Chapter Five
Dawson
I drummed my fingers on the worn wooden table, the scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke hanging heavy in the clubhouse air. The low rumble of idle conversation and clinking bottles faded into the background as my mind raced with thoughts of Nora and Taylor, their safety hanging in the balance.
Across from me sat Jaxon, Jordan, and Logan -- some of my closest friends. I knew if anyone could help protect Nora from that abusive piece of shit Rex, it was these men. Men who lived by a code of honor and loyalty, who would lay down their lives for what was right. Of course, the Dixie Reapers would do the same, just without following the rules. I wasn’t sure I wanted to introduce my girls to that world right now. My parents could be a bit much for most people, and Nora had already been through a lot.
I leaned forward, elbows on the table. “I need some help, or suggestions. I’ll take either. It’s about Nora.”
Their faces turned grim, jaws clenching in unison. I’d already talked about her a bit, and even those who hadn’t responded to the apartment fire knew about it. I had a feeling they’d likely heard about Rex’s visit to the café as well. News traveled fast in small towns. Thankfully, some news I was able to keep under wraps… like the fact I’d helped start the Swift Angels. It wasn’t like all the Dixie Reapers didn’t know. Just the majority of them. But there were still plenty, like my dad and grandpa, who didn’t.
“What’s that asshole Rex done now?” Jaxon growled, fingers tightening around his beer bottle until his knuckles turned white.
Yep, they’d heard about it. I dragged a hand down my face, the stubble rough against my palm. “He’s been abusing her for God knows how long. I have a feeling it wasn’t all verbal. And now she’s three months pregnant with his kid.”
“Son of a bitch,” Jordan muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disgust. Logan remained silent, but the fury in his eyes spoke volumes.
“She finally left him, but it looks like he’s been stalking her. I don’t think he showed up at her work just for the coffee. I’m worried sick he’s gonna hurt her or Taylor when I’m not around to stop him.” Desperation seeped into my voice, my chest constricting at the thought. If things were different and I were a Dixie Reaper and not a Swift Angel, I knew the solution would be to bury the fucker. Sadly, I was a civil servant, and the law frowned on murder.
Jaxon slammed his fist on the table, bottles rattling. “Not on our watch. Nora’s family now. We protect our own.”
Family? They were acting like I’d made her mine. Which, I had to admit, that’s what I wanted to do. Didn’t matter we’d just met. The moment I’d looked into her eyes, I’d known. Hell, now I really did sound like my dad.
Jordan and Logan nodded in agreement. Looked like everyone considered Nora to be mine. Except probably Nora herself.
“So what’s the plan, Dawson?” Logan asked. “How do we handle this bastard?”
I leaned back, the beginnings of a plan taking shape in my mind. It wouldn’t be pretty, and I was a little iffy on the whether it would be entirely legal, but I’d keep things as clean as possible. Didn’t mean I wouldn’t blur a few lines, but I didn’t want to go to the lengths my dad would and outright kill the bastard. Well, I would actually love to watch the light fade from his eyes, but I refused to be that type of man. Didn’t mean I wouldn’t make the bastard hurt as much as possible. Rex had no idea the world of pain he’d just brought down on himself.
“We watch them like hawks, make sure one of us is with them at all times. Or you know, as much as we can. It isn’t like our club is huge, and we all have jobs with long hours and weird schedules. As for Rex, we need to see if we can find some new dirt on him. Something we could use to bury him. And if he so much as looks at Nora the wrong way…” I let the unspoken threat hang in the air. Of course, the only way I knew to really do that was to ask Wire or Lavender for help, and since I wasn’t telling the Reapers about the fact I was a Swift Angel, or about Nora and Taylor, then… that made it a little difficult.
The hardened expressions on my brothers’ faces told me they understood perfectly. This wasn’t just another club matter -- this was personal. Nora and Taylor were innocent, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous man. And we would be their shield, their protectors, no matter the cost. It’s what we did every damn day.
“Maybe your dad rubbed off on you a bit too much,” Ben said from across the room. “Let’s make sure none of us end up behind bars, okay? I prefer putting cuffs on people I don’t consider my brothers.”
