Chapter Twelve

Stormy

I wasn’t surprised Bullet was gone before I woke. There was a turbulent current of aggression that flowed hot and lethal through his veins. I felt the vehemence of his determination in the things he said, the way he touched me, the complete power he wielded when he was inside me.

I tugged on a pair of shorts and a tank top and went into the chapel for a cup of coffee.

“Oh, good, you’re here.” Levi stuffed her phone in her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Yeah, what do you need?” I asked, going around the backside of the bar and grabbing a cup.

“Romeo is out at his mom’s. We both have appointments today. Mine is just a checkup, but his mom is getting results on her last PET scan. Dozer is visiting his dad today at the prison. Rogue isn’t answering his phone. He must be with Romeo. Pippa is supposed to be here, but she’s watching her sister’s baby. Claudia was supposed to be home an hour ago, but she’s not. I have an appointment, but I can’t drive because I have to push the seat back to make room for my belly, and then I can’t reach the pedals.”

I set the cup down. “I’m not supposed to leave.” I didn’t know how much she knew of my situation.

“I know. Don’t worry.” She pulled a gun from her purse. “I’m a good shot, probably not better than Bullet, but I can keep you safe. And we won’t be gone long.”

“You carry a gun?”

Her brows pinched. “Always.”

“Okay, but I don’t have a driver’s license. I used to but my…uh…my ex kept my ID’s. I don’t know if it’s still valid. I’m sure it’s expired. But if you’re okay with that, I’ll take you.” I mean, it was a doctor’s appointment, and she was pregnant. Bullet would understand.

“Breaking rules,” she said and smiled. “I guess you’re a Heller now.”

“Let me get my shoes.” I hurried back to my room, slipped on sneakers, grabbed money, and stuffed it into my back pocket. I might not be a Heller, but I was desperate to get out for a minute. How much danger was there in driving a pregnant girl around town?

Levi handed me the keys to her car. I slid behind the wheel. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d driven. I inserted the key, then touched all the controls. I glanced down at the foot pedals.

“You do know how to drive?” Levi asked as she put on her seat belt and adjusted the straps above and below her belly .

“Yes, but it’s been a while.”

“Gas, breaks, go,” she said, pointing to the gate of the MC.

“Got it.” I slid the gear selector into reverse and slowly pressed the gas, then hit the brakes a little hard. “Don’t worry, I’ll get used to it.”

I pulled up to the code box.

“One, nine, seven, two,” Levi said while typing on her phone. I entered the code, and the gate slid open. “Pippa is going to try to meet us there.” She tossed her phone into her bag.

“Where am I going?”

“To the women’s center at the hospital.”

I nodded and took a left.

“We haven’t really had the chance to talk much.” She glanced at me. “I heard Romeo talking to Rogue. He said you used to work at the Landing Strip with Bristol. Is that how you met Bullet?”

“Sort of. I met him once before, but we reacquainted through Bristol.”

“I’ve never seen him with a girlfriend.” She smiled. “He seems…happy. It can be hard to tell with Bullet. He’s like Rogue. They can both be assholes. But not to the people they’re close to. But Bullet’s like Romeo, too.”

“I don’t think Bullet has girlfriends.”

“Neither did Romeo. Or rather like Bullet, Romeo had too many girlfriends.” She rubbed her hand over her belly. “I’m proof that a bad boy can change.”

I focused on the road. “I’m not asking Bullet to change.”

Levi snorted .

“I’m serious,” I said with a laugh. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. I’m temporary. I’m not cut out for life in the MC. I don’t have a thing for bikes or bad boy bikers.”

“You seem to have a thing for Bullet.” She raised a brow. “You might not want to know, but your relationship has been entertainment for us. Entertainment in a good way. I mean, we’ve all been through it. Heller guys take time to figure out what’s good for them. I think I waited the longest for Romeo.”

“It seems like it’s worked out.” I smiled and glanced at her belly.

“We all grew up together in the MC. Blade and Dozer used to tease me that I’d marry a doctor, live in the suburbs, and have a bunch of babies. I only ever wanted Romeo. But he didn’t do relationships.” She rolled her eyes. “He did do every girl, including my best friend Kiss.”

“I don’t think I’ve met her yet.”

“She doesn’t hang around the MC anymore. She’s still pissed at me. She thinks I took Romeo from her.”

