“LAUREN!” Champ’s voice echoes down the hall. That was quick. I rush out of the room and straight into his arms. I let the tears fall silently as he holds me tight. “What happened, sweetheart?”
“Someone, some man, called my cell…threatened me. You. Us.” I rush it out before I lose myself to another panic attack. I can’t go through it again. I don’t have that kind of strength to come out alive.
“Who?” Champ asks in a serious voice, pulling me away and looking into my eyes.
“I don’t know. He said if you didn’t stay away then he’ll be coming for me.” Another round of sobs escapes me, and I cling to him with all my life.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. No-one will get to you. They have to go through us lot first.” He gestures to the other guys standing just down the hall. They look raging mad. Their jaws are clenched and their hands fisted by their sides. They look menacing and it makes me shiver.
I feel Champ chuckle and I look up at him. “What’s so funny?”
“They won’t hurt you either.” He looks down at me with a lopsided smile.
“I know. They look scary though,” I say, shaking my head.
“They don’t do well when one of their own is threatened.” He winks at me. Leaning down, he gives me a small yet heart-warming kiss, making my toes curl into the carpet. “I have to get to the clubhouse to get this sorted. Will you be okay? Dope will be sat outside to keep watch okay?”
“Okay, babe.” My heart sinks that he has to go but I know he’s going to do everything to try and get to the bottom of this. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” One last quick kiss and he’s out the door.
I used to love Sundays, used to be the best day of the week…that was til today. Til I had that awful call this morning. I guess instead of my run around the park, I’ll be hauled up in this house all day. I’m not risking my life even if Dope is with me to save the day. You never know how many men are on the opposition, or where you can get cornered. LA is a big place, there are too many places for these types of freaks to take you.
Shit. Alexis.
Running back to the bedroom, I retrieve my cell and dial Alexis. After three rings I begin shouting at the phone to connect the call.
“Hey, chick,” she eventually answers.
“Alexis? Did you receive a call this morning?” I ask straight up.
“Threatening one? Yeah, how do you know?” She’s cautious in her reply, not knowing how much I know.
“Yeah…I got one too. I’m scared, Alexis. What if…What if…” I can’t even voice it. I never want to relive the shit I went through, and I never want my best friend to experience it. Hell, I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go through it.
“Stop your train of thought, chick. It’s not going to happen. The club won’t allow it, okay? Do you want me to come over? I’ll get Cobra to bring me over.”
“Would you? Do you think he’ll mind? I’m scared.” I bite my bottom lip, hoping to hell that Cobra doesn’t mind if I steal is woman for the day.
“He doesn’t mind. We’re on our way. Hang tight, babe,” she says to me before the dial tone sounds in my ear. Does nobody say ‘bye’ these days?
I decide to sit in the den while I wait for Alexis to arrive. Knowing Cobra, he’ll drive her here even though they’re only a few houses down. This is where the guys get super protective and drive us mad. But this time, I welcome it.
Chapter 8
Lauren
“How many prospects do we have on our ass this time?” I ask Alexis as I open the door for her to enter the house.
She chuckles and shakes her head at me before replying, “Three each. They have a rotation in place apparently. But at least our asses our safe. I rather we had them than not. We have no idea what’s truly going on. It’s not our business.”
“You’re right.” I huff loudly as we enter the den. I already made coffee before she showed up so the two steaming mugs are on the glass coffee table in front of the couch; hers a decaf of course.
“You know me too well, Lauren. I don’t even have to ask for a coffee these days, even if it is just decaf.” I laugh at her and curl my legs under me, getting comfy ready for a nice long afternoon with my best friend.
“How’s little bubba?” I ask, taking a tentative sip of the hot caramel laced coffee.
“Swinging from my ribs and causing me to have no sleep.” Her little pout that’s taken place on her face makes me snort. She can be adorable, she really can.
“Are you sure it’s the baby that’s keeping you from precious sleep? Or is your horniness the real factor?” She told me a few weeks back that ever since she fell pregnant, she can’t seem to stop jumping Cobra’s bones. The poor guy’s dick will fall off if she isn’t careful, and we all know she doesn’t want that shit to happen.