“I already hit the asshole a few times. But I’m sure anyone at the café would say it was done in defense of Nora. I’m not going to run off half-cocked. At the same time, I won’t sit back and watch as he hurts her.” I glanced at Ben. “Are you saying you’d do things differently if it was someone you cared about?”
Ben snorted. “Care? Shit, Dawson. You don’t even know the woman!”
Everyone else had seemed supportive. I knew Ben didn’t want Nora or Taylor to be hurt, but… was he seriously questioning my feelings for them?
“Stop being so negative,” Jaxon said. “Maybe it was love at first sight.”
It was good to know Jaxon had my back. I could also understand Ben’s point of view. To the average person, I was moving at warp speed. For someone who grew up with adults who fell fast and hard, this was just the norm.
I’d done my best to distance myself from the Dixie Reapers. Long ago, I’d known I didn’t want to walk the same path as my father. Having someone I wanted to protect with my life put things into perspective.
Nora deserved better than the crappy hand she’d been dealt, deserved to feel safe and cherished. And come hell or high water, I would be the man to give that to her. Assuming she let me. If I’d decided to walk a different path, to join my dad’s club, then I’d have gladly stained my soul with the blood of her demons. There wasn’t a price too high when it came to her and Taylor. But I’d decided to walk the side of the law, and I couldn’t allow myself to forget it.
Jordan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “What happened with Rex? I mean specifically. We’ve all heard he raised hell at the café.”
“Like you already know, he showed up at the café where Nora works. I stopped by with Taylor and could tell something was wrong. Then I heard all the shit Rex was saying to her and about her. When it looked like he was going to get physical with her, I lost it. Punched him a few times, then got Nora and Taylor the hell out of there. But in case you’re worried, Ben, I did wait until he’d taken a swing at me first.”
Logan whistled low. “Damn, brother. Is Nora okay?”
“She’s terrified,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “The fact he showed up at her work, that he’s bold enough to confront her in public… it’s got her spooked. And I can’t be with her every second of the day to keep her safe.”
Jaxon’s jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists. “We won’t let that bastard lay a finger on her.”
“Damn straight,” Jordan agreed. “We’ll put a tail on him, make sure he doesn’t get within a hundred feet of Nora or the kid.”
I nodded, grateful for their support. At the same time, I knew we didn’t have the resources for that. Not for anything long-term anyway. We could possibly pull it off for a day or two at most. These men were more than just my club brothers -- they were my family, my brothers, and I knew they’d help me keep Nora safe.
A bit of guilt crept in. I knew without a doubt if I went to the Dixie Reapers with this, they’d also help protect her. I just didn’t want to deal with the fallout when they decided to make Rex disappear, most likely in a bloody way.
Logan’s brow furrowed. “Does Rex know about the baby?”
“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “Nora hasn’t told him.”
A glint appeared in Logan’s eye. “What if we put it out there that the baby is yours? Might make Rex think twice about starting trouble.”
I barked out a laugh. “As much as I’d love to claim that child as mine, I doubt Nora would be on board. She’s been through enough without me complicating things further.”
Logan shrugged. “You won’t know unless you ask her. And let’s be real, brother. You might walk the straight and narrow now, but you were raised in the Dixie Reapers. Everyone in town has heard the rumors about that club. Would your old man have tiptoed around your mom?”
A grin tugged at my lips as I recalled the stories my parents used to tell. The mere thought of the fierce Venom doing such a thing was laughable. “Hell, no. Mom was the one who claimed him. Walked into Church and told everyone there she was claiming him as hers. From what my grandfather told me, everyone but dad thought it was fucking hilarious.”
Jaxon chuckled. “Sounds like a firecracker. Would love to meet her. Guessing that won’t happen, though.”
“Trust me, any man who gets within arm’s reach of my mom risks his life. Dad didn’t take kindly to other guys sniffing around her. Still doesn’t. Sometimes I think he forgets how old he is now.” I smirked, remembering just one poor fool who’d had the balls to hit on her in front of my old man. Last I heard, he’d fled the state and was living off the grid somewhere in Alaska. And that was only a year ago!
But as much as I wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps, to claim Nora as my own and dare anyone to challenge me, I knew I had to tread carefully. Pushing too hard, too fast, would only scare her away. Unlike my mom, who wouldn’t hesitate to grab a man by the balls and threaten to rip them off, Nora seemed gentle and sweet.
