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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ANNA

“I still don’t think you should fly so soon,” Freya murmured, her eyes following Tristan across the room as he moved toward my bag. “You’ve just had quite the scare, Anna. At least give yourself a few days of breathing space before you get on a plane.”

I squeezed her arm from my place beside her on the bed. “I can’t stay here with that woman after what she did.”

“Hendrix will deal with it,” she insisted.

“No he won’t,” I argued softly. “He didn’t believe his lady friend’s intentions were bad when I told him about that damned bread. He won’t do shit.”

Freya’s head cocked to the side, her eyebrows pulling together. “You don’t have much faith in Hendrix, do you?”

I barked out a short laugh. “He’s never given me any reason to.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she murmured. “He heard you were in trouble and got to you not twelve hours later with a plan and a small army, even though you were a state away. Doesn’t sound like a man you can’t have faith in.”

Her words stopped me in my tracks.

She was right about that. Hendrix had excelled himself by busting me out of Philly and making me safe, except being here with him put me out on a limb again. I’d jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire because although Daisy hadn’t done any lasting damage, she’d made me realize how precarious my pregnancy could be and how easily something could go wrong.

The fear I felt when I thought I was miscarrying wasn’t something I ever wanted to go through again. Hendrix made me feel safe in a lot of ways, mostly physically—he always had—but emotional well-being was just as important for me to attain while I was pregnant, and that was the one thing he couldn’t provide.

“He’s changed in the last three years,” Freya declared. “He’s softened. Hendrix is a complicated man, and I get he’s not easy, but I think losing you changed him on a fundamental level and made him realize he had to work on himself. Having his dad around and also being responsible for the mental well-being of so many men who have had their own issues made him see he needed to grow up.”

“You think?” I asked curiously.

She smiled. “Get to know him again. I’m not saying he’s not the same pig-headed Hendrix under all those muscles and tattoos, but he has matured. Life teaches us all lessons, and we have to adapt if we want to grow, and as far as I’m concerned, Hendrix has grown a lot. We were never friends before I came here, but I got to know him and I like him, Anna. He’s my friend as well as you are, and I don’t think it’s fair to judge him on the man he was three years ago. He went away, and he worked on himself. He did everything he could to learn to be a better man because losing you made him see the error of his ways. It’s a shame you can’t give him the chance to prove it, especially since I know how much you’ve always loved him.”

“He hurt her,” Tristan pointed out. “He doesn’t get a pass because she loves him.”

“I know,” she bit back. “I’m not saying Anna has to jump back into a relationship with him. That would be the worst thing she could do, but should we write off every person we love who does us dirty? Or should we give them the opportunity to grow and learn from their mistakes and allow them to make things up to us?”

My eyes drifted to Tristan, who stared at Freya, biting his lip while he mulled over her words.

“I’ve gotten to know these men,” she went on. “Some of their stories are harrowing. The things they did in the name of protecting their country have dug deep. If they weren’t good men, they wouldn’t care, and it wouldn’t affect them so profoundly. Hendrix is at the top of that list, and I won’t have anybody writing him off the same way I wrote Kit off because that’s a mistake I’ve learned from and one I won’t repeat.”

Tristan’s eyes softened on our friend. “Seems Hendrix isn’t the only one who’s grown as a person. Little Freya Stone has become a fountain of wisdom.”

Freya grinned. “I love my life here. I’ve built a friendship circle with some of the girls and Colt’s mom and sisters, and I feel like I finally belong. Hambleton’s great, but I was always overshadowed by the club and my family. Here, I’m my own person. I may be Colt’s ol’ lady, and that comes with its perks, but I’m also Doctor Stone, respected in my own right. I’ve grown because I was forced to. I don’t have Dad and Cash to fall back on, but I’ve learned that I don’t need them.” A buzzing noise came from the cell in her hand, and she clicked on it, her forehead furrowing as she read the message. “Hendrix wants everyone down in the bar.”

“Even us?” I asked.

