Page 23 of Hard as Stone (Stoneheart MC #2)

AXEL

“ Y ou got me a gift?” Poppy asks from where she sits cross-legged in the center of my bed, drinking coffee and wearing nothing but my t-shirt. The sight of her like this—relaxed, at home in my space—makes my chest tighten with a possessive satisfaction I’ve never felt before.

“Don’t get too excited,” I warn, taking a seat on the edge of the bed next to her. “It’s more of a necessity than a gift.”

Her eyes widen as I hold out the box. She sets her coffee aside and takes it carefully, turning it over in her hands, brow furrowed.

“It’s not gonna bite, trouble,” I tease.

She sticks her tongue out at me before slowly lifting the lid and peeking inside.

Her breath catches as she pulls out the leather cut.

It’s smaller than mine, made to fit her smaller frame, but the patches are unmistakable—Stoneheart MC on the back, with a rocker underneath that reads ‘Property of Axel’.

“Axel...” Her expression is worth every second I spent sewing those patches on the cut at three in the morning. “I love it.” She traces over the property patch, her fingers lingering over my name, and I watch her throat work as she swallows hard.

“Figured it was time you had your own.” I press a kiss to her shoulder. “Though I should warn you—Duck’s still in charge of patch design, so there’s a fifty-fifty chance something’s misspelled.”

She laughs, but I catch the shimmer of tears in her eyes. “Well, at least we’ll be poor spellers together.”

“Together,” I agree, helping her slip the cut on over her T-shirt. It settles on her shoulders like it was already molded to her frame, and something possessive unfurls in my chest at the sight. “How’s it feel?”

“Way better than my orange traffic vest,” she says with a grin, running her hands over the smooth leather. Her expression turns more serious as she looks up at me. “It feels right, Axel. Like it was always meant to be mine.”

I cup her face in my hands, unable to resist kissing her. “That’s because you were always meant to be mine, Poppy.”

She melts into the kiss for a moment before pulling back and tilting her head in that cheeky way that tells me she’s about to deliver some sass. “Though if you think this means I’m going to start following orders?—”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, trouble.”

A quick knock on my door and a throat clearing in the doorway interrupts us. Lee stands there, his usual smirk absent. “Sorry to break up the moment, but we’ve got a situation.”

The tension in his voice has me instantly alert. “What kind?”

“Summit’s guys are at the garage. Duck says they’re making threats about his expansion into the old hardware lot. They’re spouting safety concerns and code violations—the usual.” His jaw tightens. “But they’ve got city officials with them this time.”

“Shit.” I’m already reaching for my cut, but Poppy’s hand on my arm stops me.

“Wait.” Her face has gone pale. “What garage?”

“Duck’s.” Lee’s eyes flick between us. “But that’s not all. Your brothers showed up there too, Poppy.”

Poppy’s face goes pale. “My brothers? Why would they be there?”

“They were trying to warn us about something before the Summit guys showed up.”

The air leaves her lungs in a rush. “My father?—”

“Yeah.” Lee’s expression darkens. “Looks like Daddy dearest is up to something.”

“I need to go with you.” Poppy’s already moving, pulling on a pair of jeans and grabbing her ruby boots.

“It could be a trap,” I warn, but I already know it’s useless. The determined set of her jaw tells me she’s made up her mind, and if I don’t take her with me, she’ll only follow me in that beat-up car of hers.

“I don’t care. My brothers are there. And if they were trying to warn us about something, then it means they didn’t choose Dad’s side.

” She straightens, and damn if she doesn’t look like everything I ever wanted in an old lady—fierce and loyal, that new patch declaring her mine for anyone stupid enough to question it.

“Besides, I’m part of the MC now, and that means we’re family—they’re family to you, Duck is family to me. I’m not letting Summit hurt any of us.”

Pride and fear war in my chest. Because she’s right—if her brothers are making a stand, she needs to be there. But the thought of her anywhere near Summit’s thugs makes my trigger finger itch.

“Fine.” I cup her face in my hands. “But you stay behind me. And if shit goes sideways?—”

“Yeah, yeah. I run for cover like a good little woman.” She rolls her eyes but softens the sass with a quick kiss. “Now, can we go, or do you want to waste more time telling me what I already know?”

Lee’s laugh from the doorway reminds me we have an audience.

“Oh brother, you’ve got your hands full with this one.

” He falls into step beside us, all deadly grace and barely contained energy.

“First she tries to tip your bike, now she’s running headfirst into Summit’s crosshairs.

