Chapter Eighteen
Riley
The past week has been a strange kind of bliss. Spike loves me. He loves me. And I love him. Saying the words out loud was like taking a deep breath after drowning for so long. Every time he looks at me, every time he touches me, I feel it. This isn’t just desire. It’s something bigger, something neither of us is willing to lose.
He still works long hours, handling club business, but when he comes home, he holds me like he never wants to let go. And at night, when Asher is asleep, he whispers promises against my skin, words that sink deep into my soul.
I’ve never had someone like him. Never had this kind of love.
This morning, I woke up alone in our bed, but his scent lingered on the sheets, wrapping around me like an unspoken vow. I got up, fed Asher, and now we’re outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun while I walk the perimeter of the compound.
The Iron Shadow’s compound is my safe place, surrounded by a tall, solid wall, and the front gate is iron bars that keep out the world. But lately, my mind has been too focused on everything that’s been happening, the chaos swirling in the distance, the feeling that something’s coming.
Asher is content in my arms, his tiny fingers curled around my finger as we walk slowly along the grounds. The air is warm, the sound of the birds singing soothing, but the tightness in my chest doesn’t loosen.
I stop near the gate, taking in the sights of the compound. The security guards are stationed at their posts, eyes scanning the area. This place is like a fortress. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s a scary no-go zone. But, from in here? It’s warmth. Safety. Protection.
But then my gaze shifts to the car parked outside the gate. My heart lurches when I recognize the vehicle.
Chuck’s black SUV.
My pulse jumps.
For a moment, it feels like the world freezes. The man who’s been hunting me, hunting us, has shown his face. I can see the outline of his figure behind the tinted windows, watching me. The feeling of being trapped settles in my chest, but I try not to show it. I keep Asher pressed to my chest, my eyes locked on the gate.
I don’t move. I don’t want to make a scene, don’t want to draw attention. But I can feel the weight of his eyes through the glass.
For a split second, he’s just there, unmoving, watching me like I’m prey. The air feels thick, heavy, and my heartbeat is all I can hear in my ears.
As I stand there, the car still idling outside the gate, the realization hits me like a punch to the stomach. Chuck found us.
The tension that crawls up my spine feels suffocating, but I don’t dare turn away. Not yet. Not when I’m afraid of what might happen next.
I feel Spike behind me before I even hear his voice. The heat radiating from him is undeniable, like a storm gathering in the distance, and I know he’s already assessed the situation.
“Riley…”
His voice is low and dangerous, but I can’t bring myself to speak. I don’t want to admit how close I am to losing control.
I finally look at him, my breath shaky. “It’s Chuck. He’s here.”
Spike’s jaw tightens as his eyes narrow. He’s already seen the car, already knows what’s coming. His hand grips my shoulder, spinning me to face him.
“Stay close to me, baby,” he says, his voice like gravel, rough with the need to protect. His eyes flash with fury as his gaze shifts to the gate, where Chuck’s SUV sits, too still, too quiet.
“I don’t care who he is. He’s not getting near you. Not now, not ever,” Spike growls as he reaches for his ever-present gun.
But before I can react, the sound of a door slamming shut rings out from the other side of the gate. My heart skips in my chest. Chuck is out of the car.
Spike moves to step forward, but I place my hands on his chest. “Spike, wait.”
He looks down at me, his expression hard, but I can see the conflict in his eyes.
“I don’t care what he says, Riley. This ends today.”
But I shake my head, my voice barely a whisper. “He’s still a cop. He can have you arrested, Spike. Don’t do anything that will give him that advantage.”
Spike’s eyes flash with barely contained rage, but I can feel the tension in his body ease just slightly. He doesn’t want to back down. I don’t want him to. But I can’t let him put himself in a position where Chuck can use the law against him.
Reluctantly, he tucks his gun away.
We stand there for a moment, silent, before I hear Chuck’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Well, well, well, look who finally found a new plaything. Riley, you slut. You couldn’t even wait until I was out of the picture, could you?”
The venom in his words makes my blood run cold, but I won’t let him see the effect it has on me. I won’t. I keep my back to him, my front plastered against Spike, Asher tucked safely between us.
“Guess the baby wasn’t enough for you, huh? Just had to go and fuck some other guy, didn’t you? I knew you were nothing but a whore.”
Chuck sneers, his voice loud and dripping with disdain.
Spike’s entire body goes rigid, his hand tightening into a fist. The sound of his breath going steady, trying to keep his temper in check, fills my ears.
But I can feel the change in the air. Like the tension before a storm. His presence is suddenly heavier, a force that vibrates in the very air around us.