“Colt says everyone.” Her eyes lifted from the phone to meet mine. “No exceptions.” She stood from the bed and held out a hand to help me up. “Come on. Let’s see what’s going on.”

Taking Freya’s fingers in mine, I got to my feet and linked arms with her. “Thank you for being so honest,” I said quietly. “Sometimes, I get caught up in the past. Tristan means well, but he’s not objective when it comes to his friends. His loyalty is fierce, and I love how hard he always backs me up, but you were also right when you said I haven’t given Jamie a chance, especially after he got me out of such a tight spot in Philly.”

Her hand covered mine, and she walked me toward Tristan, who waited for us with the door held open. “I didn’t mean you should give Hendrix a chance with your relationship, babe; that’s not my call. But if you got to know him as the man he is now, you’d see positive changes. Also, I think rushing back to Hambleton is a mistake. You’ve been through trauma with your husband and now with the whole gluten scare. Stay a week or two and recuperate. We’re at a beautiful hotel in a wonderful place, which is perfect for some rest and recuperation. Plus, I miss you. Maybe I’m being selfish, but I don’t get many visits from my girls, so having you and Tristan here makes me feel like I’m not totally out of the loop.”

We walked into the hall and waited for Tristan to lock the door behind us before we made our way down the stairs together. “My main issue is with Daisy,” I admitted. “If she tried something to hurt me once, who’s to say she wouldn’t do it again? Don’t get me wrong, I can handle her. But I won’t risk my pregnancy for the sake of Hendrix’s jealous girlfriend.”

Freya nudged me gently with her shoulder. “It won’t happen. Drix is no fool, believe me. These men are tough, and he keeps them in line. He couldn’t do that if he was blind to their faults.”

“She’s right, Anna Banana,” Tris chimed in. “Out of all the hot bikers we know, Hendrix is the one least likely to think with his dick. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a dawg, but we both know how emotionally detached he is when it comes to sticking his D in a V.”

“I’m starting to think I confided a little too much in Tristan when it came to Hendrix,” I muttered dryly.

She laughed softly. “I’ve missed this.”

I shot her a grin. “Yeah. Me too.”

The sound of laughter rose to meet us as we hit the top of the staircase leading down to reception. My gaze was immediately drawn to the hubbub of people walking into the hotel and heading toward the ballroom. It seemed we weren’t the only ones who had been summoned. Going by the sheer volume of the chatter coming from the bar, we already had a full house.

My gaze fell upon Colt, who waited at the reception desk, tapping on his phone.

“What’s going on, honey?” Freya called over.

He looked up, saw his woman, and grinned huge. “Prez has an announcement.”

“Obviously,” she bit back sarcastically. “Are you gonna give us a clue, or what?”

His grin widened even more. “I’ll enjoy putting you over my knee tonight for sassing me.”

Tristan squeaked and fanned his face. “Oh my.”

Freya released my arm, strutted over to her man, and rolled up on her toes for a kiss. “Maybe I’ll put you over my knee,” she breathed against his mouth.

Colt threw back his head and laughed. “Promises, promises.” Still smiling from ear to ear, he slid an arm across her shoulders and pulled her close to his side, craning his neck to address me and Tristan. “You ready for your first real taste of the Speed Demons, Virginia chapter?”

“Bring it on, handsome,” Tristan invited.

Colt led Freya inside, me and Tristan following closely behind. “Whatever’s said in that room stays in that room. You don’t speak unless spoken to, and you let Prez say his piece. If you’ve questions, or if what he says pisses you off, you take it to him privately and not in front of the club. Got it?”

“Got it,” I agreed.

“Crystal clear,” Tristan confirmed.

The room was wall-to-wall leather cuts. Everywhere I looked, I saw groups of brothers seated, leaning against a wall, or standing at the long wooden bar where a woman popped tops off bottles of Bud, then loaded them onto trays for the club girls to deliver.

On the small stage, three tables had been placed end to end, a shiny wooden gavel already resting in front of the chair set in the middle.

