Nick: Black Tuxedos MC

by Tallman, Darlene

  “What’s got that look on your face?” Nick asks, coming up to me with a bottle of water in his hand.

  “Oh, the little guy I named Gulliver has been adopted,” I reply, taking the water. I open the bottle and swallow what feels like half of it before replacing the cap. When I look at Nick, I see the strangest expression on his face, but I don’t have a chance to question it before he’s pulling me into his arms and kissing me.

  We finally break apart and I’m working to breathe normally when he says, “Maybe there’s another one you’d like just as much.”

  “He and I bonded over shots.” At my words, he starts laughing so hard that soon, he’s doubled over.

  “How in the hell do you bond over shots?” he finally gasps out.

  “We just did. Oh well, whoever adopted him will have a sweet kitty to love on.” His reply is cut off when I hear a bunch of kids squealing as they make their way to our tent. I’m glad that Reese figured out how to get electricity to us because the other guys set up small heaters. This weather is so crazy; one day, it’s hot enough to swim and the next, you need a winter coat. Today is somewhere in between, but Corrie didn’t want the animals getting too cold, especially since so many are still so young.

  “Time to go to work,” I tell him, a smile on my face. “Need to prove to Corrie that I can handle this stuff.”

  I’m soon lost in making sure that the little kids don’t hug too hard and explaining that all the animals available are fully vetted and have been fixed. Corrie has the prospects at a table doing the paperwork and adoption meets while she and I oversee the younger animals. Nick and Reese are with the older dogs and I smile every time I see him clip a leash onto another dog to be led away by their new owner.

  “That was a good idea you had, getting leashes with the sanctuary information on it,” I tell Corrie after witnessing another dog being led off.

  “The carriers for the cats, too,” she whispers. “I thought Reese was gonna have a stroke when he saw that bill, then he shook his head and smiled at me.”

  “They’re good men,” I state. I haven’t been around any of them very long, except Nick, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who would willingly be involved with people who weren’t.

  “The absolute best.”

  Several hours later, I look around and realize that we’ve managed to adopt all the animals. “Guess we need to pack up, huh?” I ask Corrie.

  “Reese’s getting the prospect to take care of that for us. C’mon, we’re riding over to get some food. I know we had pizza for lunch, but that was ages ago!”

  I laugh and say, “This is true. Considering how big our breakfast was and that we both managed several slices, how I can be hungry is a complete mystery.”

  “You worked hard,” Nick states, scaring the shit out of me. He’s got one of the cat carriers and I give him a puzzled look.

  “Nick? What’s going on?”

  “Figured you’d know what to do with this,” he replies, handing me the carrier. I sit down and carefully open it and squeal when a little gray face pops out at me.

  “Gulliver! I thought you’d been adopted.”

  “He was. By you. Well us,” Nick says, dropping into a crouch next to me to pet the kitten. No clue why he was the one I fell for, other than he has a full, fluffy tail and his fur sticks out around his face and ears, like a little lion.

  “Thank you. I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

  “Glad you like him. I know you’re hungry, but we need to drop him off at the clubhouse first, okay?” I nod before tucking Gulliver back into the carrier, his angry meows making me giggle.

  “I think he’s telling us off,” I whisper, my hand now laced in his. He gives me a squeeze and a wink but doesn’t say anything.

  Nick

  Later that night, after a helluva good time out with everyone eating Mexican food and watching Shayla and the other two old ladies consume countless margaritas, I have my woman where I want her when she once again stuns me.

  “Nick? Can…can I be on top? Is that something we can try?”

  It had taken her forever to get settled. First, she was worried that Meli would wake up, so I put on some music to drown out any noises we might make. Then, she fretted over the kitten until I got him settled in a crate that I ran up and grabbed from the sanctuary. I had finally convinced her to take a shower, which was a fanfuckingtastic time, and moved us to the bed to continue when she pops up with her question.

