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  GATOR

  Defenders MC

  Book 11

  Amanda Anderson

  Copyright © 2016 by Amanda Anderson

  All rights reserved, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted material is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

  http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/

  Cover art

  © Fin epics | Dreamstime.com

  This book is a work of fiction and any similarities to persons living or dead, places, incidents are completely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Other Works by this Author

  Full length Novels

  Christina’s Chance

  Mystery Lover

  A Beautifully Normal Life

  In Love With The Wrong Cowboy

  Reclaiming Life

  Too Much Trouble

  Life, Love, and Second Chances

  Alaska Series

  An Alaska Thing

  Something About Alaska

  The Tiger Series

  The Tiger Within (Book 1)

  Highland Tigress (Book 2)

  Captive Tigress (Book 3)

  Freeing the Tiger’s Soul (Book 4)

  Defenders MC Series

  Shadow

  Lawless

  Rider

  Ace

  Mike

  Spec

  Tommy Rich

  Choo-Choo

  Valentine

  Ink

  Jack

  Novellas

  Samantha’s Choice

  Redemption of a Soiled Dove

  Taming a Montana Maverick

  One Good Cowboy

  Vengeance

  Sabrina

  All titles can be found at

  AmandaAndersonBooks.com

  1

  Naughty danced the same as she did every night. She pasted on a smile and stripped off her clothes as she pretended there was no one beyond the bright lights. She was just dancing in her bathroom, no big deal. Just waiting for her moisturizer to dry so she could get dressed. She gripped the pole and wrapped her leg around its smooth brass surface so she could lean back and her dark hair could cascade toward the floor. She loved the way the light caught the highlights and made them glow. She loved the way her skin shined with the oil and glitter she’d rubbed on before taking the stage. She loved the way her heart raced as she nailed a move she had been working on, but that was all she loved about this life.

  All the rest was filth.

  The rest was nothing but the basest part of humanity. Men who wanted nothing but to degrade a woman until she didn’t mind the nasty things he did to her. Joke was on them though, she liked it, she liked that it all made her feel something real, even if it was hatred.

  Her eyes caught the shining black eyes of someone who made her heart race even more. He watched her like there was nothing in the world but her. She felt her heart flutter as it always did and she forced it to freeze. She couldn’t let him get to her. She had come too far to let herself be weak over a man ever again. He was a danger to everything she had built and she wouldn’t let him wreck her.

  She stood and flipped her hair over her shoulder before she bent at the waist and shook her ass at the crowd she knew was just past the edge of the stage. She never allowed herself to look past the lights which made his ability to catch her eye even more disturbing. She was in her own world until he’d taken notice of her, then she was on stage just for him and it made her feel alive.

  Her stomach heaved, but she kept going. She felt a fine sheen of sweat cover her body until chills raced over her skin. Something was wrong, but the show must go on. Rena would bitch until morning if she didn’t finish this set. She needed the money too and she couldn’t afford to let a silly upset stomach take it from her. The crowd was thick as smoke tonight and they were all fighting to get closer. Money was flowing too, nice and rich. She would let Spec know as soon as she got backstage too. There must be something big happening tonight. She looked around for a familiar blonde head, but didn’t see him. Her contact usually let her know things were going down, but she didn’t see him.

  She smiled and spread her knees wide as she fell to the stage and leaned back. She felt hands on her then and tried to stop the feeling of her skin crawling. She hated it, but those hands were stuffing bills in her G-string and that’s all that mattered.

  She felt hands groping her thighs and one even went so far as to rub her crotch.

  That got her attention. She smacked the hand away and watched the hate in the black eyes of a man she recognized all too well. She did not need this shit tonight.

  “Cut that shit out man. That ain’t even close to bein’ allowed for you.” Lambhead shoved the man away, but he kept his eyes on Naughty.

  How could a man make her feel so afraid with one look? She had spent years with some of the most dangerous men in the country. This one was evil though, she felt it.

  She plastered on a smile even as her stomach heaved again. She was too hot and her skin was covered in chills.

  He had a thing for her, that was all, she had dealt with crazies before. She had to trust the club to take care of it.

  Lambhead grabbed her wrist. “You don’t look so good sweetheart. You sure you need to be doin this shit tonight?”

  Naughty gave him a grin that she knew didn’t convince him. He was sweet, but she didn’t see him as being as tough as the others. He was trying to step into Jack’s shoes at Tease, but the girls didn’t respect him the way they needed to and honestly, he was terrified of Rena.

  The room spun and she stumbled on her four inch heels, grabbing the pole for support.

  “I’m all done Lamb.” She winked, but she couldn’t see him anymore. She held onto the pole. She needed to smile and get back stage...

  She heard grumbles from somewhere and a shout, but she couldn’t focus. Spots crowded her vision as her grip loosened and she slid to the polished floor of the stage. The lights flickered to another part of the stage making it easier for her to focus on what was around her.

