Axel (Ride Series Book 3) (18 page)

Kat had volunteered to watch Maddox and Scarlet seemed to be unofficially helping quite a bit with Mason.

In one of the few relatively quiet moments of the evening, I found a seat next to Jill who sat alone, admiring the view out on the deck. “Okay?” I asked, taking the seat at her side.

“Wonderful,” she smiled. “You are gorgeous.” She stroked a finger over the tulle of my skirt.

“Thanks. How long do you plan to stay?” I wanted to know, watching Axel as he stood laughing inside with Cole.

“I may not leave,” she muttered as my head whipped around to face her.

“What? What’s going on, Jill?” I asked as forcefully as I dared.

She shrugged, her posture too deliberate, too casual for my liking.

“Jill?” I pressed.

“I left Tim.”

The silence weighed heavily between us as I tried desperately not to react too strongly to her words.

“How can I help?” I asked instead.

“You’re already doing it. All this,” she gestured to the festivity inside “it’s a wonderful distraction,” she sighed wistfully.

“Stay as long as you’d like.” I reached over to grasp her hand in mine. “I love having you here,” I told her truthfully.

“Thanks, Soph,” she murmured and I could tell the subject was nearing a close. I’d press for more details later. This wasn’t the time.

Scar poked her head out then, holding Mason. “I think he’s hungry. Should I feed him?” she asked.

Jill shook her head. “I’ll do it, thanks.” She smiled, rising to take her son. “Thank you for watching him.”

“Sure,” Scarlet smiled, winking at me before walking back inside to Cole.

I followed suit in search of my new husband.

It was nearing morning by the time we wound things down. Despite the evening’s festivities and the hour, sleep was far from either of our minds.

“Ahhhhhh!” my cry was loud and piercing as Axel claimed me, driving so deep, it was as though he sought to pierce my soul.

His chuckle was low and satisfied as he lowered his lips to my ear. “Good thing we don’t have any house guests,” he rasped, his teeth finding purchase in the flesh of my neck.

Jill had taken Mason to stay at Kat’s old apartment. The club had bought the place, rightfully thinking they’d need it again. It had been a safe haven for many visitors, myself included.

His lips moved to my breasts, sucking greedily as I raked my fingernails down his broad back.

“You’re mine,” he growled. “Mine to love, to protect, to fuck,” he groaned as his thrusts became more rapid.

“Yes,” I cried out at his words and from the onset of my orgasm.

“Baby,” he groaned, his tone nearly reverent as he found his own release.

I wrapped my limbs around him, pulling him closer and relishing the feel of our sweat – of our heartbeats intermingling with a resounding tempo.

He rolled us so that we were side by side with my thigh thrown over his hip. “This looks good,” I sighed, my fingers tracing the outline of his wedding band.

“Yeah,” he agreed as he nuzzled my throat.

“Again?” I giggled.

“Again,” he growled.

When Mad woke us up the next morning, it felt like we’d just fallen asleep. We’d had many offers from friends to keep him overnight but we wanted him with us.

We chose to spend a quiet day as a family. Though it was nothing new for us to be together, there was something incredibly special to cement our vows, just the three of us.

We took lunch to the nursing home and celebrated with Sybil. We’d wanted to break her out of the home for a day to attend the ceremony but the nurses had recommended against it. The commotion and the new faces could have easily set her off. Instead, we had a quiet little celebration with sandwiches and sparkling apple cider. It was perfect.

I hadn’t asked if we’d be seeing his mother. I knew what the answer was. On occasion, he still got a call – and he always went without question. The difference was that now when he got home, he didn’t shut down, he talked. About how pissed off he was with her. About her lost opportunity with Maddox; I knew that hurt him the most. He was willing to share but he didn’t want her to be part of our lives and I understood that, respected it.

Ry had at least convinced Ax to take him with him most of the time. He wanted to share the burden. Axel had protected him his whole life; he wanted to give some of that back.

It did nothing to cure their mother’s addictions, but for two brothers dealing with a mother that had abandoned them for the bottle, it helped.

That evening as the three of us ate dinner, laughing as Maddox got more mashed potatoes in his hair than his mouth, I beamed with contentment. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate. Just us. Just love.

It was a good thing we had that time considering all hell was about to break loose.

