Page 40 of Nikolai

Throwing my leg over my bike, I look to my brother. "Up for one more stop on the way home?"

"Where are we going, brother?"

"To pay Leah's mother a visit," I tell him.

Forty minutes later, we're rolling our bikes to a stop outside Leah's childhood home in a small quiet subdivision in Post Creek. "I'll wait for you here," Logan says as I'm walking up the sidewalk. The porch light comes on the moment my foot hits the first step. A light inside comes on, and I see a shadowy figure moving across the window. The locks on the door make clicking sounds before the door opens, and Leah's mother greets me. Her tired eyes widen as she looks up at me. "May I help you?" her voice comes out weak and small, no doubt the direct results of all the years of hard living with a man like James Winters. Part of me feels sympathy for what she has been through, but it is shadowed by the years of abuse my woman suffered. What I feel for Leah, and the retribution I look to dish out toward those who inflicted the pain, or who stood by and did nothing outweighs any compassion I should have.

"How could you stand by for so long and allow your husband to torment your daughter? You're a pathetic excuse for a mother."

Her shaking hand clenches her chest. "Leah," she says as a whisper as her eyes fall to her feet. "How do you know my daughter?" she brings her attention back to my face.

"Leah is my woman." I watch as Mary Winters' demeanor changes slightly, and the unsureness she exuded before, gone.

"I see," she says, giving a look of disdain, judging me.

"You are a God-fearing woman, yes?" I ask, and she doesn't reply. "You stand there, judging someone you do not know, yet you have allowed your husband to break the spirit of a beautiful woman. You brought her into this world, and you should have protected her from filth like him." Mary crosses her arms. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of remorse in her eyes.

"My husband is a good man," her chin lifts in defiance as she defends the bastard. "If the only reason you came here tonight was to speak ill of my husband while you live in sin with my daughter, then I will have to ask you to leave." My disgust and anger grow stronger with each word she speaks.

"I paid your husband a little visit tonight, Mrs. Winters. We had ourselves a nice chat over at the strip club in the next town over from Post Creek." She turns her head, diverting her eyes from mine. "Ah, I see you are aware of your good husband's extracurricular activities. Yet, you still stand by him." Mary jerks her head, her eyes meeting mine once more.

"He is my husband," she retorts.

"Your daughter deserves better." I look down at Leah's mother. "I intend to give it to her. Her friends and I are her family now." Turning my back on the woman, I start to walk away.

"She is our daughter. You cannot keep her from us."

Spinning, I lock eyes with her. "I protect those I care for, Mrs. Winters. Anyone who dares to stand in the way of Leah's happiness or tries to harm her in any way will die," I threaten.

I make my way back to where my bike is parked beside my brother. "Mothers like that make me appreciate the short time I had with mine even more," he comments as I settle onto my leather seat.

"You were lucky to have the love of a mother like yours."

Logan glances my way. "Shit. I'm sorry, brother." His apology is not needed. He knows as well as I that my mother is nothing more than the woman who gave me life. Logan, for a short time, got to experience something I never had growing up. A mother's love. "So, where to next?" Logan asks, and I only have one answer.

"To get my woman."

The long stretch of road back to Polson felt like it would never end. All I could think about was Leah. I've had my fill of the distance she has put between us. It's past time I finally claim what is mine once and for all. When we arrive at the compound, Austin lets us through the gate. It appears that everyone is gathered here tonight as we park our bikes next to the others. Leaving my bike running, I swing open the clubhouse door and stride inside. On a mission, my eyes scan the room, not finding Leah amongst those hanging out in the common room, so I head for the stairs. Not one person says a word as I march by.

At the end of the upstairs hall, I zero in on the door to the bedroom, Leah occupies, which happens to be mine. Without knocking, I swing it open, finding her sitting on the bed beside her friend Alba. "Nikolai," her mouth falls open.

"We're leaving." I advance on her.

"I'm not talking to you." Leah crosses her arms beneath her breast, pushing them up.

"This ends tonight." Reaching down, I lift her from her seated position and throw her over my shoulder.

"Nikolai put me down," Leah yells in protest as I carry her ass down the stairs, where we are met by cheers and laughter from family and friends. With a smile on his face, Logan holds open the door as I exit the building.

16

Leah

"Nikolai! What are you doing? Put me down." I ball up my fist and pound on his back, connecting with solid muscle, my blows having no effect whatsoever. "Have you lost your mind?"

"No, but you have," he growls. "Now, zip it."

My body goes solid. "You did not just tell me to shut up," I seethe.

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