The room buzzed with laughter and conversation. The men’s anticipation made the atmosphere so thick you could almost reach and touch it. Expectancy hung in the air, and suddenly I understood how a man could thrive in a place like this alongside his brethren.

One table before the stage sat empty. We weaved through the crowds toward it, watching Colt high-five and clasp the brothers’ hands as we went. Freya craned her neck and gave me big eyes as her ol’ man seated her at the empty table and pulled the chair beside her out for me.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, turning to Freya.

“I dunno,” she replied, giving Tristan a tight-lipped smile as he took the seat on the other side of me. “But whatever it is, they want us to have a good view of it.”

“I feel like a rock star,” Tristan muttered. “Everybody’s gawping at us.”

I looked around, immediately feeling my face heat as I noted the covert looks and stares being thrown our way.

“This table’s reserved for the ol’ ladies, Carina, and Cece,” Freya advised us quietly. “I think the guys are curious, is all. Word’s probably got around that you’re the famous Anna.”

My face scrunched up. “Famous Anna?”

“The woman who broke Prez’s heart.” She grinned.

My eyes bugged out at her words. “I never broke Hendrix’s heart. He broke mine.”

Freya laughed. “Prez went back for you, and you told him to go to hell.”

“Because he ghosted me,” I said defensively. “He left and didn’t even tell me he was going. That’s a pretty final nail in the coffin of any relationship, doncha think?”

“You’ve got a point,” a humor-filled voice drawled from beside me. “But we did have a lot going on at the time. You know, with our old VP mutineering and trying to take over the presidency and all.”

Slowly, my neck swiveled to take in the lady taking the seat on the other side of Freya, immediately recognizing her as the bartender who was popping the tops off beer bottles when I walked in.

Once she was settled, she leaned across the table with her arm outstretched. “Hey! I’m Ciara. Resident biker agony aunt and truth-teller. My friends call me Cece.”

Smiling, I took her hand in mine. “Good to meet you. I’m Anna.”

“I know.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Heard a lot about you, honey, and I’m seeing why our prez is smitten.” Her eyes flicked down to my baby bump, and a wide smile stretched across her face. “Ooh wee! Well, ain’t this a turn-up for the books. When are you due?”

“I’m heading into twenty-two weeks,” I informed her. “So just over halfway there.”

“Beautiful,” she murmured, her gaze focusing on somebody over my shoulder. She jumped up and waved. “Carrie! Over here, honey.”

I turned to see a pretty dark-haired woman approach the table. She slid into the seat next to Ciara and heaved out a big sigh. “My feet are killing me.”

“The cottage?” Ciara asked.

“Yeah,” the woman replied. “There’s five of us girls cleaning it and we’ve still got our work cut out for us. You can tell the place hasn’t been touched for years.” Her eyes slid to me and widened. “Oh, hi!”

I held my arm out to her. “Hey! I’m Anna.”

Her eyes rounded to saucers. “ The Anna?”

Cece laughed. “Yep . The Anna.”

Freya laughed softly.

“I’m Carina,” she announced, taking my hand in hers and squeezing. “It’s so good to meet the famous Anna.” She leaned toward me and said, “You’re like a legend around here. The only woman our prez would ever settle down with. The lost love he pines after. The only woman in existence who can tame the lone wolf.”

Colt cleared his throat pointedly. “I think you’ll find I’m the goddamned Lone Wolf.”

“Aww. Baby,” Freya crooned. “As much as I’d love to sit here and debate how wolfy you are, you better get. Hendrix just walked in, and by the looks of what he dragged with him, we’re about to see one hell of a show.”

A hush fell over the room, every man’s eyes fixed on a point behind me. I craned my neck once again, and my body froze.

Hendrix walked in with Blade and Diablo, who was dragging a very bedraggled-looking Daisy along by the arm. She pulled back so much that he kept having to tug her, and she almost took a tumble.

