Jett

3 - There's something I need to talk to you about

Maria

I drive right up to the metal gates of Snakes Henchmen clubhouse. A guy with long blond hair and a scruffy beard pokes his head in through my window, making me scream while jumping out of my skin.

Asshole!

“What do you want?”

Charming.

He looks new.

A prospect, maybe?

The name on his patch reads Rick.

“I need to see your VP.”

“And why would you need to see him?”

“None of your business!”

His eyes widen.

I wasn’t that harsh, Jeez.

I scream as he yanks open my door, unbuckles my belt, and drags me out of the car. Shi.t! “Take your hands off of me! Do you have any idea who I am?” I yell at him as he pins me back against my car.

“Couldn’t care less who you are, toots. You’re in my house now.” He’s vile and smells of sweat and cigarette smoke. It’s on his clothes and his breath, that and the alcohol he’s apparently been drinking.

Oh my God, I’m going to throw up; my stomach is turning over.

“You’re a pretty little thing, aren't you?”

I turn my head away from him, trying to suck in a little fresh air.

“Back the hell off!” I hiss. Oh hell, he’s pressing himself against me.

Don’t throw up, Maria.

He grabs my face and forces me to look at him, but have you ever looked at someone without really seeing them? Yeah, that’s what I'm doing right now. I look past him and into the trees behind him.

“I'm gonna fuc.k you right here against your car. Not one person inside this place will care.” His hand is sliding up my leg, and I’m cringing.

Hammer swore to Draven and me that this club wasn’t about hurting women and children. That they didn’t tolerate men who forced themselves on a woman, especially not men who raped them.

So why has this asshole just told me he’s going to rape me right out here in the open where everyone can see?

Would they really do nothing to stop him?

“If you want to see sundown, you best take your...” I don’t get to finish my sentence because he’s being dragged away from me, and when I say that, I mean ripped, torn, punched to the ground, and kicked the shi.t out of. My heart is pounding, and I can’t believe what I'm seeing.

I watch the massive man in front of me beating the hell out of Rick. Man, these bikers are crazy. I thought my brother was insane, but this guy? Nuts!

“You ever fuckin.g touch her again, and I’ll put a bullet through fuckin’ your brain!” He screams at Rick.

I’m holding my stomach, trying not to throw the hell up.

I jump on my high heels when he turns to look at me. Those blue eyes that have haunted me for four months look right through me. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

I wish I wasn’t here telling Jett what I’m about to tell him. But I can’t put it off any longer; I’m going to start showing soon. I need to do this now; it cannot wait a moment longer.

“I told you not to come here. I told you it was one night, that’s all.”

“I know, but...”

“But nothing!”

I swallow hard. Jesus, I’ve been around hardened criminals all my life. My brother is a Mafia Boss, for f**k’s sake. Yet this man scares the crap out of me on a whole other level.

How is that possible?

He stalks toward me; I instinctively take a step back, bumping my backside against the door of my car. I flinch and close my eyes when he reaches out his hand. For a second there, I thought he was going to hit me.

Under any other circumstance, if any man hit me, I’d break his fuckin.g neck! As it is, I’m pregnant, and I cannot risk harming my baby.

However, he doesn’t hit me; he slides the back of his hand down my cheek. I keep my eyes closed for a second, remembering the night we shared and the way he touched me back then. God, it was everything I had ever dreamed of.

“It’s not safe for you here, baby. Hammer ain’t around, and if I hadn’t been, that asshole could have done anything to you without realizing who you were until it was too late. Don't worry, he’s a dead man.” The growl that rips from his throat... God, help me.

“I know,” I finally open my eyes. “But I had to come. I need to speak with you; it is so important, Jett.” Jett. Even the sound of his name makes me weak in the knees.

“I guess you better come inside then.” I clutch his waist, unable to move my shaking legs. “You okay?”

I shake my head. I feel sick. I won’t be sick; I never am, but I feel nauseous.

He clasps the back of my neck, bringing my head forward and kissing my forehead. He probably thinks I’m upset about Rick and his wandering hands. I’m not. The asshole wouldn’t have got far. However, I let Jett pull me into his arms.

I wrap mine around his back tightly. I rest my head against his powerful chest and breathe deeply. It shouldn’t feel this right to be in his arms.

“I’m all right, Jett. Honest.” I say that, but I don’t seem to be able to let go of him. H pulls away slightly with a smile on his face, winks, and takes my hand, leading me inside.

Here goes. The most significant moment of my life so far. I only hope Jett agrees to what I’m about to propose. Literally.

Jett leads me inside, where a bunch of bikers are sitting, talking and laughing, drinking and being dumb. Most bikers are, in my opinion.

