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  While Buzzard peeled out, taking Desmond to safety, Ice and the rest of his men went for the cars. His men who were closer fired, dropping the ones who were armed and the fleeing ones who had tried to kidnap Desmond.

  Ice pulled out his gun, firing and killing the driver of the first car before he left the alley. Running to the side of the second car’s driver’s window, he used the butt of his gun to break the glass as the driver tried to change gears. The car began moving backwards, almost hitting several council members stupid enough to flee that way. That was the only good thing about shoot-outs in public—people running for their lives made shitty witnesses.

  “Stop or I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”

  As the car stopped moving, Ice jerked the door open, yanking the driver from the car and throwing him on the ground.

  “Jackal?” Ice yelled.

  “Got most of them,” Jackal answered, throwing one he had knocked unconscious to the ground.

  Ice placed his booted foot on the back of the driver. “Search the back of the car. I didn’t see anyone, but make sure.”

  Jackal opened the back of the car. “Clear.”

  “Get them loaded into the cars quick. The cops will be here any second,” Ice ordered.

  His men shoved everyone into the two cars. Ice jerked out the dead driver, throwing him out onto the pavement. Getting behind the wheel, he sped off down the deserted street.

  He drove through the large city, coming to an older building used to manufacture socks. He headed to the parking garage which was guarded, and his man opened the gate, letting them inside. Ice pulled to a freight elevator and came to a stop then got out and ordered his men to get Deacon’s men inside.

  “Jackal, Max.”

  Both men came to his side.

  “Jackal, you warned Deacon?” Ice asked, wanting to be fair.

  “Yeah.”

  “Go get him,” Ice ordered coldly.

  “You got it.”

  After he watched his men leave, Ice went to the empty freight elevator, going inside and pulling down the door with a loud bang.

  Deacon would be waiting for a return attack and be surrounded with men. Deacon thought that, because he had hired so many men, he would be safe. Dumb fucker hadn’t taken into account the men he had hired were inexperienced, counting on the larger force. Ice had hired fewer men, but what he lacked in numbers, they had in experience.

  Ice whistled as the elevator descended. He was going to have more time to spend with Grace. He was going to end all Desmond’s problems with Deacon today. He might even take the little shit a treat tonight.

  * * *

  Ice had already shot Deacon in both kneecaps and hips when his cell phone rang.

  “Yeah?” he answered.

  “Ice, your old lady has a problem.” Snake was one of two recruits placed to watch over Grace when he wasn’t with her.

  “What’s going on?” Ice asked, watching Deacon’s blood drip to the concrete floor he was hanging above.

  Ice walked away so Deacon’s cries for help didn’t keep him from hearing what Snake was saying.

  “She’s out walking, trying to find that little dog of hers. He got out about an hour ago. Raft’s trying to look for it without her seeing him.” Snake broke off. Ice could hear him in the background. “Fuck, fuck.”

  “What’s going on?” Ice yelled into the cell phone.

  Snake came back on. “She almost got hit by a car, chasing after it when it darted out in the street. It disappeared into another neighborhood.”

  “Go help her catch the little shit. If something happens to her, you’re dead!” Ice commanded.

  “You told us not to let her see us. If we help, she’ll know.”

  “I don’t give a fuck. I’ll deal with that later. I’m on my way.” Ice disconnected the call then strode back to Jackal and Max who were playing with Deacon by swinging him back and forth between them.

  “Watch out, he’s going to blow.” Max laughed, stepping back as Deacon’s vomit joined the blood on the floor.

  “I have to go. Can you two handle it?” Ice asked.

  “Yeah, go ahead and leave. Me and Jackal got this.”

  “Later.”

  Ice rushed from the building going to his bike, which a recruit had already dropped off. Climbing on and turning on the motor in one fluid move, Ice rode out of the garage, barely slowing down for the guard to run and open the gate.

  He pulled in front of Grace’s house just as it was beginning to get dark. She was sitting on her front doorstep, crying. He had passed both Raft and Snake still looking for the dog.

  After Ice got off his bike, he went to Grace, sitting down beside her and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

  “I can’t find Bear. My washer broke and the repairman left the door open when he went out to his truck to get a part. I didn’t know. I was in the kitchen.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.

  “Baby, we’ll find him. Now go inside and make us something to eat.”

  “I can help—”

  “Go inside. Look at me, Grace.”

  Grace turned her tear-streaked face up toward him.

  “I’ll find him.”

  “Okay, I’ll go fix you, Raft, and Snake something to eat.” Grace got to her feet, brushing down her skirt. She was about to go inside when she turned back to Ice. “After you find Bear, we’re going to talk about your men being here.”

  “Kind of figured that one was coming,” Ice told her, moving off through her yard.

  They searched for over an hour for the little shit, catching sight of him a couple of times, but he always managed to dart away from them. Ice thought he had seen him run to a backyard, going underneath the fence. He considered climbing over the low fence, but he really didn’t feel like dealing with the cops when the homeowner called the police.

