Until June

  *

  “Have a good rest of the summer, guys.” I smile at my students leaving the classroom, gaining, “You too, Ms. Mayson,” or “Later,” from each of them as they pass by one-by-one. I know they are all as excited as I am to get out of here so they can enjoy a couple weeks of sleeping in and no homework before school starts back up.

  Once they’re all gone, I grab my bag from my desk and lock up the class. I can’t wait to tell Evan that I was offered the full-time teaching position. I knew there was a good chance I would get the job, but with teaching, you never know if you will be passed up for someone with more experience. Lucky for me, my summer of teaching paid off, and I now have a full-time job and my own classroom teaching third graders starting in two short weeks.

  Making my way across the lot to my car, my cell phone rings from my bag. I stop and dig it out, smiling huge when I see Evan is calling. “Hey,” I answer, then frown when I hear shuffling and muffled voices that I can’t make out coming from the other end. “Evan?” I call, gaining no answer in return. My hand that is wrapped around the phone clenches and my vision clouds when someone roars, “You motherfuckers are dead!”

  Running for my car, I swing the door open and get in. As soon as the car is started, the phone connects to the Bluetooth and the sound off muffled voices fills the quiet space. “What do I do? What do I do?” I whisper to myself, as I put my car in drive. I don’t want to hang up the call, but I need to call the police. I really need to know where to send the police.

  “Fuck you, Wes,” I make out through the garbled mess of rustling and stifled voices. Praying that my assumption is right and that they are at the bike shop I pull over to the side of the road. Picking up my cell phone I look at the screen, knowing there has to be a way to connect more than one call. Finding the feature I’m looking for, I put the call from Evan on hold and dial 911.

  “911, what’s your emergency?” a man answers.

  “My fiancé called me on accident,” I get out through pants, while my hands shake franticly.

  “Ma’am, this is 911—”

  “I know that!” I cut him off, shrieking into the car. “He called me on accident, but I think he’s in trouble. You have to help.”

  “Okay, calm down and tell me what you heard.”

  “I couldn’t make out much, but I heard my brother-in-law’s name and someone saying something about people dying. I think they are at the Broken Eagles’ bike repair shop,” I say, listening to him type. “His call is still on hold. Can I join your call with his?”

  “Do that now, honey,” he says, so I press the button to connect the two calls and as soon as I do, two gunshots go off, one right after another.

  “Oh, God.” I put my car in drive, needing to get to Evan, not hearing anything else the dispatcher says. As soon as I arrive, I see the whole place surrounded by cop cars. Spotting Uncle Nico, I get out, leaving the car on and the door open. I rush to where he’s standing, ignoring the officers yelling at me to get back into my car.

  “June,” Uncle Nico says, as soon as he sees me running toward him.

  “What’s going on? Is Evan okay?”

  “Honey, you need to get back into your car.”

  “Tell me now!” I scream, and his face softens. Taking my hand, he leads me to one of the squad cars, settles me in the backseat, and then gets down on his haunches in front of me.

  “It’s not safe right now,” he says, gently wiping my face that I hadn’t even realized is soaked with tears.

  “Tell me what’s going on. Please tell me that Evan is okay,” I whisper, feeling more tears track down my cheeks.

  “We know there are at least two armed suspects inside the building. Right now, that’s all the information we have.”

  “I heard gunshots,” I say in a panic, wondering if Evan’s been shot, if one of those shots was aimed at him.

  “I need you to take some deep breaths and wait here while I talk to my men. Can you do that for me?”

  Covering my face, I nod and start to pray.

  Chapter 15

  Evan

  The beast within me has awoken and is out for vengeance. Seeing blood seeping out of the wound in Harlen’s shoulder, I move without thought from my kneeling position and tackle Jordan to the ground, with my shoulder in his stomach. On impact, his gun flies out of his hand and skids across the floor.

