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14

TALLIE

" C ome on, sleepyhead.” Holt nudged me gently. “Got something to show you.”

“Hmmm.” I squinted at the morning light creeping in through the blinds. “What time is it?”

“It’s late.” He pulled on his boots as he snickered, “It’s already six-fifteen.”

“Six-fifteen?” I groaned. “When did you become one of those grandpas who gets up at the crack of dawn?”

“Grandpa?” he scoffed. “I’ve been up an hour watching you sleep. You snore, by the way.”

“I do no such thing.”

“Yeah, you do.” He cocked his brow. “Probably why you’re so tired. Bet you’re gonna need one of those sleep machines.”

“I’m tired because someone kept me up all night.”

I snuggled up next to him, and my entire body tingled when I thought about the night we’d shared. I’d spent so many nights dreaming of being with him again, and they were all wonderful and got me through some hard times. But they didn’t compare to the real thing. Being with him again, feeling his body against mine, and knowing that this wasn’t just a dream was everything. It was like coming home after years of being so utterly lost.

It gave me hope, and that was something I thought had died when I was torn away from him. But after the night we shared, I dared to believe that we could still have the future we always hoped for—the one that was stolen from us so many years ago.

Holt gave me a sexy smirk as he teased, “Are you complaining?”

“Nope. Not even a little.” I reached over and took hold of his collar, gently tugging him over to me. “In fact, why don’t you get back in this bed and do that thing you did with your thumb again.”

“You liked that, huh?”

“Hm-hmm.”

“Well, be good and get up, and I might do it again later tonight.”

“You’re really gonna make me get out of this bed?”

“Afraid so.”

“Okay. Okay.” I groaned with a stretch before I eased the covers back. “What do you have to show me?”

“Gonna have to get dressed to find out.”

Curiosity outweighed my need for more sleep, so I pulled myself out of bed and slipped on my pajamas. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time. I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”

It was still a bit cool, so I slipped down to my room to change. I pulled off my pajama top, and I couldn’t help but smile when I caught a hint of his scent on my skin. It was a mix of cologne and something warm and familiar, and it filled me with a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years.

I changed into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt before pulling my hair up. Once I was ready, I rushed to the kitchen to find Holt. When I walked in, he had a tumbler of coffee waiting for me. “Thought you might need this.”

“I definitely do.” I took it from his hand and smiled. “Thanks!”

“Come on.”

He took my free hand and led me out of the house. The door had barely closed behind us when Mable and Percy came rushing over. Holt gave them each a quick rub on the head, but that didn’t suffice. They both kept bumping up against him, begging for more. “Alright, alright.”

He stopped and gave them each some love, then promised, “I’ll feed ya in just a minute. I’ve got something to show the pretty lady first.”

To my surprise, they both settled down and walked patiently next to us as we continued towards the barn. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think they understood you.”

“’Cause they did.” He chuckled. “Any mention of food, and those two are all ears.”

“They are adorable.”

“They have their moments.”

When we reached the barn, Holt pushed the door open, and I followed as he walked past the different rows of stalls. “I’m thinking about two or three more goats and maybe a couple of cows.”

“It’s perfect.”

“Yeah, it’s got some potential. I’ve just gotta take the time to work out all the details.”

I was amused by his enthusiasm, but it was the door off to the side that caught my attention. He hesitated for a second, then pushed it open with a small, proud smile. Inside was a room bathed in natural light. The walls were clean and white, with shelves lining the walls, and there was a sturdy table in the center. It was the perfect art studio. My mouth dropped as I gasped, “Is this…”

“It is.”

I stood there completely speechless, looking around at everything he’d done. My heart swelled with emotion as I turned to him and whispered, “It’s wonderful.”

“I hoped you would like it.” He stepped closer and placed his hands on my hips, pulling me gently against him. “It’s a work in progress, but we can add whatever you need.”

It was at that moment that I realized just how well he knew me and how much he really cared. This wasn't just a room. It was a piece of my heart he'd given back to me. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”

We lingered outside the barn, and we both threw out some possible ideas to make the barn even better. We’d just started back towards the house when Holt turned to me and said, “I need to ask you about something.”

“Sounds serious.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Okay. What is it?”

“I need to know more about your father,” he started. “Do you know anything about his business or the people he was involved in?”