I feel his hand, warm and steady on my waist, his fingertips pressing against the small of my back, the gentle reassurance that he’s still in control. He doesn’t need to raise his voice or throw a punch. He’s the kind of man who makes you feel his anger without a single word. But then, in the silence that stretches, his voice comes, low, controlled, like the growl of a predator preparing to strike.
“You’re pathetic, Chuck,” Spike says, his voice like gravel scraping against metal. “You don’t get to talk to her like that. Not anymore. And you sure as hell don’t get to talk about her like that in front of me.”
Spike gently moves one step forward, causing me to take a step backward, his boots heavy against the ground. The sound cuts through the quiet between us like a warning. Every muscle in his body is tight, and his energy radiates like a wildfire ready to spread.
I hear Chuck take a step, but he still tries to hold onto that bravado when he says, “Do you think it’s a good idea to threaten me, Spike?”
Spike doesn’t even blink. “I don’t need to threaten you. The second you stepped onto this property, you already fucked up. One wrong move from you, Commissioner, and my man on that side of the gate will drop you before your next breath.”
“You took my family away from me,” Chuck says, his voice almost whiney. “I’m here to take them home.”
Spike’s voice is deadly quiet but filled with power. “Not happening. You can keep running your mouth, Chuck, but remember, I’m not the one who’ll regret it. You’re already digging your own grave.”
The weight of his words hangs in the air, and even though Chuck is still standing there, I can practically feel the change in him. The uncertainty.
Spike’s hand moves from my waist, sliding down to grip the hem of my shirt, pulling me closer against him. “This is your last warning,” he says, his voice so steady and calm that it’s downright terrifying. “Don’t come near my fucking compound again. Cop or not, I’ll tear your black heart out with my bare hands.”
“Listen here, you can’t threaten me,” Chuck says nasally. “I can have you arrested right on the spot.”
“It wasn’t a threat, Charles. It was a fucking promise.”
Whatever Chuck was about to say, Spike silences it with a look. Sharp, piercing, and full of promise. Chuck hesitates, and in that moment, I know he knows Spike means every word.
Finally, without another word, Chuck slams the door of his car, the engine roaring to life as he speeds away, leaving us standing there, undisturbed but for the silence that follows.
Spike watches the SUV disappear into the distance. He stands tall, unmovable, like the storm that’s passed, leaving only calm in its wake. But I can feel the intensity, the fury still humming beneath his skin.
He looks down at me, his eyes softening, the fire in them dimming as he takes in the sight of me. His gaze lingers on Asher, tucked safely in my arms, before landing back on me.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice a little softer now but still filled with that same protective edge.
I nod, but there’s a tightness in my chest I can’t shake. “I think so. But... what if he comes back?”
“He won’t,” Spike growls. “And even if he does, he can’t enter those gates without probable cause or a warrant. Which he has no reason for either. I own every bit of land my clubs live on. He has no legal rights to enter otherwise.”
I swallow hard, still feeling the weight of what just happened, but in Spike’s arms, I know that we’re safe.
“You’re mine, Riley,” Spike says quietly. “Both of you. And nobody touches what’s mine. Not ever.”
There’s something in the way he says it, a finality in his tone that makes my heart skip a beat. I lean back to face him, feeling the weight of his words settle into my bones.
“I know,” I whisper, my voice catching as I look up at him.
“From now on, no walking the grounds alone,” he says, guiding me to the main building. “Anytime you want to take a walk, just let me know. If I’m not available, I’ll make sure someone is. That goes for Abby, as well.”
“What goes for Abby?” the woman in question asks as we enter the building.
“No more walking around without an escort,” Spike answers.
“Oh, no worries there, Bubby,” she says softly. “I don’t even walk from my house to the main building unless there are several people outside.”
“Let me rephrase,” he says, stopping and staring down at both of us. “No more walking around without one of my officers by your sides. Now, Skip has decided he wants to cook for the club tonight, so I’m ordering something. How does fried chicken sound?”
Skip chooses that moment to walk in the room and his shocked face has both me and Abby laughing.
“Fucker,” he says, trying to hide his grin. “I’ll have you know that my chicken is a hell of a lot better than wherever you’re ordering from. Abby and Riley are gonna love it.”
“You’re not poisoning my girls with your undercooked chicken, Skip,” he says, pulling out his phone. “Meet me in the war room in ten. Chuck was just here.”
“Are you alright?” Skip asks me, his eyes both worried and angry.
“Just shaken up a bit,” I admit. “I pretty much had my back to him the whole time.”
“Fuck chicken,” he says, opening his arms. “You need a hug.”