Jett’s younger sister waves at me. I wave back. That’s when I notice her husband, Tank, Hammer’s brother. That sounds so weird to me.

“Maria!” I spin on my high heels and laugh loudly as Avery runs at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I have no choice but to let go of Jett’s hand, even though I was trying to keep hold of it.

“What are you doing here?” Avery asks as she pulls away from me. She looks so different; she’s wearing tight jeans and a leather jacket, which I know has the words Property of Ghost written on the back in white stitchwork. She’s so damn proud to be his wife. I can’t believe how quickly she got her figure back after baby Danny’s birth. That little boy is beyond cute. I love him so much, and he’s already giggling at people.

This isn’t the Avery I’m used to. The Avery I once knew wouldn’t have been seen dead in anything that wasn’t Versace or Gucci. She was spoiled by her father, the Don, before my brother. When he passed away, my brother spoiled her just as he did me.

Her mother might be alive, but we don’t talk about that waste of space. I guess it’s not really her fault that she had a breakdown after Uncle Vinny died. But she’s never had much to do with Avery since. I can’t imagine what would drive a mother to walk away from her child and never look back.

Draven and I are Avery’s family, as well as Hammer and Ghost. I guess this whole MC.

Will they be mine also?

“I came to speak with Jett.”

“Jett, huh?” She eyeballs him while folding her arms around her waist.

I feel so overdressed and uncomfortable. I hardly ever feel uncomfortable, but I’m wearing nothing more than a little black dress that is so tight and short it leaves hardly anything to the imagination. No wonder Rick thought he could do what he wanted to me. I should have been a little smarter in choosing an outfit before coming here, but I didn’t even think about it. The way I dress comes naturally. It’s not like I dressed like this to impress anyone.

God, I will be in so much trouble when my brother finds out I gave my bodyguard the slip. Again.

But is it my fault he’s so dumb he can’t keep track of me?

He gets paid to watch me and where I go closely. Moron.

“Does Draven know you’re here?”

“No. Don’t say anything to him. Please.”

“I won't, but he might.” She tips her head.

I turn mine to see Hammer and his wife approaching us, their baby in his big arms. Yes, I have a tiny little nephew, Noah. He’s beautiful, but I’ve never even held him. I’ve wanted to, but every time I so much as stroke his little head, Hammer pulls him away from me. Yeah, he doesn’t like me at all, and that hurts so much. I’ve been nothing but polite to him, but everything out of his mouth directed toward me isn’t.

“What the f**k is she doing here?” Hammer snaps as soon as he’s within earshot.

I bite the inside of my mouth as Willow, his wife, tells him not to make a scene. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this uncomfortable in my life.

“She’s here to see me,” Jett tells him.

Hammer hands the baby to Willow, who rolls her eyes, and while Hammer and Jett argue about why the hell I’d need to see him, I block them out and stand smiling at my nephew. He’s such a beautiful little thing. He’s going to be the image of his daddy.

“He’s so beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Willow smiles. “Would you like to hold him?”

“Can I?” I think the smile on my face is going to split my cheeks apart.

Willow nods and places him in my arms, and something inside me melts. This is going to be me soon. I’m going to be the one holding the baby, my baby, and for the first time since I found out a couple of days ago, things don’t seem so scary.

“What the fuc.k are you doing?!” Before I can even blink, the baby is ripped from my arms and passed back to his mother. “Take him to Nova.” Nova is Jett and Willow’s younger sister. Yes, my brother is married to Jett’s sister. Hammer’s brother is married to Jett’s other sister, and though there is nothing wrong with that, it’s somewhat confusing to me.

“I wasn’t hurting him.”

“I don’t want you near my son!”

“Jesus, Hammer!” Jett snaps. However, it doesn’t bother my brother; he keeps right on looking at me like I’m the devil in disguise.

“What have I ever done to you?” I’m trying to fight back the tears trying to fall from my eyes. I’m a strong woman, but this hurts like nothing ever has before.

Many people hate women like me. I’m the sister of a Mafia Don, so they automatically think I’m some evil, privileged princess. But I’m not a bad person. I have never done anything bad in my life. I’m kind to everyone and a friend if they need one. Draven might be everything people say he is, but he raised me right. I’m a good person. I know I am.

But then, why does my half-brother hate me this much?

Ignoring my question, he says, “Go home, you stupid little girl. You really think this is the kind of place you should be?”

“You really think this is the place your son should be?”

Hammer takes a step toward me, but I hold my ground. He doesn’t scare me as much as he tries. He stands with his hands across his big body. “He belongs here. You don’t.”

“I’m not leaving. I’m here to talk to Jett about something.”

Hammer’s eyes shoot to Jett, giving him a deadly look.

What the hell is that all about?