Chapter 18

E
arly the next morning I felt Axel sit up abruptly. He vaulted out of bed before I could even form a question. When he slipped back into the room, I sat up, startled. “Wha—” I started to ask as he drew a finger to his lips to silence me.

Crap, that wasn’t good.

The gun I now noticed in his hand also wasn’t good.

“Get dressed, darlin’,” he whispered.

“What’s happening?” I whispered back.

“We’ve got company.”

I felt my eyes widen to saucers as I scrambled out of bed, grabbing my clothes. His knowing eyes watched my frantic movements, a beacon of calm despite the circumstances.

“What kind of company?” I asked as I threw on my jeans and tank top, hopping around the room as I struggled into my boots. “Where’s Maddox?”

“He’s fine. It's okay. Calm down,” he instructed, turning back to face me. “There’s a car parked just off the road. Ry spotted it. We’re gonna be cautious and head to the club,” he explained.

“Right.” I jerked my head in a nod and took a shaky breath in.

He crossed the room, putting his large hands on my shoulders and stooped to my eye level. “Babe, calm, okay? I’ve got you.”

I met his eyes and relaxed a fraction. “Okay,” I breathed. I threw on a sweater and my purse over my shoulder. “Ready,” I added with a tilt of my chin.

I thought I saw a note of pride in his eyes at my resolve when he nodded and took my hand. “Grab Mad. We’re gonna go out the garage, in my truck. Ry’s gonna be right behind us.”

“What’s Ryker even doing here? It’s so early,” I thought to ask.

“I’ve had a man on the house every night,” he answered as though that detail wasn’t important to share. We’d be having that conversation later.

“Sorry, baby,” I cooed to Maddox as I lifted him gently out of the crib. His little rosy cheeks were warm and soft as I swept my fingers over his face. He looked around, his beautiful eyes clouded with sleep as I carried him from the room.

Axel led us through the dimly lit house, the first hint of dawn barely making a dent through the darkness.

Ryker caught up with us in the living room, his expression taut as he and Axel flanked me. Both men wore shoulder holsters, guns at the ready and the whole situation was more than a little daunting considering I was still half-asleep.

Ax clipped Maddox into his car seat before drawing me around and hoisting me into the passenger side, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips before shutting my door.

I heard him exchange a few words with Ryker, though I couldn’t make them out.

“Seatbelt,” he instructed when he’d slid in the driver’s seat. He looked over at me. “I’m gonna drive fast but I know what I’m doin’. Got it?”

“Got it,” I nodded, my heart thumping painfully hard in my chest.

“Good,” he muttered, hitting the garage door.

He wasn’t kidding.

The second we could clear the door, he floored it, shooting us off into the rose-colored morning, kicking up gravel as we went. I heard the roar of a bike behind us and knew Ryker wasn’t far behind.

I risked a glance in the passenger side mirror and shuddered at seeing a black town car giving chase.

“Don’t worry about it,” Axel muttered before I could comment.

He was in complete control. He didn’t even appear stressed and I had to admit I was impressed. I’d never seen someone so calm under pressure.

I, on the other hand, was about to pee my pants.

His phone rang then and he answered with a barked, “Yeah?” He listened for a moment, his eyes glancing to the rearview every few moments. “Just one for now. At the speed I plan to drive? Ten minutes tops. Yeah, bud, see ya.” He clicked off, shoving his phone into the console.

We got closer to town, hitting the main road, and Axel really picked up speed as I heard another bike’s engine behind us.

“Tag,” Axel explained calmly before I could ask.

When we arrived at the club, Axel and the guys pulled directly into the garage bay with Hank there to pull the large metal door shut before we’d even turned the engine off.

“Okay?” Axel turned to me to ask.

I managed a nod though my heart was still pounding. I climbed down from the large truck and wrapped my arms around myself protectively as Axel lifted Maddox out of his car seat.

Axel moved to stand beside me, taking my hand in his. The gesture nearly made me forget our current circumstances as my heart melted a bit. “Coffee?” he asked me quietly.

“Coffee,” I agreed.

I was surprised to see so many people already there when we entered the main room. Cole, Mack and Ettie, Cal, and Wes and Connie were milling around when Axel and I walked in along with Hank and Tag.

“How you holding up?” Connie asked, approaching with a reassuring smile and a brief hug.