“She’ll have to get over it,” I said.

I drove around to the back of the hospital parking lot.

“I need to text my mom that I’m here. She works in the emergency room.” She typed on her phone. “Okay, let’s go.”

Inside the hospital, we took the elevator to the second floor and checked in at the desk of her OBGYN. We’d barely taken a seat when an older woman in pink scrubs rushed into the waiting room .

“Stormy, this is my mom, Willow.” She pointed at me. “Stormy is Bullet’s girl.”

Willow raised one brow.

“Not one of those girls,” Levi clarified.

“We’re friends,” I said as an explanation.

Willow laughed. “Good.” She kissed Levi’s cheek. “Where’s Romeo?”

“Shannon is getting the results on her PET today. He didn’t want her to be alone in case the news wasn’t good.” Levi turned to me. “She had breast cancer.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Levi?” the medical assistant called her back.

“I can wait here,” I said. “I’ll go down to the cafeteria and grab a coffee. Do you want anything?”

“We’re good.” Willow and Levi went into the doctor’s office, and I rode the elevator down to the lobby. Once I had coffee, I headed back up to the reception area.

Twenty minutes later, Pippa came rushing into the room.

“Oh, hi,” she said, slumping into the chair next to me. “Thanks for bringing her. My sister is an inconsiderate see-you-next-Tuesday.”

“Huh?”

“She’s a cunt,” she whispered. “Is Willow in with Levi?”

“Yes.” I sipped my coffee. “They went back a few minutes ago.”

“We’ll be here for a while. Willow is friends with the doctor.” She stretched out her legs. “How do you like staying at the MC? I know it gets rowdy on the weekend. ”

“It’s good.” It was safe, and it was better than my previous two residences. The Foxglove was barely tolerable. At least I had my own space. I’d rest in a pine box before I’d ever live with Emerson again.

And then there were my mixed emotions over Bullet. Or rather, my freefall into feelings that could rip me apart. Living with Emerson had nearly destroyed me. Living without Bullet would be worse.

Levi waddled out of the room with Willow right behind her. “Every two weeks now.”

Willow kissed her cheek. “I need to get back. Let me know how it went with Shannon.”

“Oh shit,” Pippa said. “Is she okay?”

I walked behind Pippa and Levi as they spoke about Romeo’s mom.

“Where to now?” Pippa asked and glanced over her shoulder at me. “I need food.”

“I’m hungry, too,” Levi said. “We could grab lunch and head over to the shop. Text Hana and Jazzy and see if they’re hungry.”

I should go back to the MC, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to go to lunch with Levi and Pippa. I had a feeling Bullet wasn’t going to be happy about my adventure with these girls. “Do you have a gun, too?” I asked Pippa because I was pretty sure I’d need protection from a pissed off biker.

“No, but Jazzy is packing, and Hana carries a knife.”

“Okay, let’s get some lunch.”

Bulle t

“Where the fuck is she?” My gut was in my throat. All of her shit was still here. Nothing looked out of place in the MC. No signs of a struggle and no fucking clues. “She wouldn’t leave,” I said to Vega.

Barras couldn’t have gotten to her because we’d spent the morning tailing him. Kodiak was following him now. He could follow him into the fucking parking lot of the apartment complex because he’d lifted the remote entry fob off of Darla, the pissed off at her soon-to-be ex and horny socialite from the convertible BMW.

“Did she run?” Vega sat in a chair, leaned back, and sighed.

“Nah.” I flared my nostrils on a deep inhale and tried to take a calming breath, but it didn’t do shit to lessen the adrenaline firing through my system. Her money was still stuffed under the dresser, and her clothes were in the drawer. The room smelled of wildflowers and vanilla, but she’d clearly gone somewhere.

She couldn’t have vanished. After I checked the basement to see if she was dancing, I stepped out the door and checked the parking lot. Levi’s little yellow car was gone. Pike’s bike was parked in the lot, but the hearse was gone.

“Who was supposed to be here?” Vega asked.

“I figured the little prude would be here.” I hadn’t thought we’d be gone all morning, and there was always someone around the MC. This was on me. I’d gotten comfortable, let my guard down while she was safely behind the fence.

I pulled out my phone and sent Steele a text.

Bullet: Is Stormy with you ?

Fuck, if she was, I’d be glad she was safe, but the other part of me would unleash fury on him.

