“Uh. A friend of mine wants to come over to watch the movie with us.”
In pure Zoe style, she raises her eyebrows a few times. I already know what she’s going to ask. She is my kid after all. “What kind of friend? Like a … man friend?”
“Yes, his name is Nikolai. He wants to bring the pizza.”
“A man who brings food, let him come mom! Wait … how do you know a guy with a name like that?” We live in a part of Vegas where it isn’t extremely diverse. The demographics are mainly white, black and Latino. I don’t think that she has any European or Russian classmates, so a name like this isn’t what she’s used to.
I have to think before I respond, but I think my answer should suffice. “He’s a friend from work.” I chuckle inside my head, because I’m not lying to her. Zoe doesn’t know a lot about what I do, besides the fact that I’m kind of famous online. I don’t let her touch that stuff though. There are too many predators around. I won’t allow her to be online until she’s at least seventeen.
I quickly type back before I change my mind.
To: Nikolai
Okay, we’ll see you at six. Bring something chocolate too, while you’re at it.
Nikolai is always reminding me how he wants more than just our professional relationship. Part of me wants to explore things with him, while the other part of me is nothing but reserved. I’ve been burned too many times in the past by men and I just can’t fathom being hurt again. I barely survived when I was pregnant with Zoe. The hormones made the break up so much harder than it needed to be. I was barely sleeping, eating like a cow and crying myself to bed every night but I made it work. After all, I’m a survivor. It’s what we do.
Olivia and Amber’s parents dropped them off about an hour later, and within twenty minutes, Nikolai had arrived as well. I don’t know how he got past the gate without them calling and verifying that he was allowed back, but he did. Then again, apparently he knew where I lived. Obviously, that’s true since he’s here, right before my eyes, giving the girls a choice of four different pizzas.
“We have your average pepperoni, a margherita, bacon, chicken ranch and … the risqué … the one that can start a war, which happens to be my personal favorite,” He whips open the box and shows them a pineapple covered pizza. I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I shake my head.
“Wow. That’s a lot of pizza, mister. Looks like you were trying to impress my mom.” Zoe blurts out, narrowing her eyes at Nikolai and then back over to me.
“Oh no, little one. This is how I impress your mom,” Nikolai pulls out a bottle of Stella Rosa and a giant chocolate cake from the bag he set on the counter when he arrived. Yep, he’s impressed me.
Zoe shrugs, “Alright, you’ve got some brains. I’ll give you that.” Amber and Olivia both giggle behind my hustler of a daughter, sizing up a big, bad Russian. She’s maybe a little less than half his size, if that. But here she is acting like she’s some notorious mob boss or something. “Are you trying to be my mom’s boyfriend or something?” At that, I approach her and tug her away from him. The two of us, plus Olivia and Amber each grab a slice of pizza.
“Are you girls ready for your movie?” I ask as we walk into the basement. When I had the home built, I made sure to pay the additional price for the basement. I wanted a room where we could go to watch movies in the comfort of my own home, kind of like an in home movie theater. It’s nothing too special, just a decent sized room that is split on two levels. On one level sits a sectional couch and if we walk up five stairs there’s another sectional. The girls all run to the bottom one and I head towards the top, pulling my fluffy gray blanket over me in the process.
Nikolai approaches with the wine and cake, taking a seat right beside me.
Zoe turns her head back and stares right at him. “You seem like you were in the military or something. Were you?”
I catch the small smirk that crosses Nikolai’s face and am careful to pay attention as he answers. “In a sense, I used to be, a very long time ago.” His accent comes out even thicker and I watch the way all the girls stare at him. These little diva’s are too inquisitive and definitely don’t know how these things are none of their business. “I used to be in something called the Spetsnaz, which is like the American special forces. I was in something a bit different, though.” His expression falls somber around the end of what he’s saying, almost as if there is a heavy weight around what he’s telling the girls.