  To answer her, I flip us over so she’s sprawled on top of me, her heat pressing against my dick in a way that almost has me seeing stars. “Sit up, baby,” I whisper as I sit against the headboard. “Now, you can ride.” Her grin is a little wonky, probably from the margaritas, and I make a mental note to grab her some Tylenol when we’re done. Won’t do for her to have a headache when we get to her house.

  I lose my train of thought when she slides over my dick, her wet, tight sheath engulfing me until we’re one. Sliding my hands to her hips, I cock my legs behind her and start thrusting up as she moves down. “Oh, Nick, this feels awesome,” she breathes out. Her nipples are erect and I lean forward slightly to take one into my mouth, eliciting another moan from her.

  Soon, the only sound that can be heard over the music is her moans as she flies higher and higher. When she adds a swivel on her downward motion, I feel the tingling start so I find her clit with my thumb and apply pressure. “Come for me, sweet girl,” I demand. “Need to feel your pussy squeezing my dick. Send us over.”

  With a small cry, her head goes back and her back arches as she comes hard. I release her clit and circle each breast with one of my hands and stroke and pluck at her nipples. Nothing too hard, that’s not my thing, but it’s enough extra for her to keep her coming. Finally spent, she flops against my chest, all sweaty and more beautiful than words can express, and says, “I think that one killed me.”

  “You’re perfect for me, Shay. Never doubt that fact. And to answer your unasked questions, there are a lot more positions we’re gonna try. Now, let’s get cleaned up and get some water and Tylenol in you so we can get some sleep. Tomorrow’s gonna be a busy day.”

  19

  Shayla

  I feel a bit apprehensive as we pull into my driveway. I know that Brody called the cops and a report has been started, but until I see what’s damaged or possibly missing, they can’t complete it. He said they got some good fingerprints and since his and Jaycie’s are on file for the liquor license they hold for the store, they only have to rule out mine and Nick’s.

  “Let me go in first, Shayla, and make sure it’s safe for you, okay?” he asks. Only, it’s more like a demand than a request. I nod, lost in my thoughts of the past few days. Once I had embraced the physical side of us, it’s like I can’t get enough of him. He can be bossy, sometimes broody, but he’s always gentle with me. I find myself wanting to say words that I don’t think he’s ready to hear quite yet. Soon.

  “Okay, Nick.” Long, anxious minutes pass as I wait for him and the prospects to come back outside. When they finally do and I see the look on his face, my heart falls. Getting out of the truck, I make my way up the steps to him. “It’s bad, isn’t it?” I whisper. He nods before pulling me close and kissing my head.

  “Yeah, babe, it’s bad. You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to, but Dad said the lead detective would be here shortly to get our fingerprints, so you may as well see if there’s anything to salvage.”

  Walking inside, I want to burst into tears. Anything of any value has been torn to shreds and there is fluff from the couch and recliner strewn from one end of the living room to the other. The kitchen is worse with every piece of cookware that can be broken shattered on the floor. The crunching underneath my feet is the only noise, save the occasional sobs that I can’t control.

  Who would do this to me? And why would they do this? I don’t know anyone here except the customers at the diner and of course, Nick’s family. Piper come
s to mind, but I can’t believe that another woman would be so vindictive. Even the contents of the refrigerator and freezer are spoiled as they unplugged it, then to make matters worse, left the doors to both open. When Nick hears me gagging at the smell, he quickly shuts both doors and then opens the kitchen windows. It’s not much, but it helps slightly.

  I walk down the hall to the spare rooms, hoping that maybe just maybe, the sewing machine I found has been excluded from this nightmare only to open the door and find the fabric in tatters and the machine crushed as if someone stepped on it.

  “Nick, why would someone do this?” I cry, looking at the destruction. The burglar even managed to bend my ironing board. All the pretty things I was making for Amelia are now destroyed.

  He pulls me into his arms, soothing me with his hands across my back as he says, “I don’t know, sweetheart. Hopefully, they’ll get a hit on the prints. Is anything able to be saved?” I look again and see that the small button box I got from my house mother was knocked over, but most of the buttons appear to be okay.

