“I’m surprised the Wicked Angels left you alone.” He motioned for the barista to leave. “It’s not a safe town, you know. Pretty ladies shouldn’t be travelling by themselves.”
Addison didn’t back down. “What do you want?”
“A lot of things. World domination. Legal heroin.” He took a seat on the bar stool next to her. “You sucking my cock.”
Addison actually laughed. “Good luck with that.”
He folded his hands before him. “I thought our little incident yesterday would have made it clear to Mason that we’re not playing games anymore. Perhaps we need to be more vocal.”
Before she fully realised what was happening, a Skull member grabbed her, pinning her head to the left as he held her for Marco. She sucked in a breath and kept her eyes on him.
“I thought about taking you to my clubhouse, tying you to my bed and fucking you every time I thought about how much I hated the Wicked Angels—which is a lot these days.” Marco pulled out a knife. “But I want some instant enjoyment, not just sexual gratification.”
Addison struggled, but the grip on her arms only tightened. Marco stared at her with a chilling glare. Something about him was definitely off. She watched as he held the knife up to her. Almost seductively, he smoothed the knife along her leg. She had no idea what the sick bastard had planned, but she knew her imaginings would be far too nice compared to what Marco was capable of.
“Tell those fucking Angels to stop stepping on my turf. I’m not going to tell them again.” Marco pressed the knife into the skin of her thigh.
Hot tears leaked from her eyes as she cried out, a hand going over her mouth to muffle the scream. Marco seemed unfazed by her reaction while he moved the knife along her skin, carving letters into it. Another man gripped her leg when she tried to kick at him, holding her down with the brunt of his weight. She couldn’t move. Her thigh burned with each slice of the knife. A Skulls member held her, tightening his grip on her each time she jerked or moved. She struggled to breathe by the time Marco finally pulled away from her.
“You think this is bad? Wait until next time.” Marco rubbed his finger in the blood left on the knife. His gaze held hers as he stuffed the knife in the holder on his hip. She sucked in air through her nose, trying to figure out what they planned next. They could do more damage if they liked, but Addison simply prayed they would leave.
Thankfully, someone with higher powers was on her side. The Skulls filed out of the coffee shop, the goon who had held her leaving last. She forced harsh breaths into her lungs as she sat there, waiting until they were completely gone before doing anything. When the last motorcycle rolled out, Addison focused her attention on what had been done. She turned to find that the barista had left the building.
The crimson blood stained her skirt, tears coming to her eyes again. She put immediate pressure to the wound with one hand and reached to find her phone with the other. No one was around and Addison knew she couldn’t walk. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to try.
Again, she faced a dilemma. She’d ruled out any help from law officials and punched in Mason’s number. The last thing she needed was her quirky stalker, Jesse, sniffing where his nose didn’t belong. She wasn’t entirely sure what he’d do if he found out the Skulls had used her as an art canvas for their sadistic pleasure. She sniffled trying to keep herself in check. She kept her hand on the wound, afraid to lift it. Her leg throbbed, hurting the more she moved it. It seemed like forever before Mason finally answered his phone.
“Change your mind?”
“I need you to come pick me up.” She moaned. “God, just come pick me up.”
“Where are you?”
“At the café near the courthouse.” She sniffled again. “Just hurry.”
She hung up and finally allowed her emotion to escape. Fear rushed through her, cold as ice. The numbing effect it had on her did little for the pain in her leg and Addison tried her best to figure out how she would even make it to the motorcycle when he did come. There was no way she could ride. They were going to have to call an ambulance. That was all there was to it.
Motorcycles sounded near and she tried to stand. When that didn’t work, she swiped her cheeks and waited for him to come inside.
“Addy?”
She didn’t contain the anger that had replaced her fear. “I got a visit from your friends today. Look what he did to me!”
Mason glanced down at her thigh. “What the hell?”
“He cut me. He had one guy hold me to the point I couldn’t breathe while he took a knife to my leg.” She whimpered as she moved and a flash of pain shot through her. “My leg fucking hurts and I can’t get on that damn bike.”
