Motley Crewed Shifters - Chapter 136: Chapter 136
You are reading Motley Crewed Shifters, Chapter 136: Chapter 136. Read more chapters of Motley Crewed Shifters.
ZEKE
The room goes quiet.
Not the awkward kind.
This is a silence born of respect.
Of protection.
Of the unspoken promise that every person sitting here will go to war for the woman currently pouring her soul out in the center of Max's living room.
Casey.
My mate.
She's sitting on the edge of the big armchair Penny insisted she take, hands clasped tight in her lap, knuckles white.
But her voice doesn't shake. Not once.
“I met Michael D'Angelo when I was doing my ER rotation during the last leg of my residency. I wasn't even supposed to be there that day. I took a shift for someone else.”
I feel my Dragon rise under my skin, already seething.
Just hearing that bastard’s name sends heat through my blood.
“He was a patient. Nothing major. Some bruised ribs and a busted hand. Said he got jumped outside a club. That kind of thing happens more than you think, so no one really questioned it.”
She's looking at her hands, her voice even but distant.
“He sent me food a few times. Uber Eats. Nice stuff. Lobster rolls. Italian food from this really good place. It’s not unheard of for patients to thank their doctors like that. I didn’t think much of it.”
You were just being kind. Professional. I want to snarl the words, to make sure she knows this is not on her, but I hold my tongue.
This is her story to tell.
“Then he started calling. Leaving notes with the delivery guys. He asked me out. More than once. I said no at first, but he was persistent. And charming. And he didn’t seem to care that I worked crazy hours. He made me feel seen.”
My fists clench. Max notices, but he doesn’t say a word.
“I went on a few dates. He was nice. Never pushy. Always dressed well. Had manners. But then, things started to change.”
She swallows, and I can see the weight of the memory pressing on her chest.
“One night, he picked me up for dinner, but halfway through, he got a phone call. Said it was an emergency. We got in the car, and I thought he was taking me back to the hospital. But instead, we drove across the city to some rundown warehouse.”
My Dragon growls low in my chest. Max puts a warning hand on my shoulder, reminding me not to explode.
“Inside, there were men. Bleeding. One of them had been shot. Michael told me to help him. I said I needed to get to a hospital, but he pulled a gun. Pointed it at me. Told me I had everything I needed in my bag. And if the man died, so would I.”
Gasps echo from the women.
Even Emmet swears under his breath.
Casey’s voice falters now, but she pushes through it.
“I stopped the bleeding. Got the bullet out. Somehow. I let him drive me home. He kissed my cheek and left me at the door. God, I cried so hard that night, and I didn’t get any sleep that night. The next day, I turned in my resignation and left the program. I went home, packed up, and told my parents what happened.”
She looks up, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“They insisted I go to the authorities. So, I filed a report. Talked to the police. Then the Feds. They told me I had to testify against him or face charges myself. So, I agreed. I had no choice, really. The D’Angelo crime family is apparently well-known, but stupid me didn’t recognize the name. They hurt so many people. He has hurt so many people. And now he’s found me. I don’t know how, but he knows I’m here. And he’ll do anything to stop me from going to that trial.”
The silence that follows her confession is thick. Electric.
Max stands slowly, arms crossed over his chest. “Don’t worry, Casey. We’re going to make sure he regrets hunting you here. You’re Crew now, and we protect Crew.”
Kian snorts. “Regrets it so hard he forgets his own name.”
“I never wanted to bring this trouble here. I’m so sorry,” she whispers, and it breaks my heart.
Avery crosses the room and takes Casey’s hand. “You’re not alone. We don’t let our own get hurt.”
I step forward then, unable to hold back anymore.
I kneel in front of her and take her hands in mine.
“You did nothing wrong. Hear me? And you’re not going anywhere. We protect what’s ours here, and you, Petals, you’re mine.”
She lets out a slow breath. And for the first time since she started speaking, she smiles.
CASEY
I don’t realize how tense I’ve been until the moment Max said the words, “You’re Crew now, and we protect Crew.”
Something inside me just lets go.
I’m not alone anymore.
Every single person on the Motley Crewd Ranch knows the truth now—about Michael, about what he did to me, what he still wants from me—and not one of them flinched.
Not when I told them how I had to sew up a bullet wound at gunpoint, not when I admitted I’d run with nothing but my phone and my wallet.
No judgement. No fear.
Just support. Immediate. Fierce. Uncompromising.
And then there’s Zeke.
Always Zeke.
His hand never leaves mine as we say our goodbyes, as Max claps him on the back and tells him to keep me close. He keeps it there still even as Penny and the other women all hug me tight and promise to help me make a fresh start.
When we’re finally alone, Zeke loads me into his truck again and takes me—not to a safe house or someone else’s place—but home.
