Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Helena

The night had passed in a blur, and before I knew it, Maddox had ushered me up and pushed me forward into my childhood bedroom, his hands lingering gently on my elbows for a minute. I'd never thought of my elbows as an erogenous zone before, but suddenly, I was sure they were. My room was just as I had left it.

"Go to sleep, baby. You're exhausted," he'd said.

He wasn't wrong. I had been pushed past the point of no return. The stress of the day had crept up on me. At that moment, I was confused by this new version of Maddox Bishop, so I allowed him to move me forward until I collapsed on my bed alone. I was face-down on the bed, asleep before I knew it.

This morning, I traced the faded pictures that decorated the walls with my fingertips, Ferris wheel rides, fun runs, and a rare camping trip with my dad. Everyone should have a dad that would step up to the plate like he did.Granted,my upbringing had been unconventional, but I never held it against him.

My mom had been a club bunny who got pregnant after a two-week bender that she'd had with my dad. She didn't want a kid, andDad didn't want an old ladyeither, but hewantedme. When she came to him for money for an abortion, he talked her into going through with the pregnancy. My dad told her that ifshe went through with it, he would keep the baby, no strings, and raise me himself. She agreed, delivered, and disappeared into the wind. My dad gave me a picture he'd had of her, a blurry Polaroid that he had taken. I knew her name, but I didn't see any reason to look for a woman who wasn't interested in being a mother. Roscoe Marsh had been everything I could have ever wanted in a parent.

The photos around my room spanned a childhood. Mydadholding me as an infant, the Brotherhood patch attached to my onesie, the tiny cap from the hospital still on my head.

He looked awkward, holding me like I was going to break, but there was a look on his face of awe. Me, learning to walk, holding onto a Brother's hands. Dad, wrangling my blonde hair into pigtails. They were lopsided, and one was coming undone. Pictures of me in various stages sitting on motorcycles, wearing vests of club members, grinning gap-toothed or with braces, goofy and awkward, and then shy and just coming into adolescence. Pictures of me with the club girls and at rallies, arms slung over my dad. He wasn't perfect, but he tried.

Sighing, Iwent through my other things. Thankfully, there were a few clothes left over that I could use to augment the ones I had grabbed from my apartment. It had been years since I'd been here, and somehow, the room was still the same, a memorial to my childhood.

Showering, Itugged on some shorts and a T-shirt and threw my hair into a ponytail. I dug around my bag until I spotted a pair of tiny red stop sign earrings hanging from my bulletin board, which necessitated a quick nail polish job. There was no wayIdidn't leave a plethora of nail polish here. Diggingunder mysink,I uncovered less than 50 shades but plenty of reds to choose from, includingone glittery red that was a winner. I painted one nail on each hand white with a little ‘x' just for kicks. Feeling ready for breakfast and starved enough to eat my weight inpancakes,I headed for the door, ducked into the hallway on a syrupy goodness mission, and stopped short.

Maddox filled the hallway, leaning against the opposite doorway, his eyes fixed on me. He took up the entire space, sucking out the oxygen.

Morning light spilled from my room and the lone window, but the hallway was still dark and smoky. Dust motes caught in the rays that speared through the shadows cast over Maddox's shape. It was clear that he hadn't gone to bed yet, his eyes tired.

"Waiting for that talk?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out breathless. He straightened up, pushing himself off the wall, and stepped closer, crowding into my space. Of course, he'd be in the room across the hall. The president's room – made sense since I was across the hall from Dad growing up. Now, itseemed awkward.

"Just making sure you're settling in okay, princess," he replied, his tone a low rumble that resonated through me. "You had a long day yesterday."

I nodded, appreciating his concern, but I was still slightly put off by his presence in the hall. I wasn't sure what to make of it. "Yeah, being back here, it feels… nice." I tried not to quantify it. It did feel nice; that wasn't a lie.

It was an illusion, though, and I couldn't stay. The thought of asking Maddox for money was already making me sick. Maybe there was another way around it. The possibility of staying in Haverboro lingered in the back of my mind, tickling my brain. Perhaps there was a way to figure out all the logistics.

