This cleanup was too much to do individually; it would take way too long, and I wanted to get home to my boy and my girl. The old warehouse was off the beaten path, so we could keep the fire contained enough not to draw any attention until everything was gone. Question remained, who the hell wanted us all dead?

* * *

Riding back to Sumner, I just wanted to hold my son and my girl. They were the reason I breathed. I loved the club and my brothers. I’d do anything to protect all of them. Dagger had placed a call to Diamond and Pops before we left, so they knew what was going down.

Dagger seemed a little off after the call, but that was just Dagger. After six hours of riding, we pulled into the clubhouse which was dark and peaceful.

Walking into the clubhouse, Pops sat at the bar, nursing a Jack and Coke, while Buzz was continually wiped it down. “It’s late old man, whatcha doing up?”

When the other guys all followed me in, Pops announced, “Church at eight a.m. Get some sleep.” He dismissed us, or so I thought. “Cruz, stay here.”

Nodding to the guys as they went to their rooms, Buzz followed behind them with G.T. on his heals explaining what we needed done with the phone. “What’s going on?”

“I know you had a shit run, but you gotta hear this before you go in and see my girl.” The hair on the back of my neck stood to attention. Several possibilities began racing through my head and none of them good.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I sidled up to the bar next to him reaching over for a beer.

Every word out of Pops’ mouth chimed in my head as he retold the events that had taken place. I was concerned, but pride also seeped in knowing that Princess went to the brothers and didn’t try to handle it herself. “What do they have to say?”

“Stella’s not talking, but I’m sure she would with the right persuasion. Moxie is. She says that about a year ago she was feeling pretty down and out. Her guy left her, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, Rabbit’s crew just showed up, offering her a pick me up. She was in such a shitty place she took it. She got addicted, ran up a huge debt, and the only way to get out was to sell, which she’s been doing for eight months.”

“They set her up, knowing Princess would be out soon.”

Pops nodded. “Moxie doesn’t know any of that. She just wanted to be high, but that’s my thought.”

“So, Babs has drugs in Studio X, gives an anonymous tip to the cops, they raid the place, find the drugs, and with Princess’s prior, nail her to the wall, and if she’s got her piece on her, that’s more trouble.” Pops stared at his drink. “So it’s the sure fire set up to put her back in. What’s the plan?”

“It’s getting deep. You ready for this son?”

“If it means protecting my family, ab-so-fucking-lutely.”

Pops slapped my back. “Don’t be late for church.” He got up, making his way down the hall to his room. After locking the shit up tightly, I needed to see my family.

Unlocking and opening the door, I could see the small bathroom light was on as it cast a soft glow in the room. Princess’s back was turned towards me. Walking over to Coop’s bed, my heart sunk when Cooper wasn’t inside. Searching quickly, my eyes landed on the bed next to Princess. Coop lay curled up in a ball with Princess’s arm wrapped around him tightly. Both were sound asleep.

Moving closer, I reached down to scoop Cooper up and put him in his crib. Before I could get him fully up, a gun was placed at my head while a groggy Princess got her bearings. “Get away from my boy!” she barked, her eyes hazy from sleep.

“Baby, it’s me,” I said softly as recognition instantly hit her. She lowered the gun and placed it back under the pillow.

“Sorry. I’ve been a little jumpy,” she said, rubbing her eyes looking down at Coop. “I just wanted to hold him.”

“Baby, you don’t need to be sorry for that.” Scooping Cooper up, I placed him in his bed quietly shutting the door behind me. “I missed you, Baby,” I said, kneeling besides the bed.

“I missed you, too.”

“How’s Cooper?”

She smiled. “He’s perfect.” She paused. “I think he’s back to his normal self, only a little sluggish, but he’s okay.”

“You did great with him.”

Her eyes locked with mine. “Cruz, I didn’t know the first thing to do. Ma had to teach me, quickly.”

“And I bet you sucked it up and did what had to be done.” I had the utmost confidence in my girl. I watched her stitch up bullet wounds. I knew the flu wouldn’t get her down.

“Yeah. He’s a great little boy, Cruz.”

“You know he loves you.”

She smiled the widest smile. “Yeah. I know. I love him, too.”

“Wanna tell me about tonight?”

