Bash (Diablo Disciples MC #6)

EPILOGUE

Charlotte

HALF A YEAR AFTER THEIR WEDDING

Every decision they’ve made together as a couple so far has felt right.

Bash was so romantic when he proposed.

He’d told her the truth that he would ask. It came only days after he’d given her his property patch. Her man was so impatient. And gorgeous with it.

It was the easiest yes of her life.

She couldn’t picture a day without Bash. Of course, she wanted to tie him to her forever.

They decided on a simple ceremony with only their closest family and friends attending. Afterward, they held a massive party for everyone to celebrate with them.

She’d married a biker, and certain people now looked at Lottie differently. Like she’d lost her common sense, and they were wondering why she’d chosen to be around bikers, of all people.

They didn’t get it.

How inclusive the MC world was.

This was her world now. She’d gladly left the old one behind. That world didn’t have color and joy. It didn’t have Bash. Lottie also said her last goodbye to Nora. A letter arrived in the mail, four months after her near-death experience. The handwriting belonged to Nora, and the postage mark showed it was from Cancun. Lottie didn’t even have to think about opening it. She knew it would only be a bunch of fake apologies. And she wasn’t that woman anymore. Nora made her choices, and Lottie did, too. She ripped it up and chucked it in the trash without even looking at it.

Her life was here now.

Her heart gave a little bump, and her bloodstream became red hot when muscular arms came around her waist from behind.

“Are you thinking about me putting a baby in you, darling?” the rough-sounding man said in her ear.

Lottie got an all-over body shudder.

He was so mean for turning her on in public.

It wasn’t like people were saints at the Diablos’ parties.

If she looked across to the bonfire, she’d see Kelly straddled over Devil’s lap while they made out. Mouse was getting attention from a club girl, and Scarlett had her hand up Axel’s shirt while he played poker with the older members.

Personal displays of affection were a given, but Lottie wasn’t that far advanced yet that she’d start going at Bash with abandonment.

“I need to teach my husband how to use his big boy manners and not say things he can’t back up with action.”

It was the wrong thing to taunt Bash with because a rawness entered his eyes when he whirled her around, clasping onto her hips, bringing them groin to groin.

Her husband, of several months now, was a man of action.

That was why she never stressed the big or small stuff anymore.

It was like he’d charged into her life and given Lottie this relief that she was no longer alone and didn’t have to rely on only her.

Bash took care of her like no one else had.

Every day, he expressed his love for her in numerous ways.

Not only with words.

His acts of service were dizzying and so lovely.

She was, beyond a doubt, a spoiled wife.

Bash had built them a fantastic marriage. There was nothing she couldn’t ask for.

But it was his love she craved most of all.

It was all the little things she loved the best. The trivial workings of a marital relationship.

It took little to no effort to make her husband happy, but it was what she strived for each morning when she woke up.

“How much action did I bring last night, wife? And this morning. You wanna keep running your sweet mouth at me?” He nuzzled behind her ear.

“Eh, you brought enough. As my English Lit teacher would tell me, could do better.” She teased, barely holding her smile as she watched Bash’s eyes flare.

“Woman, you know I’ll sit your pretty ass on that bar, open your pants right here and show you what a gorgeous liar you are.”

He was so easy to tease.

Bash wouldn’t go through with his threat. He respected her boundaries.

Sure, he’d push her into a private bathroom and fuck her there, making her scream, and then hold her hand while she did the walk of shame as he smirked, pleased with himself.

“It’s a good thing I’m the medical professional in this family because oral sex isn’t how babies are made.”

When his eyes twinkled, a vise grabbed her heart.

Lottie was so stupidly in love with this man that it was sometimes hard to breathe or think without Bash at the center. Only when she was in his arms did the world melt away and all the noises it brought.

They’d spoken about babies. He wanted them more than she did, but that was because she was still experiencing all these emotions for the first time, and she’d never given children a thought before Bash.

She’d agreed to start with one baby.

They already had Prince, who was as good as a baby. Being cat parents took a lot of work.

“I thought, if you weren’t knee-deep in club stuff next weekend, you could whisk me away for a dirty, wicked time.” She proposed.

“And putting a baby in my wife.” He growled low, so hot she shivered and grabbed his wrist to keep steady.

The thought of Bash giving a piece of himself to her drove her husband feral. They weren’t freaking out about getting pregnant. If it happened, it would be great. If not, they were having a gorgeous time making love.

“You better bring your A-game, Benjamin. I’m expecting spectacular fireworks all weekend.” His chest practically vibrated. “I’m talking about acrobatics and longevity, and I expect to be scandalized the next day.”