I knew that some didn't want me here. I had embarrassed myself a lot when I was young. Dimitri still hated me; his glare had been on my back all night. When I was around thirteen or fourteen, I had propositioned him, and he'd disappeared from the MC altogether for a while. I had fancied that I'd had a crush on him. It was hard to remember what my early teen self was thinking of. Apparently, I had disgusted him. Not that he should have taken me up on anything when I was such a baby, but he had taken off. Dimitri and I were friends then, so I cried for weeks.

Maddox tilted his head, studying me with an intensity that made my heart race or made me want to vomit—Icouldn't decide which.

"I want it to feel more than nice," Maddox said.

What did that mean? I struggled to understand the meaning behind the words. There was innuendo. I wasn't na?ve, but it was this version of Maddox and his suggestive tone that I was trying to fit together. He'd turned me down years ago, and I wasn't sure if something changed.

"Well …" I started.

"If you need something, I'll ensure you have it. If something's wrong, I'll fix it." His eyes were intense on mine, so much so that I wanted to look away and break the moment. A sweat started to break out between my boobs.

"Um, okay?" I said it with a question. His declaration threw me off. I'd come to him for help, andhis whole intense vibe wasn't new to me, but it was the sexual undertone combined with it that I was struggling with. Maddox had always been weird about everything, but I'd watched him focus on the MC in previous years. He'd attacked it with that grumpy energy that he'd arrived with like everything was a chore and everything was a bother.

I always thought what he felt for me bordered onhateor, atthe veryleast,an intense dislike. Right now, though, there was a shared history and a glimmer of something else that seemed to shimmer in the smoke motes, and it wasn't hate.

"Thanks, Maddox. I appreciate you letting me come here," I said, my voice genuine. "I wasn't sure where else to go." He frowned, his head canting a little bit.

"You're family, Helena.Alwayshave been. Always will be. This is your home."

His words sent a jolt through me, and for a moment, I forgot Makarovich and the trouble that brought me back. For the last few years, I'd felt intensely alone since my dad had died.I'd always had him and the motorcycle club when he was alive.Even when I'd gone away to college and not come to visit, Iwas still connectedthrough my dad. When he'ddied,it had seemed like I had lost a family too. Now, Maddoxwas reaffirming that link to the Brotherhood; it meant a lot to me.

"Thanks, Maddox. That means a lot to me." Clearing mythroat,I tried to dispel the tension, ignoring that he looked incredibly hot, hoveringin the doorway with his shaggy blond hair and low-slung Levi's. There was a time when I wanted Maddox Bishop for myself, but I'd been just a girl then. He was dangerous and off-limits—a fantasy.

"So, how have you been?" I threw it out there inanely. Maybe we could make smalltalk,I thought stupidly. What I knew about Maddox and what made him tick could fill a thimble.

Maddox ran a hand down his beard, a subtle sign of nervousness that caught my attention. "Surviving, as always," he replied, his gaze never leaving mine. "I've always been good at that." He gave me a smile, his eyes twinkling. "Things have been good.

Not much has changed since you left, but the club is stronger than ever. It had been rough for a while after your dad died," he admitted. "Most of the brothersyouremembered are still here with us."

I stepped closer, closing the gap between us. "I can imagine that it was hard with the change of leadership. I know my dad would be proud of you," I said softly, the weight of the loss settling in the air. My dad loved Maddox, respected him, trusted him.

Maddox's expression softened. Hereached out a hand to me and gently cuppedmy cheek. As if echoing my thoughts, he said, "He would have been proud of you too, Helena."

The touch sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, the world outside faded away.

Maddox's thumb brushed against my skin, a gentle caress. I leaned into his touch, craving this moment. Everything about this man set me on fire.

His eyes darkened, the intensity of his gaze deepening. "You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice husky.

