Chapter Twenty

Laurel

Staring at the officer, I slowly got to my feet.

“You are the officer who keeps arresting my son.”

The fucker nodded. “That’s right, and if you had done a better job at raising him, I wouldn’t have to. Now shut up and sit your ass back down before I cuff you to that bench.”

Nikoli sneered, taking a step toward the officer. “You touch my woman, and it will be the last thing you ever do.”

Frank grabbed his arm, halting him.

“Was that a threat?”

“It was a fucking promise.” Nikoli growled.

“Turn around,” the motherfucker firmly said, stepping toward him. “You are under arrest for threatening an officer of the law.”

“I didn’t threaten shit,” Nikoli replied. “I made you a promise.”

The bell jingled again.

“Where is my daughter?” my mom shouted, storming into the station, followed by a large biker I knew as Savage. Jessica’s husband.

“Where is my wife?” the big biker growled.

“Now, Lucas Keller,” Linda said, looking at Savage. “I’m gonna need you to take a deep breath.”

And that was when Savage growled, marched his ass right over to the officer challenging Nikoli, grabbed him by the front of his shirt, and hauled him off his feet like a fucking rag doll. “You touched my wife!”

“SAVAGE, NO!” Jessica screamed as King, Frank, Gunner and Nikoli rushed to save the officer.

“SHOOT HIM!” Deputy Williams screamed as Noah just leaned against his desk, shaking his head. Turning to us, he looked at Jess.

“Jess. Would really appreciate it if you would tell your man that you cuffed yourself.”

Jessica nodded. “Sure thing, Noah.”

“Savage,” King roared. “Let him go!”

“NO!”

“Oh fuck!” another biker cursed, running over to Jessica’s husband and another followed. “Savage. Take a breather, man. You don’t want to do this.”

“He touched my woman, Slaughter.”

“And I’m sure he’s really, really sorry, but, brother, Reaper’s gonna have your ass if you get arrested,” the other brother reasoned.

“Don’t fucking care, Whiskey,” the big guy sneered, shaking the deputy like a twig.

“Lucas,” King spoke calmly to the big guy. “Come on, man. Jess and the kids need you. Don’t do this.”

Cursing, Jessica muttered, “Fuck me. My ass will never be the same again.”

Before I could ask her what she meant, she added, “Lucas Keller, you let the officer go and I’ll let you do that thing you want to do.”

Savage turned to his wife. “You mean it?”

Groaning, she slowly nodded her head.

Smiling happily, the big guy dropped the deputy and said, “Linda, get my baby out of there. I’ve got to get her home, fast.”

The second the deputy was on his feet, he pulled his gun and aimed it at Savage and the others.

“What the hell is going on here?” Mike roared from behind everyone.

“These thugs are under arrest for threatening an officer of the law, and that one assaulted me!”

Rolling his eyes, Mike pushed his way through the brothers and said, “Boy, if you don’t put that fucking gun away, I’m going to let these men have a go at you.”

“Can’t do that, Sheriff.” Deputy Williams held firm. “I’m pressing charges against that big fucker. He laid hands on me.”

“I’m gonna lay hands on you if you don’t put that gun away,” Mike threatened, stepping in front of the deputy and the others.

The bell jingled again.

“Lord have mercy,” I distinctly heard Judge Tomlinson groan. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Just what in Sam Hill is going on here?”

“He…” the deputy began to speak while the judge glared at him.

“I wasn’t asking you, boy!”

Turning to Scribe, the judge pointed. “Speak.”

“So, let me get this straight.” Judge Tomlinson sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I got called away from my favorite fishing hole because those mischief makers accosted Bailey and her girls, who were having a girls’ day out at the Rose Tavern?”

“Yes, Judge,” Enigma spoke up.

“Instead of arresting the instigators and giving Bailey’s girls a warning, the newbie idiot over there arrested everyone?”

“Yes, Judge,” Noah clearly said.

“And just to add to this clusterfuck, Banks threatened the newbie and Savage put hands on him?”

“Yeah, Jake,” King groaned.

Judge Tomlinson looked at Deputy Williams and frowned. “Boy, you don’t have the brain God gave a goose, do you?”

“Excuse me?”

“There is no excuse for you,” the judge snarked. “All of this crap could have been prevented if you had read the fucking room. Do you have any idea who these men and women are? They are upstanding citizens of this town. Major business owners and pillars of the community. Hell, boy, they pay our salaries and you arrest their wives! Are you fucking slow or just stupid?”

“They threatened an officer of the law, Judge.”

“I am the fucking law in this town, boy!” the judge roared, before turning to Mike. “Mike, not sure about this one.”

