Lay It Down: Bastards MC Series Boxed Set (76 page)

I sighed, remembering how bad Jo’s face looked the day we rescued her. She still wouldn’t tell me what had happened. Fuck, she wouldn’t tell anyone for that matter. We all knew, of course. The emergency room doctor had told us quietly that he had found possible internal injuries as well as two fractured ribs, a dislocated toe, a broken finger, dozens of burns, over a hundred puncture marks caused by numerous objects, countless bruises, sections of scalp where her hair had been ripped out, and she was severely dehydrated. She’d been through hell and back in the two and a half days they had her.

The other women were opening up little by little, recalling their time in the warehouse. The stories Jessie had were enough to make any human being sick and vow revenge. Taylor’s didn’t focus on what happened to her as much as on how she refused to break. Jo wouldn’t say a peep though. I’d catch her staring out into space sometimes and wonder if she was reliving her time.

Jo hadn’t been with them the longest and she apparently had avoided some of their more vicious treatment, but she had put herself on the line, risking everything to save the others. She refused to acknowledge it, because she was stubborn like that. Instead, she insisted that Cris, Jessie and Taylor were the ones who needed our love and support. I knew she’d open up one day when she was ready, and until that day, I’d be there waiting.

I did feel as though I was smothering her a little. I’d barely let her go to the bathroom alone those first few days. I still wasn’t at the point where I could let her leave the house without me, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever get there. I might not have been able to keep her from getting taken last time, but it would never happen again. Jo didn’t seem to mind my constant presence.

I wasn’t the only one being overbearing. Rob was with Jessie every waking moment and only left her with Tank when it was time for bed. Tank, still struggling with the fact that he hadn’t saved Tink, visited Jo almost every day, sometimes just sitting with her on the deck, then he guarded his sister every night. And Bear was worse than any of us. He’d moved Taylor into the clubhouse, and the woman barely got to leave the compound. The time would come when we would relax a little, let the women we loved have some freedom. But probably not for a while.

I had too much on my mind to sleep, so I just watched Joes. Even in slumber, she was beautiful. It always took me a few minutes to remember that I was the lucky son of a bitch who would get to have this view for the rest of his life. If someone had told me two years ago that I’d be here now, I would have told them that Jo would never be with a man like me.

When she rolled over a few hours later, she found me staring at her. She stared at me for a second then gave me that beautiful smile of hers, filled with nothing but love. “Morning.”

The bruises were gone now, and most of the wounds had healed. Some of them had scarred, which killed me, but she ignored them. She would laugh and say that men thought scars were sexy, so I’d better watch out because I was going to have some serious competition. In reality though, she’d chosen tattoos to cover the noticeable marks and had gotten her first one a few days ago.

I thought it was a great idea, not only because I didn’t want to see the spots forever on her skin, but because I was a man who thought ink on a woman was sexy as hell. The more, the better. In fact, we’d agreed to get our wedding rings tattooed on after the ceremony. That way, there was no chance they’d ever come off.

“Good morning, beautiful!” I leaned in for a kiss.

“God, I didn’t wake you up, did I?” She covered her mouth as if her breath would offend me. “Is the snoring getting worse?”

I shook my head, smiling as I scooted down into the bed next to her. “No. You’re fine.” I pulled her upper body onto my chest. “What do we want to do today?” My hand slid down her hip. “I was thinking that maybe we could spend the day in here, order takeout, and you could show me that new tat again.”

Before she could answer, the door flew open and three kids rushed inside, all talking at once. Note to self: lock the goddamn door!

“I told them that you were still in bed!” Lily stomped her little foot. “Why don’t you two ever listen to me? Ugh!” she hollered, putting her tiny fists on her waist. “Mommy, Datty, tell them I’m right!”