No, I had to be patient. Earn her trust, show her I was different from the scumbags in her past. And when the time was right, when she was ready, I would make her mine. Forever. And legally. Not just old lady status but put a ring on her finger with a legit wedding.
But first, we had to deal with Rex. And as my brothers and I hashed out our plan, I could feel the anger burning in my veins. That bastard had no idea what was coming for him. And by the time we were through, he would wish he’d never laid eyes on my girl.
Because Nora was mine to protect, mine to cherish. Even if she didn’t know it yet. And I would rain down holy hell on anyone who tried to hurt her or take her from me.
“Why don’t you bring her here to the clubhouse? Both her and the little girl?” Ben asked.
“It’s a bit smoky in here for that,” I said.
He glowered at me. “Obviously we won’t smoke around the kid. Jesus, what do you take us for? Besides, Diego could bring his niece, and Justin could bring his daughter. They should all be close enough in age to get along.”
“That’s a good suggestion,” Jaxon said. “I’ll get everyone to pitch in on dinner and dessert. Bring them by and we’ll get to know them.”
“I can bring Avery,” Logan said. “My sister is always up for meeting new people, and having another woman here might make Nora feel more comfortable.”
I nodded. “All right. I can do that, as long as she agrees. It’s not like I’ll force her to come.”
“We’ll go ahead and prepare just in case,” Jaxon said.
* * *
The sun hung low in the sky as I pulled up to the apartment I called home. Nora was in the living room when I walked in, her dark hair loose around her shoulders, a hesitant smile on her face. Taylor peeked out from the hallway, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Hey there, beautiful,” I called out, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of them. “You ready for an adventure?”
Nora’s brow furrowed, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “An adventure? Dawson, what’s going on?”
I shut the door and walked closer, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her skin was soft beneath my fingertips, and I ached to pull her into my arms. But I held back, knowing she needed time. Not to mention Taylor was watching us, and I wasn’t sure what she’d think of me doing such a thing to her mom.
“The guys and I, we want you and Taylor to come to the Swift Angels clubhouse tonight. Meet the rest of the club, see what we’re all about.” I held her gaze, willing her to trust me. “It’s just dinner, Nora. A chance for you to get to know the people who have my back. The people who will have yours too.”
She hesitated, her teeth worrying at her bottom lip. I could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the fear lingering just beneath the surface. But then Taylor tugged at her hand, her little face alight with excitement.
“Can we go, Mommy? Please? I want to meet Mr. Dawson’s friends!”
Nora’s face softened, and she knelt down to look her daughter in the eye. “Okay, baby. We can go. But you have to promise to be on your best behavior, all right?”
Taylor nodded solemnly, her pigtails bobbing. “I promise, Mommy.”
I grinned, scooping the little girl up into my arms and spinning her. She giggled, her arms wrapping around my neck. “All right then, let’s hit the road!”
“You mean right now?” Nora asked. “Dawson, I’m not dressed to meet people.”
I scanned her from head to toe. “What’s wrong with how you’re dressed?”
She huffed at me. “Seriously? I’m in leggings and an oversized shirt, and you want to introduce me to your friends? Like this?”
I shrugged, still not seeing the issue. She rolled her eyes at me and hurried down the hall. Taylor and I waited a good half hour before Nora came back, dressed in jeans and a sweater. I noticed she’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail and it looked like she had some lipstick on. I hadn’t realized Akira had included makeup in the stuff she’d brought over.
“Ready now?” I asked.
She nodded. “You can’t tell me this doesn’t look better than what I had on before.”
“You look beautiful to me no matter what you put on.” Her cheeks flushed and she ducked her head. “Come on. Let’s head to the clubhouse.”
As I buckled Taylor into the back seat of my truck, I caught Nora watching me, a strange expression on her face. It was almost… tender, mixed with a hint of longing. Like she was seeing me in a new light.
I held out my hand to her, my heart in my throat. “You coming?”
For a moment, she wavered. But then her fingers slid into mine, warm and soft, and I knew I would do anything to keep her by my side.
* * *
The clubhouse was already buzzing with activity when we arrived, the smell of fried chicken and fresh biscuits wafting through the air. I could feel Nora tense beside me as we walked in, and I glanced her way, only to see her grip on Taylor’s hand tightening.