"No. I mean, I knew he was a real estate lawyer, but that’s about it.” I shrugged. “We were never all that close, and things got even worse when he sent me away. So, whatever he was into, he kept me out of it."

“That’s what I thought.” Holt nodded slowly, but his jaw tensed. "So, you don’t know anything about a code.”

“No, I can’t say that I do.” I shook my head. "Why?”

“The men who were following you think you have some information they need.”

“Well, too bad for them because I don’t know a thing. And if I had to guess, Mom doesn’t either.”

He studied me for a beat, then asked, "What about Rooks? Do you think he might know?"

There was something in the way he said Rooks' name that led me to believe that he knew something I didn’t. My chest tightened. "You think he's involved, don't you?"

"I don’t know for sure, but it’s a possibility, especially with his line of work.”

“I don’t know. There was a time when I trusted him more than anyone.” My chest tightened as I told him, “Now, I don’t know. He and Dad were always so close, so there’s a chance...”

“Sounds like he and I need to have a conversation.”

“I’m sorry. I know things between you two haven’t been great.”

“That’s an understatement.” Holt opened and closed his fits. “But this supersedes any conflict between us.”

“Will you go to where he and Mom are hiding out?”

“No. I’ll have him come to the clubhouse.”

“Oh.”

“If he knows something, we will need to move on it.”

I didn’t know what was going on, but whatever was buried in my family’s past was clawing its way to the surface. And Holt was determined to uncover it with any means necessary. “Okay. I get it.”

“You and Ford should come, too. It’ll give you a chance to look around and meet some of the brothers.”

“I’d like that.”

“Good deal.”

We went back inside, and after we got Ford up and dressed, we all piled into Holt’s SUV. I’d never been in a clubhouse before, so I just assumed it was a small building where they all gathered from time to time. But the second we pulled through the large metal gate, I realized it was much more than that.

This place was enormous, and it was secured at every corner with barbed-wire fence and security cameras. Holt was as cool as a cucumber as he parked and led us inside. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. I felt like we’d stepped into a different world that we didn’t belong in. The wide-eyed look on Ford’s face showed he was just as hesitant as I was. I pulled him in a little closer for reassurance, and I put on a big smile as Holt introduced us to one brother after the next.

But I couldn’t help but notice that they all kept calling him Seven instead of Holt. Curious why, I tugged at his sleeve and asked, “What’s up with the name Seven?”

“It’s a name I picked up in the military, and it kind of stuck.”

“What does it mean?”

He hesitated, then answered, “You’re not gonna like it.”

“Just tell me.”

“Seven men in seven seconds.”

“What?” The question had barely left my mouth when it hit me. He could kill seven men in seven seconds, and that revelation floored me. Holt had always been so kind and compassionate. It seemed strange to think of him killing someone. My back stiffened as I muttered, “Never mind.”

“Don’t do that.” His brows furrowed. “Just say what you were thinking.”

“Nothing. It just makes me realize just how little I know about you.”

“You know the important stuff.”

“Do I?” I pushed. “What about your time in the military or your role here at the club? You haven’t shared any of that with me, and clearly, they’re a big part of your life.”

“There’s stuff you haven’t shared with me either. Your pregnancy, Ford’s first words and his first steps. Paris. New York. And everything in between. I want to know every detail, but we haven’t had a lot of time on our hands.”

“No, I guess we haven’t.”

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know, but let’s get through today first, okay?”

“Okay.”

"Come on.” He took my hand in his. “I’ll show you guys around.”

I nodded, then Ford and I followed as he started down a long corridor lined with bedrooms. Holt explained that they were for the brothers who stayed over. The walls bore framed photos of rides and various gatherings, and they gave me a sneak peek into this strange, new world he’d delved into.

We walked past the bar with a jukebox, pool tables, dartboards, and every kind of liquor you could imagine, and from there, we made our way to the kitchen. It had all the necessities and an enormous family-sized wood table in the center.

We continued down the hall to a spacious family room filled with wide-screen TVs, pool tables, and dartboards, and Ford let out a notable gasp. Holt chuckled as he said, “It’s pretty cool, huh?”

“It’s awesome.”

“Go ahead.” Holt motioned his head inside. “Go check it out.”

