Blizzard (The Brotherhood Journals #1) (33 page)

She swallowed harshly and water brimmed her eyes, “I felt like I had chosen this life. I’d given up everything, my parents, my family back home. I felt that I needed to make him happy to make it work. So I put him first.” The tears trickled down her cheek and Judge placed his large hand over hers, squeezing it gently.

I felt sick.

It was like everything I’d believed in my head had been tossed into a burning fire and I was watching it go up in flames.

“The first time I saw him hit you was the day I found out I was pregnant with Delaney. And I knew then, I wouldn’t put another child through what I’d put you through.” She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. I couldn’t speak. I was entranced, I was angry.

But surprisingly, not with her.

“I told Dealer I was leaving. He understood. But when I tried to take you with me…” she paused and shook her head, “…Hands threatened to kill the both of us if I tried.”

I threw my chair back and it crashed against the wall, barely missing Eagle who jumped out of the way. “The bastard didn’t even want me! He spent more time abusing me than he ever did talking to me!”

A sob broke from my mom’s chest.

“You were his legacy,” Optimus muttered before turning to look up at me.

I seethed. My breathing was heavy and I could feel my own tears begin to attack.

“You were his link to the club. He knew he was on thin ice with Dealer, the only reason he was allowed to stick around was because everyone wanted to protect you. Your mom had already walked out, they weren’t about to take your dad too.” Op shook his head. “He knew it.”

I braced my hands on the table and hung my head.

My mom sniffed. “I went to Judge. He’d already had ideas about starting a club, and with my knowledge and connections in the MC world, the FBI jumped at the chance to let me back in.”

“Lane isn’t his then?” Leo pointed to Judge.

Judge chuckled loudly, the sound reminded me of Santa Claus. “And she isn’t my Old Lady.”

My brothers and I all stared at him wide eyed. “Oh, come on. You really think an old man like me could pick up a beautiful woman like her? Not that I wouldn’t mind with a tight ass like that.”

“Bro,” I warned, screwing up my face in disgust. “That’s my mom, man. Keep your dirty comments to yourself.”

I saw her face brighten as I spoke, and I knew just that one comment had meant more to her than anything.

“Unless we’re all gonna sit around and start crying and sharing our feelings, can we get on to why you felt the need to tell us all this? When you could have just as easily continued with your lives and not risked being ratted out and hunted down by every MC in the country?” Slider’s words sobered us all.

He was right. There was a reason they were here. We could take what they’ve told us and ultimately destroy them.

“We're asking you to help us one more time,” Judge said solemnly.

Optimus sat a little straighter. “You're kidding right?”

A young woman stepped into the room, walking around the table and standing behind Judge. Black straight hair framed her face and dark brown eyes watched us cautiously. She was tall but slim, her denim jeans and T-shirt hugged her body firmly.

“This is Hadley, she needs someone to watch out for her, protect her,” Mom explained, smiling over at the girl.

Op shook his head. “Look… we ain't a charity. We helped before because it was Lane, a part of Blizzard’s blood. We can't just take in strays.”

“You protect your club girls, right? They're your property so you watch out for them?” Hadley’s voice was soft but strong.

“I know you aren't saying what I think you're saying,” I commented dryly.

She placed her hand on her hip, popping it out to the side as she smirked down at me. I watched my brothers out of the corner of my eye. I could already tell Slider was sweeping over her, dying to get inside her jeans and even Leo and Eagle couldn't hide their appreciation. She was gorgeous. That I would admit.

“You do realize what our club girls do to warrant our protection?” Optimus asked slowly.

“They fuck.” She laughed boldly. “One of my favorite past times.”

“Christ,” Leo muttered under his breath.

My eyes shot to Judge. “She needs protection that badly? Why don't you go to your superiors and ask them to fucking watch her?”

“Because it's one of them that I'm trying to protect her from.”

I scrubbed at my face, turning to Op to gauge what his reaction was to this.

“You want us to go against the FBI?” he growled.

“No,” Skins answered. “That's going to be what we’ll be doing. We just need a little more time to figure out what to do about this asshole and how to get him out… or take him down.”

“What's his deal?” I asked curiously.

Judge’s face instantly turned serious and stern. “He had a taste of the dark life.”

I nodded, understanding the meaning behind his words. It was so easy to be infected by darkness. Especially when you spend your life fighting for what's right. These guys had spent a lot of their lives bringing down the
‘bad guys’
and only making a small dent in the criminal empire. While they saw any accomplishment a win, someone who was weak would not. It was the reason for that old saying
, ‘if you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em.’

“You come to us, you take your role seriously. You're there as a club girl. You don't get special treatment, you don't get to back out of your responsibilities, you play by the rules,” Optimus laid it out for Hadley, his eyes locked on hers.

She didn't waver though and I could already tell she was going to fit in just fine.

“Yes, sir.”

I could feel the vibrations in my chest even from my place at the clubhouse bar as the group of men pulled their bikes in and switched them off. Chelsea smiled at me from where she was sitting on the floor with Harlyn and Jayla, playing some kind of board game. Both the girls perked up at the noise as well and were on their feet in an instant, shooting out the door.

I laughed quietly. “I think Jay loves that she has something in common with Harlyn.”

“What's that?” Chel asked, pushing off the floor and dusting off her pants.

“They both have a big, tough, burly biker wrapped around their little finger.”

