Free Shadow (Defenders MC Book 1) by Amanda Anderson Page A

it was because of Nana or Shadow, but he no longer claimed her as his family and she noticed.  It broke her heart in a way that she had thought impossible, but every time he turned away from her she felt it as a blade to her heart.
    Lacey was now twenty weeks pregnant.  She had a nice tummy going and she and Rider were going in for her checkup after they picked up a couple of cases of liquor to drop off at the strip joint the club owned.  Today they would find out the gender and she wasn’t sure who was more excited, her or Rider.  It was the first time she had been in the clubhouse since Preach had denied them and it felt strange being there.
    Angel was just walking out of Preach’s office and looked like she was mad enough to spit nails.  She had only given birth a few weeks ago and already looked amazing, Lacey hoped she was so resilient.
    “Hey Angel!”
    Angel looked up and her face lost all color.  “Lacey, you can’t be here right now.  You need to leave, now.”
    Lacey’s heart cracked a little more.  She wasn’t welcome at the clubhouse anymore, she knew that, but she wasn’t staying.
    Angel was dragging her to the door when Rider walked from the office looking like he could rip someone apart.
    He took one look at Angel and she let Lacey go and held up her hands in a show of peace.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Nothin’ darlin’ you ready to go to the baby doctor?”  He kissed her nose, but she felt his tension.
    “Only if we can get ice cream after!”  She beamed up at him and he offered her a smile that almost reached his eyes.
    “Sure, anything you want darlin’.  What kind today?”
    “Peanut butter chocolate chip!”  Lacey said loudly and Rider caught her when she threw herself into his arms laughing.  He caught her just as a crash sounded from across the room.   Rider grew deadly still and Lacey followed his line of sight until it collided with a man that filled her darkest dreams and a shiver ran through her body.
    Shadow.
    He stood at the railing to the upper floor totally naked.  Three women crowded around him but his eyes were focused on Lacey and she shivered at the emotions that crossed his face when he saw her.
    He threw his arms wide and batted the women away.  He slowly made his way down the stairs and Lacey was frozen to the floor.  She vaguely heard Angel screaming at her to run and screaming for Preach, but nothing could get through the fog.  She felt Rider tugging her, but she wouldn’t move.  Then she was lifted and moving away from him.  The mournful sound that followed her tore at her soul until she cried out in anguish.  She looked up at Rider and saw the resignation in his eyes as he sat her on the floor and stood behind her, offering his strength.
    Shadow stalked her.  He was still naked and he didn’t seem to care.  His face was mournful and tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked.  He reached out his hand to touch her.
    Preached stepped in front of Lacey before Shadow’s fingers could touch her.  Shadow looked up at his father with such hurt in his face that Lacey didn’t know how the man could bear it.
    “You need to leave her alone Shad.  Lacey needs to take care of herself and the baby and you aren’t ready to be a part of that yet.  Get your shit together boy and then come back and claim your woman.  It’s not the right time.”
    “But I can come home now.”
    Shadow sounded like a scared child.  He was completely disconnected.  Lacey didn’t know what was happening but she damned sure wasn’t going to let it go on in front of her.  She stepped around Preach.
    “Hello Shadow.”  She gentled her voice as if speaking to a child.
    “You aren’t her.”  Disappointment filled his voice.    “How did you know what to say?  You aren’t her.”
    That hurt.  She wasn’t who he wanted.  No one seemed to want her around these days. 
    “She had to say it or I couldn’t come home.  How did you know?  Did she tell you to