“What are we doing, Xander? Why are you here?” Monica’s voice is quiet in the large room.
“I’m here because I want to be. Your brother wants full protection on you after some shit we found out earlier, but that doesn’t matter because I’m wherever you are. Always have been, Bug.” I want to kiss her. I want to close the distance between us and ravish her lips with my own. Then I want to command her body with mine. But it’s not the right time. Not after an episode. “C’mon, Bug. You’re staying with me tonight.”
I stand up and help Monica to her feet. She pushes her body against mine and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest. “Thank you, Xander.”
An unspoken moment passes between us and I latch onto it with both hands. I return her embrace, loving the way she fits perfectly against me. Monica and I have known each other since we were teenagers. Her brother Capone and I have been inseparable since I came into the Royal Bastards at fifteen. She was the one I always wanted but never pursued. She was always out of my league; good grades in high school, popular, captain of the cheer squad. And I was one of the troublemakers. Always fighting, being suspended and finally they kicked me out for good my senior year. Most of the trouble I was in, was because of this woman in my arms. I’ve always protected her and always will.
I cup the sides of her face with my large hands and lean close so our lips are inches apart. “I will always protect you and keep you safe.” Monica’s breath picks up and she darts her tongue out to lick her lips. My cock strains against the zipper of my jeans. “I might have failed once before, but I won’t fail you again.”
“Kiss me, Xander. Make me forget and give me what you can.” Monica whispers against my lips.
That’s all the permission I need. My mouth crashes down onto hers and she opens her lips, giving me access. I plunge my tongue into her mouth and savor Monica’s flavor on my lips. She battles mine, back and forth. It’s wet, it’s raw, it’s real. It’s who we are. My cock strains against the zipper of my jeans but I refrain from taking this further. I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers, breathing hard. Monica grips my cut in her small hands trying to get her bearing back.
A loud crack echoes through the gym and we jump apart. I pull my gun out from my cut and tuck Monica behind me, protecting her. Together, we walk quietly toward the noise. Once we leave the boxing area, it’s dark. I didn’t flip any lights on when I was trying to find her. Now, I wish I did. The crack echoes again the closer we get to the entrance.
The front door swings open and closed with the wind. Someone was in here watching us. I’ll guaran-fucking-tee it. I know I closed that door when I came in here. With my heart pounding against my chest and Monica’s fingers clutching my back pocket, I open the door and look around. There’s no one out here anymore. Whoever it was is long gone. We cross the parking lot in hurried steps and enter the back door.
I turn to Monica, “Get to my room and lock the door. Do not open it for anyone.”
“Where are you going?” Her voice trembles with fear.
“I need to see Capone. Then I’ll be right behind you.”
She hurries off toward my room and when she’s out of sight, I make my way to Capone’s office. I knock on the oak door and wait for him to answer. Capone yanks open the door, tucking his white t-shirt in his jeans and motions for me to enter. A club whore scurries out of his office, covering her tits with her shirt. Capone buckles his belt and takes a seat in the leather chair behind his desk. Sweat and sex linger in the room and I raise an eyebrow. He shrugs and leans back in the chair, resting his hands behind his head.
“What’s up, Blayze.”
“Someone was in the gym with Monica and me. They took off before I could see who it was.” I respond taking a seat in front of his desk. It’s probably the most sanitized seat in the room. I’d hate to shine a black light on the leather sofa, his desk or chair. I don’t tell him about the kiss that distracted me from knowing who was around.
Capone leans forward in his chair and steeples his hands on his desk. The satisfied look he had on his face when I came in here is long gone. “Who do you think it was?”
“I don’t know. It couldn’t have been the ass fucker John. He hasn’t been here since Savage Saints came into town and I made Monica go with me.”
“Do you think whoever it was is out to hurt her or scare the fuck out of her?”
“I’m thinking they want to scare her.”
“But why? What has she done?” Capone’s brow scrunches in confusion. Our suspects are limited to our brothers and the club whores. Those are the only ones allowed in our clubhouse.
“Monica hasn’t done a fucking thing to anyone,” I snarl. “Fuck me. I have an idea who it could be.” All the color drains from my face and my body is vibrating with rage.
“Who? I’ll punish them for scaring my sister.” Capone’s jaw ticks with fury.
“Samantha. She came on to me tonight and was pissed I didn’t take her up on her advances.”
“I’ll send Bear to find the bitch. If it was her, she won’t like fucking with my sister.” Capone slams his fist on his desk causing the things on it to rattle and stands up. He motions with his head for me to leave.
Bear is the Royal Bastards Sargent at Arms. He’s a big burly man with tree branches for limbs and his neck is as big as my thigh. His real name is Mark Jacobs. He got the nickname Bear because even with his tough exterior, he’s a teddy bear with the women in the club. He’s one of the most respectful men around. He loves the attention the women give him and is a gentle giant thanks to his mama, a well-known stripper, who taught her boy at a young age how to treat a lady. Something happened to her when he was little and no one besides Capone knows what it is. When he is ready to share, he will.
I stand up quickly from my seat and walk toward the door. Capone rests his hand on my shoulder, “Stay with Monica at all times. I’ll search around and see what I can figure out. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“I won’t, Prez. Thanks.”
“Blayze,” Capone calls my name when I walk out the door. I turn in his direction. “You’re the only one I trust to keep my sister safe. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t. I promise on my patch, Monica will have my full attention.” In more ways than what Capone wants or thinks. She’s always had my protection and always will. He’d maim my balls if he knew what kind of protection I wanted to give his sister.
“Good. I’ll see you in the morning.” Capone walks away, into the rowdy crowd in the common room before I can answer.
Turning, I make my way down the dark corridor toward my bedroom. I will find out what in the hell is going on one way or another. I will discover who’s after Monica and why. I will find out who’s trying to bring my club down. I will not stop until I have the answers I need.
Chapter 2
Monica
I unlock Xander’s door with the key he gave me months ago when I came back from Detroit and slip inside. Glancing around his room, I’m floored with memories of what’s happened to me over the past few years. I’ve spent months recovering from what Steam and Chains did to me and Xander’s room was the only safety I could find.