy was next in line for the Enforcer’s position if Crank ever decided to step down.

“I checked out our new FBI handler, and I’m not liking what I’m seeing, the guy is status hungry.  He wants to make a name for himself, and he doesn’t care how that happens.  Washington sent him this way because he has already screwed up two major cases.  Funny thing is, he also became a pretty rich man when those cases were flushed down the toilet,” Jinx added.

“How didn’t D.C. catch on to that?” Tuck asked.

“Dude covered his tracks pretty good, but when you know where to look, that stuff is sitting right out there for you to find. I happen to know where to look. He puts the cash under his foster brother's name in the Caymans; said brother died at the age of four, different last name, no familial link. Tracked the money, and low and behold, Agent Ramies ugly mug showed up on bank surveillance.” 

“Fuck me, so we have an Outlaw Club coming after our people, junkies, and gang bangers ready to cause havoc, and a rogue FBI agent out to make a buck and name for himself.” Tuck concluded.

“Sounds about right,” Link said. “Now, all we have to do is figure out who in Defiance is pulling the strings, or,” he said laughing, “holding the purse strings.  Either one would make our jobs easier.” 

“Don’t think we will have it easy for a while, Brothers. Last night four new cases came in, all high level and above board.  Each coming from a different alphabet agency.  We can’t watch our home front if we accept the missions and let me tell you, everyone in this room would want to take these missions.  All little girls under the age of eight. 

A bunch of ‘fuck me’ and other swear words followed Tucks announcement. 

“I contacted the Lexington Chapter, and they are going to take two of the cases off our hands.  I also put in a call to Declan Quinn at NAC to see if his group would be willing to take the other two.  It’s right up their alley, problem is he hasn’t returned my call, and both cases are time sensitive.” 

“I could put a call into Jackson. He heads up my brother’s crews for NAC.  He might be willing to help or at least give us a name of someone that will,” Link offered.

“Yeah, do that and let me know what he has to say.  If they decline, then we will have to send a couple of you out.” 

Damn, if Tuck was farming out missions, things were even worse than Whiskey thought.  What was happening right now was bad, but nothing they couldn’t handle themselves, even with Brothers out on missions. The Vultures were a bunch of sadistic thugs, but manageable.  A well-planned attack could take them out in one night, and the RBMC was known for being Ruthless.

“Here’s the deal, we need more information. The Vultures are holed up somewhere close; we need to find that location, take it out, and grab someone who can answer some of these questions.  Agent Ramies is a thorn in our sides, right now. I have already shot him down a few times, and he is getting pissed. Wants to think he runs things when that’s not the way we work.  He’s going to be a problem. We work on the right side of the law, but you all know we do that without a safety net. I wouldn’t put it past this fucker to try to prove how vulnerable he thinks we are; we will just have to show him the ropes.” 

“Agreed,” Link concurred, “but I believe we need to consider catching one the of higher ups in the Vultures and press him for information. We need to know the cause of all this, and who is at the top. Our local law enforcement contacts have been quiet lately, a little too quiet if you ask me.  That could mean added problems. If our reputation and cash in their pockets isn’t enough to keep the information flowing, then we need to figure out who gave them a better deal.”

“Shit, this just keeps on getting worse. Okay, for now, Addy stays on lockdown. I don’t want her to step foot out of this Club without a team of Brothers. They got to her once, and I don’t doubt they will try again.  We will keep a presence at the hospital until Cathy and Crank are ready to move, but I want the rest of you guys out there turning over rocks.  Once we figure this shit out, we can find a solution.

“Link, I think we need to have a party, invite Val and as many of her friends out as possible. Get them talking; with the amount of money being thrown around, it has to be someone she knows.  We can even make it special for them. I’ll have all the Puppets stand down tonight, no other hanger-ons, just Val’s group.  All of you fuckers not on duty are required to attend.  Do and say what you have to and make it spill.  Whisk you might want to keep Addy locked up.” 

“Understood.”  Shit, Whiskey wanted nothing else but to lock Addison up, but that was with him naked for hours upon hours.  She wasn’t going to like him hanging out with Val’s group of vipers while she hung out in his room, alone. He knew she still didn’t trust him, entirely.  Lusted after him, maybe, even cared, but doing this might break what they just started building. 

“Let’s wrap, for now; we will be having Church daily until this is all figured out.  I want daily reports from all members. Start preparing for a lockdown boys because with the way things are going now, we are headed that way. I don’t see any fast or easy solutions.”  Tuck pounded the gavel and announced meeting adjourned. 

Whiskey walked out of Church and went in search of Addison.  He needed to see her, wanted to touch her, and spend as much time with her as he could before he had to leave to take care of business. He spotted her walking out of the kitchen holding a massive platter, her head down, but like a moth to a flame, as soon as she felt his eyes on her, Addison looked up.  Damn, she was beautiful, she was also sporting some pretty red cheeks. What made her blush that bright? Whiskey walked up, took the platter and placed it on the table.

“Hey, babe, missed you.” And then did what he really wanted and kissed her.  Addison pulled away after only a few seconds causing him to growl.  He wanted more, he was starved for her. 

“Did you just growl at me?” Addison whispered in his ear.

“Damn straight. We stop when I want to stop and not a second sooner.” 

“Okay, mister caveman,” Addison laughed. “Ah, Whiskey can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, babe, can’t guarantee I will be able to answer, but ask away.”  Addison looked puzzled by his response, but they could talk about that later. He couldn’t and wouldn’t respond to questions involving the Club; as an Old Lady, she needed to know that and live by those rules.  Whiskey watched, almost in awe, as he cheeks got even brighter red. 

“Was I really loud this morning?” she whispered in his ear

Whiskey chuckled, damn it felt good. Addison looked so embarrassed, but it must have been better than he thought if she couldn’t even remember the noise she was making; he thought it was out of this world.  But, before he could say anything, Brass the fucker, ruined it.

“Oh no, Addy girl, you were quiet as a church mouse, no one heard a thing.  Did you know that Defiance has earthquakes?”  Addy just looked at him perplexed. “Me neither. This morning, I could have sworn I felt the ground move and then some chick was screaming, Oh God, Oh God.  I had to Google that shit just to be prepared in case it happened again.” Addy surprised him again and further proved she was meant for him and this life. 

“I don’t know, Brass, I heard we would be experiencing quakes off the rector scale just about every night for the foreseeable future. You might want to catch up on your survival skills,” Addison winked and kissed him on the cheek.  She might have been embarrassed, but she could play with the best of them. 

“Will do, Addy girl, think I might order some of those big pads you put on the walls, helps prevents cracks, and damn, looky here, even says it dampens noise. What do you think, a good investment?” 

“I don’t know, brassy boy, your room was awfully quiet last night and that damn earthquake seemed to be isolated to one area,” Addy said rubbing up on a grinning Whiskey. “Heard you were standing in the doorway all by your lonesome; maybe, if you’re lucky, you can find a quality earthquake of your own one day.  After all, it’s all about the quality. Don’t you agree?”

“That it is, Addy girl, that it is.” All the guys laughed and sat down to eat breakfast.  Addison fit right in with them, and Whiskey couldn’t have been happier.  After everyone had eaten, Addison went to get up and go into the kitchen to clean up, but Whiskey stopped her.

“Hey, babe, let the other girls do that shit, we need to talk.” Damn, Addy thought, no woman wanted to hear those words coming out of her man’s mouth.  “Oh no, babe, no looking like that. Come on, now, I can guarantee it's not what your sharp little mind is thinking.” 

Once they got into his room, Whiskey directed her to the messed-up bed.

“Sit down for a second, babe, and please get that look off your face.” Sitting down next to her, he pulled Addison into his side, hugging her close. “Babe, I got to go out on another run, I’ll be gone most of the day. We found out who attacked you, Cathy, and Crank, now we need to figure out where they’re hiding out.” Addy went to ask a question, but Whiskey stopped her.

“No, babe, you can’t ask any questions.  I’m sorry, and I’m also sure that will burn your tight little ass, but when it comes to Club business, that shit is off limits, even to you.” 

“But…”

“No, seriously, babe, I wouldn’t tell you, and I don’t want to ever have to lie to you, okay?”

Addy didn’t know how she felt about that, secrets were poison to a relationship, and she was just starting to trust Aiden again. Could she keep her mouth shut and not ask questions that pertained to the Club?  Cinny and Tuck had given her the run down, well kind of. It wasn’t her place to ask, and really, as long as it didn’t affect her directly, was it her business?

Addison chewed on her lip, thinking hard. He could tell that she was debating what she could and couldn’t do, but for him this was nonnegotiable.  She needed to understand and accept it.  She also needed to trust him and the Club enough to keep her safe. Coming to a decision, Addy nodded; she might not fully trust Aiden with her heart just yet, but she trusted him and the rest of the guys to keep her safe.

