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TALLIE

“ W hat are we doing here?”

“We’re just visiting for a bit.”

“Come on, Mom,” Ford fussed. “You can tell me the truth. I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“I know, but there’s really nothing to tell.” I didn’t want to scare him, so I kept it simple. “We’re just going to hang out here for a couple of days.”

“I know there’s more to it.”

“Consider it an adventure.” I glanced around the small guest room and saw no reason why Ford wouldn’t be comfortable there. It was modest, with neutral walls, a dresser, a small desk, and large flat-screen TV. “It’s a new place with your own room and giant TV.”

“But I liked the hotel. They had cookies at the front desk and breakfast every morning.”

“I know. But this is just for a little while. Besides, we couldn’t stay at the hotel forever. And Holt was kind enough to let us stay here."

“Who is he anyway?”

“I already told you. He’s an old friend of mine.”

“Never seen him before.”

“We were friends when I was younger… before you were born.”

Ford studied me for a second like he knew there was more to the story. “He’s kinda scary lookin’.”

“It’s just a few tattoos. You’ll see right past them once you get to know him.” I gave him a look as I said, “He didn’t seem all that scary when you were talking about your game.”

“Yeah, I guess not.”

“Just give him a chance.”

"Okay."

That one word carried more trust than I deserved.

I stood and gave him a quick kiss on the top of his head. "How about I go see if there’s anything I can scrounge us up for breakfast?”

“Okay, but I’m not really hungry.”

“Maybe something to drink and a snack?”

“Yeah, that’d be good.”

“I’ll go see what he has.”

As soon as I started for the door, Ford reached for his bag and pulled out his game. I usually hated him having so much screen time, but today, it was a welcomed distraction. I stepped out of the room, and as soon as I started down the hall, I heard voices coming from the kitchen.

I didn’t think much about it until I heard Holt growl, “I’m not fucking around. I want the guys found, and I want them found now!”

“We’ll get Shep on it and see what he can find,” one of his brothers replied. “It shouldn’t take him long to track them down.”

“He should’ve already tracked them down,” Holt snapped. “I don’t get what’s taking him so goddamn long.”

I’d never heard Holt so angry and frustrated. I took another step and peeked around the corner. He was in the kitchen with Goose and Skid, and they all looked tense, especially Holt. “He needed more than the make of the car. Thanks to Skid, we have a plate number. Now, it’s just a matter of time.”

“I want them found, and I want them six feet under.”

Six feet under.

He wasn’t talking about scaring them off.

He wasn’t talking about calling the police.

He was talking about handling them in a way that didn’t leave room for second chances. It was a revelation that sent a chill down my spine.

I knew the minute I saw him standing on my front step that Holt wasn’t the same boy I’d once known and loved. He was rougher, harder, but hearing him talk like this came as a complete shock.

And yet, beneath the shock, there was something else.

A small, dark part of me that wasn’t horrified.

Instead, it was relief that I felt. Holt wasn’t going to let these men or anyone else hurt me or Ford. He was going to do whatever it took to stop them, and deep down, I knew that was exactly what we needed.

I didn’t want them to know that I’d been eavesdropping, so I eased back down the hall and quietly opened one of the bedroom doors. I immediately slammed it shut and walked with a harder step, making sure they heard me coming.

As soon as I walked in, Goose tapped Skid on the arm and said, “We best be going.”

“Yeah, I’m right behind you.”

They started for the door, and before they walked out, Holt called out to them, “Take her car. Have Memphis check it out for any tracking devices.”

“You got it.”

“I’ll be over in half an hour. Maybe less.”

“Take your time,” Goose answered. “We got you covered.”

With that, they climbed into my car and disappeared down the drive. Holt waited until he was sure they were gone before turning to me and asking, “You guys settled in?”

“We’re getting there.”

“Good. Can I get you anything?”

“Ford could use a drink and maybe something to eat.” I stepped further into the kitchen. “Do you have any crackers or chips?”

“Chips for breakfast?”

I shrugged. “I’m picking my battles today.”

“Understood.” He motioned his hand towards the pantry and said, “Help yourself.”

That’s when I noticed his knuckles. They were bruised and scratched. They hadn’t been like that when I came to talk to him the night before. I was tempted to ask him what happened, but I thought better of it. The last thing I wanted to do was overstep, especially when he and his brothers were doing so much to help us.