  He knocked on the front door and a tiny, old woman answered. Ice was amazed she had opened her door to him. He was wearing faded and worn jeans with a long, black-sleeved muscle shirt with his cut on over it.

  She stared at him from his boots to his long hair.

  “Can I help you?” Her frail voice wobbled as she asked.

  “My old lady’s dog got loose. We saw him run in your backyard. Would you mind if I go back there to find it?”

  Ice waited for her refusal. The little shit was probably already gone anyway.

  Snake and Raft came to stand in her front yard, waiting for her approval.

  “That’s fine. Give me a second, and I’ll get the key to unlock the fence.” The woman left her door open as she went back inside her home for the key.

  Ice just shook his head at the woman’s lack of safety measures.

  She returned with the key, handing it to him.

  “Thank you. I’ll bring it right back.” Ice went to unlock the padlock.

  “Search the backyard while I take the key back to her,” he directed his men.

  Snake and Raft both went inside the backyard while Ice went back to the porch, handing the old woman the key.

  “Thanks, my ol—my girlfriend is attached to the little sh—dog.”

  “You’re welcome. What does it look like?” Her tired grey eyes were twinkling in amusement, looking down.

  “A little brown dot of…” Ice had to keep cutting himself off, trying at least not to come off as a complete jackass. Suddenly, Ice felt a wet tongue on his fingers. Looking down, he saw the dot licking them.

  “Seems he found you.” The woman’s laugh turned into a bad cough.

  Ice steadied her until she stopped. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She brushed off his concern. “You better get your girlfriend’s dog home. I’m sure she’s worried sick.”

  Ice bent over, picking the dot up and expecting to be bitten any second; instead, the dog licked the side of his face. Putting the dot under his arm like a football, he turned to leave, but before he left, he had to warn the old woman.

  “You really shouldn’t ope
n your door to strangers or leave your door open. It isn’t safe. There’s a lot of bad people out here who are not only mean, but evil and wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” She gave him a sad smile as she went inside.

  He shook his head when he didn’t hear her lock the door behind her.

  “Did you lock the fence back?” Ice asked his men.

  “Yeah.”

  As Raft and Snake stared at the dot under his arm with animosity, Ice gripped it tighter. “You can both head back to the clubhouse. Take a couple of days off. You deserve it.”

  Ice heard their bikes leaving as he went inside Grace’s house. She came running around the corner when she heard the door open.

  “Bear!” she squealed in joy, practically ripping the dog away from him. “You bad boy. You know better. You scared me to death.”

  “Nearly got you hit by a car,” Ice chimed in.

  “That wasn’t his fault, it was mine.”

  “If he hadn’t run out of the house, you wouldn’t have been outside in the middle of the fucking road,” Ice corrected her.

  “He didn’t know that was going to happen!” she snapped. “Bear, want a treat?”

  “No treat.” Ice told her, taking the dog firmly away from her and setting it on the floor.

  “Where did you find him?”

  “At an old woman’s house at the end of the street.”

  “That’s Merry. She lives with her grandson. She’s really sweet, but there’s something strange about her grandson.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. I used to talk to her when I was outside mowing the lawn, but she doesn’t come out as much anymore. I think she’s been ill.” Grace had just sat Bear down and begun playing with him when Daisy came into the room, licking her friend in greeting.

  “Food, woman, now.”

  “All right.” Grace gave in, going to the kitchen. “I thought Snake and Raft were going to come inside and eat before they left.”

  “I told them they could leave for the safety of your dog. Besides, I’m hungry enough to eat it all myself. I haven’t eaten since last night.”

  Grace set a huge bowl of chili and a plate of sandwiches down in front of him. He managed to make a large dent in the amount of food before he sat back in his chair, finally content.

  They did the dishes together before going to the bedroom. As Ice closed the door and turned around, he saw Grace standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

  “Would you mind telling me why those young men were outside watching my house?”

  “Not really, but I guess I won’t be getting any tonight if I don’t.”

  Ice took off his shirt then unbuckled his jeans before sitting down on the side of the bed to take his boots off.

  “I have a news flash for you: you weren’t going to get any tonight anyway. I’m indisposed tonight.”

  “Indisposed? What the fuck does that mean?” He stood up to face her. “If you’re mad at me, then be mad. I don’t dig chicks who use sex as a punishment.”

  Her lips thinned in anger. Perhaps he should have been more considerate, finding out first if she wasn’t feeling well or still upset about the little shit, but he was fucking tired and aggravated after searching for her dog. He had even gotten here in less than three hours because he had been worried about her, and he had a ticket to prove it in his saddlebag.

  “I didn’t think of using it as a punishment, but now I am. I’m not able to have sex tonight.” Her face turned bright red.

  “You on the rag?”

  “I loathe that term, but yes, it’s my time of the month.”

  “Baby, that doesn’t have to stop us.” He laughed, relieved. He thought for a second she might actually be sick. He finished undressing only to hear the bathroom door slam shut. Ice gave a wicked grin he was happy she couldn’t see. He wasn’t smiling twenty minutes later when she still hadn’t come out.

