My phone buzzes on the pa.s.senger seat and I grab it quickly, nearly dropping it as I see who's calling.

It's Aimes.

"What the f.u.c.k?" he barks into the phone. "What the f.u.c.k!" he repeats louder, so loud I pull the phone away from my ear to avoid his anger. Without giving me a chance to answer his question or statement, he continues. "That was... What the f.u.c.k!"

"Aimes," I reply, hoping to rein in his temper and get his attention.

"Jesus f.u.c.king Christ. I wasn't ready. Brayden tried to tell me about this f.u.c.kin' place, Max. That motherf.u.c.ker is a loon. One hundred thousand dollars? What the f.u.c.k!"

"She looked scared," I add, still not reacting to his tirade. If I do, we'll both end up going nowhere, and one of us needs a clear head. "She wasn't physically hurt as bad as she could've been. Some bruising, but if we get her out of there, she'll be okay."

"How the f.u.c.k are you not surprised by any of this s.h.i.+t? Christ, it was all I could do not to turn and kill that sick, pompous f.u.c.ker where his smug a.s.s was sitting."

Slowing the car at a stoplight, I look around outside my truck. With my paranoia seeping in and my mind racing with scenarios, I'm honest with Aimes. "I was surprised," I confirm. "I was. I had no f.u.c.kin' clue who she was."

"You sure? 'Cause you took that meeting in stride," his smart mouth sets off.

"I've been in there. I've seen how these people operate, Aimes."

"Christ," he hisses. "I forget you used to be one of 'em."

I narrow my eyes, angered at his words. "f.u.c.k you, brother. I was never..."

"f.u.c.k, sorry. That came out wrong."

"Check it, Aimes. Pull it back. Bury whatever emotion you have in this s.h.i.+t."

"And f.u.c.k if this isn't some s.h.i.+t." He sighs after a collective timeout.

"You can't let anything in that place penetrate for long. It's surface, man. We're working with what we have. Stay focused."

I'm almost certain I've put him in his place until his voice raises again. "What the f.u.c.k!"

"I know."

"You can't leave her now. You've gotta stay there."

"Club's gone," I remind him. "Most of them, anyway. I'm on my way home now. I'll grab some s.h.i.+t and go back if you think that'll do any good."

"I do. This is it, Max. Tonight was a declaration of war, whether Koslov knows it or not."

"Dextor Ahrens?" I ask, still shocked at Aimes and his role play.

"Long story," he returns. "But one I hope I get to share after we're done with Creed."

"You've gotta watch your back. Viktor doesn't seem the type to play games. He said he knows Ahrens."

Aimes laughs one time. "He thinks he does. He doesn't have a clue. I had help pullin' the name out of the 'bad dead people' hat. The man's been dead for an age."

"Anna," I say clearly into the line, though as I say it, I'm unsure why.

"Anna," he repeats quietly. "I talked to her before I made my way in. She's not gonna end up as collateral damage in this."

"What's that mean?"

"It means she's as good as Casey. And it means we're getting her out, too."

Knowing Anna, even as little as I do, I'm sensing she handled Aimes with the same care she handles Casey, Ci, and me, only Aimes isn't used to a woman with such a soft touch. "What the f.u.c.k did she say to you?"

"She didn't have to say anything," he tells me. "I know you've seen a lot of s.h.i.+t in your life with those f.u.c.ked-up and bulls.h.i.+t MCs, but I've seen s.h.i.+t in my line of work, too. And she's coming out with us."

"You've got a plan?" I ask, ready and willing to listen.

He releases another single laugh. It's not real, but he's finally calming down and sounding more like himself. "f.u.c.k yeah, we got a plan. So you gotta be ready when it goes into play."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Nope," he affirms. "Better you don't know. You spend too much time in your head. Figure if you don't know what's happening before it does, you're less likely to f.u.c.k anything up before I have my shot."

Charming.

"How will I know it's time?"

"Max," he says quietly, I hear the smile in his voice; it's disturbing. "Have you ever known a time when I've done s.h.i.+t on the down low?"

"f.u.c.k."

"Exactly. I told you once we were gonna blow s.h.i.+t up. That's exactly what we're gonna do. That whole f.u.c.king sinister, bulls.h.i.+t, G.o.dd.a.m.n place is going down in flames."

"Okay, Aimes," I concede, trying to keep him calm but already knowing he's too far gone. "How much help do you have?"

"A f.u.c.k of a lot. I've got favors pulled in from everywhere. Some are already familiar with Creed, so they're more than willing to wade in. They hear about this s.h.i.+t with your buddy Viktor and holy to h.e.l.l water, brother, blood will run. Add little Casey to this s.h.i.+t? The motivation and determination increases tenfold."

I think of the women, Cilas, and even Charlie. I'd hate to see them end up as 'collateral damage,' as Aimes referred. "I know you're good, brother. But be careful. Not everyone in there is bad people."

"Crazy f.u.c.ks," he utters. "When's the Creed criminal get-along gang waltzing back into town?"

"Don't know. While they're gone, it would be good time for you to do whatever you're doin', though."

"You trust me, Max?" The tone he asks this in is serious, and I hesitate to answer.

"I've got no reason not to trust you. I need them to get out safe."

"They will be," he a.s.sures with confidence. "Go home, make love to your woman, and stay low. I'll be in touch."

"Will do."

"So f.u.c.ked," he utters before the line goes dead.

Chapter Twenty-Four.