“Okay, I can accept that, but Aiden, you and I both know secrets have a way of coming out, please just make sure they aren’t secrets that can ruin what we have just started to build.”

“You have my word, babe, but that brings me to something else. Link is setting up a party tonight. Val and a bunch of her girls will be here, and I want you to stay in my room.” 

“As in you and I are staying in your room together?”  Addy smiled.

“No, babe, as in you are staying in my room by yourself or with Cinny and Reagan. This will be a private party.”

Addy got up from the bed and started pacing, she was pissed. What the hell, Aiden was going to a “private” party with Val and her bitch friends. 

“Exactly, what kind of party is this Aiden?”

“You know what kind of party it is Addison. Val might be a bitch from hell, but she has her ear to the ground in Defiance, we need to figure out what is going on and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.  If you or any of the other girls are there, she might clam up and not speak as freely.”

“Seriously?” Addy said putting her hands on her hips. “You expect me, your Old Lady for all of twenty-four hours, to sit in this room while you are downstairs doing God knows what with a bunch of horny bitches?” Whiskey laughed pissing her off even more.

“No, babe. What I expect you to do is trust that I won’t ruin what we have going here, but also do my job for the Club.”

“So, you’re all like paid escorts for the Club, and Tucks, what, your pimp?” Pissed Whiskey off, stood up and grabbed her shoulders, getting right in her face.

“No, Addison, my job is to get information, and I will do that with my pant zipped and my hands to myself. I’ve never once lied to you, and I won’t start now. I told you the rules, you follow my lead where the Club is concerned.  You act like a real Old Lady and learn your fucking place. In return, you get me fully. I don’t fuck around,” he growled, “get me?” Addy was losing some of her steam, but old habits die hard.

“Oh, I get you don’t you worry, you want me to sit back and do as you say, and not question anything that is going on. Right, just like ten years ago.”

“Oh, come on, Addison, this is nothing like that, babe. I promise you my mouth, hands, and dick are all yours.  Shit, my whole fucking body including my heart, all you have to do is take it.  I won’t be down there screwing those skanky broads.  Fuck, I don’t even want to go, but that doesn’t mean I can skip out on my duty to the Club, either; you need to trust me.”

Wow, he was giving her everything she wanted, all he was asking for was her trust in him; could she?  Hadn’t she already been doing it?  Aiden had never been a liar, of that she was sure. He was always upfront, and she had no doubt if he wanted to cheat, he would say it, not hide the fact.  It wasn’t who he was; she still didn’t like it, but damn she would accept it. He was still holding her shoulders, looking her in the eye. Addy brought up her hands and placed them on his cheeks, bringing him closer giving him a small kiss.

“Okay, Aiden, I will trust you, I don’t like it, but I will accept it and do what you want.”

“Thanks, babe, now I got to go, or we’ll have another person pounding on that door.  Are you going to be okay today, do you need me to pick up anything while I’m out?”

“I’ll be all right, but could you pick me up some clothes?  I had a suitcase already packed when I was planning on heading out to Lexington, it’s at the farm.  If you or one of the guys could just grab that, it has everything I need in it.” 

“Will do, babe, and Addison, I know you don’t believe it yet, but I love you, always have and always will. You might not be ready to say those words back, but I’m willing to wait. Please just trust me long enough to prove it to you.” Kissing her again, he said goodbye and left.

Those walls Addy had built were crumbling to dust. He said he would give her his heart, all she had to do was take it. There were still a few stubborn pieces hanging on, but damn, he was right, she would say those words back, and it would be soon.

A few weeks went by, nothing happened, and Addy was going stir crazy.  Her nights were great, she and Whiskey were getting closer, making love and talking. He never missed an opportunity to tell her how he felt or touch her. Addy wanted to say those three little words back, shit, she felt them, but they wouldn’t come out of her mouth. 

Chapter 14

The night of the party, Whiskey had come up to the room late with a pissed off expression on his face and jumped right in the shower. He told her that Val tried to get him to fuck her and it grossed him out. He wanted to wash her touch off his body.  What surprised Addy was that she believed him and didn’t doubt his faithfulness in the slightest.  She also didn’t ask him any more questions. Addy found that if she sat back and waited, Whiskey always provided her with the answers she needed. 

Addison was in the shower when Whiskey burst through the door.

“Babe you need to get out and get dressed, I have a surprise for you.”  Addy was going to complain, but the smile on his face stopped her. Whiskey was excited about something and she would do anything to keep that smile on his face. 

“Give me a minute, what are we doing?”

“I’m taking you somewhere,” Whiskey said, holding up a towel, waiting for her to step into it.  Once he wrapped her up tight, he pushed her through the door, slapping her ass.

“Hey,” Addy said, rubbing her butt, “that hurt.”

“Oh, baby you know you like it. I bet if I stripped you down right now, you would be soaking wet and not from the shower you just took.”

Addy knew he was right, but she wasn’t going to tell him that, the man had an ego the size of mountain. She couldn’t resist playing with him just a bit; turning she dropped the towel. 

“I don’t know, Aiden, maybe you should check.”  Sitting down on the bed she spread her legs, lightly running her hand down the middle of her chest, down to her belly button, stopping right before her fingers touch her pussy. 

Whiskey licked his lips, but didn’t move, shaking his head.

“No, Fuck,” he stepped forward then stopped again. Putting his hands in his hair he pulled, slightly messing it up just the way Addy liked it.  She continued to tease him moving her fingers back up to play with her rock-hard nipples. 

“Are you sure?”

“Damn it,” Whiskey lunged forward pushing her hand away with his face and sucked her nipple into his mouth.

“Aiden, please…” Addy was moaning, it felt so good. 

Whiskey moved up, kissing her long and deep, his fingers taking over where his mouth left off. 

“Okay, babe, I was going to take you out of the Clubhouse for a while, but if you want to stay here and fuck who am I to deny you?”

Addy abruptly pushed him away, making him land on his ass on the floor. 

“You mean out, like as in outside?”

“Yeah, Babe, had it all planned, Tuck even approved it.  I was going to take you for a short ride on my bike.  I even had Reagan pack us up some dinner, so we could eat it under the stars, but if you want to stay here,” Whiskey smiled, trying to grab onto her boobs again, “I can do that, too.”

Addy jumped up and looked at Whiskey.

“Nope, give me five minutes, hell, give me three.”  Whiskey starting laughing.

“Going a little stir crazy, Babe?”

“You have no idea.”

Addy got ready in record time although it did take her longer than three minutes.  Now, they were walking outside and straight for Whiskeys bike.  Addy had never been on a bike before and she was practically jumping with excitement. 

“Babe, it’s just a ride and not even a long one.”

“It’s still a ride, I get to ride on your bike with you. do you know what this means?”

“Ah, no, Babe, why don’t you tell me,” Whiskey said with a smile.

“It means it’s real. Cinny told me that you don’t let bitches on your bike, that the only chick that will ever be on the back of it is your Old Lady.” 

“Babe, I already claimed you.”

“I know, but this kind of makes it official. Now, come on,” Addy urged, grabbing his hand and trying to pull him along. 

Whiskey took the helmet off the handlebar and put it on Addy head; she didn’t like it, but was still smiling like a loon.  She had wanted to feel the wind in her hair, but right now she just wanted to feel her legs wrapped around Whiskey and the rumble of his bike. 

Whiskey straddled the bike making Addy moan; how in the hell could a man make something as simple as getting on a bike into eye porn?  When he held out his hand to help her on, she melted; so much for keeping her feelings out of this thing going on between them.

When she got on Whiskey grabbed her under her knees and pulled her closer; she laughed and took the hint hugging him tightly. 

He wasn’t joking when he said the trip would be short. It had taken less than ten minutes to get there, but brought up a whole hell of a lot of memories.  Whiskey had brought her to the spot that where they had first kissed, the same spot that they made love for the first time.  Shoot, after what they had done, now, she knew what they had done was not making love. Getting off the bike Addy brushed away Whiskey’s offers of help. 

“Why did you bring me here, Aiden,” Addy asked, her eyes on her feet.

“Babe, look at me.”

“No, Aiden, tell me why you brought me here of all places.”  Addy said, looking at him for the first time with tears in her eyes. 

Aiden wiped the tears with his thumbs cradling her face in his hands. 

“Babe, we needed to come back here the past is still haunting us and I want to let it go, don’t you?”

“Aiden…”

“Babe, you’re holding back, I feel it every time we make love, I feel it when you look at me.  Hell, I feel it when you’re laying sound asleep after I fucked you into the bed.  We need to talk about her, tell me about Sunshine.”

Whiskey let Addy go and walked back over to the bike pulling out the envelope she had left for him at the farm.  Addy grabbed the envelope, cradled it to her chest, and fell to her knees.  Aiden sat down behind her holding her close.

