Road to Passion (17 page)

They were both intimately aware
of our home, considering they had been in it almost as much as Mack had been,
so they moved straight to the kitchen to drop off wine, beer, and food.

“Are you going to want me to
chill some white, Dare?” Pauley asked.

“Yes, probably a good idea. I
don’t know who will drink it, but good to have it.”

“Can I pour you a glass of red?”

“No, it’s good.”

“Darien Aherne is turning down
wine? Is the world ending?” Millie asked.

Mack raised an eyebrow and I
sighed. “Um. Well, the thing is... it looks like I might be pregnant.”

Pauley gasped. “What?”

Mack wrapped his arm around my
waist.

“I thought you were on the pill,”
Millie said.

“I am... was. I had to take those
antibiotics when I had those stitches, so I think it happened then.”

“I don’t know what to say,”
Pauley said.

“I know it’s fast,” I whispered.

“Fast doesn’t even begin to cover
what this is.”

“Pauley.”

“Darien, this is crazy, sissy,”
she continued. “You get that right?”

“Hm-mm,” I mumbled.

I felt Mack’s body stiffen and
then he muttered, “Excuse us,” and pulled me into our bedroom, closing the door
behind us. “Dare?”

“Hmm?” I blinked back tears.

He cupped my cheeks and smiled.
“Take a breath.”

I took two.

“I’m here. Pauley can make all
the statements she likes, all well-meaning and shit, but I won’t allow her to
ruin any of this. It’s a happy time, baby. All of this is good. Yeah?”

I nodded my head on autopilot.

“Darien?”

I dropped my head on his chest
and wrapped my arms around him. “What if we’re making a huge mistake?”

“Then it’s our mistake to make.”

“I don’t want to lose this.”

“Baby.” He sighed and gave me a
squeeze. “We’re not gonna lose it.”

“How do you know?”

“For one, people a lot less in
love have babies every day. We aren’t those people. We also don’t have
financial shit draggin’ us down. We’re in a really good place.”

“That
is
true.”

He lifted my chin. “Do you love
me?”

“With all my heart.”

He smiled. “The rest is just
life, honey, and we’ll figure it out as it comes.”

I raised up on my tiptoes and
kissed him gently. “Thanks, butthead.”

“You’re welcome, Pid.” Mack
chuckled and led me back out into the kitchen. I was bolstered enough that I
was able to have non-defensive conversation with my sister and she apparently
figured out that nothing she said was going to change anything, so in the end
it was all good.

Our closest friends trickled in
over the next half hour or so and our home was filled with bikers which, had I
been told even six months ago would have happened, I wouldn’t have believed.

We’d thought about keeping the
pregnancy news to ourselves, but (truth be told) we didn’t try
that
hard
to keep it secret and since Mack had decreed the dress shopping bonanza a
necessity the next day, I was surrounded by people who were ready to plan for a
Dogs of Fire
wedding. I’d also added a few to my shopping team since
Dani, Payton, Cassidy,
and
Kim wanted to join in.

By the time we closed the door on
our last guest, set the alarm, and climbed into bed, I was wrapped in a cocoon
of love and acceptance, the likes of which I’d never experienced before. Little
did I know that that security would be shattered in a matter of days.

W
EDNESDAY MORNING, MACK left early and I
planned on organizing a few things. My phone rang at just after ten. “Hey,
Millie,” I said, as I dropped a bowl into the dishwasher.

“Hey. I wanted to see if you had
time for lunch. I’m up your way, so thought we could meet, like in an hour or
so.”

I glanced at the clock. “Um,
yeah, that sounds good. You want to meet at Tommy O’s or Beaches?”

“Ooh, Beaches. I love that
place.”

“Me too.” I grinned. “I’ll see
you there.”

“Awesome.”

Millie hung up and I called Mack.
It went to voicemail so I left him a quick message and then jumped in the
shower.

 Once dressed, I sent a
quick note to my editor who had some questions on my newest manuscript and then
I got Barney sorted and grabbed the keys to the BMW. Mack’s car had hands free
for my phone, and let’s be honest, it was a BMW and super fun to drive. I’d
just buckled my seatbelt when Mack called me back. “Hey, honey.”

“Hey, babe. You’re goin’ to lunch
with Millie?”

“Yes.” I started the car. “Is
that a problem?”

“Should be fine. Where are you
going?”

“Beaches.”

“Okay. Keep your phone on you.”

I exited I-5 on 14 and headed
toward Columbia. “Mack, is there something I should know?”

“No, babe. Just call me if
anything feels off.”

I sighed. “We’re in the ’Couve,
honey. Nothing’s ever off. Do you want me to look for something specific?”

He chuckled. “No. I’m just being
extra overprotective.”

I smiled. “Okay, Daddy. You’re
allowed to be extra overprotective.”

“You in my car?”

“Hells, yes, I’m in your car,” I
said, and pulled out of the garage. “I
love
your car.”

He chuckled. “I know you do.”

I arrived at the restaurant and
parked right out front. “I think we should just plan on it being
my
car
going forward.”

