Angel Moretti.

He was the love of my life. I always knew he was ever since we were kids. We did everything together. His name is Ryder ‘Savage’ Jackson. He was my world, my everything. Until he brutally ripped my heart from my chest three years ago.

He tore my heart to shreds when he humiliated me by claiming another woman in his clubhouse, in the same bed we once shared. Savage by name, Savage by nature. He didn’t even give me a chance to tell him the news I had just accused me of cheating. Me, Angel Moretti. Like I would ever do that to him.

So I ran, I ran from the pain he caused me. Ran from my family. Not wanting to be seen as the disgrace, but mainly to save him and his MC from annihilation. So I fled with the life we created growing inside of me.

But all good things must come to an end. When he walks into my bar three years later. So what do I? Do I run? Or face the man who destroyed me?

What could go wrong? Well, everything apparently.

Ryder ‘Savage’ Jackson.

She was my Angel, my goddess sent to me from heaven and I fucked it up. I claimed someone I shouldn’t have and paid dearly for it. I was a damn fool to believe the lies and bullshit. Missing out on the most precious gift Angel could give me.

But I will make it right.

Angel Moretti thinks she can get away from me with my kid. She has another thing coming, especially when I claim them both as mine. She will have no choice but to move back home with me. She may be a Mafia Princess, but she is mine!

Angel POV.

“Mommy … go.” I push the cart around the store as I watch my beautiful two-year-old daughter Rebel clap her hands as I go faster, and she squeals in delight.

She is so much like him. He who shall not be named kind of scenario. She doesn’t take after me much apart from the honey eyes and lips. Her dark blonde hair and nose are like his and boy, does she have his temper.

“Ok Rebel, we need to finish this. Then we will go to the park. How does that sound?” she kicks her legs and claps again. I chuckle at her behaviour. I lean down and kiss her head. I finish off shopping. I pay and head out to the car.

I left home over three years ago. Three years I ran. The same man that is Rebel’s father hurt and humiliated me. I never got to tell him he was about to become a father. The woman he claimed had already done that. I couldn’t risk my parents finding out, either. It would have caused a war between my family and his MC.

My dad is the Don of the Moretti empire and my momma, well, she is the head of the cartel and the DeNucci family. I am their only daughter. The princess of the combined empire. My twin brother Nathaniel is next in-line to take the position of Don after dad retires and me well I was supposed to take over the DeNucci family and my younger brother Nico would take over the cartel.

That all went to shit when I ran. I couldn’t tell my parents what happened. I didn’t want to disappoint them. I was twenty-one and pregnant, rejected and pushed aside by the man I loved, too afraid to ask for help, too ashamed to be the burden.

So when I left, I didn’t look back. I had to do this on my own. It was difficult at first going to a new place. Living not just for myself but for the life I was carrying inside of me. The savings I had I used to find a place to live, buy everything we needed and what was left, I invested it in a rundown bar.

I changed my name and never looked back. My bar is doing so well and it is nice to know that I have made it what it is today. The bar is called the Eclipse. The town we live in is a tourist town. So we get different people coming and going.

Most people come here to the lake in the summer and the skiing in the winter. It’s a friendly and safe place to live and I am happy here. When I first arrived here, I was lost, but I was welcomed and I wouldn’t leave even if you paid me too.

Once we have arrived at the house. It’s nothing like the Moretti mansion, but it’s home. With its white picket fence. White walls and blue door. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it’s open plan on the inside and modern. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, all with an en-suite and a family bathroom. Rebel has her own room next to mine and life is good.

She doesn’t want for anything; I carry the shopping inside and then carry Rebel in. Shutting the door, I place her in the living room with some of her toys as I put the shopping away. Just then, Boomer bounds inside. Rebel loves him as much as he loves her. I got Boomer when I was pregnant and both he and Rebel grew together.

He is a beautiful big softy. He is a Cane Corso. He is as black as night with a tiny patch of white on his chest. He is our protector, even if he does drool everywhere and talks back when you tell him no.

My phone rings and I take it out of my back pocket and see that it is Coral who is supposed to work the bar tonight. I groan, knowing she is about to ask me to cover her shift, no doubt because her douchebag ex won’t have their child tonight.

I sit down on the sofa as I watch Boomer and Rebel.

“Hey Coral, what’s up?”

“Hey Angie, look, I’m really sorry to do this, but Steve ditched me and I can’t find a sitter.” I roll my eyes. If I had a dollar for every time he has let her down over the last year, I would be a wealthy woman.

“Ok. Coral, no worries, but you and I need to have a chat about this. I will cover tonight, but you need to sort this out.” I hate being the bad guy, but she knows I have a toddler, too. I don’t have the support she does, even if it is my own doing.