“Tell me, babe.  Tell me about Sunshine.”

After a couple of minutes Addy opened the envelope and the first thing that came out was the picture she had taken of Sunshine’s way too tiny feet, brushing it with her finger.

“She was so small, Aiden, you could have held in one hand, but she was perfect,” she told him, looking up, her tear-filled eyes. “You know, most babies born that early look all red and wrinkly. but she was beautiful.”

“I’m sure she was, Addison.” 

“She looked just like you, she even had your nose.”

“Poor girl,” Whiskey laughed, but Addy saw he was crying as much as she was; they were finally mourning their daughter, together.

“Addison, I’m so sorry I never read your letters or accepted your calls.  I was so angry at you, I couldn’t see beyond it.  Had I known, hell, I don’t even know what I would have done.  I was messed up back then.  I want to believe that I would have come back and done the right thing, but Babe I don’t know if I would have.  I do know that I will regret that I never got to meet her for the rest of my life.” 

“Do you know why I named her Sunshine?”

“No, Babe, I haven’t figured that one out yet.”

“Do you remember that song Sunshine on my Shoulders by John Denver?”

“Yeah, babe, but why that song?”

“You sang it to me once, do you remember?”

“Yeah,” Whiskey laughed, “it was the day I made you cry because of the dress.  I was trying to make you smile, and it came on the radio. I had totally forgotten about that.”

“I listened to that song every day before Sunshine was born, thinking about you, wishing you were home with me, helping me with the farm and Pop,” Addison smiled.

“Babe I’m sorry…”

“No more I’m sorry’s,” Addy put her finger up to Aiden’s lips, “I had my part in this too.”  Aiden nodded. 

“Anyway, there is this one part of the song. If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while.  Sunshine never took a single breath, she was gone before she even left my body.  Thinking of you and that song helped me name her and gave me peace.”   

“It was perfect, Addison.  I couldn’t have picked a better name.  I’d like to say goodbye to her in my own way.”  Whiskey got up and went to his motorcycle, pulling out something flat from the saddle bags.  Walking back to Addy he helped her up.  Unwrapping the package, Addy was still puzzled.  Whiskey smiled at her.

“Babe, this is a Chinese Wish Lantern.  It is said that when it is released in honor of a person that has passed, you are releasing them with love, prayers, and well wishes.  I want that for our girl, will you help me?”

“Yes.”

It didn’t take Aiden long to unravel the package. There was a little cup to hold a candle Aiden lit, and he had Addy hold on to the side of the of the lantern’s top.  Addy was being very careful, the paper felt thin, and she didn’t want to rip it.  Aiden held the other side as the lantern as it started to inflate.

“Sleep with the angel’s, precious girl, we have never met, but you have taken my heart, we will meet when my days are done.  Till then know you are loved.” She and Aiden released the lantern and watched the lantern float away. The higher it went, the freer she felt, finally releasing all the anger and hurt of the past, Addy just let herself be, sitting in the field with Aiden holding her tight.  The place where it all began, grieving for their daughter, together, the way it should have been all those years ago. 

“Thank you, Aiden.”

Chapter 15

Things were getting better at the Clubhouse, the Puppets, and Prospects doing their jobs, and the place was at least cleaner; being on lockdown still sucked rocks.  Her only consolation, now all the Club was on lockdown, she had company.  The guys went out every day, but the women of the Club were under strict instructions to stay put unless escorted, and even those times had to be approved by Tuck.   

Addy was starting to think of these guys, all of them including the broody Link, as family, and it was nice.  Her family was small, and they were all gone now. Caring for the RBMC members made her feel like a part of something, and she liked it.  There was still tension between her and Reagan, they weren’t where they once were, and that hurt Addy.  She hated the distance that Reagan was putting between them, but also understood where she was coming from. Things were different in the MC than out in the real world, or what Addy once considered the real world.  There were rules and expectations that Addy was still getting her head around. 

She was, and had always been, a people pleaser by nature, but this lockdown was going to kill her.  Shoot, she wasn’t the only one; the RBMC Defiance Chapter comprised of almost all younger men between the ages twenty to mid-thirties, and these boys were used to a certain way of living.  With only four Puppets in residence, they weren’t getting their normal amount of, as Whiskey would say, pussy.

Every morning, she had to get up before five so she and Reagan, and a few of the other Puppets, could start on breakfast and the rest of the chores that needed to be done throughout the Clubhouse. The work and getting up early wasn’t the issue, she did that stuff on the farm all the time. 

What was getting to her was being indoors all the time.  On the farm, she was hardly ever inside, even in the winter. Rain or shine there were chores, and she loved it.  She also missed her animals.  She wouldn’t give up this time with Whiskey for anything, but damn, she wanted a little of her normal back with him included in the package. 

Every night, Whiskey would come to the room, take a shower, and come back out in that damn postage stamp towel showing her everything she longed to kiss, touch, and lick.  Damn, the man was hotter than an August day in the dessert.

It also didn’t help that every night, shit any time of the day, the Clubhouse was like a free-for-all porn set.  Addy never knew what she would see coming down the stairs or turning the corner. Shoot, sometimes just walking down the hall turned into an adventure. These people didn’t care if doors were closed or not, they did what they wanted, when they wanted.  She had seen more live sex acts in the last couple of weeks than she had watched of porn in her lifetime.  

She was kind of relieved that nearly all the guys in the RBMC were hot-as-hell, and the Puppets weren’t anything to sneeze at either.  Otherwise, she might have had to stay in her room twenty-four seven, and since Tuck forbade that, well, she wasn’t opposed to watching just a little.  She didn’t even care that that made her some kind of a voyeur; when in Rome.   

But, Whiskey still starred in all her fantasies, none of the guys could hold a candle to him. His body had changed through the years, no longer the lanky but muscular teenager she once remembered, but a well chiseled, hard-bodied man.  His body looked as though it had been carved out of granite, his muscles were large and well-defined, and damn, his body art was some of the best Addy had ever seen, not that she had seen much before staying at the Club, but now she was sure she was becoming an expert.  He had an owl on his shoulder whose wings spanned around front and back; it was breathtaking. 

But, what got her mouthwatering, besides his enormous cock, was his ass; the thing should have stories written about it.  Addy bet that a quarter would bounce right off those tight cheeks, and she was guilty of copping more than a few feels.  The jerk always smiled at her like he knew what she was thinking when he caught her, which was almost always.  Addy had never paid attention to a man’s ass before, but Whiskey was making her an eternal fan.

Once he dropped that towel and got into bed, Addy was a goner. She wanted him to just take her and put her out of her misery, but he wouldn’t.  No, the bastard would ask her every night, “Are you ready to beg yet, Addison?” and Addison all but yelled, hell yeah.  The man had her hook, line, and sinker; Addy was addicted to him.

Just thinking about him and his body was making her panties wet. Shit, she would need go up to their room and take care of some needed business, or at the very least, take an icy shower, if she didn’t get her mind off of the infuriating man.  But hell, she knew it was a losing battle, he was never very far from her thoughts these days.  Not that he was far from them before, this was just different.  He was slowly, but surely, breaking her down.  Addy wanted this time with him, she needed it, even wanted more. 

With the Club being on lockdown, she knew he had other responsibilities, but he still carved out time for her, and that made her feel special.  She had learned more about the man in the past few weeks than she had the first seventeen years of her life.  She also learned a lot about herself during that time; damn, she had been so closed off, it was scary.  It was nice to be connecting with someone other than Carri.  It surprised her that that person was Whiskey.

He would do things like making sure she had a bottle of water on the nightstand before they went to bed, or one day when she was feeling and acting especially bitchy, he brought her a crap ton of chocolate.  It was weird, but sweet.  He also brought her a new dress every Sunday, not saying anything about it, just hanging it in the closet, so it was waiting for her.  But, what was really melting Addy’s heart were their talks. Whiskey made sure that every day they got to talk about their day or whatever else was on their minds.  

Addy loved listening to him tell her stories from his time in the service and even his time with the MC.  She also learned why leaving had been so important to him; he needed to find himself, and he had.  When they were younger, he was so filled with hate and anger he wouldn’t have had a chance if he had stayed in Defiance with her; Addy understood that now. 

What she liked more is that they were getting closer.  She could feel it.  He wasn’t like the boy or even the teenager she had once known, there was a whole new side to him.  That side drew her even more than the others.  He was kind, sweet, thoughtful, and even loving.  He said didn’t play games and told her what was on his mind.  They fit better together now.  They had both grown into the people they were meant to be.

The people in Defiance had always been super judgmental and not only to Aiden. It didn’t matter if a person was the best person on the planet, if their parents were considered trash, then so were the kids.  Reagan was a perfect example, she might be a Club Puppet now, but before that she was a straight A student in both high school and college.  She didn’t or hadn’t ever hurt anyone, but because of her family, she was deemed trash.  Addy wondered if that was one of the reason’s Reagan had chosen to stay with the MC instead of moving in with her.

