Forever

by Saffire , Blue

  “Spit. It. Out,” I roar.

  Mags shakes her head and licks her lips. “You never used to be so mean to me,” she pouts.

  I tighten my fist in frustration. “I don’t have time for your games. You tell me what the hell is going on or I’ll find out on my own. You and I both know you don’t want me prying into your life,” I rumble.

  Mag’s shoulders sag. “They’re coming for me,” she whispers. “Miguel has found me.”

  I narrow my eyes as I feel my whole body tense. “She’s kidding, right?” I look at Jemma, waiting for the joke.

  Jemma shakes her head with tears in her eyes.

  “How did that happen, Magdalena?” I bellow. “I spent a fortune and called in a million favors to reinvent your life. I gave you a new world to hide in.

  “I married you so this shit wouldn’t happen. For three years, you made my life fucking hell, all so that I could make you disappear. So, please tell me… how the fuck is this possible? How the hell did you two fuck that up?”

  I am livid.

  Jemma and Magdalena came to me with a sob story that sucked me in. Mags was a gorgeous girl in need, and they pulled me right into being her savior. I had no idea Mags was already in a relationship with my crazy-as-fuck cousin.

  I did everything they asked of me back then, but Mags decided she wanted more. She fought me tooth and nail on the divorce, even after I used my connections to give her a new identity and life.

  I narrow my eyes at Mags. They’re leaving something out. That ten percent that never comes to the surface because it doesn’t benefit them. I’m going to lose my shit. I know I am.

  “What are you not saying?” I grunt.

  “We need your help, Brick. Please,” Mags says with less confidence. It’s an act. I know it is.

  “How… tell me, how?” I snap.

  Jemma stops pacing, but she won’t lift her head. These two will be the cause of my heart exploding. I grind my teeth to keep from shaking them both.

  “Mags and I found a new mark.” Jemma winces with her words. There’s no need. I know I was their mark. I had money and power, and my own cousin and her girlfriend played me for a fool. “He fell for me hard. Mags was just a bonus for his ego.”

  “They started to do things without me,” Mags interjects, cutting Jemma off with heat and anger I notice. “He wanted to surprise her with a trip. Jemma didn’t know he was taking her to Brazil until the plane landed. Jemma freaked and demanded he bring her back home, but one of Miguel’s men noticed her on the tarmac.” Mags closes her eyes and licks her lips.

  “We didn’t know he was related to Miguel. David is Miguel’s cousin, but we didn’t know. I was made and Miguel figured out the rest. They’re coming for her,” Jemma whispers with panic on her face. “For us. I’m tired of this shit, Brick. I didn’t mean for this to happen, this time. I really didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “Unbelievable,” I roar and run a hand through my hair. “You two are unbelievable. Why do you let her drag you into this shit?”

  “I don’t twist her arm.” Mags rolls her eyes.

  “The fuck you don’t.”

  “Brick,” Mags says softly, causing me to cringe. I know she’s going to drop a bigger bomb on me.

  “What?”

  “He knows about you. He knows you’re a Lost Soul. He’s invested in you and your brothers. Finding me is only the icing. You and your brothers are the cake,” Mags breathes.

  I swear, I want to snap her neck. I was stupid to ever help her. Knowing it’s possible Mags has now dragged my brothers into this shit has me fuming.

  Most of all, I’m pissed because I know I’ll most likely help her again. Not because of her, but because of who I am. I won’t let Jemma be thrown under the bus like I should.

  I’m all she has. The rest of our family ain’t shit. It’s the reason Jemma is so fucked up now.

  I need them both where I have eyes, until I can sort this all out. I don’t trust them out of my reach. For that reason, they’re staying.

  “Get your shit.” I point in Mags face. “Stay the fuck away from my woman. If you two start any shit, you’re on your own. Eva’s my priority, I need to keep her safe.”

  “Why the—” Mags starts.

  “Finish that sentence and you’re on your own. For all I know, you could have led trouble right to our door. You’re lucky I don’t leave you to the wolves.”

