“That makes you Grey. I recognize you from the video chats.”
“Afternoon, Ms. Watson. Nice to finally meet you. Forgive the ignorant bastards to my right. We don’t let them out often.”
“Ms. Watson?” Cherry and Trev jokingly tease at the same time.
I studiously ignore their silliness while I try to remain professional. Simply offering her a smile, I turn my attention back to my client’s husband.
“I forgot that was your last name,” Cherry adds.
“Greyson, please call me Z or Zo. I get enough of the Ms. Watson from the reps at my father’s office. I appreciate the respect but despise the name. I’ve come to accept what it means to be his daughter.”
“Understood Zo,” he quickly responds, and I nod.
“I like her even more now,” Catch tells them with a flirty wink tossed my way. “Wait. Who’s her father?”
Tray and Grey both shake their heads.
“Why the fuck did we bring him if he can’t do a simple search for recon?” Tray questions as his gaze continues to return to Yaz’s ass when she squats to open boxes that were just delivered.
“Because I’m too pretty to be left alone and to my own devices. Now, who the hell is her daddy?”
“Isn’t that the burning question they pose on that talk show?” Tray throws out, purposely ignoring Catch.
I find myself laughing and unable to keep a straight face with this group.
“Maury,” Max supplies while pulling her two-toned hair—her natural red and the blonde color she’s letting grow out—into a bun. “I shouldn’t know that. It sucks being home as often as I am. Since I’ve got the belly it makes things different.”
“It’s for your own good, Boss,” Yaz tells her as she hands off Maxie’s messages. “Will you give these to Ms. Popular back there, please?”
Max nods before grumbling, “Damn elephant sized dick creating monstrous babies that want to wreak havoc on my body.”
“Maxie, did you say something? Deck is on the phone checking in,” I yell at her retreating form.
I know I’m horrible, but I don’t care. We’re spending this summer pregnant together. It’s only the beginning of this Hotlanta summer and we’ve exchanged moments I’m going to get my kicks any way I can. Even it means tormenting the hell out of my best friend. My thoughts are interrupted by the voiced thoughts of the eldest of the three bears. I notice Maxie’s middle finger salute then as well. It makes me smile as I listen.
“I could get used to a place like this. They bicker and banter the way we do back at the office. The heat of this place gives my eyes plenty to feast on as well.”
Tray and Sam, if he were around, would have been fierce friends. Sam left us suddenly and with no explanation. There’s no Sam to help this crew get the lay of the land.
Catch slaps the top of the island before doing a little “woop” dance-cheer combination before pointing to his phone then explaining himself when he sees all of us staring at him.
“Ha! You’re the Georgia Senator’s or Senator of Georgia’s daughter! I don’t know why neither of you fuckers wouldn’t just tell me.” Wiping his brow, he adds. “That was some serious work. I need a drink.”
“The dawn of the fucking day was twenty minutes ago. You don’t need a drink to reward that sadness. Why would we tell you and miss you sounding like the asshole you are. What the fuck would we do that for?” Tray questions.
Eve says nothing. She just laughs and lies back in my chair. My quieter laughter accompanies hers. My slight giggle doesn’t go unnoticed.
“That little laugh is enough to get a man up in the morning in more ways than one,” Tray informs me.
“Yeah, I’d welcome that morning wake up call,” Catch adds, then continues. “I’m not even a morning person and I’d accept it.”
I hear these rumbling growls and know for a fact that one is coming from Trevor. It surprises me to realize the other is coming from Greyson.
“Stop it. You know how they are,” Eve admonishes. “They do it all in good fun. You know they both have short attention spans.”
“Yeah, I do know how they are. I didn’t like it when they did it with you. Seeing them doing it to another person reminds me of that shit. I’ll be a growly bastard if I want, woman.”
Eve shakes her head. Her hair floats from side to side as she laughs at her man’s behavior. We share an understanding look. Damn possessive ass men we have will drive us crazy if we let them.
“Well, all right, Eve, it’s nice to finally meet the woman whom I will be piercing. It’s also good to know I’m not alone on the alpha male island.”
“Nope, you’re not.”
Trev doesn’t acknowledge us talking about him. He’s taking in everything that’s going on around us. At least, that’s what I believe he’s doing until I feel him closing in on me.
“Zo, you’re not tattooing Jax and Sam here, are you?” Trevor asks as he walks up and rubs my belly.
I officially feel like a well pissed upon patch of grass now. On the one hand, I love how possessive he is of me. On the other hand, I despise the feeling of being someone’s property. It’s funny that he made the same connection I did when referring to Greyson and Catch. For a fleeting moment, I wonder if Catch is this man’s real name or is it something given to him because of all of the tits and ass he catches. It’s just an observation but I see Catch and Tray as the male versions of Yasmeen. They know what they want and go after it. If it means getting it from various people then oh. Damn. Well.
“Love, they’re names are Grey and Catch.” Pointing my thumb to the right, I direct his attention to the one he didn’t make a reference to. “His name is Tray. Will you be good and not hover? Everyone knows I’m not on the menu today.”