“Oh Jesus,” I heard Ciara breathe. “Looks like Prez finally lost patience.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” Carina whispered in reply.

Hendrix walked to the stage, but instead of stepping up, he stood in front of it. His steady gaze slid straight to me, and our eyes locked.

One side of his mouth hitched.

My heart fluttered.

I caught a flash of white through his beard as he grinned at me. He shot me a wink then his face straightened, and a dark expression took over.

Blade stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear-splitting whistle—not that he needed to; every eye was already on Hendrix, who looked like something out of a biker model magazine in his jeans, wife beater, and black leather cut.

“Thanks for comin’,” Drix began. “Got a few things I wanna make clear, and I don’t want any doubt that I’m about to say what I mean and mean what I say. I’ll add that if anyone takes umbrage with it, you can take your cut off and fuck off now. No hard feelings.”

He waited for a beat, then nodded while his arm extended, and he pointed at me, stating, “This is Anna, and she’s mine.”

My jaw hit the floor.

“Christ on a cracker,” Tristan muttered.

“Anna’s also pregnant,” Hendrix went on. “And I’m claiming the boy, too. That means they’re both under my protection. If anyone speaks to her, deals with her, or even looks at her the wrong way, you’ll have me to contend with, and it won’t be pretty.”

A small squeak left my throat.

Hendrix’s stare bored into mine, and suddenly, I didn’t know if he meant to address me or the room. “Three years ago, I came to Virginia and opened this club. Wanted my own chapter and slowly, I began to recruit you all. My purpose was to build a place where we could all use the skills we attained in the military while doin’ some good and earning some self-respect. In doin’ that, I put the club and you all above my own wants and needs, and I don’t regret it. Got love for every brother here, and I always will, but I also got love for my woman and kid.” His gaze softened.

“Wow!” Tristan said under his breath.

My heart flipped over.

Hendrix’s stare finally left mine, and he looked around the room at his brothers. “This is a family, and I’ve always encouraged you all to include your wives and ol’ ladies and kids in what we do here. It makes for a better club and a closer brethren ‘cause we see the beauty we’re fightin’ for.”

Murmurs of agreement went up.

My throat closed up as Drix’s words splintered through my brain.

I also got love for my woman and kid.

My world rocked on its axis.

“So imagine my disappointment when someone in this club tried to hurt Anna today,” Henrix bit out.

Silence fell over the room.

Blue eyes slashed toward Daisy. “Imagine my disgust when I discovered somebody whose job here is to take care of us all, fed my pregnant ol’ lady shit that they knew would fuck with her, shit that made her sick. Shit that made us worry there was somethin’ wrong with the baby.” His mouth twisted into a snarl, and his voice lowered to a growl. “Who fuckin’ does that? What type of nasty gash fucks with a pregnant woman?” His hand came up to punch his chest, and his voice rose as he bellowed, “ My pregnant woman? ”

Shouts of agreement and loud growls went up while Daisy hung her head.

“Oh my Gawd, ” Tristan whispered. “This is fucking awesome .”

My hand clutched his leg under the table, and I squeezed, watching the scene unfold with bated breath, and my heart sprinting inside my chest.

Hendrix folded his arms across his hard, muscular chest, and his biceps flexed, his eyes fixed on Daisy. “You’ve left me no choice but to expel you from this club. Your shit’s packed and waiting for you in reception. Your position here’s been officially revoked. Any man seen or known to help or even fucking converse with you will forfeit his place in the club, and any club girl who’s seen doin’ the same will be kicked out, too.” He leaned toward her, getting in her face. “You got somethin’ to say to me?”

“Yeah,” she whispered, her eyes welling with tears.

Hendrix cocked his head.

Daisy’s eyes lifted to his, and my breath caught when I saw the defiance burning inside them.

“Fuck you, asshole,” she spat.

Shouts of protest went up, and the men began to bay for Daisy’s blood.

“Eek!” Tristan whispered, giving me big eyes amongst the ruckus.

Hendrix nodded toward Colt. “Do it,” he ordered.