I opened the door and quickly grabbed a pack of peanut butter crackers. By the time I turned back around, Holt had a bottle of juice from the fridge and was holding it out for me. “Perfect. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

I lingered for a moment, trying my best to gather the courage to ask the question I so desperately wanted to ask. Sensing something was up, Holt gave me one of his looks. “Something on your mind?”

“I’ve got so many things going through my head, I don’t even know which way is up anymore.”

“I understand that all too well, but we’ll get through it. We just need to figure out who these guys are and what they want.”

“And you think your brothers can really find them ‘cause I can always call Detective Joyner and…”

“The cops had their chance to find these guys and failed. Now, it’s our turn.”

“I’ve never heard of a biker club that fights bad guys.”

“We fight ‘em, but don’t get it twisted. We’re not the good guys.”

“I had a feeling you weren’t.”

Once again, I was struck by how much he’d changed. The boy in him was completely gone. He was all man, and every ounce of me was drawn to him like the tide to the shore. I wanted to wrap myself in him, hold him close, and pretend that everything was right in the world.

Unfortunately, it was anything but, and I wasn’t sure it would be ever again. Holt’s expression was intense as he took a step towards me. “I know this is a lot, but you can trust me, Tal. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know.” I placed the juice and crackers on the counter and crossed my arms. “Why are you doing this?”

“ You know why .”

“I want to think that I do, but I’m not so sure.”

“You know.” His eyes never left mine as he took a step towards me. “You’ve always known. That’s why you’re standing here right now instead of staying at the safe house with your mother and brother.”

“But there’s so much. It’s too much.” My voice cracked as I asked, “How are we supposed to get past it all?”

“I don’t know.” He held my gaze for a moment and then took one final step that left him standing right in front of me. “I’m not even sure we can, but I’m damn well gonna try.”

Before I had time to think, he pulled me close and lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me with an intensity like I’d never known. His lips were soft and warm, and suddenly, I was leaning right into him.

His arms wound tight around me, inching me even closer as his tongue found its way into my mouth. He kissed me long and hard, and it was all I could do to keep myself from unraveling. I’d missed him. I’d missed his touch, his scent, and how incredibly safe I felt in his arms.

I was holding on by a thread, and just as I was becoming completely lost in his touch, he pulled back, quickly breaking our embrace. His eyes danced with lust as they locked on mine. He lifted his hand up to my mouth, gently brushing the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip, and said, “Even better than I remembered.”

“So, now what?”

“I’ve gotta get to the clubhouse and check on some things. We’ll pick up from here when I get back.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“Not sure. A couple of hours. Maybe more, but Duggar will be here to keep an eye on things. If you need anything, just let him know, and he’ll handle it.”

“Okay.”

He kissed me on the forehead, then turned and headed for the door.

As soon as he walked out, I stepped over to the window and eased the curtain back, watching as he made his way out to his Harley. He moved with such purpose, like nothing could stand in his way. He swung a leg over the bike, and seconds later, the engine roared to life.

I brought my hand up to my mouth and ran my fingertip along my bottom lip. It was still tingling after our kiss, and I wanted to hold onto the feeling a little longer. It had been so long since I’d been kissed like that, and I wanted to savor the moment.

I was wondering if we might kiss again when I heard Ford call out, “Mom?”

“Hey, kiddo. I’m sorry! I’m coming.”

With a deep breath, I tore myself away from the window and grabbed the juice and crackers from the counter. I carried them both to Ford’s room, and he barely looked up as he muttered, “Thanks, Mom.”

“You need anything else?”

“Nope, I’m good.”

“Okay. I’m going to go to my room and call your grandmother.”

“Um-hmm.”

He was deep into his game, so I turned and made my way down the hall. The house felt big and unfamiliar, but I felt oddly safe as I made my way into the bedroom. I grabbed my phone from my purse, then sat on the edge of the bed and dialed my mother’s number.

My fingers tightened around my phone as it rang. Mom and I hadn’t talked much since our argument. I just hadn’t known what to say to her. I was still angry and hurt that she’d lied to me, and I wasn’t ready to forgive her. I wasn’t sure I ever would be.

That didn’t mean I didn’t love her.

