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Jace’s eyes met mine.

  All I could see were his eyes screaming too soon.

  But that didn’t mean our moment was through.

  Jace pulled me off the counter.

  He placed my hand between his legs.

  chapter twenty-three

  (jace)

  *NOW*

  I woke up like a goddamn animal. I was hungry for food… and for pussy. Lucky for me I had both waiting in the kitchen. And in the order of importance in life, there was nothing needed more than a beautiful woman. I’d rather starve to death than go without the touch, taste, and feel of a woman.

  Especially Ava.

  I threw the information I had about the night I was attacked and her mother was killed at the club and left it there. Was I piece of shit for doing that? Probably. But I wasn’t going to drag her deeper into this thing.

  She didn’t make the situation any easier with the way she looked and smelled. The smell of her fruity shampoo. The way she left shit around my bathroom. The lingering smell in the guest room. And now waking up to find her wearing no bra, her beautiful tits pressing against her shirt, flipping pancakes, with a pot of coffee made.

  If anything, things had gone too far and I should have bolted.

  But I wanted her.

  And I fucking had her.

  Her hand slid into my pants and touched my rock hard cock. There was no hiding what she did to me or how she made me feel.

  She pulled my thick rod from my pants. Her hand stroked from root to tip. She was looking down for a second but then looked up at me, shock on her face.

  I grabbed her hips. “That’s what you do to me, sweetie.”

  I then spun her around and pulled her ass right to me. My dick slid between her legs and felt her tender, wet labia against the top of my shaft.

  “Fuck,” I growled.

  I reached down and pulled back a little, pressing the head of my cock to her tight pussy. I eased into her just a little, giving her a chance to get ready. Her body tensed up as she let out a cry.

  Then I fucked forward.

  I buried myself into her as though I wanted to stay there for the rest of my life. I held there, my stomach pressing against her ass.

  “It’s so good,” I said, running my hands up her shirt, feeling her smooth back. “Fuck, sweetie.”

  “Yes, Jace,” she purred back at me. “Have me. Fill me.”

  Before I could make a move, Ava’s cell started to ring. It was on the far end of the counter and stood no chance getting attention. Then I heard down the hallway my phone starting to ring.

  “Fuck the world,” I said. “This is our moment together. Our fucking time.”

  I eased my hands down her back again and gripped her ass tight. My fingers kneaded into her flesh and I started to fuck her. I pulled back and thrust forward. Over and over, pounding at her, right there in the kitchen at the counter.

  What Ava didn’t know… she was the only woman I’d ever fucked in my house. I never brought women back here. I always took them to the clubhouse - or just met them at the clubhouse. And I never went balls deep bareback either. But I trusted Ava. Her body. Her words. Her everything.

  Each time I went to the hilt I would then buck my hips, making sure there wasn't a spot to spare inside her.

  She fucked her sweet body back at me each time I pulled back.

  I watched the way her pussy clung to my dick. My shaft shined with wetness. My veins were thick and throbbing. The harder I fucked her, the harder I got.

  “You love my outlaw cock, don’t you, sweetie?” I growled at her.

  I used my left hand to ball up her shirt and shove it up her back. Her tits then dangled free, bouncing, coming close to hitting the counter.

  “Yes,” Ava yelled. “Yes, Jace. Fuck me, outlaw!”

  I thrust at her with more force. My balls were exploding like firecrackers, wanting to shoot my cum through my dick and into her body. I gritted my teeth and sucked in a breath, holding off for a few more seconds.

  I managed to keep that way until Ava came again. She was on her toes, her head back, moaning that matched the pulsing of her body. She sheathed and squeezed me tight, making it impossible to hold back any longer.

  With one last thrust, I reached my own climax, shooting my seed into her body. My hands ended up wrapped around her body, holding her tight, gently pumping at her. My nose was buried into her hair, smelling her.

  Goddammit, I felt like my heart was going to explode next.