His cabin.
Our cabin.
“You’re home now, Petals,” he says as we pull into the gravel drive. “You’re safe. And I don’t just mean because I’d go full Dragon and torch anyone who looked at you sideways.”
I smile, because I believe him.
He parks and cuts the engine, then leans toward me.
“For your peace of mind, I thought I’d explain we’ve got a full Draco Fortis system. It’s a magical and technological security system unlike any other, and we have it set up, protecting every inch of this place. The security feeds go directly to a cloud that every member of the Crew has access to. Plus, most of us have supernatural senses. If a mouse farts near this property line, we’ll know.”
That earns a laugh out of me, and it feels good to laugh.
He walks me to the door like I’m precious cargo, one big hand at the small of my back.
Inside, everything smells like smoked cedar and citrus and him.
Warm. Clean. Safe.
And then I realize I’m crying. Just a few silent tears.
Zeke notices immediately. “Casey?” His voice is gentle but urgent. “You okay?”
I nod, my bottom lip trembling.
“I just, I’m used to being independent. It’s how my parents raised me. I mean, they care, but they had me when they were older and they both had active careers, so I was like a latchkey kid, you know? Always taking care of myself. But now, well, I’ve never felt this before.”
“Never felt what, Petals?”
“Never felt like I had a partner. Like there was someone looking out for me. You’ve given me so much, Zeke. How can I repay you?”
Something flares in his eyes.
Possessive and proud.
Like I’ve just handed him the universe and told him he could keep it.
“You never have to repay me, Mate. It’s my honor and my privilege to do so. Knowing how you’ve had to do it alone, realizing you’re so brave and strong that just makes it even more so. Now, will you let me take care of you, Petals?”
Heat rushes through my veins. Awareness sizzles between us and I nod my head because, yes, I really do.
I want Zeke to take care of me. He’s the only man I’ve ever trusted enough to do just that.
And I’m aware of how crazy it sounds. How impulsive and mad.
It’s too fast by society’s standards.
But not for us.
For us, the timing is perfect.
“Come here,” he murmurs.
He leads me into the bedroom, where the low afternoon light casts a golden haze across the room.
He doesn’t say a word as he starts to undress me, slowly, reverently, like he’s unwrapping something holy.
There’s no rush in his touch.
Just worship. Admiration. Devotion.
Every time his fingertips brush my skin, I feel lighter.
“So fucking soft, Petals.”
He bends his head, leaving plucking kisses across my shoulders and chest.
I’m breathing so heavily it’s a wonder I don’t pass out.
His purple eyes hold mine as he unzips his jeans and shrugs out of his clothes.
Holy. Shit.
I’ve seen him nude before, but each time it’s like the first time.
Zeke is what all those old bodice-ripper romance novels mean when they say the hero is physically devastating.
I mean, the man is built like a god.
Tall and wide, his body is made of ropes of corded muscle honed by years of hard work and acres of skin bronzed by the sun.
My gaze drops to his revealed Adonis belt, and I swear, my pussy clenches in response to the sharp lines, pointing the way to his gloriously thick, long cock.
Like an invitation I knew I would never ever refuse.
When we’re both bare, he takes my hand and leads me into the bathroom.
The water is already running, warm and steamy.
He steps in behind me, pulling me into the spray and then into his arms.
There, under the water, he holds me against his warm, hard body and I shiver in response.
Zeke kisses me everywhere he can reach, unhurriedly and with so much care it brings tears to my eyes.
My shoulders. My collarbone. The curve of my cheek.
It’s not about urgency tonight.
It’s about us.
The way his hands glide over my back, massaging away the fear.
The way his lips find mine in the steam and silence.
The way his voice rumbles low and close to my ear.
“I’ve got you, Petals. Every part of you. Always.”
His words wrap around me like silk, warm and reverent, making my heart stutter and my breath catch.
And in that moment, something inside me shifts.
I want to give him something in return.
Not just my body, but a promise.
A worship.
A kind of devotion.
So I drop to my knees.
Zeke stiffens, his chest rising and falling like he’s been winded.
“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice rough as gravel.
I glance up at him through damp lashes, offering him a smile that I hope says everything I’m feeling.
“You know exactly what I’m doing.”
His eyes darken, glowing faintly, beautifully, as his hands curl at his sides in an effort to hold himself back.
But I don’t worry about it too much as I focus on my prize. Zeke’s growl fills the entire shower stall as I reach for his dick.
Impressive isn’t a word I’d typically use for this part of any man’s anatomy, but his damn well is.
In fact, his cock is downright beautiful.
I position myself between his muscular legs, my breath catching as I get my first real look at him.
He is thick, long, and uncut—gorgeous in a way that feels raw and real, almost too intimate to stare at for long.
