Chapter 2

"Storm."

Fox stepped out of his office and pointed at me, then crooked his fingers.

I set down my drink on the wooden top of the long bar that took up one side of the lounge in the clubhouse.

He was seated behind his desk when I entered, and he pointed at one of the chairs in front. "Sit."

Raising a brow, I did as directed. "Something wrong, Prez?"

After getting bored working on Wall Street, Fox had taken over for his dad several years ago. He was a damn good leader, and we were all as loyal to him as we had been to his father.

"I need you to hear me out before you flip your shit."

My eyes narrowed, and I sat up straighter in the chair.

"I just got a call from the Westland Riders VP."

Fox's tone was wary, and I bit back the instinct to shout at him to tell me what the fuck was going on. The brothers in the WR kept an eye on Blakely for me, so we touched base once a week. They were supposed to call me if there was even the slightest hiccup in her life. So why had they called Fox instead?

I was already on edge because Blakely had turned eighteen a week ago, and I hadn't been able to go get her yet. Guilt trickled through me because the reason I was still at home was that my younger sister, Elise, had come to spend her Christmas break with me. It was the first time I'd talked her into leaving the town where we grew up, and I wasn't gonna ditch her like I'd done when I turned eighteen.

My plan had been to show up the day of Blakely's birthday and be back in time to spend the holiday with my sister. But Elise had shown up early, hoping to work at one of the Iron Rogue's businesses for a couple of weeks. I'd fought her on the idea since I had plenty of money to take care of her. But Elise was as stubborn as I was, so I finally gave in before she resorted to tears.

She was going back to school in a week, so I was doing my best not to go fucking crazy until I could finally go retrieve my woman.

"Something happened with Blakely."

Fox's statement penetrated my thoughts, and I shot to my feet. "What the fuck?" I bellowed.

"Sit your ass down, Storm, and let me give you all the fucking information," Fox ordered.

I bit back a scathing response and dropped back onto my seat, wondering if smoke was literally coming out of my ears.

He gave me a brief rundown of what they'd told him occurred with Blakely's foster brother, and my temper burned hotter.

"Why the fuck didn't they call me?" I asked through clenched teeth.

Fox sighed and scratched his cheek. "They are planning to go after the little shit in a couple of days. They knew you'd tell them to wait—"

"Those motherfuckers called you because they don't answer to you." Fox nodded. "But since Saber put me in charge of Blakely, everything concerning her goes through me."

"I told them to back the fuck off and call you, but I don't know if they'll listen to my advice. I just got off the phone with them ten minutes ago, so you should have some time to get things in order. Assuming they don't do anything stupid before then. I'm sending you on the run tomorrow since it's near her town. Take whatever time you need to handle shit."

"Fucking hell," I grunted. "I—" I'd been so focused on the incident that her living situation hadn't sunk in until right that moment. "They kicked her out?"

"Yeah," he acknowledged.

"Where is she staying?"

Prez sighed and gave me a look that told me to keep a lid on my temper, which meant I was gonna be fucking pissed when he confirmed my suspicions. "At the clubhouse."

"Son of a bitch!" I roared, jumping to my feet. "I'm—"

My cell phone rang, and I yanked it from my pocket, ready to rip the WR VP a new asshole, but it was one of my club brothers. "What?" I snarled.

"You better get your ass out to the garage," Whiskey growled. "Your sister was in an accident."

"Elise!" I shouted at Fox as I jumped up and took off running.

Fox waitedfor several brothers to arrive, making me want to put a fist through the wall to vent my impatience. Maverick, our VP, stood just beside him, arms crossed, feet apart, looking just as intimidating as he really was. Viper, Savage, Deviant, Blade, Ice, and Whiskey all came in and found various seats.

I'd asked for a meeting while we were eating Christmas dinner because this shit couldn't wait.

"What happened?" Fox asked.

I explained how my sister had happened upon a drug deal in the parking lot of our bar, Midnight Rebel, and the subsequent chase that had ended up with her car being run off the road. The tension in the room became deadly.

The Iron Rogues had our own brand of justice…usually outside the laws of the land. We had all kinds of dirt and blood on our hands, but we didn't tolerate drugs. In any situation. The first time any member was caught using, they were given the choice of rehab or leaving the MC. There were no second chances. Our zero tolerance for drugs was no secret, either.

We sure as fuck didn't allow them in or around our businesses. In order to keep that shit off the streets, we'd even assisted local law enforcement in busting up some drug rings in the area. Unofficially.

So the fact that this asshole had not only violated our rules concerning drugs but then also attempted to kill an innocent woman to avoid being caught, had every one of us itching to put a bullet in the asshole. Especially since Elise was automatically under the protection of the club because she was my sister.

I was fucking livid and determined to do whatever it took to make sure that meth head ate a bullet for what he'd done.

Fox's dark gaze landed on Deviant. "Have Savage send over the security footage. Do whatever you have to. Get me a motherfucking name."

Deviant nodded.

"I can comb the security footage," I volunteered.

Fox held up his hand, cutting off whatever I might have been about to say next. "You have to leave on a run tomorrow."

I blinked, then guilt flooded me as I silently cursed. How the fuck had I forgotten? "Right. Shit. Can't believe I forgot." I ran my hands through my hair, exhaling raggedly as I felt myself being torn apart. Blakely was my woman. She needed me. So did Elise, though. FUCK!! "But my sister—"

"She's got all of us, brother," Mav piped up reassuringly. "You know every one of us will protect her with our life. And we'll let you know as soon as we have something to go on."

"I'll come right back," I swore.

Fox shook his head. "No. Focus on the run and on your woman. If shit hasn't been handled when you get back, we'll get you up to speed and let you handle the asshole. Blakely comes first. You've waited long enough, and that situation could blow the fuck up any day."

