Hammer's Pride by E.C. Land (brene brown rising strong TXT) 📕

for having her meltdown while leaving the work to Quinn and Willow, the two women who work with her. Instead of arguing with her right then and there about it after having my mind blown by the way her pussy gripped my cock, I simply dragged her out of there and out to my bike. Again when I got on the bike, I’d had her ride straddling me rather than pressed against my back.

From my spot at a table across the room, I can see her moving around behind the bar. Avery declared since I brought her home early, she was going to straighten up behind the bar because it needed to be cleaned up.

Whatever. Long as my woman is within my sights, I’m good.

Her words about her family still ring in my ear. I messaged Gunner tellin’ his ass to get here along with Cy. I need more information, and I don’t want to press Avery for it. She doesn’t deserve to be put in the middle of shit. No woman does. I get why my brother cherished his wife so much now.

“What’s goin’ on, Prez?” Malice asks taking a seat next to me. Normally I’d do this in church or in my office; however, I can’t keep my eyes on Avery then. I refuse to allow anything to happen to her. I’ve seen my brothers go through hell for women, and I’m not about to go through the same shit.

Hades, my nephew, he and his ol’ lady went through trauma where even today, she still has nightmares. Hades has told me about them and how that fucker who’d hurt her still haunts her dreams. Not as much, but all the same, it still guts my nephew every time.

“Need Bunny and Cheeks taken to the cellar,” I mutter; the thought of the image sent to Avery fills my head, and I ball my fist.

Avery must sense my eyes on her or the tension or whatever it is because she lifts her head, her gaze comes to mine, and she gives me a look of concern. Lifting a hand, I motion for her to come here. Her brows crease, but she does as I want her to.

“Why?” Malice grunts.

“Tell you in a minute,” I say, not wanting to repeat myself. Malice nods and pulls out his phone to issue the job to one or two of our brothers.

I push back from the table soon as Avery gets close and reach out to snag her around the waist. “You okay?” I ask, wanting to make sure after everything.

“Yes,” she utters ever so softly and fuck if it doesn’t go to my cock.

The damn thing twitches at the thought of taking her to my room and fuckin’ her the rest of the evening away. But that all will have to wait.

“Okay. Do me a favor; while you’re fuckin’ around behind the bar, can you look over the menu to somewhere and place an order. I’ll get a prospect to go get it when it’s ready.”

“I could easily cook something in the kitchen,” she offers.

“No, Sunshine, I want you to stay in here so I can see you. Pick out what you want and get enough for the rest of the club,” I state firmly and give her leg a squeeze when she opens her mouth to protest. “Baby, you’ve had a fucked-up day, and I need you to stay where I can see you. Do that for me, and don’t argue.”

“Fine,” she huffs, and I kiss her gently.

When it comes to her, for some reason, I can’t be the hard, ruthless bastard I’m known to be. I don’t even think I could even if I wanted to. It’s like I told her she’s light in the dark, and I’m not gonna lose it. Doesn’t mean I won’t fuck up ‘cause I know I fuckin’ will.

Tapping Avery on the ass, I watch her walk back toward the bar.

“You’re a fuckin’ goner for that woman, Prez,” Malice says with a smirk in place.

“Can you blame me?” I ask, grinning. The woman has even gotten to Malice, who’s just as much of a bastard as I am. It’s one of the reasons he’s my VP. He’s got no problem taking care of business and has the same views as me.

“Nope, you deserve to have someone like her. Same as her, we can all see the purity of that woman, and she needs someone to look out for her,” Malice mutters, the grin slipping from his gaze as a commotion comes from the hallway.

“Please, Axe. Please, I need it. It’s too painful. I can’t . . .” Simone cries, pleading while she tries to fight Axe’s hold on her arm, keeping her at bay as he also works on getting her through the main room and out to his truck. Axe had sent me a text saying he’d been able to get her into Resting Hands straight away and he was gonna head that way this evening to get her set up.

Glancing from Simone to Avery, I don’t miss the concerned look on her face. She’d seen the woman, but I hadn’t told her about Simone. Simone needs fuckin’ expert help, and the sooner, the better.

“Darlin’, you can’t have anything. Sorry, the doctors don’t want you sedated upon arrival. When we get there, I’ll make sure they give you something to ease the pain,” Axe grumbles, frustrated by this all.

“No. I can’t wait. It’s too painful. I can feel their hands on me. Inside me. My body craves it to the point it hurts. Please just end it all,” Simone begs.

Through this, I keep my gaze locked on my woman as she stares at Simone. Her words setting into Avery’s head, and I don’t miss the tears welling in her eyes. But she shocks the shit out of me by rounding the bar and heading for Axe and Simone. I tense, wanting to get up and snag her away. None of us know how Simone will