  Dropping to my knees, I start picking them up, grateful that I’ve got something tangible left. The stuff that was destroyed may not be a lot to most people, but I’ve worked my ass off to earn each and every dollar that was spent to make this place a home and I’m crushed.

  Once we’ve got all the buttons picked up and back in the tin they were in, Nick leads me down the hallway towards my bedroom. I don’t want to see Amelia’s but figure it won’t be any worse than what the rest of the house has revealed.

  I was wrong. So, so wrong.

  How can someone harbor such hatred against a child they don’t even know? Looking at the vile things scrawled over the walls has me gagging so bad that I spin around and run to the bathroom, where I lose everything I’ve eaten. “Shh, it’s okay, Shay, I’ve got you,” he says from behind me. “All of this is stuff, baby. I know it means something to you and I’m not trying to downplay that at all. But you and Meli could’ve been here and that would’ve been a far greater tragedy.”

  When I finish, I reach up and flush then stand and go wash my mouth out. I think I’ve got a spare toothbrush in my room, but it may be broken as well for all I know. “This is awful, Nick, just awful,” I whisper. “There’s nothing in here left to take. Let me see my room.”

  And…the hits just keep on coming. My beautiful comforter set has had something spilled on it that looks like blood and once again, words are scribbled across the walls. “I…I think it might have been Piper,” I tell him, my eyes catching the one phrase over my bed.

  He’s mine, bitch. Always has been, always will be. Get lost!

  “I’m thinking you might be right, except that what was in Meli’s room doesn’t sound like her.” I look at him, my eyes widen and I rush back into Amelia’s room.

  She was a mistake. Should have never had her, you stupid bitch!

  “Nick! Nick!” I holler and keep on doing it until he’s by my side.

  “What, baby?”

  “I…that’s something that Quentin said many times. Is it possible that somehow those two met?”

  “Don’t see how unless he managed to figure out that you’re living in this town. But we’ll mention it to the detective, okay?” I nod then go back into my room, even though I know it’s pointless. There’s nothing left and once again, I’m glad that I took my firebox. It has everything of importance – our birth certificates, our social security cards, Amelia’s baby book, my tip monies, my bill ledger.

  Nick

  Even though she didn’t find anything, I set the prospects to search thoroughly in case we overlooked something. As I hold my woman in my arms, I wonder if it’s possible that somehow, Piper and Quentin crossed paths and caused this disaster. My gut is saying yes and based on past experience, I’m gonna side with it and make my concerns known to the detective.

  “Nick!” one of the prospects calls out. I kiss Shayla and walk over to where he’s standing by her van.

  “What’s up?” I ask, although I can already see that the van wasn’t left out of the destruction. All four tires have been slashed repeatedly and every available window is either cracked or busted completely.

  “Look,” he says, pointing down near the slider door. I crouch so I can see what he did and notice a credit card. Taking a nearby stick, I flip it over so I can see who it belongs to.

  “Good job, don’t touch it,” I reply, my anger mounting. “Guessing there’s nothing salvageable inside either, so we need to get the tow truck out here and take it back to the clubhouse. She won’t be back.”

  He nods and pulls out his phone. Starting a towing company was one of Porter’s ideas and so far, it’s been a money maker for the club. Add that to the construction company Matt oversees and Reese’s tattoo parlor, and we’re all doing well. Guess I can add a vehicle to my list of things to get for my woman because this one is toast. Through the windows I can see that the seats have been torn up, the car seat has been destroyed, and the small bag of toys that she had inside for Meli are broken.

  Hearing a sound, I turn to see a squad car pull in. I make my way closer so that when he gets out, I can introduce myself. “Nick Johnson, I believe my dad is the one who called this in initially.”

  “Detective Miles. Is this your place?”

