Stalked (Curvy Women Wanted Book 20)
Page 6
He was hard.
She’d never been with a guy before, but the threat was there and with no one around, it terrified her.
They’d never gone this far.
You’ve never lashed out.
“Let me go, please,” she said.
He squeezed her breast, and she closed her eyes, wanting to be anywhere else but here. “You’re going to learn the error of your ways, Chloe. You can’t fuck with the club like you did today and not expect to get burned.”
“Get your hands off my daughter.”
They both looked up to see Lily, her mother, arms folded, as she stood outside of her car. She wore a pair of jeans, a plain white shirt, and she looked deadly.
“Mrs. Decker,” Alfie said, a smile to his lips.
“Drop the act. Get off my daughter now, or do you want me to report this to your father?” Lily asked. “I didn’t think so. Get off.”
Alfie gave her wrists a squeeze, letting her know without saying a word, this wasn’t over. They were going to come to blows again, and probably soon. But for now, she was safe, or as safe as she could be.
Scrambling to her feet, she grabbed her bags, knowing she had fucked up tonight. She should have walked away without a backward glance, allowed them to push her, call her names, shove her. Do whatever they wanted but not attack.
By attacking, she’d given them the perfect ammunition to hurt her, to strike at her, and she wasn’t going to let that happen again.
Rushing to her mother’s car, she climbed in the passenger seat.
There were a few seconds more stare off between her mother and Alfie before she finally got in the car.
Chloe noticed her hands shaking and quickly sat on them. Lily, though, she looked calm and collected.
Chloe had been so lost in the moment with Alfie, she’d not even heard her mother drive up to them.
“Your father’s not going to hear the end of this,” Lily said. “I’m tired of his bullshit.”
“You don’t have to worry about it, Mom,” she said. “Please, don’t say anything.”
Lily glanced over at her. “You don’t want me to say anything about that club brat doing stuff to you?”
“No. It’s fine. You know it’ll only make it worse.”
“I don’t care. Alfie thinks because of who his father is, he’s above the law.”
“Isn’t he? If it was a cop driving past, they’d just keep on going.”
She noticed her mother clenched her fingers around the steering wheel.
“It’s the way it is in Satan’s Croft. We can’t do anything about it,” Chloe said. “You know that.”
“It doesn’t make it right. Fuck!” Her mother slammed her fist against the steering wheel. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“Really? Your father didn’t come and get you. You need new boots, and you’re fine. No, you know what, I’m done with this bullshit.” Right there in the middle of the street, her mother spun the car around.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Chloe asked.
“Something I should have done a long time ago.” Lily pressed her foot on the gas, and Chloe’s heart raced.
She felt sick to her stomach as she realized exactly where they were going. They drove past Alfie, Ian, and Riley, and she tried to avoid looking at them, but failed.
Her cheeks were on fire, and her breast felt scorched from Alfie’s hand on it.
She had to put that memory away.
Nothing good could come from reporting him, and most likely, no one would believe her anyway. That was how this town worked. They made up their own rules to suit themselves, and everyone else, regardless of if it was right or not, had to fall in line.
“Mom, I know you’re being a badass and all, but you’re kind of scaring me.”
“Good. I mean, no, it’s not good that you’re afraid. I don’t want to scare you. Believe me, sweetie, I don’t. But I’m sick and tired of all this bullshit with them all the time. It’s time for me to stand up, and I’m going to. They don’t own us, and we don’t owe them anything. We’re not going to allow them to come between us and our family.” Lily nodded her head.
Again, Chloe looked at her mother’s hands.
They weren’t shaking at all.
Lily Decker was normally a calm, collected person. She was sweet, caring, nice, hardworking, and she put up with a great deal. The woman before her right now looked ready to chop men into little pieces and hide them in walls. Maybe a little exaggeration, but not by much.
The closer they got to the clubhouse, the more her nerves picked up speed. This wasn’t what she wanted to do, or to happen. She was terrified of what this could mean. Her mother was a fierce woman, protective, loving. It was why Chloe tried so hard in school, to make her mother proud.
When it came to her father, she put in as much effort as he did into their relationship, the bare minimum. She knew her mother and father fought repeatedly about the same old stuff. There was never any break in their arguing, and it was always about one thing. Her father’s need to be accepted by the club was a constant heartache to her mother.
It was driving a wedge between them all.
By the time Lily pulled up into the parking lot, Chloe felt sick to her stomach. Men and women were making out. Most of them had leather cuts on, and the women, well, she was lucky they at least wore underwear.
