Alyssa
"Oh my gosh, there you are, Alyssa!" Ashley squeals, throwing her arms around me before Chelsea follows suit, squeezing me just as tightly.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, they were already waiting for me in front of the clubhouse, surrounded by the bikers quickly filling the parking lot for today's event.
Seeing my friends again feels so damn good, even if this isn't just a reunion. It's a plan, a strategy. If things go south today with Isaac, they'll be the ones running with my daughter to safety.
"Who is he?" Chelsea's question snaps me out of my thoughts, her gaze flickering over my shoulder.
I don't need to turn around to know who she's talking about. War's presence looms, sharp and unsettling, like a thorn embedded in my side. He's been babysitting me since Gray called the guys inside, and while I still don't understand why he's here, I'm relieved he rode his own bike. If I had to ride in the car with him, I would've lost my shit.
I'd rather have Logan. But it's like he's hiding from me, using War as a shield. I don't understand why, though. I thought we could be friends again, but it seems he doesn't feel the same way.
"Ignore him," I say, my tone flat. "He's not your type."
Behind me, War chuckles, slow and mocking. "Not her type? C'mon, Aly. If she likes big dick, I'm exactly her type."
Oh, god.
Chelsea and Ashley's eyes widen, caught between shock and intrigue.
I roll my eyes, resisting the urge to groan. "See? Not your type."
And definitely not worth the trouble.
Ashley tilts her head, shamelessly studying him. "I don't know. Anyone with that much confidence has got to be packing, right?"
Chelsea smirks. "Right? And look at you. King wasn't your type either, but here you are getting big dick every night. We all know about that girl he put in the hospital in high school."
I grimace. Yes...Yes I do.
Lowering my voice so War can't hear, I murmur, "King's nothing like him. And I'm like 99% sure War's a sociopath."
And Logan's alter. But that's something we can talk about later.
Ashley grins. "Well, sociopath or not, I'd still be willing to find out how big he is." Her eyes shift to something else behind me. "And what about that silver fox over there? He's been staring.
I follow her gaze to Luther, who's wiping down his bike in the parking lot. When he notices us watching, he winks.
I laugh, shaking my head. "He's single. Knock yourself out."
Mason strides over, Zuri balanced comfortably on his hip. She's holding a half-eaten strawberry, the juice smeared across her tiny fingers.
"You ladies ready to go inside?" His tone is calm but firm, protective in a way that instantly sends a wave of relief over me.
I press a kiss to Zuri's forehead. "Mama will be right back, okay?" I murmur before leaning up to kiss Mason's cheek. He didn't have to volunteer to stay with Chelsea and Ashley, but he said it would put his mind at ease.
"Thank you," I whisper softly. "I love you."
He nods, offering me a small, warm smile.
Chelsea gives me a quick hug. "Remember, if at any time you need us for that thing, just call or text us with the word watermelon."
I nod, the knot in my chest loosening just a little. The clubhouse is more than just a building-it's a fortress. Between the high-tech security and the massive men who guard the entrance, I know Zuri will be safe. If Isaac shows up, he won't even make it past the front door. And if he does? Plan B is locked and loaded.
Mason ushers them inside, Zuri still cradled in his arms. As the door closes behind them, I let out a slow breath. My baby girl is safe in there, surrounded by the people I trust.
But any sense of relief seems to vanish way too quickly. My heart is racing again, every nerve on edge as I glance around the parking lot. What if Isaac's hiding in a goddamn bush or something, watching, waiting for the chance to punish me?
A large hand suddenly wraps around my throat, and my body reacts before my mind catches up. The calloused thumb tracing my pulse sends a jolt of electricity through me, grounding me even as it ignites something primal. I practically purr like a kitten, the solid heat of him chasing away the edges of my anxiety.
I tilt my head back, locking eyes with King. His gaze holds mine, intense and possessive, yet steady enough to anchor me. Even without words, he's telling me I'm safe, that no matter what happens today, I'll live to see another one.
"Are you ready to ride, kitten?" His gravelly voice is unapologetically sexy as fuck, and my knees weaken at the sound.
Melting against his touch, I murmur, "Yeah. Just feeling a little queasy."
It's probably the smoothie Niko insisted I drink before we got here, but the tension in the air doesn't help my nausea either. I can feel it, thick and heavy, like a storm brewing. Isaac's coming-I can fucking feel it. I just have to keep reminding myself that my men won't allow him to hurt me.
I mean, King was very insistent about that last night.