“That’s enough for now, get the movie on Zoe.” I instruct her, and within a few moments she has the movie pulled up. My eyes peer down to make sure they’re behaving and when they’re satisfied I settle back into my seat, with a bottle of wine being held out to me. I grab the bottle of wine and take a sip.
“I never knew you were in the special forces,” I whisper to Nikolai, looking over to him at my right.
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, Melody.” I’m taken aback at the usage of my first name. Never have I ever told Nikolai my legal name. I only ever referred to myself as Rebel with him. “Sometimes I wonder why you choose to go by Rebel on all fronts. You legally changed your name a couple years ago. Why is that?”
I take in a deep breath, trying not to lash out at him. There are kids here, so I have no choice but to behave. He’s crossed a major line if I’ve ever seen one, the huge privacy line. “Because Melody is dead now. Only Rebel Rose exists. Melody was a naïve, scared little girl. I’m not the same person as I was back then.” I hand the bottle of wine back to him.
He nods, taking the bottle of wine from my grasp. “It’s funny how we change over the years. We run from our pasts, only for them to catch up with us one way or another. But when they do, no one knows how to handle us. For they’re not dealing with the same people anymore. Instead, they have a new monster.” As he takes a couple of sips, I register what he’s said in the last bit.
“What do you mean, monster?”
“When I was a young man, the only thing I wanted to do was to serve my country. Mother Russia was the only thing that mattered to me, and so I enlisted. My family had done the same, serving our country in whatever way we could. A few years after training the Spetsnaz brought me in. I just didn’t know how that would change my life. It started with them, and soon I became a prized hunter for Russia. I’d argue and say I’m the best at what I do, but I know it to be true.”
“… And what is it that you do?” My question comes out quieter than I intend, but I feel the tenseness hiding behind his words. Whatever is Nikolai’s job can’t be a good one.
“I’m a mercenary, Melody.”
9
No price is too low for a bear, or too high for a bull.
-PictureQuotes.com
Widow
“Hey man, what’s up?” I say into my receiver. Booger just called me outta the blue.
A heavy sigh greets me, “Not much, brother. Just fuckin’ tired of staying in Iowa. Anything else going on with the Vibora’s? You cut the head off those snakes yet?”
I wish I had better news to tell him, but I don’t. “No, man. Nothing has happened, but I’ve been dealing with my own shit. You know if something was up, I’d give you a call and let you know. How are you and Camila doing?” I ask him about the two of them in the hopes it’ll make his mood change a bit. The dude sounds defeated, like being away from the club is slowly sucking the life out of him.
“We’re alright. Spending time up here with my mom at the farm I grew up on. Camila and her seem to be getting along great … and it’s awesome … I’m just tired of doing the same old thing every day. Hopin’ you guys will solve our little problem so Camila and I can come home soon.”
“You know we will,” I tell him, “It may not happen quickly, but we’ll make sure it’s safe for your girl to return home.”
“Yep,” His voice comes out low and I know something’s up. Call it a gut feeling or whatever, but I’m never wrong.
I hate being the man who asks someone what’
s wrong, but here I go. “What’s the matter? You seem a bit down or something. Not like I give a damn about your feelings or whatever.”
Booger chuckles lightly, “Nothing much. It’s just hard being stuck up here while y’all are down there making shit happen. Just feels like I’m not really helping with a solution to our problem.”
“Sure you are,” I argue, “You’re acting as Camila’s personal bodyguard in case shit goes haywire. Plus, you can’t tell me that you would rather be here twiddling your thumbs while we wait for an order from our Prez, and have a prospect with Camila, versus where you are now.”
“True. Thanks for tellin’ me what I needed to hear.”
“No problem, brother. You two doin’ alright otherwise?” It’s no surprise to anyone that Camila and Booger have had somewhat of a whirlwind romance. From what I know, Booger has been with the Reapers for a while and Camila was an addition from a few years back. Fist had somehow rescued her from the Mexican Cartel. I’m sure I’m missing big chunks of the story, but that’s pretty much all I know about her past. Fist even tried keeping those two apart, but their googly, lovey, dovey eye shit started happening back in Montana, and when Fist told Booger to stay away from her. Well, he defied him in every way possible. Camila lost her shit at Fist, who’s basically her adoptive father and told him she wanted to live life, not just hide from the possibilities of threats. Now, here they are. Having a couple of good weeks here in Vegas before having to flee. If anything, Camila is living life though.