  “What da fuck is going on my Naughty girl?”

  It was Gator.

  Her mind spun. No not him, anyone but him. Where was Jack? Even Rena would be better than Gator. Almost big Mr. Touch-too-much...Lambhead?

  His voice was playful as it usually was, but she heard a hint of something more and that scared her. She cracked her eyes open to find his black ones moving over her one step ahead of his hands. She had never seen fear in those eyes. No matter what he’d had to deal with she had never seen fear in his eyes.

  His hand cupped her boob and she tried to smack him away, but her arms wouldn’t work right.

  “That’ll be ten bucks...mister…”

  She tried to be funny, but her words sounded funny and he wasn’t laughing.

  Naughty shook her head, but the movement caused pain to shoot through her skull. What was wrong with her?

  Then Jack was there. Jack with his eyes that looked like moss. Jack with his bright smile that made everything better, but he wasn’t smiling. Then Rena was there and even Lamb. They would fix it, they always did. Rena would know what to do. She had to know.

  But they were all looking at her like they were pissed at her for something, but then Jack closed his eyes and when they opened again she saw compassion.

  Naughty felt familiar arms wrap around her and lift her against a familiar chest. She inhaled before she could stop herself and felt his lips against her temple. She was too weak to fight it. She loved him too much to push him away. She was so afraid. Afraid of everything. Gator would make it better. If no one would, he would, she just had to let him.

  Her heart cracked a little. How had this happened?

  “It will be alright Beb.” He whispered against her ear and Naughty wanted to cry. He knew her. He knew her to her bones and she was terrified that he would see more than she was ready for him to see.

  What if he didn’t really care at all?

  Gator took her backstage where Rena cleaned off a couch for her to lie on.

  She heard bickering and voices, but she couldn’t concentrate. Nothing would stand still long enough for her to focus on it. Then she heard a voice that she did listen to and it sent chills over her body.

  “I saw her pop something before she went on stage. I don’t know what it was, but she’s been gobbling shit down for a while now.”

  Naughty heard the familiar pop of the gum Mace always chewed.

  “I didn’t want to say anything to get her in trouble, but I think she might have been helping that prospect too, you know that one with the big eyes. I heard he was messing around with some club money… Makes sense...”

  Naughty heard the slap of skin and Mace’s voice hushed.

  “Since when do we allow club girls to get into club shit?” Gator said with a dismissive laugh. “Remember your place or I’ll find you a new one.”

  His voice lowered menacingly. “One with more dirt and less money. Naughty don’t take shit. You sayin’ she does makes you a fucking lying piece of trash. I don’ know what you’re angle is, but I ain’t buyin’ it and neither will anyone else.”

  “Oh Gator, I know you’re
sweet on her, but she’s got other men honey. I’ve seen her with them. One’s a big guy. Dark hair and dark eyes. He’s here somewhere tonight too. The other one is a blonde. How do you think she affords that big ole house she lives in? She’s playing with you honey. She can’t give you what I can...” Mace ended with a purr that pissed Naughty off more than the shit she had been spewing.

  Naughty tried to sit up, but pain gripped her stomach. Something was wrong.

  She reached out blindly and gripped the only person she could reach and tugged.

  Gator was in her face again. She was panicked. She didn’t know how to tell him anything and she saw anger in his face. So much anger and hurt, but she was so afraid. He had to fix it.

  “You know me.” She whispered. Her words ended in a scream as pain gripped her again. “Please. Fix it Gator. What’s wrong?”

  “Call a fucking ambulance right da fuck now.” Gator yelled at no one and everyone at the same time.

  “On the way Gator.” Jack said. “Calm down man, you’re scaring her.”

  “Scaring her? I’ve lost two lifetimes watching dis shit.” Gator ground out before he turned back to her. He ran his hand over her hair and met her eyes.

  “I know you.” He whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers. “I don’ know what to do. Tell me what to do. How do I fix it love?”

  Naughty tried to talk, but she could barely breathe. Jack needed to know. She couldn’t tell Gator, not like this, but Jack…

  “Jack…”

  “What is it sweetheart?” Jack’s beautiful green eyes swam into sight. She trusted him. Jack would take care of her. Jack was safe. He was a friend and didn’t try to make her feel anything she didn’t want to. He just let her be the way she was and didn’t judge if she came in with her eyes swollen or her hair a mess.

  “I didn’t… I’m clean.” She whispered low, hoping he heard her. “All the way...nothing...nothing…”

  He leaned close to her ear. “I know sweetheart. I know all of it and I’ll make sure the paramedics know too.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead then met her eye.

  “All the way? No scripts?”

  She shook her head needing him to understand. She hadn’t taken anything in months. She had worked hard to wean herself off all of it. She wanted a real life.

  “I’ll make sure they know it all then sweetheart, even what you aren’t sayin’.”

  His words sent relief rushing through her. She relaxed against the couch and let them fuss. Jack knew. Everything would be alright.