She sighed, but went into every last detail of the events that happened. “I think Babs is trying to set me up again.” God, my girl, was fucking smart.

“You do?”

Princess rolled on her side, placing her elbow on the bed, her head resting in her hand. “You can’t tell me it’s a coincidence that Babs’s man is my girl’s dealer. And then on top of doing drugs, getting them to run drugs through my studio. I think Babs knew I was getting out and wanted to set me up again.”

I stared at the smart, beautiful woman before me. There were no words that could describe the way I felt about her. Love didn’t seem to be enough. Soul mate seemed to pussy-ish to say. But something. Some deeper connection was happening with us. My heart constricted.

“You think that’s what’s going on?” she asked me, point blank. I couldn’t divulge any club business, even if she was spot on in her assessment.

“Could be.” She eyed me, and I knew she wanted to ask if I knew something, but she refrained. I loved that she knew better than to question it. “I’m gonna take a quick shower.” Getting up, I stripped my leathers. Feeling the hot water wash away the dirt and blood helped me relax a little. There was no way I could tell Princess what happened at the drop off. All that shit had to stay locked inside. I’d talk about it tomorrow morning at church.

Crawling into bed, my naked body was still wet, and all I wanted was to feel Princess’s skin. But what I felt were clothes, and I remembered she was lying with Coop. “Take it off, Baby,” I nuzzled in her ear. She didn’t hesitate. “I need you,” I said, pressing my lips to hers, feeling the shudder run through her body.

She instantly fell into the kiss, giving back as much as she was taking. Rolling on top of her, my body pressed her tightly into the mattress as she spread her legs wide for me, welcoming me into her body. Kissing down her neck, I sucked on each of her beautiful tits rolling her nipples between my teeth, loving the moans escaping her lips. I needed the taste of her pussy on my lips, but I also needed her lips around my cock.

Falling to the bed, I said, “Baby climb up here and sit on my face.” Princess scrambled up, facing the headboard. “Turn around.” She did exactly as instructed without hesitation. As she lowered on my mouth, I began my assault maneuvering my tongue in and out of her hot pussy. God, I loved this taste. Using my arm, I pressed the small of her back lowering her down to my cock.

It didn’t take her, but a second, to know exactly what I needed. As her tongue brushed up and down my dick, I was in my own slice of heaven. That place that I’ll never really get to, but while here, would enjoy every second of it. Her warm mouth wrapped around my dick as she began fucking me hard going up and down like the little vixen she was. She didn’t use her hands; they were propped at her sides holding her up, which made the feeling even more intense.

As my dick touched the back of her throat, she swallowed and hummed repeatedly. I was ready to lose it. I began sucking her clit hard and pumping my fingers in and out of her warm body, hitting that magic spot inside the top of her wall.

Princess’s pussy clamped on to my fingers tight as her screams were muffled by my dick crammed in her mouth. As she kept sucking, I felt my balls tighten, and the bottom of my spine begin to pulsate. Stream after stream came pouring out of me as my orgasm ripped through my body. Princess swallowed every last drop, licking my dick clean before falling to the side of me on the bed. But I wasn’t done with her yet.

Sitting up, I grabbed her legs and spun her around on the bed. Her laugh was beautiful. “What are you doing?” she asked, still trying to catch her breath.

“Any damn thing I want.” My lips collided with hers, tasting myself, my dick instantly became hard again as she began rocking her hips back and forth on my dick. Rolling on top of her, I grabbed her arms, pinning them above her head. Her immediate surrender made me smile. My girl was perfect.

Sliding my dick inside of her, I loved how tight and wet she was for me every damn time. Using one arm to keep hers pressed down, the other came to her knee lifting it high to her chest. I wanted her as deep as I could get her. If I could climb inside of her, I sure as hell would. Thrust after thrust, I felt her pulsating beneath me as her body arched off of the bed. Harder and harder I pounded, claiming this woman again and again as mine. As she screamed my name, I came with a roar, sweat pouring off my body. Falling on top of Princess, I crushed her into the bed with my weight, but she didn’t complain.

As I released her arms, she wrapped them tightly around my body, brushing her hand up and down my back. “I love you,” she said quietly.

“Me too.” My words were muffled by the blankets, and exhaustion seeped through my body. With the last bit of energy, I rolled off of her, pulling her back to my front, falling fast asleep.