Unlawfully Yours (Lawless MC #1)

30

After a long ride with my brother this morning, making the most of the summer sun before fall arrives, Jett and I head back into town for a bite to eat at the diner.

I reach for the door at the same time as someone on the other side pushes it open. My heart quickens when my gaze lands on a set of soft jade eyes I’ve stared into almost every night this week. Eyes I’d recognise anywhere.

She inhales sharply, a small hesitant smile on her lips as her eyes settle on mine. “Hey.”

“Hey, pix.”

She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, something I’ve noticed she does when she’s nervous but her eyes remain on mine, sparkling up at me under the sunlight, bringing out the flecks of gold and a kaleidoscope of different greens and browns in her eyes.

Jett clears his throat next to me. “You guys gonna like… fuck, or just stare each other out all day?”

Allie averts her eyes, a smile tugging at her mouth.

I turn to my brother, ready to tell him to fuck off but before I can speak, a man steps out of the cafe behind Allie.

“Myles. Jett,” Ryan Eaton greets, a takeout cup of coffee in each hand. He glances down at my girl. “Ready to go?”

“Mm-hm,” she nods.

I step back to allow them room to pass, and without being able to help myself, I reach for Allie’s hand as she brushes past me, giving it a subtle squeeze, hyper aware that if Ryan looked down, he’d see her hand in mine. She squeezes back and fuck , if that squeeze doesn’t wrap around my whole heart.

That power I spoke of, the power I swore I’d never allow another woman to hold over me, I take it all back.

Every single word.

This was inevitable. She was always going to be more to me than just one night of unbridled lust. I was kidding myself because I always knew one touch would never be enough for me. She has well and truly corrupted me for any other woman. My heart is hers in every sense on the word. She holds it in the palm of her hand, I just have to pray she’s gentle and doesn’t use that power to crush it into a million pieces.

But even then, every second I’ve spent with her up until now would be worth the heartache.

All too soon, the connection is gone, her fingers slipping from mine as Jett and I continue inside as her and Eaton head towards the patrol car parked up along the street.

We slide into a booth by the window and I gaze out onto the street as I watch their car roll down the road, not missing how her eyes seek me out before the car turns the corner and disappears.

“So, that’s where you’ve been every night this week. Some of the guys have been asking. Now I know.” I snap my gaze to my brother who eyes me knowingly with a grin.

“What can I say? I like being with her.”

Whether it be at her house or mine, we’ve seen each other every night this week, indulging in each other’s body, getting lost in each other’s touch and quite frankly, there’s no place I’d rather be. I’ve made it my mission to cover every inch of her body with kisses, learn every dip and curve and getting to know every possible way to bring her pleasure, find new ways that will have her whimpering with need for me.

I need to touch her like I need air to breathe. I need the sweet scent of her perfume invading my senses just as she’s invaded my heart.

I need her in every way I can have her.

“She makes you happy then?”

“Happier than I’ve been in a long time.” I can say that in all honesty.

Jett smiles. “I’m glad. It’s about damn time too. You deserve to be happy.”

His phone vibrates on the table and as he reads the text that just came through, his jaw clenches. “It’s Venom.”

That grabs my attention. I lean forward on the table. “Go on.”

“He’s got something we could use.”

“Send word for everyone to meet at the clubhouse asap, food will have to wait,” I say as we slip back out of the booth and head for our bikes.

Ray, Cruiser and Killian are already at the table waiting for us when Jett and I enter the Chapel.

“…swear, this chick was coming onto me so fucking strong,” Killian says. “Blonde hair, tight little body, skirt up to her fucking belly button… She couldn’t make it any less obvious she wanted me.”

“Don’t tell me, you fingered her while you tattooed her?” Cru asks with a roll of his eyes.

“Of course not! What do you take me for? I’m a professional, man. You need both hands to tattoo, Jesus . I didn’t finger her while I tattooed her… She sucked me off while I tattooed her.”

“Oh, Jesus,” Ray groans with a shake of his head, a smile stretching his mouth.

“Managed to keep a steady hand too considering she’s got a mouth on her like a hoover. She could suck blood out of a stone, man.”

This is just one of many sexual escapades of Killian James Hunt. He’s a pussy magnet, and being the amazing tattoo artist he is only adds to the attraction apparently. Whereas I’ve never been one to kiss and tell, Kill’s never been one to spare us a single tiny detail.

Jett reclines back in his seat, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you, Kill.”

“What? I got a blowie and she got fifteen percent discount off her tattoo, I’d call that a win win, wouldn’t you? Besides, she’d written Vivid Ink a five star review on trust pilot before my dick was even dry.”

I choke out a laugh.