I did. I loved her very much, and I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. Holt assured me that they were okay, but that didn’t stop me from worrying. A wave of relief crashed over me when my mother’s voice finally came through the line. “Tallie?”

"Hey, Mom," I answered. "Are you guys okay?"

“Yes, sweetheart. We’re fine,” she assured me, though there was a weariness in her tone. “What about you and Ford?”

“We’re okay. We’re at Holt’s.” I kept it short and to the point. “Ford’s in the other room playing his game.”

“That’s good.” Mom’s voice tensed as she told me, “Holt’s friend told Rooks that the men in the Mercedes were back, and they think they were looking for us.”

“Yeah, they’re trying to find out who they are and what they want.”

“Are you sure they’re the ones who need to be doing all this?” Mom asked with a worried tone. “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

“The police knew, and they weren’t able to stop them from showing up at the hotel this morning.”

“Yes, this is true.”

“Holt won’t let anything happen to us.”

“He has a young man here. He’s been standing out front for hours, and he’s barely moved. And I’m pretty sure he’s armed,” she added quietly. “Your brother isn’t too happy about that.”

“I’m sure he isn’t, but you’re safer there than at the hotel,” I replied, trying to convince myself as much as her.

“I just don’t know, Tallie,” she said gently. “I don’t like being away from you.”

“I don’t like it either, but right now, we don’t have a choice.”

There was a beat of silence before she finally said, “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will,” I whispered. “I promise. Tell Rooks I’ll call him soon.”

“Okay. But be forewarned. He isn’t in a good mood.”

"Oh? And why’s that?”

“He and some guy got into an argument last night at the hotel bar.” I could hear the worry in Mom’s voice as she told me, “He gave him a black eye and a busted lip.”

“Oh, that’s not good. I’m sure he’s in a terrible mood, but don’t worry. I can handle him.”

“I know you can,” she giggled. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

We said our goodbyes, and I sat there for a long moment, just staring at the phone in my hand. Dad’s death had set so many changes into motion. I just hoped we had the strength to hold on until the dust settled.

I was exhausted, so I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. I just planned to rest for a bit and ended up dozing off. I woke up several hours later to Holt standing at the foot of my bed. I sat up with a jolt and gasped, “What time is it?”

“Just after six.”

“Ford.”

“He’s fine. He and Duggar went into town to grab us a couple of pizzas and some wings.”

“Oh, okay. Do you think it’s safe for Ford to be out?”

“He’s fine. He’s with Duggar. He won’t let anything happen to him.” His face was void of expression as he announced, “I was about to have a beer. You want one?”

I nodded, then stood and followed him into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer. He popped the tops and offered one to me. “Did you find out anything about the men in the Mercedes?”

“We’re following up on some leads.”

“So, that’s a yes?”

“You haven’t told me about Paris.”

He clearly wanted to change the subject and what a subject it was.

Just the mention of Paris made my throat tighten. When I first arrived, I felt like I’d been thrown into a completely different world, and it filled me with mixed emotions. I was heartbroken over losing Holt and terrified about having a baby on my own, but my classes were captivating, and the people I met were incredible. I had no idea how to put it all into words, so I answered, “I don’t know what to say.”

“Was it worth it?”

“No,” I answered without hesitation. “Not even close. I saw incredible things, learning things I would’ve never learned anywhere else, but the cost was too high. I lost you, and Ford lost the chance to know his father.”

“He hasn’t lost his chance. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“We need to decide how we want to tell him.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“Do you think we can?” My voice cracked a little. “Or have I made too much of a mess of everything?”

“This isn’t all on you, Tallie.”

“It certainly feels that way.”

“I felt like that for eight years. Still not so sure I was wrong.”

“You were definitely wrong. You were the love of my life, and they took you from me. I haven’t been the same since.”

“You really believe that.”

“Without a doubt.”

“Come here,” his voice cut through the air, low and rough, like a whisper meant only for me.

All the fear, the regret, the anger raged inside of me, making it difficult to know what to do.

“Tallie.”

I didn’t move. I just stood there, staring at him. I was torn between wanting to run out the door and wanting to leap into his arms. The pull I felt towards him was impossible to ignore, and before I knew what I was doing, I’d taken a step forward. And then another.

“I should’ve fought harder,” I whispered, barely audible, my voice trembling. “I should’ve made them see...”