Holy shit. Did Maddox Bishop want me? My breath caught in my throat, the tension between us escalating. The air crackled with unspoken desire, and the realization hit me – the connection I thought I had imagined in the past had always been there, but for some reason, he'd turned me away before.

"Maddox," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the distant hum of the club. His hand drifted to the lobe of my ear, touching it softly, his thumb barely tracing a pattern that sent shivers down my spine. I hardly dared to breathe, worried that he'd stop, that I'd end this moment where he was touching me.

Well,now, this could get interesting. I might not be here for long, but if I could have Maddox Bishop while I was here, Iwouldtake him. I wasn't looking for more than a few good fucks, and he'd always seemed like he was more than capable of fulfilling that requirement.

"Princess. I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off you anymore," his voice was low with the warning.

"That sounded like a dare to me, Maddox," I said, leaning up and taking the initiative. Ibrushed my lips over his, darting my tongue out against the seam of his mouth, tasting the liquor and the smoke as I dug my hands into the leather cut and yanked him forward.

"Fuck," the word escaped on an exhale as his hand darted out and grabbed my waist, greedy anddemanding, anchoring me so the chain at his vest cut into my skin. His mouth angled, his tongue sliding against mine, velvet and smooth. Liquid pooled between my thighs in a rush. The kiss was nothing like I expected.

There was nothing gentle aboutit;a raw need consumed us both.Hishands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer.

My back hit the rough surface of the wall, sending a jolt of pleasure and pain through me as Maddox pressed his body against mine, his chest heaving with each breath as he devoured my mouth hungrily. I clung to him, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as I lost myself in the intoxicating heat of his touch.

"Helena," he murmured against my skin, his voice husky with desire. "Tell me something."

"Anything, Maddox, anything," I whimpered as he rocked against me, encouraging me to hook a leg over his hip.

"Are you wet for me, princess?" His teeth bit down on my ear lobe hard enough to send a zing to my pussy as his hand slid between my shorts and panties. "Fuckyeah,you are," he said with awe as his fingers rubbed against me. "Soaked for me." His eyes closed briefly as his head tipped towards the ceiling like he was praying for patience or to a god that wasn't listening.

"Maddox, please." I'd never wanted something like I wanted his fingers on me. "Touch me."

Dropping to hisknees,he made short work of the buttons, pulling the shorts off savagely, almost tripping me in the process. "You don't ever have to beg me. Come here Helena, fuck, fuck …"

He snarled as he maneuvered me against the wall, hooking my leg over his shoulder before he dove between my legs. It was all I could do to bang my head against the wall and surrender, sagging against him as his mouth landed on my clit, his finger diving into my pussy with purpose. I let go, hips swiveling against his face, his tongue hot as my hands clung to his shoulders. God. He added another finger and hooked my g-spot, pullingme solidly against his face as he sucked hard, makinggrowling sounds of enjoyment. I was so close I ground hard against that beard and exploded, seeing stars. Best orgasm of my life — goddamn.

Sitting back on his heels, his hazel eyes glittered with satisfaction as he rubbed his thumb lazily over my swollen clit. "Fuck princess, that was beautiful."

There was a distant sound of raised voices clamoring in the background. The club was nevertruly quiet, and the reality of our surroundings came crashing back. Maddox cleared histhroatas he heldmy shorts for me to step into. Straightening his cut, he stood.

"Fuck, Helena," he said, clearing his throat.He seemed to be gathering his words, andsuddenly,I didn't want him to say anything. If he gave me some speech about how it shouldn't have happened I didn't want to hear it.

"Thatwashot, Maddox," I said to stop him from saying he regretted it, but apparently, it wasn't enough to keep him from the next thought. I'd wanted to hold on to the moment, the high of the orgasm.

"It was better than that, and you know it. I'm going to have my hands on you, and I'm not going to regret any of it." He seemed almost frustrated, and his words made me feel small and, for some reason, immature as he gestured toward my room. But we need to talk. You need to let me know what's going on."

"We shouldn't have done that," I babbled as I brushed through my hair with my fingers and moved into the open doorway. Maddox pretendednot to watch my assas he closed the door behind him.

