Baja (Fallen Ravens MC #3)

17. Alice

17

ALICE

The shrill ring from Nash’s phone wakes me from sleep, and I lose his warmth when he rolls over and swipes his cell from the bedside table.

“Yeah?” he answers gruffly. There is a second of silence before he follows up with, “We’ll be there in fifteen.” Nash jumps out of bed.

“What’s going on?” I click the lamp on and note the time, nearly three o’clock in the morning.

“I need you to get dressed, babe.” Nash snatches his jeans from the floor and pulls them on.

I follow suit and quickly climb out of bed. “You’re scaring me, Nash. Is everything all right? Is it Lily?”

He shakes his head. “Lily is fine. That was Prez. He wants us to get down to Belladonna’s right away.”

My stomach drops, and my knees threaten to buckle. “Oh my God. Sukie? Has something happened to her?”

I think back on the past week, which was chaotic. Ever since Nash’s uncle showed up with Lily, everyone’s life and daily routine has been thrown into a tailspin. The guys haven’t shared much of what’s going on, but it’s safe to say whatever trouble Nash’s uncle brought is enough of a threat that requires around-the-clock vigilance. To make matters worse, Nash’s uncle up and disappeared.

Nash strides toward me. “Sukie is fine, babe.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Jesus, way to give a girl a heart attack.”

Nash runs his hands through his hair. “But unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Belladonna’s.”

My back goes straight. “What are you talking about?” For years, Sukie had dealt with assholes around town harassing her, and occasionally they’d vandalize the store, but there hasn’t been an incident in months. Not since Harlem put a stop to everything. My stomach twists in knots at the thought of that shit starting up again. Although, I’m not convinced anyone in town would be suicidal enough to pull a stunt like that, considering her connection to the club is no secret.

“Harlem received an alert from the security company about thirty minutes ago. The alarm went off at the store. He knew Mystic was in the area since he hadn’t left the club yet, so he asked him to ride by and check it out.” Nash pauses. “I’m sorry, babe, but the place was trashed.”

“Oh, no.” I reach out to Nash, and he pulls me against his chest.

“Harlem called Prez and asked that we meet him down there. Sukie is going to need you.”

“That bad?” I ask.

“Yeah, babe. It’s that bad.” Nash leans down and kisses the top of my head. “Can you be ready in five?”

“Make it two.” I kiss the underside of his jaw before disappearing into the bathroom.

We pull up in front of Belladonna’s ten minutes later. Nash parks his bike, and I climb off, anxious to see the damage done to the store. Nash follows close behind me as I make a beeline for the entrance. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight that awaits me as I walk through the door. My steps falter, and I cover my mouth with my hand.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Nash hisses.

I go to take a step forward only to have Nash stop me. “Careful, baby. There is broken glass everywhere.”

The display case inside the store entrance has been turned over, and the candles Sukie and I stocked the other day lay in broken pieces all over the tiled floor. But that’s not all. Every end cap and every display case have been toppled. Packages of bar soap have been ripped open and tossed aside. Someone even opened numerous bottles of shampoo and conditioner and emptied their contents onto the floor. Glass crunches beneath my feet as I go over to the check-out counter, where it looks like someone took a baseball bat to the cash register. The shelves that once lined the wall behind the counter have been ripped down. I catch sight of Salem coming in through the back of the store with Mystic on his heels.

“Brother.” Salem lifts his chin, signaling Nash to join his and Mystic’s huddle.

The three men talk in hushed tones as I scrutinize the rest of the damage left behind. “Has anyone been to the office and storeroom?” I ask.

Salem breaks away from Nash and Mystic, the scowl on his face telling me all I need to know.

The rumble of a motorcycle draws our attention, and four sets of eyes watch as Harlem parks his bike next to Nash’s. Behind him, Sukie climbs off. By the look on her face, Harlem had already told her what happened, but like me, she isn’t fully prepared for what awaits her when she walks into the store. In full momma bear mode, I stomp over broken shards of glass and debris as I rush to my daughter’s side. Sukie breaks away from Harlem and throws herself at me.

“I can’t believe this. Everything is ruined.”

“It’s nothing we can’t fix.” I brush a strand of hair away from her grief-stricken face.

“I thought I was finally past crap like this,” Sukie says, a hint of anger in her tone.

Salem interrupts. “This shit has everything to do with the club. You weren’t the target.” Salem’s eyes meet the looming presence over my shoulder. “Harlem, I’m going to make this right, brother.”

“I know you will, brother.”

With a nod, Salem turns back to Mystic and Nash. “Mystic, you stay behind with me. We’ll board the place up and figure everything out in the mornin’. Nash, you and Harlem get Sukie and Alice back to the clubhouse. I want everyone to hunker down there until we know what the fuck we’re dealin’ with.”

