Chapter Fifteen
T ori let his words sink in, hating the fear and anger that warred within her. “So, if they didn’t hit my place, do you think that means the shooter wasn’t aiming for me?”
“I wish it were that cut and dried, baby. We could only hope they were stupid enough to get caught on camera. If they did, we might have a better idea of who was responsible.” Jeter ran his hands up and down her back, as if trying to soothe her.
She straightened her spine, needing him to see her as a strong, independent woman. At twenty-two, many thought she was too young to handle a lot of shit. They didn’t know she’d been through hell and back. Shit, she sure as hell could handle more than most people twice her age. Of course, nobody prepares to be gunned down in a dark alley. You read about that in the papers or saw it on the news.
“Yeah, I have cameras. I didn’t think to check them. Usually I have them on to alert me if someone comes to my door. There are also sensors on every window. If anyone tampers with them, I get a notification, as do the police. I didn’t get anything last night. Shit. My app notifications are turned off while I work. Dammit, I didn’t think to check it.” She wiggled for him to move so she could get her phone from her bag.
“Sit still. I’ll grab your purse for you. I like you right where you are.” He tapped her thighs with his fingertips and skimmed them all the way up to the apex of her body.
Tori sucked in a breath. Her mind reeling as he cupped her through the thin material of her sleep pants. Dear lord in heaven, Jeter could make her forget her own name with a simple touch.
“Jeter, what are you doing to me?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, it’s not me doing it to you, but you doing it to me, baby. I’ve never found a woman I’d give my life for until you. The thought of you struggling while I turn my back isn’t possible. Let’s look at your security footage. Then, we’ll discuss our next steps. Just know that whatever we decide, it will be us together.”
Jeter eased backward, letting his words sink in while he went to get her purse.
She eyed him as he moved to get her bag. The man was large and in charge, like she’d accused him. He came back with her purse, handing it to her.
Her heart sped up as she opened the app. There were dozens of notifications. “Oh, shit.” She tapped on the screen, opening a video her security camera captured. She swiped down the list of images until she reached one with a time stamp later than the shooting.
“Look.” She moved her hand so that she and Jeter could see the screen together. A dark figure moved near her back patio. He glanced up at her camera. Reflective glasses covered his eyes while he wore a mask over the lower half of his face. A man in a black hoodie and sweats blended into the night but appeared like a typical pedestrian if someone approached him.
“Who the fuck wears glasses at one in the morning?” Jeter asked in a low growl next to her.
His words and tone sent a shiver down her spine. Her body reacted to this man no matter what the fucked up situation might be. Hell, they just confirmed the shooter had aimed for her. A sob escaped her.
“Vita Mia, don’t cry. You’re safe with me.” He took her phone from her fingers, placed it on the counter next to them, and pulled her into his arms.
Her body shivered at how warm it felt to be held by him, combined with his words, the promise in his tone, and the truth he spoke. Damn him. He made her want to believe and trust in another person.
Tori took a deep breath, burying her nose in his neck. “Why me?”
She wasn’t sure if she was asking why he chose her or why the shooter had targeted her. Hell, she wanted the answer to both.
“For me, it’s simple. You’re special. Colpo di fulmine—the thunderbolt, as Italians call it. When love strikes someone like lightning, so powerful and intense it can’t be denied. It’s beautiful and messy, cracking a chest open and spilling their soul out for the world to see. It turns a person inside out, and there’s no returning from it. Once the thunderbolt hits, your life is irrevocably changed. That’s what you’ve done to me, Vita Mia. You’re the thunderbolt that has struck me.” He placed her hand over his heart.
The steady thump, thump reassured her he lived. “You could’ve been killed because some crazy person was after me.”
“That was their biggest mistake, baby.” His hand covered hers; the other went over her chest. She placed her hand over his. It was as if their hearts were synced together. Thumping in tune to each other. She was losing her damn mind.
“Does that mean I can’t go home?” She glanced over at the phone lying next to her.
His gaze followed hers. He sighed but said nothing for a long moment. “Let me talk with a few people and make some plans. You live in an apartment building, which means we might be able to finagle our way in without being noticed.”
