Page 16

CERBERUS

Guiding Ember from my room after kissing her heatedly all over again, the two of us make our way down the hall. I don’t want to have to deal with Jon Coleman again. Honestly, I had had enough of him the first time Ember and I were together, and he kept trying to get between us.

The only good thing about him showing up is that Ember now knows how much of mine she really is.

The best part is she all but agreed. Might not have used the words, but damn if her body didn’t speak for her.

She said all she had to say, and what she said was enough.

That, along with what her body added to it, yeah, I knew she knew who she belonged to.

Me.

My woman.

My ol’ lady.

Fucking mine.

I wasn’t going to let anyone take her from me. If that means getting in Jon Coleman’s face, then that’s what I’ll fucking do to get the point across that Ember is off limits. She wasn’t for him back then. She isn’t for him now.

Coming to the entrance to the main room of the clubhouse, I slow us down, drop my arm from around Ember’s shoulders, and take her hand in mine.

“You let me deal with him,” I tell her while tilting my head down to look at her.

“Have at it,” she retorts with a resigned sigh.

Dipping my head lower, I kiss her briefly and tuck her back into my side while we make our way forward.

I find my target standing there like he owns the place while talking with a few of my brothers. He’s acting like he belongs here when he doesn’t. Not by a long shot.

His eyes drift from Ghost and Harvester to meet mine.

I’m glad he’s not talking with one of Ember’s uncles.

Granted, I doubt a guy like him would end up on the good side of them.

Those three know how to read a man without even speaking to them.

Hell, all of my brothers are like that. I’m sure Ghost and Harvester were just amusing themselves with this fucktard until I could get here.

Those two along with the others that were standing round bullshitting step back just enough for me and Ember.

“Jon,” I say in greeting.

Jon looks from me to Ember, then back again. “Looks like same ol’ shit, Jase gets the girl.”

“I’m sorry, Jon, but I was never gonna go out with you. I told you I didn’t want to,” Ember states calmly and sweetly.

Jon scoffs, looks between the two of us. “You know he’s not gonna be faithful to you. He wasn’t back then. Looked at anything that had a skirt.”

“Dude, seriously?” Azrael speaks up, coming to the other side of me and draping a hand over my shoulder lazily. “My brother had eyes for Em back then. I saw it, so did those who knew them back then to be together. Just as my brother is now with his woman. He ain’t one for straying.”

“If he were, he’d have his cock ripped off and shoved down his throat,” Reaper states, announcing his presence.

The imagery of what he just stated has me cringing at the very thought.

I have no doubt that if I were ever to cross Ember in such a way, my Prez would see those words true.

It’s a good thing that I wouldn’t do something like that to Ember.

She’s the only woman I want or need in my life.

The only one I’ve ever seen myself giving the title of ol’ lady to.

“Great image, Uncle Reaper,” Ember mutters sarcastically. “What are you doing anyway?”

“Just got finished with what I’m dealing with, came out here to get a beer and find out what the fuck is going on here. Got a problem with that, sweetheart?” Reaper cocks a brow in Ember’s direction.

“Nope, no problems, but you don’t have to threaten bodily harm.”

Oh, fuck me. She’s going to get into a debate with my Prez here and now. I can see it now. Ember’s notorious for debating with her uncles. I’ve heard about plenty of them, including those that I didn’t witness myself. The woman should’ve gone into politics with how much she argues and debates.

“Not gonna argue with you, Ember,” Reaper growls. “Take this shit outside or I’ll do more than threaten bodily harm.” He motions for the door and then looks at Jon. “Show up at my clubhouse again unannounced and I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.”

“You’re threatening me?” Jon has the nerve to demand, lip curling .

“No, I’m not threatening you. Threats are just that, a threat, could be done, but is meant to scare,” Reaper remarks and steps closer.

“What I just did was hand you a promise. You come to my clubhouse again, unwanted, you won’t be leaving.

I’ll bury you somewhere in the woods and see that you are never found. Got me?”

Jon takes a step back, face paling. He’s at least smart enough to nod.

“Good.” Reaper turns toward me and jerks his chin. “Get this piece of shit outside and deal with him.”

“You got it, Prez,” I grunt, take Ember’s hand, and motion to Jon. “You heard him, outside.”

I don’t bother waiting to see if he follows or not. I don’t have to look behind me either to know several of my brothers are also following. I’m willing to bet even Reaper is going to be in the audience.

Stopping just past the bikes, I tuck Ember into my side and face off with Jon once again. “You wanna keep going on this conversation or you gonna carry your ass to your car?”

Jon looks at me, then at Ember. Scoffs and shakes his head. “You’d rather be a biker whore, go for it.”

“Better to be a biker whore than with someone who has a needle dick,” Ember snarks, curling herself closer to me.

“At least I have someone who knows what they’re doing in bed.

I remember the rumors that you were no bigger than the size of my pinky and you didn’t know what to do with it.

If I recall, the girls’ locker room joke was you were a five-second man. ”

Oh shit.

She just went there, hitting him where it would hurt most. His ego.

Jon’s face goes red, and he looks ready to go off. Before he does so, I put Ember behind me and step in his direction.

“Get the fuck out of here and stay the fuck away. Ember’s my ol’ lady and that ain’t gonna change.

You come here, my Prez’s promise won’t be the only one you have to deal with.

I’m telling you now, before he gets the bullet planted between your eyes, you’ll get the beat down to end all beat downs.

You’ll be wishing for death by the time I’m done with you. ”

Face red, Jon does the smart thing and backs away, turns, and makes his way to his little sedan. I don’t know what the hell he was thinking, showing up here in the first place. Regardless, if he comes back, I’ll be true to my word and beat him until he’s begging to die.

I watch him leave before turning my attention to Ember. Cocking a brow, I can’t help but ask, “That shit true? ”

“Of course it is.” She laughs. “Why would I make that up?”

“Don’t know, don’t care.” I grin and shake my head. “Let’s get you back inside.”

The words barely leave my lips when it happens. Time seems to stand still, and I watch the bullet slam into the center of Ember’s chest.

“No,” I shout, jumping for her.

There’s a commotion around the two of us. Shouts. Orders barked. I don’t pay attention to them. My focus is on Ember and trying to stop the bleeding. Her blood is covering my hands, soaking them.

“Hold on, baby. You gotta hold on for me,” I tell her, looking down at her face.

“Brother, you gotta let us move her. She needs to get to the hospital.”

“Move. Move,” Stella shouts, pushing past Azrael and Ghost. “I need to get to her.”

Stella drops to her knees on the other side of Ember. “We need to get her to the hospital. But we need to get her ready to move first,” she says, pulling out a shit ton of gauze and other shit.

Everything seems to move in slow motion while I listen and do as she tells me to do.

Before I know it, we’re lifting Ember and moving her to one of the cargo vans to transport her.

I can hear Stella talking to someone on the phone, ordering a gurney to be ready.

Other things are said, but I don’t fully pay attention.

All I can do is watch my woman and keep my hands pressing down on gauze. She’s lost so much blood already. I lost her once already, I don’t want to lose her again. Not after she’s finally mine.