  Even after I was done coming, I just stood there. My balls throbbed. My heart pounded. My dick pulsed. I slid my right hand up Ava’s body, cupping her left breast. I stood her up and held her.

  Mine. All fucking mine.

  That was the thought that kept running through my head.

  She turned her head to look at me.

  Our eyes met yet again.

  Then I had another thought.

  Do not kiss her. Do not fucking kiss her. Not right now. Not in this moment. You kiss her right now, Jace, and you’re stepping too far over the line. It means more…

  Our lips moved closer together.

  Just the slightest brush of Ava’s lips to mine made me feel alive.

  We both hesitated for a second and then lost our moment for good.

  Her cell started to ring again.

  “I should get that,” she whispered.

  Right on fucking cue, my phone started to ring.

  I gritted my teeth. “Yeah. Right.”

  I eased out of her and watched her strut away, her shirt barely covering her bare ass.

  I tucked my dick back into my pants and turned, charging to get my phone. Whoever was on the line was going to get a punch to the face. I wanted to spend all morning inside Ava.

  Instead, I grabbed my phone and saw it was Sid calling.

  I couldn’t punch the President of the MC in the face… but for pussy, maybe.

  I took the call. “Prez, this better be fucking good.”

  I ran a hand through my hair. Sid wanted me at the clubhouse like five minutes ago. He was pissed I wasn’t there.

  “Prez, what’s going on?”

  “Your information is adding up fast,” Sid said.

  “Meaning what?”

  “That night. The attack. I get it now. The murder thing doesn’t make much sense. But if Arnie was there…”

  “Just hold on,” Sid said. “The money we took was from a big name. Bigger than I expected. But we can handle it, Jace. Here’s the thing though… I had eyes out there looking. And those eyes stumbled across something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Frank.”

  “Frank,” I said. “The driver of the car. The one that cruised by my house and then attacked the prospects.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What about?”

  “He’s dead,” Sid said.

  My eyes went wide. “Whoa. Really? Who did it?”

  “That’s the shit part, Jace. I didn’t order it. I don’t know who the fuck did it.”

  My heart sank a little. I stood up. I spotted my jeans on the floor. I tucked the phone to my shoulder and started to strip down. I knew the end of this call would result in me booking to the clubhouse to figure this mess out.

  “So this was a random hit on Frank?” I asked.

  “No,” Sid said. “Someone running with Frank did it.”

  I looked to the doorway and saw Ava standing there, her phone in her hand. She had tears in her eyes. She looked shaken up. I put up a finger and turned around.

  “Prez, what do you think is happening right now?”

  “It’s time to press Ava some more,” Sid said. “I’m sorry. One of my guys told me that her father and Frank were together. Recently. Now Frank is dead and Jake is missing. And the other name in this… Glen… shit, Jace, I don’t even want to go down that road.”

  “One thing at a time then,” I said, not sure if I wasn’t talking to Sid or myself.

  “First thing, get your ass her
e. Bring Ava too. We need more answers. By any means necessary.”

  Sid hung up on me. I felt my body filling with rage.

  Slowly, I turned, not wanting to face Ava, but I had no choice.

  “Sweetie,” I whispered. “Listen to me…”

  “Jace,” she cut in. She wiped a tear off her cheek. “My father is in the hospital… he had a heart attack…”

  chapter twenty-four

  (ava)

  *NOW*

  I held my father’s hand. Machines beeped. Nurses were checking vitals. Jace stood behind me, giving me space, but still honoring his word to protect me. He told me that Uncle Frank had been shot and killed. I felt like everything I knew was completely falling apart. I felt empty and worse yet, when Dad turned his head and looked at me with his weak eyes, I knew more was about to get dumped on me.

  His lips quivered. “Ava…”

  “What happened?” I asked him.

  “I’ll leave you be,” the nurse said. “If you need anything, Jake, you press that button there.” The nurse pointed, smiled, and left the room.

  “Where were your heart pills?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “Oh, Ava. There were never any heart pills.”

  “What?”