Every brother in the room nodded, and I felt a small measure of relief. They would all be on top of Elise's situation, but I was the only one who could handle Blakely's.

We strategized for a bit longer, then rejoined the families for the rest of the night. I attempted to set things aside and be in a good mood so I didn't ruin my sister's holiday. But I couldn't help counting down the hours until I would leave to go get my girl. And I'd made sure to put in a call to Jagger, the WR VP, to make it clear that if anyone touched Blakely, I would put the son of a bitch in the ground. I also managed to drag a promise from him that they wouldn't deal with her foster brother until I got there.

In the morning, I warned my brothers to take care of my sister and to also stay the fuck away from her—much to Elise's irritation. But that was what big brothers were for.

When I met Viper out in the garage, he was waiting on his bike, ready to go.

"Blakely know you're coming?" he asked, watching me curiously.

I shook my head as I did a quick check to make sure everything on my hog was good to go. "Don't think she's particularly happy with me, and I don"t want her taking off and putting herself into a dangerous situation."

Viper swung his leg over the seat and cocked his head to the side. "'Cause you stayed away?"

"Yeah." Our phone calls over the past several months had been stilted. I knew why…but I couldn't figure out any other way to handle the situation.

"She'll understand once you explain."

I didn't respond out loud. Just started my bike and rolled out.

I fucking hoped she got why I handled the situation the way I did. Not that it would change anything. I would still be claiming her. If Blakely didn't want to listen, then she was gonna find herself tied to our bed while I convinced her to forgive me with my mouth on her pussy.

While Blakely was growing up, I had been a steady fixture in her life, just like I was in my sister's. But it wasn't often in person since I was in the service. I visited them when I could and stayed in touch with phone calls and video chats.

Unfortunately, Blakely had been forced to go into the foster care system after her dad was sent to prison for killing the men involved in her kidnapping. I'd understood his need for vengeance, but I'd been pissed as fuck when he let it cloud his judgment and the jackass got caught.

Through smart decisions with my money—and a lack of bills while in the service—I had enough for my children and my children"s children to live comfortably. Which made it slightly easier to be away because I made sure her foster family had plenty of money to care for her. And if the reports filed were anything but glowing, they'd not only lose what I was sending them but I also made sure they knew I'd burn their lives to the ground.

I left the Army two years ago, and my first stop was to see Blakely. When I pulled up to the house, she ran out the door and threw herself into my arms. It was the first time I'd seen her in person for nearly a year, and somehow, despite our video chats, it had escaped my notice that she had grown into a woman.

But when my arms closed around her, and I felt her soft curves and her cinnamon scent wafted to my nose, I became instantly aware of what I'd missed.

Blakely was too young for me to be having the kind of thoughts that started sifting through my mind. And I knew that if I didn't keep my distance, I was gonna do something monumentally stupid. There was no way in hell that I would risk anything taking me away from her. She'd already lost too much.

So I took her to dinner, then made a hasty exit. The hurt in her eyes as I said goodbye almost broke my resolve.

The next day, I went to see her dad in prison. I gave him every excuse I could think of—that didn't involve my attraction to his daughter—and asked him to let me find someone else to watch out for her.

He'd listened quietly, observing me in a way I couldn't figure out.

Then he shook his head and told me he didn't trust anyone else. He reminded me of my promise and suggested I protect her from afar. Stay around her life, but not in it.

I almost said no…but when I thought about Blakely being taken care of by anyone other than me, fury burned inside me.

I decided if he wasn't going to let me out of my oath, then he would have to deal with the consequences.

I left the prison, and while it nearly tore my heart out to stay away from Blakely, I reassured myself that I would come for her in two years.

And that day was finally here.

We parked our bikes around the back when we arrived at the Westland Riders MC. The MC was less than a third of the size of the Iron Rogues, so they didn't have a secure compound like we did. Their clubhouse was a former boarding house in the small town"s downtown area.

After securing my hog, I bounded up the three steps to the entrance and shoved the door open.

The lighting was low, but I could see every detail as my eyes swept over the room. It was long and narrow, with multiple seating areas along one wall. On the other were pool tables and arcade games, as well as a long bar. A couple of guys were lounging on couches and watching a mounted television. Their heads whipped in my direction, their hands reaching for weapons. But when they saw me, they slouched back into their seats.

Jagger walked in through a swinging doorway, and when he spotted me, he jerked his chin toward the direction he'd come from. "Kitchen," he muttered, then hastily stepped to the side so he wouldn't be knocked over when I stalked past him.

The door led to a decent-sized industrial kitchen, and two women stood near the appliances, chatting and drinking from mugs. I dismissed them immediately and looked at the long table across the room.

My breath got caught in my throat, and my heart thudded so hard it was painful.

Silky blond curls were tied up in a cute ponytail, but little tendrils had escaped and framed Blakely's heart-shaped face. Her big blue eyes widened when she caught sight of me, and her coal-black lashes fluttered as her pink lips formed a little O.

She stood, and my eyes continued down, slowly perusing her body now that I had given myself permission to appreciate it. Blakely had a slender build but with curves in all the right places.

Her tits were on the smaller side, but they were round and perky, and I knew they would fill my hands perfectly. A narrow waist led to the sweet flare of her hips, and I swallowed hard when I saw her seemingly endless legs. She wore shorts, and with all that skin on display, I hardened at the thought of how it would feel to have all that softness wrapped around my head.

When my gaze finally returned to her face, the surprise had been replaced with wariness. Her eyes were narrowed, and her lips pursed as she cocked her head to the side.

"What are you doing here, Storm?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

"I came for you, baby."