Chains puts his hand over my stomach, the heat that causes making the cramps just a little better.
“It’s not ruined,” he argues, rising off of the sofa, as if I weigh nothing.
“What are you doing now?” I ask him, breathing in the scent of him and burying my head in the curve of his neck.
“I’m going to take you and put you in a hot shower and let that ease your cramps and then…”
“Then?” I ask, pulling back to look at him.
“Then, I’m going to show you how a real man earns his medals in war.”
“War medals?” I blink.
“A soldier isn’t afraid to get a little blood on his sword, Babe. That’s why he battles.” He smiles a smile so dark and seductive my body quivers all over. He doesn’t say anything else… but then, he doesn’t need to.31Dragon“Tell me something good,” I growl into the phone, needing some fucking good news here.
“I got shit from the phone Kayden used to call you, but our man Chains just used his credit card at a small jewelry shop in Norton, Virginia.”
“Jewelry shop?”
“Dragon man, you may have to face the fact that Kayden might be just where she wants to be.”
“Bullshit, you heard what the guy in the apartment next door said about her screaming that night.”
“Dragon, how many times has Nicole screamed—”
“He handcuffed my baby girl to a damn steering wheel at a gas station, Freak. Does that sound like she was planning on staying around of her own free will?”
“Well, not exactly,” he hedges.
“Exactly. I’m taking a cage and heading that way. I want Dancer, Bull, and at least three others with me.”
“Dragon, maybe we should go at this quietly.”
“When it’s your kid involved in this shit, we’ll talk. Until then, fuck off. Have the boys meet me in Manchester at the Stop and Go. We’ll head out from there, but they better not keep me waiting. I want to be in that damn jewelry store before noon.”
“Got it. Maybe we—”
I hang up not letting him finish. Motherfucker thinks he’s about to tell me what to do when it comes to my daughter, he better fucking think again.
“I’m going with you,” Nicole says from behind me. I thought she was in the other room. I should have known she’d be listening for the phone.
“Nicole—”
“I’m going with you.”
“You can’t.”
“Why in the hell not?”
“Did you forget Skye and Carrie are coming over?”
Her eyes narrow.
“I didn’t invite them over.”
“Bull said Skye has been depressed afraid she’s too old to have a baby. I suggested they come over and you girls could plan a shower or whatever the shit it is you do.”
“When did you suggest that to him?”
“A couple of days ago,” I tell her, shrugging.
“Then, I’ll just call and cancel.”
“If Skye is already depressed, that could make it worse. She might feel like you want nothing to do with her.”
“Dragon—”
“I’m just going to go get our daughter, Mama. That’s it. I can move quicker without you and have her home by nightfall.”
“You promise you won’t do anything stupid?”
“I promise.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I smile at her, even if I don’t feel like it.
“I’ll bring her home, Mama.”
“And not kill anyone?”
“Nicole,” I growl, my patience wearing thin.
“Promise me you won’t kill him, Dragon. At least until we hear what Kayden has to say.”
“Fucking hell,” I mutter.
“If you don’t promise, I’m going with you.”
“Fine. I won’t kill the bastard—yet.”
“Dragon—”
“That’s as good as you’re going to get from me, Mama. Take it or leave it.”
“Fine. Be careful. I don’t know why, but I’d miss your bullheaded ass if I lost you.”
“Love you, Nicole,” I tell her giving her a quick kiss. I am almost out the door when she calls out.
“And Dragon?”
I stop and turn and look at her. Jesus she’s still beautiful, even after all this time. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve her light in my life, but just thinking about the days before she came to Kentucky is painful.
“Yeah, Mama?”
“Don’t think I don’t know why you invited Skye and Carrie over. You’re going to be paying for that one.”
“Bye, Nicole,” I mutter, shaking my head and walking on out of the house.
I’m in my SUV and merging onto the main road before I take out my phone.
“I’m suiting up now, Dragon. I’m meeting Dancer and Nailer at the club,” Bull says the second he answers.
“Good. I need you to tell Skye that Nicole invited her and Carrie over today to discuss a baby shower.”
“I… Boss, Skye doesn’t like that shit…”
“She does now,” I mutter. “Oh and tell her you were supposed to tell her that a couple of days ago and forgot.”
“Jesus, Boss. You’re going to get me locked out of my pussy for weeks.”
“When we get off the phone, tell Dancer the same shit,” I respond, not really caring if Bull has to go without. If he can’t take control of his woman, he deserves blue balls.