Girl’s got more balls than half our prospects. ”

“They’re called chesticles,” Poppy says, pushing out her chest and earning a belly laugh from Lee.

We almost collide with Stone at the base of the stairs. His expression seems grim but his eyes hold a hint of approval as he takes in Poppy’s new cut. “Summit’s pushing hard and fast. This isn’t just about the garage—they’re testing us, seeing how we’ll react.”

“Then let’s show them exactly who they’re dealing with,” Lee says, his playful demeanor dropping away to reveal the Enforcer beneath. The transition is impressive—no wonder he’s being groomed to take over one day.

The ride to Duck’s garage is tense, Poppy’s arms tight around my waist as we fall into formation behind Stone.

Lee and I flank the president, a show of unified leadership that sends its own message.

The rest of the club spreads out behind us in practiced precision, the rumble of two dozen bikes echoing off buildings.

Even from two blocks away, I can see the cluster of black SUVs in the lot. Summit’s calling card.

Felix and Hugo straighten as we pull into the lot, their relief at seeing their sister warring with something darker in their expressions.

Duck stands between them and Summit’s guys, flanked by Andi and the other mechanics who double as club members.

Grease-stained hands ready near concealed weapons—these men are as comfortable with wrenches as they are with trouble.

We dismount in practiced unison, the thunder of pipes cutting to a silence that feels heavy with threat. Stone takes point, Lee and I flanking him as the rest of our brothers create a wall of leather between Summit’s suits and our people.

Hawk stands beside his old lady, Cash and Mack move to stand with Duck’s crew, while Steel positions himself near Poppy’s brothers. The message is clear: mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.

“Quite the welcome party,” the first suit says, his smile not reaching his cold eyes. “Though seems a bit excessive for a routine inspection.”

“Nothing routine about intimidation tactics,” Stone replies, steel under his calm tone.

“Intimidation?” The suit spreads his hands. “We’re simply following up on some concerning reports about workplace safety. I’m sure you understand our position, given your... investment in this establishment.”

Poppy steps forward, but I catch her arm, keeping her slightly behind me. Her brothers’ eyes widen as they take in her new cut, and I don’t know if they’re impressed with their sister or pissed.

“Poppy.” Felix’s voice is low as he edges closer. “We need to talk. It’s about Dad?—”

“Later!” Poppy hisses, just as Duck spits on the ground between us.

“Bullshit.” He wipes his hands on a greasy rag. “My shop’s up to code and you know it. This is about your expansion plans, plain and simple.”

The suit’s smile turns predatory. “Now, now. Let’s not jump to conclusions.

We’re all friends here, aren’t we?” The suit’s gaze lands on Poppy, and something in his expression makes my hand tighten on her arm.

“Miss Bennett, isn’t it? Your father’s very concerned about you.

Seems you’ve been making some... questionable choices lately. ”

I feel Poppy tense beside me, but her voice is steady when she replies. “My choices are none of my father’s concern. Or yours.”

The suit’s eyes flick to the patch on her cut, his smile turning cold. “I see. Well, I’m sure your father will be very interested to hear about your new... affiliations.”

“No, he won’t.” Hugo’s voice cracks as he steps forward. “He’s gone, Poppy. Packed up and disappeared during the night. Took everything—the company accounts, the contract money, all of it.”

Felix moves to stand beside his brother. “His bedroom looked ransacked, as did his office.” He pauses to cut his eyes to Poppy.

“What do you mean, he’s gone?” Her face pales.

Felix’s eyes dart to the Summit suits before returning to his sister. “When we got home last night, the place was trashed. Dad’s truck was gone, along with all his clothes.”

“He left us with nothing,” Hugo adds, his voice tight with anger. “Cleaned out the company accounts, took all the contract money. We’re screwed, Pops.”

“He took everything ?” Her mouth is agape.

“Everything but the paperwork,” Felix continues. “And that’s why we came here. There’s stuff about the delays, payments made to accounts we don’t have access to. And these plans...” He pulls a rolled blueprint from his jacket. “Duck needs to see this. It’s supposed to be a stormwater system, but?—”

“But you could drive a golf cart through it,” Hugo finishes. “And it runs right under MC territory.” He points to the ground at his feet.

The suits’ expressions harden. “Those are confidential city plans?—”

“All addressed to Bennett Construction, which, with Dad gone, is us,” Felix cuts in. “We have a legal and a moral obligation to do our due diligence before we get any deeper into whatever mess he left behind.”