Steele: I haven’t seen her. Trouble?

Bullet: I don’t know yet. Maybe.

Steele: On my way.

She wouldn’t have left with Mars without a fight. I went down the hall and knocked on Romeo’s door. “Levi?”

No answer. Fuck it. I turned the handle and peeked into the room. No one was in her room, either. I checked Blade’s room, and because, at the moment, I didn’t give a fuck about privacy, I checked every other fucking door in the hall.

Pike’s was locked. I knocked. A moment later, his old lady Brenna cracked the door and rubbed sleep from her eyes. She’d been working the night shift at a call center.

“Have you seen Stormy?”

She shook her head. “Pike went to the shop with the hearse. He and Torch were going to go pick up a couple of bikes from Lee.”

Lee owned a salvage yard. His business wasn’t always legitimate. Hell, he used to buy stolen parts off Hellers, but he wasn’t dumb enough to sell Hellers stolen bikes or parts. Pike wouldn’t have taken Stormy with him.

“Thanks. Get some sleep. Sorry to wake you up.”

She smiled and shut the door.

Next, I sent a text to Rogue. The response was quick. He was with Romeo. Neither had seen Stormy but discovering that Levi was at a doctor’s appointment felt like a punch to the gut.

“Maybe Stormy called for a ride,” Vega said.

“She doesn’t fucking know anyone but Bristol, and she doesn’t have a phone.”

Vega rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes. “Then call Bristol. Maybe she picked her up.”

Christ. I dialed Bristol. “Are you with Stormy?” I asked as soon as she answered.

“I haven’t seen her. Is she not at the MC?”

If she was here, I wouldn’t be calling, but I recognized it was more of a rhetorical question. I sat on a chair, bent over, braced one hand on my thigh, and held the phone with the other.

“She’s not here.” A coil of pressure tightened on my throat, my gut clenched, and the toxic taste of fear coated my tongue. “I don’t know where she is, Bristol. And I don’t know how to find her.”

“I’m getting in my car. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. She’s smart, Bullet. If she ran, she had a reason.”

Once I hung up, I went to the room and sat on the edge of the bed. I fired off a text to Kodiak. Just typing the words had a hot ball of emotions lodged in my throat.

Bullet: Don’t lose Barras. Stormy is missing.

Finally, I sent a text to Blue, letting him know I needed him at the MC. Someone was going to need to sit on Barras overnight. That someone was Blue. If the little fucker could spend the night cuddled up to Kiss, he could sit in a fucking cage outside the penthouse.

Fifteen minutes later, Bristol was at the MC. “Any word? ”

I chain-smoked another cigarette. “She doesn’t have a fucking cell.”

She flinched from my tone, and her eyes widened.

“Sorry,” I said.

She sat in the chair next to me. “What can I do?”

“I don’t know. Nothing makes sense. She wouldn’t leave, not without talking to me.” Shit was good between us.

“Don’t get mad. I’m just throwing this out there, but did you do something?”

“Say less, Bristol.”

“No, I’m going to say a lot more if you fucked this up. You could have a good thing with her, something real, and you’ll fuck it up if you treat her like a Heller whore.”

I growled and took a long drag off my cigarette. “Have you talked to Scarlett?”

“You don’t get to change the subject.” She leaned into me. “And yes, I’ve talked to Scarlett. She’s taking time with Skye, trying to keep her from spiraling. They’re both angry. Scarlett is going to be protective of her sister, and—”

“And what?”

“They think you’re shitting on us by getting with Stormy. I told them they didn’t have ownership of you or your dick. Bullet, I love you, and I love that girl. You make a good fit with her.”

Steele came through the door. His gaze darted around the room until he found me .

“You should go with Steele and find her,” Bristol said. “At least drive by all the places she could be.”

I stood. I didn’t know where to start, but I couldn’t sit around here.

The door burst open, and Levi rushed into the chapel. Stormy stumbled in after her. They both laughed as Levi waddled through the room. Stormy smiled at me.

“I need to pee,” Levi hollered.

“I’m sorry,” Stormy said, holding her sides as she laughed.

Two equally strong and opposing forces clashed within me. Where the fuck had she been, and nothing felt as good as seeing her smiling and laughing. Jesus. Fuck. Relief knifed through the deep, dark cavern where my heart should have been beating, splintering cracks in my emotional fucking armor.