“Yeah, we’re getting closer than I ever imagined we would be. Gotta tell you, brother. I’m falling for her, hard.”
I laugh into the phone, but as I see Damon approaching me, I know something is up. His face sure doesn’t scream rainbows and butterflies. “Gotta go, Booger. I’ll text ya later. Tell Camila I said hi.”
“Will do. Peace.” Just like that, he hangs up and I’m left with my Prez coming up to me like he’s got a pineapple stuck up his ass.
“Were you gonna tell me?”
I raise an eyebrow at him and cross my arms, “Tell you about what?”
“Don’t play fuckin’ dumb with me, Widow. You made an appointment to see Rebel Rose under my fucking name. Only, it wasn’t my name. Damon Billings, huh? Fuck, you’re a dumbass. You didn’t even give these fuckers your own phone number?”
“No, I knew I wouldn’t answer. You on the other hand would be sure to answer, and come to me and let me know what time my appointment is with her. Looks like I was right in my assumption of how good of a brother you are.”
Damon rolls his eyes, “You’ve got an appointment in an hour. Get back here ASAP, though. We’ve got some shit planned tonight with those fuckin’ snakes.” I smirk at hearing the news. Those fuckers have been begging for their slimy little heads to get cut off, and I can’t wait to do it.
10
Life is a one time offer, use it well.
-Anonymous
Rebel
It’s two days later and I’m still in shock by what Nikolai told me. Like, what in the actual fuck? He’s a fucking mercenary, which is basically a gun for hire. A man, who has soldier training … who gets paid for doing God knows what. I shake my head at the thought, trying to think of him in this type of light. I have so many questions that I want to ask him, but is that crossing the line? I have to remind myself that there isn’t a how to guide on processing this information.
“Are you excited for your new, mystery client?” Harlow giggles, coming up right next to me.
“Sure. I guess. I was requested by name … so it’s probably just some online creeper who’s seen my videos on OneEye.” I mutter, hoping and praying that it isn’t really some creepy guy. There was this one time I had a date and it was someone pretending to be somebody else. When I showed up, it scared the living hell out of me because the guy I came face to face with was my stalker. Jesus, even thinking about it causes a chill to run over my body.
Harlow hops up on the bar top and swings her legs, much like if she were a kid with not a matter in the world. “I think you’ll have a good time. Plus, if he’s not pretty, you don’t have to fuck him.”
This woman literally causes my jaw to drop. I don’t know how she manages to do it so much considering no one else can. “We don’t have to fuck them period, Harlow.”
“Mhm,” She makes it sound like we’re being paid for sex, but we aren’t. Harlow’s just being a little bitch right now.
“You should rein your loose mouth in before one of the bosses hears you talking like that. You know Diem will fire your ass quicker than anything if you keep it up. Shit, Gia will probably just plummet her fists into your pretty little face.”
“Okay, okay. Relax, will you? I was just fucking around. I’m in a bad mood since I haven’t had any dates. Nikolai cancelled on me and a couple of my regulars are out of town. Carmen still won’t be here for a while and I’m just stuck waiting until she gets here. Remember, your twin wants me to be exclusive to her once she arrives.” I roll my eyes at Harlow’s pathetic twin joke again. This girl may look like me, sure, but she isn’t my twin. I’ve even thought about this woman so much that I put in a request for my birth records to be sent to me via email. Once I have those, I can do some serious digging into my past. It might seem weird for me to ask for my own birth certificate, but I can’t remember where I packed it away and paying twenty bucks is a lot easier than going through all my shit in the house.
