CHAPTER 14

JOHNNY

My life had changed so much in the last months. We'd had a quiet Christmas just the family, but Da had turned up with another surprise for us on Boxing Day. It had been a good one, if not an unexpected one.

Pulling up to the back door of The Lounge, I was hit with déjà vu from when I'd surprised Maya in my office last year. We wouldn't be able to make use of the desk this time around because her belly had popped in the last week and I couldn't get enough of it. I'd never thought of a pregnant woman as sexy, but Maya carrying our baby did it for me in ways that surprised me. We didn't get much time alone, so when we did, we made up for it. With that thought in mind, I hurried out of my vehicle and through the back door of The Lounge, making sure to lock and arm the alarm before going to find my woman.

And find her I did, sitting in my office chair, naked and waiting. Stopping in the doorway, I rested my hands on the door frame. Tilting my head, I took my time to leisurely peruse her from the top of her head to her painted pink toes.

"Mmh, milseán, what would you have done if it wasn't me?" I growled.

Maya shrugged and grinned, "But it was you."

"Lucky for you," I rumble, licking my lower lip, my eyes rising from her pussy, up her bump to her plush breasts and finally to her twinkling eyes.

"Indeed," she agreed, shifting in the chair.

"Open your legs, and show me what's mine," I demanded, sauntering closer, pulling my shirt off and over my head, throwing it on the couch. Dropping to my knees in front of Maya, I smile at the wetness of her curls.

"Feeling a little needy today, a ghrá ?"

"So needy, Johnny," Maya whimpered as I ran my nose along her folds, hips bucking up against my face.

Not making her wait, I ran my tongue up her slit to her clit, circling and sucking, as she rocked her hips against my face, taking what she needed from me.

"More, Johnny, I need more," she gasped.

Slipping my hand into my pocket, I pulled out the small vibrator I'd brought along on a whim. Tongue on her clit, I inserted the vibrator into her pussy. Switching it on, but keeping it at the lowest setting, not wanting her to come too quickly.

"Oh, holy fuck," Maya gasped, curling her fingers into my hair and tugging, grinding her pussy against my face. I loved every fucking second of it. Switching the setting to a higher vibration, I flattened my tongue against her clit in one long hard lick and then she was coming, gushing down my hand and onto the chair.

I couldn't wait to get my cock in her, knowing she'd still be rippling from her orgasm. Hurriedly unbuttoning my jeans, I pushed them down and off; pulling my cock from my boxers, I removed the vibrator from Maya's dripping wet cunt and shoved my cock in, pulling her forward so her hips were close to the edge of the chair, I pounded into her, knowing that I wouldn't be able to hold off, not with the way her pussy was rippling around my cock. With a loud shout, I came. It was always the same with her, so fucking good that I saw stars.

"Jesus, milseán , it's always so good with you."

Maya let out a happy sigh, relaxed and content now that she'd come. "It is good, isn't it?" she agreed.

Knowing she wouldn't be able to stay in the position she was in for long, I slowly pulled out, moaning at the loss of her warmth. I pulled a few tissues from the box she'd left on the arm of the couch to clean her up.

"Why didn't we use the couch? It would have been more comfortable for you?"

Maya shrugged. "I thought your office chair would be more fun. And it was," she grinned at me, holding out her hand for me to help her off the chair, which I do. Pulling her from the chair straight into my arms, pressing my lips to hers that open undermine, sliding my tongue between her lips, I kiss her, long, hard, and deep, my hand tunnelling through her hair to hold her head at just the right angle until I have to stop, only so we can breathe.

"Wow," Maya mutters hoarsely. "I think I'll surprise you again."

"You do that, milseán ," I mutter, burying my head into her neck, breathing her in. Letting out a disgruntled sigh when my phone rings from the pocket of my jeans that were still lying abandoned on the floor of my office. Ignoring it until it finally stopped ringing. I was enjoying having my wife in my arms. Until the ringing started again. "For fuck's sake," I mutter, letting Maya go and stalking to my jeans, scrabbling around until I found the pocket that it was in. I scowled, seeing Adam's name.

I was going to kick his arse. He knew what we would be up to because I know that Maya would not have been sitting here naked waiting for me if she'd not put the safety measures in place we'd discussed with Adam. All she had to do was let him know that we needed some privacy and not to let anyone in and he'd do it. He'd monitor the camera feed at the back of the club until I showed up. If, for some reason, Zack or Liam arrived, then he'd call Maya to warn her. Zack, Liam, Adam, Maya, and I were the only ones with codes for the alarm, and nobody else should have access.

Pulling the still ringing phone from out of my pocket, "What!" I barked out as I answered.

"We have a problem," Adam stated, not mentioning the way I answered, meaning it was serious .

"What kind?" I demanded. "I swear if it's Andy again, I'm going to murder the shithead myself."

"It's not Andy, but you and Maya need to come to my office and come quickly," Adam ordered tightly.

Calming down at the tone of his voice, I replied, "We'll be there in ten minutes."

