Right Side Up ((MMG Novella)) Read online

  Right Side Up

  A Novella

  R.B. Hilliard

  Right Side Up

  Copyright © R.B. Hilliard, 2015

  Kindle Edition

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

  Warning: This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Names, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any similarities to real persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Edited by R.C. Brose

  Proofread by Traci Roe

  Cover by Libros Evolution

  Dedication

  This Novella is dedicated to my family.

  I love you more than you will ever know.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Acknowledgements

  Connect with R.B. Hilliard

  Chapter One

  Max

  ‡

  THE SOUND OF a toilet flushing and the warmth of Ellison’s front hitting my back pulled me from my dreams.

  “How long until we have to leave?” I groggily asked.

  Soft lips pressed against the back of my neck. “We have a few hours,” she huskily replied.

  Not wanting to lose the warmth of her touch, I slowly rolled in her arms. Gorgeous golden eyes filled with a love I can’t even begin to describe stared back at me. Feelings of acceptance and belonging washed over me. I didn’t know if I would ever get used to this life we’d made together. Most days I was fine, but every now and then a fear something would come along and fuck it all up overwhelmed me. Anything my wife was willing to give, I welcomed. Not able to help myself, I greedily stroked my hands over her bare breasts and down to her protruding belly, where my son lay. Ellison’s slight moan as she shifted under my hands let me know she wanted to play. Lazily, I trailed my fingers down between her legs. Her breath hitched as she dropped her head back onto the pillow. Her exposed neck was an invitation I could not resist.

  Leaning down, I trailed my tongue down her neck to her breast. Taking her engorged nipple between my lips, I slowly drew it into my mouth. Sucking in a deep breath, Ellison arched her back, demanding I take more. Instead of giving her what she wanted, I parted my lips and, with a popping noise, released her breast.

  “Maaaaax!” she wailed in protest. Not wanting to frustrate her too much, I slid my fingers home and smiled when her eyes dilated in pleasure. As I stared down at my wife, ripe with my child in her belly and writhing in lust for me, a raw possessiveness took hold.

  This woman is my life.

  “More,” she moaned.

  Trailing my tongue from her neglected breast up to her ear, I whispered, “Tell me what you want.”

  “You,” she panted.

  “Me, how?” I whispered.

  She shivered and growled, “Stop messing with me, Max.”

  Her tone announced she’d had enough. I loved when Ellison was desperate for me. It gave me back the control I was constantly fighting for when I was in her presence. Not wanting to hurt her, I moved between her outstretched legs. “Legs up,” I said. She lifted her calves to my shoulders and tilted her ass in supplication. I slid a pillow beneath her lower back and rose up to my knees. When our son got too big for conventional sex, we had to get creative. Trust me, this was not a hardship. I would take my wife any way she would have me.

  “Now, Max,” she commanded.

  Wrapping my arms around her thighs, I walked my knees forward. As she fastened her fingers around my hard cock and lined me up to her warm entrance, sparks of pleasure shot up my spine. Slowly, I pushed in. We both groaned with satisfaction.

  “It never gets old,” she gasped.

  I stared into her luminous eyes and responded, “Never.” As I pulled out, I tightened my hold on her legs, which had begun to shake, and thrust back in. She cried out my name and I almost lost it right there. Grabbing onto her hips, I gave her several long, hard strokes. All the while, I watched expressions of pleasure flit across her face. Pretty soon her breathing escalated.

  “Are you close, baby?”

  “I am.” The rasp of her voice echoed through me.

  Fuck, I love this woman.

  I was about to lose control and needed her there with me. As I pulled out, I tilted her hips, pushed back in and ran my thumb and forefinger over her clit. She detonated and, three pumps later, I was right there with her.

  After cleaning us both up, I flopped down beside her and sighed. Ellison’s hand stroked over my chest and I smiled.

  “Are you worried?” she asked.

  She was referring to Dooley-fucking-Shane, the bastard. If I could kill him with my bare hands, I would. I had given the green light for the baby shower today, but only because Garrett, Cas and Bobby had proof Dooley and his band of idiots were hiding out in Mexico. Still, I wasn’t sure I was making the right decision. Something about it wasn’t sitting right with me. Grabbing her hand, I gave it a quick kiss before giving her an honest answer.

  “I need for this day to be over.”

  She sighed. “You said yourself, Dooley is in Mexico. Plus, it’s not like we are having the baby shower at Dragonfly. We’ll be at Joss’ place with Kurt, Bobby and I’m sure whoever else you guys could drum up to watch over us.”

  I ran my hand protectively over her belly. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you or our son, Ells.”

  She grabbed my hand and pressed it tightly to her stomach. I smiled when the baby kicked against our hands. “We are going to be just fine. You’ll see.” She gave me a big smile and I couldn’t help but return it.

  * * *

  An hour and a half later

  “ARE YOU SURE you don’t want me to stay?”

  “Bobby and I will be here,” Kurt assured me. “The faster you go, the quicker you’re back. I’ll call if anything remotely unusual happens.”

