“Diamond?” Holly screamed as the sheriff barreled into the room.

“Holly?” Logan cried, twining his arms around her neck.

“It’s okay, Logan. Holly, calm down. I’ll help you get this straightened out.”

Holly stared at her in hope. “I’m sorry I handled this so badly, I don’t deserve your help.”

“Holly, you might be my secretary, but you’re also my friend.”

“You’re going to let me keep my job?” Holly wasn’t alone in her surprise. Pastor Dean and the sheriff were taken aback by Diamond’s gesture as well.

“Of course, you didn’t commit any crime. Samantha hired you to take care of her child. That’s not against the law, and I gave you access to my office. You got in with the key I gave you, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Holly’s lips trembled.

“Holly, you were only trying to do what you thought was in the best interest of Logan. I can’t fault you with that, neither can the law. Everything is going to be all right.”

Holly finally breathed a sigh of relief, loosening her hold on Logan who gradually quieted.

“Well, now that it’s settled that she didn’t commit a crime, how about that man lying on the floor with a gun pointed at his head?” The sheriff gestured toward Mitch.

“Him, you can arrest for attempted murder,” Pastor Dean spoke before Diamond could. He shouldn’t worry, Diamond thought, I’m going to make sure Mitch stays in prison for a long time.

Her eyes lifted to Pastor Dean. “You saw them through the window, didn’t you?

“Yes.”

Damn, he had seen Knox and her that afternoon that Knox had ignored her request to close the blinds. His amused expression didn’t try to hide the fact that he had gotten quite a show. She was buying curtains for the window the first chance she got. The man had gotten his last show of her and Knox.

* * *

Diamond answered Mrs. Langley’s door when the knock sounded. The Porters stood on the porch, white faced and nervous. The law didn’t faze them, but the prospect of a child frightened them to death.

“Come in.” Diamond opened the door wider, letting the family of four enter then closed the door behind them, motioning the Porters into the living room.

Holly sat on the couch with Logan as Mrs. Langley sat on his other side. Diamond had not been able to hold back her tears when Mrs. Langley had seen her great-grandson for the first time. Diamond again received all the reassurance she needed that she was doing the right thing when she saw the Porters’ reaction. Dustin took a hesitant step forward as his sister and brothers hung back, letting Dustin meet his son without their overwhelming the small boy.

“Are you sure he’s mine.” Dustin was trying not to embarrass himself, but unable to keep his eyes from watering.

“Pending a DNA test, we’re pretty sure,” Diamond reassured him. “I think the curly hair and the eyes are pretty good clues, but I think what she named him confirms it.”

“What did she name him?”

“She named him Logan. That was your father’s name, wasn’t it?” Mrs. Langley asked Dustin. Diamond could tell Dustin almost lost it at the name of his son.

“I told Sam when we married and had kids I was going to name my son after my dad.” His hoarse voice had Rachel bursting into tears. Greer put his arm around his sister’s shoulder.

Dustin carefully walked closer to the little boy sitting silently by Holly’s side. Slowly he dropped to his knees.

“Hello, Logan. Welcome home.”

Chapter Twenty-four

Diamond came out of her office, running late again. She hated being late when Knox was with her; he always used it as an excuse to punish her with one of his diabolical tortures. Driving home, she saw him already sitting in the parking lot as she pulled in.

“Damn,” Diamond said.

She saw the smile on his mouth as she went inside to grab her overnight bag. She came back down, handing him the overnight case, which he tied onto the back of his bike.

“It would be easier if you just left a few extra outfits at the clubhouse,” Knox said, getting onto the bike before handing her his helmet.

“I would if they would still be there when I needed them. The women can swipe clothes from you while you’re still wearing them.” Knox laughed, starting the motor. His easy grin sent her heart soaring as much as the ride to the clubhouse.

The last month since Dustin had found his son had been good. The DNA results had come back proving without a doubt Dustin was the father and Holly had worked out an arrangement with Dustin so that she could remain in Logan’s life. Holly had remained Diamond’s secretary as well without the constant fear of someone finding out her secret. It had given the woman a boost of confidence that Diamond hadn’t seen in her before.

Knox had changed in the last month also; more easygoing and affectionate with her. When she left him in the morning, she no longer worried that it would be the last. Holly wasn’t the only one who had gained some confidence.

As his bike pulled into the clubhouse parking lot, the club was already busy for a Friday night. Knox packed her suitcase up the steps. When they entered, the crowd was already making it hard to fit inside the room.

“There a lot of people here tonight,” Diamond said.

“We’re making one of the women a member tonight,” Knox replied.

“Oh.” Diamond’s heart plunged. Sex Piston had told her that they had to have six votes out of the eight original members’ votes to become a Last Rider. They had to have sex with the men or cause them to have an orgasm to get the vote.

As she went upstairs to get changed, her eyes studied the new faces of the women.

She tried not to think about the night ahead as she took a quick shower and dressed in Knox’s room while he waited patiently for her. She had attended several Friday parties over the last months, but they had always ended up in his room alone after dinner. She didn’t know who or how often he was with the other women because she had adopted ‘the don’t ask’ attitude and buried the worry as deep as she could.

Never, Never Land was good. She didn’t want to leave and was afraid that, if she asked and he told the truth, she would have to leave her make believe land and lose Knox. It was messed up the way she was thinking, but like any gambler that was going for the big money, she was all in. She merely hoped when he was finished with her that she had enough money to pay the mortgage on her soul because that was her collateral.

Knox’s eyes watched her dress in her new blue jean skirt that hugged her butt. The black camy she put on instead of her bra had his eyes lighting up, although when she picked up a sheer, black top that tied at her breasts, he was instantly getting off the bed.

Diamond hastily backed up against the door, her hands going to his chest.

“When did you get that outfit?”

“I went shopping with Jewell and Raci.”

Knox’s hand slid up the inside of her thighs, tugging the baby blue underwear off. “Knox, give my panties back.”

“Nope, that’s what you get for being late.”

“I’m not going downstairs without my underwear,” Diamond protested as he tossed her underwear onto the dresser.