Mason lifted her so that she didn’t have to walk. “It’s okay. I promise you, you’re going to be okay.”
“I can’t ride a bike.”
He carried her out of the coffee shop and went to the truck nearby. “I drove the truck because you made it very clear that bikes and skirts don’t mix.”
She closed her eyes as tears escaped. He carried her to the passenger’s side and set her in the seat. Mason went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. He started the engine and pulled out into traffic, his goons revving their motorcycles behind them.
“I’m sorry, Addy.” He pulled onto the main street, heading towards the clubhouse. “I know he scared you. I should have seen it coming and put someone with you at all times.”
She laid her head against the window. “I need to go to the hospital.”
“You can’t. They’ll report gang activity to the police and the war between us will only grow worse.”
“I’m bleeding, Mason!”
“I’ll fix it. Just trust me a little.”
The actual MC was an older building in East Tampa. It wasn’t the greatest neighbourhood in all of Tampa, but Addison was no stranger to it. She’d represented several clients who lived nearby.
He parked the truck near the door and went around to lift her out of the passenger’s seat. Addison let him carry her in, holding onto him and needing his comfort. He did feel good against her after that scare. She wished he would wrap his arms around her and never let her go.
“Get Duke over here. The Skulls attacked Addy.”
Jack called for Duke and the men came rushing towards her as Mason set her on the black leather sofa in the main room of the club. Thankfully, there weren’t too many people around. She had no idea what they did all day or where they went, but she was glad they weren’t here to see this show. Mason gently lifted the fabric from her skin and tore it to expose her wounded thigh.
“Those dumb fuckers.” Jack shook his head as Duke knelt on the floor beside her.
“Addison is in good hands, Prez.” Duke glanced up at him, hinting for Mason to move.
Mason did move but only to the head of the sofa. Addison closed her eyes and he reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips. She didn’t know whether to be pissed or relieved that he stood beside her. She had evidentially needed his comfort more than she realised.
Duke doctored her cuts and bandaged her leg. She closed her eyes while he worked, the embarrassment of lying before a stranger, in her panties, legs spread, overtaking her. She really needed some new people to hang out with.
“You’re all good, Addison.” Duke stood and cleaned up his mess. “Do you want something for the pain?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She slipped her feet to the ground, unsure what exactly he’d give her for the pain. “Well, this makes two suits ruined.”
“I’ll get you a new one.” Mason brushed his fingers along her cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I’d be a whole lot better if I wasn’t in my panties in the middle of your club.”
He nodded and bent to lift her, then carried her towards the back of the clubhouse. He took her to the apartment and set her on the bed before moving to the dresser to grab a pair of sweatpants for her. He helped her to stand and pull them on.
“I promise you that we’ll fix this.” He drew her to him and wrapped her in his arms. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Addison closed her eyes and accepted his comfort. She wanted to think that he didn’t have a place in her life, but he’d made himself a place. The Skulls were dangerous and they seemed to target her to get their messages across. She looped her arms around Mason’s waist, not ready for him to move away.
“He said the next time would be worse if you didn’t stop stepping on his turf.” Addison pressed her face against his chest. “He said he wanted to take me to his clubhouse and fuck me every time he thought of the Wicked Angels.”
Mason didn’t say anything, but he gripped her tighter. She didn’t know what to do about the situation, but she did know she’d have to depend on Mason to handle it. She finally mustered up enough strength to pull away from him.
“Thank you for coming to get me.” She rubbed her arms. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. It’s just been a really bad day.”
He cupped her cheeks and tilted her face towards him. “I know, baby. I’m going to take you home. A few of the prospects will be looking out for you until I come back.”
Apparently, the goons had a purpose, some of which were prospective men seeking full club membership. These prospects were who Mason chose to babysit her. She gripped his wrists. “Where are you going?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He kissed her. “Let’s go. Those pants are falling off you and I’m sure you don’t want to be showing your ass in the middle of the club.”
