Page 16 of Heart of a Hero

“We watch them like hawks, make sure one of us is with them at all times. Or you know, as much as we can. It isn’t like our club is huge, and we all have jobs with long hours and weird schedules. As for Rex, we need to see if we can find some new dirt on him. Something we could use to bury him. And if he so much as looks at Nora the wrong way…” I let the unspoken threat hang in the air. Of course, the only way I knew to really do that was to ask Wire or Lavender for help, and since I wasn’t telling the Reapers about the fact I was a Swift Angel, or about Nora and Taylor, then… that made it a little difficult.

The hardened expressions on my brothers’ faces told me they understood perfectly. This wasn’t just another club matter -- this was personal. Nora and Taylor were innocent, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous man. And we would be their shield, their protectors, no matter the cost. It’s what we did every damn day.

“Maybe your dad rubbed off on you a bit too much,” Ben said from across the room. “Let’s make sure none of us end up behind bars, okay? I prefer putting cuffs on people I don’t consider my brothers.”

“I already hit the asshole a few times. But I’m sure anyone at the café would say it was done in defense of Nora. I’m not going to run off half-cocked. At the same time, I won’t sit back and watch as he hurts her.” I glanced at Ben. “Are you saying you’d do things differently if it was someone you cared about?”

Ben snorted. “Care? Shit, Dawson. You don’t even know the woman!”

Everyone else had seemed supportive. I knew Ben didn’t want Nora or Taylor to be hurt, but… was he seriously questioning my feelings for them?

“Stop being so negative,” Jaxon said. “Maybe it was love at first sight.”

It was good to know Jaxon had my back. I could also understand Ben’s point of view. To the average person, I was moving at warp speed. For someone who grew up with adults who fell fast and hard, this was just the norm.

I’d done my best to distance myself from the Dixie Reapers. Long ago, I’d known I didn’t want to walk the same path as my father. Having someone I wanted to protect with my life put things into perspective.

Nora deserved better than the crappy hand she’d been dealt, deserved to feel safe and cherished. And come hell or high water, I would be the man to give that to her. Assuming she let me. If I’d decided to walk a different path, to join my dad’s club, then I’d have gladly stained my soul with the blood of her demons. There wasn’t a price too high when it came to her and Taylor. But I’d decided to walk the side of the law, and I couldn’t allow myself to forget it.

Jordan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “What happened with Rex? I mean specifically. We’ve all heard he raised hell at the café.”

“Like you already know, he showed up at the café where Nora works. I stopped by with Taylor and could tell something was wrong. Then I heard all the shit Rex was saying to her and about her. When it looked like he was going to get physical with her, I lost it. Punched him a few times, then got Nora and Taylor the hell out of there. But in case you’re worried, Ben, I did wait until he’d taken a swing at me first.”

Logan whistled low. “Damn, brother. Is Nora okay?”

“She’s terrified,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “The fact he showed up at her work, that he’s bold enough to confront her in public… it’s got her spooked. And I can’t be with her every second of the day to keep her safe.”

Jaxon’s jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists. “We won’t let that bastard lay a finger on her.”

“Damn straight,” Jordan agreed. “We’ll put a tail on him, make sure he doesn’t get within a hundred feet of Nora or the kid.”

I nodded, grateful for their support. At the same time, I knew we didn’t have the resources for that. Not for anything long-term anyway. We could possibly pull it off for a day or two at most. These men were more than just my club brothers -- they were my family, my brothers, and I knew they’d help me keep Nora safe.

A bit of guilt crept in. I knew without a doubt if I went to the Dixie Reapers with this, they’d also help protect her. I just didn’t want to deal with the fallout when they decided to make Rex disappear, most likely in a bloody way.

Logan’s brow furrowed. “Does Rex know about the baby?”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “Nora hasn’t told him.”

A glint appeared in Logan’s eye. “What if we put it out there that the baby is yours? Might make Rex think twice about starting trouble.”

I barked out a laugh. “As much as I’d love to claim that child as mine, I doubt Nora would be on board. She’s been through enough without me complicating things further.”

Logan shrugged. “You won’t know unless you ask her. And let’s be real, brother. You might walk the straight and narrow now, but you were raised in the Dixie Reapers. Everyone in town has heard the rumors about that club. Would your old man have tiptoed around your mom?”

A grin tugged at my lips as I recalled the stories my parents used to tell. The mere thought of the fierce Venom doing such a thing was laughable. “Hell, no. Mom was the one who claimed him. Walked into Church and told everyone there she was claiming him as hers. From what my grandfather told me, everyone but dad thought it was fucking hilarious.”

Jaxon chuckled. “Sounds like a firecracker. Would love to meet her. Guessing that won’t happen, though.”

“Trust me, any man who gets within arm’s reach of my mom risks his life. Dad didn’t take kindly to other guys sniffing around her. Still doesn’t. Sometimes I think he forgets how old he is now.” I smirked, remembering just one poor fool who’d had the balls to hit on her in front of my old man. Last I heard, he’d fled the state and was living off the grid somewhere in Alaska. And that was only a year ago!

But as much as I wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps, to claim Nora as my own and dare anyone to challenge me, I knew I had to tread carefully. Pushing too hard, too fast, would only scare her away. Unlike my mom, who wouldn’t hesitate to grab a man by the balls and threaten to rip them off, Nora seemed gentle and sweet.

No, I had to be patient. Earn her trust, show her I was different from the scumbags in her past. And when the time was right, when she was ready, I would make her mine. Forever. And legally. Not just old lady status but put a ring on her finger with a legit wedding.

But first, we had to deal with Rex. And as my brothers and I hashed out our plan, I could feel the anger burning in my veins. That bastard had no idea what was coming for him. And by the time we were through, he would wish he’d never laid eyes on my girl.

Because Nora was mine to protect, mine to cherish. Even if she didn’t know it yet. And I would rain down holy hell on anyone who tried to hurt her or take her from me.

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