“ Wife ,” Bash growled again, all heat and predatory intent. She loved it when Bash became savage. He climbed to his feet, and she was over his shoulder before she knew it. “I’ll show you longevity right fucking now.”

It was probably the wrong time to tease him since she was still a little tender from the shower sex this morning, and Bash never backed down from a challenge, but she loved him like this. All feral and without bounds to claim her. Like he thought he didn’t already own her.

The crowd gave them a raucous send-off, and Lottie giggled on the way to his office.

Six months later, right around their first wedding anniversary, Lottie was pregnant.

Eight months and two weeks after that, like he couldn’t wait a day longer, their son was born.

If Lottie had thought Bash was the sexiest man on the planet before, seeing him in dad mode tipped her over the edge. They didn’t even wait for the full recovery time before she attacked him one night, after seeing him bathing Levi and telling him a story about how he wooed his mom sitting on a hospital bench.

That husband of hers, that wonderfully patient man, might be an officer of a one percent MC, but to Lottie, he was one hundred percent perfect for her.

And she knew he always would be.

Bash claimed her first. But Lottie claimed him forever.

He’d loved her longer, but she would love him harder.

* * *

Levi Laurent

SOME YEARS LATER

With the bat-out-of-hell way Levi was riding his bike, it was fortunate he didn’t give a shit about the amount of speeding laws he was breaking.

A four-hour trip was cut in half, and he stepped off his Harley, leaving the half-bucket helmet swinging on the handlebar.

Gun? He felt around the back of his waist and found his weapon holstered. Check.

A raging temper that would blow the whole fucking universe apart? Check.

He carried both like they were extensions of his body.

No one stopped him when he entered the skyscraper. They wouldn’t dare. Security probably took one look at his dark scowl and let hell itself wander about the building.

Levi was here for one reason only.

The building was built on status and stank of wealth and privilege.

He wasn’t without both. He hadn’t known a deprived day, and being part of the Diablos Disciples MC provided enough status to swell his nefarious ego.

But this was old money that went back generations, steeped in outdated traditions, upheld by men who should have been in their coffins already.

She was inside him.

Burning in his veins.

Dominating his mind.

Tracking every inch of her existence all over his, until Levi was no longer himself.

He was something else.

Someone that belonged to another.

His body was a weapon: hers.

And that’s who stepped into the fifteenth-floor corner office and was hit directly with green eyes as she lifted her pale face and clocked him in the doorway.

Levi ignored the bigwigs. Fucking halfwits with their fancy suits, shuffling papers like they thought that made them important.

“Kara. Come.” That’s all he had to say, and she came off the chair and flew across the room, taking the hand he held out to her.

Only the bark of another voice stopped Levi, and he cocked an arrogant eyebrow at the old dude who’d dared shout Kara’s name in that condescending tone.

Levi should cut his fucking tongue out of his head.

“Where do you think you’re going, Kara? And who the hell is this?”

Levi couldn’t describe the peace he felt when she was near.

Or how outrageously psychotic he became if they were apart for too long.

It felt like a disease ripping him apart from the inside, and he knew it wasn’t good for him, knew it was all wrong in so many ways, but he’d never been able to quit.

Without even trying, Kara tormented his darkest needs.

Inside his palm, her fingers shook. Like she was frightened of this rotund motherfucker stretching his navy suit. The surrounding men were no better. Sniveling Yes Men, Levi bet. Wouldn’t know how to wipe their asses without the Bossman ordering them to.

Levi kept his eyebrow arched, moving his warning gaze from person to person.

They didn’t know who he was, but could see the DDMC logo on his jacket.

His appearance might be young, but his dad called him an old soul. And he’d always been able to put the fear of god into any man, no matter his age.

“Me? None of your fucking business.”

“Kara, get your ass back here right now.” The old man ordered, slapping a hand on the table to exert his authority.

“I’m not staying.” She finally spoke, her voice going through him like a poison dipped arrow.

Two weeks had been the longest he’d gone without talking to her.

After two of the longest weeks of his life, he’d been close to going on a rampage until she sent out her SOS call.

“I’m leaving, father.” She said, bolder now as she squeezed his hand.

Ah, so this old twat was the bio dad, huh? Not what he imagined.

Foxie had so many secrets he was going to punish her for.

A preppy guy appeared among the older men. He was younger and projected such an attitude that Levi might have been impressed if he hadn’t already been bored.

“Sweetheart, you can’t leave right now. We have important things to discuss.”