“I will get it sorted. I’m so sorry Angie. I promise I will make it up to you.” We say goodbye and end the call. I look at Rebel and sigh. Still time to take the little miss to the park, and then I will have to call Mrs Lawson and see if she is available. I know she will be she loves Rebel.

“Boomer, leash.” I say and he is off to get what I’ve asked as I scoop up my now rowdy toddler and get her ready for the park.

“Go now?” I smile at her.

“Yes, sweetheart, we can go now.” I say, kissing her on her cheek. Grab the stroller and strap her in. Getting her in is always a workout. The child goes as stiff as a board and she finds it hilarious.

I make the call to Mrs Lawson as I put the leash on Boomer and pray she can help.

“Hello, Angie, how are my two favourite girls today?” I grab my keys and some snacks and drinks, placing them in the changing bag and attach it to the stroller.

“We are doing just fine. I hate to do this last minute, but Coral called and …”

“Say no more. I will be at your house at seven, then you can head out.” God love this woman. She is my lifeline.

“Thank you so much, I hate to spring it last minute.”

“Nonsense, sweetheart. You know I love to help out.”

“Thank you again, Mrs Lawson. I will see you soon.”

“How many times, call me Scar. You are family. No need to thank me. I will see you both soon. Bye Angie.” I hang up and head out.

After a couple of hours at the park and one tuckered out Rebel, she is fed and bathed and ready for bed. Mrs Lawson arrives and I head to work.

Pulling up at the bar, I notice we are packed out tonight. Well, at least the shift will go quickly.

Leaving the car, I head inside. I smile at some of the locals and make my way behind the bar. The night goes smoothly and begins to quiet down. I look at Max and tell him I’m going to office and if he needs me to come get me.

I head to the office to get some orders done and check the accounts and I lose track of time.

“Erm, Ang. I need you back at the bar.” I look up and smile as I stand and leave the office, shutting and locking the door behind me.

The music gets louder the closer I get to the bar. The sound of raucous laughter fills the air and something feels off. My gut twists and flutters the closer I get.

Stepping out behind the bar, I freeze. No, it can’t be. I notice the cuts.

The Princes of Darkness MC with white stitching against the black leather. An embroidered patch of a red devil with wings riding a Harley. The same MC that he runs, the very same MC that is in allegiance with my family. What are they doing this far out?

“Angel.” My eyes widen and my heart jumps into my throat as I look into the icy blue eyes of the man who broke my heart, the man who fucked his whore in front of me, the man I ran from, the father of my daughter.

Ryder ‘Savage’ Jackson.

Savage POV.

I look at the profile picture on my messaging app. It hasn’t changed in three years. I sigh as I open her contact and see all the messages I have sent her over the last three years, and each has gone unread. I’m so fucking stupid.

FLASHBACK!

It’s been four weeks since I ended my relationship with Angel and claimed Foxy as my woman. Everything has been great. Angel has not contacted me, but I do find myself looking at her profile picture.

“What’s wrong baby?” a hand rubs my bare arm as I close the app and look at the woman beside me. Foxy with her red hair and brown eyes. She is beautiful. She is the mother of our unborn child.

“Nothing babe, go back to sleep.” I kiss her head and she snuggles back down, but I can’t sleep. Something isn’t right. My gut is telling me I should check up on Angel. I shake that thought away. Why should I? The bitch was cheating on me. She doesn’t deserve my concern.

With that, I fall asleep only to be woken by my door being banged on.

“Prez, we need to go. The Moretti’s have called an emergency meeting.” Blaze, my VP, says and I groan and sit up. I quickly get dressed. The Moretti’s this could be bad. But then again, Angel wouldn’t have told them anything, not unless she wants me to show her momma and daddy that she is a whore. I smirk as I leave my bedroom and walk through the clubhouse.

“What’s happened? Why are they calling this meeting?” I ask as a coffee is placed in front of me.

“We don’t know. I have tried to find out. All I’m being told is that it is urgent. We need to leave now,” he says, well you don’t need to tell me twice. No-one keeps the Moretti’s waiting. When they call, we move. My father Hatchet and Antonio had worked together for years. That’s how I met Angel.

They would come here or we would go to them. Even though she is four years younger than I am. We did used to have fun. Then, when Angel turned eighteen, the attraction grew between us and I took her virginity. We were in a secret relationship up until those photos were delivered to me four weeks ago.

I said some pretty awful things to her when she walked in on me fucking Foxy; she needed to see that what I did were the consequences of her actions. Like the naïve little girl she is, she denied, and we argued. She slapped me, but I didn’t care and I don’t care. She got what she deserved.

I mount my bike alongside with Blaze and Ripper. He is my Sergeant At Arms. We head out of the compound and onto the road. We ride for a few hours before we arrive at the Moretti compound.

