Page 71 of Hendrix

“Yeah,” the woman replied. “There’s five of us girls cleaning it and we’ve still got our work cut out for us. You can tell the place hasn’t been touched for years.” Her eyes slid to me and widened. “Oh, hi!”

I held my arm out to her. “Hey! I’m Anna.”

Her eyes rounded to saucers. “TheAnna?”

Cece laughed. “Yep.TheAnna.”

Freya laughed softly.

“I’m Carina,” she announced, taking my hand in hers and squeezing. “It’s so good to meet the famous Anna.” She leaned toward me and said, “You’re like a legend around here. The only woman our prez would ever settle down with. The lost love he pines after. The only woman in existence who can tame the lone wolf.”

Colt cleared his throat pointedly. “I think you’ll find I’m the goddamned Lone Wolf.”

“Aww. Baby,” Freya crooned. “As much as I’d love to sit here and debate how wolfy you are, you better get. Hendrix just walked in, and by the looks of what he dragged with him, we’re about to see one hell of a show.”

A hush fell over the room, every man’s eyes fixed on a point behind me. I craned my neck once again, and my body froze.

Hendrix walked in with Blade and Diablo, who was dragging a very bedraggled-looking Daisy along by the arm. She pulled back so much that he kept having to tug her, and she almost took a tumble.

“Oh Jesus,” I heard Ciara breathe. “Looks like Prez finally lost patience.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” Carina whispered in reply.

Hendrix walked to the stage, but instead of stepping up, he stood in front of it. His steady gaze slid straight to me, and our eyes locked.

One side of his mouth hitched.

My heart fluttered.

I caught a flash of white through his beard as he grinned at me. He shot me a wink then his face straightened, and a dark expression took over.

Blade stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear-splitting whistle—not that he needed to; every eye was already on Hendrix, who looked like something out of a biker model magazine in his jeans, wife beater, and black leather cut.

“Thanks for comin’,” Drix began. “Got a few things I wanna make clear, and I don’t want any doubt that I’m about to say what I mean and mean what I say. I’ll add that if anyone takes umbrage with it, you can take your cut off and fuck off now. No hard feelings.”

He waited for a beat, then nodded while his arm extended, and he pointed at me, stating, “This is Anna, and she’s mine.”

My jaw hit the floor.

“Christ on a cracker,” Tristan muttered.

“Anna’s also pregnant,” Hendrix went on. “And I’m claiming the boy, too. That means they’re both under my protection. If anyone speaks to her, deals with her, or even looks at her the wrong way, you’ll have me to contend with, and it won’t be pretty.”

A small squeak left my throat.

Hendrix’s stare bored into mine, and suddenly, I didn’t know if he meant to address me or the room. “Three years ago, I came to Virginia and opened this club. Wanted my own chapter and slowly, I began to recruit you all. My purpose was to build a place where we could all use the skills we attained in the military while doin’ some good and earning some self-respect. In doin’ that, I put the club and you all above my own wants and needs, and I don’t regret it. Got love for every brother here, and I always will, but I also got love for my woman and kid.” His gaze softened.

“Wow!” Tristan said under his breath.

My heart flipped over.

Hendrix’s stare finally left mine, and he looked around the room at his brothers. “This is a family, and I’ve always encouraged you all to include your wives and ol’ ladies and kids in what we do here. It makes for a better club and a closer brethren ‘cause we see the beauty we’re fightin’ for.”

Murmurs of agreement went up.

My throat closed up as Drix’s words splintered through my brain.

I also got love for my woman and kid.

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