  I turn and leave Mags standing with her mouth hanging open. I don’t have time for this shit. I need to get to the bottom of this before it blows back in my face.

  I storm into the clubhouse ready to track Eva’s ass down. I feel Jemma following behind me, but I don’t want to talk to her right now. I’m pissed as fuck.

  “Brick,” she says nervously behind me.

  I whip around, ready to lay into her, but I stop as I see the tears run down her cheeks. Jemma isn’t a big crier. She has to really be going through something to break down.

  I heave a heavy sigh and pull her into my arms. “I’m going to need you to stop getting into this shit,” I say into the top of her hair.

  “My baby is going to need me to stop getting into this shit.” She sniffles. I pull away and look at her with disbelief.

  “You’re shitting me, Jemma,” I groan.

  She shakes her head. “I fucked up. David didn’t just fall for me. I fell for him. Mags is lying. She knew David was taking me to Brazil. I was supposed to tell him about the baby. She was pissed…”

  “Wait, what?” I fume.

  “She told David to take me to Brazil. I think she was trying to set me up, but it blew up in her face. She didn’t factor in David’s relation to Miguel. It was the one thing she didn’t know about,” Jemma whispers and looks around. “I don’t trust her or a word she says.

  “Listen Brick, I haven’t talked to David. I don’t know if Miguel is really after the Lost Souls or if Mags is trying to drag y’all into this to save her own ass. Something’s not right, but if I don’t help her, I’m going to get me and my baby killed. She has lost her mind.”

  “Really, you’re just figuring that out?” I snort.

  “I know I fucked up. I was wrong for what I did. Please help me and my baby. David’s gone. I don’t know what Mags did, but he up and left. I told her not to go to him for help, that I would get you to fix this, but she must have dragged him further in. I’m sorry to bring this to the club’s door,” she’s sobbing now.

  I bite my fist as I pull her into my arm. I have a whole lot of shit that needs fixing. I don’t make idle threats. It’s about to get real fucking uncomfortable for some.

  Chapter 22

  Club Business

  Owen

  “Brick,” King bellows my name as I come from the room I set Jemma up in. Far away from where I plan to have Magdalene staying.

  I curse under my breath. I am finally making my way to Eva. My lips pinch when I see Mags over at one of the pool tables trying to gain some attention. No one with two ounces of sense is going to entertain her.

  I push her out of my mind for now. I’ll be making a phone call later. I still need more facts to make sure Jemma and my little cousin on the way are okay.

  I follow King’s retreating back into his office. I close the door behind me and lean against it. King takes a seat behind his desk and props his feet up on it.

  “I know anytime I see those two in the same place, it’s trouble,” he says pointedly.

  “Jemma’s pregnant. Mags is a dead bitch, and we may or may not have trouble headed our way. But it’s all on me,” I say as I push off the door and stumble my tired body over to the chair in front of his desk.

  I might as well get this shit over with. That way I can go curl up in bed with my woman. I need her in the worst way.

  He chuckles humorlessly. “We know how to get into some shit.” He drops his feet to the floor and reaches for his drawer where he keeps our bottle of brandy.

  “Yeah, well, I really didn’t see this
one when I was wet behind the ears just trying to get my dick sucked. You tried to warn me. Your dad would’ve kicked my ass.” I chuckle.

  “Yeah, he’d be up my ass by now too,” King grunts.

  “How is she?” I ask, seeing an opening for what I need to talk to King about.

  “Sick as fuck,” he groans.

  I smirk. “They say that shit passes. Listen, King, we need to talk,” I start.

  He slides a glass in front of me. He lifts his glass in salute and knocks it back. I swallow mine, letting the liquid warm my belly.

  “Yeah, we do.” He nods. “I need to know if what’s going on in New York has something to do with your ex-wife. I need to know why someone is after Sal. What do you think is coming to our door, Brick?”

  I guess this isn’t the time to talk about Eva. “Miguel Silva,” is all I have to say.

