Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
LILITH
My body sags against Jack, his warmth soaking into my chilled body.
Even with the scratches on my back, I keep myself wrapped in his arms, pushing down the pain, until Opal says that his wife, Jodie, who is a retired Army doctor, is on her way.
Jack pulls back, looking down at me with a frown on his handsome face.
“Why is Jodie coming? Are you hurt, baby?”
I nod, looking at my shoes as I speak, needing to make sure that they know that the men protecting me are not to blame. They did their jobs, albeit Christopher got to me, but that was partly my fault.
“I want to say this first. Logan is not to blame; neither of the prospects are.” Growls fill the room, and I look over her head, seeing Sarge glaring down at both men in question.
“We will see, baby.”
“No, Jack. They protected me. All day they were where I could see them, and them me. It was my fault that I went out the back on my own. We were cleaning and it never crossed my mind to let Logan know that I was taking the trash out.” I plead my case for them, and for me.
“Prospects, is what she saying true?” Sarge growls deeply, and the sound makes my body shiver.
“Yes, sir,” they both answer at the same time.
“I should have made it clear that she was not to leave without telling me,” Logan says, looking directly at the glaring man in front of him. The man who can take away his chance of being a Rugged Skull at the snap of his fingers.
He is not shying away from the club members’ glares; they have to respect him for that. Surely.
Jack’s arms tighten around my waist, holding me to him.
“Jack?” Magnum looks to his son.
The man holding me sighs, dropping his gaze to meet mine, then looking back to his father.
“Give them R.O.E, trash duty, and clean up for a month.”
“You heard the man,” Magnum calls to them and they both nod. “The Ol’ Ladies of this club are what keeps the club running. No fucker touches them. Anyone does and they pay in pain. We may not be a one-percenter club, but we will not tolerate ours being hurt.” There is a bite to his tone and again both prospects nod, before stepping to Jack and me.
“Jack, I am sorry that I fucked up. It won’t happen again.” The nameless prospect speaks firmly and leaves no room for argument about his responsibilities.
“Same with me. We won’t fuck up again; we both want to be here in the club and will do whatever it takes to become a brother one day.”
Jack nods to them when Logan finishes talking.
“Go find something to do.”
They leave, and everyone slowly slips away from me and Jack. My heart starts to pick up speed as I look up at Jack, my hand on his stomach.
“Can we talk?” My voice is meek, and I hate it.
I need to find the strength to tell him what my plans are, for his and Dominic’s safety.
With a nod and a frown on his face, he takes my hand, leading me away from everyone. We go out through the door that leads to the back of the property where there are firepits and some seating. Jack sits on a wooden Adirondack chair, pulling me into his lap before I can speak.
I say nothing at first, my fingers toying with the hem of my pleated mustard-colored skirt. My heart is speeding up in my chest, as Jack’s hand tightens around my thigh, pulling my attention to his face.
“Why do I get the vibe that I am not going to like what you have to say?”
My nose burns, and my vision blurs as I bite my lip before speaking.
“I know we talked about his before, but, Jack, please listen to me. Leaving is the best option for everyone. He came after your house, Jack. What if Dominic was home? He could have been hurt because of me.” Tears flow down my cheeks now, my heart hurting at the idea of Dominic getting hurt.
“But he wasn’t hurt, and it is not your fucking fault.” His tone has a bite to it, but I know it is not directed at me. “Your ex is a fucking adult and knows the difference between right and wrong. Fuck me, baby, he took an oath when he became a cop to uphold his protection of people. He made the choice to come after you, and to hurt everyone he has hurt.”
His fingers move to my face, his thumb pulling my lip free from the confines of my teeth.
“You are never leaving me, so no more talking about that. You are mine, Lilith, my fucking ride or die, baby.”
He presses his lips to mine and I get lost in the act. My hands go to his shoulders, before slipping around his neck, my fingers digging into his scalp like I know he enjoys. His dick hardens under my butt, so I wiggle down to tease him more, forcing a growl out of him, but before we can go further, his name gets called.
“Jack, I think you two had better come inside. Cal just called Maverick,” Rookie says, his haze bouncing between the two of us, his face passive, so I know that it is bad, whatever Cal called about.
“What did he say?” Jack inquires as I climb off him.
He takes my hand in his, and I would feel giddy, but the seriousness of the situation is putting a dampener on that.
“The ex-showed up at the station, with a warrant to come here and search for Lilith, claiming that the club, namely you, kidnapped her and coerced her to be with you.”
“That fucker,” Jack growls next to me as my body fills with fear.
We fall into step behind Rookie, and when we step inside, everyone is there, all looking at us, and I feel like I am under a microscope. I hate being the center of attention, so this is making my anxiety sky high. I nibble my lip, my heart is trying to escape my chest, and my body is both hot and cold, in a war with itself.
“We go out as a club, that fucker does not step a foot inside of the club. Lilith, I need you to be strong, my girl. And tell that fucking cunt that you are not his, that you belong to Jack and the club,” Magnum states, coming to stand in front of us.
“No one stands alone, Lilith Cullen. You are now a Rugged Skull,” Royal calls out, coming to stand next to his twin.