  Gator rubbed her leg and she realized that she was lying on a couch backstage in nothing but a G-string and body glitter.

  Her life was really fucked up.

  2

  Gator was losing his mind. He was trying so damned hard to keep his head, but he couldn’t stand it. Tiffany, he couldn’t think of her as Naughty right now, she had just gone white as a sheet and melted to the stage.

  He ran both hands through his black hair.

  He had almost missed tonight’s show. He’d told himself it was better if he just didn’t watch her anymore, but he couldn’t stay away. If Naughty was dancing, he wanted to watch her, even if there were two dozen other men watching too, even if one of his brothers took her to a private room for a dance. Even if he had to watch those bastards groping her.

  She was his woman.

  It didn’t matter that she didn’t accept that yet and she would be pissed beyond belief if she knew he’d officially put her on the no fuck list, but he had to, she was his. No way he would let his brothers take her upstairs when she belonged to him.

  He had known it the first time he’d laid eyes on her, but he’d had to earn the right to claim her. It had almost been more than he could handle.

  He gritted his teeth when Jack leaned in close to her. He had no claim on her, she wouldn’t allow it, but she was his. She was his the same way his left hand belonged to his arm. He hated the distance she kept between them, but he allowed it. For some reason she needed it and he couldn’t take it away from her. She had lost so much.

  She had let him in while he held her, but it was only her fear that allowed it. Everything would go back to normal once she was alright again, but he lived for those moments. He lived for those times she let him touch her and laugh with her.

  She was beautiful in the mornings when she was just coming out of sleep. She didn’t have walls up in those moments. She gave him a few minutes after sex too, but damn he was usually pretty out of it too because she was one amazing woman between the sheets. He wanted a lifetime of those little moments.

  Jack said something back to her and Gator watched her relax. What the fuck was she hiding from him now? She knew he hated that shit and she did it to keep him at a distance. She knew it ate him up inside to think of the things she could hide from him, but she was right, he did know her. He knew she didn’t have anyone on the side. She almost hated men. She let him in against her will and because she feared him a little and he didn’t do what she expected him to. Maybe that was wrong of him, but he needed to get to her. She was his drug. She was his everything.

  No, she didn’t hide men from him, but she did hide what she thought she needed to. Just like that fucking money she’d borrowed. She’d refused to tell him what it was for, but he’d given it to her and watched her like a hawk. She could have been killed for that shit, but she’d insisted on handling it on her own. Made no sense to him, but women rarely did.

  Gator had been scared shitless. He loved the club, but they didn’t know what he’d do for this woman, anything. He would take her away and hide her in the swamps until the world forgot either of them existed. He would give up everything if need be, but he wouldn’t let anything hurt her. Not ever.

  He closed his eyes for a second to gather himself. He had thought he’d loved a woman before, but it had been different. Everything had been different then. He had been too stupid to see clearly, not this time, not ever again.

  The paramedics rushed in and lifted Naughty on a stretcher. Gator stepped forward to make sure they knew he planned to ride along and heard Jack talking to one of them. Those words changed Gator forever. He would never be the same again. He felt his whole body tingle even as his stomach hit his feet.

  “Be careful what you give her. She’s pregnant.”

  Gator’s eyes met Jack’s as he spoke more to Gator than to the paramedic.

  “Not far along, but I’ve seen signs and she wanted to make sure you knew. She wants this baby and whatever is in her system was not taken willingly so I’d say pump her stomach.” He took the paramedic by the arm. “You make damned sure that kid is alright or I’ll take it out of your hide. This girl has lost too much already.”

  The paramedic made a note and rushed to the ambulance. Gator followed close behind.

  “I’m going.” He met the paramedic’s eyes and the young woman stepped back. She eyed him carefully, but made no effort to talk to him as she ran her hands over Naughty and tried to wake her.

  Naughty’s pained, blue eyes opened and she found Gator by her side. She reached up for his hand and he gripped her as gently as he could in his nervous state.

  “You’ll be alright Beb.” He nodded for emphasis. “My pretty girl will be jus’ fine.”

  Gator wanted to rip something apart when her eyes filled with tears. They leaked out of her eyes and ran down her pretty face and each one ripped a huge bloody ravine in his heart.

  “I didn’t Gator. You have to believe me.” She shook her head hard. “I didn’t take anything. I swear.”

  “I do. I do. Don’ you worry over dat love. I believe you just fine.” He ran his thumb over her tears and dried them. Naughty had cried enough tears. She should always be happy for the rest of her life.

  “You got to remember dat I know you.”

  “Gator…. I’m…”

  The paramedic was in Naughty’s face. “I need to know what you took. I need to know how to treat this and I can’t unless I know what you took. You have to tell me right now. Pills or did you do something else. It matters.”

  Naughty shook her head. “I didn’t take anything.”

  The paramedic frowned and took in the picture Naughty made lying on the stretcher covered in body glitter and stage makeup.