The room goes quiet.
Not the awkward kind.
This is a silence born of respect.
Of protection.
Of the unspoken promise that every person sitting here will go to war for the woman currently pouring her soul out in the center of Max's living room.
Casey.
My mate.
She's sitting on the edge of the big armchair Penny insisted she take, hands clasped tight in her lap, knuckles white.
But her voice doesn't shake. Not once.
“I met Michael D'Angelo when I was doing my ER rotation during the last leg of my residency. I wasn't even supposed to be there that day. I took a shift for someone else.”
I feel my Dragon rise under my skin, already seething.
Just hearing that bastard’s name sends heat through my blood.
“He was a patient. Nothing major. Some bruised ribs and a busted hand. Said he got jumped outside a club. That kind of thing happens more than you think, so no one really questioned it.”
She's looking at her hands, her voice even but distant.
“He sent me food a few times. Uber Eats. Nice stuff. Lobster rolls. Italian food from this really good place. It’s not unheard of for patients to thank their doctors like that. I didn’t think much of it.”
You were just being kind. Professional. I want to snarl the words, to make sure she knows this is not on her, but I hold my tongue.
This is her story to tell.
“Then he started calling. Leaving notes with the delivery guys. He asked me out. More than once. I said no at first, but he was persistent. And charming. And he didn’t seem to care that I worked crazy hours. He made me feel seen.”
My fists clench. Max notices, but he doesn’t say a word.
“I went on a few dates. He was nice. Never pushy. Always dressed well. Had manners. But then, things started to change.”
She swallows, and I can see the weight of the memory pressing on her chest.
“One night, he picked me up for dinner, but halfway through, he got a phone call. Said it was an emergency. We got in the car, and I thought he was taking me back to the hospital. But instead, we drove across the city to some rundown warehouse.”
My Dragon growls low in my chest. Max puts a warning hand on my shoulder, reminding me not to explode.
“Inside, there were men. Bleeding. One of them had been shot. Michael told me to help him. I said I needed to get to a hospital, but he pulled a gun. Pointed it at me. Told me I had everything I needed in my bag. And if the man died, so would I.”
Gasps echo from the women.
Even Emmet swears under his breath.
Casey’s voice falters now, but she pushes through it.
“I stopped the bleeding. Got the bullet out. Somehow. I let him drive me home. He kissed my cheek and left me at the door. God, I cried so hard that night, and I didn’t get any sleep that night. The next day, I turned in my resignation and left the program. I went home, packed up, and told my parents what happened.”
She looks up, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“They insisted I go to the authorities. So, I filed a report. Talked to the police. Then the Feds. They told me I had to testify against him or face charges myself. So, I agreed. I had no choice, really. The D’Angelo crime family is apparently well-known, but stupid me didn’t recognize the name. They hurt so many people. He has hurt so many people. And now he’s found me. I don’t know how, but he knows I’m here. And he’ll do anything to stop me from going to that trial.”
The silence that follows her confession is thick. Electric.
Max stands slowly, arms crossed over his chest. “Don’t worry, Casey. We’re going to make sure he regrets hunting you here. You’re Crew now, and we protect Crew.”
Kian snorts. “Regrets it so hard he forgets his own name.”
“I never wanted to bring this trouble here. I’m so sorry,” she whispers, and it breaks my heart.
Avery crosses the room and takes Casey’s hand. “You’re not alone. We don’t let our own get hurt.”
I step forward then, unable to hold back anymore.
I kneel in front of her and take her hands in mine.
“You did nothing wrong. Hear me? And you’re not going anywhere. We protect what’s ours here, and you, Petals, you’re mine.”
She lets out a slow breath. And for the first time since she started speaking, she smiles.
CASEY
I don’t realize how tense I’ve been until the moment Max said the words, “You’re Crew now, and we protect Crew.”
Something inside me just lets go.
I’m not alone anymore.
Every single person on the Motley Crewd Ranch knows the truth now—about Michael, about what he did to me, what he still wants from me—and not one of them flinched.
Not when I told them how I had to sew up a bullet wound at gunpoint, not when I admitted I’d run with nothing but my phone and my wallet.
No judgement. No fear.
Just support. Immediate. Fierce. Uncompromising.
And then there’s Zeke.
Always Zeke.
His hand never leaves mine as we say our goodbyes, as Max claps him on the back and tells him to keep me close. He keeps it there still even as Penny and the other women all hug me tight and promise to help me make a fresh start.
When we’re finally alone, Zeke loads me into his truck again and takes me—not to a safe house or someone else’s place—but home.
His cabin.
Our cabin.
“You’re home now, Petals,” he says as we pull into the gravel drive. “You’re safe. And I don’t just mean because I’d go full Dragon and torch anyone who looked at you sideways.”