  I knew something was up when I pulled up to the shop and found the place empty. There is always at least one guy working on a car or bike in the middle of the day, even during lunchtime. When I walked through the compound in search of everyone and entered the common room, the sight that greeted me sent chills down my spine. I didn’t have time to think or make a phone call. I barely had time to hit Call on my last call and shove my cell in my back pocket before Jordan and one other man that were holding the guys at gunpoint spotted me.

  “Motherfucker,” I snarl, getting my hands around Jordan’s throat. As I watch his face turn purple and his body jerk, I register the sound of fighting breaking out around me. Jordan’s fingers rip at my hands.

  “Don’t kill him,” someone says. But it’s too late. Watching his eyes start to slide closed, I feel his pulse beneath my fingers slow and I add more pressure. “Evan.” I hear my name through the fog, but my vision has tunneled with one goal in mind. Getting tackled from the side, I roar, fighting back with everything in me, but then a sharp pain hits my skull and everything goes black.

  My eyes squeeze tight and my hands move to my head, putting pressure on my skull, which feels like it’s been cracked open. “What the fuck?” I hiss in pain.

  “Oh, God,” I hear June whimper, as her weight settles deeper into my side and her arm wraps over my waist. Holding her to me, I breathe through the pain in my head and freeze when memories of what happened come back to me full-force. “The guys? Harlen?” I try to sit up, but her small body holds me to the bed.

  “They’re okay,” her small voice says, while her fingers run along my neck, and my eyes blink open. “Harlen is okay.” She shifts, moving to look down at me, and that’s when I realize I’m in a hospital room.

  “Why’m I here?” I frown, looking around the small sterile room, trying to recall what happened after Harlen was shot, but I draw a blank.

  “You had an episode,” she says gently, running her eyes and hands over me.

  “Episode?” I repeat, trying to understand what she’s saying.

  “The guys said you went crazy. They couldn’t get you to calm down. You kept going after Jordan, even after he was unconscious and the other man was disarmed.”

  “Christ.” I close my eyes, feeling her head rest against my chest and her arms tighten around my middle.

  “I was so scared,” she whispers, burrowing closer.

  Rolling us to the side, I tuck her into my front and run my hands down her back as I listen to her cry. “It’s okay,” I murmur gently, feeling her body rock with the force of her tears.

  “Wh… When I heard the gunsh… shots, I thought—”

  “I’m fine,” I cut her off before she can finish. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere,” I vow. Her head tips back and her tear-filled eyes meet mine.

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she demands, and I fight a smile that catches me off guard.

  “I won’t.”

  “And you’re not allowed to help my uncle anymore. I forbid it,” she continues, closing her eyes.

  “It will be okay.” I kiss her forehead, rest my chin on the top of her head, and then wrap her up in my arms.

  “I need to tell the doctor and everyone else that you’re awake,” she mumbles into my chest, but snuggles into my side.

  “In a minute,” I mumble back, then close my eyes and wonder what the fuck happened and why I can’t remember any of it.

  “Fuck, man, I’m glad you’re okay,” Wes mumbles, after taking a seat in the chair next to the hospital bed, where I’m laid up with a sleeping June tucked to my front.


  She didn’t tell the doctor I was awake. She fell asleep, and I didn’t bother waking her; I just pressed the buzzer for the nurses’ station and let them know I was up and needed something for my head. Soon after that, the doctor came in to check me over and tell me that they were keeping me overnight for observation. Apparently, in my fight to get to Jordan to end him, Wes was left with no choice but to knock me out, leaving me unconscious with a minor concussion.

  “You ever think of going MMA?” I joke, and his jaw clenches.

  “You scared us, brother,” he growls, looking away from me. “There were three of us on you, and we still couldn’t control you.” His head shakes before his eyes meet mine once more.

  “I don’t remember any of it. My last memory is of Jordan pointing the gun at Harlen and pulling the trigger,” I admit, running my hand down my face.