One way or another, I’m going to get answers and even if it leads to nothing, at least I know. I won’t be left wondering about my family, or my past. Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if my grandpa hadn’t lost his damn mind and if I have two sisters out there. I want to believe I’m not alone in this world. Or, that Zoe and I aren’t alone … but we probably are. It just sucks being alone sometimes. Especially around the holidays. We don’t go to any big family gatherings or have barbeques, or massive pool parties. We just kinda chill by ourselves and with a couple friends, but I don’t even have many of those. I’m not really the type of girl that other women like to be around. I’m much too ballsy for them.
“Can you believe part of the club is opening?” Gia says, approaching us.
I swivel around on my bar stool and face the big, bad Gia Lopez. Rumor has it that her father is aiming to get control over the cartel. I don’t know if there’s any truth behind the rumors, but I’m always keeping my ears open. Knowledge is power, after all.
“Not hard to believe at all. Are Emma and Briar organizing the party?” I ask, but know those two probably are. Briar, Emma and Diem primarily stay at our Los Angeles location. Gia comes out here every couple of weeks, but knows that for the most part, we operate efficiently. None of us are going to fuck up what we have going on here. It’s too good of a job. Too good of a set up really. From my understanding, the ladies are looking at expanding in SoHo and D.C. as well, but only if the price is right. Crave is gaining a lot of interest, though. But why wouldn’t it? Sex is oh so interesting.
“You know it. Emma will be here in a couple of days to start getting it ready. Diem of course has already sent invites out to thirty new members. Say, are you actually going to show up?” She peers over at me and smiles.
I haven’t attended a Crave party as of yet, solely because we haven’t had but intimate ones in the past. From what I hear, things can get pretty crazy. I have a kid, and I don’t know if I should really be coming to things like this. Zoe is my life, and it feels wrong to go out and about when she needs to remain my sole focus.
“Oh my gosh, you have to come!” Harlow yells as she jumps off the bar. “Think of all the sexy men and women we can play with. Plus, sometimes you never know who you’re going to meet.”
“I’m not a slut, I don’t need sex all the time.” I state firmly, and what I’ve said hits me when I see Harlow’s eyes expand. I’m not the type of woman who judges others for their choices, but fuck if I don’t look like I am right now.
“And I don’t need a friend w
ho’s always a bitch to me.” Harlow sniffles as she runs out of the saloon.
Well, fuck me sideways. “I should go after her,” I mutter quietly, but Gia grabs my arm as I start to walk.
“No, you’ve done enough. Plus, you have somewhere else to be.” She tells me, tapping away at her wrist watch. I pick up my phone off the bar and see Gia is right. It’s time to go meet this mystery date of mine.
11
It’s not meant to be perfect.
-Anonymous
Rebel
I feel an odd sense of déjà vu wash over me as I’m strutting into a biker bar. I haven’t been inside one in years. All things considered, I haven’t wanted to be back in one. I place my hand on the door and open it, walking into the crisp air conditioning. Now that I’m thinking about it, I already feel uncomfortable. This sure as hell isn’t Utah, but that doesn’t mean it feels okay.
With every step I take closer to the bar, I feel a sickness wash over me. All of my old memories are floating back through my mind like a movie on replay. The good and the bad, the better and the worse. Sometimes, when I think back to my life in Utah, I think that the MC life chose me and not the other way around.
Some were born into it, while others choose to walk into a club and become a prospect, or even a clubwhore. I was neither. I was just the dumb, faithful girlfriend of the club manwhore. He wasn’t always that way, though. Just when I was with him.
“Hi Hun, can I get a whiskey on the rocks, please?” I ask the bartender, taking a seat.
“Sure thing, love.” The woman says back to me. I look up at the pictures of the bikers who have been in the bar, seeing them partake in rally’s for fundraisers and much more. That has always appealed to me, the sense of unity that they have. If they don’t have family, they make sure they create their own. While being part of the MC may not have worked out for me all those years ago, it doesn’t mean that I don’t respect the way they live their lives.
Widow (Reapers MC Book 4) Page 5