  “The pills did this to me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Drugs. That’s what was in the bottle. I had different kinds of drugs, Ava. Frank got me hooked a long time ago. I’m so sorry. I let your mother down with it all. She tried for years to clean me up but I couldn’t do it. It was my relief. I could take breaks though, Ava, and I did. I took breaks. That’s how Frank pulled me into it all. The drugs. The gambling. It was the only way to keep my debts satisfied and try to save the store. I wanted to keep it all for your mother and you. But it never worked out. Frank had me… he had me on a leash…”

  Dad started to break down.

  I took my hand from his.

  Behind me, I felt Jace touch my back. His lips then at my ear. “I’ll leave the room.”

  “No,” I said. “You’re staying, Jace. We’re all in this.”

  I felt a surge go through me. I was going to stand tall and take control of my life.

  Right here. Right now.

  “He had you on a leash?” I asked Dad.

  “Yes. Me and several other people. It was what he did best. Luring us in and keeping us hooked and happy. I’m so sorry, Ava.”

  “Frank was murdered,” I said. “Did you do it?”

  “No,” Dad said. “No… I didn’t… I would never…”

  “You knew about it?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I saw it happen. I was hiding. I was in a warehouse just outside Bishop. That’s where Frank wanted me to meet him. He was planning another attack.” Dad looked at Jace. “He wanted revenge on you guys bad. You did something to him. He tried to blame me. That time at the store… he was high and trying to collect from everyone he controlled. I had nothing to give him though except the cash in the register.”

  “I can’t speak for my club,” Jace said. “Speak to your daughter.”

  “Dad, who killed Frank?” I asked. “If you were there… you could help Jace’s club. We could stop this.”

  “He knows what he wants,” Dad said.

  “What does he want?” I asked.

  Dad lifted a weak finger. He pointed at me. “Ava, he wants you dead.”

  “Who wants me dead?” I asked.

  Dad shook his head. He started to breakdown again.

  This time, Jace wasn’t having it.

  Pushing me aside, Jace stepped forward and stared down at my father.

  “Listen,” Jace said. “You’ve done nothing but fuck things up for your family. Whatever else you’ve got hiding, get it out now before your damn heart gives out for good. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the one behind all of this. One phone call to my club and they’ll be here to settle up. And I think you know what that means. You want to run with gangsters like Frank? Fine. But you’ve never seen the power of an outlaw.”

  “Help me sit up,” Dad said to Jace.

  Jace grabbed Dad’s arm. He pulled Dad up. One of the machines started to beep wildly and Dad let out a groan. He was short of breath for a few seconds but waved me off when I started to reach for the button to get the nurse.

  “Okay,” Dad said. “I have to fix all of this.” He licked his dry lips. They were cracked, purplish. “Ava, you can’t walk away from this.”

  “From what?”

  “The truth.”

  “Give me the truth and we’ll see what happens,” I said.

  “It was a few years before you were born, Ava. I had been messing around with drugs then too, okay? Your mother, she was a saint to me. She put up with everything. All of it. I had an affair, Ava. It was a quick thing. Some woman who was into the drugs as much as me. That’s what we bonded over.”

  My chest tightened.

  “Bonded,” I whispered. “That’s not all, is it?”

  “No. She was worse than me. I regretted the affair as soon as it started. It only lasted a week. I confessed it all to your mother. I actually cleaned up for a little while. But then I found out the woman was pregnant.”

  I stepped back, bumping into Jace. I jumped and gasped. His hands touched me, trying to reassure me.

  “She was high when he was born. She died, but he didn’t. I wanted nothing to do with him, Ava. He wasn’t going to be my son. I had a wife. I had my own marriage to fix.”

  “You had a secret son?” I asked.

  Dad nodded. “He ended up in the same crew as Frank. He was vicious. He was a terrible man. Still is.” Dad reached for me. “Please, Ava…”

  I felt Jace nudge me.

  I stepped forward and let Dad grab my hand. “What?”

  “I never meant for any of this to happen to you,” he said. “To us. To our family. I kept all of this going so you would have the chance to get away from it all.”