I need to trust them. I need to allow them to protect me, even if my instincts are screaming at me to just give Isaac what he wants so he'll leave the people I love alone.
King's hand moves to my back, rubbing slow, soothing circles. "We'll pull over if we need to. And It's a thirty-mile ride, so we've got a few stops planned too."
I nod silently, hoping we don't really have to stop so I can puke. I'm not ready to reveal that I'm pregnant. At least not yet.
As we cross the lot towards King's bike, Nina steps into our path, her phone raised. "Gray wants me to take pictures, y'all. Club's social media is drier than the Sahara."
"Not happening," King grunts without even looking at her.
Nina huffs but doesn't back down, her gaze swinging to me, practically pleading. "Aly, get your grumpy old man to cooperate. Wouldn't hurt to get some more exposure and online donations."
I glance up at King, batting my lashes as I tilt my head, playing along. "You heard her, Daddy. That's the whole reason we're here, right?"
When I found out that Niko suggested the club raise money for domestic violence survivors, it warmed me from the inside out. If taking a few photos could help bring in more money for a cause so personal to me, I definitely don't mind doing it.
King's eyes flicker to mine, softening briefly, but his jaw tightens, a reluctant surrender crossing his face. "Three pictures," he mutters, the words begrudgingly leaving his lips . "Make it quick before I regret this."
Nina grins triumphantly. "Yes, Sir."
I smile back, reaching up, my fingers brushing through King's hair to as I tug the tie loose. It falls in messy waves, brushing his shoulders, and my thighs instinctively clench as my gaze tracks the movement. His eyes never leave mine, the unspoken tension between us thickening.
"Good thing looks don't get you pregnant," Nina teases in a low voice. "You would've been knocked up a lot earlier than now."
My cheeks flame. She knows. Is it really that obvious?
We pose for the first shot: my leg hooked around King's waist, our eyes locked in a fierce, magnetic connection. The second shot captures his hand tipping my chin, claiming my lips in a kiss that leaves me breathless, every part of me singing with need. The third shot is the simplest: us perched on his bike, my arms wrapped around his waist with our patches proudly displayed.
As we finish, I can feel the heat between us simmering dangerously. My heart is pounding, my body aching for him, and King fucking knows it. He smirks, leaning in to brush his lips against mine once more. "Does my greedy girl need to be bred again?"
I whimper in response, barely able to contain myself.
Yes. Yes, I fucking need it!
"Nina, I said take pictures for the page, not their Onlyfans." My brother's irritated voice makes all our heads snap up. Christine's on his arm, dressed in a leather jacket with Gray's property patch and leather pants so tight, I can practically see the outline of her pussy.
"Trust me, prez. I know what I'm doing," Nina replies calmly, but I can tell she's fighting back a laugh.
Yeah, she sees it too.
I fight the scowl creeping onto my face when Christine flashes me a smug smile as they pass. Of course she'd be here today, hanging onto Gray like his personal accessory. I swear, if she so much as looks at me the wrong way, I'm not responsible for what happens next. It's bad enough I have Isaac to deal with-I don't need her bullshit on top of it.
King seems to read my thoughts, pulling me into his chest. "You're pregnant, baby. I'm not letting you fight her," he whispers in my ear.
I raise a brow, silently asking, But you'd let me kill my husband right now?
He catches that too, pressing a kiss to my earlobe. "That's different. By the time you touch him, he'll barely be alive."
I shudder. God, how does he make violence and murder sound so hot?
Just then, Nina whistles, swiping through the pictures on her phone. "Whew, these are something else. Thanks, guys."
Of course they are. I mean, has she seen King? The man practically oozes sex appeal.
Niko, who's been watching nearby with War, saunters over and peeks at her phone. A slow grin spreads across his face, hunger flickering in his eyes. "Holy shit. Nina, send me those."
"Me too," I chime in, giggling, though the ache between my legs is intensifying by the second.
Nina laughs, tapping her screen. "I got y'all."
King growls under his breath, tying his hair back up before slipping his helmet on. "Kitten, let's go," he orders, his voice muffled by the helmet, but the warning is clear in every syllable.
I share a knowing look with Niko, who chuckles softly. We're definitely in trouble.
As I reach for my own helmet on King's handlebars, a sharp smack lands on my ass, making me yelp in surprise.
Trapped between King and the bike, his voice drops to a sinful promise. "I'll deal with you later, Alyssa." I feel the weight of the small gun as he slides it into my pocket. "But if you can be a good girl and stay safe for me today, I might take it easy on you."