Chapter 22

22

Piston

I roar as Katie runs at my wife, but before I can move, Natalie punches the bitch in the face, making her to fall on her ass.

“Fuck, Nat’s hand is going to hurt after that hit,” Anchor states while I watch in awe as my wife jumps on Katie, punching her again.

“If I ever settle down, I want a woman like Nat; she’s fucking fierce, and isn’t afraid to show her old man how much she loves him,” Cam mutters from behind me, murmurs of agreement echoing from the brothers.

“Get off me, you psycho bitch!” Katie screeches as Natalie punches her again, splitting her lip.

“No,” Natalie snaps and punches her again. “This is for touching what’s mine.” She punches Katie’s eye. “This is for taking advantage of him while he was asleep.” Another hit to the face. “This is for stalking my husband for years.” Another hit. “And this,” she gets in Katie’s face, “is for purposely hurting my husband!”

Natalie brings her head up as Katie tries to spit in her face but fails as Natalie head butts Katie, who screams out in pain.

“What a fucking woman!” Bulldozer shouts, the brothers all cheering while I groan.

“Last time she head butted someone, she nearly knocked herself out.”

The brothers look at me with shock, but I wave my hand at them, and walk over to my woman, who’s holding her head.

Yeah, she hurt herself again.

Katie takes advantage of Nat’s loss of focus and smacks my girl across the face, making the brothers shout in outrage, and just as Nat goes to punch her again, I wrap my arms around her waist, and lift her off the naked bitch.

Fuck’s sake, we’re going to have to burn these jeans, which is a shame because they mold her curvy ass nicely.

“Hey, I’m not done,” Natalie shrieks, and the brothers laugh as I drag her away. Cam gives me a nod and grabs Katie’s arm, taking her to the other side of the building out of view. Katie doesn’t put up a fight; probably thinking he’s helping her.

Jokes on her. Instead, he’ll knock her out and tie her up in the bunker until we’re ready to deal with her.

She’s not getting away with the stunt she fucking pulled; I won’t allow it, and neither will Steal. She was warned.

Natalie huffs and spins in my hold, her eyes connecting with mine before she demands, “What in the hell happened to your arm, and if you tell me that is a bullet wound, and didn’t call me, I’ll kill you!”

I smirk despite the anger coursing through me at the bruises on her face, not just because of Katie but also her falling off the fucking ladder.

It’s a good thing summer break has just started, because this shit will be hard to explain to eleven-year-olds.

Natalie glares at my smirk, and warns, “Piston….”

I grin and gently cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb over the new red mark, and I whisper with such love, “Elijah,” causing everyone to quiet down. I smile at her and admit, “I’m your Elijah, Diamond.”

Her eyes tear up as she remarks, “Just because you’re being sweet and claiming me in front of everyone doesn’t mean you’re off my shit list. Now explain!”

“Yeah, my baby brother is one lucky fucker,” Acid murmurs, but I don’t break eye contact with my girl.

He is right, though, I am a lucky fucker, and I may feel like I’m not good enough, and I may be scared I’m just like my father, but I won’t let her go, even if that does make me selfish.

“We were ambushed an hour after our phone call yesterday, and I got shot; they were Killers. I didn’t want to worry you,” I admit.

Her mouth parts at my words as Anchor chimes in, “Yeah, the idiot was too busy warning us, noticing them first, instead of ducking for cover.”

The first tear falls, and I quickly catch it, reassuring her, “It’s not your fault, baby. With or without you, they were going to come for us. Since the new leader took over, they’ve wanted our territory.”

She sniffles, gripping my wrists. Gently, I place my lips against her forehead as she whispers, “I love you.”

I smile and whisper, “I love you too, Diamond.”

I pull back and press my lips against hers, caressing them.

“I’ve got club business to attend to. Are you alright with waiting in the common room until I’m done, or do you have Coop today?” I ask, rubbing my nose against hers.

She smiles. “He’s heading to camp today, something about his school dismissing early so he got out of his math test, but you’re not going anywhere until Medic looks at that arm.”

I grin. “Yes, ma’am.”

Natalie shakes her head, and wraps her arms around my waist, placing her head on my chest. I turn us slightly to walk inside, the brothers patting my back as we go.

After ensuring the bitch didn’t tear my stitches, and my girl is sitting with Aunt Holly, I head to the bunker with the brothers behind me.

Aunt Holly uses a wheelchair now, so I know seeing my girl and spending time with her will lift her spirits, which have been low lately.

I descend the wooden steps to the bunker before opening the metal door, and entering the large room.

