Chapter 9 - Blade
I wake before dawn, disoriented for a moment by the unfamiliar weight pressed against me. Opening my eyes, I find Kelly curled into my side, her blonde hair spilled across my chest. Her face is peaceful in sleep, no sign of the nightmares that plagued her earlier.
I have to blink several times, convinced I'm hallucinating. There's a beautiful woman in my bed. In my arms. A woman I fucked senseless last night after swearing I'd never let another person close enough to matter.
And yet here she is, her body fitting against mine like it was made to be there.
What the fuck have I done?
I should be disgusted with myself. She's vulnerable, running from the Vultures MC, desperate for safety. I took advantage of that, let my cock do the thinking instead of my brain. I claimed her virginity, for Christ's sake, something she can never get back.
But looking down at her sleeping face, I can't bring myself to regret it. Not when she came apart in my arms calling my real name—Marcus, not Blade. Not when she looked at me afterward like I'd given her something precious instead of taking it.
Not when I slept through the night without a single nightmare for the first time in years.
A sharp knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. Kelly stirs but doesn't wake as I extract myself from her embrace. I pull on my jeans before opening the door just enough to see who's there.
Viper stands in the hallway. The youngest full member after Ace, he's earned his name through his quick, deadly strikes.
"Reaper's called church," he says, his eyes dropping to my bare chest before darting to the glimpse of blonde hair visible on my pillow. "Wants everyone there in twenty."
"I'll be there in five," I reply, moving to close the door.
Viper's hand stops it. A slow grin spreads across his face as understanding dawns. "Well, well. The old man finally found some peace, huh? About fucking time."
I scowl at him. "Fuck off, Viper."
His grin just widens. "Hey, no judgment. Just never thought I'd see the day."
"Five minutes," I repeat, more forcefully this time.
"Sure thing, brother." He steps back, still smirking. "Just don't be late. Reaper's in a mood."
I close the door in his face, but not before I catch him laughing silently. Prick. By noon, the entire club will know I brought a woman to my bed. The teasing will be merciless.
But when I turn back to Kelly, now sitting up in bed with the sheet clutched to her chest, I find I don't give a shit what the others think. Let them talk. She's worth it.
"Who was that?" she asks, voice husky with sleep.
"Viper. Another member." I move to my dresser, pulling out a fresh t-shirt and tossing it to her. "Reaper's called a meeting. We need to go."
She catches the shirt, watching as I dress. "Is something wrong?"
"No. Probably just wants to discuss next steps now that we have new information on Charles." I pull on a clean shirt, then sit on the edge of the bed to put on my boots. "How are you feeling?"
It's an awkward question, especially from me. I'm not known for checking on anyone's wellbeing. But she's different. Everything about this situation is different.
A slight blush colors her cheeks. "I'm okay. A little sore, but..." She trails off, the blush deepening. "Thank you. For last night. It was... perfect."
Perfect. No one has ever used that word to describe anything I've done. I'm about violence and death, not perfection. But the sincerity in her eyes makes something unfamiliar uncurl in my chest, something warm and dangerously close to hope.
"Get dressed," I say gruffly, uncomfortable with the emotion threatening to choke me. "Reaper doesn't like to be kept waiting."
She nods, slipping out of bed with the sheet wrapped around her. I catch a glimpse of her naked back, marked with faint scratches from my beard, before she disappears into the bathroom. The sight makes my cock stir again, remembering how she felt beneath me, around me.
Christ. Focus, Davidson.
By the time she emerges, dressed in my t-shirt and the sweatpants from last night, I've got myself under control again. I hand her my cut without thinking, just like I did the night before.
"It's cold in the main room," I explain when she looks at me questioningly.
She smiles, a small private thing that makes my heart skip a beat and slips into the leather. Like before, it swallows her smaller frame, but this time the sight of her in it doesn't just stir primitive possessiveness. It feels right.
The main room is already crowded when we enter. Every member is present, including the prospects standing nervously along the back wall. Reaper and Ghost are bent over a map spread across the main table, their faces grim with concentration.
Conversations pause as we walk in, heads turning to stare at Kelly in my cut. I see eyebrows raise, knowing looks exchanged. Ace elbows Wilder, whispering something that makes him grin. I ignore them all, guiding Kelly to the table with a hand on her lower back.
"Sorry we're late," I say to Reaper, not sounding sorry at all.
He looks up from the map, his eyes moving from me to Kelly and back again. Something knowing flashes in his gaze before he nods once, accepting without comment.
"We're planning our approach to Charles's compound," he says, gesturing to the map. "Kelly, I know you said you were blindfolded when they took you there, but is there anything you can tell us about the location? Landmarks, sounds, anything?"
Kelly steps forward, staring at the map.
"I remember water," she says after a moment. "A river or lake nearby. I could hear it at night. And it took about three hours from Pine Haven by car, mostly on back roads." She points to an area of the map. "I think it's somewhere in this region, but I can't be sure."
Reaper nods, circling the area with a marker. "That narrows it down. We've had rumors of activity in that zone, but no solid intel until now."
"What's the play?" Ghost asks, his quiet voice carrying in the suddenly silent room.
Reaper straightens, looking around at the assembled club. "This is it, brothers. The final push. Charles has terrorized our territory, trafficked women, and tried to kill our families. It ends now."