That was another thing, Addy noticed that Reagan was never around at night.  The guys and the other girls would all gather in the common room partying and doing whatever they felt like, but Reagan was never there.  She also noticed that, although all the guys flirted with her, none of them made any moves to take it further as they did with the other girls. The only exception to that was when Tank was around.  He would grab Reagan’s hand, and the two of them would be gone for hours. 

Addy knew for a fact that Reagan had always had a thing for Tank.  He was Reagan’s version of Whiskey to Addy.  The only difference, Tank acted nothing like Whiskey.  He still fucked all the other girls, and if rumors were true, he was even worse when the Club wasn’t on lockdown, doing it right in front of Reagan. That bothered Addy, but after talking with Whiskey about it, she let it go, for now.  Reagan seemed to know the score and accepted it, so who was Addy to interfere. 

 “Hey, we’re going to make a supply run, anything you need or want?”  Reagan asked from the laundry room door. 

Shit, Addy had been so deep in thought, she hadn’t even noticed her standing at the door.

“Ah, no. Hey, who all is going, I thought Whiskey said most of the guys would be out on a run?” 

“Yeah, they are, but I had asked Tank before they all left, and he said it was okay as long as we stayed local.  So, Flo and I will hit Browning’s and stock up on a few things. Slim Jim, one of the of the new Prospects, said he would go with us, but if we didn’t leave soon, then we would have to wait for the rest of the guys to get back, and Lord only knows how long that will take.”

“Okay, if you’re sure you’ll be safe. Just please, be careful.  These guys, the ones that got to Cathy and me, are not people to mess with, Reagan, they are all bad news.” 

“I hear you, but it will be okay. This lockdown is your first, we do this stuff all the time.  Don’t worry we’ll be back before you know it.”

“All right, you won’t hear another word from me, see you when you get back.”

When Reagan left, Addy was tempted to call Whiskey.  It didn’t seem right that Tank would say it was okay for her to leave, but no one else.  Then again, Reagan was right, Addy had never been through a lockdown before, maybe she was just a little paranoid.  Damn, she hadn’t even thought of Ogre or that other man since that first day, but that man still sent chills down her spine. 

Those thoughts also made her think about Cathy. Whiskey had been keeping her updated on how she was doing, but Addy wanted to see for herself. Cathy had been severely beaten and suffered multiple bruises, breaks, and cuts at the hands of those assholes.  Addy really hoped the RBMC made the people responsible for it pay in a very painful way when they caught up with them.

Addy continued to do laundry, getting lost in the task. Hell, these guys needed a fucking maid; at some point, she was going back to her farm and living her life with Whiskey.  They had talked about it and decided that after the lockdown, he would move in with her.  He would still work with the Club and spend a lot of time here, but every night he was able, he would come home to her, and that made Addy extremely happy. 

Addy was just putting clothes in the dryer when all hell broke loose.  The building shook like it had taken a hit by something, and alarms were blaring like crazy.  The laundry room was in the basement, in what used to be an old coal bin.  All the walls were made of stone, and the floor was covered in brick.  Being down here was almost like being in a dungeon.  If she felt the building shake so strongly in the basement, she could only imagine what was happening upstairs. 

Addy ran for the stairs and went up; the entrance to the basement was right off the kitchen. Once she got to the top step, ready to push through, she heard people yelling. That stopped her. Putting her ear to the door, she listened closer, and that is when she heard it.  The voice she would always hear in her nightmares. Ogre.  Shit, what the hell was she supposed to do now and how the hell had he gotten into the RBMC Clubhouse? The place was like a vault, top notch security, and armed bikers. 

She needed to find something, anything to defend herself and the others in the house. As quietly as possible, Addy crept back down the stairs. Then she remembered her phone; running back into the laundry room, she closed the heavy door and locked it.  Thinking that wasn’t good enough, she also placed the chair she had been sitting in under the door knob.  People did that shit in movies, right?  Hell, she just hoped it kept Ogre out.  

Picking up her phone, she dialed Whiskey, nothing happened, no dial tone or anything.  What the hell? Addy pulled it back and looked at the screen; she had no bars. How was that even possible when she was still in the Clubhouse?  Walking around, feeling like that Can you hear me now guy, she tried to find a place that would give her some reception.  There was only one long. thin glass block window in the room, and it had to be about ten feet high.  No way was Addy giving up her protection chair under the door knob, so she tried to move the heavy table she had been folding laundry on earlier.  It took her some time, a little blood, and a bunch of sweat, but she finally got the damn thing moved.

When she climbed onto it, she realized that she was still about a foot short.  Holding the phone up to the window she could see the bars, but she couldn’t talk on it or send a text with her arms held straight up, and no way was she going to put the phone on speaker; she didn’t know if someone might hear.  Jumping down she grabbed all the laundry she had been folding and created a tower.  Climbing on her makeshift step, Addy dialed Whiskey and prayed that he would answer. Three rings, then two more, and his voicemail picked up. Shit. What the hell was she supposed to say?

“Babe, if you get this message soon, you need to get back to the Clubhouse.  Don’t come alone, call all your Brothers.  Something exploded, and then I heard Ogre’s voice. The Vultures are inside, and I don’t know what to do, please hurry.” Addy ended the call and debated on what to do next. Should she call the police, would they even come or would they tip off the Vultures that she was still in the house?  Damn.  Addy started sending text messages to all the RBMC Brothers she had in her contact list.  Waiting a couple of seconds for an answer, then moving on to the next. 

When a shadow crossed the window Addy froze; shit, she couldn’t see out but could they see in?  Would the Vultures find her?  What about Blade, Cinny, and the other people upstairs? Were they okay, was anyone going to help them?  Damn, had Reagan, Flo, and the Prospect made it back from the store yet?  Addy waited, not moving a muscle until the shadow moved on, then jumped down and looked for anything she could use as a weapon, but she couldn’t find anything.  She needed to go out into the basement or try to make it to Tuck’s office.  He had to have a something in there, right?  Shit.

Shit. Whiskey looked around the bar, they were fucked with a capital F.U.C.K.  The Vultures had made it into the Clubhouse and had them all down on their knees.  Shit, this shouldn’t have happened, hell, it shouldn’t have been possible.  How did they get in? Where the hell was all their security?  And where was Addison?  Why wasn’t she in the room with the rest of them?  Had she set them up?  Had she set him up for some kind of payback?  Whiskey didn’t want to believe it, hell, he didn’t even want to think it, but where the hell was she?

Whiskey did a quick head count.  Six of his Brothers weren’t there, along with Crash and Creed.  Cinny and Bambi were the only Puppets, and Cinny looked like she was about to drop.  These assholes loved to beat on women, he just hoped she would keep her mouth shut until he could figure a way out of this mess.  He had a knife in his boot, but the assholes had taken his gun.  What the hell were they doing anyways? The fuckers could have picked them off one by one, but instead they lined them all up and put them on their knees? 

The Vultures were outnumbered, but the RBMC was out gunned.  Even if he could take out the assholes holding a gun to his, Brass, and Talons heads, that left the others to shoot at will.  Unless they could time it just right; even then his Club would have casualties. All the guys knew the risk, but if there was another way for this whole thing to turn out, he would find it.  What they needed was a distraction, something to draw the Vultures attention, so he and the others could make a move.  

Link was signaling the other guys with his hands, telling them to hold tight.  Looked like he and his brother were on the same page.  Whiskey gave a slight nod, showing Link he understood.  Looking around, several others silently acknowledged his order.  Whiskey was pumping himself up, it would be go time soon, and then he saw her, fuck. 

Addison was peeking out of the kitchen door. He tried to shake his head, telling her to go back, but she wasn’t looking at him, all her focus was on the hallway.  What the hell was she doing?  There were seven armed men in the room, and she was crouched down like she was invisible while standing virtually in plain, fucking sight.  She needed to get her ass out the back door and run.  Damn it to hell, she was going for it, and Whiskey was going to do everything in his power to make sure she got through this

“Hey,” Link’s voice startled him at first.  “What are you assholes waiting for? You have us here on our fucking knees, what next?”  The guy right in front of Addison was the one to respond, drawing him closer to Link and the other guys and away from her. 

“That’s right, motherfucker, we have you on your knees, maybe we need to take advantage of that, what do you think Brothers?  I’m thinking taking down the RBMC might be worth pissing the boss man off. At least then all our problems would be solved.” 

“Yeah,” Brass said, “only pussies come into another Club not wearing their cuts. Think we don’t know you’re part of the Vultures?  Hell, you ashamed or something? I would be.”  Damn, that earned him a shotgun butt to his head, and Brass went down hard.  But, that was enough of a distraction for Addison to disappear, but where the hell did she go?