We pull up and climb down. Entering the mansion, the atmosphere is sombre. The other heads are here. I shake hands with them and they are all not sure why we have been summoned. But we don’t wait long.

Don Antonio Moretti enters the room and we all nod our heads in respect to him. He looks like he has aged drastically, but then there is Teagan. She looks like she hasn’t slept and has cried. What the fuck has happened?

“Thank you for coming at short notice. We appreciate it. Please sit,” Antonio speaks as he takes his seat and pulls a distraught Teagan onto his lap.

“We have called you all here, because our daughter, our Angel is missing.” My eyes widen and murmurs break out around the table. I look at Blaze and he glares at me. This won’t have anything to do with me. I’m sure she is just doing this for attention.

“How long has she been missing?” I ask and all eyes turn to me.

“A week. She hasn’t been herself for a while. The day she left, she told us she was going to the gym, she never came back. She drove her Mercedes to the bank and emptied all her accounts and closed them down. She then sold the car. We have no idea where she is. Her phone has either been discarded or she has turned it off. You all know our daughter. She is not a pampered, self entitled princess. She is not a spoilt brat. So for her to do this means she is in some kind of trouble.” I gulp, not liking this one bit.

“There is one more thing. We believe we know the reason why she thought she needed to run away.” He looks at everyone, but his eyes land on me. I feel the blood freeze in my veins. Oh shit, he knows.

“She is also pregnant. We received something in the mail yesterday and I will say this. What we received had been fabricated. My team has already established this.”

“What did you receive?” One of the Don’s asked.

“Pictures of our daughter sleeping with different men. Whoever sent them is an amateur. Simon and Rosena established very quickly there were photo shopped. So it would seem the reason why our daughter ran is that she was being threatened with these images. Angel is a kind, gentle soul. We have teams already looking for her in every corner of the world.” My heart is beating erratically. The pictures are fake? What the fuck is going on?

“Do you know who the father is? Maybe she went to him?” I look at Blaze and he is fuming the same as I am. My fists clench under the table when Teagan looks at me and her gaze sends shivers down my spine and the sense of dread settles in my gut.

“We have an idea. The thing is, Angel would have tried to do the right thing. She would have gone to him to tell him. In my old line of work, I can tell you this: he has probably rejected her and her child. So she ran, not wanting to be a burden or to bring shame. Don’t forget ladies and gentlemen, my daughter is a DeNucci. We are famed for our skills in disappearing.” Teagan says, looking at me, and I gulp, shrinking into the chair.

That’s why she came. She came to tell me she was pregnant and like a fucking idiot I am. I believed the photos and Foxy. I was drunk, but that is no fucking excuse. My Angel, my goddess, is out there somewhere, no doubt scared, alone and pregnant with my child.

The rest of the meeting went by in a blur. I can see her tear-streaked face, the way her hand protected her belly. The way she was scared of me. The look of heartbreak on her beautiful face. She ran and is carrying my child.

END OF FLASHBACK.

“Savage, the next town we will be meeting up with Solomon. We need to move.” Blaze says to me. When my phone rings and I groan as I see the person calling me.

Foxy, I don’t answer the call. I never fucking do. I dumped her three months after I claimed her. I took it back when I found her being fucked by two men from a different charter. I dragged her to the hospital to perform an ultrasound and surprise surprise the bitch wasn’t fucking pregnant. She denied she was the one who sent the pictures. But I’m not stupid. I know it was her.

“Ok, let’s move out.” I say as I leave the motel and we ride out. The search for Angel ended six months ago. Antonio and Teagan said Angel will return when she was good and ready and if she is found, she is not to be forced. Like fuck will that happen? If I find her, she and my kid are coming with me.

We ride to the town and pull up at the bar we are meeting Solomon. Solomon is the prez of the sister MC. We work closely together so this meet is nothing new but we have never met at this town before.

We enter the bar called Eclipse. It’s nice. It has that small town vibe going and I like it. The man behind the bar looks like he will pass out with the amount of us that has just walked in. I chuckle as he heads out to no doubt get someone to help him.

I mean, we are rowdy bikers, but we don’t start bar brawls; we are here to relax and to see Solomon, nothing more.

I hear a gasp and the rooms seem to quieten down. I turn and the image in front of me has me doing a double take.

Her long blonde hair is in a high ponytail, her honey eyes are wide. Her chest is raising and falling rapidly. She is a vision. She is more beautiful than she was three years ago.

“Angel.”

Angel POV.

They have found me; they have found me. Shit, fuck, twat! I look at him and I’m having a mini panic attack. All I can see is him and her. The words he spewed at me with such hatred and the smirk on her face. Why is he here?

He reaches for me and I react instantly; I grip his wrist and turn him, shoving his arm up his back. He groans and the men are now on their feet. I look at Blaze, his VP, and he is telling everyone to remain calm.