Before I have a chance to kindly ask him not to hug me, Spike grabs his cut and drags him away.
“War room,” he says. “And I’m pretty sure I’ve told you a dozen times already not to touch my fucking woman.”
“Awe, Prez,” Skip whines, “One of these days, you’re gonna have no choice but to let me get some of those cuddles.”
“Over my dead body.”
“That could work.”
“I’ll haunt your ass if you so much as try.”
Shaking my head at their antics, I follow Abby.
“These men are insane,” she laughs as she pulls out the chicken Skip was preparing to cook. “Want to help me cook for thirty people?”
Nodding my agreement, I rush to the office to grab the rocker that Spike bought for Asher and set him up in a safe spot where I can still see him.
“Potatoes or chicken?” she asks when I return.
“I’ll peel,” I say, grabbing a bag of potatoes.
“You sure you’re okay?” she asks as I take a seat and start peeling.
I nod, even though my hands tremble slightly as I reach for another potato. “I will be.”
Abby sighs, setting down the knife she’s using to prep the chicken. “Riley, you don’t have to pretend with me. Chuck showing up like that…” She shakes her head. “That was messed up.”
I take a slow breath, letting her words settle. She’s right. Pretending I’m fine won’t change the fact that my heart is still racing, that the image of Chuck’s SUV idling outside the gate is burned into my brain.
“That man used to control my entire life,” I murmur. “Every second, every decision. He made me believe I was worthless, that I couldn’t escape him.” I force myself to meet her gaze. “But I did. And I’m never going back.”
Abby nods, her expression unreadable for a second before something fierce sparks in her eyes. “Darn right, you’re not.”
I smile at that, the warmth of her support sinking into the cracks Chuck tried to leave in me.
“I was watching from the monitor in the war room,” she admits. “My brother looked like he was ready to kill him on the spot,” Abby continues, a small smirk tugging at her lips. “Honestly, I was kind of surprised he didn’t.”
I shake my head. “I stopped him.”
Abby blinks. “You… stopped him?”
I nod, setting down the peeler. “Chuck’s a cop, Abby. If Spike had done something, it could’ve given Chuck exactly what he wanted. An excuse to drag him in, to put him in a cage.” My fingers curl into a fist, the thought alone making my stomach twist. “I couldn’t let that happen.”
She watches me carefully before letting out a slow breath. “You’re good for him, you know that?”
I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “Spike doesn’t need someone to hold him back.”
“No,” she agrees, “but he does need someone who sees beyond his anger. Someone who reminds him that not every fight needs to end in blood.”
I swallow hard, her words sinking deep. Maybe she’s right. Maybe that’s exactly what Spike needs. Someone who doesn’t just stand beside him in the fire but knows when to pull him back before he burns everything down.
“Maybe,” I say. “But I have a feeling that Chuck’s ending will definitely be covered in blood. I just hope it’s Chuck’s and not Spike’s.”
The sound of heavy boots stomping down the hall has us both looking toward the kitchen entrance just as Maverick and Crusher walk in.
“Something smells good,” Crusher says, patting his stomach.
“There isn’t a single thing cooking,” I laugh softly. “What you’re smelling is peeled potatoes and raw meat.”
“I stand by my words,” he winks.
“Flirt with her again, and I’ll break your face,” Spike says, shoving Crusher aside.
“This is your fault, woman,” Skip says as he, too, walks into the kitchen. “He used to be nice before he met you.”
“Oh, please,” Maverick grunts.
“Okay, nice is pushing it,” Skip says, pulling Asher from his bouncer. “But he used to be tolerable. Now, he’s an ass.”
“That’s President Ass to you,” he says, taking Asher from his arms and cuddling him against his chest.
“What? Now I can’t hold my own nephew? I’ll have you know that I’m his favorite uncle.”
“You wish,” Tank says, grabbing a raw potato and eating it. “Ash and I already made plans to build his motorcycle. I’m clearly his favorite.”
“He’s an infant,” I remind Tank with a smile. “And I don’t think it’s gut-healthy to be eating raw potatoes. I haven’t even rinsed those off yet.”
“We’re planning on taking our time,” he smiles, taking another huge bite. “And I’m a big guy, Riley. Me nor my gut are worried about a raw potato.”
I raise an eyebrow, looking at Spike, then at the group of men crowding into the kitchen instead of being in the war room. “Shouldn’t you all be in your super-secret meeting?” I ask, hands on my hips.
Spike smirks, completely unbothered. “Tried. Didn’t last five minutes without you.”
I roll my eyes, but before I can respond, he steps closer, crowding me against the counter. The kitchen goes completely silent except for a few amused snickers.