Ford had just made his way over to one of the pool tables when Goose, one of Holt’s brothers, came over to us and announced, “They’re here.”

The words had barely left his mouth when in walked my mother and Rooks. Mom looked a bit freaked out while Rooks was trying his best to show zero emotion. I started toward them, and I couldn’t help but notice the bruising under both of Rooks’ eyes. His bottom lip was swollen, and there was a deep scratch on his chin.

I went to Mom first and gave her a hug. “Hey, how ya holding up?”

“I’m still standing.”

I glanced over at Rooks as I asked, “What about you?”

“Can’t complain.”

“You sure about that? You look terrible.”

“Just a rough night’s sleep.”

“If you say so.”

Mom leaned over to me with wide eyes as she asked, “What is this place?”

“It’s a biker clubhouse,” Rooks answered. “It’s where they do the things they do if you know what I mean.”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“Well, it’s probably best that you don’t,” Rooks scoffed.

“Don’t say it like that,” I fussed.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re implying they’re all up to no good. You know nothing about them or what they do here.” I crossed my arms as I continued, “And in case you forgot, they’re trying to help us. The least you could do is show them a little respect.”

“Yeah, if you say so.”

They both grew tense when Holt came up next to me. Mom gave him an awkward smile. “Hello, Holt. It’s good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too, Mrs. Warren. I hated to hear about Mr. Warren.”

“Thank you, Holt. I know you might find it hard to believe, but he always thought a lot of you.”

“Yeah, I don’t know about that. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m sorry, just the same.”

Rooks hadn’t stopped glaring at Holt since he walked up. I knew things would be tense between them, but they both looked like they could claw each other’s eyes out. Rooks’ jaw was clenched tight as he snarled, “What are we doing here, Tallie.”

“We have some questions,” Holt answered.

“What makes you think I’ll answer them?”

“Because your mother and sister’s lives are at stake.” Holt held his glare for a moment, then turned and glanced over at Ford. He was playing a game of pool with one of the brothers and looked to be having a great time. “He’s good for a bit. Why don’t we go down to the conference room, where we’ll have a bit more privacy.”

I nodded. Holt then motioned over to Shep, one of the brothers I’d met when we first arrived, and he followed as we all started down the hall. Holt opened a door and led us into a small room with two flat-screen TVs on the wall and a large round table in the center of the room.

We all took a seat, and as soon as we were settled, Rooks turned to Holt and said, “Alright, let’s get on with it.”

“What do you know about your father’s involvement with the Volkov family?”

“Dad worked with a lot of people. What’s so important about these guys?”

The blood drained from Rooks’ face when Holt replied, “Sergei Volkov’s driver and one of his guards were the ones following your mother and Tallie.”

“And how do you know it was his driver?”

“Because I know.” Holt remained calm as he looked at his childhood friend and said, “If you know something, now is the time to…”

“Dad always said that there was a fine line between right and wrong in real estate, and he often pushed the perimeters. That push led a particular clientele to come knocking at his door.”

“What are you saying?” Mom asked. “Your father was working with crooks?”

“Well, they weren’t in his Bible study.”

“Rooks!”

“I’m sorry, Mom, but you know Dad. Once he set his mind to something…”

“I just can’t believe that he would do anything illegal.”

“I didn’t say that. I said he pushed the perimeters. There’s a difference.”

“Tell that to people he booted out of their homes,” Holt grumbled.

“Look, he did what he had to do. I don’t know what else there is to say.”

“Well, for starters, you could tell us about the code.”

Rooks gave Holt a strange look, and anyone could see that he was lying when he answered, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Volkov’s driver said he was sent to retrieve a code. We’re guessing it’s a password or routing number to an offshore account,” Shep interjected. “Would you know anything about that?”

“Don’t know what makes you think I’d know anything about it.”

“We all know what you do, Rooks. It doesn’t take much to put two and two together.”

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, man. I don’t know anything about any offshore accounts or any stupid codes.”

I don’t know if it was the tone in his voice or the weird way he was squinting his eyes, but I could tell he was lying. And I wasn’t the only one. Holt and Shep knew it, too. I could tell by the way they were glaring at him. I just didn’t know what they were going to do about it, but something told me they would stop at nothing to get the information they needed.

Even if it meant putting everything on the line.