  I stared at him for a minute before giving a nod of acceptance. If anyone understands how much this woman means to me, it is Kurt. I glanced over at Ellison, whose attention was directed at a bunch of striped bags on a table full of baby shit. “Ellison,” I called out. When she looked up, I said, “Call me as soon as you are done here and I will come get you.”

  She smiled and the pressure in my gut marginally eased. “Okay, Max,” she quietly replied.

  “Now, come give me a kiss so I can go.” The second she reached me, I stroked my hands over her belly and gave her a demanding kiss, tongue and all. She moaned into my mouth and it took everything in me not to put her back in the car and take her home, where I could show her how much I loved her again and again. “The second you’re done,” I whispered against her lips. Then I swatted h
er on her ass, gave Kurt a nod and headed for my truck.

  Gage’s motorcycle and Zippo’s truck were in the lot when I arrived at MMG. I wondered if Gage was as unsettled about the Dooley situation as I was. Quickly, I made my way to his office. Gage sat behind his desk with his feet propped on top and a cup of coffee in his hands. He had a scowl on his face.

  “How long have you been here?” I asked.

  “Five minutes or so. No offense, but I want this day over with,” he muttered.

  “You and me both,” I replied. Our eyes met and I could see my tension mirrored in his face. “Fuck,” I said.

  “Yep,” he agreed.

  “Come find me if you hear anything. I’ve got to get this job done, so I’ll be free when she calls.”

  “Will do,” he replied and I headed down the hall toward my office.

  * * *

  Three hours later

  WHY WON’T THIS damn filter fit? This was the last thing I had to do before closing up shop and heading to Kurt’s.

  “Need help?” Zip asked. He had been keeping me company and working on a few side projects for the past few hours.

  “Naw, I’m good,” I told him. Right as I figured it out, I heard my phone ding with a text message. Perfect timing. I made sure the filter was secure before closing the hood and heading to the sink to wash the grease off my hands. Grabbing a clean towel from under the sink, I dried my hands and snagged my phone from the shelf. At first glance I didn’t recognize the number. Thinking nothing of it, I read further.

  Sender: Max, Reyn here. No time. Selina and Zeke have us. We are headed toward South Carolina. Bobby unconscious, but everyone else okay.

  My heart stuttered in my chest. Selina was supposed to be in Mexico… with Dooley. Like a ton of bricks, it hit me. It was a set up.

  “Gage!” I roared. The realization they had my pregnant wife dropped me to my knees. “Gage!” I shouted again.

  “Hey man, you okay?” Zippo asked from the doorway.

  “I heard you the….” Gage stuttered to a stop when he saw me on the floor. “Talk to me,” he said. I held out my hand with the phone in it and watched as he read the message. His eyes lifted to mine. “Is Piper with them?”

  “I don’t know,” I barely choked out.

  Dropping his head back, Gage let out a roar so filled with pain it rattled my teeth. A minute later, he gathered himself enough to dial a number. When the person on the other end picked up, he blasted them. “It’s not Max, you incompetent mother fucker, it’s Gage. Max just received a text from Reyn sent forty-five minutes ago saying Selina and Zeke have them. Who’s them, Garrett? I have no idea!” he shouted. “You tell me how the fuck this happened!” After what seemed like forever, he hung up. He immediately dialed another number. “Is Piper at your house?” When his shoulders slumped, I knew Piper was taken with them. Gage briefly explained what was going on to Kurt. As he hung up, he shouted for Zippo. Zippo appeared around the corner with his phone in his hand. I was so lost in my misery I hadn’t heard him leave the room. “Is that Susannah?” Gage asked. Zippo nodded, yes. “I take it she’s not with them?” Zippo shook his head, no. “Garrett wants us at his office pronto. Max can drive.”

  “I can follow you in my truck,” Zippo said.

  “Garrett said we need to stick together. We have no clue where Dooley is at the moment.”

  “Oh, o-okay,” Zip stammered. “I’ll just go get my things. Be right back.”

  As Zippo scurried out the door, the phone rang in Gage’s hand and he tossed it over to me. Cas’ name appeared on the screen. “You better have some news for me,” I answered.

  “Zippo just placed an outgoing call from MMG. We are tracing it. Whatever you do, don’t let him out of your sight,” Cas said.

  “He said it was to Susannah.”

  “The call was definitely not to Texas,” Cas confirmed.

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m not saying anything. We’re just covering all bases. See you in a few,” he said and hung up.

  “Zippo! Let’s go!” I shouted.

  * * *

  Four hours later

  AFTER DISCOVERING ZIPPO had been working for Dooley all along and beating the shit out of him, he told us he had no clue where Dooley and our women were. Cas traced Zippo’s phone call to South Carolina, but could not pin down an exact location. Finally, when I thought I was going to lose my mind, the phone rang.

  “It’s Bobby,” Garrett said before answering it.