“You’re gonna land yourself a lawsuit one of these days if you’re not careful, dude,” Cru adds.

“And if I end up in jail, it’s stories like this that’ll keep me going when I’m bored out of my mind with nothing to do.”

“You wanna pray it doesn’t come to that, kid, pretty boys like you have a tendency to become some big bastard’s bitch,” Ray adds and the room erupts in laughter, all except for Kill.

His face hardens and his gaze becomes distant. He’s never spoken much about his time in prison, all I know is he served time when he was still a teenager and judging by the tormented look on his face, his memories from his time inside still haunt him.

At that moment, the door opens and Alex and Jack stroll in, taking up the final two chairs. Every seat at the table is filled, all except for Venom’s.

“What’s going on?” Jack asks.

“Venom contacted me,” Jett starts, resting his elbows on the table. “Grimes has got a shipment of merchandise held up at a barn just outside Clydesdale.”

“Drugs?” Jack asks.

“Most likely. It’s due to be shipped out tomorrow bound for Florida.”

“A bit random to hide them all the way out here,” Alex says.

I shake my head. “A small town in southern Georgia where no one would be suspecting? Little under two hours to cross the border into Florida? A warehouse is too conspicuous, a barn in the middle of nowhere? It’s the perfect hide out spot away from prying eyes.”

“What’re we gonna do? Tip off Walker?” Cruiser asks.

“No, we handle this one on our own,” I announce.

“Fuck yeah!” Kill cheers, slamming his fist down onto the table.

“What a disappointment it would be if Grimes arrived tomorrow morning and the barn was empty?” I ask with a sly grin. “It won’t be easy, my guess is he’ll have a few of his guys guarding the place, there’s no way he’d leave it unprotected.”

“We have an address?” Ray asks.

“Yeah, it’s in the middle of nowhere, at least a mile away from the nearest road. Looks like it’s surrounded by trees. Looked it up online, there’s a house there but it hasn’t been used for over a decade. It’s run down, perfect place to hide something you don’t want found,” Jett explains.

I tap my finger on the table absentmindedly while I think. “Cru, you and Jack go check it out. Take the truck, it’ll draw less attention than the bikes. Don’t get too close, we don’t want them to know we’re onto them. Scope the area and come back to us,” I tell them.

“On it, Prez,” Cruiser says as he and Jack rise out of their seats.

“Be safe, and make sure you’re carrying.” I’m done with Grimes taking hits at my club, and I don’t want to lose either of them. They’re my family, and I want to keep it in tact.

“No problem,” Cru says as he and Jack leave the room.

“Once we hear back from the guys, we’ll decide the best time to go in. Jett, Kill, you’ll come with me. Ray and Alex, you’ll stay here with the Prospects. I want you here to keep an eye on things if shit goes south.”

“So, what now?”

“We wait.”

The guys begin to get up, but Ray hangs back, allowing the others to leave the room. “Are you sure about this?”

I take a deep breath. “No, but we don’t have a choice. We either fight back or lose the club, and our lives along with it.”

He shakes his head. “We managed to stay out of all this shit for years, and now we’re getting dragged right back into the middle of it. I don’t like it.”

“Neither do I.”

“Doesn’t it feel like history is repeating itself?” he asks.

I know what he’s getting at. The last time we were in a situation similar to this, we lost one of our guys, the best of all of us. The threat of The Cobras is as strong today as it was twenty years ago after Grimes took over from his father and not a week later, Thomas Strong was dead.

“It won’t come to that, we won’t let it.” I’ll burn the whole of Hillcrest to the ground with every single fucking Cobra in it before I lose anyone else I care about.

It’s only a couple of hours before a text chimes in from Jack giving us the go ahead and the three of us roll out. Despite my apprehension about going there in broad daylight, we need to get this shit over with.

Parking up alongside the road, we hide the car in amongst the trees so it isn’t spotted, before Jett, Kill and I make our way through the dense woodland that surrounds the area.

Every step I take a sense of foreboding settles deeper in my gut, like this isn’t going to go as we planned. I hate Tobias Grimes with every fibre of my body, he’s a sly bastard and I wouldn’t put anything past him. I wouldn’t even discount the idea that this could well be a trap, but I’m willing to take that chance. This is the first opportunity we’ve had to hit back at his crew, so I’m damn well going to take it.

The trees soon begin to thin out as a dilapidated house comes into view, and about a hundred feet away, is the barn.

Jett stops beside me. “Where the fuck are Cru and Jack?”

“No idea.” My stomach sinks like a lead weight as I search for any sign of them or any of Grimes’ guys standing guard.

There’s nothing. And aside from the rustle of the trees in the breeze, there’s an eerie silence. Hell, not even the birds are singing.