I smile, because I believe him.
He parks and cuts the engine, then leans toward me.
“For your peace of mind, I thought I’d explain we’ve got a full Draco Fortis system. It’s a magical and technological security system unlike any other, and we have it set up, protecting every inch of this place. The security feeds go directly to a cloud that every member of the Crew has access to. Plus, most of us have supernatural senses. If a mouse farts near this property line, we’ll know.”
That earns a laugh out of me, and it feels good to laugh.
He walks me to the door like I’m precious cargo, one big hand at the small of my back.
Inside, everything smells like smoked cedar and citrus and him.
Warm. Clean. Safe.
And then I realize I’m crying. Just a few silent tears.
Zeke notices immediately. “Casey?” His voice is gentle but urgent. “You okay?”
I nod, my bottom lip trembling.
“I just, I’m used to being independent. It’s how my parents raised me. I mean, they care, but they had me when they were older and they both had active careers, so I was like a latchkey kid, you know? Always taking care of myself. But now, well, I’ve never felt this before.”
“Never felt what, Petals?”
“Never felt like I had a partner. Like there was someone looking out for me. You’ve given me so much, Zeke. How can I repay you?”
Something flares in his eyes.
Possessive and proud.
Like I’ve just handed him the universe and told him he could keep it.
“You never have to repay me, Mate. It’s my honor and my privilege to do so. Knowing how you’ve had to do it alone, realizing you’re so brave and strong that just makes it even more so. Now, will you let me take care of you, Petals?”
Heat rushes through my veins. Awareness sizzles between us and I nod my head because, yes, I really do.
I want Zeke to take care of me. He’s the only man I’ve ever trusted enough to do just that.
And I’m aware of how crazy it sounds. How impulsive and mad.
It’s too fast by society’s standards.
But not for us.
For us, the timing is perfect.
“Come here,” he murmurs.
He leads me into the bedroom, where the low afternoon light casts a golden haze across the room.
He doesn’t say a word as he starts to undress me, slowly, reverently, like he’s unwrapping something holy.
There’s no rush in his touch.
Just worship. Admiration. Devotion.
Every time his fingertips brush my skin, I feel lighter.
“So fucking soft, Petals.”
He bends his head, leaving plucking kisses across my shoulders and chest.
I’m breathing so heavily it’s a wonder I don’t pass out.
His purple eyes hold mine as he unzips his jeans and shrugs out of his clothes.
Holy. Shit.
I’ve seen him nude before, but each time it’s like the first time.
Zeke is what all those old bodice-ripper romance novels mean when they say the hero is physically devastating.
I mean, the man is built like a god.
Tall and wide, his body is made of ropes of corded muscle honed by years of hard work and acres of skin bronzed by the sun.
My gaze drops to his revealed Adonis belt, and I swear, my pussy clenches in response to the sharp lines, pointing the way to his gloriously thick, long cock.
Like an invitation I knew I would never ever refuse.
When we’re both bare, he takes my hand and leads me into the bathroom.
The water is already running, warm and steamy.
He steps in behind me, pulling me into the spray and then into his arms.
There, under the water, he holds me against his warm, hard body and I shiver in response.
Zeke kisses me everywhere he can reach, unhurriedly and with so much care it brings tears to my eyes.
My shoulders. My collarbone. The curve of my cheek.
It’s not about urgency tonight.
It’s about us.
The way his hands glide over my back, massaging away the fear.
The way his lips find mine in the steam and silence.
The way his voice rumbles low and close to my ear.
“I’ve got you, Petals. Every part of you. Always.”
His words wrap around me like silk, warm and reverent, making my heart stutter and my breath catch.
And in that moment, something inside me shifts.
I want to give him something in return.
Not just my body, but a promise.
A worship.
A kind of devotion.
So I drop to my knees.
Zeke stiffens, his chest rising and falling like he’s been winded.
“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice rough as gravel.
I glance up at him through damp lashes, offering him a smile that I hope says everything I’m feeling.
“You know exactly what I’m doing.”
His eyes darken, glowing faintly, beautifully, as his hands curl at his sides in an effort to hold himself back.
But I don’t worry about it too much as I focus on my prize. Zeke’s growl fills the entire shower stall as I reach for his dick.
Impressive isn’t a word I’d typically use for this part of any man’s anatomy, but his damn well is.
In fact, his cock is downright beautiful.
I position myself between his muscular legs, my breath catching as I get my first real look at him.
He is thick, long, and uncut—gorgeous in a way that feels raw and real, almost too intimate to stare at for long.
End of Motley Crewed Shifters Chapter 136. Continue reading Chapter 137 or return to Motley Crewed Shifters book page.