  He was getting back out of bed when she came out of the bathroom. She had changed into a two-piece pajama set which was pink with too much material.

  Ice watched as she turned off the bedroom light without a word and climbed into bed. Expecting her to give him the cold shoulder, he was taken aback to see her sitting up and staring at him.

  “I’m ready to listen to your explanation about Snake and Raft.”

  Ice gritted his teeth, wishing for once she would do what he expected her to. He pushed his pillow up against the headboard then sat back and reached over to turn the table lamp on.

  “If we’re going to talk, we’re going to do it with the light on, not in the dark.”

  “Fine,” she snapped. “Well?”

  “Check the attitude, Grace.” He stared at her coldly until her face lost the stubborn expression. “I placed my men here to make sure you’re safe. If you run into any trouble, I’m over a three-hour ride away. If your car breaks down or someone gives you a hard time, one of my men will be here to deal with it when I’m not.”

  “I can handle any situation on my own. If my car breaks down, I do have several friends from the college I could call for a ride. If anyone gives me a hard time, I can call the police. What I don’t need is your protection.”

  “Like you didn’t need us tonight? If not for us, you would still be out looking for Bear.”

  “Maybe, but I would have eventually caught him. Even if I didn’t, I could have handled it.”

  “You don’t have to anymore.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means you’re my old lady now, and I handle shit like that for you.”

  “Your old lady?” From her furious expression, he didn’t think she was getting what he was saying.

  “Yeah, old lady, my woman. You know, girlfriend,” he explained.

  “Oh, my God.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I’m a biker’s old lady.”

  Ice laughed at her. “Yeah. When I refer to you as my old lady, my men know you’re important to me.”

  “Oh.” This time she was mollified by his explanation.

  “That’s okay, then.” She scooted closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder, brushing her hand gently across his chest. This time, it was Ice who was appeased.

  “Ice, I don’t want your men watching me. I take my safety seriously.”

  “Why didn’t you call me when you couldn’t find Bear?”

  “What?”

  “Why didn’t you call me? You had been looking for over an hour before Raft and Snake showed themselves. Why didn’t you call me?”

  Grace seemed confused by his question. “I didn’t think of it, honestly, because I’m used to handling things on my own. That’s what adults do.”

  “No, most women in relationships call their partners to ask for help or tell them what’s going on and give them the chance to help, but you didn’t do that.”

  “I didn’t think of it that way. The next time something happens, I’ll at least call you to tell you, all right?”

  “That’s my baby. But I’m still keeping my men here,” he stated firmly, seeing her anger begin to rise again. “You’re my woman, and this is going to be the way it is. My woman does not get upset. My woman does not get hurt. And my woman does not almost get hit by a car.

  “My club has enemies. I don’t broadcast that you’re my woman, but it would be easy for my movements to be tracked, and they would find out. My woman will not be in danger because of my club. So as long as you’re my woman, there will be two men sitting in front of your door when I’m not here. If you keep arguing with me, I’ll spank your bottom until it’s red. They will still be sitting in front of your door when I leave in the morning.”

  “I don’t believe in domestic discipline,” Grace said angrily.

  “What the fuck does…? You mean me spanking you?”

  “Yes! That’s what that term refers to,” she said haughtily.

  “Fuck, that’s one term you use I actu
ally like. Domestic discipline… domestic discipline.” He let the words roll off his tongue.

  “Oh, be quiet.” She moved away from him, giving him her back.

  Ice reached out and turned off the lamp. Then he adjusted his pillow before staring up at the ceiling in the dark, letting the tension leave his body. His baby scooted toward him, still with her back turned until she was touching him. He had noticed that, whenever he slept with her, she liked to feel his body touching hers. Ice thought it gave her a sense of security to know he was lying next to her. He wondered how she slept the nights he didn’t come to town.

  He rolled over, putting his arm around her waist and pulling her back against him. Closing his eyes, he remembered tossing and turning last night in his empty bed at the clubhouse. She wasn’t the only one who felt more secure when they were together.

  * * *

  Grace slipped out of bed quietly when the sun woke her early, turning off her alarm before it could ring. She didn’t want to wake Ice. He had told her the previous evening that he would be able to stay the day with her. She only had a morning class today, and then they would be able to go for a ride.

  The sky outside promised a sunny day. She was looking forward to spring being just around the corner.

  Grace closed the bathroom door, starting the shower. She used the restroom then took off her pajamas, tossing them into the hamper before stepping into the shower, enjoying the warmth of the water.

  She loved her shower. It was large with tan tiles, giving it a spa atmosphere.

  She washed her hair, leaning her head back as she rinsed out the shampoo. When she leaned her head forward, she saw a large figure standing there. A gargled scream escaped her as she cowered against the shower wall.

  “Grace! Stop. It’s me!” Ice’s voice broke through her sudden terror.

  Gasping, she placed her hand on the shower wall. When Ice reached for her, pulling her close, she shuddered against him, letting the fear leave her.

  “Okay now?” Ice rubbed her back. “I wanted to take a shower with you, but since you’re finished, you can help me.”