AllFreeNovel
Share Us
LAST CHANCE AT LOVE
D.M. EARL
CHAPTER 1
SLICK
CLETUS/CUPCAKE
Looking at my cell phone, my gut is clenching, but I need to grow a set and man up, for Christ’s sake. I can’t move forward until I try to make amends and peace with my past. Lucy deserves at least that, well, I want to try before I tell her my whole sordid story. I’ve tried to share so many times but can’t get out all the asshole shit I did back in the day. I can feel the sweat running down my forehead, and I use my other hand to swipe it before it rolls into my eyes. When I hear the connection, I nearly piss myself.
“What the ever-lovin’ fuck do you want, you useless piece of donkey shit? Jagoff, I told you never to call us or even remember our names. Don’t make me jump on my hog and hunt your ass down, you pissant.”
Swallowing so I can try to get my words out, I can’t believe he’s in Timber Ghost, Montana, hundreds of miles away, and I’m still scared to death of him. Suck it up, Cletus, I think to myself, if you want to have any kind of relationship with anyone. First, I’ve got to do the work to try and fix the damage I’ve caused. I learned that from Chains and Brick. Fury has taught me self-love, which is so fuckin’ hard for me.
“Enforcer, hey, it’s Cletus, I mean Slick. No, please, don’t hang up on me, man. I need to talk to you just for a quick second. Is now a good time? If not I can call back later, just let me know what works for ya.”
I hear him take in a deep breath then let it out, almost like he’s counting when he releases it. I don’t hear anything until I hear a door open, and a voice that tears at my soul comes across the phone. Raquel. I can’t make out what she is saying, but I do hear what her ol’ man says back and it tears at my guts, though at the same time I’m beyond happy she’s getting what she always wanted.
“Que, give me a second or two. Slick is on the phone, no, don’t get upset. I don’t fuckin’ know what the bastard son of bitch wants, but gonna find out. Now go on, get yourself some tea and maybe go in your crystal room, try to relax. Don’t need you getting all worried and shit, ain’t good for the baby.”
What? Did I hear correctly? Raquel is pregnant with Enforcer’s kid? I don’t even know how I feel or should feel about it. Technically, after all the shit I put both Raquel and Teddy, her son, through I’m surprised they didn’t take a contract out on me. Get rid of my worthless ass. But I also know she will make a wonderful mom to any and all babies. I mean, look at Teddy.
“Slick, you got five minutes, not a second more. If I don’t like what I’m hearin’, you’ll get even less, bastard. Go, motherfucker, your time is ticking.”
I had practiced what I was gonna say to this man, but at the moment I can’t get a goddamn word out. Son of a bitch. Gotta try.
“Enforcer, I’m reaching out because I want to try to not only apologize but somehow make amends, if that’s even possible.”
Again, nothing, not even breathing but I know he’s there. When he’s in your space he has a presence, be it in person or on the phone. Then he shocks the shit outta me.
“So let me get this straight. You’re callin’ to try and make amends for turning the wheel that led to Raquel almost losing Teddy and her family almost losing her. Are you fuckin’ nuts, dude? Why would I even consider such an asinine thing? Unlike you, I know how to be thankful and appreciate the blessings that come into my miserable fuckin’ life. So now you know I don’t want or need to hear the bullshit words come outta your lying useless mouth. We’re done.”
I feel my temper start to rise but push it down, just like Fury is working with me on. Since I was shot, the Grimm Wolves brothers have started to actually treat me like a real prospect and not like an anchor around the entire club. So to be able to look at myself in the mirror, have to push this or at least give it some effort.
“Enforcer, not to piss you off, man, but this ain’t just your call. It has to include both Raquel and Teddy, since my actions not only put them in jeopardy but caused them each pain. No, before you start reaming my ass again, man, take a minute and listen. That’s all I’m asking of you.”
“Wait a fuckin’ minute, you got a bitch on the line, that’s it, right? Want to have your ‘own relationship and maybe even a family’ but you know once she hears about your past, she’ll dump you like a fuckin’ hot potato. Am I right, ya brainless dick? Do you honestly think one phone call will fix everything? Well, just gonna drop this on you, it won’t, Slick.”
I know he’s right, but if I ever want to have someone in my life then I’ve got to try as hard as possible to maybe give these people I’ve hurt some peace. Before I can continue, I hear that voice again.
“Travis, give me the phone. No, don’t argue with me, as this is something I need to face eventually, so why not now? Yeah, I’m pregnant, but that doesn’t mean I’m dying any time soon. Give me the phone, handsome.”
Not sure how this is gonna go, so I wait as patiently as I can. Want to get this done before Lucy comes into the clubhouse. I’m hiding in my dorm room, which is a small room with a bed, dresser, and a chair. Well, that’s what was in it when Brick finally said if I thought I could handle prospecting then a room came with it. Took a while, but I’ve added onto this room, which is my home. All I got is the Grimm Wolves—well kinda—some are still on the fence, and this one bedroom and tiny bathroom they provided for me. So now I’ve come to realize I was a heartless dick in the past. With Fury’s, Grace’s, and Stitch’s help, I’m trying to turn my life around and be a better man. And those ain’t just words. If Enforcer would give me a chance I could explain.
“Cletus? Hey, Cletus, it’s me Raquel. What’s up?”
My God, I never thought I’d get the chance to hear her voice, let alone talk to her again. When they went through all that drama with Vixen and Ironside, the brothers filled me in and I begged Brick and Chains to let me go back to Montana to help, but they told me NO. Absolutely not and that my place was with the Grimm Wolves MC. Then Chains told me the only way I was leaving this club was to be put six feet under. I walk to the little corner area I’ve turned into a reading nook and sit down hard.
“Raquel, yeah, it’s me. How are you doing? Oh, and Teddy, what’s up with him?”
“Actually, we’re all doing good. But you didn’t reach out to Travis to ask how we are doing now, so again, what’s up? I’ve got to get dinner started because Teddy will be home soon.”
“Yeah, sorry, don’t mean to bother you, but I need to say a few things, if that’s okay, and if after you don’t want to hear from me again, I’ll respect that.”
I don’t hear anything from her so I figure it’s now or never.
“Raquel, there are no words I can ever say that will change the past or excuse what I did to you and Teddy. I know that now, believe me, Chains has explained it to me fully. What I want to do is try and make amends. Wait, please listen, then I’ll do the same for you. Believe it or not, when we were together, I did care for you, might even have loved you, though I didn’t know what that word meant back then. Well, I didn’t until recently. Shit, let me back up. One of Brick’s demands was that if I stay here at the clubhouse, I needed to seek some therapy to figure out what fucked me up. Believe it or not, it was Chains who has given me the most direction, probably because he gets it. I’m gonna be totally honest, Raquel, because I know you’re not a stupid woman. I’ve met someone here and really want to pursue it, if that is something she would consider, though I can’t do that ’til I try to clean up my past. That includes my actions toward you and Teddy. Well, your entire Devil’s Handmaidens club and Enforcer’s club, The Intruders, too.