Her hands shook as she followed Lily into the main house. The scent of smoke and alcohol was heavy in the air.
People turned and watched Lily though.
Chloe noticed her mother was a beauty with her blonde hair. Most of the time she wasn’t on a mission, and out of all of the club whores and wives, Lily got the most respect from the members.
Even Eagle respected Lily.
She had no idea why, but it was always there, especially as they walked up to his booth. Kurt was there, and there was a brunette straddling Eagle’s lap, who he quickly pushed away when he saw Lily.
Did Eagle have a thing for her mother? She doubted it.
“Lily, baby, you made it,” Kurt said, getting to his feet.
“I made it. Think really hard right now, Kurt. Where were you supposed to be?” Lily asked.
Silence fell in the club as they all took in the scene.
As far as Chloe was concerned, Lily had never caused a scene. She’d never overreacted to anyone. Again, her mother was known as a sweetheart.
“Baby? Why are you so angry?” Kurt tried to stroke Lily’s arms, but she wasn’t having any of it. She shoved him hard, much in the same way Chloe had Ian and Riley.
“You don’t even remember?” Lily stepped to the side, grabbing Chloe’s hand.
Her cheeks were on fire as people took them in. This wasn’t what she wanted. This was bad news.
She hated it when people looked at her, and now, she wished she’d stayed in the car far, far away from this mess.
“Does our daughter ring any bells? You promised me you’d pick her up. That you’d take her for some new boots, and instead I got a call telling me that your son and his little boyfriends were bullying her, again!” Lily pointed at Eagle before returning her hands to her hips. “And yet, you’re here. Again. Why am I not surprised? When are you going to realize they don’t want you here, Kurt? They see you as nothing more than a coward, and you’re still hanging around. Still hoping to be a patched in member. Instead of spending time with your family. With us, who love you no matter what, but you’re here again, and not helping me.” Her mother’s voice croaked, and Chloe squeezed her hand, offering her some comfort. She adored her mother more than anything.
“Lily, I apologize on behalf of my son,” Eagle said.
“No, I don’t want to hear you apologize. I want you to keep that boy and his friends away from my daughter.” She turned to Kurt. “We’re done.”
Chloe’s mouth opened in shock.
They were done. Her parents were done.
Lily took the wedding ba
nd off. “I’m going to call my lawyer.”
“Lil, babe, come on, you’re overreacting.”
“No, I’m not. I’ve been waiting for you to see your senses for the last eighteen years, and I’m tired of being second best. I deserve more. I deserve better, and it’s not you. Don’t come home. It’s in my name anyway.”
She handed the ring back, and taking Chloe with her, walked right out of the silent club.
Chloe couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her mother had ended things very publicly with her father.
Climbing into the car, Lily pulled out of the clubhouse. Chloe glanced behind her to see Kurt running out, trying to chase them.
“Don’t look back, honey.”
“Mom, you don’t have to do this.”
“I do. I’m tired of being lied to. I’m tired of relying on a man who can never love me back as much as I love him. Sometimes in life, you’ve got to learn to just walk away. I’m walking away. The best thing Kurt gave me was you. I’ll always treasure you, my darling daughter.” Lily grabbed her hand, locking their fingers together. “We can always count on each other. Now, let’s go and get you some boots.”
She knew her mother was upset, and breaking apart inside.
Her parents had been sweethearts, and had gotten married at a young age, even before she got pregnant.
Resting her head on her mother’s shoulder, she knew Lily would be crying tonight, alone.
She should have just walked home.
****
Arriving at the clubhouse, Alfie knew shit had hit the fan. There was a tension that he’d not seen for a long time. The Satan’s Crew MC wasn’t a well-liked club and they had a lot of enemies, but none of them had ever defeated the club.
His father, Eagle, was a force to be reckoned with.
“What’s going on?” he asked, Betty, one of the club whores, or at least he thought that was her name.
“Kurt’s wife just divorced his ass. She came in calling him on his shit. Putting the club first and well, you better get out of the way, Alfie. She told him about your bullying of her little girl. Eagle’s not happy.”
“Alfie, get in here,” Eagle said.
Shit!
He’d been warned by his father several times not to touch Lily’s daughter. It wasn’t like he went out of his way to hurt Chloe, but she was always fucking there, and he was tired of it. Also, she wasn’t even a club girl, or any relation to the club. Her father was a fucking loser, so why did he have to treat Chloe any better? The only reason Eagle and the club brothers put up with Kurt was because he’d become an easy target for all of them. No one liked him, but they liked to humiliate him. There was nothing Kurt wouldn’t do. Be it clean the floors, or even lick a brother’s boot.