A murmur of agreement ripples through the room. I feel Kelly tense beside me, her hand unconsciously seeking mine. I thread our fingers together, squeezing gently.
"We'll hit them at dawn tomorrow," Reaper continues.
Plans are laid out in detail- entry points, backup strategies, emergency protocols. The club listens, occasionally offering suggestions or asking questions. Through it all, Kelly remains at my side, her grip on my hand tightening when Reaper mentions potential casualties.
As the meeting concludes, the room fills with energy. This is what we've been waiting for, a chance to end the threat once and for all. Every man begins preparations, checking weapons, securing gear.
I watch as the other couples gravitate toward each other.
Reaper pulls Evelyn into his arms, kissing her deeply.
His daughter Emma clings to Wilder, whispering what looks like a prayer against his chest. Even stoic Ghost has Debbie and her son pressed against him, his normally haunted eyes soft as he reassures them.
Ace's pregnant schoolteacher has tears in her eyes as she kisses him goodbye, her hand covering the slight swell of her belly. These are men with something to lose now, something to come back for.
And for the first time, I understand them. Because Kelly's hand is still in mine, her blue eyes looking up at me with a mixture of fear and determination that makes my chest ache.
"I'm coming with you," she says suddenly, loud enough for Reaper to hear.
He turns from Evelyn, his expression hardening. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."
"My sister is there," Kelly insists. "She might not cooperate with strangers. She might even fight back if she thinks you're threatening her 'family.' I need to be there to talk her down."
"It's not happening," Reaper says firmly. "You're staying here with the other women."
Kelly steps forward, her chin lifting in defiance. "With all due respect, I'm not asking permission. Amy is all I have left. I abandoned her once, I won't do it again."
Reaper's eyes narrow dangerously. "This isn't a debate. This is a military operation, not a family reunion."
"She's right," I hear myself say, surprising everyone, including myself. "If her sister resists, we might have to use force. Having Kelly there could make the difference between a rescue and a bloodbath."
Reaper stares at me like I've lost my mind. Maybe I have. Twenty-four hours ago, I would never have contradicted him in front of the club, especially not over a woman. But Kelly isn't just any woman. She's mine now. And if her sister matters to her, then we save her sister. It's that simple.
"Your call, Blade," Reaper finally says, his voice dangerously quiet. "But she's your responsibility. She gets hurt, that's on you."
"I know," I say, meeting his gaze steadily. "She'll stay with me the entire time."
Kelly squeezes my hand, gratitude shining in her eyes. I'd do a hell of a lot more than argue with Reaper to keep that look on her face.
The next hours pass in a blur of preparation. Weapons are distributed, tactics reviewed one final time. I find myself watching Kelly as she talks with Evelyn, who's giving her more appropriate clothes for the mission—dark jeans, a black sweater, sturdy boots.
When everything is ready, the club begins to file out to the parking lot where our bikes wait. Kelly approaches me, her face set with determination despite the fear I can see lurking in her eyes.
"Are you sure about this?" I ask quietly, adjusting the collar of my cut around her neck. "You can still stay here. We'll bring your sister back."
She shakes her head. "I need to do this. For Amy. For myself." She places a hand on my chest, right over my heart. "And for you."
"For me?" I can't hide my confusion.
"You spent your life fighting other people's battles, protecting everyone but yourself." Her hand slides up to cup my cheek, her touch gentle against my scarred skin. "Let me fight for something that matters to me. Let me be brave like you."
Brave. No one has ever called me that before. Brutal, yes. Efficient. Deadly. But not brave. And yet, looking at this woman who's willing to walk into danger for her sister, who survived captivity and still retained her humanity, I'm humbled by her courage.
"You're already the bravest person I know," I tell her, meaning every word.
She rises on tiptoe, pressing her lips to mine in a kiss that's too brief but full of promise.
"We're going to win this," she whispers against my mouth. "And then we're going to build something better. Together."
Together. Another word that's never applied to me before. I've always been alone, even surrounded by my brothers. But standing here with Kelly, I can almost see it: a future that's more than just surviving from one fight to the next. A future with purpose beyond violence.
A future worth fighting for.
I kiss her once more, deeper this time, pouring everything I can't say into it. When we break apart, her eyes are shining with unshed tears and something that looks dangerously like love.
"Let's go get your sister," I say, taking her hand and leading her toward the door.
Outside, the club is mounted up, engines rumbling in the early morning air. I swing my leg over my Harley, feeling Kelly climb on behind me without hesitation. Her arms wrap around my waist, her body fitting perfectly against my back.
Reaper looks back at the assembled riders, his face set with grim determination. This is it. The moment we've been working for. The final battle with Charles and his men.
I should be focused solely on the upcoming fight, on the blood that will inevitably be spilled before the day is done. Instead, all I can think about is the woman pressed against my back, and the promise of something I never thought I'd have.
A future. A purpose. A reason to come back alive.
As Reaper signals and the convoy begins to move out of the lot, I feel Kelly tighten her grip on me. Whatever happens today, I know one thing for certain. I'm no longer fighting just for the club or for revenge.
I'm fighting for her. For us. For the chance to discover what "together" really means.
And God help anyone who tries to take that away from me.