Page 3 of Salvation/Mamba

“Not one thing, other than I couldn’t function without thinking about you. When I worked, when I ate, I wondered what you were doing and how you were.”

He cocked his head. “How did you work all this out?”

“It was crazy. I ran into Python at Chick-fil-A.”

“I believe it. The man loves his fried chicken.”

“Of course, I asked about you, and he said you were doing shitty—his words—and I was the best thing that had ever happened to you, and for the sake and sanity of the club, he wished I’d come back.”

Mamba barked out a laugh. “I can just hear that crazy fucker saying that shit.”

“He said how good I was for you and how he thought we were good together, and it made me think, especially since I was having those same thoughts.”

“So, you basically did this for Python and the Serpents?” He pulled a goofy face.

“Yes, you big jerk. It had nothing to do with you.” Mandy punched him on the arm, then sobered. “I seriously missed you.”

He cuddled her to him. “I think we finally have a real shot at something good, just for us.”

“Umm, there is one other thing.” She pulled back to look at him. “You do realize we just had sex without a condom?”

“That’s okay, babe, I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

“Neither have I, but considering I wasn’t seeing anyone, I went off the pill.”

While he was thrilled at her admission, it did raise a question. “Ahh, one time, what could happen, right?”

“Before everything went sideways, I asked you to be my ‘ol lady, and I’d like to ask you again now.”

“Technically, you didn’t ask me; you told me.” Mandy grinned at him.

“And that’s one of the things I’m working to change, so anyway—”

“I’d be proud to accept the title, but not now. I want you in my life, but I’m also not ready to give up my independence.”

“That’s all I need to hear.” Mamba stroked her hair. “We can take this at your pace.”

“Wow, you really are working at being more patient.”

“For you, babe, anything.”

1

Eight months later

“Mamba! Mamba!”

Mamba never tired of the crowd chanting his name. The intoxicating thrill of the applause and the shiver it sent up his spine rivaled all other sensations—excluding the sensuous lips of his beautiful Mandy.

The referee declared him the winner of the last round of a championship fight he’d been training for the last few months. He raised his arms over his head and picked out Mandy in the first row. Their eyes connected and she favored him with a smile and a slight nod of approval. The sight of her belly swollen with his child filled him with more pride than all the championships in the world.

Still petite at eight months pregnant, Mandy looked out of place wedged between Cobra, his MC president, and Python, the club’s sergeant-at-arms. The two men dwarfed her in overall size yet there were no others he would trust with such precious cargo—his woman and his soon-to-be baby.

When the cheering subsided to a dull roar, Mamba burst through the cage door, down the three metal steps and onto the concrete floor of the Valley View warehouse where the biggest, most lucrative underground fights in Southern Nevada were held. The fights were basically illegal but because the Serpents MC had an iron clad deal with Metro, the cops looked the other way.

“You fuckin’ annihilated that guy.” Cobra slapped him on the back as Python drew him into a fake choke hold.

When he broke free, they did the hug back slap thing as he craned his neck over Python’s shoulder spying his girl.

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