"I didn't say we shouldn't have done it. We definitely should have. It was a long time coming. We're going to do it again, too. I'm going to eat that pussy every chance I get," he wiped the corner of his mouth and licked his fingers, giving me a wink. Leaning against thedoor, he crossed his arms, and it hit me that we now had the privacy we didn't have in the hall. Was that why he wanted to come in here?

"Let's hear it, princess. What sort of trouble are you running from?" His face was set and serious.

Suddenly, Iwas disappointed and anxious. Fiddling with the items on thedresser,I brushed through my hair, tryingto ignore how self-conscious I felt.Thiswas why I'd come here. For help, I needed to get the information out and find out what Maddox thought.

"Okay,well, you know I got my degree as a CPA, right?" I could see him nodding, looking impassive. "Since my dad died, I've worked at the same company, ConcordeFinancial."

"I'm aware." He didn't say anything else, which made me wonder how he could know that.

"Okay,well,last month, therewas a request for two people from the accounting team to work on a special project. It paid a little more, but it wasn't like we had a choice. Me and another girl were chosen."

"Okay, I'm following so far." The muscle on his jaw flexed as he uncoiled from the wall, pushingoff and stalking towards me. He gathered me up from my spot at the dresser without preliminaries and swept me into his arms.

"What are you doing?" I squeaked, surprised.

"Holding you," he said, settling on the bed with me in his arms. "I know I'm not going to like hearing it. I'll feel betterholding you while I hear it."

Stupefied, Igazed at him, but he didn't back down. Evenwhen I wriggled a little, hejust firmed up his grip.

"No," he said. "Stop wiggling.Thisis how it's going to be." My eyes went wide. Bossy was kind of hot. His eyes narrowed at me. "Just keep talking. Don't worry about what's going on right now."

"Okay," I conceded. This was a lot, but steadying myself with a hand onhischest, I drew comfort from the strength thathegave. "After a few weeks, Ibecamesuspicious of the project. It wasn't related to Concorde Financial but was an off-shoot project for one of the department heads. He had us working with this guard dog Sergei, who reported directly to him, Makarovich …"

Under my hand, Maddox went stiff, his eyes going hard. "Makarovich? Are you serious? Anton Makarovich?" It almost felt like if Iwasn't anchoredto him, he would have been pacing. His hands tightened around me imperceptibly.

"Yeah, he was the department head in charge of the project," I said.Thisseemed like badnews to him, though. Maddox looked likehe wasgoing to have a heart attack or kill someone.

"He's Bratva," he ground out. "The place must have been a cover. Fuck." I could tell that the urge to pace was back, but he squeezed me again, kissing the back of my head. "Thank God you got out when you did."

"I was thinking something like that.So, that doesn't surprise me," I nodded, confirming."He'sevil, Maddox." I looked up at him. "Really."

"Tell me how you know, princess," he said solemnly, strokingmy back with small circles. I was so relieved that he wasn't angry with me that I didn't bother asking how he knew who Makarovich was.

"I was working on one of their accounts, andI kept seeing deposits for hundreds of millions.Then I overheard someone talking about auctions." I waved my hand in the air. You know, one plus one, I'm not an idiot. I did some digging."

"You did some digging? Holy shit, you'relucky you're breathing. Do they know?" His eyes were glued to mine, wide and incredulous. "That you're on to them?"

"Well, probably," I answered. His eyes rounded with horror. Knowing that Makarovich was Bratva suddenly made so much sense, but it also meant I'd put the MC in even more danger than I'd thought. The Bratva wasn't a small enemy to have.

"I'm sorry I came here, Maddox. I can leave today. I thought I needed some advice." Unbidden tears rose in my eyes, threatening to fall over my lashes. "I have some cash and all my documents, but I was hoping to get new ones, a fake ID."

Crushing me to his chest hard enough that I struggled a little, heonly said, "That's not happening."

"Ok," Isaid,defeated. "I understand." The small amount of cash I managed to bring would have to be enough.