Looking around I see that everyone is here. As in every member of the club—men, women, and children. My heart soars and falls in love with everyone in the room at this very moment.
Risky steps forward, cupping my cheeks, smiling at me, and I see the fierceness in her eyes.
“We have your back, sweet girl. You are strong, and it is time that you started to believe that. It took strength to leave that asshole and start fresh in a new place, and even open up a store. You did that, Lilith, not him or anyone in your family. Stand proud of what you have accomplished.” She kisses my cheek, before stepping back.
“They are here,” Logan’s voice comes into the room.
“Come on, let’s set this prick straight,” Royal states.
With his hand in mine, we all walk outside, and we look like a force to be reckoned with.
The men flank both Jack and me, but the women and children stay inside, all except Risky and Kady, who lean against the wall, watching us like a pair of hawks.
My gaze lands on Christopher, looking cocky as he walks toward us with Cal at his side, and some of his deputies just behind him. He is dressed in a suit, trying to look intimidating, but it won’t work if I know the club members, which I do.
“Sheriff, how can we help you today?” Magnum’s voice is firm and holds no malice toward his club member.
Cal sighs, eyeing Christopher like he is a bug on his shoe, and I fight to hide my smile. Being with these people gives me power and strength like Risky said. I am stronger than what my ex believes me to be. Feeding off the power that Jack and the club offer me, I straighten my spine, pushing my shoulders back, looking Christopher right in the eyes, but Jack has other ideas.
“Do not fucking look at her, fucker,” he snarls.
Christopher chuckles with a slimy grin on his face, stepping forward and closer to Cal, who looks like he wants to pull his gun out and shoot him in the knees.
I am all for that, just saying.
“I have a warrant here to take Lilith Cullen with me. We believe that she is being held here under duress.”
“There is no ‘we’ in this situation. I am only here because this fucking warrant was signed by a fucking judge. Clearly you lied through your teeth and my hand was forced,” Cal hissed.
My ex scoffs and holds out a piece of paper for Magnum to take, which he does before handing it off to Opal, who starts to read.
“Lilith, come here, baby. I will take you home and you will be safe from these criminals.” His voice is so condescending, and it makes my stomach roll.
“She is not going anywhere with you, cunt,” Jack spits.
My pussy flutters, seeing the anger on his face and hearing the distain in his tone. Knowing that he is so protective of me sets my body alight from the inside out. I know that I should not be getting turned on seeing Jack like this, in such a serious situation, but I can’t help how this man at my side makes me feel.
“See, Sheriff, he is holding her against her will. You are my witness. It is your job to uphold the law, so fucking do it.” Christopher gets angrier with every word when Cal doesn’t move.
“Like you swore to uphold the law?” Cal questions him.
“I do not like what you are implying, Sheriff. Remove Lilith from this man, and let’s move out. Lord knows what they have been doing to her. She is not safe here.”
Cal scoffs, but Jack is vibrating with anger next to me. I move my hand to his stomach, dragging his attention from the asshole, to me.
“Ignore him. I am here with you, and I want to be.” I look to Christopher because this needs to be said to him and not any of the other police officers, as they know already. “I am safe here. I am wanted here, but most of all, I am loved here. No one is holding me against my will and you very well know it. This is typical of you, and Lord knows what I ever saw in you.”
Thankfully, my voice stays firm, even though I am shaking on the inside.
“That is enough for us, Sheriff. I don’t think that Miss Cullen is in any danger or being held against her will. She is of clear mind and soul,” one of the officers calls out, winking at me.
I smile at him, then quickly look to the floor.
“I agree, Draper,” Cal grunts, then looks to my slimy ex. “If I find out that you used your badge to attain something for your own gain, I will fucking end you, officer or not. You do not come into my state and try to take a woman who is clearly not happy to see you.”
Oh, an angry Cal is a hot Cal, but we won’t say anything to Jack.
“Your job is to get her away from the fucked-up scumbag criminals, so do your fucking job, Sheriff, or I will come for it. And believe me, I will fucking ruin you,” Christopher snarls, stepping nose to nose with Cal.
His deputies move in, so do Magnum and Sarge.
Maverick steps forward, a smirk firmly in place, as he stands in front of both men.
“I believe that you just threatened an officer of the law, fucker,” he says. “Everyone is a witness, including the sheriff’s deputies, and his family.”
Christopher frowns, while he computes the information that Maverick just shared with him.
“Family?” my ex asks, stepping back.
He is showing no fear, but I can see him trying to work out what the hell he is being told.
“Clearly you did not look into the club enough, or you would have known that Sheriff Warren belongs to the Rugged Skulls MC, or more accurately, he belongs to me.” Maverick inches forward in warning.
Christopher looks between the two handsome men, then to me, and back to Cal.
“You a faggot, Sheriff?” He laughs, but it is soon wiped off his face when Maverick lands a punch square in his jaw.
He falls back onto the ground, looking shocked, but in a split second the anger takes over and he jumps to his feet.
I am moved behind Jack, as my ex moves forward.
Oh hell, it is all going to kick off. This is why I did not want the club involved. My stomach tightens as I cling to the back of Jack’s cut, waiting for what happens next.