He led her to the truck and instructed three of the prospects to follow him. They didn’t say much on the ride to her house. Addison gave him the occasional direction of which way to go, but other than that, she kept to herself. She didn’t know what to say or if she should even say anything.
When they arrived at her home, he pulled in her driveway and killed the engine of the truck. Addison found her keys and tugged them out. As much as she wanted to deny that she needed his protection, she required it. Whatever he had to offer her, she desired it.
He came around the truck and helped her to stand. He shut the door behind her and walked with her to the house. She didn’t know what he planned to do, but she didn’t want him to do it. If it had anything to do with the Skulls hurting her, he needed to stay far away from it. The thought of him going to jail for her honour didn’t sit well with her. She highly doubted a judge would see that as an act of chivalry and set Mason free.
“Stay with me.” She squeezed his hand. “Please.”
He took her keys and unlocked her door. Once he helped her to the couch, he stood back and glanced around the room. “Do you have an alarm?”
“No.” She shifted on the brown leather. “I need to get one. I live in a gated community, so I thought it wasn’t necessary.”
He closed the door and pulled out his phone. She watched as he turned his back to her. “Hey. I want this shit taken care of. I’m staying with Addy tonight and I’ll be back at the club tomorrow.”
He hung up and set his phone on the coffee table. He kissed her forehead. “Are you hungry?”
She gripped his arm. “Sit.”
He sat beside her and tugged her against his side. “You’re okay, Addy. I’m not going to let them hurt you again.”
She glanced up at him. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
He cupped her cheek. “Don’t be afraid.” His kiss was soft and she closed her eyes, embracing it. She lifted her hand to the side of his head. He pulled back slightly, staring into her eyes.
“I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
He smiled. “I’m not worried about trouble. I got the best damn lawyer in the city.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s been a bad day.”
He moved her so that they lay comfortably on the couch. “Don’t think about it. It’s over and you’re home with me. Nothing is going to happen to you while I’m here.”
She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. His comfort made her weak. She liked that he kept his word and didn’t leave her to fend for herself. She honestly had no idea who she could call if she did have to depend on someone else. It was far too early to go to bed, but Mason felt so good against her that she drifted off to sleep anyway.
She stirred nearly an hour later and glanced up at him. “You can’t possibly be comfortable.”
He laughed. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not.” She pushed up away from him and stood. “When did you turn the TV on?”
“Thirty minutes ago.” He pointed to the screen. “She’s one hell of a tattoo artist.”
Addison arched an eyebrow at the woman on the screen of some tattoo show he favoured. She had big boobs that barely fit inside her skimpy shirt and long blonde hair that made her look like a tattooed Barbie instead of a real person.
“Yeah. I’m sure you’re admiring her for her artwork.”
He grinned and she left him on the couch as she went to the kitchen. Addison searched her fridge for something to eat and found nothing. It’d been a long time since she’d actually went grocery shopping and her poor refrigerator looked like a model fridge from the showroom floor of Home Depot.
“I know you’d rather stay at home and bask in the glory of being surrounded by me, but I really need your help.” He stepped into the kitchen with his phone in hand. He blew out a breath. “We have a situation that involves legal matters. Chuck got arrested in Clearwater and the cop is in the pocket of the Skulls. He’s being transferred to Hernando where he will be completely unprotected. I need you to get him out.”
She scoffed. “Let me just wave a magic wand and make everything better.”
Mason glanced over at her. His eyes were dark and she knew he didn’t like her comment. Whatever he’d planned that night obviously hadn’t gone well.
“Fine. Take me across the bay. You’re buying me dinner, though. I’m starving.”
He smiled. “I can do that.”
It didn’t take too long before they arrived in Clearwater at the Pinellas County Jail. She put her lawyer face on and went in alone. The more she found out about the MC, the more she learned the territory. The Skulls had taken over most of Clearwater, which meant they were on their turf. They needed a non-MC member to bail their brother out of jail. The charges were bullshit as far as Addison could tell. Some of the mess the MCs did was simply playground bullying.