She didn’t want to put their lives at stake for stupid replaceable shit.
“Baby, I won’t allow anything to happen to you or anyone I care about. If it’s too dangerous, we won’t go there. Can you put your trust in me? I know it’s a lot to ask when you haven’t known me all that long.”
His arms contracted around her, and she could feel the rumble of his voice in his chest against hers.
“I do trust you. It’s just hard to think about leaving everything and starting over with nothing.” She’d done it before, and it sucked. “The thought of where I’d go hurts my brain. My god—I still have classes to finish for my degree. Granted, they’re online, but still. My computer is at my apartment with all my papers and stuff.”
She dropped her head on his chest, feeling like an idiot for thinking about trivial things like school.
“Hey, we’ll figure it out.” He pushed her away slightly, giving her a little shake. “Do you hear me?” he asked.
“No, if it’s too risky, we’ll leave it all, and I’ll figure something else out.”
He pursed his lips, appearing to think before he nodded. “Agreed. Your life is more important.”
She glared at him. “So is yours, big guy.”
THE LAST THING HE WANTED was to argue with Tori. And the thought of moving back to Chicago, even though his entire family lived there, made him want to hurl. He loved his brother and the entire Calderone famiglia. However, he’d grown up the spare, the son born with no purpose except to live in the event Kendrick didn’t. That wasn’t a life he’d wanted. Thank fuck his brother was a tough sonofabitch. Jeter would’ve been a shitty Don.
He'd found her purse lying next to the suitcase he’d bought her the night before. The knowledge that he’d provided for Tori had made his chest swell with pride. Damn, he was a neanderthal in the making. Next, he’d be whacking her over the head and dragging her back to California with him.
His woman sat, kicking her legs, looking too fucking cute and sexy for his peace of mind. And then they’d seen what he’d suspected. She’d been the target, not him. He needed to call King and Duke, the Prez and VP of his Royal MC chapter, to let them know what the fuck was going on.
“We’ll see. Come on. I need to call my Prez.” He pulled her off the counter. Her squeak of surprise filled the quiet room.
Loving the surprised sound, he lifted her over his shoulder, patting her ass. “Grab your phone, Vita Mia.”
She gave that sexy little squeal again and did as he asked. With her phone in her hand, he took them both back toward the bed. Bending, he let her drop on her back. He let out a breath and stared down at the vision she made. Her hair was in some sort of messy do on top of her head. Her arms were out at her sides, and she looked up at him with her dark eyes shining.
He placed one knee on the bed between both of hers. Holding himself above her with his arms bracketing her shoulders, Jeter licked his lips. “You look too innocent for me like this. Do you know that?”
“Hmm, maybe you should teach me all the things you like. You know, so that I’m not so innocent anymore.” She lifted her head off the bed and bit his lower lip.
The move shocked him and made his dick instantly hard. Shit, big bad bikers didn’t get shocked and turned on by one tiny slip of a woman. What the fuck was wrong with him?
He wondered if he would be knitting pink scarves and offering to get mani and pedis with her. His inner caveman began creating a box and shoving the bullshit inside, shuddering at all things pink. Ain’t no way in hell he would be doing that bullshit unless his dick got sucked at the same time. The added caveat did little to make him feel better. However, staring at Tori made him hyper-aware that she was his exception to the rule.
“You’re perfect just the way you are,” he murmured.
She nodded. Her hands balled into fists. “So are you. Of course, I would like to know more about you and your life. You said you had to call your Prez. What’s that about?”
Like a bucket of ice water, her words reminded him of his obligations. He pulled back and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Shit. You’re right. My life in California is simple, yet complicated. I’m part of an MC. My job as the road captain is important to our club. I can’t just take off for long periods without approval.”
Her movements behind him made the bed shift, but he didn’t turn around to see what she did.
“Okay, that sounds intriguing. Tell me what it means to be a road captain. Are you the leader or something?” she asked, curling her body around his.