  “Fuck.” King sighs. “How, why?”

  “When Jemma brought Mags to me, I was willing to help because she was in need and hot as fuck, but when I found out she belonged to him, I knew I was going to do whatever I had to do to help her.” I shrug.

  “You’re one crazy son of a bitch.” He smiles and shakes his head. “Fine. He finally wants to end this. Let’s rock.”

  “No, this is my mess.”

  King pins me with a hard glare. “No, brother, that motherfucker is our problem. He has been lying in wait for years. We embarrassed the shit out of him. Trust me, this shit ain’t about some pussy he’s chasing.”

  “Maybe.” I rub my beard.

  King looks down at his phone and frowns. “Gutter hasn’t checked in since he met up with Sal,” he mutters.

  “They could be riding.” I shrug. I watch him purse his lips in thought. “Actually, they may have stopped to rest. The three hours from Georgia are riding my ass right about now. Give them ‘til the morning. If you still feel like something is off, we can send reinforcements to meet them.”

  “Brick, we’ve been brothers for a long time. Tell me this… why do I feel like we haven’t seen the tip of the iceberg? This shit isn’t the beginning. Whispers have been coming in from New York and Alabama. That’s why I wanted you in for church, but now I’m thinking I need to keep this one close to the chest. I need you to do what you do.”

  “Talk to the Mayor?” I lift a brow.

  “The Mayor, Governor, all our greedy friends who have their hands in our pockets. Someone isn’t happy with their cut. I want to know if they’re involved with Miguel or if we have more than one problem.”

  I rub the back of my neck, but what I really want to do is throw this chair across the fucking room. This isn’t a request for tomorrow. What King actually just said is, “Get your ass back on your bike and find out what the fuck is going on, now. There will be no more talk.”

  I get it. Sal is involved, in his mind nothing else matters. This is priority. I nod.

  “When does Mix get back?” I ask, knowing the club VP is up north.

  King sighs and purses his lips. “He’s checking into some things, but he’s heading in after.”

  “You ready for that?” I ask, knowing Mix’s return holds a heavy weight over King’s shoulders for reasons I’m still trying to wrap my head around.

  “I love that old man like a father.” King pauses. He shakes his head. “I just don’t know where all this is headed. I can see it all coming from miles away, but I can’t tell you what it is. Not just the shit I started. Something bigger is brewing. I’ll work shit out with the old man, but I think that’s the least of my worries.”

  I sit forward with my brow furrowed. “The old man practically stepped out of the way to make you prez. He has a lot of respect for you. I don’t think this is going to be as big a problem as you think. As for the rest, we’ll shut that shit down. We’ve been running a tight ship for years. If it’s time for clocks to be cleaned, you know I’ve got your back.”

  “Well, saddle up, brother. I think we’re in for a bumpy ride,” he grunts. He looks me in my eyes with his next words. “We’re dealing with Mags this time.”

  I know his words are not a request, but a command. She needs to be handled one way or another. Mags is reckless.

  King knows it and I know it. He doesn’t need to know why she’s here to know she’s here to cause some type of trouble. This isn’t the first time she has caused trouble around here for a little attention.

  King has left dealing with her up to me. Mags should count herself lucky. Not anymore.

  “Already done,” I say through my teeth.

  King lifts to his feet. “Call me when you have information,” he says, dismissing me.

  I don’t want to delay this anymore than I have to. I need to be on the road and back as soon as I can, so I can handle things with Eva. I get up with a heavy heart and leave. I won’t be holding Eva tonight and this shit is going to get a chance to fester.

  “Motherfucker,” I mutter under my breath as I make my way out to my bike.

  I’m getting too old for this shit. I’ll be glad when things pan out the way King has been planning. A big transformation has been in the works for the club.

  I smile, that change is coming. I have no doubts about that. Everything is changing.

  Chapter 23

  Darkness

  Eva

  “What do I do now?” I say into my empty bedroom.

  I’ve spent the day locked in my room at the clubhouse. I hate lockdowns. Honestly, I only come to the club because of Misty. It’s not that I hate the life or the club.