  “We knew you weren’t yourself. I knew I had to stop you from doing something you’d regret. Even if that motherfucker does deserve to pay for what he’s done, you don’t deserve to live with his death on your conscience,” he says quietly, dropping his eyes to June for a second before meeting my gaze again. “If you hadn’t shown—”

  “Don’t say it,” I rumble, feeling June’s body tense against mine. I know from my talk with Nico earlier that Jordan’s plan didn’t involve anyone leaving the compound alive. Jordan’s father had been taken down early in the morning, and he knew the cops were on the hunt for him and the rest of their crew.

  “You know you have my heart, brother.”

  “Same,” I agree, holding his gaze, meaning that shit to the bottom of my soul.

  Nodding, he stands, tucking his hands in his pockets. “I better go, and just so you know, the girls are already planning a get-together for when you get home, so rest up while you can.” He smiles for the first time since entering the room, and I shake my head, not even a little surprised by the news.

  “How’s Harlen?” I ask when he reaches the door.

  “Guy’s a brick house. It’ll take a lot more than one bullet to knock him down.”

  “True.” Lifting my chin, I watch the door close behind him then put my fingers under June’s chin and lift up. “I know you’re awake, beautiful.”

  “How long have I been asleep?” She yawns, looking around.

  “Awhile.”

  “Has the doctor come in?” She frowns, trying to sit up, but I hold her in place.

  “You slept through everyone coming in, including your family,” I say, gently running my thumb over her bottom lip then under her eyes. “You look tired.”

  “I’m okay.”

  “You should go home and get some re—”

  “I’m not leaving you,” she says, cutting me off, resting her hand against my cheek. “What did the doctor say?”

  “I have to stay overnight for observation,” I reply, watching her fill with worry. “It’s just a precaution. They want to make sure I’m okay.”

  “Oh.” She deflates, relaxing into me. “Are you okay?”

  Her soft words give me pause. I know she’s not talking about my head, but about my episode.

  “I’ll talk to someone when I’m released,” I reassure her, moving my hand up the back of her shirt so I can touch her skin.

  Her eyes search my face for a moment, then her voice softly asks, “Has it ever happened before?”

  “Not to me, but I know it’s not uncommon,” I say, and her face gentles as her hand on my cheek moves so her fingers can slide over my mouth.

  “I love you,” she whispers after a moment.

  “I know you do,” I agree, and her head shakes back and forth.

  “You don’t. You don’t understand that it’s impossible for me to breathe without you. I can’t mak—”

  “Baby,” I cut her off, not wanting her to go there.

  “I’m pregnant,” she blurts, and my body freezes. “I’m sorry. I had this whole big plan of how I wanted to tell you tonight, but after today, I really want you to know it’s not only you and me anymore. We ha—”

  “You’re pregnant?” I interrupt, while the words ring in my ears.

  “Yes.”

  “How long have you known?”

  “A few days. I was—”

  “You’re having my baby?” I confirm, cutting her off again and moving my eyes to her stomach briefly.

  “Yes.” She frowns, studying me. “Are you okay?”

  “Fuck, you’re pregnant,” I rumble, letting the fact that the woman I love is carrying my child wash over me. “Maybe we should have the doctor check you over.” I grab the call button only to have it slapped out of my hand.

  “I’m not having the doctor check me, we are fine the baby is fine.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Fuck your pregnant.” I shake my head in disbelief and move my hand to her still flat stomach. “We’re going to Vegas.”

  “Oh, my God. I tell you I’m pregnant, and you lose your mind.” She laughs laying down on the bed covering her face.

  “I love you, and we’re going to Vegas. We’re not waiting for you and your mom to plan a wedding. We’re getting married now.” I loom over her, resting my hand lightly back on her stomach.

  “We are not getting married in Vegas. Don’t be crazy,” she snaps, smacking my arm. “We’re getting married in three months. The wedding is almost all planned, and Momzilla will lose her mind if you try to take the wedding from her.”

  “Momzilla?”

  I smile, and she rolls her eyes then slides them back down to meet mine, asking softly, “Are you happy?”

  “No, baby. What I am can’t be described as happy.” I kiss her gently then rub her stomach. “You’re really pregnant?”