Stepping closer, he kisses my cheek before correcting me.
“Today or any other day, Zo.”
I have to smile. The man is maddening but he makes me smile like a loon with some of his antics.
“Damn Tray, we officially know the fuck hot, piercing lady with a baby on board is off limits.”
“Yep. That shits clear as hell. Still love the look of a pregnant lady. Makes my dick twitchy.”
Tam and Max burst out laughing while Trevor surprisingly nods his agreement with what Tray just proclaimed.
“It makes no sense riding all this way and not tasting a Georgia Peach. Damn! Is it a requirement to work here to look like sex walking and have guys hard enough to rock steel in their pants?”
Neal almost chokes on the water he’s drinking. He recently said something similar.
“I’ve been saying that shit for years.”
Catch and Neal share one of those bro nods which makes me roll my eyes every time I see it.
“Catch, reign it in,” Grey says without looking up from his phone.
I continue to get things set while listening to the other two bears from Goldilock’s entourage.
“Grey, we’re going to survey the rest of the shop. You know, for safety purposes and shit like that,” Catch responds while practically twisting his own neck looking at a couple of the other women in the shop.
“You know damn well this place is well protected and a practical house of fucking mirrors with the system keeping tabs on this crew. Call a spade a fucking spade. You’re going hunting for ass.”
Eve smiles and tilts her head in that way women do when we want to communicate how special we think our guy and his friends are.
“No use in denying it. Should I announce we’re on the hunt as well?”
Tray pats Catch’s arm to get his attention.
“Desk number one was first sight. I don’t think anyone has a claim on that one. The boss lady and piercing peach have buns in the oven, but the buns on that one looked ripe for picking.”
Tray doesn’t know it yet, but he’ll learn fairly soon that barking up Yaz’s tree may get him more than what he bargained for. A still hovering Trevor laughs as he kisses my neck then walks towards the ba
ck exit of the shop.
“Max, I’m going out to get shit to feed my family,” he yells as he heads to the back door.
“That better include me, jackass. These babies is definitely making themselves known.”
“Yeah, I know. Also, yes, it does. Deck would have my ass strung up by the balls if I went to your favorite restaurant and didn’t bring you something back.”
“Smart man, that one. You should keep him,” Max says to me.
“I plan on it. I just haven’t told him yet,” I respond.
I notice Cherry and Eve smile. I also see Grey’s smile as he tries to pretend like he’s not listening. I have no earthly idea how I am about to get any work done with this lot in my booth. If nothing else, they will make the rest of this day all the more interesting.
Ladies and gentlemen or germs within earshot, I was their sweet Georgia Peach all night and well into the morning hours. They tapped me for freshness and whatever other juices they could squeeze from my body the entire time.”
“I loved the way they loved ... no fucked me. My only disappointment is not watching those two beautiful men together. They were all about me and very aware of one another. The tension between the two turned me on so much I was sent into orbit just thinking of the possibility of one of them slipping up. Now that would’ve been some hot shit. I wanted to see one of them stroking or licking the other, but they never did.”
“I could tell that Catch wanted to because of how eagerly he watched as I sucked Tray off. He was practically salivating. Nothing ever happened between them. They operated together to work my body into a damn frenzy then sent me into a tailspin of euphoric wonders. The photos I took will have me content for days.”
“Days? You had two men fucking. What I’m sure was every hole they could reach, and that will only last you for days. What am I doing wrong?” Cherry asks.
“Being a prude,” Yaz responds with a snarky tone to her voice.
“Fuck you, never-miss-a-beat-Betty.”
“These guys be wanting to make a sex tape but cum so quick it could be a Snapchat,” Tracker says to Drew.
Girl’s Night Out –
Pins and Wings Bar & Grill
“Have you heard about Maddie and Olly’s story? It rendered me useless for several hours. I watched the movie first then read the book. Tissues are your friend if you attempt to discover it. Everything is just what the title says it is, even more,” Cherry
“Who the hell are Maddie and Olly? Why does it sound like they are part of some movie you watched?” Ma
“Everything, Everything. They are characters in a story that was made into a movie. A movie you need to see but grab the tissue box first. Even for a hard ass as yourself this movie will get to you.” Cherry
Cherry has flowers. Makes Gabs fave drink. Pass it around the table in memory of friend.
Eileen Demetria Jones
Calls herself Demi Jones
- It’s the name that spoke to her, specializes in tattoo correction and laser tattoos
- Wears light brown hair in two long fishtail braids
- “Sorry, Not Sorry” is her jam
- “Despacito” is always playing in her booth
- Tells everyone her name spoke to her so that’s the one she chose
- Refused to be called distraction like her mother used to call her in order to goad her
- Dating an abusive asshole from the hood of Atlanta (Devon)
- Always chewing gum
Chapter ??
Atlanta, Georgia – Hard Rock Café
Zoie
6 months pregnant
J
ericka, you are the greatest! Thanks for the basket. I can’t wait until it’s your turn.”
I’ve read this card a billion times and it absolutely kills me every single time I look at the words “your turn.”