His tone was firm and demanding as he ordered, “Now, Tallie.”

I took another step. I was finally standing right in front of him. We were just inches apart. My eyes searched his, looking for any sign that he might feel the same way I did.

But he gave me nothing—not yet.

Not until I was exactly where he wanted me.

His eyes were still trained on mine as he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. I gasped, startled, but before I could even think, his mouth crashed against mine. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was angry. And raw. And desperate.

It was everything we’d both been holding back for years.

I could feel his hand at the back of my neck as his fingers tangled in my hair. My hand rested against his chest as he deepened the kiss. I let myself melt into him. My body responded to his like it had been starved for him.

When he pulled back just enough for us both to catch our breath, he reached up and cupped my face, gently brushing his thumb across my cheek. My tears were still there, and when his eyes landed on them, something in him cracked, and I could feel it.

“Damn, I’ve missed you,” he whispered, his voice thick, raw with the truth of it.

I almost couldn’t speak. My lips trembled as I whispered back, my heart beating so loudly in my chest that it felt like it was going to burst. “I missed you, too. You’ll never know how much.”

I wrapped my arms around him, holding him just as tightly as he was holding me. And for the first time in a long time, everything inside me finally calmed . He was here. He was holding me. After all the pain and lost time, I finally had him back.

He looked down and studied me for a moment, searching for some kind of confirmation that I wanted this moment as much as he did, and once he found it, his mouth crashed against mine. We both let go of our doubts and just let ourselves get lost in the moment.

The tips of his fingers trailed along my spine, and I arched towards him, seeking the heat of his touch. He continued to kiss me, and I could feel a fire burning deep inside me, smoldering as it spread through my body. He kissed me long and hard, and we were inching to the point of no return when he eased back and whispered, “Never could get enough of you.”

“I wasted so much time. Why did I do that? Why did I let them…”

“Don’t do that. Don’t go back there. Stay here with me. Right now, in this moment. Can you do that?”

I wanted this moment with him. I wanted to forget about the past and let my heart be my guide. I could feel my emotions building inside of me, and I had to fight back my tears as I nodded and muttered, “Yes, Holt. I can do that.”

My pulse started to race as he leaned towards me and pressed his lips against mine once again. Holt owned a piece of my heart that no one else could have. Right or wrong, I wanted him, needed him, and I was willing to put everything on the line to have him in my life again.

He trailed kisses along my neck, sending chills throughout my entire body. My breath caught when I felt his hand inching its way down my stomach. He stopped at the buckle of my jeans, and in an instant, he had them unfastened and was slipping his hand down the waistband of my lace panties. And just like that, my doubts started rolling in.

I suddenly became nervous when he led me over to the sofa. I hadn’t been with anyone since the last time we were together. I’d had a child—his child. I was worried that he would notice the changes in my body and wouldn’t find me as appealing as he had once before. But when I looked up at him and saw the longing in his eyes, my doubts were quickly forgotten. The truth was, I wanted him just as much as he wanted me, if not more.

As soon as his fingers drifted between my legs, my entire body shivered with anticipation. I gasped as the tips of his fingers grazed across my center with slow, methodical circles. Every single touch made me yearn for more.

It felt so good, so right, to have his hands on me again, like they were made for my body and my body alone. I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, relishing the sensation as he moved his fingers against me. As soon as I started to feel that familiar tingling in my abdomen, he eased my panties to the side and slid his fingers deep inside me.

He began teasing me with the pad of his thumb, using just the right amount of pressure to make me come unglued. It felt incredible, better than I’d remembered, and after just a few moments, I felt my orgasm start to take hold. His fingers curled deep inside me, and when he increased the pressure, I was done.

With a gratified moan, my head fell back, and my entire body started to tremble uncontrollably. My climax surged through me with a powerful force, causing me to mumble over and over, “Oh, dear God!”

I was struggling to remain standing when Holt growled, “Dammit.”

He quickly withdrew his hand and took a step back as he announced, “They’re back.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Not something I’d joke about.”

“Talk about bad timing.”

“You’re telling me.”

I fastened the button of my jeans and quickly straightened my shirt. Holt’s eyes slowly skirted over me, and a sexy smirk slipped across his lips as he said, “Oh, don’t worry. I’m not done with you yet. Not by a long shot.”