“We’re gonna get something safer
once the baby comes.”

“Ugh, does that mean something
bigger?”

“Not necessarily.”

I smiled. “Okay, I’m here,
honey.”

“Have fun. Love you, baby.”

“Love you too. I’ll call you when
I leave the restaurant.”

“Okay. ’Bye.”

I hung up and got out of the car,
excited to spend some quality time with my girl. Millie and I had been having a
hard time connecting, mostly because of her new(ish) job. She was the new
comptroller for one of the largest alcohol distributors in Portland, and her
hours were crazy. Our housewarming had been the first time in months that we’d
spent more than an hour together.

She was drifting away from me and
I didn’t know how to stop it. We were both independent, but we were also used
to being in each other’s business constantly. It was a weird dynamic, but it
was one I loved, and I was discovering that growing up meant we had to have
real jobs and be adults, which honestly wasn’t very much fun.

* * *

Mack sat with
Booker, Knight, and Hawk in his office at
Blush
and seethed. “What did
Brock say?”

“He didn’t say much,” Hawk
admitted.

Brock Williams was Hawk’s
brother-in-law, and FBI. Mack wasn’t happy they were pulling the law in, but
Hawk felt they didn’t have a choice, and they’d stalled as long as they could.

Knight pulled out his phone. “Ace
and Jax are here.”

“Fuck!” Mack said. “I thought we
had a few more hours.”

“Apparently we don’t.” Knight
fired off a text and his brothers breezed in a few seconds later. Jaxon,
Carter, and Aidan Quinn were three of six brothers, and while two chose the
law, one chose marriage, and so far, two had chosen the Dogs. Luke, the middle
brother, was still moving from job to job, but he’d met the Dogs on several
occasions.

Jaxon took a minute to shake
everyone’s hands and then the group moved into the bar area between Mack and
Booker’s offices.

“Brock’s lettin’ me run this,”
Jaxon informed everyone. “But mostly because he’s keepin’ the powers that be
out of this for the moment.”

“What the hell does that mean
exactly?” Ace asked.

“The Kozlov’s are fuckin’ with
everyone right now, so we’re attempting to bring them down without dragging you
guys into it.”

“We know who’s funneling,” Jaxon
said, and handed Mack a file.

Mack opened it and let out a
breath. “Fuck me.”

* * *

Millie was pacing
the little waiting area when I walked in and pulled me in for a long hug.
“Ohmigod, I miss you so much.”

I laughed. “I miss you too, lady.
I can’t believe we get to spend some time together.”

“I know. I’m up here checking on
something for work and I have to eat, so I’m rolling everything into one.”

“Nice.”

“Magrew?” a hostess asked.

“That’s us,” Millie said.

“Right this way.”

The pretty brunette wearing khakis
and a striped shirt led us to a small table right by the window. The water on
the Columbia was still today and the sun was hiding behind fluffy white clouds.
I loved the weather in the Pacific Northwest and
Beaches
was one of the
best places to enjoy it.

“How are you feeling?” Millie
asked once we sat down.

“Good. I’m tired and I’ve been a
little nauseous, but nothing major yet. I think it helps to be able to sleep
when I need to sleep.”

“Ah, the life of a famous
writer.”

I giggled. “Not so famous yet.”

“How are the wedding plans
coming?”

Much to my surprise (and a little
irritation that my very cocky man had been correct), I’d found the perfect
dress the previous Saturday. It had been the second one I tried on and just
needed to be let out a little at the bust. According to the shop, it would be
done on Friday and then we could plan accordingly.

Mack and I had gone down to the
courthouse on Monday for our license, and he’d set the club’s president’s wife,
Susie, and a few of the club women on the task of planning the party. I was
allowed to give my opinions and make choices, but I was not allowed to do any
of the work.

“They’re going well, I think.
Pauley’s helping to run interference. Am I picking your dress up when I get
mine?”

Millie grinned. “Yes, please. It
means I won’t need to make an extra trip this week.”

“No problem.”

“What about the date?”

“I think we’re set for two weeks
from Saturday.”

“Yay,” Millie said with a laugh.
“That’s perfect.”

We chatted comfortably for a
while, the server having taken our order, and then Millie’s countenance changed
within seconds.

“What’s wrong?”

Millie’s eyes darted from
side-to-side and she gave me a nervous and disingenuous smile. “Oh, nothing. I
just thought I saw someone.”

I glanced around. “Who?”

“No one. It’s fine, Darien.
Seriously.”

I frowned. “Is everything okay,
Mill?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re acting weird. You have
been for weeks.”

“I have?”

I sighed. “Honey, you’ve been
distant and you were jumpy at the housewarming. Mack noticed it too.”

“Fucking Mack needs to mind his
business.”

“Wow,” I breathed out.

“I’m sorry, Darien... I didn’t...
shit.”

I rose to my feet. “I’m going to
go before I say something I can’t take back.”

“Don’t, Darien. Please I’m
sorry.”