The next few minutes would play out in his mind for years to come.  Link flipped backward like some kind of ninja warrior and took out the guy holding him.  Talon and Tank took out two more of the seven.  Tuck and Jinx burst through the front door and took out three more.  That was when Addison appeared in the hallway holding a shotgun.  Damn it all to hell.  There was only one guy left, and he crouched down in a fighting stance right in front of Addison.  The ugly fucker didn’t look like he knew what to do, but Addison made that decision for him.  Turning the gun around in her hands, she used it like a baseball bat, swinging it for all she was worth right into the fucker’s head.  He went down like a ton of bricks. 

Whiskey couldn’t hold himself back any longer, he rushed to her, first taking the gun out of her hands, handing it off.  Shit, he didn’t even know who he handed off to.  “Babe! Where the hell were you?” 

Addison looked like she was in shock

“Huh?” 

“I asked you where the hell you were, why weren’t you out here with everybody else?”

“What?  You wanted me to be held at gunpoint while on my knees?  Oh, no wait, what you’re really asking is, did I set you up?” 

“NO! Fuck, shit, I don’t know, this doesn’t make any sense. How did these fuckers get in here?” Whiskey said, throwing his hands up in the air. 

“Seriously, you think I did this?”  Addison said flinging her hands around the room. “Look at your phone, asshole. I called you and everyone else in this damn Club to let you know what was going on. I was in the basement scared out of my mind that’s where the hell I was Whiskey!  That man is the one that attacked me in my barn. I heard his voice through the door, and I knew there was a problem.  Do you understand what I am saying?  I came to help whether you appreciate that or not.”

Fuck, would there ever come a time when he didn’t screw things up with her? She was right, and he was so wrong.  She was walking away from him, damn it. 

“Addy, wait!” 

“Oh, hell no, don’t you Addy me now, all you have asked since I got here is for me to trust you and I have, but when the shoe is on the other foot, who really has the trust issues, huh?  Just leave me alone.”  Whiskey watched as Addison ran up the stairs, hopefully not to pack.

“She’s right, you know.”

“Oh, shut the hell up, Link. Since when are you on Addison side?”

“No sides in this, brother, she’s family, she called and texted all of us trying to get help.  You should have known better, but your groveling will have to wait, we have shit to do.”

Chapter 16

Addy was in Whiskey room not knowing what to do next.  There was always something standing between them, secrets, lies, and lack of trust.  She realized that she needed to tell him how she felt.  She wanted everything the future held, and she knew deep in her bones he was the only man for her, always had been always would be, but then he questioned her loyalty to the Club and to him, why?

Someone knocked at the door. At first, she wasn’t going to answer, but knew it wouldn’t be Aiden. He would have just burst in, demanding she listen to him.

“It’s open.”

 “Hey, baby doll,” Tuck said, walking in the room, “pretty rough day, huh?”

“You could say that. Do you think like Whiskey that I had something to do with this?  Tuck, I would never put you guys, hell anyone, in danger if I could stop it. I’ve learned my lesson, shit, Cathy and Crank, none of that would have happened if I had come to you sooner.  I was just scared.”

“Today was pretty scary, too, and you pulled through for us in a big way; for that, I’m thankful, so are the rest of the guys. Whiskey, shit honey, you probably know that man better than any of us, he has a snap trigger, and once that fucker is flipped, he doesn’t know what he is saying or doing.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. Unfortunately, I’m his favorite target.”

“I don’t know about that; you scared him, Addy.  He might have thought that shit about you betraying us for a second, but no way he believed it. That man looks at you like you’re the reason there is air to breathe, and honey, you look at him the same way, always have.”

“What do I do, Tuck? If he can’t trust me, we are doomed before we even get a chance to begin.”

“I’m sure he felt the same way, until today.  Listen, Addy, just wait it out, talk to him once we are done with that fucker you knocked out. I have no doubt the two of you will figure this all out.”

“Thanks, Tuck.”

“No problem, now give me a hug.”  Addy did, finding comfort she needed.  Addy had always thought of Tuck as a big brother of sorts and was happy he was no longer mad at her. 

“Hey, Addy, can I ask you a question?” 

“Sure.”

“Why didn’t you just shoot that guy? I saw you, you had your hand on the trigger and were ready to blow his ass away, but at the last second you changed your mind, why?

“Because I want you to make him pay; that is the man who had me in the barn, and he doesn’t deserve to die fast. It needs to be slow and very painful. Tuck, I know I’m not the only woman he touched and hurt.  Plus, you guys need information, and I’m guessing he has some; it’s up to you to get it out of him.”

“Will do, Addy, will do.”

Whiskey was still pissed; interrogating Ogre yielded some answers, but it didn’t take away the sting of getting caught with your pants down in your own fucking club.  When Whiskey had gotten to the Clubhouse Link and Tank were already on the floor with guns pointed at their heads. He would have fought, hell he had pulled his weapon, but Ogre had been holding a knife to Cinny’s neck, making her bleed and there was no way he could save all of them.  Knowing the other brothers were behind him Whiskey gave up his weapon.  Unfortunately, all the brothers that walked in had the same thought.  Fuck, their capture and interrogation didn’t give them shit. 

Someone was still after the RBMC, but at least Addison was in the clear from the Vultures. Tuck needed to talk to her, but for now, they were thinking putting the farm in RBMC’s name was the way to go, it would keep her and it safe.  The fuckers after them would learn not to mess with the Ruthless Bastards. Tuck announced that the lockdown was lifted; the war wasn’t over, but they needed to get back to business as usual, starting with a RBMC welcome back party for Crank and Cathy.

It had been hours since his blow up, and Whiskey hoped that Addison was still in their room. Tuck told him she was sticking around, but he still had doubts. Was she there to end it or to hear him out?

Link came up and sat next to him at the bar; he was the last person, well besides Tank, that Whiskey wanted to talk to right now.  When he started to get up Link put his hand on his shoulder. 

“Pretty shitty day today, huh?”

“You could say that,” Whiskey replied and really looked at his brother. “What’s up Link? We don’t do these heart-to-hearts, anymore.”

“Yeah, I’m thinking that needs to change.  Listen, I want to talk to you about Addy.”

“Addison is none of your concern,” Whiskey yelled, jumping up out of his seat “You have made your feelings toward her well known, Link, and I for one don’t want to hear them. I love that woman, I always have, and no way in hell are you going to ruin that for me again.”

“Sit the fuck down!

When Whiskey didn’t listen, Link faced him, but his voice got soft and Whiskey saw a look in his eyes that he had never seen before, regret maybe? 

“All I wanted to say is that you and Addy work.  You need to go and apologize to her instead of sitting down here drinking yourself into a coma.  She is worth it, I can see that now.  You’re happy.”

Whiskey blinked his eyes and even shook his head he couldn’t believe the words Link was saying. 

“You’re giving us your blessing?  What the hell, Link, don’t you think you about ten years too late for this little pep talk?”

“No, you weren’t ready then, neither of you were. I still say I did what needed to be done and I don’t regret it. You both have changed grown and now is the time for you, don’t let it pass you by.”

“Damn, Link, I don’t even know what to say.”

Talon walked up putting Link in a headlock.

“Don’t say anything, brother, run before the roof falls down or lightning strikes, Lincoln Frost just kind of apologized, it has to be a first!  Drinks for everyone.”

“None for me, I have a woman to claim,” Whiskey said heading for the door.

“No, you have a woman to grovel to,” Tuck corrected.

“Eat her pussy after she gets off a couple of times, she’ll forget all about you being an asshole,” Brass put in his two cents

Tank grunted but waved at him as he left the room.  Whiskey felt sorry for that asshole.  The scene between him and Reagan had been brutal. 

A few others whistled or made lewd remarks, and Whiskey felt right at home.  They were all right, he was an ass.  It wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. He and Addison just needed to work through it, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy.

Chapter 17

Opening the door, Whiskey found her much the same way he had the first night, cuddled up on his bed, hugging his pillow, and he once again found himself standing there, watching.  She was everything to him.  He wanted the life she represented, but most of all, he just wanted her. His momentary lapse of judgment aside, he trusted Addison with his life and the life of the Club.  He realized now, he hadn’t held back saying the words, but hadn’t trusted her with his heart.  He was done with all that now, it was all or nothing.  If she couldn’t accept that, he would let her go. Whiskey sat on the side of the bed and rubbed her back.

“Wake up, baby, we need to talk.”  Addison groaned, but turned and looked at him. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, she had been crying, and it ripped out a part of his soul. He had caused that.  Clearing his throat, he said, “You scared me today, babe, shit you scare me every fucking day.  But, today when I saw you trying to sneak out of the kitchen with all those assholes holding guns on us, I felt my heart stop. Nothing can happen to you Addison, it would kill me.” Addison went to say something, but he placed a finger on her lip.