Something’s not right. That sense of foreboding from earlier only intensifies as my heart picks up the pace.

“Could it be a trap? You think they got to Cru and Jack?” Kill asks.

“Possibly.” Am I stupid to be considering going in when there’s a good chance it could be? “Only one way to find out.”

We move in. Taking out my gun from the waistband, I flip off the safety, training my gun in front of me as we move for the double doors around the left side of the barn. There are no windows, the ones that were once there are now completely boarded up with no way to see inside.

We’re going in blind.

Pulling open the door, the three of us enter the barn one by one, my eyes immediately drawn to Cruiser, Jack and Venom who each have a gun aiming at their heads. Beside them, Grimes is flanked by three more of his men, their guns trained on us.

Like they were waiting for us.

It’s a stand off. Three against three with Grimes in the middle. I could shoot him now. Get it over with and all our problems will be solved, but it would be at the cost of three of my own men, something I am not willing to risk.

Grimes grins. “Lawson! So glad you could join us.”

“You were expecting us.” It’s not a question.

“Of course. Who do you think it was giving your little spy over there the information I wanted him to hear? You think I’m that stupid that I wouldn’t know what you were up to? Getting your fucking lapdog to spy on me?” He heads over to Venom and shoves him hard towards us.

Venom stumbles, shooting an apologetic smile my way.

“Pathetic, Lawson. But then again, I’m not surprised, you were always so predictable,” Grimes continues.

“You lured me here for a reason, you’ve got guns trained on two of my guys, so what’s all this about?”

“So you know not to fuck with me, I’ll always be one step ahead of you, every single time. You will never beat me, Lawson, but it’s amusing to see you try.”

“I forgot to offer my sincere condolences for the loss of your VP.” There’s a flicker of anger at my mention of Ricky, his smirk disappearing in an instant. I tut with a shake of my head. “What a waste of life… I hear prison can be brutal.”

“Should’ve known you had something to do with it,” he spits.

“If I’m so predictable, how did you not see that one coming? Now you know what it feels like to lose someone you care about.”

“Speaking of, I hear you’ve heard the news about me and Christina.”

My fists clench but I give away nothing on my face. “As a matter of fact, I did. I’d watch yourself with that one, Grimes.”

“Did I mention she’s my wife now?”

I bark out a laugh. “You’re wife ?”

He grins. “You jealous, Lawson?”

“Oh, far from it. You’re welcome to her, just hope for your sake she doesn’t do a number on you like she did me. Then again, she’s a snake, so I guess she fits right in with you guys.”

Kill snickers somewhere behind me.

“I wouldn’t worry yourself, I know how to keep hold of a woman, but that’s the last time you insult her.”

“Oh, it wasn’t an insult, Grimes, merely an observation. Look, let’s cut the bullshit. Now you’ve got me here, why not just kill me? You’ll never have an opportunity like this again,” I point out.

“I’m not in the mood for bloodshed today, and as for killing you? I’m not gonna kill you, Myles. That’d be too easy. I want to see you suffer. Can’t do that when you’re dead. I want to watch you bleed when everyone around you, everyone you love is taken away from you one by one. Your club, your friends and that little brat of yours. I don’t want a single trace of Lawless left in your fucking town, and by the time I’m done, there won’t be.”

He motions to his men with the flick of his wrist to pull back and lower their weapons, allowing Cruiser and Jack to go free.

“You can go, but keep in mind that I will always be a step ahead of you.”

I don’t bother to respond as we turn to leave, Jett and Killian keeping their guns trained on his men as we retreat.

“Oh, and Lawson,” Grimes calls over my shoulder. I stop and turn just as I reach the door to see his mouth spread into an ear-to-ear grin. “Tell that little girlfriend of yours her uncle Toby sends his regards.”

Uncle? What the fuck?

Instead of retaliating, I say nothing and continue out of the barn.

The walk back to the car is long and all the while my mind is whirling.

“What’s that about Grimes being Allie’s uncle?” Jett asks, looking as confused as I feel.

“I have no idea.”

Something about what he said sends a chill through me and I have no idea why.

Tell that little girlfriend of yours her Uncle Toby sends his regards…

What the hell is he talking about? In what fucked up universe could Allie ever be related to that bastard?

But then something clicks in my brain and my heart lurches to a stop, my feet faltering.

No, it can’t be.

There’s no way…

It’s too much of a coincidence, surely?

I don’t want to believe it, but just like a jigsaw puzzle, every piece slowly begins to slot into place, building up a picture in my head and realisation hits me full force, knocking me back a step.

Allie… Allison . As in Allison Strong .

Oh my fucking God.