11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
A dley stood beside her sister, waiting for the men to finish. The coroner had finally removed the bodies, but because Detective Stanza had taken the call originally, they’d had to wait until one of the other detectives was free.
Adley wanted everyone gone, and if she was being truthful with herself, she wanted to see Justice. Adley considered herself a fierce, strong woman, but even strong women needed to lean on someone sometimes.
Even with the din of conversation in her house and the sounds of people gathering evidence, Adley heard two engines pull up out front. One she could tell was a motorcycle.
“It will be okay,” Macy said softly, squeezing Adley’s shoulder. Adley needed to do something. Sitting on the couch while they went over her house with a fine-tooth comb was grating on Adley’s last nerve.
At the first sight of Justice, she didn’t think of all the reasons she shouldn’t; she just ran into his arms. His arms wrapped around her, and his hand cupping the back of her head let her relax for the first time since it happened.
“Hey, I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay,” Justice whispered, his lips against her hair.
She breathed in deep the smell she’d come to associate with Justice—a mixture of the wind, clean male, and a hint of spice.
She didn’t say anything, just leaned against his chest with her arms wrapped around him.
She shuddered. She’d held it together for so long, but she didn’t need to watch her back or take care of Macy right then. Justice would watch for her.
“Hey, I’m Tack. Justice’s actual brother and brother in the MC, and this little guy is Justice’s son, Ian,” Tack said.
Adley stood in Justice’s arms and breathed deep, repeating to herself that she was safe. Macy was safe. They’d figure this out.
“Macy. I’m Adley’s sister and co-owner of the law firm,” Macy replied.
Justice’s hand swept up her back and back down again, soothing her.
“I spoke to Pit. He agreed that you, Macy, and your mom could stay at my house tonight, and then we can all talk tomorrow. Have you made a decision yet?” Justice asked.
Adley chuckled and leaned back to look up at Justice’s smiling face. “You mean throwing myself in your arms and snuggling against you didn’t tell you that I want to be safe behind big walls tonight?”
Justice grinned, and holy smokes, the man was a danger to her self-control. How could she go from petrified for her life to her panties being on fire, with Justice being the only one she wanted quenching the flames?
“Macy, besides getting your mom, do we need to get you anything from your house, or do you have enough stuff here to get you by?” Justice asked, his arms still holding her safe and secure.
“I have some things here and some at Mom’s. We don’t need to go to my house,” Macy said .
“Okay, let’s get what you ladies need, and someone probably needs to call your mom and tell her she’ll be staying at the clubhouse tonight,” Justice said.
“Not it,” Adley yelled at the same time Macy did. Adley really didn’t want to have to explain what all happened to her mom.
“That’s okay. Tack’s an officer. We can have him call,” Justice said, smirking.
Adley really hoped she could trust that Justice and his club were different from the one she’d grown up in because she wasn’t just trusting her safety but the safety of her sister and her mom.
Adley had relied on her instincts for years, and they were saying she could trust Justice.
She was taking the chance and would see where this led.
In no time, Adley had her necessities packed, and Justice had them back in the truck heading toward her mom’s place.
Macy had decided she wanted to experience a motorcycle ride, so she was riding with Tack.
Macy and she hadn’t gotten out of explaining to their mom what happened.
As soon as Tack hung up from talking with her, their phones had rung with their mom wanting a video call with both of them.
While she was packing, she and Macy spent time trying to calm their mom down, but Judith wasn’t having any of it.
She was allowing the Saint’s Outlaws to offer them sanctuary, but she wanted to know who had targeted her babies.
Adley had made the mistake of chuckling when her mom called them babies and had then spent ten minutes apologizing to her mom while Macy giggled in the background.
Justice pulled into her mom’s driveway. Her mom didn’t waste any time.
Before Justice could get out of the truck, her mom had come out of the house and had the door locked.
She had a suitcase and a picnic basket. Adley sat in the truck and waited for Tack and Justice to bring her mom’s stuff to the truck.
Adley figured Ian was the perfect distraction for her mom.
Justice opened the back door of the truck for her mom and helped her in.
Tack was already placing her suitcase in the back behind Justice’s seat along with her picnic basket.