“No, please hear me out.  I don’t know how to do this with you. When I get mad, I lash out and say things that I don’t necessarily mean.  I did that today.  I’m going to fuck up, often; the question is can you accept that and still stick it out with me?  Before you answer that. you need to know that I trust you more than I trust anyone, you are my home, and I love you.”

“Oh, Aiden, from the moment I felt the explosion hit the Clubhouse, I had one regret, that I never told you I loved you. I do, always have and always will; that doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with treating me like that again, either we are in this together, or we are done.  Either you completely trust me or not at all.  Those are two things I will never waiver on.”

“Addy…”

“Wait, I gave you your say, now let me have mine. I know you, Aiden, and deep down you will always have some doubt. Shit, I don’t think I could go a day without questioning something, but in the end, if you can’t get over that or talk it through with me, it’s not worth it.  We will only end up hurting each other worse than we already have.  If you can agree to that, I’m all in, I will be there for you until the day I leave this world to join our daughter.  My love for you has never wavered, and I can promise it never will.”

Whiskey did the only thing he could after Addy’s declaration, he slammed his mouth down on hers and kissed the living hell out of her.  Pulling back, he stood up.

“Addy strip. I need you so bad, right now, I feel like I’m going to burst.”

Addy ripped her clothes off just as fast as he did. Then the little vixen got up on her knees, grabbing at his dick, her greedy little mouth followed like she was starving for him. Whiskey’s head fell back on his shoulders, and he loudly moaned, “Oh shit, damn babe, that feels so good.”  When she reached down and started playing with his balls, he had enough. It almost killed him, but he pulled his dick out of her glorious mouth.

“Turn around, babe, back on your knees; this will be quick, I can’t promise soft and sweet, but I can give you rough and dirty.

Addy groan she wanted whatever he was willing to give.  Pushing her butt back she tried to encourage him to get on with it.  She needed to feel them joined as one.  The hard smack to her butt only increased her arousal.

“Stop babe, I’m on a tight wire and it’s about ready to snap and I need to say this before I sink into the luscious body of yours. I love you, too, always have and always will.  You are the only woman for me.  The woman I want stand by my side, riding at my back, and sharing my name.  I promise to talk things out with you, to work through anything that may come up.  Just promise me you will always be there. 

“Forever, Aiden.”

Whiskey took a second to admire the view of Addison spread open in front of him.  Damn, she was ready, willing, and waiting, and he wouldn’t deny her.  Stroking his cock, he moved forward, placing it at her entrance, the place he wanted to be more than life or death put together.

“Who do you belong to Addison?” As he slammed into her she screamed.

“You, Aiden, only you!”

“Damn right!”

The End.

Tank’s book is coming soon.  But keep watching Ethan the fifth book of the NAC & The Holly Group it will be out soon as well.  These two series will link up because of the connection with Sebastian “Bas” Frost and his brothers but the Alpha Team is not like the Ruthless Bastards.  I have included the first two chapters of Jackson – Book 1 of NAC & The Holly Group, all you have to do is turn the page. 

Thank you for reading.  I hope you enjoyed the adventure as much as I enjoyed writing it.  If you liked Whiskey and Addison’s story, please take a little time to leave a review or rating.  Even a few stars help to let me know I am on the right track.  I look forward to giving you a lot more adventures in the future.

Jackson

Alpha Team

NAC & The Holly Group

Author: Chelsea Handcock

www.chelseahandcock.com

Copyright © 2017, Chelsea Handcock

First electronic publication: January 2017

All rights are reserved.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted works is illegal.  No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s permission.

Note from the Author:

This is a work of fiction.  Names, character, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real.  Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.  The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third party websites or their content.

Published in the United States of America.

Jackson Thorp believes in tangible facts, military precision and having a good time.  Never forming attachments to females and never letting them attach themselves to him.  His policy is love em’ and leave em’.  It works and he wouldn’t have it any other way.  At least that was what the thought.  The fates seem to have a different plan and one little red head seems to have blasted the top off his world.  He starts to questions everything his sanity, his history and the legends of the past.  Could she really be the answer? 

Ryleigh Quinn has her life all planned out:  work, work and more work.  Save as many lives as possible and fill her heart with the good she helped come into the world.  She has never been normal and doesn’t even want to be.  When a mission brings up memories from her childhood she if forced to confront the one man she thought would never lie to her.  The events that follow also forced her to realize that maybe all work and no play isn’t what she really wants out of life.  Fate has a way of making a person change their minds.  Her fate just happens to come in the form of a delicious, infuriating, dominating bear shifter. Who would have thought?

**Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, naughty language, and lots of sexy secrets. Intended for mature audiences.

Chapter 1

Declan “Senior” Quinn sat at his desk looking at his daughter, Ryleigh, standing in front of his corner window looking out into the New York City skyline like it held all the answers. She was chewing her thumbnail, a habit he hadn’t seen her do since she was a child. He regretted the choices of his past which made her feel so apprehensive today. Unfortunately, even if he had the choice, he wouldn’t change anything. Too much was at stake.

She was his greatest treasure, pure at heart and strong. He could still see her face when she came to him several weeks ago, distrusting and confused. He had promised to never hurt her, and although he kept his promise to the best of his ability, he had still withheld crucial information, not entirely lying, yet not explaining everything. At least that was how he justified it to himself.

Her distrust hurt the most, he never wanted to see that look on her face again. Declan hadn’t wanted to keep such important things from her but for the greater good he’d had to make a choice and that choice was to keep his daughter in the dark. Whether he liked it or not, there was more at stake than just his discomfort over his daughter’s feelings. An entire race depended upon keeping secrets. He never once thought his two worlds would collide the way they had such a short time ago. 

Help her forget the atrocities of the past and move on, that had been his first goal, and until today, he had thought he had done that. He wanted her to continue believing his motives for helping her as a child were altruistic and loving. However, in reality they weren’t. He was tasked with getting the child and keeping her creation under wraps. That didn’t change his feelings for her, but in the beginning, she was simply a job. The shame would haunt him until his dying days.

All his hard work was for naught. In reality, her memories surfaced and she started to put the puzzle pieces together with the help of her team. It only took one little piece of information to undo years of work. Never before had Declan wished he hadn’t encouraged her to follow in his footsteps. If she had stayed with one of the many career fields that she had chosen over the years, then neither of them would be in the position that they were in today. But that wasn’t the case. He had to make some very hard decisions, revealing parts of himself and her past, while keeping his real motives of the past safely hidden away. He hoped his choices never backfired on him again.  

Finding Ryleigh 15 years ago, changed him and what he wanted out of life. Before that day, he was sure that he would spend the rest of his days serving his country until his last breath, following orders and working toward someone else’s greater good. Ryleigh gave him back his humanity, not to mention humility. That was something his military career had basically drained from his soul. Declan laughed to himself.  Raising a child had a way of humbling a person. Ryleigh didn’t care who he was to the outside world or even who his teams knew him as. To her he was just a dad and at times he cherished that, but others times he hated it.

He was still manipulating her and that wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. He didn’t have a choice because some things needed to be hidden. He wanted to be a good parent to her, not someone to be feared or even someone to obey and follow like he was to the men that worked for him. His team might call him Senior, but Ryleigh called him Dad. That one word was enough to squeeze his battered heart. His work life or early career rarely interfered with his and Ryleigh’s relationship. However, they were now going to collide like two freight trains during the night.  The explosion would either bring them together or tear them apart. He hoped for the former and feared the latter.

Declan’s goal since finding Ryleigh all those years ago, was to maintain her safety and keep the ugliness of his world and everything else away from her. She had suffered greatly and he didn’t want her to endure a second of pain again, but he’d failed on both accounts. His girl was tenacious and dove right in where she needed to stay away. She now knew things weren’t as they seemed, and the nightmares that he had hoped were gone from her childhood were rearing their ugly heads once again. This time he couldn’t keep them away like he had done when she was a child. She was a grown woman, and although he was very proud, he had moments that he wished that she was one of those flighty entitled brats who his teams were consistently getting called in to save from their own stupidity. But that wasn’t his girl, not even close. She was smart, observant, vigilant, and had proved herself within his circles of the of the Security, Search, and Rescue community. Her own team had already made a name for themselves in a very short time and were quickly rivaling NAC for cases. All that didn’t matter now because everything was going to change. His daughter’s life would never be the same after this meeting.

He could still imagine Ryleigh the day he found her. She was looking up at him from a tiny cage, battered but not broken. Bright green eyes that seemed to have a knowledge and maturity well above her age, full of hope, but also apprehension. Her body was skinny, malnourished, and mistreated. The assholes had left her with tattered clothes and no shoes. In the 10x10 cage, she had a bed intended for dogs and a single bowl filled with water. There weren’t even the core amenities provided for her. His heart went out of her, but she never asked for a thing. Not help, not to get her out of her confinement, no, not Ryleigh. She just watched and waited for what was to come, expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. She was chewing her little thumbnail like it would solve all her problems. That was his girl, and he only hoped her perseverance lasted through what was to come, now. Everything that she had learned threatened her life and future, and Declan didn’t like it.

