No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

morning, beautiful,” he said and pulled me tighter to his body. “Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I have in years,” I admitted and realized it was true.

Being wrapped in his arms gave me a peace I had never experienced in my entire life. I was always wary of my environment and surroundings, but being with him took all of it away.

“I’m glad,” he explained and kissed me on the side of my head.

The sound of motorcycles leaving the club sounded into the small cabin, and I stretched in his hold. His hand on my back stopped and I could feel his fingers grazing the three thick scars running across my spine. His gaze turned worrisome, and I smiled and shook my head.

“That’s all in the past,” I whispered, and his lips drew in before he blew out a breath.

Bear sat up and nudged his hand, causing Kade to shift his touch to my side and the tension to drain from his body. If things worked out between us, one day, I would tell him about what happened, but for today, there was no need to add any additional drama and pain to an already strained situation. The conversation last night about Callahan, the new ringleader of the Flats, would have to be dealt with, even if the MC wouldn’t let me be involved.

“What’s going to happen now?” I asked, and he shifted me until I was halfway stretched across him. He angled his hard length away from me and caressed my face, his thumb brushing over the much smaller bump on my head.

“First thing is to get you some breakfast and see what the Pres decided. After that, whatever you want to happen.” He smiled, and I leaned down, pressing my lips to his again.

His tongue swept against the seam of my lips and I opened my mouth, our tongues meeting in the middle as we gently explored each other. He kept his hands where they were and a lightning bolt shot through my body as the kiss grew in intensity. He pulled back and I leaned into his hand as he stroked my cheek and watched me.

I felt cherished, safe, and faster than I thought possible, I was falling head over heels for Kade.

Chapter Eight

Kade

It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, to leave the bed with Sadie. For the first time since I joined the Army over seven years ago, I slept throughout the night without a nightmare. Bear usually woke me from them, but to wake up with Sadie in my arms and Bear tucked into her back gave me hope that she was really meant to be mine.

I gave her something to wear and walked outside with her hand in mine, Bear following closely behind us. Jacob yelled from the picnic pavilion when we rounded the corner to the clubhouse.

“Sadie!”

She smiled and we walked over to the youngest Watkins sibling, who was being doted over by Piper and a few of the other old ladies. She sat down next to him and I kissed her on the head before going inside to make us a plate and coffee. When I returned, Skid was sitting on the other side of her, speaking low with a smile on his face.

His eyes caught mine, and he stood, giving me the seat next to her. We enjoyed the early morning before the heat kicked up, eating our breakfast, and not discussing the incident from yesterday. I knew we would meet soon, and I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Jacob.

“Are you my sister’s old man?” he asked me, and Sadie spit her orange juice out, showering a laughing Dalton in the sweet, sticky juice.

I linked my hand with hers and wrapped my arm around her as she looked around the table. Everyone had a smile on their face, and I looked at the little boy, a small carbon copy of his brother, and asked, “I want to be. How would you feel about that?”

Sadie was a package deal, and I wanted Jacob to like me. He perked up and exclaimed, “She’s happy and that makes me happy.” The table awed, and then the little man spoke clearly and directly to the point. “But if you hurt my sissy, I’ll kill you while you sleep.”

It stunned me into silence. Skid put his fist across the table and the little man pounded it with a smile on his face. I smirked and looked at a shocked Sadie.

“What do you say?” I whispered into her ear and she turned her face to mine.

“I’ve never wanted anything more, but . . . is it too soon? We just met.” Her whispered words spoken only to me and I leaned over, kissing her, giving her my answer.

“Hounds! Church!” Bullet yelled, and I stood along with the other brothers at the table.

“I’ll be back. Bear, stay with Sadie.” He laid down at her feet and I kissed her softly, rubbed my hand through Jacob’s hair, and sauntered into church, feeling like I owned the world.

The club officers wanted a meeting with Devlin Callahan. Skid and I were told we were attending. I wanted to meet the man who saved my girl’s brother and see for myself if he was the type of man that could be trusted. I got Sadie and Jacob settled into my cabin with Bear and just before noon; we rode out, twelve members strong.

Riding through the Flats, I watched as people scurried into their houses and felt power from my patch. We never terrorized citizens, but the club’s reputation proceeded us. We pulled up to an older house that was well maintained and parked our bikes in a row along the curb. No one would touch our bikes and as a group, we walked to the front door and Smokey knocked with force.

The door opened, and a man answered with a looked of disinterest at the wall of Death Hounds staring him down.

“We’re here