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“’Kay, Beast, I will. Once I give my journals up, my ass is gonna have a price on it, and believe me it will be large. If anything happens to me, I need promises that both Lucy and Atlas are taken care of. No, I’m not askin’ for anyone to put them up, just go to my hiding spots and pick up money for them to live. Multiple trips will probably need to be done but I’ll pay for that favor, I swear to Christ. I’m not gonna fuck this one up like I did in my prior life. And more importantly, don’t want to put my club in any jeopardy or even worse, any of the ol’ ladies and kids. So I’m trying to find a way to keep everyone safe and me alive. That’s what’s on my mind. And, Chains, to answer your question, I have what’s in my head on USB files and short movies of all the demented and sick fuckin’ bullshit they are pulling off. And since I know what I’m dealing with, I think I have the right to worry.”
No one says a word. They just stare at me, nothing showing in their eyes. Iron gives it away first when he shifts and looks to Brick, then back at me. I can see something on his face but don’t know this brother well enough to read whatever the hell it is. This goes on for a while until I lose it.
“Okay, I get it, motherfuckers. I was kind of thrown on ya and I’ve not made friends here, I’m good with that. What I can’t handle is letting a good woman and young kid hang out there to die. What the hell is wrong with each of you? Every one of ya has an ol’ lady and kids. How would you like it if I left your asses out in the wide open to just swing. Fuck it, if I have to grovel, I’ll put a call out to Tank and Tink, see if I can have Lucy and Atlas go out there so someone will have their backs ’cause, obviously, I’m at the wrong club here. Anything else?”
I watch as Brick stands, walks around his desk, then leans against the front, crossing one foot over the other, arms crossed on his chest. Then he shocks the ever-lovin’ shit outta me.
“Slick, you stupid motherfucker. You ain’t learned a goddamn thing since your ass got here. No one threw you at us or made us take you. It was our choice. And contrary to what you think and what I just said, we see a huge change in you. Especially now that you have a good ol’ lady and a kid in your life. Problem is, brother, you’re the one draggin’ all your fuckin’ baggage everywhere you go. Yeah, that’s right, no one gives a rat’s ass about what ya did in the past. For fuck’s sake, every one of us has done shit we regret. Gotta let that shit go, Slick. Only way to move forward.”
Before I can stop it, my biggest fears come rushing outta my mouth.
“Brick, can’t believe I’m gonna say this out loud but after what happened with Raquel, I’d given up on any kind of a relationship. Seriously, I don’t deserve one and I can’t begin to understand what Lucy sees in me, not to mention Atlas. I can’t fuck this up, brother, ’cause this is probably my last chance at ever experiencing the love of a woman and child. That’s all I ever wanted, swear to Christ, not sure how I got so goddamn sidetracked.”
My head drops and I feel wet hit my hands on my lap. Son of a fuckin’ whore, now I’m crying like a little bitch. Great, more shit for Chains to hold over my head. Feeling someone crouching down in front of me, I’m shocked to see it’s our enforcer…Chains. He’s got a real serious look on his face, so I wipe my face and watch him. He don’t make me wait too long.
“Prospect, you weren’t here when I went through all of my bullshit. It went on for years, Slick, me pushing away first my ol’ lady, then my ol’ man, and back and forth like a teeter-totter. Up and down, pull them close then push them away. Why they hung around I’ll never understand, but it opened my eyes to something I never gave myself the chance to truly experience. Don’t be a dick like I was, and accept love comes in all forms and shapes. And you might think it’s your last chance at having someone in your life, but you’ll be surprised. Know I was. And, dumbass, do you think we’d ever let anything happen to one of our own? Cashmere and Atlas have nothing to worry about. And neither do you, brother. Get that information together so we can hand it off to Enforcer, and they can do with it what they need to. We’ve got your back. Not sure how, but you weaseled your way into not only our club but our family, so guess we’re stuck with ya, Slick.”
I’m shocked, but even so, I look Chains in those green eyes of his and smile widely as a feeling so foreign to me I can’t comprehend it starts. I’m thinking it’s that emotion one gets when they are surrounded by family.
CHAPTER 6
CASHMERE
LUCY
I’m getting sick of dancing at the strip club. Maybe not the dancing part because I love to dance to my favorite songs. It’s the assholes who are there day and night, never giving up on their fucked-up ways. Not sure how they don’t understand what no means.
I want to have a normal life or whatever I can have that’s close to it. Have my kid go to school and not get bullied. Find a good man. With that thought I quickly cross all my fingers, throwing up a prayer to whomever will listen that Clet is the one I’m looking for. Just thinking about him my body warms up as my nipples harden. Never have I had such intense feelings for a man. I know he’s not always been good. And I have this knowledge because he told me before we were ever together intimately. Wanted me to have the facts about the man who was entering not only my bed but my life and my kid’s.