But then the guys were there, surrounding us with grins and hearty claps on the back. Jordan scooped Taylor up, tossing her in the air as she shrieked with laughter. Logan’s sister Avery pulled Nora into a hug, immediately asking her where she liked to shop.
And just like that, the tension melted away. Nora’s shoulders relaxed, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she let herself be drawn into the warmth and camaraderie of the group. Logan’s call to bring Avery had been a good one.
I watched her from across the room, my heart swelling with pride and affection. Seeing her here, among my brothers, felt right. Like she belonged.
Like she was already part of the Swift Angels, even if she didn’t know it yet.
As the evening wore on, I found myself gravitating toward Nora, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. We sat side by side at the larger wooden table, our thighs brushing beneath the surface as we laughed and joked with the others.
“I never thought I’d see the day when Dawson Kane was making googly eyes at a woman,” Jaxon teased, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. “Careful, man. You’re gonna lose your bad boy reputation if you keep this up.”
I flipped him off good-naturedly, but I couldn’t deny the truth in his words. Something about Nora brought out a softer side of me, a part of myself I’d kept hidden for so long. Then again, it wasn’t like I slept around. Sure, I’d dated casually, but it wasn’t like I was a man-whore.
From the corner of my eye, I watched as Taylor played with Maya and Kelsey, their giggles and shrieks of joy filling the air. It was a beautiful sight, seeing her so carefree and happy.
“She’s a great kid,” I murmured to Nora, nodding toward Taylor. “You’ve done an amazing job with her, especially considering…”
Way to go, Dawson. Bring up her dreaded ex. That’s a sure way to kill the mood ! Sometimes, I was such an idiot.
“She’s my whole world,” she whispered. “I’d do anything to keep her safe and happy.”
I reached out, covering her hand with my own. “You don’t have to do it alone anymore, Nora. I’m here for you, and so are the Swift Angels. We take care of our own.”
She looked up at me, her brown eyes searching mine. “I’m starting to realize that,” she said softly. “And I’m grateful, Dawson. More than you know. I’m not sure I’m actually one of your own. More like a stray you picked up on your way home.”
“Hey, I don’t even want to hear you refer to yourself that way again. And yes, you are one of us.”
As the night drew to a close, we said our goodbyes, Taylor’s sleepy form cradled in my arms as we headed out to the truck. I buckled her into the back seat, brushing a stray curl from her forehead as she mumbled incoherently.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I glanced over at Nora, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of her bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights. Before I could second-guess myself, I reached out, twining my fingers with hers.
She didn’t pull away, and I felt a flicker of hope ignite in my chest. Did she feel this connection between us too?
The drive home felt like an eternity, my mind racing. The more time I spent with Nora, the more certain I became that I wanted her to be a permanent part of my life. But I felt like I needed to resolve the issue with Rex first.
As I pulled into the apartment complex, I glanced in the rearview mirror, taking in Taylor’s sleeping form. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, and I felt a surge of protectiveness wash over me.
I parked and carried her up the stairs, her small body curled against my chest, and waited as Nora unlocked the door. She disappeared down the hallway, and I made my way to the spare bedroom, gently laying Taylor down on the bed.
I lingered for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind me.
In the living room, I settled onto the couch, scrolling through movie options on the TV. My heart raced as I heard Nora’s footsteps approaching, and I looked up to see her standing in the doorway, a soft smile on her face.
She moved closer, settling down beside me, and I felt the heat of her body seeping into mine. Cautiously, she reached out, her fingers brushing against my hand.
Without hesitation, I curled my fingers around hers, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes. She’d reached for me first! I felt like we’d just taken a huge step.
We sat there in silence, the movie forgotten as we lost ourselves in the moment. I knew there was still so much to figure out, so many obstacles to overcome, but with Nora by my side, I felt like anything was possible.
I just had to find a way to show her that what we had was real, that it was worth fighting for.
“Thank you,” Nora whispered, her voice soft and sincere. “For introducing me and Taylor to the Swift Angels. It means a lot to us. And I enjoyed talking with Avery too.”