I moved on instinct, storming across the room and picking her up. As soon as my hands were on her, a knot loosened around my chest. I could fucking breathe again.

“What are you doing?” she screeched as I draped her over my shoulder and headed out of the room.

“Someone is in trouble,” Bristol singsonged.

“Jesus Christ.” Steele dropped into the chair next to Bristol.

“I’m sorry.” Stormy bounced against my back, still laughing and wiggling.

I tightened my hold on her thighs. “Stop squirming.” My hand warmed with the thought of taking her over my knee and reddening her buttocks. She rubbed her palms over my ass. “Keep it up, and I’ll fuck the fun out of you.”

She tried to twist around. “Is that supposed to scare me?”

“Like you just scared me.” I entered our room, slammed the door, and dropped her on the bed. “Jesus Christ, Stormy, what were you thinking?”

She scrambled onto her knees, scooted to the edge of the bed, linked her finger through the loops on my belt, and tipped her face up. “I knew I wasn’t supposed to leave, but Levi asked me to take her to the doctor. Romeo’s mom has cancer, Dozer’s dad is in prison, and Pippa was running late. I want to be Levi’s friend. I couldn’t say no.”

I rested a hand on her shoulder, then slid my palm around her neck. Her pulse fluttered beneath my fingers. “I understand, but it’s not safe.”

She gripped the waistband of my jeans. “I was safe. Levi carries a gun. I figured I couldn’t get in much trouble with a pregnant girl.” She smiled. “But then Pippa was there. And those two were hungry. I didn’t want to freak them out and tell them about Emerson, but I did. Not everything, but that I have an asshole ex. I think they sort of hoped he’d show up. Did you know Jazzy is packing and Hana carries a knife?”

“Fuck me.” I dropped down onto the bed next to her, and she leaned over me.

“Okay.” She smiled. “Especially if it’ll keep you from being upset with me.” She wagged her brows. “But not now. I need to make sure Levi is okay. I haven’t driven in a long time, and I was a bit out of practice. ”

She shifted as if to scoot away, but I locked her in place, banding my arm around her. “We’re not done.”

“I’m sorry.” She braced her hands on my chest. “It won’t happen again.”

“I know.” I pulled her face to mine and slid my mouth over hers. The soft fullness of her lips parted, and my tongue met hers.

Sinking my fingers into her hair, I angled her head and deepened the kiss. The sound of her kissing me, the taste of her tongue, the scent of her skin, and the feel of her hands on me sent a rush of blood into my cock.

A quiet moan slipped from her lips. I gripped her hips and lifted her to straddle my groin. “I lost you once, brown eyes. I can’t lose you again.”

She stilled and our gazes met. “What are we doing, Bullet?”

“Fuck if I know. This is all new to me. Not knowing where you were, had me out of my fucking head.” Not because I didn’t trust her or because she had some shit responsibility to me. She didn’t.

But I had a responsibility to her. And I was in unfamiliar territory with a woman. With Stormy, I wanted her to care about me. She was mine now. Barras was dead anyway, but if he touched her, I’d take him to my barn where I could take my time killing him.

“I knew it was a mistake to go,” she said, sliding off me and sitting with her legs crossed. “But I couldn’t say no to her. I didn’t want to. I like her, and I guess I wanted to be a part of this for a little while. ”

“I want you to have friends.” Jazzy and Hana would be a bad influence. The kind of influence that would make Stormy a Heller. She was good for me in the same way Hana was good for Blade. Jazzy was a nightmare, but she was good for Rogue, too, even though she kept his balls in a vise grip.

“They’re great girls. We got burgers and fries from Jay Swings and went to Wild Ink. I had brunch with Hana and Jazzy, and I got a tattoo.”

“The fuck—” One afternoon and their influence had her breaking rules, and getting ink?

She laughed, and I was fucked. I tackled her, and she clung to me, her arms around my shoulders, and her legs wrapping around my hips. If Rogue or my Heller brothers could see me, they’d see me melting on the inside for her.

“I’m teasing,” she said.

“Good, if you want ink, I’ll go with you.” I stretched her arms over her head and pinned her wrists to the bed. “I’d never stop you from doing what you want. Unless you’re leaving the MC without me. That shit can’t happen as long as Barras is out there.”

“I didn’t want you to worry about me, but once I was out with the girls, I had fun.”

