CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
– FATAL –
Waking up, I instantly become aware my woman isn’t in bed with me. My eyes are still closed when I reach out beside me and feel the cold sheets, letting me know she’s been gone for a while.
My mood takes a nosedive and I blink a few times before swinging my legs off the mattress. Stomping into the bathroom, I handle my business and get dressed. A few minutes later I’m stalking out of my room to search for Norie.
Hearing her voice coming from the kitchen somewhat soothes the unease inside my chest. The other voice I hear replying to her is Sevrin. I shouldn’t be surprised since he mentioned a few times how he wanted to talk to her alone.
Ignoring Sevrin, I walk right up to Norie, cup her face and slam my mouth over hers.
She gasps and it takes a fragment of a second for her to catch up.
Then she melts right under my touch and kisses me back just as fiercely.
Her hands fist my cut to pull me closer when I hear Sevrin clear his throat.
I keep kissing my old lady and try to ignore his ass, but this time he uses words to interrupt us.
“No need to go overboard to prove she’s yours, Fatal.” Sevrin snorts. “As if I’d ever disrespect my niece’s choice. I can sense her reaction to you from fucking miles away.”
Sense her reaction? Weird way to put it. Though, Sevrin has always been a tad weird. Without rushing I end the kiss and brush my lips against hers once more before I face Sevrin.
“I can sense her reaction to me just fine as well, and for your information? This is how I intend to kiss my woman every day from here on out, and if she wouldn’t have sneaked out of our bed it would have happened behind closed doors.”
“I didn’t sneak out,” Norie mutters. “I went to the kitchen to get coffee, and that’s where I found Sevrin. We started talking, and I kinda lost track of time.”
Pinching her chin with my thumb and forefinger, I make sure her gaze lands on mine when I tell her, “About time you two had time to talk. But next time you’ll wake me when your ass leaves the bed.”
She narrows her eyes. “Even if I need to pee?”
I know she’s throwing the question out there to tease me.
The corner of my mouth twitches. “Yeah. I might like to watch.”
Wrinkling her nose she lets out a horrified, “Ewww.”
“This discussion went downhill too fucking fast. My ears certainly aren’t made for this,” Sevrin grumbles.
Turning my attention to Sevrin, I ask, “Are they made to hear me out about a favor?”
His gaze slides to Norie for a moment before they land on mine. “The kind of favor we need to discuss in church?”
I slowly shake my head. “There are no secrets between me and my old lady. Yesterday was an eye-opener for me. The uncertainty of ever having a future with her in it was roughly ripped away from me without even getting a hint of what might be.”
My eyes find Norie and there’s a sheen in her eyes where the buildup of tears is threatening to spill over. I feel her emotions as mine, with the vivid reminder of yesterday.
Right now, I feel the need to lighten the mood and it’s why I give her a wink, along with the words, “Last night was a taste of the life I never want to let slip through my fingers ever again.”
“Club business,” Sevrin starts.
I cut him off. “Is something I will decide if she needs to know. You’re not the president of this club, and Norie is my old lady.
I’ve never shared shit with a woman, but she’s not any woman, now is she?
Or are you telling me she will thrive in my life when I don’t soothe her brain and keep her in the fucking dark about shit? ”
Norie isn’t pussy, she isn’t like any other chick I’ve shoved my cock in to get off.
No. I knew she was special when Swade warned me not to trust her if she acted like an airhead.
She’s been an enigma ever since and has only given me the straight up truth, saved my damn life, and has captivated me with her charm.
Sevrin rubs a hand over his face and mutters that sounds like, “I’m never going to accept my fated...”
“Never going to accept your fate?” I bark out a laugh.
“Dude, shit happens for a reason and if you try to avoid whatever life throws at you? Believe me, you’re bound to faceplant into your own mess when the time comes.
Then you’ll know exactly why I’m not going to ignore something good landing in my lap. ”
“As you should. And if I find out you’re mistreating or disrespecting my niece? You won’t live to talk about the fucking consequences,” Sevrin calmly states.
Pulling out a chair I grunt, “Didn’t we already go over this?”
“What’s the favor?” Norie asks, bringing us back to the discussion at hand.
I shoot her another quick wink and turn to Sevrin. “There’s still a threat hanging in the air and I don’t want to put my old lady’s life at risk again. So, I’m asking you for help.”
Sevrin nods. “You got it. I’ll take her to my territory and keep her safe.”
“Fuck, no,” I snap. “Norie isn’t going anywhere. I want you to get a few of your guys here and protect her while me and my brothers will head out to take down every fucking member of Norlick Ways MC.”
Norie places a hand on my thigh. Without looking, I cover her hand with mine and stare Sevrin down. I’m not budging when it comes to Norie, her safety, and keeping her close.
Sevrin glances at Norie and sighs. “Fine. I’ll make the call, but I’m also coming with you along with a few others to make sure you don’t fuck up.”
I’m about to mention the whole deal is about him specifically watching over my woman when Heart stomps into the kitchen.
“Any of you see Huck this morning?” he asks while frowning at his phone.
Sevrin and Norie shake their head while I rumble, “No, why?”
Heart rubs the back of his neck. “I can’t get a hold of Swade. He was heading to the brewery this morning and was going to call me when he got there. I sent Huck to check and now he’s not picking up either.”
Norie jumps up. “What?”
She fumbles with her phone and brings it to her ear. Her face is filled with worry.
“Let’s ride and check,” I tell Heart.
Sevrin gets to his feet. “I’m coming with you guys.”
“Heart, gather some of the others. If shit hit the fan I want as much backup as needed.” I turn to Norie. “There’s no way I can ask for you to stay here, right?”
She shoves the phone into her pocket. “He’s not answering his phone. And no. No damn way am I going to sit on my ass and bite my nails until you come back.”
“Figured,” I grumble and head out the door.
I fire up my bike and wait until Norie has put on her helmet and gets her lush ass on the seat behind me. Her arms circle my waist and her tits are pressing against my back. It feels damn good to have her with me, even if I have no clue what we’re gonna find at the brewery.
Swade and Huck not picking up their phone doesn’t sound good. One can be a coincidence, both? Fuck no. Agitation grows the closer I get to the brewery. A few minutes later I’m parking around back, right next to Huck and Swade’s bikes. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.
“Stay behind me,” I tell Norie.
She grabs the back of my cut and mutters, “Bad time to mention the fact that a bullet can go right through you and could still hit me, right?”
I shoot her a glare over my shoulder and she bites her lip. “Sorry. I ramble when I’m nervous.”
“She’ll stay behind me,” Sevrin states and I catch a glimpse of Norie bobbing her head before I step inside.
I’m instantly on edge. There should be a lot of noise, and at least a handful of people working today. Instead, it’s eerily quiet and I don’t see anyone. Reaching for my gun, I notice Heart is doing the same beside me.
We’re moving in the direction of the office when Heart points to something on our left.
Fuck. Legs behind a kettle along with a large pool of blood.
Stumbling coming from the office drags our attention and I jog up the stairs.
The door is locked and I have to grab my keys first. Once it’s open, I step inside and find Swade.
Turning, I grab hold of the door to prevent Sevrin and Norie from entering. “You two are going to wait right here, understood?”
Norie wants to go in but Sevrin stops her. I close the door, knowing Sevrin will prevent her from coming inside. There’s no way she needs to see Swade beaten to a fucking pulp. I have no clue if the man is still alive when Heart squats down to check.