Fierce (Storm MC 2)

Fuck. This was why I was falling for Harlow; in a moment where most women would buckle from what they’d just been through, she was more concerned for someone else’s safety.

“No, she’s safe. I’ve got someone with her.”

“Thank God,” she said, the concern washing off her face.

I reached up and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m so sorry, baby. This is all my fault.”

She nodded and then asked, “Remember when I said that I could handle your shit?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, if you feel the need to hurt those assholes, and when I say hurt, I mean so that they can never threaten another woman with that, you need to know that I can handle that shit, baby.”

Fuck me. Blessed. That’s what I was.

“Good to know. Because I’ll be making damn sure that they’ll never hurt another person. Now sweetheart, we need to get you

cleaned up.”

She nodded in agreement, and I helped her into the shower. The deep burning hatred I had for Bullet was consuming my thoughts, and I hoped to hell that Blade was making him suffer.

***

Six hours later, Harlow was asleep in my bed. She hadn’t wanted to stay at her mum’s house that night so I’d brought her to mine. I’d spent all afternoon and night with her; I hadn’t called J or Nash to find out what had happened. This was the first time in my life that I’d put Storm second. I never wanted to let Harlow out of my sight ever again. Knowing her, though, that would never happen.

I stood in the doorway and watched her sleep. She’d had trouble getting to sleep so I’d found a sleeping pill of mine to give her that had eventually done the trick. My phone vibrated with a message.

Blade: You want in on this?

Me: Yes, but not tonight. Tomorrow.

Blade: Call me when you’re ready.

I watched Harlow for a little while longer and then I went outside to call Dad.

“Scott, thought I would have heard from you by now,” he said, not even a hello to greet me.

I ignored him. “You hear from Blade?”

“Yeah, he’s got the men he wanted. They were the four at Harlow’s house. The VP of Black Deeds stepped up and took over; he’s made sure there’s no blowback on Storm for this. But those fuckers killed Stoney to get to Harlow.”

“Fuck!” In my gut I’d known that; it was the only explanation for everything. Stoney wouldn’t have gone down without a fight so they would have had to kill him.

“How’s Harlow?”

“She’s fine but I didn’t call to chat; I just needed to know that everything had been taken care of and it has, so I’ll talk to you later.”

I disconnected the call without waiting for him to say anything else. My patience for my father was growing less and less every day.

***

I pulled the café door open and waited for Harlow to walk in before I followed her. Cheryl was waiting for her, and enveloped her in a hug. They embraced for a long time; her mother gently patting her hair. She’d spent some time with Harlow last night but I imagined her distress as a mother would be unspeakable.

“Thank you, Scott,” Cheryl said as they pulled apart.

Fuck, I was the last person she should be thanking; if it wasn’t for me, Harlow would never have been put in that situation. I shook my head. “No, it’s my fault. Don’t thank me.”

“No, it’s not. Did you tell that man to do what he did? Did you have any control over his actions? No. People do shitty things all the time; they’re responsible for their own actions. Not anyone else. So, don’t ever blame yourself for this.”