I turned to face her, our hands still intertwined. “They’re more than just a club to me, Nora. They’re my family. We may not be brothers by blood, but it’s a brotherhood just the same.”
She tilted her head, curiosity dancing in her brown eyes. “What does it mean to be part of the club?”
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “The Swift Angels are a motorcycle club. I know you haven’t seen my Harley yet or ridden on it, but I do have one, and I ride with my brothers often. Hell, thanks to my dad, I learned to ride nearly as soon as I could walk. But the Swift Angels aren’t anything like the clubs you see on the TV shows. Every man there is a first responder of some sort. Police, fire, paramedic, dispatch. We all walk the line, whether it’s blue, red, white, or gold.”
She looked confused at my line reference and I realized I needed to clarify a bit more.
“You ever heard the phrase walking the thin blue line?” She shook her head. “It’s in reference to police. Red is for fire, white is for EMS like paramedics, and gold is for dispatch.”
Nora nodded, encouraging me to continue.
“Our club only accepts people who are first responders. Which means we all follow the law, unlike those one percent clubs on the TV shows. About the only thing we have in common is that we have each other’s backs, no matter what. They’re the family I’ve chosen.”
A wistful smile played on Nora’s lips. “I envy that. I wish I had people like that in my life.”
“You do, Nora. You have the Swift Angels. Every last one of them will look out for you and Taylor. Even if I’m not around, someone will be there to protect you.”
“You said it isn’t like the TV shows, but I noticed some of the men were wearing those… what do you call them?” She patted her shoulder and I knew what she meant.
“Cuts? Yeah, I have one too. I only wear it when I’m on my bike. Well, typically I’d wear it to the clubhouse too, but not always. My dad is part of a different club, and he pretty much lives in his cut. Even at home, he’d wear it all the damn time.”
I’d been lucky no one had seen me riding around in my cut, or with my club brothers. The few who had were the ones who already knew. The Dixie Reapers officers had done some digging into my club when it first started, and Savior had approached me. Thankfully, they’d agreed to let me tell my dad when I was ready. Except, I never seemed to be ready.
“What about the different titles?” she asked.
“We have those too. In fact, I helped found the club, along with Justin and Jordan. Once we had the idea for it, we pulled in other men we worked with or had known for a while. There are only eight of us right now, but that could change in the future.”
“So does that mean you have a title, or whatever you call it?” she asked.
“I’m the Vice President.” The irony wasn’t lost on me. My dad had also been the VP of his club once upon a time. “Justin is our club President, Jordan is our Sergeant-at-Arms, Evan is the Treasurer, and Ben is our Secretary.”
“Wow. That sounds like you have a lot of responsibility. Are we taking you away from all that? I know you went to the clubhouse earlier, but… you haven’t spent much time with them since you brought us to your home.”
I shook my head. “Since we all have jobs with various schedules, it’s not like we meet all the time. We hang out at the clubhouse when we can. If there’s something important to discuss, as many of us as are available will show up, then we fill everyone else in later. If it’s something that requires majority vote, we work around it as best we can.”
I wasn’t really sure how to explain it to someone who had never lived the life. Although, my experience growing up was vastly different from the reality of the Swift Angels. We didn’t all live in the same compound, didn’t rely on runs or club jobs to provide for us, and we didn’t break the fucking law. Well, maybe the speed limit, but who didn’t do that? I didn’t know if I was describing things in a way where she’d actually understand anything, or if she was just humoring me.
She leaned her head against my shoulder. “All of this is so new to me. I’ve never been around men like you before, Dawson. Until now, I’ve only attracted assholes. But you’re good and kind. I’m almost afraid all of this is just a dream.”
I reached for the remote, turning my attention back to the TV. “How about we pick a movie to watch?”
Nora agreed, and we scrolled through the options, finally settling on a classic romantic comedy. As the opening credits rolled, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side.
She melted into my embrace, her head resting on my chest. The scent of her shampoo, a delicate blend of lavender and vanilla, filled my senses, and I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.
As we cuddled on the couch, the movie playing in the background, I couldn’t help but hope someday Nora would decide to be mine. I wanted a lifetime of nights like this, holding her close, sharing laughter and tears, and building a future together.
But for now, I would take things slow, show her she could trust me, and be the rock she needed in the stormy sea of her life.