“Glad to be home.” Hart takes Dad’s hand and as Mom moves back, they do the whole man hug thing.
Dad steps back, and Whip steps forward. I brace for what might happen between the two of them.
“Wilde,” Whip smirks in greeting, sticking his hand out for Hart to take.
“DeRose,” my brother grumbles sternly. His hard steely eyes, go from Whip to me and back again. He then grins. “Good to see you again. But gotta say wasn’t expecting it to be with my sister.”
“Same man, long time since we saw each other last.”
How long have they known each other?
“You gonna tell me what you’re doing with my sister?” Hart demands.
“How about we go back to the hotel?” Mom suggests. “You can get cleaned up and we can all go out to lunch.”
Hart glances between all of us and shakes his head. “I’m sensing something, and I want to know what it is before I go anywhere.”
“Wilde, it’s probably best we get out of here before we have this conversation,” Whip says in a tone that leaves no room for rebuttal.
Hart meets Whip’s eyes, and they seem to be speaking without words because my brother finally nods. “Alright. I need a shower anyway and I’m starving. Someone better tell me we’re going to B-Dubs for lunch.”
And there you go; my brother loves his Buffalo Wild Wings. Oh, and let me not forget, they have all the TVs up with sports on. He can watch football while eating and spending time with us.
Okay, so I like B-Dubs too.
And football.
I’m a Panthers fan, just like Hart.
It takes a little bit of time to get through traffic and back to the hotel off base. Most of Hart’s things are in storage, but Mom and Dad had met Forest at the unit to get a few things out for him. He’ll find a place and get settled. I know Mom and Dad are planning on staying for a few weeks to help him move into his new place. I have to head back tomorrow for work on Monday.
By the time we get to the hotel, my legs are like jelly. With Whip’s help, I climb off the back of his bike. He also helps me undo the strap to the helmet. A helmet, I might add that he bought solely for me and had my name designed on it.
The thrill of the ride was far too short for my liking. Whip meets my gaze as he swings a leg over and stands directly in front of me. “I’ll make some time after we get home tomorrow to go for a ride on the bike, and you can have that ride you were supposed to have last weekend.”
I give him a weak smile.
I’m not sure how I should feel about him right now. Last weekend it hurt the way he left, but he seems adamant about being with me.
My phone beeps from my purse. I dig it out to find several messages waiting for me. I swipe the screen to see who texted me. Seeing the first message, I freeze in place and my body goes cold.
Unknown: Whores deserve what they get.
Unknown: I know you want me, bitch, stop hiding from the fact you do.
Unknown: I get what I want, Harper, and you will give it up to me.
Unknown: Don’t think that fuckin’ motorcycle dick will be the only one you get. Those screams of yours will be for me.
Unknown: You fuck him again, and I’ll slit his throat while making you watch.
My stomach churns and I drop the phone. Fear starting to take ahold of me.
This can’t be happening.
Who would want to hurt me? I’ve never done anything to anyone. I’m a nice person who volunteers and stays out of trouble. I always have been.
Why now?
Chapter Thirteen
Whip
Harper drops her phone and seems to go into a panic attack. I pull her into me to ground her and to keep her from letting the panic overtake her.
I need to find out what got her freaked, but I need to help her first. Whatever was on her phone spooked her.
Holding her to me, I meet Hart’s gaze as he locks eyes with me. He moves toward us, picks up Harper’s phone, and looks at it. The way his jaw sets and his eyes narrow, I know it’s bad.
“What the fuck is going on?” he snarls, turning the phone for me to see what was on it.
I scan through the messages and my own anger spikes. It’s the person who put those notes on her car.
Whoever it is knows she’s with me.
They’re here and heard me fuckin’ my woman earlier.
Sliding a hand up to cup Harper’s chin, I tilt her head back to look up at me.
“Is this the first message you’ve received from this person?” I ask.
Harper immediately shakes her head in denial. “No, I got one last night, but I thought it was just a sick joke or wrong number. I deleted it.”
Nodding, I slide my hand into her hair and pull her back to me tightly. “They won’t get close to you, okay?”
Fuck.
“I need to make a call,” I mutter, meeting Hart’s gaze again and use the hand, not in Harper’s hair and pull my phone out. I dial Venom’s number and hold the phone to my ear.
“Fucker, what the fuck? You ain’t been home in a week, and Linc is missing his uncle,” Venom rants, answering his phone.
“He’s not the only one missing me. It’s more like you are missing having that time without your kid to fuck Amaya,” I grumble.
“True, but seriously when you comin’ home?”
“Tomorrow but listen. I need you to get with Nerd. I’m calling Twister to ask him if he can send a few brothers here. Hart just got home from deployment and shit just got real with Harper’s stalker.”
Harper snaps her head up, and she looks at me with a look of horror filling her gaze.
“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” Venom sneers.
“No, get Nerd to see if he can track the messages from Harper’s phone back to the person who sent them,” I say.
“Yeah. I’ll call him. I’ll tell Stoney about this as well. See you tomorrow.” Venom hangs up before I can say anything else.
I pull the phone away and dial Twister’s number. He’s the Prez of the Franklin Charter and the closest club to where I am right now. I need back up, and I don’t want to take chances when it comes to Harper. I’ve seen enough of my brothers deal with shit. For instance, Blaze’s ol’ lady and him were attacked not too long ago.
“Yeah,” he says, answering.
“Hey, Twister, it’s Whip,” I say.
“Already knew that, brother. What can I do for you?” he asks.
“Anyway, can a few brothers come to Newport News, Fort Eustis? I’m in town with my ol’ lady for her brother’s homecoming and we’ve got a situation.” I go on to tell him about the texts, and he agrees to send K-9, Red, Brass, and Striker out to help me keep Harper safe.
After getting off the phone with him, I put my phone back in my pocket and look at my woman’s brother. “We need to find another hotel to stay at,” I snap.
“Yeah,” he growls with a stiff nod.
“What’s going on?” Harper’s mom asks quietly.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Wilde. It’s being taken care of. Let’s get moved to another hotel,” I say.
“What did I tell you about calling me, Mrs. Wilde. I’m Mom to you since you’re married to my daughter.”