“Gotta say, baby,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine, “being away from you? Not my thing.”
Before I can react, he cups my face with his one free hand, the other still holding my son, and kisses me, slow, deep, and absolutely shameless.
The room erupts.
“Oh, come on!” Skip groans. “We get it. You two are disgustingly in love.”
“Hey, some of us are trying to eat here,” Tank complains around a mouthful of raw potato.
“Damn, Prez, at least give us a warning next time,” Crusher mutters, covering his eyes like he’s witnessing something scandalous.
Spike pulls away just enough to smirk against my lips, completely unfazed. “Don’t like it? Get the fuck out.”
Bones, the terrifying, emotionless enforcer, steps forward without a word and plucks Asher right out of Spike’s arms. I tense for a second, but the sight of the massive, scarred man cradling my baby so carefully softens something in me.
“You let him take the kid, but I get threatened with a bullet every time I try?” Skip exclaims, throwing his hands up. “Where is the justice in this club?!”
Spike shrugs. “Bones doesn’t run his mouth like you do.”
“You wound me, Prez. You really do,” Skip sighs dramatically.
Bones ignores the whole exchange, looking down at Asher with something bordering on tenderness. “Kid’s getting heavier,” he mutters.
“That’s because he eats like Tank,” I tease, looking pointedly at Tank and his raw potato.
Tank lifts the half-eaten spud in salute. “I’m a big guy. Need the fuel.”
“Every single one of you are big guys,” I remind him. “I’m not even sure we have enough chicken to feed you all.”
Spike tightens his arm around my waist, completely content as he watches the chaos unfold.
I shake my head, laughing as Skip dramatically flops onto a chair, arms crossed like a petulant child. He, too, a giant man, makes the act even more hilarious. “You know, Prez, I could be your favorite if you just gave me a chance.”
Spike deadpans. “I’d rather give Chuck a hug.”
The room explodes with laughter, and as I lean into Spike, I watch as Skip bends his head to hide his grin.
“Is there a rule that all Iron Shadows have to be large?” I ask. “Why is it that every single one of you looks as if you spend your every waking moment in a gym?”
“You checking out my brothers, baby?” Spike growls. “Because if you are, I have to feed a bullet to every last one of them.”
“She’s not wrong,” Abby blushes. “You’re all like mountains. I think it’s why I feel so safe here.”
I glance over at Abby and smile in understanding.
“Yeah,” I agree. “They’re like our shields.”
Skip straightens up at my words, puffing out his chest. “Damn right, I’m a shield. Best one you got.”
“You?” Maverick snorts. “More like a decorative fence.”
The whole room bursts into laughter as Skip glares at him. “A decorative fence ?” he repeats, scandalized. “I’ll have you know, I am a fortress . Impenetrable. Unbreakable. A damn tank.”
“I don’t know, man,” Crusher chimes in, smirking. “You screamed pretty loud last week when that raccoon got into the clubhouse.”
Skip scowls. “That wasn’t a scream. That was a battle cry.”
“Oh, sure,” Tank says, taking another bite of his raw potato. “Real warrior-like.”
Abby giggles beside me, and I shake my head. “Well, fortress or not, I’m not sure we have enough chicken for everyone.”
Maverick stretches, cracking his knuckles. “Well, I guess we could always send Skip to get more food.”
“Why me?” Skip protests.
“Because of your warrior status, of course , ” Maverick shoots back, grinning.
“I hate this club,” Skip mutters, but he’s laughing too. “Don’t forget that I’m in charge of all of your money.”
Bones, still holding Asher, smirks just the tiniest bit.
The room is filled with laughter, teasing, and a warmth that feels like home. Yeah… these men may be mountains, but they’re our mountains. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Spike looks down at me, and despite the laughter on his face, I can still see the worry in his eyes. He must have seen or heard my conversation with Abby, and that’s why he ended the meeting before it even started. I know deep down in my heart that this group came in here to cheer me up.
Asher decides now is a great time to make room in his tummy for lunch number three. The sound coming from his little bottom even makes me cringe. Bones lifts Asher and kisses his head before walking over to Skip.
“Little tyke wants his favorite uncle,” he says, placing Asher in Skip’s arms and walking away.
Much to Skip’s disgust, Asher takes a deep breath and finishes his business.
Skip stares down at Asher, his face twisted in betrayal. “Unbelievable. First, I get demoted to decorative fence, and now I’m just a human diaper station?”
Tank slaps him on the back, grinning. “Tough break, favorite uncle.”
Laughter erupts again, and when Spike presses a kiss to my forehead, I know, worry or not, he’ll always find a way to make sure I’m okay.