"Quicker if you can."

"Okay," I agreed, turning to Maya, who was just coming out of the bathroom dressed in a pair of leggings and tunic. She sat on the couch to put on her socks and boots, looking at me curiously.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure, milseán , but by Adam's tone, it's serious and he needs us to get to his office," I inform her as I hurriedly get dressed.

"Okay," Maya says, zipping up her boots and grabbing her coat, "I'm ready."

Pulling my own boots on, I help her up from the couch and out the door, setting the alarm as we leave. Helping Maya into my car, I'm wondering what's happened and why Adam seems to be freaking out. It's not like him to lose it over nothing.

Ten minutes later, we pull into the parking space at his office. Switching the engine off and opening my door, I walk around to Maya's side and help her out, tucking her under my arm as we walk towards the door for Adam's office; it buzzes as soon as we get to it, so I know he's been watching for us. Opening it for Maya, I follow her in, making sure that the door closes securely behind us as we walk into Adam's office.

Maya has come to a standstill in the middle of the office floor.

"What's so bloody important?" I demand as soon as I walk in behind her.

Adam's face doesn't change expression at my outburst, he just tilts his head towards the couch he has in his office.

My eyes widen at the sight before us. Maya lets out a little whimper. Immediately, I wrap an arm around her, pulling her into my body. Liam moves from the wall he'd been leaning on as soon as it escapes her. Adam, surprisingly, moves towards the couch.

"Why are you here?" Maya whimpers brokenly.

I don't like it, not one bit. She's been through enough in her life and whoever this woman is, she's causing her more pain.

"I'm sorry," the tall blonde woman whispers as she tries to rise. You can see she's in pain, holding her ribs as she moves. Adam takes her hand, helping her stand. Somebody has worked her over good and proper. Her face is one big bruise, and her nose is definitely broken.

"He's not dead."

"No," Maya whimpers, slumping against me.

I catch her as she falls and lay her down on the floor. Adam chucks me cushions that I tuck under her knees. Anger fills me at the sight of my pregnant wife lying on the floor.

"Start talking," I snapped at the blonde.

Liam's hand is firm on my shoulder, and Adam is glaring at me.

"Watch it, Johnny."

"Why? It's my pregnant wife who's just passed out because of whatever news this woman's brought. I want to know what the fuck is going on," I roared.

A whimper from the deep armchair in the corner of the room has me turning, but it's the soft "Mummy" that has me cursing myself. I'd not seen the young girls in the chair, my worry had been focused on Maya and my anger on the statuesque beaten blonde .

"It's okay," she whispered, holding her hand out to them.

The younger one moved fast but the older girl was holding herself much like her mother, and I felt even more of an arsehole. Then she looked at me and I could see my Emy in ten years in the same eyes, face, and hair. That's when I realised who they were and who the ‘he' was that the blonde had mentioned that had caused Maya to faint. It was the bruises that matched her mother's that had my lips tightening.

"Ah, fuck," I muttered, with no small amount of guilt. Maya moaned as she slowly started coming to, Liam handed me a bottle of water to give to her, it took us a little while but eventually Maya was comfortable on the couch sipping at her bottle of water, her gaze on the blonde and the two girls.

I'd wanted Maya to go to the hospital, but she was stubborn, assuring me she was fine and that she'd let me take her if she felt like she needed it. She'd call her midwife if she was still shaky in twenty minutes.

Not happy about it, but I'd let it go for now. At the first change, though, I'd be hauling her out of here and to the hospital, leaving my brothers to sort out whatever mess this was .

"Tell me," Maya said softly.

The blonde nods, licking her cracked lips, before taking a sip from her water bottle, "My name's Tilly Rhodes. My girls are Ally, she's twelve and Jeanie who's ten. My hell started when I met our ex at seventeen."

She went on to tell us that he'd turned up at their house yesterday, demanding to know where Maya was. He hadn't believed Tilly when she'd told him she didn't know. He'd thought he could beat it out of her. He'd then turned on his daughter when she'd got between her mum and him to try and stop him.

"But he was declared dead," Maya muttered, running a shaky hand through her ponytail.

"I know," Tilly whispered. "I'm not sure where he's been, but he's definitely not dead."

"Did he say what he wanted?" I gritted out.

"He wants his son. He demanded I tell him where you were hiding him. I didn't tell him anything because at the time I knew nothing. I did know that you needed to be warned. He seems to have it stuck in his head that he needs a son to keep his name going. He's not right in the head. He's never been. I just wish I'd realised it sooner .

"Once he left, I had Jeanie pack us each a bag and got us to the hospital where they checked us out. Once I knew that Ally was okay, we slipped out one of the less used doors and took a taxi to the train station and caught the next train here. I did everything I could think of so that he wouldn't be able to follow us easily."

"How did you find Maya?" questioned Liam.