When I walk into the apartment, the first thing I notice is that it's been cleaned again. All evidence of dinner earlier is gone and the smell of Em's candles still lingers in the air. The room is dark, but I don't turn on the light to avoid startling her. She wasn't expecting me back or they'd have been on and she'd have been waiting up.

It's now I realize how little credit I've actually given her for being strong.

My life hasn't ever been simple. Even back then, all those years ago while knowing me, Emma's held fast to my complicated existence. She's adhered herself to it and for the most part hasn't complained about my needed absence.

I've given her very little to go on in regards to the plan for Casey, and not only because I'm not privy to it. I've tried to keep her s.h.i.+elded, although it's motivated by selfishness. Keeping Emma strong, using her as a pillar through this, has in turn kept me the same.

She's truly one of the best people I've ever known.

This realization continues as I head toward our open bedroom door. The light from outside silhouettes her small body wrapped in our blankets. The s.h.i.+rt I wore earlier tonight lies by her side, near my pillow.

Removing my boots first, then clothes, I pull back the blankets and as gently as I can, I lay my body on top of hers. Her legs adjust, circling my waist as her hands make their way to my back. Her eyes open and she smiles.

"You're home," she says, her voice broken from sleep.

"I love you, Emilyn," I tell her with absolute sincerity as I thrust my hips, feeling the soft skin of her thigh graze my c.o.c.k and bring it to full attention.

I'll never have enough of her.

Her hands s.h.i.+ft from my back to frame my face. Her lips touch mine briefly before she pulls back and rests her head back down on the pillow.

She stares carefully, curiously, and I wonder what she's thinking before she voices, "I hated that you left."

"I know, baby," I answer, gently kissing her neck. She allows this and places her hands on my shoulders. "I'm here now."

Finding my chest, her fingers smooth over my piercings and her touch forces me to thrust again. The material of her thong is the only barrier left between us. Once I've situated myself so as not to crush her, I use my finger to move it to the side then enter her slowly. My eyes close, enjoying the feeling of her warmth taking me in.

As I continue pus.h.i.+ng in and pulling out of her, I move my hands to her wrists and pin them over her head, holding her still beneath me. The smell of her skin, the sounds of her soft moans, and the sight of her body moving under mine hold me captive in the moment, precariously close to already losing myself inside of her completely.

"I love you, Em," I tell her again, but this time on a lost breath. "Do you feel what you are to me?" I ask on the next.

Her legs wrap around my waist as her hips work in sync with mine. "Tell me what you feel," I demand when she says nothing in return. "Tell me, Em," I insist again, listening to the hitch in her breath as she tries to deny her own release.

"Max, I..."

Before she can say the words, my mouth slams against hers. Her body shakes as I keep moving, and I feel her grasping me from inside. I feel her greedily pulsing around my c.o.c.k, coaxing me into letting go inside of her before I thought I wanted to.

Her voice, whispering words of promise in my ear as I spend my release, pushes me further, extending my pleasure. Em's nails dig deeper into the skin of my back and shoulders as she succ.u.mbs to her own climax, matching my fevered breaths one after another.

"f.u.c.k," I hiss right before slowing.

The sweat from our bodies has created a slick barrier between us and before I stop moving, I hear her again, this time loud and clear. "I've always loved you."

"I missed out on so much," I admit, carefully settling my forehead on hers.

Aimes' words of confirmation, that he has a plan and was moving forward, turn in my head. If something happens to me, I want Em to know how I truly feel.

"No more than I've missed."

Without hesitation and with complete honesty, I admit, "You bring me peace."

With the same honesty, her words pierce my chest. "You bring me hope."

"I'm trying," I reply, closing my eyes and taking in what I was too greedy to before.

Pulling me from the moment, Em drops her legs from my waist and starts to reposition, signaling me to move. Sliding out of her, I resume my place on top of her, resting my head on her chest and looking to the side.

"I need to tell you something," she admits. I hear her voice come through her chest. It's laced with nervousness.

"What's that?"

"I got a call tonight. I was expecting it to be you. I answered without looking." Her fingers sift through my hair before she bends to kiss the soft crown of it.

"And?"

"It was Hoss Lattimore."

My pulse quickening with the anger which fires it, I sit up and brace my arms on either side of her face. Looking down on her without worrying she may hate my demand, I force her to answer. "Tell me."

"He wanted me to know Casey was okay."

"Why the f.u.c.k didn't you call me the moment you hung up from him?"

Her body tenses and her face scrunches with annoyance. "I didn't want to upset you."

"Upset me?" I ask, trying to keep my voice low but failing. "What the f.u.c.k, Em? What else did he f.u.c.kin' say?"

"He wants me to come visit Casey," she answers, then further explains, "He said she's upset."

"He's not even with her!" I spit out. "He's out on some f.u.c.kin' bulls.h.i.+t ride with his boys from Creed!"

"I didn't know..."

Lifting myself off the bed and making a move to stand, Em grabs my arm to stop me but I abruptly pull it back. "And of course she's f.u.c.king upset. She's alone, scared, and f.u.c.k all if we know what's happening to her."

"Max..." She breathes her fear through my name.

I don't guard her from the truth. I just admitted to myself I had been doing that so far, but for her sake and for Casey's, I can't do it anymore. Hoss is changing the f.u.c.king game mid-turn. f.u.c.k that, and f.u.c.k him.

Standing straight, I give in to my fury and pointedly, ensuring she understands, tell her, "You're not goin' there, Em. You're not."