Her warmth and acceptance filled him with hope. Most ole’ ladies grew up around the MC, but the newer ones, King’s, Traeger’s, and several others, had been claimed and fallen for their men without actual knowledge of MC life. The ladies were thriving, as was the club. Hell, King was known to hold meetings with Ayesha waiting outside with the other ole’ ladies. The man who would’ve normally stayed all night and drank everyone under the table thought nothing of tossing Ayesha over his shoulder and walking out the door with a curt fuck off to everyone while she laughed like the happiest woman on earth. The cantankerous man smiled more, and their kid was cute as fuck. He couldn’t wait for Tori to meet them.
“One of the primary responsibilities of a road captain is to plan and execute cohesive and enjoyable rides for the club. I have to consider factors such as road conditions and the weather forecast to design routes that cater to everyone’s comfort and safety. This involves pre-ride scouting, coordinating with club members, and sometimes local authorities. If it’s a big run for charity and has us doing stops at different establishments, I ensure all the necessary permits and licenses are in order. One of the harder parts of my position, and considered a more pivotal role, is maintaining order and discipline within the pack during rides. It’s up to me to set and enforce riding protocols, ensuring that all riders adhere to safety guidelines and maintain a neat formation. I do this by promoting clear communication. Before every ride, I make sure everyone is aware of hazards, obstacles, and potential changes in direction. This fosters a tight-knit bond within the club and reinforces the importance of trust and respect among my brothers.” He tugged her around, so she was sitting on his lap.
“That sounds like a full-time job by itself.”
There were a lot of people who didn’t understand how much work went into maintaining an MC and making sure all the clogs ran properly. King, as the president, appointed men he trusted to each position. When the old road captain had left, several members tossed their hat in for the position. Jeter wasn’t one of them. Sure, he’d helped the old RC out during most runs and knew the ins and outs of the position. However, he figured King also knew who was up to the task. Jeter would not beg for the title. When the gavel had come down and King said his name, he’d been stunned.
“You have no clue, but it’s not my only job. I own a bike shop. We do custom builds and rebuild bikes for customers from all over. When I got out of the military, I honestly thought I would become a beach bum. Me and a friend of mine had it all planned out. We were going to take our monthly pension from Uncle Sam, buy a houseboat, and just drink our nights away.” He shook his head, remembering how foolish he’d been at twenty-four with no anchor. He had no plan other than a half-assed idea, his Harley, and the Suzuki Jimny he’d brought back from overseas.
“When do you have to go home?” she asked, a quiver in her voice.
He ran his hand down her chest, stopping at her pert nipple, and pinched the little bud.
“Ouch. What the hell did you do that for?” she asked, rubbing her hand over her breast.
Jeter smiled down at her. “To get you out of that head of yours. Where I go, you go, Vita Mia. Feel me?”
“And if I don’t agree, are you going to torture my boob some more?” She glared at him.
He looked at her, then at her nipples, which strained against the fabric, begging for his attention. “Baby, it’s you who’s torturing me, or maybe tempting me is the better term. Besides, if I tug on those sweet little buds with my fingers, I plan to kiss them, too. But first, I need to contact my Prez. I might hold a ranking position within the MC, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to check in when shit goes south. Especially when that shit might come knocking on the club’s door.”
“Do you think they’re awake at this hour?” Tori held her phone up. The time in California was two hours behind Chicago. At just after eight in the morning their time, he wasn’t sure if King would be up. However, he would text both him and Duke for them to call him. He’d give them a brief rundown of what went down without incriminating himself or saying anything they could use against them, should the cops get involved.
“I’ll text my Prez and VP. They’re brothers and live on the same property as the clubhouse. Whichever one reads my text first will probably call the other, and then they’ll get the ball rolling.” He settled her beside him to get his cell out of his bag. With his thumb, he swiped across the screen. An icon appeared, showing he had a couple of missed calls and texts from Kendrick. Before texting the Royal brothers, he read the texts. As he’d assumed, Kendrick had nothing new on the would-be assassin other than that it hadn’t been a hit on him.
“This sucks. Do you think Kendrick will find out who and why someone tried to shoot me?”