Sweetheart? Really?

Was Foxie hoping to see blood splattered on the walls today? He saw her face twitch with heat and guilt. She had fiery red hair and a face covered in freckles, making her reactions impossible to hide.

She squeezed his hand again, and Levi’s inner rage went down a few notches.

Only a few.

She would face consequences for allowing a man to call her sweetheart.

“I already told you, Heath, like I told Father, this isn’t my fucking mess to fix. If you want the merger, do the deal like normal people. Don’t make me a part of it.”

Foxie was always excessively talkative. He loved it. Levi had a devilish grin on his face. Proud like a papa. He’d properly educated her on how to use profanity.

When he’d met her, she’d used words like darn and shucks. He doubted she’d ever said a fuck in her life until she met him.

“You’ll watch your mouth, young lady,” dearest sperm donor spouted. “And remember where you are.”

“Kara, sweetheart, let’s talk.” The smooth dipshit coaxed as he snapped warning glances toward Levi. “You know I’ll be a good husband. It makes sense to unite our families after all this time. Your father just got you back. Don’t walk away now.”

You know I’ll be a good husband .

Oh, there was so fucking much to unpack from that. Levi about vibrated out of his skeleton.

His head buzzed with static radio waves.

Murder radiated out of his pores like poison.

He could already see ten seconds into the future and how the shit would hit the fan. He wanted to revel in their suffering, using their guts as a damn necklace.

He didn’t know he’d started growling until Kara yanked on his arm. “Lev, let’s go, please.” She looked up at him with her green-green expressive eyes, and his soul settled down, doused by her calmness.

She tugged at his hand, and they moved.

“Kara! Don’t you dare leave. You know the consequences if you do. You will tell me who this man is at once.”

Levi smirked, looking at the head clown and his entire circus surrounding him in their ridiculously affluent suits.

Apparently, this asshole had given Kara life.

But he wasn’t her life.

That guy was nothing to Foxie.

Levi was sure of that because he knew the people who were her actual family.

“I’m her fucking brother,” he announced, ignoring her shocked gasp, “and if she marries anyone, it’ll be me. Adios, motherfuckers.”

As parting words, he shut the room down like a mushroom cloud.

Technically, Kara Fox was his foster sister and had been since they were twelve years old. It was a long story, but she’d been with his parents ever since, raised together, and never once had Levi felt one ounce of brotherly affection for her.

No, Foxie was something else.

Something big. Colossal .

But she was a line that couldn’t be crossed.

Kara was a pulse he had to ignore.

“Lev…”

“Not one damn word, Foxie.” He warned, on the fringe of his sanity splintering.

She kept quiet even when he put her on his bike and latched the helmet underneath her chin. She watched him, tears pooling in her lovely, witchy eyes.

Climbing on in front of her, she grabbed on immediately, and his peace brought a roar to his ears.

It was funny. For as long as he could remember, Levi had to wear earbuds with a low noise playing. Either music or white noise, low enough so he could hear people talking, but loud enough that it kept him steady. He was diagnosed with high functioning blah blah. He didn’t care.

But when Foxie was around, his brain was still, peacefully.

If a woman was ever trouble with a capital T, it was Kara Fox.

And he’d kill for her, with no need to know why.

He’d leave work in the middle of a job, to ride for hours, because she called and asked for help.

Kara was a lot of things to different people.

A daughter they’d never had to his parents.

A friend to many.

The hardest working assistant to the MC.

To Levi, she was the oxygen in his blood and the reason his psyche didn’t go ballistic.

She held on for hours. Never complained that she needed to stop. Levi headed toward Utah, their home. And he connected a call to his best friend, the sociopath, to his psycho.

“Where the fuck did you go to, asshole?” Atlas said as a greeting. Such an ego on that one. Who did he think he was, the Prez? Ah, yeah, he would be soon.

“Listen, I’ve got Foxie with me.”

“Oh, shit. Enough said. What do you need?”

“We’re twenty miles away. Get me cover for a few days.”

“Got it. Is she okay?”

“She’s alive.”

Atlas chuckled. “Will she stay that way?”

Of course. Levi wouldn’t hurt a ginger hair on her head, and she knew it.

She knew how to use her devious tricks to wrap Levi around her skinny finger.

For years, they’d played the same forbidden dance.

He decided it stopped today.

He’d help her out of this final mess, and then he was out.

The state of his sanity was hinged on it being done between them.

He had to leave Kara the fuck alone so he could get on with his own life without his foster sister controlling every breath he took.