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"Yeah. Cold, but we’re okay." Ember takes a deep breath.
"Grace, baby." Jake walks into the freezer, brushing past me, and his woman enters his waiting embrace. "Jesus Christ." Jake bundles her into his side. "Let's get y'all out of here." He leads her out of the cold. I pull Ember into me and exit the freezer as well. "Grace, baby. You and Ember go upstairs to the apartment and wait until we come get you, understand?"
"Yes," Grace says softly, then she approaches Ember. "Come on."
Ember looks up at me as she pulls away and follows Grace toward the staircase to the apartment above the bakery.
"Help me toss these two motherfuckers in the freezer." Jake moves in the direction of Grace's office. The guy I knocked out still lies motionless in the doorway. Jake steps over him. "There's one more bastard I shot. He's behind the desk, out cold from me bashing the heel of my boot against his face. You take that one, and I'll grab this piece of shit."
Bending down, I put my hands under the prick's armpits and drag his heavy ass down the hall, through the kitchen. He moans as I toss his body onto the freezer floor. The man is soon accompanied by his accomplice, when Jake drops the man's limp body to the floor. "Look around for something to bind them with," Jake demands.
Using the light from my phone, I rummage through kitchen drawers, finding nothing before heading to the storage room in the back, where the exit is located. I finally find a couple of rolls of clear boxing tape. They will have to do, so I take them back to the freezer and quickly bind the men's hands behind their backs before wrapping tape around their ankles. As I walk out of the freezer and lock it from the outside, Jake is on his phone.
"We have a situation. Get a hold of Gabriel. Have him grab the van and come to the bakery. And tell him to grab Quinn on the way." Jake is silent for a beat. "Blake is on the scene with me. We'll wait here until Gabriel and Quinn arrive. I want all the other men at the clubhouse now," Jake barks, then ends the call.
Twenty minutes later, I'm standing just outside the back door, smoking, when lights flood the alleyway as a van with Gabriel behind the wheel drives toward me. I drop the cigarette at my feet and snub it out with the toe of my boot. Gabriel leaves the van running and steps out, and Quinn climbs out of the passenger side. Both make their way over.
"Where's Prez?" Gabriel questions.
"In the front of the store, keeping watch." Before I can say more, Jake appears.
"The pieces of shit are in the freezer. You two—" Jake motions to Gabriel and Quinn "—load 'em up. There's blood in the office. Get that shit cleaned before you leave. And do something with this busted door. I don't want the place left unsecured. Got it?" He keeps his eyes on both brothers, and they nod. "The rest of the mess; we'll take care of it later." Jake then faces me. "Ember rode with Grace. I need you to get her back to the clubhouse."
"You got it," I tell him.
"I'm taking my woman home. Nothing else happens until I get back to the clubhouse," Jake adds before walking back inside to get Grace.
Quinn pats Gabriel on the back. "Let's go fuck with some meat popsicles, big man."
Gabriel grunts, walking inside, and Quinn follows, lighting the way with a flashlight.
I stroll back into the building as Jake emerges from the staircase, bringing the women downstairs. "I need my bag." Ember walks over to where aprons are hung by hooks on the wall, retrieving her purse.
Reaching out, I take her by the hand and walk her outside, keeping her close to my side. I lead her toward the tattoo shop, which only takes a minute or two to reach, then I let go of her hand long enough to straddle my bike.
"Climb on." I look at Ember, waiting for her to slide in behind me. She's been on the back of a bike before, just never mine. Ember lifts her purse strap over her head, placing it across her chest before settling behind me. Her legs hug me as she shifts her body forward, her hands falling to my sides.
"This okay?" She brings her hands to rest on my stomach. The connection sends a bolt of energy through my body, much like having her body tucked in close to mine when she slips into bed beside me. Regaining my composure, I throw the bike into gear and drive away. I increase my speed the moment we hit the open road. Ember tightens her hold, her hands fisting my shirt while her breasts press firmly against my back as she leans in closer. I become torn between going faster to increase the intensity of our connection by making her hold on even tighter, or slowing down to prolong having her on the back of my bike. I would choose the latter if the club weren't already dealing with an urgent situation. Instead, I maintain my current speed to return to the clubhouse.
Too soon, the Kings' compound comes into view, and Grey is outside operating the gate. Approaching the clubhouse, I noticed Nikolai's bike and Demetri's SUV parked near the end of the building. By the front door, Demetri's right-hand man and driver, Victor, has his arms crossed over his chest. I pull up and back my ride alongside the other member's bikes. Ember slowly releases her hold on me, then dismounts and waits for me to join her before heading for the door.
"Hey, Victor," Ember greets our surprise visitor.
"Ember," he says, his face devoid of emotion.
"Victor." I extend my hand, shaking his. "Prez expecting y'all?"
"No," he says bluntly, but I take no offense. Victor is a man of few words, much like Gabriel.
"All right, man," I tell him, then Ember and I walk inside. I expected to find my brothers milling around the common area, but the place is empty. Raine walks out of the back room where we store extra booze, with a box in her arms.
Her attention goes to Ember. "Ember." She places the box on the bar and walks over. "I heard what happened. Are you okay? How's Grace?"
"A little shaken up now that the adrenaline of the situation is wearing off, but I'm fine, and so is Grace."
"Where is everyone?" I ask Raine, who then shifts her eyes from Ember to me.
"Oh, um. Logan ordered everyone to the shed."