Suddenly three voices were yelling at each other, and I couldn’t help but smile at the word Datty. The kids had been excited at the news of our engagement. Lily wanted to help us start planning the wedding right away, and she had a list of demands—like the fact that she would wear a princess dress with a tiara. Not long after that conversation, she’d asked what she should call me. Sam called me Daddy and Ben called me Matt, so Lily decided Datty would work for her. I fucking loved it.

I eased Jo off me, jumped out of bed, and shooed them, still hollering at each other, out of the room. Apparently the honeymoon was over and they were back to being real siblings—ones who argued over what to watch on TV and disagreed about when to wake up their parents.

Turning the lock, I leaned against the door and smiled at the love of my life. “So Lily… we’re really sure she’s not mine?”

Jo sat up, laughing as she pushed the hair out of her eyes. “That demanding little monster out there with the bad attitude and the smirk?” She pointed at the door where we could hear our little princess still barking orders. “Oh, she’s all yours. She might not have your DNA, but she apparently doesn’t know that.”

I laughed and thumped my head back, sighing. “When do they go home? I want you to myself again.”

She giggled, sliding over in the bed and opening her arms to me. “Come here, babe.”

I didn’t think twice, just climbed into bed and pulled her into my arms.

She sighed. “They are home, Matty. You’re stuck with us. This is what the rest of our life is going to be like. I hope you’re prepared.”

I smiled down at the woman who was still by my side, even though she knew the darkest truths about me and had almost paid the ultimate price for my choices. I still didn’t deserve her, but I would never stop trying to be the man she saw in me. She was right—my family was home. The Bastards would heal and continue to fight for those who couldn’t. Jo would marry me in a few months, and we would raise our crazy threesome as best as we could.

And I would wake up next to my Joes every day for the rest of my life. I’d never know how I’d gotten so fucking lucky, but I was going to enjoy every second of it. She was finally mine, and I was never letting her go.

~ Acknowledgements ~

It’s been a crazy two years – thank you for coming on this ride with me!

Nothing I do would be possible without my husband – or as people who are friends with me on FB know him, The Hubs. He keeps me laughing when I want to cry – or kill him. Humor, it saves lives.

To my always amazing (now ex) PA’s. It really is too bad that you quit right before this was supposed to be published. I’m pretty sure you made it into the acknowledgements the first time around, so it would have been awesome to see your name in print again for the boxed set. Right, Amanda and April? I hope one day we can forgive each other and move on. No? Yeah, didn’t think so. You can go and love yourself. ‘Cause, God knows I do love you both. Oh, and did I mention you can’t quit me?

Neda, Thank you! I know you took on more than you bargained for when you signed me, but one day I’ll be worth it – I promise!!

Sommer, at Perfect Pear Creations, the cover is more than beautiful – it’s perfect!

Cassie, at Joy Editing, you took my babies and were both gentle and kind while making them better. I appreciate you more than I can express.

Leigh, the book is beautiful. Thank you!

To the readers that have fallen in love with Matty, Rocker, and the rest of the Bastards - Thank you for coming on this journey with me! I read each of your emails, Facebook messages, and reviews. I love that you love these vigilante thugs as much as I do. More is coming, I promise. I want to know which of them is your favorite (mine is Tank), so make sure you message me and let me know.

Jennifer, from Read and Share Book Reviews and Jen, from Three Chicks and Their Books - thank you for loving Matty with me! If it wasn’t for you two, I wouldn’t still be writing. New and unknown authors don’t always get support, especially from bloggers. I will always count you two as my biggest blessings. I have a career I love because you two helped me – I won’t ever forget that! I adore you both.

Work friends, you are truly astounding. Not only do you spend more time with me than anyone else (I may be hilarious, but I’m annoying, too), you work in an environment that can break your heart and leave you jaded any second, but you keep fighting for the kids. It makes sense that my first book was about social workers, because you are my heroes. If you think someone in this book is based on you (except you, Jack – Matty is
not
you, lol), you’re probably right. I love you all.

Table of Contents

Always Been Mine

Honey Whiskey

Acknowledgements