Club Property: Adults Only Motorcycle Club Romance: Roadrunners MC (18 page)

He returned his attention out of the window, but as he cast his gaze around he could see nothing that looked any different from usual.

“What do we do?” Carrie asked nervously.

“Everything looks normal down there, as far as I can tell,” Crash replied. “I think we should make a move. If there is something going on, we’ll be safer at the Roadrunners’ building.”

He walked across the room and took her hand to make her follow then reached in his pocket to bring out the gun. There was no way of knowing whether he would be targeted, but he wanted to be prepared if he was. They made their way along the hallway to the door and he pressed his ear on the wood to listen. As far as he could make out, it was quiet in the hallway.

“When we get outside, just stay close to me and walk quickly,” he said in a quiet voice.

Carrie nodded her head, but took a step away from him when she heard the click of the lock turning. She was holding her breath as she prepared to move forward, but didn’t get the chance. The door hammered into Crash’s face and sent him flying backwards to fall to the ground. The force of the hit knocked the gun from his hand and it clattered across the floor as it slid out of his reach. She only just managed to get out of the way of him to avoid being knocked over and her fear leapt when she saw the man in the hallway step forward and raise his hand.

“This is a message from the Mob,” he said in a low growl.

The flash of gunmetal was all she was aware of as she reacted by kicking out at the door. It crashed onto the man’s hand and she heard his surprised curse as he was thwarted from firing.

Crash was already on his feet, but there was no chance to retrieve his pistol and all he could do was throw himself forward to try and close the door. The man in the hallway thrust his gun through the narrowing gap and pulled the trigger, but his aim was thrown off as the weapon became trapped between the door and the frame and the bullet ripped into the floor.

“Watch out!” Carrie screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of another bullet being fired.

Crash did the only thing he could think off and hammed his clenched fist down with all his might on the barrel of the gun. His gamble paid off as the weapon was knocked from the man’s hand. It fell to the floor when he wrenched the door all the way open to launch himself forward at his attacker and the pair of them hit the opposite wall.

It knocked the breath from the man, but he countered with a swinging punch that caught Crash hard in the guts and the two men traded blows as they grappled for supremacy. Carrie stared down at the weapon on the floor and knew she needed to try something. She was moving towards it when the man saw what she was doing. He threw all his might into pushing Crash backwards and it allowed him to get close enough to the gun to sweep his foot towards it.

He made a connection that sent the weapon hurtling along the hallway and it stopped just as it reached the top of the stairs. There was no way Carrie could move past the fighting men to get to the gun or the way out and all she could do was watch the unfolding action and pray that Crash came out on top. Their lives depended on it now and her fear rose as she saw the punches being thrown.

The two men desperately clung on to each other to make sure their opponent couldn’t make a run for the pistol lying near the end of the hallway. The close quarter combat was brutal as they hammered blows against each other to try and get the knockout that would end things. Crash saw a chance and brought his arm down hard on the hands clinging to his leather jacket. He felt the grip weaken and did the same again and it finally got him free.

The opportunity was there and he ducked a punch and slammed his hands into the Mob man’s chest. It knocked the guy off balance and dropped him to his knees. Crash took off straight away towards the gun and knew that his adversary wouldn’t be far behind. Carrie was frozen to the spot as she watched the desperate race to get to the firearm. It looked like the man she loved would get their first to save them, but the victory was snatched from him as a hand seemed to appear from nowhere and it reached out to grab the gun just before he got to it.

Carrie realized that someone coming up the stairs had picked up the weapon and feared the worst. Her scream came out as she saw it being aimed and anticipated the gunshot that would kill her lover. It didn’t happen and her eyes opened wide as she saw the man holding the gun come into view.

Her father anticipated the attack coming in his direction and swung the weapon to slam it down on the man’s head. Crash finished the job by throwing a rabbit punch to the base of the Mob assassin’s skull and he dropped like a stone as he fell unconscious.

“What the fuck is going on?” Samuel demanded.

“No time to explain, sir,” Crash replied. “We need to get out of here right now.”

Samuel ignored the comment to turn his attention to Carrie, who was now moving hurriedly along the corridor towards them.

“Are you OK?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied “We need to just do what Crash says.”

“But…” he started.

“Please Dad,” she implored

“What about sleeping beauty?” Samuel asked and motioned his head towards the unconscious man lying on the floor.

“Leave him,” Crash said. “We’re never coming back here anyway.”

He led them down the stairs to the ground floor and they warily stepped out of the building entrance and glanced around for any more danger. The way was clear and they crossed the road to the truck. Crash unlocked the doors to let them get in then took off straight away to join the morning traffic and get away from the apartment.

“Do I get an explanation now?” Samuel asked in a fierce tone.

“Bella told you where I was?” Carrie queried.

She was still trembling from the shock of the attack, but was surprised that it didn’t affect her more considering the Mob assassin would likely have killed her and Crash if he’d got the chance. That should have left her a crying wreck, but she felt strong.

“Yes, Bella told me where you were,” her father replied. “She was worried about you and it looks like she was right to be.”

Carrie was suddenly glad that her older sister blabbed. She was sure that Crash would have won the fight, but her father turning up swung things in their favor and made sure they survived.

“I’m sorry about this, sir,” Crash interrupted. “I never wanted her to come down here and definitely didn’t want to put her in danger.”

“It won’t fucking happen again,” Samuel responded in a determined voice. “She’s coming home with me and I’ll make sure she never sees you again.”

“No.”

Carrie’s voice was soft, but the quiet determination was there for both men to hear.