To him, Ryleigh represented innocence and strength, but maybe that was just a parent’s dream. Ryleigh had gone through and witnessed things in her life that would make even the most seasoned cringe. As the years went by, and he watched her grow, his admiration only grew. His goal in life was to protect, cherish, and love Ryleigh, the child who was once a job, but now a part of his heart. What he was doing now went against all that. He knew his teams would never hurt her physically, but he couldn’t guarantee she would come out of this emotionally unscathed, and that rankled him to his core. All of them were about to be tested.

After retiring from military service, Declan formed NAC (Not Another Child). His agency’s mission was to rescue children in peril and to do it significantly faster without the hindrance and bureaucracy constraints of the standard law enforcement system. His team’s mantra was “no stone left unturned.”  They investigated every rumor, innuendo, or feeling, anything required to save a woman or child from one more minute of pain and suffering. He would never understand why evil people would want to destroy, consume, and harm such innocents. He wasn’t a naïve man, he had spent his life exposed to some of the most heinous acts human beings could perpetrate. It had hardened him to some degree, but it also helped him keep his focus and drove him to make the world a better place. He strove to do this not only for his daughter, but also for others who were lost but not forgotten, at least not forgotten to him and his teams.

Shaking his head, he watched his daughter gather her strength. She had stopped chewing her thumbnail and was now holding herself close. He wanted to go to Ryleigh, wrap his arms around her, and assure her that everything would be okay, but he couldn’t. She needed to do this on her own, and he needed to let her. He would always have her back; he really hoped she knew that.

He hated what was about to go down, but he also knew that he didn’t have any other choice. The cat was already out of the bag, so to speak. There was no sense in trying to shove the thing back in. His daughter would always come first for him, but his team and clansman were equally important. The guys needed the information Ryleigh had; it changed all of their lives significantly. Conversely, his need to protect his daughter was riding him hard.

His sweet girl was about to shake up the lives of very powerful and potentially harmful people by blowing their perceived secrecy and security right out the door and in some way, divulging his betrayal not only to Ryleigh, but to his people. He didn’t care about that; if any of them had a problem, they could take it up with him. The next couple of hours would be hard. Ryleigh would have to expose some of her deepest and darkest secrets to a room full of predators, and he would have to watch. Only to let them have the final blow; she and a handful of others could be the answer to what they have all been hoping and looking to find for well over a century.

He remembered the day she came to him, eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying. His first instinct was to go to her, but she wasn’t acting like the child of his heart. She was mad, standoffish, and hurt, not making eye contact with him, and guarding her tiny body with her arms clenched around her waist. Declan didn’t like the combination at all.

“Dad,” Ryleigh croaked, “we need to talk.”

  Declan’s first inclination was to kill anything that caused her harm or discomfort. He abruptly stood from his desk, pushing his chair into the wall, ready for anything.

she had a folder in her hand, and as she held it out to him, her next words gutted him, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Confused, Declan didn’t know what was going on. There were so many things he had kept from his daughter; missions, contacts, how he came to find her, and even his race. Deciding to tread carefully, he asked cautiously, “What do you mean honey?”    She looked so forlorn and alone at that moment. Declan wanted to cry with her, tell her whatever it was they would work through it, and it would be okay, but he held his tongue. Whatever was in that folder was about to change both of their lives, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t for the better.

Ryleigh was so mad and hurt. This was her Dad, the man she valued above all others, and he was keeping things from her, important things. They weren’t mission secrets, which she understood the need for confidentiality or even mundane secrets like what he was planning on getting her for Christmas, but life changing secrets. Secrets that could change them both irrevocably.

He looked like the same man who rocked her to back to sleep when she had a nightmare or cheered in the crowd when she achieved every one of her degrees. Declan “Senior” Quinn was a handsome man. He was tall and maintained his physique even at his age. He was fort-eight, but could pass for a man in his early thirties. The only indication of age was a little graying on the temples of his blonde hair and the tiny crow’s feet next to his unusual eyes. With his experience and career, some would except a weathered and aged man, but he wasn’t either of those things. She often wondered why he never dated or maybe even had a woman on the side, but to Ryleigh’s knowledge he didn’t and that always puzzled her. He was a catch by anyone’s standards. She had always wanted him to be happy, but never questioned him. Maybe now she knew why.

Chapter 2

Ryleigh wanted to puke. She tried to remember his actions, not what was to come. This was the man that had decided that because of her first eleven years, she didn’t have enough of a childhood and forced her to play with dolls and have tea parties. The big badass Navy Seal would come into her room with a tea set and a feather boa, talking with an English accent, trying to get her to play. She didn’t know how to play, it was something she hadn’t ever done before. He was an amazing father, and most importantly, she trusted him wholeheartedly. She had almost from the start. When he’d said he would get her out of the hellhole, she had called a home and promised nothing would ever harm her again, she believed him.

As she grew up, she wanted to be just like him, but now she was questioning that. Had he known what she was from the start and was that why he took her in?  So many questions and so few answers. Was her life a lie?  Did he want something from her like everyone else?  Ryleigh couldn’t wrap her head around any of it.

Ryleigh wasn’t able to get anything past the lump in her throat, so she handed her Dad the folder. She watched as the furrow between his eyebrows got deeper and deeper. She also watched as his complexion went from red to almost purple with rage and knew that he was aware of what The Holly group had found. Those things she could ignore as human nature, but what she couldn’t ignore was that his eyes were now glowing an iridescent green, and his pupil seemed to elongate, totally not a human reaction. He was something other, and she had been genetically engineered to be that as well. She could understand him keeping his “enhancements” to himself, but did he know about her?  If he did, that hurt.

“Where did you get this information, Ryleigh?”  Her loving father was long gone, he was all business now. The tough as nails CO and President of NAC was definitely standing behind the desk at the moment. She wanted to throw a fit like a pubescent teen, but decided to take her cues from him. She would treat this conversation like any other professional meeting. Declan “Senior” Quinn wasn’t the person she thought he was. She needed him to be the loving and doting father he had always been, not something else. Not someone who would betray her and definitely not someone who would keep life-changing information from her. She would get her answers, she wasn’t leaving until he answered every single one.

Deciding to break the silence, she cleared her throat which felt like she had swallowed the Sahara Desert. “The case my group was on last month yielded a variety of information,” she said looking into his eerie eyes. “Including the fact that there is a doctor out there who is creating children and using animal DNA to enhance them. It also showed that this has been going on for a very long time, thirty years or so.” Ryleigh desperately wanted him to show some kind of shock, but her father’s face was expressionless. She could only assume he had known this information all along. If he hadn’t, would be as surprised and shocked as she was when she read the initial intel?

Turning, unable to look at him anymore, she continued, “The intel brought back memories, things that were said to me as a child I had forgotten or chose to not to remember, I’m not sure.”  She heard him grunt, but never moving from his station behind the desk. “When my team and I discussed the evidence, others were reminded of similar things. So, we decided to look further.”

Turning to look out the window because it seemed like the safest place at the moment, she continued, “We tested our blood and ran several tests with no results until we decided to check our DNA. Each of us has more than the standard 46. We narrowed down the results and found that we all carry animal DNA, some identified some not.”  Turning she pointed and looked at her dad, “Can you explain that, father?”  The father thing kind of slipped out, but what else was she supposed to do?  She was mad and wanted to put him in his place somehow. She had never called him father. It was what the person who contributed his semen to create her insisted that she call him, she hated the word. Declan knew that.

He had lied to her, well, not really, he had kept something paramount from her. Something that explained so much. Ryleigh waited, but there was only silence. But, oh, his eyes were conveying a lot. He was furious.

“I’ve always known there was something different about you,” Ryleigh charged. “You never date, and even beyond missions, you used to disappear from the house without taking your car or letting me know you were going anywhere. I would look for you, but I could never find you, and then you would show up and act like nothing was out of the ordinary. I spent years looking through the house for a secret room or something to explain where you had gone, not once finding anything. I never put much thought into it, blamed it on your Seal training. Then there are the other things, your eyes glow when you’re upset, and you seem to get bigger. Your skin gets a sheen to it I have never been able to explain before, and you’ve never once in seventeen years even had so much as a cold.”

“Listen honey...” Declan said, trying to placate her.