  Ten minutes later, we were in Garrett’s SUV, heading to who the hell knew where. The entire ride there, my mind raced. Please, let them be okay. Let them be alive. Don’t take them from me. This is my fault. If I had been with her, none of this would have happened.

  After what felt like an eternity, we pulled onto a gravel road leading to a dilapidated two story farm house. Before we could park, shots were fired. Police swarmed the house and the surrounding area. More shots were fired before everything went silent. A minute later, Garrett’s phone rang. Two minutes later, he hung up.

  “They’re in the house,” he said. “We’ve been cleared to go in.”

  Cas, Gage and I bolted from the car and into the house.

  “Elllllisooooon,” I shouted as I hit the doorway. “Where are yooooou?”

  “Max? We’re up here! Hurry!” she shouted back. Never, in all my life had anything sounded sweeter than my wife’s voice.

  Cas, Gage and I pounded up the stairs and into what appeared to be a bedroom. Two policemen were already in the room. One was leaning over Zeke, who was lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood. The other was across the room. Everywhere I looked was blood. Ellison’s painful moan brought me back to the moment. She was sitting on the floor next to a bloody Piper. One of her hands was pressed to Piper’s shoulder and the other was holding her belly. Both of Piper’s hands were pressed to Reyn’s abdomen.

  The policeman squatted down next to Piper and said, “I got it. You can let go now.”

  The second Ellison saw me standing in the doorway, she lost it. Carefully, I squatted down beside her. I wanted to gather her in my arms, but if she was hurt, I didn’t want to cause her more pain. Cas squatted beside Piper.

  “Help is on the way,” the policeman closest to us stated.

  “Ellison, I know you are scared, but I need you to tell us what we’re dealing with,” I calmly said. My woman was falling apart. Her face was a purple, mangled mess of cuts and bruises. I wanted to howl, to hurt someone, but I couldn’t. I had already failed her today. The hell if I would do it again.

  She sucked in a breath. “Reyn was shot in the stomach. It’s bad. Piper was shot in the shoulder and leg. She’s bleeding a lot.” She closed her eyes for a brief second. When she opened them back up, I could tell she was having trouble focusing.

  “Stay with me, baby,” I coerced.

  “Max, I’m in labor,” she pressed her hands to her stomach and started panting.

  “Are you sure?” I was hoping maybe she was mistaken.

  “My water broke right after I shot Zeke.” Before I could process her words, she grabbed her stomach and let out a low groan of pain. Then she passed out.

  Gage, who had been trying to talk to Piper, suddenly lifted her into his arms and headed for the door. Panic, unlike any I’d ever known before, engulfed me.

  “Ellison?” I whispered.

  “Max, she’s bleeding,” Cas said.

  “What?”

  “Look down.” I glanced down and my heart stopped. From the waist down, my wife was covered in blood.

  “Oh God no,” I said out loud. Suddenly, my head began to swim.

  “Medics!” someone shouted from downstairs.

  “Up here!” Cas and both policemen shouted back. Several sets of feet pounded up the stairs.

  Two medics entered the room and quickly assessed the situation. “Send up two stretchers!” One shouted down. Both men squatted down next to Reyn. While one worked on her, the other a
sked if he could look at Ellison.

  I placed my hand protectively on her and shook my head, no.

  “Has your wife been shot?” he asked.

  “She said she was in labor, and her water broke. Then she passed out,” I managed to tell him.

  “I will do everything in my power to help her. In order to do this, though, I need you to give us some space. Do you think you can do that?”

  I didn’t want to let her go. What if she died? What if this was my last chance to hold her in my arms?

  “Sir?”

  “Max, let them do their job,” Cas said.

  Kissing the top of Ellison’s head, I let the medics place her on the stretcher. I followed them down the stairs and out the front door. Luckily, a hospital was only a few miles away. The EMT in back with us barely had time to hook Ellison to oxygen and detect a fetal heartbeat before we were there. Right as the driver opened the back of the truck, the shit hit the fan.

  “Fetal heartrate down!” the guy next to me shouted at one of the nurses on the ground. Before I knew what was happening, I was being pushed out of the way and they were running with the stretcher carrying my wife through the hospital doors. I tried to follow, but they were moving too fast.

  Before I got too far, I was stopped and directed to the front desk, where they asked me to sign a bunch of papers and provide medical information on Ellison. All I kept thinking was how I should be back there with her, not out here. While I was filling out the last form, Ellison’s father, Sam, Susannah and Garrett arrived. What seemed like hours later, but was really only minutes, a nurse came through the door.

  “Mr. McLellan!” she called out.

  “Here!” I said.

  “Come, quick! We need to get you into a gown, so you can see your son!” she exclaimed. My heart stuttered in my chest.

  “He’s okay?”

  “He will be,” she replied.

  “And my wife?”

  “Your wife has lost a lot of blood, but is holding steady.”

  Minutes later, I was scrubbed down, gowned up and in the operating room, where I got to watch my beautiful boy take his first breath.