Colt, who by then had moved toward the spot where the officers stood watching, pulled his phone from his pocket and began to tap.

“You just ceased to exist, bitch,” Hendrix rasped.

“You can’t do that!” Daisy shrieked.

“Just did,” he retorted. “Now, you gonna summon what little pride you’ve got left and walk outta here under your own steam? Or does Blade have to kick your ass down the street?”

Daisy’s face flushed red, and her hands clenched into fists as she leaned toward Drix. “Fuck you and your slut!” she screamed.

“Bitch!” Tristan spat quietly.

“Veep,” Hendrix called out. “Throw her skank ass outta here.”

A roar went up and I watched with my mouth hanging open while the massive VP stalked toward Daisy and grasped her elbow roughly.

“Ding dong, the witch is dead,” Cece muttered.

Carina let out a quiet snort.

“Let me go!” Daisy shrieked, trying to pull her arm from Blade’s hold, but it was futile. The VP was way too strong for her to get away. Instead, he started dragging her toward reception.

“Oh my God,” Carina crowed. “I need to record this.” She stood and checked her pockets. “Shit, I left my cell at the cottage.”

Ciara thrust a hand in the air, holding a phone. “It’s okay! I’ve got mine.”

Freya burst out laughing, getting up from her seat to join the noisy crowd of people following Blade and Daisy, Hendrix, and the rest of the officers toward the hotel entrance.

“Come on, Banana,” Tristan crowed, helping me up and sliding his arm through mine. “We don’t wanna miss the show.”

Dazed with what I just witnessed, I walked outside arm in arm with Tristan, my head spinning with everything that had happened.

Hendrix had basically told the club he loved me and the baby and that he was going to claim us both, and for the life of me, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with it.

The love was there, and it always would be, but the trust wasn’t. Everything had happened so fast that my brain was seizing up, which in turn was clearly affecting my decision-making skills because I hadn’t grabbed my bags and ran for the airport with Tristan like any normal woman would have done.

One minute, I was married—albeit unhappily—pregnant and ensconced in my husband’s home, and the next, I was in Virginia, staying at a beautiful hotel slash biker clubhouse with my hotter-than-Hades ex-lover, watching him throw out the club girl he’d been screwing for the past however many years.

Add on the fact I was constantly tired, my belly was sore, and I felt like bursting into tears every time the wind changed direction, and it was clear my life had done a complete one-eighty in a short amount of time.

We stepped outside the hotel doors, and I shivered in the cooled evening air. The earthy green scent of the river, sweetened with the native winterberries, wafted under my nose. I pulled in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

Tristan pulled me toward the front of the crowd where the girls had gathered on the periphery, watching intently. Ciara’s head turned and she caught my eyes, grinning as she held up her phone.

Hendrix faced the crowd again with his arms crossed over his chest. “This club’s core relies on loyalty. We’ve already seen what happens when one person thinks he’s above all others. This is a safe place where every brother and our women and kids can come without fear of harm or judgment. We all do shit to piss each other off. It comes with the territory of having a community full of ex-military. But everyone here has a voice, and you’re encouraged to speak up. You either work your shit out in the ring or steer clear of the ones you clash with. What I won’t put up with is one person thinking they can do harm and snake someone. Rats aren’t welcome here, and they never will be.”

He turned and jerked his chin at the officers.

Blade dragged Daisy down the hotel steps to the sounds of the men hollering and hooting. If he hadn’t held her so tightly, she would’ve fallen on her ridiculously high heels, but somehow, she kept her footing while he pulled her roughly toward the road leading away from the hotel.

“Don’t come back,” he snarled, shoving her roughly away.

“Asshole!” she screeched, her venomous eyes turning back onto Hendrix. “This isn’t over. I’ll get payback for this. You think you can dump me like yesterday’s trash? I don’t fucking think so.”

Hendrix waved his hand dismissively as if she was an annoying bug. “Get the fuck outta here and don’t come back.”