Katie sits tied to a metal chair over a drain. Tears coat her bruised cheeks, blood dried on her chest, and I smirk at my wife’s handy work.

“Hey, Piston,” Acid says, and I look his way. “If you’re not sure about your marriage, can I have your wife? She’s fucking awesome.”

I narrow my eyes at him, and he grins, before I give him the middle finger. This causes the brothers to chuckle, and I roll my eyes, and then look back at Katie.

Her eyes lock with mine, and relief covers her features as Cam unties the gag from her mouth.

“Piston, baby, thank God. I understand why you had to make it look this way, but this is too much. I need you to punish her for doing this to me, and get that fucking divorce and my cut back,” she rambles, obviously delusional.

I never even fucking touched her.

I don’t say anything. Instead, I get my gun out and lift my hand. I aim the barrel at her head.

Her eyes widen as Steal states, “Katie, you have been warned away from Piston and Nat more than once. He didn’t want you, and he still doesn’t. We gave you a chance, and yet you still came back, propositioning a married man.”

She butts in, “But he-he loves me, I-I know it. He d-didn’t want her….”

This time, I speak up, “I have never given you any indication that I wanted you. I have always said it’s my wife I wanted; if I didn’t, I would have tried harder to get Steal to grant the divorce. You ignored the warning, then decided to go one bigger and break into my room when I was passed out on pain meds, acting like we were having an affair to my wife .”

Her tears fall. “Piston, please….”

Without a word, I pull the trigger. The bullet hits the middle of her forehead. I drop my hand, keeping my eyes on her slumped body. “See you in hell, bitch.”

Anchor speaks next, “I know you hate killing women, but we all know she wouldn’t have stopped.”

I nod. “I know. She would have gone after Natalie, and I won’t have that. Nat’s the kindest, most caring woman out there, and doesn’t deserve this.” The brothers all nod, and I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve got facial recognition running over time. Hopefully, we’ll find Aiden Mathews.” I look at Acid. “I want him dead.”

He nods. “He will be, we’ll make sure of it, little brother.”

I look at Steal, who tilts his head, giving me permission to leave. I sigh with relief and head to the stairs, needing eyes on my woman.

It only takes me a few short moments before I walk through the back door of the clubhouse and scan the common room. I frown when I don’t see Nat with Aunt Holly, who is asleep in her chair.

“Huh, I was hoping she’d stay awake for a little longer for Nat’s sake,” Canine from beside me.

“Uh, Piston,” Adam, a prospect, calls from the bar, and I look his way. “Natalie went to your room, and said she wanted to rest….”

I furrow my brows. Natalie wouldn’t go rest in that room; she thinks the bed is….

Ah fuck!

I rush to the hallway where the officer rooms are, some brothers following as a loud bang echoes.

When we get to my room, I bite my fist, trying not to laugh, knowing she’ll have my balls.

Natalie grunts as she twists the wrench, and the headboard collapses. Natalie quickly jumps out of the way, her eyes wide as it crashes to the floor.

I shake my head. “Diamond, what in the fuck are you doing?”

She jumps, her head whipping our way, and I grin, noticing she’s changed from her strappy top that had Katie’s blood on it to one of mine.

Fuck, I love her in my clothes.

She smiles sheepishly and says, “Nothing,” as she tries to hide the wrench behind her back.

The brothers laugh, and I shake my head at the woman and mumble, “Uh huh,” before walking over to her.

I bend down, and lift her onto my shoulder in a fireman hold.

Natalie gasps. “Elijah, your arm!”

I ignore her and walk toward the door, the brothers all grinning.

I fist bump Acid, and head toward the front door.

“Elijah Mathews, where in the hell are you taking me?” she demands, and I slap her ass.

“Home, our home,” I reply, grinning.

She grumbles, “If I didn’t want to even sit on that bed, why would I want to go to the home you built and designed with her?”

The brothers burst out laughing again, and I grin. “I fucking love your jealousy.”

Natalie punches my ass, making me laugh as I walk out the door, Canine holding it open for me, patting my back as I \walk toward my bike. I gently lower her to the ground, and cup her rosy cheeks.

Her eyes flutter, her breath hitches, and I pull her close to me, gently kissing her lips.

“Katie only designed inside. Once I realized how much of a psycho she was, I redesigned it, and there’s even a room for Cooper.”

Her eyes tear up, “Eli….”

I kiss her again. “I want you home where you belong, baby. I need you. I know this is scary shit, and we have our traumatic pasts to deal with, but I need you in our home, with me…. What do you say?”

I hold my breath, waiting for her answer, already promising myself that I’ll tie her to our bed if she declines.