21
Iwatched as Miles strapped a bulletproof vest around his chest and torso, shrugging on a plain black hoodie over it afterward. I was holding William on my hip, my nerves just about shot. It had been a week since Miles had gone over the information Quinn had given him, and they were doing their raid on the strip club tonight because the man who bought me was supposed to be there.
“Don’t look so worried,” Quinn told me with a smile. “Everything will be fine,” he tried assuring me.
It didn’t convince me. I was so worried about them—especially since I had already lost Damien to this shit. My eyes flickered to Miles where he was now talking to the Montana chapter of Hell’s Mayhem.
Fuck, it felt like forever ago that Damien murdered Carney and gained control of that charter of the club. And now, it all belonged to Miles.
I had to admit that watching him move around the room, giving orders, and double-checking weapons was kind of hot, though. There was something about seeing Miles in charge that really turned me on. He was a natural at it. He didn’t even really have to try, and yet, he commanded the attention of the entire room with his presence. He had always been like that, though. For as long as I had known Miles, he had been a quiet, yet effective leader beside Damien.
Damien hadn’t made a mistake in making him his successor.
Miles finally walked over to me where I was holding William. I stepped into him instantly, wrapping my free arm tightly around his waist. He wrapped his own arms around me. “Please come back to me,” I begged him, my voice trembling.
He kissed the top of my head. “Always, Hayley. I promise,” he swore.
He leaned down and took William from me, holding him in his arms. “Daddy loves you,” Miles told him before he pressed a kiss to the top of William’s head.
William giggled and clapped his hands to Miles’s face. “Dada,” he said.
Miles nodded, smiling down at him in confirmation. He gently handed him back to me, and then he gripped my face in his hands, leaning down to give me a hard, deep kiss. “I’ll be back,” he promised against my lips. “Alive,” he added.
I pacedthe front sitting room floor back and forth. I didn’t know how long I had been pacing for. It had been three days, and the guys were due back anytime now.
I hadn’t had contact with Miles since he left. I knew that it would happen, but it didn’t make it suck any less. I was terrified something happened, my nerves completely shot to hell. I didn’t know how everything had gone. I didn’t know how their bust had gone.
I didn’t even know if Miles was still alive.
I felt sick to my stomach. I wanted him home. I needed to know if everything had gone okay.
William began wailing from his spot on the floor where he had been playing with toys. It was an ear-splitting wail, a sound he only made when he wasn’t feeling well or when he could pick up on my stress.
“Oh, William,” I soothed. I picked him up, bouncing him lightly. He only cried louder, obviously picking up on my emotions.
“Give him here.”
I swung around to face the front door where Miles was standing, shutting the front door quietly behind him. A sob ripped from my throat as I held William tighter to me in fear that I may drop him in my relief of seeing Miles standing in front of me alive and unharmed.
He walked forward and lifted William from my arms, instantly quieting him as he did so. Silent tears slid down my cheeks as Miles wrapped his free arm around me, pulling me against him as he buried his face in my hair.
I tightly wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest as I silently cried, so thankful that he was home safe and alive. “I was so worried,” I finally choked out.
He pressed his lips to my hair. “I told you that I would come back home alive. I don’t intend on ever breaking that promise to you, Hayley.”
William yawned at that moment and rested his head on Miles’s shoulder, closing his eyes. “Let me put him to bed,” I said softly, reaching up to grab William from him.
Miles shook his head and leaned down to gently kiss me. I flattened my hands over his chest, my lips working with his, so thankful that he was back home—breathing and standing. “I’ve got him, baby. Do you mind just starting the shower for me?”
“Are you sure?” I asked him.
He nodded, leaning down to peck my lips again. “I’m sure.”
I nodded and watched him as he strode off and disappeared down the hall that led to William’s room. I went into our room and into the in-suite bathroom to get the shower ready for Miles. Once I had his shower running, I stepped back into the bedroom, squeaking in shock when I saw Miles standing there, removing his shirt.
I licked my lips as I ran my eyes over him, drinking in his strong, toned physique. “Woman, looking at me like that is only going to get you thoroughly fucked,” Miles warned me as his eyes darkened, running over my own body.
I moved forward and rested my hands on his bare abs. He sucked in a sharp breath, his abdominal muscles quivering beneath my touch. “Hayley,” he quietly warned, his eyes darkening.