“What do you mean?” Samuel replied. “You…”

“I didn’t tell Bella everything,” she went on. “Being with Crash wasn’t the only reason I came down here this time. I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake” Samuel cursed as he rubbed the heel of his hand on his forehead. “You can’t be serious about this.”

“I’m deadly serious,” she replied. “I know that you’re not happy with this, but you’ll just have to accept it. My life is going to be here with Crash now and I want him in the baby’s life. You can shout and curse all you want, but you’re not going to change my mind. I’m old enough to make my own decisions now.”

“What about college?” Samuel asked.

“I really am pregnant, Dad, so that needs to be my focus now,” she replied. “Crash and I want to build a life together and we’re going to do it with or without your approval.”

There was silence in the truck and it was Crash that eventually broke it.

“I’ll look after her, sir.”

“Yeah, I just fucking saw that,” Samuel replied sarcastically.

“I’ll change my life to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Crash went on. “All that’s important to me now is Carrie and the baby. I’ve been waiting for a chance to settle down and this is it. I want them in my life.”

“Fuck,” Samuel cursed.

“Take us to the airport,” Carrie said in a firm voice.

Samuel turned to look at his daughter and wanted to argue, but he knew he would be wasting his time. She was as stubborn and mule headed as he was and if he pushed her, he would lose her. As much as he hated what she was doing, he loved her too much not to have her in his life.

“Yeah,” he finally let out in a resigned tone. “Take me to the airport.”

“What will you tell Mum?” Carrie asked.

“Nothing about what just happened, and make sure you don’t either,” he replied. “I’ll just say you’re in good hands.”

“Thank you, sir,” Crash said.

“Just remember it’s me you will answer to if anything happens to my daughter,” Samuel said.

“I appreciate that, sir,” Crash replied. “I’ll make the changes in my life to ensure I never need to worry about you coming calling on me.”

“And stop calling me sir,” Samuel let out.

“Sorry, sir, I can’t do that,” Crash replied with a smile.

The rest of the journey to the airport passed by in relative silence and Crash remained in the truck when they got there. Carrie and her father walked inside and he went to the airline office to book a ticket on the next flight home. He checked in and they walked to the departure lounge straight away.

“I’ll be OK, Dad,” Carrie said.

“Just make sure he sticks to what he told me and changes his life,” Samuel replied.

Tears pricked in the corner of Carrie’s eyes as they hugged, but she gathered her strength to wipe them away before he could see when they moved apart.

“Take care,” he said.

“I will,” she said and turned to walk away.

Her life was now with the man waiting for her in the parking lot, and that was the only thought on her mind when she walked out of the terminal building to return to him.

“I was worried he might kidnap you and take you home,” Crash said when she got in the truck.

“No chance,” Carrie replied. “Our baby needs a dad, so I need to be with you.”

“I’ll give it my best shot,” Crash replied.

She leaned across to kiss him and knew she was where she wanted to be.

“I just warned the others that we were attacked and it is the Mob behind them,” he said. “I’ve been told to take off for a few weeks.”

“Where are you planning to go?” Carrie asked.

“We… are going to pick a highway and just see where it takes us,” he replied.

“Aren’t you supposed to get married before you have the honeymoon?” she teased him.

“Yeah and I think you’re supposed to be married before the girl gets pregnant,” Crash said. “We’re doing this all wrong.”

“No,” Carrie told him and smiled. “We’re doing everything just right, so pick a highway and let’s start our new life.”

Epilogue

Samuel brought the car to a stop in the driveway of the small property and turned to look at his wife.

“Well, this is it,” he said. “We’ll find them inside.”

The pair of them stepped out of the vehicle and Samuel locked it before they walked the rest of the way up the driveway towards the house. The door opened before they got to it and the smile spread across Crash’s face.

“Evening, sir,” he said. “It’s good to see you.”

“Stop calling me sir,” Samuel said.

“You know I can’t do that, sir,” Crash went on before he turned his attention to the woman at Samuel’s side. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Nelson.”

“Call me Kath,” she answered then shook the hand held out to her. “How is she?”

“Doing fine,” Crash replied. “She’ll be happy to see you two.”

He stood aside to let them enter the property then closed the door. He then moved past them to lead the way to the small downstairs bedroom. Carrie’s squeal of delight came out when she saw her parents stepping inside the room and they walked across to the chair she was sitting on. She got up to give them a hug.

“You were supposed to have a boy,” Samuel complained with a smirk. “What is it with this family and girls?”

“We didn’t want another ugly brute in the family like Crash,” Carrie said.

“Yeah, that’s true enough,” Samuel replied.

“Hey,” Crash protested.

“Never you mind those two,” Kath said with a smile and patted her son-in-law’s arm. “You just ignore them.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Nelson,” he said and grinned. “It’s nice to have a member of the Nelson clan on my side for a change.”

“I’m always on your side,” Carrie pointed out.

“Didn’t I hear you just call me an ugly brute?” he asked.

“It’s my term of endearment for you,” she said as she walked across to the cot in the corner of the room.

She leaned in to pick up the cute four-week-old girl wriggling around on the mattress and kissed her on the forehead before carrying her across the room.

“Meet your grandparents,” she said. “Your grandmother is lovely. Your grandad, on the other hand, thinks he’s fierce, but I’ll teach you how to wrap him around your little finger like I do.”

“Hello Darlene,” Samuel said as the little girl was passed to him then looked up at his daughter. “Why did you choose that name?”

“Ah, you know,” Carrie said and laughed. “A nice college girl helped me when I needed it and you’ll find out as your granddaughter grows up that it’s nice to have a Darlene in your life.”