  Her face softens and her hands hold my face. “You’re going to be a dad, the best dad in the world.” Looking into her beautiful face, I know that as long as I have her, I will work myself to death to prove her words to be true.

  “You’re seeing the doctor before we leave the hospital.” I mutter then cover her mouth with mine before she can reply.

  *

  “Bye!” June yells, as JJ leaves with Brew to walk across the yard to their house. Wes was not lying about the party June’s sisters, mom, and aunts were putting together.

  As soon as we got home from the hospital, everyone showed up with food and drinks. Harlen, who was also released today, even made it for a couple hours before Nico’s daughter Harmony, who happens to be studying to be a nurse, offered to give him a ride home after seeing his wound was bothering him. The big guy didn’t know what to do with the bossy little chick. I had to admit, they fit in that whole “opposites attract” kind of way, but watching Nico watch Harlen with his daughter was comical as hell. I thought the guy was going to lose it. On the plus side the doctor checked June over before I was released and everything looked perfect.

  “That was fun.” June smiles, shutting the door behind our last guest, and I turn her around and move us down the hall with my hands on her ass. “Are you feeling okay?” she questions, studying me with her hands against my chest.

  “Nope,” I mutter, dropping my mouth to her neck, licking up to her ear.

  “What’s wrong?” she breathes, trying to pull her face back.

  “I need to be inside of you.” I nip her ear and her hands slide around my neck as her body softens into mine. Moving into the bedroom, I lift her then dig one knee into the bed then the other, before dropping her to her back in the middle of the bed.

  “You have a huge fucking family,” I inform her, ripping her shirt off over her head. “And we have a lot of friends. I thought they would never leave.”

  “We have a huge family. They’re your family now, too.” She lifts her hips, panting, so I can drag her jeans shorts and panties down over her ass.

  “I’ve been dying to be inside of you all night. I swear I was ready to kick everyone out hours ago.” I unhook her bra and toss it behind me.

  “They care about you,” she hisses, as I cup her breasts and pinch he
r nipples.

  “I know,” I agree, leaning back to help her pull my tee off. “But they could have waited a week or two before showing up,” I complain, and she laughs, cupping my cheek.

  “Welcome to the family, honey. You will never be alone again.” She smiles, and I smile back. As much as I hate to admit it, that shit feels good. “Now stop talking,” she whispers, putting pressure on the back of my neck. Giving her what she wants, I kiss her then roam my hand down between her legs, finding her wet and ready for me.

  “Ev,” she moans, riding my fingers while my mouth covers her breast.

  “I’m right here, baby.”

  “I need you inside of me.” Removing my fingers from her, I lick them clean then kick off my jeans and move back between her still spread legs.

  “I don’t know if I can go soft,” I tell her, pushing her hair back away from her face.

  “Why would you need to be soft?” she asks, wrapping her hand around my cock, sliding it up and down.

  “The baby.”

  “The baby is fine. Now, please, fuck me.” She lifts her hips, and I sink slowly inside her.

  “Harder,” she begs, and I lean back, searching her eyes, picking up my pace. Her legs lift, wrapping me tight, and her back arches off the bed.

  “Fuck,” I growl, picking up the pace at seeing that she’s close.

  “Yesss.” Her nails dig into my back as her pussy convulses around me, taking me with her through her orgasm.

  “Home,” I growl, looking into her beautiful eyes. “You are my home.” I slide out then back in, burying my face in her neck and my cock deep.

  “You’re my home,” she whispers into my ear. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, beautiful.” I lean back to look at her, knowing I may have fucked up, but there was no way I would ever lose her again.

  Epilogue

  Three months later

  “You may now kiss the bride.”

  At those words, I grab June around the waist, dip her backward, and cover her mouth with mine, while our family and friends cheer loudly. When I saw her coming down the aisle toward me, holding on to her dad’s arm, I had to clench my fist so I didn’t rush forward and drag her away from him toward the altar.