“Not a great way to wake up,” I mumbled. “But I’m okay. Do we know who it is or how many there are?” I asked the room in general.

“Ry’s out scouting,” Wes replied, taking a sip of coffee, his dark gaze steady. Everyone seemed so relaxed, like this happened every day and the effect was contagious. I calmed down as well and went to grab a cup for Axel and me.

“Scar’s with Gracie?” I asked Connie.

She nodded, sitting in Wes’s lap.

I’d managed to eat something and had ingested enough coffee to fuel a jet when Ry swept into the club with a clenched jaw.

I immediately sat up straighter, watching as he walked directly to Cole and Axel, exchanging quiet words.

Axel looked over to me briefly, his face very intentionally devoid of emotion, which I didn’t take as a good sign.

“Oh, shit,” I breathed quietly to no one in particular.

“We’ve got this covered,” Wes’ voice surprised me as he moved into view and sat next to me on the couch.

“I know you do,” I agreed quietly, meaning it.

“He’s been preparing for this eventuality – even without knowing the state of play,”

“And what eventuality would that be?” I asked cautiously.

“Ax can talk to you about it,” he waved his hand dismissively before his expression grew serious. “You’re covered, Soph, by all of us.”

“Thanks, Wes,” I nodded.

“Sophie!” I heard Axel’s deep voice call from the office. “Come here a second!”

I rose to stand with an exasperated huff at his bossy bellow.

“Hey, sis, don’t let him give you any shit,” Wes grinned, lightening the mood.

“Right,” I muttered, tossing a grin back at him as I handed Mad off to Connie.

How anyone thought I could contain a man like Axel was beyond me. But I was more than willing to give it a shot.

I found Axel, Cole and Mack all huddled around Cal’s desk as I leaned on the doorway, eyeing them all with apprehension. “Okay, which one of you is going to tell me what the hell is going on?” I demanded.

They all looked up at me, surprise on their faces at my tone.

Then Axel grinned, clearly liking my sass. “That would be me,” he replied, crooking a finger in my direction.

“Good luck, dude,” Mack muttered as he and Cole exited the room with alarming speed.

“Why do you need luck?” I asked with a narrowed gaze.

“Come here, babe,” he beckoned, gesturing to the couch as he moved to sit down.

I huffed, my lack of sleep and caffeine jitters getting the best of me.

“What is it?” he pressed.

I threw up my hands. “I’m tired and overwhelmed. I’m just trying to hang the hell on,” I tried to explain.

He surprised me then by grabbing my hand and pressing it to his firm chest. “Then hang on to me,” he commanded.

I looked down at where his hand covered mine against his firm chest. Then I looked into his grey eyes so steady and sincere. “Okay,” I rasped.

He blew out a breath. “Your father has goons all over this fuckin’ town, honey,” he shared.

I felt my eyes widen. “What? Why?” I demanded.

He shook his head. “The man isn’t right in the head, babe. Who knows what he’s thinking. He might want proof you’re married. He might be making a grab for you. Or it could just be an intimidation tactic.” He snorted at the last part. “Whatever the reason, we need to take care of this shit. That includes getting rid of the men he’s sent and dealing with your father.

“I don’t imagine you want me to put him in the ground,” he paused, waiting as I promptly shook my head. “Right. Well, then my next best option is to put him in jail.”

“How are you going to do that?” I asked, feeling numbness seep through my veins. Despite everything that happened, moments like this still took on a surreal quality that I had trouble grasping.

“Leverage,” he shrugged. “Listen,” he grasped my upper arms gently for emphasis as his gaze held mine. “Me and the club well, we’ve done a lot of work to prepare for this eventuality. But at the end of the day, shit like this – it has a way of goin’ a couple of different directions. I don’t want to tell you the plan and have you panic when it doesn’t play out the way I expected. You okay with trusting me on this one?”

I loved that he knew me well enough and respected the fact that I wanted to know what was happening. I also knew he was right.

“Yeah, babe,” I leaned toward his body, pressing my forehead to his. “I trust you.”

“I know he’s your father,” his deep voice continued, “but darlin’, if he does anything to threaten you or Maddox I can’t promise—”

“I understand,” I cut him off. “He’s my father but you and Maddox are my family,” I added, stroking my fingers through his unruly hair.