  It all has its ups and downs. For me, I’ve just never fit in. Or should I say I’ve never tried. The fact of the matter is, Cage wouldn’t have it really. When we were younger, he tried to keep me away from the club as much as possible.

  It was Sal that shadowed him when she was home from school. Cage would let her tinker around with his bike, same as he did with Reap. Me, Cage kept a book and drawing supplies in my hands.

  Cage was good like that. He knew who belonged where and placed them there. I wish he were here now to tell me where I belong.

  I feel so lost. I don’t want to go out there and get strange looks from the guys and dirty glares from the women. Most of all, I don’t want to run into Brick and his ex-wife.

  “You’re such a fool,” I mutter, berating myself.

  I guess I now know why Brick didn’t come clean right away with King. He never had any intention of doing so. I feel so silly. I’ve been crying since I got in here last night.

  I hate that I hurt like this and I’m letting the stupid tears get the best of me. I don’t know if I can go out there and face them yet. A part of me thought Brick would at least respect me enough to come say he was sorry.

  I was wrong again.

  My stomach growls for the hundredth time and I don’t think I can ignore it anymore. I push the covers off and scoot out of the bed. It’s late.

  Most brothers are probably shacked up for the night or in bed with their old ladies who have been forced into lockdown as well. There are probably only a few hanging around in the main den and around the bar.

  I can make it to the kitchen and back if I move quickly. I toss on a pair of sweats and an old T-shirt. When I crack the door to my room open, I peek down the hall. All is quiet from what I can see.

  I rush out and down to the kitchen. When I enter the kitchen, I sag in relief as the small figure in front of me comes into view. Misty is sitting on a stool with a pint of ice cream in front of her.

  As soon as she sees me the spoon pops from her mouth. “Thank God, Eva,” she sings my name and hops off her stool. She rushes over to hug me.

  She is wrapped tightly around me before I can even process her flying across the room. For someone who hasn’t been answering my calls or texts, she sure is clinging to me now. Honestly, I cling back because I need my best friend. I need to tell someone how stupid I’ve been.

  “I’m so sorry I’ve been such a bad friend,” I blurt out as I hold on to her.

  She pu
lls away and frowns at me. “What are you talking about?” She wrinkles her nose. “I feel like shit for ignoring your calls and not talking to you and here you are apologizing. You’re going to wring my neck—”

  “No, I’m not,” I cut her off. “You should be trying to wring mine. I fucked up so bad. I slept with him,” I whisper the last part quickly when I see her about to protest.

  I look around to make sure no one else has entered the kitchen. When I look back at Misty her eyes are as large as golf balls. They look like they’re about to pop out of her head.

  “You slept with Blain?” she says. “Oh, my God, Eva.”

  I purse my lips in annoyance and roll my eyes. “Who the hell is Blain? What are you talking about?” I huff.

  She wrinkles her brows. “Blain, Jeff’s friend. The guy you went on that date with.”

  I wave my hand at her. “He was a jerk. I would never sleep with that asshole.”

  “Oh, thank God. I’m sorry about that. I should’ve never sent you out with him in the first place. My head was messed up—” Misty starts and stops midsentence. “Wait, heifer, you lost your virginity? To who? You don’t know any guys. You little slut.”

  A huge grin spreads across her face, softening her words. I look around again because she’s talking way too loud. I grab her by the arm and pull her with me to the pantry.

  I release her as we step inside. I pace a little and rub my forehead. When I collect my thoughts, I turn to her.

  “I slept with Owen,” I whisper.

  She frowns. “Who the fuck is Owen?” she asks as she pulls a face.

  I shake my head and huff. “Owen Mason,” I say with wide eyes. “Brick,” we say in unison. Misty’s voice comes out in a gasp.

  I nod as she stands with her mouth hanging open. She closes her eyes and her next words put weight on my shoulders. “This is not good. King is going to lose his shit. Shit,” she says with a distant look in her eyes when she opens them.