“No, let me finish,” she said placing her hand up to stop him from continuing. “Do you remember that time when I was about fourteen?  You got me those roller blades and insisted I try them out. You said it was good exercise, you had heard all the kids were doing it. That my life should include some fun not just studying. I didn’t want to, but you convinced me, and I lost control and headed down the driveway super-fast. The incline was so steep I couldn’t stop, but you somehow managed to catch up to me before I hit the main road and the oncoming traffic. You had been standing on the porch a good 50 feet from where I was watering the plants. No way should you have been able to catch up to me and that car you said swerved out of the way. Why weren’t there any skid marks from behind?” Ryleigh demanded.

“You told me that you fell into the car when it stopped, but the door was crushed along with the window. I saw the skid marks from the tires moving away from you like it skidded from your push. There was really no another explanation for it. The driver admitted that he never hit the brakes when he got out of the car. You refused to call the police and gave him money to fix the damage when the accident was clearly his fault. With this new information, I started to see patterns that I blew off before. So, I had your DNA run as well.”

“What the Hell Ryleigh!” Declan yelled, crouching over his desk, planting his hands, and staring right her. He needed her to realize how bad this was and how serious he was. She needed to start talking, but he needed something to ground him. For the moment, his desk would have to do; he ignored the loud cracking noise. He would never strike out at his daughter, but he was infuriated. This was even worse than Declan had expected. If word got out about what he was or what his people were, the damage would be horrific. His people lived by rules of secrecy which would put the government to shame. He was a Shifter, a man who could turn into an animal at will. He and his clansmen had lived thousands of years right alongside humans without detection, and now it looked like his daughter might be the reason behind the downfall to his entire race. He had been so cocky to not realize that Ryleigh had picked up on some of his Shifter traits. Never once did he detect her discomfort or even her curiosity. She never mentioned a thing.

Declan didn’t like the position that this new information put him in. He knew that his shifter DNA couldn’t be traced, his lineage and bloodlines were long extinct.  Humans had no Dragon DNA to compare to his, but that didn’t mean the others were out of the woods. Apex predators were common, and although they were different from the traditional animal varieties, there would be similarities. Someone with Ryleigh’s brain or the others on her team could easily discern those similarities, and if that information ever got out, Fuck!  He wanted to scream at her to forget about this, to never mention it again, but he also needed to know it all. What all did The Holly Group know?  How could he protect his people while also keeping his daughter safe?  Were all the members of The Holly Group like NAC, could all her people be trusted?  Fuck, the list went on and on.

Her Dad never had so much as raised his voice to Ryleigh in all the years that they had been together. So, to have him yelling now, Ryleigh knew that all the theories her team had come up with were true, at least in part. He hadn’t denied anything yet, but he also hadn’t confirmed it. Her Dad was more than met her eyes.

“Did you know we are related?” Ryleigh sneered. This was the thing she hated most about all that she had learned. Ryleigh could feel her lip pull up and quiver, but she forced her body to remain planted where it was, desperately wanting to see his reaction. They were blood-related, and he had either not known, which she hoped he hadn’t, or kept it from her, which she hated.  Didn't she have a right to know?  Wasn’t family supposed to be the most important thing?  That was what he had taught her.

“Those extra chromosomes led right back to you or at least someone in your family,” Ryleigh declared.  “The rest, the standard ones, they lead right back to those people who created me. I have to ask, is that why you took me from that place? Or how about we start with the simple question, what are you?”  Ryleigh wanted to be pleased by the flinch those words invoked, but she wasn’t, this all hurt her too much.

Turning his back to her, looking up at the ceiling like it held some answer he was never going to find, Declan was at a loss. Fuck, the hits kept coming. He had no idea he and Ryleigh were related. It wasn’t possible, his brother had died young, and he had no other siblings. His father would have been too old to have created Ryleigh. It was possible, but the old man had been so depressed after Seamus had passed, he was pretty sure he never left his home. Looking at the paperwork Ryleigh had given him, he noticed that he and Ryleigh did share a twenty-five percent DNA match. Not really knowing what that meant, he had to ask.

Turning back to his desk, he moved his chair into place and took a seat. He wouldn’t get anywhere if he kept on ranting and raving. It looked like Ryleigh wasn’t the only one who needed answers.

“What does all this mean, Ryleigh,” he said pointing at the open folder. He was avoiding her questions, and he knew it. She knew it too because her shoulders slumped, and she looked down at her feet.

He wasn’t ready to disclose everything just yet. There was still a chance that some of the secrets could be kept. There was one in particular he would always keep from her. It was better for both of them that way. They had always had a bond; he was really never sure where it came from, it was instant and insistent. Never having children, he assumed it came from his human side. Blowing off what he always knew was true that his dragon had also claimed Ryleigh. It was unheard of, and he couldn’t name a single time it had ever happened in all his years.

He knew the moment he saw her that he needed to protect her. His instincts had always driven him, and that day, they had been screaming at him. His dragon had been clawing at him. Declan had a firm grip on the beast, but now that he really got down to the brass tacks, he realized how much he had already let slip. Ryleigh was family. He had no idea how or why, but knew what she was saying was the truth. It didn’t change his feelings, but it explained so much.

“What that means Ryleigh…” he tried again, still pointing to the paper.

This time she answered, taking her cues from him. She released one of her arms from around her stomach, but kept it close, like it would somehow protect her from what was going to come. She pointed at the papers on his desk like they were going to jump out and bite her. Clearing her throat again, she said, “What that means is you and I are blood-related. More specifically, you are either my Uncle, Grandfather, or Nephew. We had a twenty-five percent match.”

Declan shook his head. He still couldn’t get his mind wrapped around what she was saying. When that didn’t work, he got up and started pacing. Pacing always helped him concentrate, but this time it did nothing. He kept stopping and looking at Ryleigh, wanting her to finish, but at the same time he was unable to accept what she was saying. It didn’t make any sense. Instead of expressing this verbally, because he wasn’t quite sure how it would come out, he gestured at her on his next pass to continue.

God, Ryleigh really hated this. Her dad was agitated and angry. It was instinctive for her to never want him to be that way, but she couldn’t just brush any of this under the rug. She couldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen something like when she was a child. She couldn’t ignore the evidence her team had discovered. She could make him happy and pretend that everything was all right, but it wasn’t. So, she gave him the facts. Sometimes it was easier to deal with data than with emotions.

“I discounted Grandfather because you said that you’ve never had any children. Furthermore, since you are only in your late forties, there is no way that one of your offspring could be my parent. Unless you are way older than I ever knew,” Ryleigh accused. “Same thing goes with Nephew, the timeline doesn’t add up, so Uncle it is,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. The move helped her relieve some of the tightness. She couldn’t resist one more dig, “Or is there more to this than meets the eye here, like everything else I am finding out?”

Declan flinched at her accusations. He had kept things from her, but he never lied and hoped he wouldn’t have to. She had never mentioned any of this before. Not about his shifter traits or even his disappearances from the house. Why had she waited so long to confront him?  Shit, he was just as clueless, not even knowing they were related until this very moment. Even hearing and seeing the information didn’t stop him from his duty; protecting her.

“Listen, little girl, you are treading in waters that could get you killed. There are people out there who will hunt you and your team down if this information got out. Shit, even if they get wind that you have knowledge of this information. Do you understand me?”  Declan continued his pacing. When he got back to where she was standing he continued. “If not, let me make it clearer; just having my DNA and running it without my knowledge or consent is an act of treason in my world.” More pacing. “Not the kind of treason that gets you put in jail either,” he said, throwing his hands up in the air and quickly turning back and adding, “the kind that gets you eliminated. Do you understand me better now?” he said, perching himself on the edge of his desk.

Ryleigh jerked. Surely the man who had been so loving and raised her as his own wouldn’t eliminate her or allow someone to ‘eliminate her’ as he so eloquently put it. She was confused and angry, but she still loved him as she had prior to this knowledge. She just wanted answers. Was that so bad?  This stuff didn’t only affect him, she was right in the middle.

Authors Note:

They say it takes a village to raise a child.  I get that. What I didn’t know when I first started writing these stories was that it took a village to write a book.  I have had so much support and encouragement. I will always be eternally grateful.

A special thank you needs to go to my editor, Sandy Ebel, with Personal Touch Editing.  You have helped me make a good book great.  DeAnne, Rachele and Rhonda, thank you so much for being my beta readers.  Your feedback helped me more then you will ever know.

To my sister, you always have my back and that is something I will never be able to repay you for, thanks for always being there.  Thanks for the encouragement and supporting my dreams.

To my husband, I know I make you want to pull your hair out sometimes, but your unwavering support and confidence in my abilities astounds me every single day. 

To my readers, thanks for giving a nobody a chance.  I hope you stick with me and discover all the trials and tribulations yet to come.  I hope I leave you guessing, but most of all, I hope I leave you intrigued.  Enjoy the ride and happy reading.

Please check out www.chelseahandcock.com for updates and future books.  You can also reach me on Facebook at any time, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelseaHandcock/. 