“What do you need?” I asked, since standing there watching was not helping anyone.

“I need towels and duct tape,” Princess ordered.

“Here.” G.T. was one step ahead, handing both items to her. Watching Princess work like a well-oiled machine was beautiful. She didn’t shy away from the blood or do that prissy shit that most women do. She dug in and got the job done. I was in a bit of awe. Every fucking move this woman made, made me want to stick my dick in her. Shit.

Pops stopped my admiration. “Cruz, you get Princess and Ma back to the clubhouse. Call Breaker and Buzz to bring the cage. Call Doc and get him to the clubhouse now.” I nodded as he turned to G.T. “You and me ride.”

The clubhouse was buzzing while Doc worked on Ma. She appeared to be just fine, but one woman was not. Princess hadn’t stopped pacing since Doc started working on Ma. Every so often she paused to have a shot of Jack and then continued to pace.

Everyone left her alone not wanting to be on the end of her rage, I assumed, but I couldn’t care less if I pissed her off. Walking up in front of her, I gently grabbed her shoulders.

“Don’t,” she barked at me.

“Come on.” She looked at her Ma laying on the pool table getting stitched up and shook her head. “It’ll just take a minute. Trust me.” She looked up into my eyes as if she was battling some inner turmoil then sighed.

She nodded, “All right. A few minutes, then I gotta get back.”

Smiling, I led her outside the clubhouse to the back gym. I’d been in her shoes before, seeing someone I love shot and not being able to do a damn thing about it. When Steeler was shot outside of the club, I didn’t know what the fuck to do. The brothers swooped in and took care of it, and at that exact moment, I knew this life was for me.

“The ring?” she questioned, looking at the large square in the center of the gym, her eyes wide.

“Yep. Get taped up.”

She smiled. “You wanna fight me?” I could see her wheels turning.

“I’m not going to fight you. You’re just gonna get some of your frustration out.” There was no way I wanted to hit this woman, whether she accepted it or not, I’d protect her till my dying breath. God, I knew this fucking woman a day, and she was already so fucking far under my damn skin.

“Oh, come on. You’re just going to let me hit you like some pansy ass bitch, huh?” The devil gleaming in her eyes had me utterly intrigued.

“I’ll tape up, but I’m not swinging.”

“Pussy.”

After helping each other tape up and removing our boots, we climbed into the ring. She pulled her hair into some kind of bun thing on her head as she moved her neck from side to side. Hearing stories about Princess’ ability in the ring, I admit I was intrigued. The guys supposedly taught her to fight, and she always held her head up high even if she ended up bloody, or so I was told. Now I’d get a personal view.

As we squared off, my pulse began to pick up. I dodged swing after swing until she nailed me right in the mouth, sending blood flying. Wiping it from my face, we began a fighting dance. I never once swung, only blocked.

“Come on. Fight me damn it!” she growled at me, swinging hard, kicking me in the gut.

“No,” I said as I regained my composure, standing tall. I didn’t hear the door to the gym open, only the whoops and hollers of all my brothers and Ma coming into the gym. Shit.

“Hey, boys. This pussy here won’t fight back,” she goaded me. I knew what I had to do. I didn’t want to, but I knew I had to. No fucking way I’d let the brothers see me not fight back.

She blocked several of my swings, but I made contact with the right hook to her cheek and she stumbled back. I stopped what I was doing and rushed to her. She smiled giving me a right hook of her own sending me staggering back a bit.

This went on for what seemed like forever. Blood was gushing down both of our faces. The bell on the side started going off as Dagger banged on it, hard. We knew it was over. Fuck if this bitch didn’t have the biggest balls I’ve ever seen.

I stalked towards her, and her eyes widened. I’m not sure what my face looked like, but all I could feel was my throbbing dick needing a home and fast. Grabbing her, I slammed my lips to hers; just taking everything I possibly could from her. As her body melted into mine, I kept going, not giving two shits about the crowd below us. Tasting the sweat and blood throughout my mouth spurred me on.

Princess pulled away, wincing. As I looked at her lip, I could see it was split wide open. “Doc still here?” I called out.

“In the clubhouse!” Rhys called out.

“Get checked out,” I said, staring at her lip, not believing I just did that to her, a bit ashamed with myself, in fact.

“I’m fine,” she uttered and patted her lip with her hand.

“I didn’t ask. Go,” I ordered. Getting right in her face, “Get your fucking ass in there and get checked out. Now.” My voice was dead calm and utterly serious, and when her eyes flashed acceptance, I knew I’d gotten her.

Princess took off out of the ring, and I climbed out. “You sure you want that, Brother?” Dagger asked. He’s always in protection mode. I didn’t think he had any other switch.

“Hell yeah,” I said, wiping the blood from my face with a towel.

G.T. stepped in front of me. “You fucking hurt her; I’ll put a bullet in your fucking head.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less.” And I wouldn’t. She’s his blood. You protect blood and family at all costs. I respected that about G.T.

“I’m fucking serious. She’s not free pussy.” The anger radiating off my brother was tangible. I understood it, but it was fucking pissing me off.

Going toe-to-toe with G.T, I never thought I would want to rip someone’s head off so much. “You don’t think I fucking know that?”

“I’m starting to wonder. You forget I see the pussy coming out of your room.”

“And I see what comes out of yours,” I fire back knowing he didn’t want his business being known by his sister.

“Just don’t fuck her over.” G.T. shoulder-checked me, blowing past me towards the clubhouse. Fuck that shit. As I walked towards him to show him what I thought with my fists, Dagger’s words stopped me in my tracks.

“Cruz. You need to get your kid here. We’re on lockdown.” Fuck. Those words sent everything spiraling. I knew if Cooper came here, his bitch of a mother would make it a point to come, too. Shit if this wasn’t gonna be fucked up.

Chapter 4—Harlow

The shots of Jack helped numb the pain coursing through my body. I didn’t know how Cruz knew what I needed, but damn he did. Feeling lost and broken wasn’t easy. I wanted to rip those assholes apart for shooting at Ma. Throwing blow for blow was such a relief, and I didn’t know if he knew, but he brought back some awesome memories. I learned so much in that very ring, mostly from G.T., but the other brothers, as well.

Casey left earlier in the day and was due back any time. With us now on lockdown, everyone who was involved with the club was making his or her way inside. Casey went to our place to grab our stuff, and I desperately wanted her to get back here.

Pops was nice enough to let me crash in his room for a bit after the fight. I needed to rest, and being on lockdown, I didn’t want to be out in the main part of the clubhouse or in the bunks with all the kids running around. I needed a bit of peace.

Taking another swig of Jack from the bottle, I placed it on the small nightstand by the bed. Falling down, I spread out on the blood-red comforter and pillows that I’m sure Ma picked out ‘cause Pops could give two shits what the place looked like. My face was hurting like a bitch, and I bet it looked just as bad.

After the Doc patched me up, I showered and called Casey giving her a list of the stuff I wanted. Lord knows how long we’d be on lockdown. No one was saying shit about the guy who shot Ma. When I asked, I was told it was club business.