Iceman jogged down the steps with a couple of trash bags and threw them in Daisy’s direction. “Don’t forget your shit,” he called after her.

She threw him an evil look, straightened her skirt down, and then bent to pick up her bags before turning on her heel and strutting down the path.

Blade turned to face Hendrix. “Should I take her to the bus station?”

“Nope,” Hendrix replied. “I’m done with her shit. After what she did to Anna, I wouldn’t waste the gas.”

I couldn’t help myself. I knew Colt told me not to speak up, but I couldn’t see a sister that messed up and say nothing. Cautiously, I approached Hendrix. “I’d feel more comfortable if somebody took her to the station, if only to make sure she leaves town.”

He stared me directly in the eye, and my throat went dry under his intense gaze. “She tried to hurt you. What the fuck do you care?”

“I don’t care,” I argued gently. “But we’re more evolved than that. She may be subhuman, but we’re not.”

After a brief pause, he jerked his chin at a prospect. “Pick her up, Tweety. Make sure she jets outta town.”

“On it, Prez,” he replied, then jogged toward one of the club’s SUVs.

“Okay,” Diablo shouted. “Show’s over. As you were, men.”

Chuckles and mutters filled the air, and I watched the crowd of men and women turn and head back inside.

Tristan skipped toward us and squealed excitedly. “That was so exciting, handsome, like something out of Sons of Anarchy. All you big, burly bikers, grunting your way through a smackdown. I almost peed my pants.” He clapped his hands together. “Can you believe we just witnessed a real-life Sons of Anarchy Smack a Bitch Down episode?”

Hendrix’s face screwed up with confusion. “Sons of what?”

“Oh, lawdy, Anna Banana,” he drawled. “I see we’re gonna have to visit your beau often. Maybe you could stay a few weeks when you’re as big as a house, and you can’t reach your client’s hair because your belly’s in the way. This one needs a lesson in hot biker box set shows.”

“Come again?” Hendrix bit out, his eyes narrowing on my friend.

A bad feeling began to creep through my stomach.

“You know,” Tristan went on breezily, not recognizing the hardness in Hendrix’s tone. “My Anna can introduce you to the world of Jax Teller and his merry band of Sons of Anarchy whenever she visits.” He squealed. “Farrah told me that when she and Kit were courting, they watched Game of Thrones and made a pact never to watch it without each other. Then they got separated, and there was that whole killed-in-action but not killed-in-action thing, and because of the pact, they couldn’t watch it until they finally found their way back to each other again. I mean, how romantic is that ? You two could be Virginia’s answer to the Ks. A true love story that transcends time and space.” He sighed dreamily.

“Visit?” Hendrix grated out, turning his blue stare onto me, the blatant challenge in it causing a shiver to run down my spine.

“Oh shit,” I heard Ciara mutter from somewhere behind us.

With a growl emanating from deep within his chest, Hendrix took a step forward, stooped, grabbed me by my waist, and tipped me over his shoulder.

I let out a shriek.

“Oh my!” Tristan cried. “Imma melt into a gooey ol’ puddle.”

I jerked as a stinging slap landed on my jean-clad ass.

“Oh my!” Tristan exclaimed again. “That was hot.”

Beating Hendrix’s back, I shouted, “Put me down.”

“Nope,” he muttered, heading into the hotel. “You’re getting locked in our room.”

“Hendrix!” I yelled. “I’m pregnant.”

“ Ex-fuckin-zactly ,” he grated out roughly, stalking through reception. “Which means you’re goin’ nowhere.”

Hollers and yells of encouragement filled the air. I tipped my eyes up to see some of the men watching us, grinning.

“Go on, Prez,” somebody yelled.

“Show her who’s boss,” somebody else crowed.

As I bounced over a strong shoulder while getting hauled up the stairs, I heard women’s laughter and Freya’s voice announcing, “I think Anna just got Hendrix’d.”

I closed my eyes as two words flashed through my muddled-up baby brain.

Oh, shit.