The direction I’m moving, and the speed of my life have me unnaturally stressed.
Like it’s a natural thing to be stressed.
Velocity: The speed of something in a given direction
Maximum: as great, high, or intense as possible or permitted
Zoie Watson: does PR for the shop and is and artist along with handles piercings
Everyone believes the attacks and antics directed at zoie have everything to do with her family but it’s really everything to do with Trevor. He’s the one who used to be part of a motorcycle club and the president is screwing his father. It isn’t until he’s face to face with Seth and the man says, “Hey boy, I thought you were going to be a bitch just like your father was to me. Still is. He takes pipe better than your mother used to, I thought I’d keep it all in the family.”
Youth facility
“We shall stand here and wait for all of eternity and see what will come of this.”
“Think it'll be that long?”
“It's all relative. The law of relativity.”
“I don't think you understand what that that law means.”
“No, I understand it perfectly fine actually. It's more theory than it is a law. This ...” She moves her finger between the two of them. “Would constitute a law of semantics.”
“What ... what are you talking about?”
“I have this thing that I do. I call things laws if I feel they're overused.”
“So your thought is that semantics is overused as well as the law of relativity?”
“No, I'm not saying semantics is overused. I'm saying using it as an excuse for some people’s statements or behaviors is overused.”
“Okay. That is definitely something new. I’ve never heard of that one before.”
“Oh, there is a ton of them. You have the law of relativity, the law of semantics, relationships, the law of journalism, the law of me ...”
“The law of you. Now I'm really confused.”
“Actually, it's the law of me, not the law of you, so I can see how that would be confusing.”
It takes him a moment to get the joke when he finally does he just shakes his head. Naomi walks up just as they turn the corner
Chapter ??
Atlanta, Georgia – Corp Workout Facility
Zoie
6 months pregnant
“Somebody dropped the fucking ball!”
“Pops, what are you talking about?”
I watch as Deck’s father strolls into his office without so much as a knock on the door. He walks in like a man on a mission. We have that in common today. I acknowledge the legend with a nod. He does me one better by thrusting out his hand.
“Tag. Or are you using the Jaquar name still?”
I chuckle because I don’t discuss my time in the Corps with anyone.
“Neither. Actually, Mr. Ballistic, most simply call me ...”
“Trevor or Trev. I understand. You’ve seen a lot of shit in your life either way.”
Deck looks miffed as he watches the two of us talk. “Pops, you’re going to have to tell me how you know the shit you do one of these days. His call sign and street name were buried in records I had to have special permission to obtain. You waltz in here and spout off the information like it’s common knowledge.”
“It is when you know the right people. Back to why I’m here. Who the hell dropped the fucking ball?”
“What ball, Pops? What do you know that we obviously don’t?”
“Guess who used to be the vice president and former enforcer for Hell’s Riders?”
Deck and I both exchange a perplexed look.
“Who, Mr. Ballistic?”
“Your girl’s father, that’s who.” He drops a folder on Deck’s desk. The big man picks it up then pulls a photo out of it. Deck flips it so I can see the photo of Zo’s father wearing a cut with the HR patch on it. “I’m guessing the good senator would want to keep this info to himself,” Deck says.
“I know a certain rival biker gang leader who would use this to extort that same senator.”
“Kid, just a guess here. This isn’t just about you and yo
ur history with Ghost,” Pops says.
“Oh and son, my informants are mine for a reason. I’ll be taking their names to my grave.”
“Yeah, yeah. All right, Pops. Take a hike, Old Man.”
Both men chuckle, and I shake my head. I wish I could’ve had that with my old man. That fucker wouldn’t know how to even attempt to have that with me
Chapter
Atlanta, Georgia – inked to the Max
Zoie
6½ months pregnant
“Who’s the cuntasaurus practically parting her legs like the red sea to any male walking through the front door? I though she was going to bend over and spread ‘em when Trevor and Deck walked in here earlier?”
“Hold the phone. We know something about the shop before you do? What the hell is going on there?” Yaz exclaims and I have a moment of uncertainty until Cherry speaks up.
“Bitch please. Stop it. Max literally just introduced that child five seconds ago.”
“Way to ruin it for me, Charise.”
“Anytime. I don’t know why you would believe I’d go along with that crap. You know I don’t like stirring up unnecessary shit if I don’t have to. My question for Zo is who are you and what have you done with our keeping-the-peace friend?”
“She’s still in there. She’s just a bit hormonal and territorial nowadays. Do I have reason to be? Hell no. Does it stop me from doing so? Hell no. now, question raised, yet no answer given.”
I bend over to grab a drink from the mini fridge at Yaz’s desk . I’m suddenly thirsty enough to drink the entirety of the Nile in one sitting and not bat a freakin’ eyelash.
“Question?” Yaz asks and I see Cherry give her an exasperated look.
The twenty-two-year-old has the attention span of bitch in heat. Nope, that bitch would be focused. Her attention span is that of a flea, small and fleeting.
Maximum Velocity Page 6