“I’m going to worry.” I released her and pulled her up to sit next to me again. “It isn’t a secret that I don’t want you with any of my Heller brothers because I want you with me. Stormy, I don’t want you to leave. After all this shit is over, I want you to stay…with me.”

She licked her lips. “We would both be risking a lot. What happens if whatever this is between us ends? Wouldn’t we just be delaying the inevitable? I’d still have to start over.”

“I don’t need promises. Just a day at a time.”

She spun the ring on my middle finger, her soft hands contrasting against the rough callouses of mine. “What if one day you resent me because you’ve given up your girls and your way of life?”

“Fuck, kitten, we can’t think like that. I have a shit history, and it’s hard for you to trust, but I don’t want to live with regrets.”

“I already live with enough regrets.” Her voice was whisper quiet. “I don’t want you to be another one for me.”

I couldn’t fault her for wanting to be cautious. “Give me time. Let me prove I can be loyal.”

She tilted her head and stared into my eyes, as if she was trying to judge my sincerity. “Bullet, my regret would be in not trying, of giving in to my fears, and missing out on a chance that there could be an us.”

I dusted my knuckles along her cheek. “I’m going to make mistakes, but I won’t fuck around on you.”

She smiled. “Hmm, I didn’t think exclusive was in your vocabulary.”

Me either. I had a girlfriend for the first time in my life. “Come on.” I clasped her hand in mine and tugged her from the bed.

“Where are we going?”

“On a date.”

After Stormy changed into jeans, calmed Levi’s fears that I’d lost my shit on her, and declared we were going on a date, we left the MC. I sat on my Harley, and Stormy tugged on her gloves as I clipped her helmet strap under her chin. Once she was seated behind me and her arms were around my waist, I revved the throttle, the pipes rumbled, and the road became a blur beneath our feet.

Ten minutes later, I rode into the parking lot of the health clinic.

“Our first date was to a BDSM sex club,” she said as I held her hand and walked toward the entrance. “And our second date is to the clinic?”

“If you’re a good girl, I’ll buy you an ice cream cone after.” I kissed her temple.

“After last night, I thought I’d proved I wasn’t a good girl.”

I paused before pushing open the door. “This is for me, Stormy. I’ll wear a condom every fucking time with you, but we’re going to know I’m clean.”

She licked her upper lip, then meshed it with her lower. “Other than Emerson, there’s been no one else, but I want to get tested.”

We were in this together.

Inside the clinic, we gave our names to the medical receptionist sitting behind the counter.

“I haven’t seen you in a few weeks,” she said with smugness. “I missed your smiling face.”

I wasn’t smiling. Her name tag said Rebecca. I wasn’t sure how long she’d worked at the clinic, but she wore the same pink scrubs with milking cows and milk bottles on them every time I’d come to the clinic. I’d been here with all the girls at one time or another. She was always chatty with them, but she’d never spoken more than a few words to me .

“We’ll need to start a file on you,” she said to Stormy, and then she lowered her voice, and her narrowed gaze shifted from me to Stormy. “You’ll want to keep track of your sexual partners.”

I was her only sexual partner.

Rebecca continued. “Did you want to talk to the doctor about contraception? If you want an IUD, the procedure can be done here in the clinic. It won’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Stormy put her hand on my arm.

“Thank you.” She slipped her hand into mine and led me to the chairs.

I glared at the woman as we walked away.

“I ride a bike, wear a cut, and I’m covered in ink. I’m fucking memorable, and usually not for the right reasons.” I slunk into my chair. “She thinks you’re one of my girls.”

And it fucking pissed me off, not that I had a reason to be. Not that I’d ever given a fuck all what anyone thought of me or the girls. But I wouldn’t have anyone looking down on Stormy, especially not for being with me.

Stormy rolled her eyes. “Everyone thinks I’m one of your girls.” She smiled. “I’m not upset about that, but how did I not know your name was Clay?” she asked, sitting next to me in the plastic chairs. “It feels like we’ve told each other everything, but I didn’t know your name.”

I clasped my hands between my knees. “I haven’t been Clay since my grandma died. Doesn’t feel like my name anymore. ”

“I get it.” She leaned against me. “I haven’t been Madison in four months. Before that, I hated being her.”

The words hit hard because it was another thing we had in common. “Why Stormy?”

“Why what?”