“Neither am I.” Mike frowned at the deputy. “Noah, let Bailey and the girls out of that cell.”

“What about us?” Sandi shouted.

“You can go after everyone else leaves.”

“Why do they get to leave first?” Marlene whined.

“Because we’re better looking.” Bailey smiled, blowing the bitch a kiss when she walked out of the cell. Following, I headed over to Nikoli and my mother.

“You okay, darling?” my mom asked.

“Yeah,” I muttered while Deputy Williams sneered at me.

I didn’t like that fucker.

Didn’t trust him either.

“Tell your son I’ll be seeing him soon,” the fucker remarked for all to hear.

Placing my hand on Nikoli’s chest, stopping him, I looked at the deputy and said, “You come near my kids again and it will be the last thing you ever do. I’m from the South, Deputy. I was raised in the backwoods. You think I’m playing around? Test me.”

The judge stiffened.

“Yeah, I know I just threatened him, Judge, but I’m not going to let that punk threaten my boys. He’s had a hard-on for Nash all summer and it ends now. Mike, I want to file a formal complaint against Deputy Williams.”

Judge Tomlinson frowned as he looked at the deputy. “Laurel’s right, Williams. Every time Laurel or Nash have been before my bench for one petty incident or another, you’ve been the arresting officer. Why?”

“Why what, Judge?” the fucker snarked. “Bitch is a troublemaker, just like her son. Both should be behind bars.”

“That’s not for you to decide.” Judge Tomlinson stood, glaring at the arrogant fucker. “Mike?”

“Gun and badge, Williams,” Mike ordered, walking over to the man.

“You can’t be serious!” he yelled, jumping to his feet. “I did everything by the book. You are going to believe that cunt over me? I’m a sworn officer of the law. I did nothing wrong.”

“Not gonna ask you again,” Mike warned, and Noah walked up behind the guy quietly.

“You are making a huge fucking mistake,” Williams shouted, ripping his badge off his shirt, handing it to Mike, before reaching for his gun, only to find it already gone. Turning, Noah backed away with the gun in his hand.

Looking around the room, he stormed toward the doors, turning as he said. “All of you are going to pay for this. Mark my words. Your time is coming.”

The second he was gone, Mike sighed. “Judge, I’m gonna need you to stay. We need to talk. King, get the girls home and keep them there until you hear from me.”

“You find what you were looking for?” King asked.

“Yeah. I did.”

The second I walked into the clubhouse, Nash ran over to me and hugged me tight. Blinking, I looked up at Nikoli, who winked as he headed for the bar.

“Are you okay, Mom?” Nash asked, holding me, damn near cutting off my air, but I didn’t fucking care.

My son was hugging me again.

Really hugging me.

Hugging him back, I closed my eyes and just enjoyed holding my son again. It had been so long since he had allowed me to touch him.

I never wanted to let him go.

“I’m good. You know me. Nothing gets me down.”

Nash released me and nodded. “I know. I was worried.”

Touching his face, I smiled. “I’m all better now. I’ve missed you.”

He blushed. “Missed you too, Mom.”

“Can I get in on this love fest?” my mom asked, looking at Nash, who smiled. “Hi, Nana.”

“Oh, my darling boy!” my mom gasped, grabbing Nash, pulling him into a big grandmotherly hug. “Oh, my sweet boy. You’re back.”

Covering my mouth, I tried to stem the tears that threatened to cascade down my face. It had been so long since I’d seen this side of Nash. I didn’t know what happened and I didn’t care. The boy I raised was standing before me, hugging his nana and that’s all I cared about.

“I’m back, Nana,” Nash replied, rolling his eyes at me, which caused me to chuckle.

God, I loved my mother, but sometimes, she could be too much.

“Mom, you’re suffocating him. Let him go.”

“I can’t. My boy’s back,” she cried.

When my mother finally released him, Kai ran over and jumped on Nash’s back. “Did you tell them?”

“Tell me what?” I asked, looking from Kai to Nash.

My sweet Kai grinned from ear to ear. “My brother’s back!”

Nash laughed, hefting Kai higher onto his back.

Grinning, I wiped a lone tear and whispered, “I see that.”

“Come on, Nash. The boys are waiting. We got World of Warcraft ready to go.”

Nash looked at me and I nodded.

“Go. Go play with your brother. We will talk later.”

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you too, baby.”

“Come on, Kai.” Nash grinned. “Let’s go show Cameron and Benny what the McDonald boys can really do!”

“WOOHOO!” Kai shouted, pumping his little arm in the air as Nash piggybacked him out of the room.