Chelsea giggled, nodding in agreement.

“I ain't even angry at that little remark.” Blizzard strolled through the door first, Jayla tossed over his shoulder, laughing and kicking her legs. My heart filled, seeing him with that little girl would never get old.

He lifted her and placed her on the ground. “We gotta get you a helmet kid, so we can go for rides.”

Jay bounced on her feet, turning to me with the widest smile I'd ever seen as if asking for permission. “Uhh… Are you sure about that? I mean, she's only four and she’s—”

Blizzard used my rambling as an opportunity to move closer, slamming his lips down on mine before I could protest anymore.

I melted instantly, his tongue not even having to fight through my lips as I opened to invite him in. His fingers threaded through the hair at the back of my neck and kneaded at the muscles, driving my body even further into ecstasy.

“Cut that shit out you two.” We fell apart, both grinning. Optimus shook his head as he passed, tossing Harlyn onto the nearest sofa, laughing with glee before sweeping his woman into his arms and doing what Blizzard had just done.

“Didn't you just tell us to cut it out?” I laughed.

When they pulled apart, Chelsea breathing heavily, he turned to me with a cocky smirk.

“President,” he said simply, pointing to himself. Then he turned his finger to Blizzard. “Vice President.”

Blizzard held his middle finger up, pointing it at Op who just laughed.

I heard more heavy boots come through the door, Blizzard’s brothers. But what I didn't expect was the person that followed in behind them carrying a backpack slung over her shoulder.

“Hadley!” I exclaimed in shock, but I couldn't help but smile. She grinned back at me, skipping over and throwing her arms around me in a hug. “What are you doing here?” I asked when we both stepped back.

“She's taking Chelsea's old room.” Slider grinned as he moved up beside her and tossed an arm over her shoulder casually.

I couldn't stop my eyes from going wide. “You're gonna be a club girl?”

She nodded. “The men here are sexy as fuck. Is it a requirement to be hot in order to join this club?”

Chelsea laughed. “They also have huge egos to match their huge—”

“That's enough from you,” Op growled, taking her hand and dragging her away.

“Nice to meet you!” she called over her shoulder as they disappeared down the hall to Optimus’ office.

“Come on, I'll show you to your room before Op gives you the third degree about the rules,” Slider offered, taking her bag.

“We’ll catch up later?” she asked.

I nodded. “For sure.”

She gave me a little wave and bounced off after Slider.

Ham came through the door not a second later, holding a box. “Hey man, I picked up a package for you from the post office.”

I watched as Blizzard’s eyes brightened, taking it from Ham’s grasp eagerly.

“Watch the kids for a bit. Take them out to play or some shit,” he growled at the kid, not even bothering to wait for a reply before he grabbed my hand and started to pull me up the stairs. I wondered how heavy that box was because it wasn't slowing him down. He was determined.

I laughed as he dragged me down the hall and practically pushed me into his room—our room. “What's going on?”

He tossed the box on the bed and dug around in his bedside table, emerging with a pair of scissors. He held them out to me. “It's for you.”

I eyed him suspiciously as I took step after step closer and sat on the edge of the bed. Taking the scissors from his hand, I cut through the packaging tape, and opened the flaps of the box. A gasp slipped from my lips as I peered over the edge and saw what was inside.

“You bought me sex toys?” I growled in a whisper.

He walked over to the door and pushed it closed, flicking the lock. Just that simple movement sent a thrill through my body, even with the nervousness that filled me.

“I bought
us
sex toys,” he corrected. A blush warmed my cheeks and he was quickly back, standing in front of me, staring down with a sexy glimmer in his eyes. “I know you want to explore the excitement you get from different kinds of play. And I can't say I've done much of it before… I like to fuck and fuck hard, toys and shit have never really interested me.” He took my face in his hands and pulled my body to standing. “But fuck, I love making you feel good.”

I gripped his neck and pulled his face to mine, our bodies tangling, our hands ripping at each other's clothes in the desperate need to be together.

This man was more than I ever knew I wanted. He was everything. He was hard and loyal, sexy and passionate, caring and strong. The best part was, I knew this would last. He knew everything about me, my hopes and dreams, the ways I'd suffered and my fears. And he fucking loved me anyway.

Sometimes we need to go through hard times in order to find the people who are real. The people who are willing to work at it because they know, that in the end, it will all be worth it. The ones who understand that mistakes are made, but that there’s a way back.

They know that your heart is pure. They give second chances. They lift you up and empower you. They come from all walks of life and all their pieces, while completely different, fit together like a beautiful puzzle.

They are family.

I finally found my place.

Blizzard had me on my back naked within seconds, his clothes joining mine of the floor before he climbed on top of me. I stared up at the good-looking man who’d given me a second chance and welcomed me into his family. I don't know if I deserved it, or him. But I was going to do everything in my power to show him that I loved him and make him never regret it.

He was right. Our lives were going to be full of ups and downs. We might need a third chance or a fourth. But as long as we were willing to fight for each other, we’d get through anything.

“You wanna use the toys?” I asked breathlessly.

“We've got the rest of our damn life to try the toys,” he growled. “Right now, I just wanna fuck my woman.”

“Make me come, please?” I whispered, wrapping my legs around his waist.

His lips found mine briefly and I released a content sigh.

“Anything you want, baby.”