I know I’m taking a chance but, shit, what else am I supposed to do? Hook my star to one of these weird as fuck assholes? The one over on the love seat is jerking off his partner/boyfriend/dominant. Not the first time I’ve seen that, though this time it does nothing for me. God, I got it bad, I think to myself as I walk into the dancers’ lounge and changing room. I’m done for the day so gonna change into some normal shoes and get the hell outta Dodge. Maybe stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things so I can make us a nice dinner. Atlas is going to be staying with Abby’s twins overnight so that gives Clet and me some quality time.
With a huge smile on my face, I move toward the bathroom area when I see a pair of shoes that apparently are men’s. I slowly lift my eyes to see it’s that asshole who’s been heckling me all damn shift. I’m not sure why but he gives me the creeps. He’s got dead eyes that just stare at you. I tried to not be the first to break that stare down but, shit, he’s freaking me out big time.
Before I can say or do a thing, he’s got his hands wrapped around my throat, pushing me toward the wall. Once there, I’m racked up against it while I struggle and gasp to breathe. He leans in and when he watches me closely, I relax even further. Not going to give him whatever he thinks he wants. Clet and I talked and I’m guessing this is one of those racist pigs who beat him and threw him out to die when he was no use to them anymore. That he’s brave enough to try and take this brotherhood down to make amends to his ex shows me how deeply his emotions run.
Before I can say or do anything, I see something come flying at us. When I realize what it is, I hear the thump and watch the baseball bat hit the prick in front of me upside his head. Next thing I know, I’m feeling wet on my face and am hearing the voice I’ve craved since I last saw him. Then I look down and it hits me, we have big trouble right in front of me. Clet cracked the asshole’s head wide open. Ain’t no way he’s comin’ back from that. Before a word can struggle past my lips, I hear Clet tapping on his phone.
“Chains, got a problem. One of the brotherhood had his hands on Lucy so I whacked him with a baseball bat. Didn’t think it would have, but took his ugly ass right down. Now I’m lookin’ at a puddle of blood all around him. I need help and right now. Fuck, dude, I am calm. Ya don’t want to see me lose my shit, just sayin’. Yeah, I’ll wait, thanks, brother.”
When he slides his phone into his back pocket, he reaches out to me, grabbing my hand, pulling me with him out of the changing room and to where one of the bouncers is standing.
“Mack, keep everyone out of the dancers’ lounge, would ya? Chains is on his way to clean everything up. Yeah, don’t ask, got a mess back there. Hey, how’d that motherfucker get past you?”
“It was pretty quiet and needed to relieve my Johnson so went to the toilet. Must have seen me leave and snuck back there. Fuck, sorry, Slick.”
Leaning against my ol’ man, I’m half listening to their conversation when it hits me that Clet is a good man. I’ve got my eyes wide open because he beats himself up already, he doesn’t need me to do it too. I mean, he could have reamed Mack a new one, but instead tried to explain why it’s so important in this type of business to maintain eyes at all times to protect the girls. His words, not mine.
Not sure how I know, but suddenly a chill runs through my body just as I hear boots hitting the flooring. Lifting my head, I see not only Chains but half a dozen of the Grimm Wolves brothers stalking down the hallway. I get the once-over from Chains, Bad Dog, and Bullet, while Dingo and Doc walk past us to see what they’re dealing with. When they come back, a silent conversation is had by the men before Chains glances my way then looks at Clet.
“Brother, need to get ya outta the picture for a while. We got a cabin we use for family vacations and shit. It’s on Fury’s property. Our prez and VP talked, and they want the three of you to go there and chill for a bit.”
Hearing this I know they mean well, but can’t take Atlas out of school. Ain’t happening, so I tell him that just as Stitch walks up to the crowd.
“Not wanting to step on anyone’s toes, but Atlas can come stay by us for a few days. Grace won’t mind. That way he can go to school with Damien and not miss any more of his classes. I mean, if that works for you, Cashmere.”
I never know why, but whenever I’m around this brother I feel a peace I’ve never felt before. Looking into is eyes, it dawns on me he knows exactly how I feel, which weirds me out. But then he smiles and once again all is good. Damn, this shit with the brotherhood is playing with my mind.
“Cashmere, don’t give them assholes any power over ya. You and Atlas are protected, that’s all you need to realize. We ain’t gonna let anything happen to either of you because you belong to our brother Slick.”