“You have the wrong person. Now get out.” I shove him forward as the fight-or-flight takes over. I need to get out of here. I need to leave. I need to grab Rebel and Boomer and go. But where?

“Angel, that’s not going to happen. We have been looking for you. Your family has been looking for you. We have found you and there is no running from us,” Savage says to me as I step back, my eyes not leaving his.

“My name isn’t Angel. I don’t even know who you are. Now I won’t ask again. Get the fuck out of my bar or we will have a problem.” My voice is like steel as I stare the fucker down. I won’t back down now. I have to protect my daughter.

I catch movement from the corner of my eye and hold my hand up, and the movement stops. Just then, the door opens and more bikers enter. The momentary distraction causes me to act. I run for it. I run like my ass is on fire because it is. My hands are shaking as I run out of the side exit and towards my car. I drop the keys as I pick them up. I unlock the car when I’m grabbed and shoved into the side of my car. I scream when a large hand covers my mouth. The tears leave my eyes as I look into the icy blue orbs locked on me.

“Angel, please. I mean you no harm. Let me explain, please.” Like hell I will. I bite down on his hand. He yells and moves away. I don’t think I bring my knee up hard, hitting him in his crown jewels the air leave him and he falls.

I open the car door and fumble with the keys and peel out of the parking lot. Tears blur my vision. I wipe them furiously away and ditch the car a few streets away and run to the house.

It won’t be long before he finds me again. I stop running and chuckle to myself. There is no use in running. He has found me and no doubt they will ask around town and will have my address soon. What can I do? ok think Angel. You can’t just pack up and leave in the middle of the night. You can’t uproot Rebel like that.

No, I will face the demons of my past head on. If he comes for me, which I know he will do. I will be ready for him. I’m a goddamn Moretti and we don’t fucking run from our enemies and right now Savage and his MC are the enemy.

I turn back around and head back to the car, which is parked haphazardly, and I climb back inside. Pulling my phone from my pocket and fire off a quick text to Max, telling him to close up for the night and to not give any information about me to anyone.

He responds quickly, telling me they have gone and said they will be back to speak to you. I roll my eyes and sigh before I drive the car towards my house. I drum my fingers nervously against the steering wheel as I pull up outside my house.

The people of this town don’t know who I really am. It is safer that they don’t know. Even if the Moretti’s don’t have enemies. No one is brave or stupid enough to try anything. So I know either way I am safe, even if the Princes of Darkness have found me. They can’t touch me, not without retaliation from my family.

I leave the car and walk up the stone path to the front door. I open it and head inside. Rebel is awake and having a drink of milk on Mrs Lawson’s lap. They both look at me and I smile at them.

“You’re home early, everything ok?” I move forward and kiss my daughter on her head as she holds her foot drinking her bottle of milk. I kiss Mrs Lawson as well.

“Yeah, it wasn’t too busy, so I told Max to close it down and head home.” I only tell her part of the truth.

“You look like you have had a fright. What happened Angie?” I sigh as I stand and head to the kitchen and grab a bottle of bud and sit down on the sofa. One won’t hurt. I think I deserve it after what just happened.

“I need to tell you the truth about me. My name isn’t Angie, it’s Angel. Angel Moretti. My parents are Don Antonio Moretti and Teagan Moretti.” I say as I watch her and she nods her head slightly.

“I know dear. The whole town knows who you are. We aren’t simpletons. A few years ago, your family sent men here looking for you. We all told them we had no clue who you were. We knew you were running from something, so we choose to protect you. So tell me Angel, what happened tonight?” I look at her, shocked. Hold on, back up. The whole town knows who I am? I chuckle in disbelief at this.

“Wow, well thank you.” she waves me off as Rebel waves her now empty bottle in the air like a flag. I chuckle at her as Mrs Lawson sets her down, and she toddles to me and I pick her up and cuddle her to my chest and I know she will be asleep in a matter of moments.

“Her father found me tonight. Completely by coincidence. Her father is the president of the Princes of Darkness MC. His name is …”

“Ryder.” My eyes widen as I look at her and I gulp, nodding my head.

“How do you …”

“Hatchet is my brother. I moved out here, not long after Ryder was born. I left the MC life behind. My brother and I never stayed in touch after that. I will keep you both safe. I may no longer be part of that life, but that life remains in me. If he comes calling which he will do. You have to be ready. She is his child. The world of the MC is similar to your world. He has every right to claim her and when he does, you both will have to go with him. I’m sorry Angel.” She says to me. I look down at my sleeping little girl and sigh, knowing I can’t run from this. Same as I can’t involve my family. He doesn’t know about her, so that is a good start.

Or at least I think he doesn’t. What have I got myself into?