"I spoke to the NCO officer that was in charge of our case on the base," Tilly stated baldly. "I won't tell you her name and she didn't give me Maya's name and address easily, at least not until I sent her proof of me and Ally and the state he'd left us in. Only then did she give me her details, except when I got to the address they no longer lived there, and the neighbours wouldn't tell me where she was. Then one of them made a call and the local motorcycle club arrived to find out who we were. Only after I'd explained who I was and why I wanted to see her did they bring me here, but not until they had one of their members check us over. I think her name was Rea. You've got lots of people that care about you," Tilly tells Maya.

"I know," Maya agrees, "I didn't always have this, though."

"No, I imagine not," Tilly acknowledges as she stands up slowly from the couch grimacing slightly. "Anyway, I wanted you to be aware so that you can keep safe."

"Where are you going to go?" asked Adam.

Tilly shrugs, "Not sure yet, we can't go back home, that's for certain. I'm going to find the closest motel and hole up there for a bit, then I'll decide."

"You should come back home with us," Maya declared suddenly, not that I'm surprised. Maya has a big heart.

Tilly smiled a little, "That's very kind, but we'll be okay." Turning to her girls, she took the youngest's hand and walked towards the door with the oldest not far behind.

"I agree with Maya. You should stay," Adam announced, surprising us all. "My house is nearly finished; you and your girls will be comfortable in there. I'll stay in the static caravan or with Liam."

"Adam's right," Liam agrees. "It's best if you stay here where we know you'll be safe."

We can all see that Tilly is undecided. Determining that they are right, I throw my agreement in behind my brothers, "I agree with my family. It's best for you and the girls to stay with us for now. At least until you and Ally are healed."

I think if it had only been her, she would have continued to move on, but it was the pain in her eldest daughter's voice that decided her, "Please, Mum, let's stay here for a little while. I don't want to go home where he can find us again."

I knew as soon as those words were uttered that they'd be staying for as long as we needed to ensure that not only Maya and our children were safe but also Tilly and her girls.

It was Adam who surprised us all when he went to Ally. Crouching down in front of her, he said kindly, "Is it okay if I pick you up, Ally, so we can get you and your mum to my home and in bed so you can rest?"

She considered him for a while, and her eyes flicked to her mother, who nodded, "Okay," she whispered. "I'm really tired."

"I know, ceann beag , let's get you home," Adam tells her softly, scooping her gently into his arms, saying over his shoulder, "Maya stop being stubborn and get your arse to Rea to check you over so that Johnny can calm down."

"I agree with Adam," Liam states. "While you go get checked out, I'll get the children and update the Crows so they can up security at the school. At least they know who he is. We'll see you back at the house tonight."

"Okay," Maya agrees, looking at me, her eyes wide. She's still paler than I'd like.

"Come on, mo ghrá , let's get you checked out and back home," I tell her, helping her up from the couch and out of the office. Adam meets us at the door as we're leaving so that he can lock up, having already put Tilly and her girls in his car.

Only stopping to say softly, "You and Tommy were right, Johnny, when it hits you it's not something you miss."

Grinning wide, I clasp his shoulder, "No, brother, you don't miss it. I'll apologise as soon as I can about how I spoke to her earlier."

Adam nods, "You do that, or I might have to kick your arse."

Laughing at him, I lead a smiling Maya towards our car, helping her in so we can get to Rea. Calling Rea I ask if she'll see us rather than waiting for an appointment with a midwife.

Rea agrees and meets us outside the hospital to show us to a side room just off A&E where she does a complete check of Maya and the baby. Everything is fine, although Rea smirks at Maya, saying, "That's not to say you shouldn't put your feet up tonight and have this one fetch and carry for you."

We leave the hospital laughing because little does Rea know that I make Maya put her feet up every night.

"Do you think I should tell her you do that anyway?" Maya laughs.

"Nah, let her have her fun," I smirk at my wife. "You and I know and that's all I care about."

"Yeah," Maya sighs, resting her head against the window with a yawn. She'll be asleep before we're even out of town. "I'm glad I'm not alone this time," she whispers softly.

Taking her hand from where it rests on her thigh, I lift it to my mouth, pressing a kiss to her palm. "You'll never be alone again, milseán . Let him come, he doesn't know what's going to hit him if he tries to take Jackson or hurt any of you ever again. Between all the O'Sheas, including Tommy and the Crow MC, we've got you covered."

"I know," Maya smiles, tilting her head towards me, "I'm blessed," she whispers as she falls asleep.

‘Let the fucker come. I couldn't wait to get my hands on him. We may no longer be running guns, but we'd lived a hard life while we had. None of us were strangers to fighting or bloodshed. We'd waged our own wars and come out on top until we didn't want to anymore, it had always been our choice,' I thought. Pressing another kiss to Maya's hand, I concentrated on getting us home safe behind the O'Shea gates and all the surprises that anyone who didn't know our woods would find.

There was a reason that Da posted so many warning signs on the property. It wasn't just because he didn't like people.

‘Bring it on fucker, you don't know who you're messing with.'