“Rogue gave me my road name because I live hard and fast.”

“Mine isn’t a road name.” A soft smile curled her lips. “Stormy is my stage name for the same reason you call me brown eyes. I picked it because of you. Because that night there was a storm in your gray eyes.”

The intake nurse opened the door. “Clay and Madison?”

Stormy’s brow lifted, and we both smiled.

Stormy

After the clinic, we stopped at Cellular Edge.

“Bullet, I couldn’t even buy a prepaid phone at Walmart without an ID,” I said as we walked into the store.

“You need a phone.” As if he had to have some part of him touching me, he kept his hand on my hip. “Pick what you want, but it’s going to have tracking on it. Shit like today will put me in an early grave.”

Phones filled shelves. Cases and accessories hung on the walls. I walked to the off brands, chose the cheapest one, and handed it to Bullet.

He read over the specs and put it back on the shelf. “You pick the case. I’ll pick the phone. ”

In thirty seconds, he had a thousand-dollar phone on the counter and instructed the clerk to add the line to his account. I found a pink case with rhinestones in the shape of a heart on the back.

Next, we went to the ice cream shop on Washington Street. We sat under an umbrella at a small bistro table, our heads together as he sent contacts from his phone into mine.

I felt safe with Bullet, but I couldn’t stop watching the traffic. Strangers walked their dogs in the park. Kids on skateboards laughed, and a guy played guitar and sang in front of the coffee shop on the corner.

No matter how much I tried to blend in, Bullet would always stand out in the crowd. Head and shoulders taller than me, my tattooed badass biker had to be six three and two hundred pounds of mean muscle.

“If you can’t get me, call Rogue. I know you don’t want to hear this, but Lacey usually knows where I am.”

My phone pinged with her number. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Maybe you should give Lacey and Clover my number, too.” Just saying the words had tears welling in my eyes, but loving Bullet meant choosing to accept his kittens. “Not Scarlett or Skye.”

“Jealousy looks good on you.” He chuckled and licked a vanilla cone as he set up my phone. A drop of cream clung to his mustache. My tummy tumbled as he caught the cream on his thumb and sucked it into his mouth .

“I’m going to get old lady lessons from those Heller girls.” I licked my cone, swirling my tongue through the sweet cherry cream. “Then I’ll get a cut like Hana’s, a gun like Levi’s, and an attitude like Jazzy’s.”

“A triple threat.” He handed me my phone and slid his into his cut.

“Speaking of threats, what have you found out about Emerson?”

He leaned forward. “Are you sure you want the details? Sometimes it’s better not to know.”

My gut clenched. “Please, don’t keep anything from me.”

“Here’s the thing. I know you want to hang out with Levi and those other Heller girls. I’m good with that, but this, what’s going on with Barras, stays between us.”

“I thought you needed Rogue and the others.”

He shook his head. “Not after talking with Marco. I’m not going after cartel or mafia. This isn’t coming back on the MC. In and out. Kodiak and Vega will have my back. Stormy, they’re like me. No old lady at home and no kids. No one is going to care—”

“Don’t say it. You can have your reasons for not taking Rogue and Blade with you, but don’t lie and say no one is going to care if something happens to you.” I didn’t know Kodiak and Vega, but they were willing to risk their life helping Bullet and helping me. “I care. And so do your friends.”

A soft smile curled his lips. “I’m going to need you with me on this. No one can know what we have planned. Those heller girls share everything. You have to keep this to yourself.”

I nodded.

He leaned closer. “We have access to the building. It seems to be the only consistent location for him. Jinx and Clover are going to dinner tomorrow night at Tuscany. If one of them can get his attention, they’ll be in play for a night with him.”

I covered my mouth with my fingers. “Bullet, it’s too dangerous.”

“I’m going to take him from the garage. If Clover and Jinx are in the car, we’re golden. No fucking fight until I have him on his turf and isolated. If I can’t get to him tomorrow, we wait. Lacey has an idea to book a showing for one of the vacant units in the building. Nothing is set yet.”

“I just want this to be over.”

He clasped my hand in his. “Almost, kitten. Trust me. Either way, he’s going down.”

We grabbed a pint to go from the ice cream shop and headed back to the MC. A few bikes lined the front of the church. Fire crackled and popped in the oil drum.