  “But you kept me there.”

  Dad nodded. “I did. I didn’t want to lose you too.”

  “Take us to Frank,” Jace cut in. “Him getting shot.”

  Dad looked at Jace. “I hid and Frank was talking to him. They were arguing over the Bitter Aces. You guys. Your club. How to handle things. Frank wanted me to listen and make a move if need be. But then they got heated. Really fast, too. Before I could make a move, he shot Frank right in the head. Right between the eyes. That’s when I felt my heart jump. It was like a sledgehammer to my chest. I had to wait for him to leave and I bolted. I got into my car and drove myself to the hospital. I collapsed in the ER waiting room and when I woke up, I was here.”

  “You keep saying he,” Jace pointed out.

  “Who is he?” I asked. “My brother?”

  Dad nodded. “Yes, your brother.”

  “And what’s the name?” Jace asked. “So I can get this figured out.”

  Dad looked at Jace. “His name is Glen.”

  I looked at Jace and saw his face drop. I’d never see the look on Jace’s face before.

  “What is it?” I asked him.

  “Glen,” Jace said. He looked at me. “That’s the guy who tried to kill me.”

  chapter twenty-five

  (jace)

  *NOW*

  I stood at the table. Smoke lingered in the air. Everyone had spoken their mind and now it was silent. Everyone taking a drink here and there. Our thoughts racing wild. We had everything laid out on the table.

  Glen was the guy who tried to take me out all those years ago. He was the one running the games in and out of Bishop. He was the guy who had kept Frank as a pawn. Which then made Jake a pawn.

  Now it was time to strike back and take Glen down.

  That’s where all eyes went to Sid. He was the President. It was up to him to formulate a plan for us to vote on.

  But I sensed something about the table. Something wasn’t quite right. A couple of the older guys - at the far end of the table - they just sat there with a weird
look on their faces.

  “What is it?” I asked. “I’m feeling something here.”

  “You tell him,” Bill said in a rough voice. “I’m not fucking spilling old blood.”

  “Old blood?” I asked.

  “Sit down,” Sid said to me.

  I listened.

  I looked to the door.

  I had Ava in the clubhouse. She was in the back in a spare room that I used as a fuck pad. Her father ended up getting all worked up at the hospital and needed to be sedated. The nurse filled in the gaps. The son of a bitch had been so hopped up on pills that his heart couldn’t handle it. There was a risk of heart attack, the possibility of surgery, and, shit, he might just croak right there in the hospital.

  It was a fucking mess.

  Ava was doing her best to process basically a life of lies.

  I tried to be there for her, shutting my anger down.

  Christ, imagine it… she had a secret brother. And that brother killed her mother. Jake confessed that the murder involved money and jealousy. Glen was jealous that Ava had a normal life and he didn’t. He was a brutal man.

  And I was about to find out just how brutal.

  “Glen was a prospect for the MC,” Sid said.

  The entire table lit up with grumbles. Sid whistled and waved a hand. Everyone shut their mouths.

  Sid kept his stare to mine. “He was brought in by some old guys. I was sitting VP to Spade. We were rebuilding after a bloody war way out in Reno. We were focusing on the small town feel again. Glen was fast paced and no fear. That’s what caught all our attention. He was intense. A month into things he started going too far. Breaking out of his role. Hurting people. Getting picked up for dumb crimes. And then we got word he was working behind our backs. Going to the guys that were connected, wanting to trade favors. In my opinion Glen wanted to blackmail the Bitter Aces into a leather cut. That didn’t fly with Spade. Or me.”

  “He was voted out,” I said. “Lost his prospect cut but not his life.”

  Sid nodded. “We had no concrete proof. We weren’t in a position to start taking out our own guys. So we made some cuts to our prospects and we included him. He got pissed off. Really pissed off. He promised to come back at us, hard. We took it for what it was worth. Spade had him roughed up a few times and then he slipped away. That was the end… or so we thought.”