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

to speak with Callahan,” Smokey explained to his bored expression, and he stepped to the side, allowing us to enter.

Heavy boots and leather filled the room and shortly, a man entered, wearing black flak pants and shirt and two guns tucked under his arms. He took in the scene and extended his hand to Smokey.

“What can I do for the Death Hounds?” he asked, leaning against the wall.

“You kill someone last night?” Smokey inquired, and he tilted his head, rubbing his hand along his beard covered jaw.

“Some asshole was trying to jack a little kid, so I ended him. Was he one of yours?”

“The kid belongs to us. The asshole . . .” Smokey shrugged and let the sentence die.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“No problem, we just wanted to find out what your reasoning was behind it and to say we’re in your debt.”

“There’s no debt to be paid. Some people need to be put down like the dogs they are, and I was in the right place at the right time.”

The man who opened the door stood off to the side, watching but never engaging, and I could see a level of darkness behind his eyes that shocked me. He looked like a college frat brother, but his eyes were cold and dead.

“The boy was my brother and I owe you a debt of my life. Whatever you need, I’ll do until you feel the debt has been paid,” Skid remarked, and my gaze snapped to his.

He met with Smokey and Bullet earlier this morning and it shocked me he was willing to distance himself from the Hounds to help this man. Family was paramount to him, and it worried me that Sadie and Jacob would be away from him, if Callahan took him up on the offer.

Smokey glanced at me and nodded slightly before turning back to Callahan. He looked over his shoulder to the man observing and asked, “What do you think, James?”

“I think it’s a great idea. We can help each other out when needed and we all win.”

“Then it’s settled. What’s your name, kid?”

“Dalton, but my brothers call me Skid.”

Callahan walked to Skid and extended his hand to him. Skid locked arms to the elbow with him and they both nodded. With no additional conversation, we left the house and, as a group, rode out of the Flats and back to the clubhouse.

When we arrived, I saw Sadie and Jacob tossing a ball for Bear and I stopped Skid before he walked away.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do? You’re leaving them vulnerable when you’re not with them.”

“I don’t have to worry about Sadie or Jacob as long as you’re around. You’re not planning on leaving, are you?” he asked, his gaze cutting through me like a knife.

“I’ll protect them with my life. You have my word.”

He pulled me into a bro-hug and slapped my back before walking up to his sister and hugging her. I saw him whisper into her ear and she nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks as her eyes locked with mine. Skid played with Jacob and Sadie walked up to me, pulling me into a hug.

“Is it true? He’s going to work with Callahan?” she asked, her eyes wet with tears.

“Callahan isn’t the bad guy everyone thinks he is. Dalton’s going to help him and in turn, it will help the MC,” I replied, using her brother’s real name, hoping to ease some of her pain.

“What about us?” she asked, her gaze moving to the ground.

I lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “I’m not going anywhere, sweet Sadie. You and Jacob are mine to protect, to watch over, to love.”

“Love?” she asked, and I kissed her again.

“Isn’t love what you’re feeling?” I waited for her response, knowing if she didn’t feel the same way, it would gut me.

“I think it is, but I’ve never loved anyone but my brothers and Uncle Mick.”

“Do you love me?”

“I do. As crazy as it sounds, I knew you were the one from the moment I opened my eyes and saw you watching over me.”

“I promise to never break your heart, to never hurt you on purpose, and to always be the person you can depend on. I want to be that for you and Jacob.”

“So, what happens now?”

“Now, we start our life and when Dalton needs us, we’re there for him. Because we’re family.”

She smiled and Bear bumped into my leg. I scratched behind his ear as Jacob tossed the ball again and he took off to chase it. I couldn’t wait to finally have Sadie in my bed, under me, allowing me to give her pleasure, knowing it would take time. She has demons that chase her, and from the scars I felt under her shirt this morning, my girl was hurt and required a delicate touch.

Dalton agreed to keep Jacob at the clubhouse while I followed Sadie, in her old car, back to her house. Taking in the modest two-bedroom house, I knew we would need a bigger place soon. Bear was a big dog and Jacob was a growing boy. With any luck, Sadie and I would add to our family in the future, and I wanted to give her the best I could. She deserved it after her lifetime of sacrifice.

I sat on the couch and pulled her onto my lap. I needed to kiss her, to know she was real. To know we were real. She slid her arms over my chest, linking her hands behind my neck as she shifted to straddle my lap. My cock was thick and begging to be set free, to find its home within her, but I settled for a deep kiss, her tongue caressing mine as she showed me her affection. My hands wandered under her shirt and I stroked her back, the raised scars on her skin causing a fire to build within me. She broke the kiss and smiled with her hand over her swollen lips.