“I’m going to hang out here for a bit,” Bullet said, and handed me my package from the saddlebag. “Do you mind?”

“I’m good.” I stepped closer to him. “I’ll go find Levi.”

He kissed me, then joined the others at the oil drum. Steele gave me a soft smile, slid his hands into his pocket, and nodded at something Kodiak said.

Inside the MC, Cruz worked behind the bar. Bikers played cards and clustered around tables. McKelle and Brenna played pool. Levi sat on the couch with her legs propped on a chair.

“I’m swollen,” she said, pushing on her legs with her fingertips.

“Maybe this will help.” I handed her a pint of maple bacon ice cream and a plastic spoon. “Bullet’s way of apologizing.”

Levi snatched the spoon from my fingers. “Right,” she said sarcastically. “Bullet doesn’t apologize…ever.”

I plopped down next to her. “Well, it’s my way of apologizing. I should’ve been more upfront about my situation.”

Levi popped off the lid and scooped up a spoonful. “How was the date?” She pointed at me with her spoon. “And we can all confirm Bullet never dates.”

McKelle laughed and lined up her shot on the pool table. “Watch your back.” She struck the cue ball hard. “His kittens have claws.” She pouted as her ball spun and missed.

“They’re feelings are valid,” I said. “They have to watch him change for me, and I have to accept he’s slept with all of them.” I groaned and leaned back on the couch. “I hate they know how good he is in bed.”

Brenna took position for the next shot. “Don’t worry, Stormy.” The balls cracked. “You’re a Heller. We all know what you’re going through.”

Levi nodded and stuffed another bite of ice cream into her mouth. “Brenna used to be a Heller whore.”

My mouth dropped open .

“I know it sounds horrible,” Levi said. “But it’s not. The old timers call them sweet butts. Girls that date bikers, hoping to become old ladies. They get known around the club. Sex just seems to be part of it. Hellers play hard.”

“But I never fucked Romeo.” Brenna tipped a longneck bottle of beer to her lips. Then she smiled at me. “I’ve never been with Bullet, either.”

I waited for McKelle to say something, but she glared across the room at Cruz. “Don’t look at me. I came to the club with that asshole.” She shrugged and took a shot. “I had classes at EU with Pippa. That’s how Cruz met Dozer and decided to prospect for the club. But I’ve been around motorcycles my whole life. My dad is always at the track. He used to race, but now, he’s part of a pit crew.” Her voice took on a sharp edge. “My dad doesn’t like Cruz. It makes it hard to defend him when he’s a dick.”

“This week she hates Cruz,” Levi said.

“She’s a slut for hate sex.” Brenna laughed and sank the last ball.

The door to the MC opened. Romeo entered with Dozer and Blade. He laughed with Blade but strode through the chapel, heading toward the back with a brown paper bag from Jay Swings in his hand.

Levi giggled, and a blush tinted her cheeks. “He’s looking for me. I sent him a text of my bellybutton today.” She lifted her shirt, poked her protruding belly button down and it popped back up. “My mom says it’s normal. I think it’s disgusting, but Romeo had to rub one out in the bathroom at the shop because my belly is a trigger for him. Instant erection. ”

Fifteen seconds later, he was back in the room, his gaze searching, and a smile splitting his lips when he saw her. He jumped the rail to the pool area and slammed his mouth onto hers. “You taste like bacon.” He claimed her lips again, kissing her with an obscene amount of tongue in front of us. “You can’t text me pictures at work. It gets me hard.”

“Get a room,” McKelle said.

“We have a room. Hey, sunshine,” he said to me.

Levi smiled. “Sunshine because you make Bullet smile.”

“Are you hungry?” he asked Levi.

“What did you bring me? Does it have bacon on it? Stormy brought me bacon ice cream.”

Romeo narrowed his gaze on me, and his lips formed the perfect joker smile. “Are you trying to steal my girl? Bacon ice cream might beat a bacon cheeseburger.”

Levi snatched the brown bag, reached inside, and pulled out a burger wrapped in yellow paper.

“I guess I win.” Romeo scooped her up, and Levi peppered his neck with kisses as he carried her away.

Hana and Pippa came into the MC a few minutes later, and within a few minutes, it went from a quiet early evening to music filling the room. Steele joined Cruz behind the bar.

Another night in the MC. Another glimpse into Bullet’s life. This part, away from his girls, was the life I wished was mine.