Alfie had seen him in several compromising positions, all in the name of trying to earn back his reputation within the club.
Personally, he thought the guy should have given up, and he’d asked Eagle about it some time ago.
“Son, when it matters most, he’ll run. Sure, he’s good to lick shit off your boot and entertain you, but I don’t need a man who can make me laugh. I need a man who’ll take a bullet for me without batting an eye.”
Since then, he’d never had respect for Kurt. By extension, he’d never liked Chloe either.
Standing in front of his father, he saw the anger simmering beneath the surface.
“Get in my office, now!”
Alfie walked past his father and stumbled as he was shoved hard. It wasn’t the first time that had happened, and it wouldn’t be the last.
Deep down, he knew his father loved him. One day he’d take over the Satan’s Crew Mc, and to do that, he couldn’t be soft.
Eagle had to show to the rest of the club he was a man. A man they could all trust, as otherwise, he’d be tossed out on his ass.
Ian and Riley didn’t follow. They weren’t allowed.
Alfie held himself perfectly still, arms by his sides, waiting for his father.
He’d not intended to hurt or bully Chloe tonight. He’d seen her on the school bench, bag to one side, book in hand, but it had been Ian who threw the banana and Riley who called her names. He never disobeyed his father, and when given the order to stop bullying her, he had. Sure, he couldn’t be held responsible for stopping his friends, or other guys. He watched them push her into doors, lockers, trip her up, throw stuff at her.
She was the school punching bag.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
He felt like he’d been waiting for hours before his father finally showed up.
“I can’t believe I’m having this fucking conversation with you again.” Eagle walked in and slapped him around the back of the head.
“Hey,” Alfie said. “I didn’t do nothing.”
“Then why did I have to listen to Lily here less than two hours ago? You hurting her girl. Do I need to remind you what it means to disobey me?” Eagle asked.
“Why does it matter to you?” Alfie asked. “Chloe’s a fat, fucking loser. No one likes her.”
“She’s a sweet girl. Regardless of her weight. I’m not asking you to fuck her. Am I?” Eagle glared at him.
“She’s just a girl. Why does it matter to you?” he asked.
“Are you questioning me?” Eagle stepped right up in front of him.
Alfie wasn’t afraid.
His father wouldn’t kill him.
Sure, he’d have to take a beating, but it was being on the end of this man’s fist that had made him the man he was.
“No, sir,” he said.
“You stay away from Chloe Decker. I don’t want no trouble coming to Lily. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get out. Tell that to your two boyfriends as well. I don’t want to hear a single complaint from that girl.”
“Did Chloe tattle on us?” Alfie asked.
“No. Her mother caught you, and don’t even think of lying. Lily’s got no reason to lie.”
“Is she going to be your new club whore or something?”
He should have expected the slap across the face. It was hard, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
“You’re going to learn to have some respect, boy. I taught you better than that. No disrespect. Get the fuck out before I take my belt to you.”
Leaving his father’s office, he didn’t even have to nod for Ian and Riley to follow.
They made their way out of the clubhouse, around the back, and down to the creek. There was a small lake about a mile off the clubhouse.
He opened the gate, closing it behind him.
One of the club brothers had ended up drowning in the lake, so his father had no choice but to put a metal fence around a couple of feet before the lake.
“You okay?” Ian asked.
“Peachy.”
“You don’t look it. Sorry, you don’t,” Riley said.
“You’ve got to stay away from Chloe. All of us do. It’s an order from Eagle.”
“Wow, is Lily already banging his ass?” Ian asked.
“I wouldn’t go around asking those kinds of questions. He’s likely to whoop your ass as well,” Alfie said.
“So, we just let her go? I figured being the daughter of a coward, and after tonight, I’m not letting her get away with her shit. She thinks she’s better than us, so I think it’s only fair we bring her down a peg or ten,” Ian said.
“Not going to happen.” Alfie wasn’t interested in getting a beat down from his dad in any way, shape, or form.
He was done with all the bullshit it entailed, and just wanted to get through the last year of high school so he could start prospecting for real, and earning his place within the club.
“You know, we don’t have to bully her,” Riley said.
“Can’t you guys just let it quit already? We’re not going to win this, and I don’t want to be on the wrong side of my dad, okay?” He looked at Ian and Riley.
They didn’
t look convinced.
“You two fuckers are really not going to let this go, are you?” he asked.
“Why should we?” Ian asked. “I’ve got the perfect way to make that little slut pay, and believe me, you’re going to want in on the action.”
End of sample chapter
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