Justice walked around the truck, and Adley just kept quiet, hoping all would be okay.
Justice settled in his seat, checked that everyone was buckled in, and then backed out of the driveway.
“Adley, don’t think for a minute I don’t know you’re using this darling baby as a distraction, but I’ll wait for explanations until we’re at the compound. I want to see both my girls’ faces to make sure you’re not keeping stuff from me.”
Justice chuckled, then grinned. “Judith, you’re going to get along so well with my mom and aunt.”
Adley decided now was a good time for another distraction. “Hey, Mom, what’s in the picnic basket?”
“I had already mixed up batter for muffins and wasn’t going to throw it away. I’m sure the compound has an oven I can use to finish them,” Judith said.
“What kind of muffins?” Justice asked.
“I make a basic batter and then divide it so everyone can have their favorite. Adley loves chocolate, so the muffins for her have chocolate chips in them. Macy loves cinnamon, so hers have cinnamon chips. I’ve also made them with blueberries or with strawberries. Do you like any of those, Justice? ”
“Is it rude if I say all of them?” Justice asked.
“No, but now that I think about it, how many people will be at the compound? I might need to stir up a couple more batches if you have the ingredients,” Judith said.
“If we don’t, we can make one of the prospects go shopping,” Justice said.
“Oh, I think I’m going to like this being at the compound,” Judith said.
Adley was relieved to hear that because she was worried about how long they’d need to stay. Since everything had happened, she’d tried to think of who could be doing this, but nothing came to mind.
Adley tuned out Justice and her mom talking as she tried to think through everyone in the last six months who had been in any type of conflict.
She couldn’t really think of any and definitely not enough to send armed men into her house.
She wished the one they hadn’t killed would have been incapacitated enough that they could have asked him questions.
She’d held it together as well as she could until Justice showed up.
Even then, she didn’t completely break down.
She was saving that for when she was alone in the shower.
She’d never shot a real person, and it wasn’t just the shooting; she’d killed someone.
She had zero doubts that if she hadn’t shot him, he would have done something worse to her and Macy.
But it didn’t mean she didn’t have regrets about having to kill someone.
“Adley, we’re here,” Justice said, laying his hand on her arm.
She looked over at the man she’d fought to keep at arm’s length.
When she’d needed someone, he hadn’t hesitated to come and offer them sanctuary.
She was scared to death of motorcycle clubs, but her heart and her head were saying she could trust Justice.
She nodded and got out of the truck, grabbing her bag while Justice unhooked Ian’s car seat.
Her mom got out and walked around to grab the picnic basket, but Macy took it first and followed Tack up the stairs and into Justice’s house.
Her mom went in front of Justice. Even though Justice was holding the carrier with one arm, he placed his other hand at the small of her back as they walked up the stairs.
She’d read about it in books, but no man had ever cared enough to place his hand there.
She walked into Justice’s house and was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t like she’d expect a house on a compound to be.
Wood floors with a honey gold stain were throughout the main area.
A large TV was mounted above the mantle of the fireplace.
In front of the fireplace was a large couch and two recliners.
There was also a baby swing, bouncy seat, and a small bassinet beside one of the recliners.
The front room was open to the kitchen, and Justice had a gorgeous one.
Her mom was going to be thrilled with the appliances, along with all the counter space and kitchen island.
Adley hoped Justice enjoyed home-baked goods because her mom baked when she was worried. By tomorrow afternoon, the counters would be overflowing with cookies, muffins, breads, and cakes. Adley wondered if they had either a treadmill or a workout area. She couldn’t resist the sweets her mom made.
“Let me show you to your rooms,” Justice said, guiding them to a hallway off the kitchen.
He pointed out his room and then showed them three other bedrooms they could choose from.
Adley ended up in the one closest to Justice’s room.
When Adley was going to escape into her room and take a shower, her mom informed Justice that her daughters would be updating her.
Then, if he didn’t care, she’d have a list for the prospect and then bake to relieve some of her stress before bed.
Justice just nodded, which cracked Adley up because her mom might be the shortest in her family, but no one said no to Judith Pearson. She was a commanding presence in a small body.