“What about Juniper?” Mystic cuts in. “If the club is being targeted through our women…” He leaves his statement hanging.

“I’ve already taken care of that. I told Sage to call Juniper and get her ass to the clubhouse.” Salem nods to the salon across the street. “But why don’t you go over and make sure she has her ass in gear. Knowin’ that woman, she’s goin’ to give you lip.”

“Sheeit,” Mystic draws.

Sukie and I share a look, knowing Juniper likes to throw sass to get a rise out of these guys. But Salem is right. Juniper’s apartment is above the hair salon. I shudder at the thought of someone trashing the salon like they did Belladonna’s, let alone doing so with Juniper right upstairs.

“If Juniper tries diggin’ her heels in, you have my permission to throw her over your shoulder,” Salem adds. “Tell her I’m not playin’ around with this shit.”

“You got it, Prez.” Mystic throws up a finger salute and heads out the door.

Salem turns his attention back to me and Sukie. “I’m going to get someone out here tomorrow to clean this shit up. I’ll also have anything broken, fixed or replaced. I don’t want the cops involved, so you won’t be able to file an insurance claim for your loss, but don’t worry about that. The cost is on the club.”

Sukie leans into Harlem, wraps an arm around his waist, and nods. “Thank you, Salem.”

“No need to thank me, darlin’. Your shop was collateral damage for shit that was brought to the club’s doorstep. It’s my responsibility to right the wrong.”

Before heading to the clubhouse, Nash and I stop by his place to grab Ozzy. And since we have Ozzy, I drive my truck, and Nash follows behind on his bike. By the time we arrive at the clubhouse, it’s almost five o’clock in the morning. I should be thinking about getting some sleep, but I find myself too wired.

When Nash and I walk into the clubhouse, we notice everyone sitting around except Mystic’s little girl, who’s curled up on the couch and asleep beside Ophelia. Sage sits beside Ophelia on the sofa with her and Salem’s little girl asleep on her chest. Laredo stands with his hip pressed against the bar, his arms crossed over his broad chest, and Mystic huddles in the corner of the room, discussing something with Juneau. The energy in the room is filled with tension as we all share a look.

Behind me, the clubhouse door swings open, and Salem walks in. He immediately seeks out Sage, who rushes to his side with her daughter still asleep in her arms. He then addresses the room. “I’m sure you have all heard by now that there was an incident at Belladonna’s tonight. Until further notice, we’re on lockdown. That means women and kids keep their asses at the clubhouse. Tell me or one of the brothers if you need to go somewhere, and we’ll make arrangements. No one goes anywhere alone.” His next statement is aimed at Juniper, standing with her arms across her chest. “Which means not one of you steps outside this compound unless given the okay.”

“Why are you looking at me when you say that?” Juniper snips.

It’s Mystic and not Salem who answers, “Jesus fuckin’ Christ. Do you always have to throw sass, woman?”

Juniper throws daggers at Mystic. “I don’t think anyone was talking to you.”

Mystic glares while Salem shakes his head. “I don’t have time for this shit. I’m going to bed.”

Sage fails to suppress a giggle while I bite my lip to keep mine from escaping.

The room breaks apart one by one, and heads off to their respective sleeping quarters. I watch as Juneau offers a hand to Lily, who, with a shy smile, takes his offering, and they disappear down the hall behind Salem and Sage. Next, I witness Mystic scowl at Juniper, who counters with an eye roll before he picks his sleeping daughter up off the sofa.

Nash ignores the bickering and turns toward me. “Come on, baby. Let’s get some shuteye.”

“Why don’t you go on without me? I don’t think I could sleep now if I wanted to.”

“Not happenin’. I want you next to me.”

“I don’t think I can sleep, Nash. I’ll toss and turn and keep you up. Maybe I can get an early start on whipping up some breakfast. I know the gang is down for the next few hours, but I’ll make something that will keep, like muffins.”

Nash grips the back of my neck and leans in close. “You’re not makin’ breakfast. Your ass is comin’ to bed with me. If you can’t sleep, I’ll find a way to wear you out so you can sleep.”

My breath hitches. “Wear me out?”

“Yes, wear you out. Now stop arguin’ so we can go to bed where I plan on fuckin’ you until you fall asleep. Deal?” Nash gives me a sexy grin, but he’s not playing.

When it comes to Nash, I find myself giving in a lot. And anytime giving in leads to an orgasm, there will be no arguments from me. My clit tingles. “Deal.”

An hour later, Nash delivered on his promise by fucking me hard and fast in his bed. Afterward, I sucked him off in the shower, and he followed up by making me come on his face. It was glorious, and I am spent.

Nash has, in fact, worn me out because I barely remember my head hitting the pillow before I’m out.