Before I could respond, I noticed
a familiar figure walking towards us. “What the...?”

Mack looked relieved... then he
looked pissed. He also looked gorgeous. Dark jeans, motorcycle boots,
long-sleeved black, ribbed Henley, and his leather jacket was a good look for
him.

“Honey, this takes stalking to a
whole new level,” I said in an effort to lighten his mood.

He positioned himself in front of
me and Millie’s expression went from apologetic to fearful in zero point two.

“You gonna tell her or am I?”
Mack growled.

Millie raised her hands in a
defensive manner. “You don’t understand.”

“What’s going on?” I demanded.

“You’re comin’ with us, Millie,
and we’re gonna sort this out at the club.”

“I have work!”

“I don’t give a fuckin’ rat’s ass
what you have. Right now, you’re comin’ with me, and you can come easy or hard,
don’t matter to me.” Mack threw a few twenties on the table and waved his hand.
“What’s it gonna be?”

The server approached with our
food and I grimaced. “Could you box those up please? We’ve got an emergency.”

“Of course. I’ll be right back.”

She left and I took Mack’s hand.
“What’s going on?”

His eyes never left Millie. “I’ll
explain outside.”

Millie scowled up at Mack, but
she did gather her things and rise to her feet. “You’re an asshole, Mack.”

I gasped and Mack squeezed my
hand to keep me from blowing up. “Outside,” he demanded.

“What about our food?” I
whispered.

“Train’ll get it.”

I released Mack’s hand so I could
grab my purse and was sandwiched between him and Millie as we left the
restaurant. We walked outside and I frowned. Five Harleys were lined up in
front, which meant eight sexy bikers (three apparently arrived in an SUV) were
lined up right out front. To say they received attention was an understatement.
Mack talked to Train for a second and then faced Millie.

“Go with Knight, Millie,” Mack
instructed. “Give me your keys, we’ll drive your car.”

“I can follow you,” she
countered.

“You really think we’re fuckin’
idiots, babe?”

She scowled again and rummaged in
her purse for her keys, throwing them at Mack. He caught them without issue.
Knight stepped forward and “assisted” Millie into the SUV and took off.

“What is going on?” I asked
again.

“Here you go, brother,” Train
said, and handed Mack our food.

“Millie’s keys,” Mack said, and
handed them to Train.

“I’m on it.”

“Mack,” I snapped.

He faced me and slid his hand to
my neck. “Babe, give me a second.”

“I’m pregnant, hungry, and
confused, bub, you wanna adjust your tone?”

Mack smiled and kissed my nose.
“In a second.”

Hawk and another brother started
their bikes and pulled out of the parking lot as Booker walked toward us. “Hey,
Darien.”

“Hey, Booker.”

“We clocked one, brother,” Booker
said. “Hawk’s following.”

Mack nodded. “Just one?”

“Yeah.”

“Shit. What the hell are they up
to?”

“Millie should have answers.”

“We’ll see.” Mack sighed. “I’m
gonna drop Darien home and meet you back at the club.”

The rest of the group dispersed
and Mack walked me to the car, waiting for me to climb inside before doing the
same. He set the food in the back and we headed home.

“Spill,” I demanded.

“Millie’s into some pretty bad
stuff.”

“What?” I squeaked.

“She’s working for the Kozlov’s
company and she’s helping to funnel money from the businesses they supply into
the Kozlov’s personal accounts.”

“How is she doing that exactly?”

“A little here, a little there,
if the client doesn’t notice, adds up.” He scowled again. “She also doctored those
pictures she sent you.”

“Millie would
never
knowingly do anything like that,” I argued.

He didn’t respond.

“Logan, Millie is one of the most
honest people I know. She wouldn’t do this. You’ve made a mistake.”

“We haven’t made a mistake.” He
sighed. “I will concede that she might be caught up in somethin’ out of her
control, but there’s no mistake.”

I blinked back tears. “Honey,
it’s Millie. She wouldn’t do this.”

We pulled into the driveway and
Mack turned off the car, facing me. “I’m sorry, baby.”

I opened the door and climbed
out, stomping to the front door. Letting myself in, I disarmed the alarm and
dropped my purse and keys on the sofa in the front room, before heading to the
kitchen.

I grabbed a bottled water and
napkins and Mack set the food on the island. “I’ll take Millie’s to her,” he
said.

“Fine.”

“Darien.”

I glanced at him. “You’re wrong.”

“We’re not wrong, baby.” He
closed the distance between us. “But I am gonna figure it out. We’re handling
it for the moment to keep the FBI out of it.”

“The FBI are in it?” I asked, in
horror.

“Yeah, they are. Millie’s fallen
in with some bad shit, Dare. I mean to figure out how much she knows and how
far she’s in it. If I can protect her, I will.”

“Can I come with you?”

“I don’t know how late I’m gonna
be, babe.”

“I’ll pack a bag and I can sleep
there if I need to.”

He sighed, leaning down to kiss
me gently. “I let you come, you stay out of the way.”

I smiled. “Cross my heart.”