  “No, it belongs to my woman, Shayla Hopkins. She’s right over here,” I reply, walking with him to where she’s sitting on the steps. I see him looking at her face, the tears still flowing even an hour later.

  “Ma’am, do you have any idea who would do such a thing?”

  “There’s…there’s something that was written on my daughter’s bedroom wall that her…her birth father said to me. And something on my bedroom wall that his ex said to me the day she came over here.”

  Detective Miles’ eyebrows raise as he looks at me and I nod. “No clue how the two of them managed to pair up, but there’s something over by the van that they dropped that makes her statement true.” I walk with him as he goes back down to the van, then stoops to pick up the credit card with Piper’s name on it.

  “I need to get y’alls fingerprints to exclude you, of course, but if you can give me the names of the two you suspect, I’ll bring them in for questioning.”

  I’m about to reply when another car pulls up and my grandmother and father get out. “Dad, what’re you doing here?”

  “Figured I’d come give y’all a hand. Don’t worry, the baby’s fine with your mom. And your grandma was worried about Shayla.”

  “She’s crushed, Dad.”

  “You’ll put her back together again.” I nod to show that I’m working on it and watch as my grandma goes over and pulls Shayla in for a hug, whispering in her ear.

  The detective goes to his car and grabs what he needs to take our fingerprints. I know mine are in the national database because of my military service, but it’s unlikely that Shayla’s will be. Once he’s done, he gives us both a card and advises he’ll be in touch once he’s spoken to Piper and Quentin.

  “C’mon, y’all, let’s head back to the clubhouse. Shayla, you don’t worry about this, we’ve got insurance and I’ve already filed a claim. As soon as the check comes in, I’ll get it to Nick so you can replace anything you’ve lost.”

  “Dad, I’ve got it.”

  “Son, she needs to do this for herself. I know you’re taking care of her and the baby, but she had a lot of power stripped from her. The insurance monies will give her some of that back.” I nod because he’s right. I don’t like it because it’s my job to take care of my woman, but he’s absolutely correct.

  “C’mon, babe, let’s get back to the little princess and Gulliver.”

  “Who’s Gulliver?” Dad asks.

  “The kitten that he got for me,” Shayla replies, taking my hand. “And I’m sorry that my past caused this.”

  “This isn’t on you, sweetheart. It’s on them,” Dad tells her, his voice firm.

  “Yes, sir,” she whispers.

&nbs
p; “No need to ‘sir’ me, Shayla, just telling it like it is. Plus, I have your paycheck.”

  She grins at that and I give him a chin lift for making her smile. “Thank you, I think I’ve got some shopping to do.”

  Shayla

  We’re about thirty minutes or so from the clubhouse when I see a flash of something coming from my right. “Nick!” I scream when I realize it’s a car and it’s not slowing down, but instead, seems to be speeding up.

  The screech of metal against metal, the shattering of glass – it all seems to happen in slow motion. Right as the pain starts to radiate throughout me, I see…Quentin? Piper?

  “Nick!” I scream into the blackness.

  20

  Nick

  I can hear the sizzle of the fluids as they hit the hot motor. I’ve got to get us out of here but I’m so fucking dizzy I can’t see straight. I hear a pounding at my door and see my dad’s face. Gingerly reaching over, I hit the unlock button. “Dad? What happened?”

  “That car came straight at y’all. We’ve called for help, can you move?”

  “The seatbelt kept me from going anywhere, get Shayla.” She hasn’t said anything since she screamed my name which is when I hit the brakes. Otherwise, it would have been a t-bone right into her side and I don’t think she would’ve survived. Instead, they hit the front right corner. Glancing to my right, I see her slumped over, blood everywhere. “Dad? Get Shayla, please!” I’m fumbling with my seatbelt unable to get it loose when I see his hands reach across me to hit the button. Suddenly free, I’m leaning towards her, calling her name. I can’t tell where she’s hurt, but I know we’re not getting her out of there because her one leg is trapped under the dashboard that’s been caved in from the impact. Fuck!