Pokey_Areion Fury MC

by Esther E. Schmidt

  Turning in his arms, I take his head in my hands. “You know how he is, and you know why Everleigh acts this way…there’s no telling what he’d do if he knows. What if he hurts her even more with his crude remarks? What if she can’t stand the way he looks at her? What if…”

  “Yeah, but it’s screwed up anyway. One can never live their life on what ifs. Besides, it was weird before, and now they’re just putting their war on hold long enough to get off. Only to get right back at it once the orgasm cloud fades. I don’t know what’s worse.” Pokey sighs.

  “Make love between war, or have sex between war.” I snort. “While it’s supposed to be make love not war. But they have a long road to go…if they ever get there, something tells me we won’t see it happening any time soon.”

  Pokey is about to say something when we hear Zack’s voice. “Hey, Pokey, can you get in here for a second? Bring your ol’lady.”

  We both walk into a large room with a table taking up the center. Chairs are scattered all around, except no one is sitting. Dams is leaning against the table and has his arms crossed in front of his chest and a concerned look on his face. Ransom is standing next to him and Casey is bent over the table, a finger on a piece of paper and a phone glued to his ear.

  My eyes are pulled from him when Zack speaks up. “I hate to tell you this and first off… Austin is perfectly fine.”

  My heart is beating in my throat. Why would he start with something like that? “What happened?”

  Zack takes a deep breath and steps forward. “Someone threw a flash grenade into your house and…”

  “A grenade?” I squeak.

  Casey steps around Zack and holds his hands up. “Ma’am. Please, your son is okay. Only one person got hurt in all of this, and it wasn’t because of the incident involving the grenade.” Casey freaking chuckles. Chuckles…what the hell?

  “Then what? Who? I need to go over there. What happened? Shit. Who got hurt?” I’ve got so many questions and how can they stay so calm? “Where’s Austin?”

  Dams pushes away from the table. “It happened four hours ago.”

  “Four hours…” I gasp. “Oh. My. God. That’s why you came knocking?”

  I swallow against the guilt that’s rising inside of me. I could have known sooner, could have wrapped Austin in my hands sooner. Why was I selfish dismissing Dams? The first night away from Austin and this happens and I just brush off someone who comes to get us. What the hell kind of mom am I?

  I feel Pokey’s fingers tightening on my waist. “Breathe, Spiky. They said Austin was perfectly fine. My brother would have barged through the door when he came to us if something was really going on with our son.”

  “A grenade, Pokey. Our house…” I seethe.

  “Listen, Spiky.” Dams’ voice is soothing. “Your ol’man is right. I would have kicked in the door and dragged you out of bed if one hair wasn’t in place involving the kid. Tyler called Zack, so he, Blue and Everleigh went over there. They were all up when the call came in. They saw everything was okay…well except for Tyler. Because even though there was no risk, he felt the need to get Fuzzbutt out of the house. So, let’s just say he got her into a carrier, but you really don’t want to see how badly he’s hurt. I mean, he could have held on to the flash grenade and still wouldn’t have so many lacerations.” Dams chuckles but all I hear is that Austin and Fuzzbutt are safe.

  All of it is so very weird and unreal. There’s an FBI agent here, but with all of the stuff that’s happened, why is he here alone? No team, no police coming to inform me…and yet it shows how tight this club, or hell, this family is. They look out for each other more than any family I’ve ever known. They look out for their own first and it seems like Casey, FBI or not, is part of it too.

  “We need to go. I have to see Austin, hold him. To make sure he’s okay with my own eyes. I want to see them both. Fuzzbutt needs a hug and out of that carrier.” I glance over at Pokey who is nodding absently because his eyes are fixed on Zack.

  “No one in their sane mind would hug that cat from hell,” Dams mutters but shuts up when I shoot a deadly glare at him.

  My eyes land on Casey when he starts to talk. “Just a few more minutes, ma’am. Normally I wouldn’t spill this information, but since Ransom here insisted. Anyway, my gut tells me this was connected with the Cape Town crew. Well, not so much just my gut, because there was a break-in in one of the barracks three days ago. We’ve got some missing equipment and on that list it states that three stun grenades were reported missing, although they are considered non-lethal. The crate was misplaced so they thought they stole real live grenades. With that being said, the explosion created in your living room…the force of the shock wave…part of the ceiling came down and with that…your living room might need some work.”

  “Not again,” I grumble and I feel Pokey’s fingers tighten around my waist.

  Casey takes a step toward me. “Has something like this happened before?”

  Shit. I can hardly say I had to redo part of the living room because we killed a guy in there. “No. I moved in a few months ago and recently I had it redecorated again.”

  “Sorry to hear that, ma’am.” Casey sighs. “My advice would be to stay here, or somewhere else for a while so I can make sure this crew has been dealt with. You do hear the seriousness in all of this, right? Damn lucky they fucked up with the flash grenade when it’s obvious they wanted a normal one. This Cape Town crew might have started out as a few punks making a name for themselves out of boredom but these last few months show they’re going from bad to worse. It’s also the reason I agreed with Ransom to take this route, go to you guys personally instead of the normal routine. I’ve got a team in place at your house gathering evidence, and the investigation is in full force. Areion Fury can give you the protection you need while I do my best to wrap this crew up as fast as I can. And clearly, with what happened last night, you’re going to need it.”

  Cue the panic. I’ve brought danger into Austin’s life. They threw a grenade into our house. Our home. Where he should be safe and protected. I wrap my arms around Pokey and bury myself in his massive chest.

  His arms wrap tight around me while he mutters, “We’ll handle it, sweetheart.” Soft cooing words while my mind still processes everything that’s been laid out.

  “I’ve put Austin at risk. I ignored Dams wanting to talk to us. I won’t ever forgive myself if…” My words fade, I can’t even say, let alone think the frightening thought if something would happen to him.

  Zack clears his throat. “Everleigh took everyone into her home. She was the closest one near your house and I was surprised how well secured her place is set up.”

  “It’s a damn fortress if you ask me. She’s got apocalypse issues, for sure.” Sico’s voice fills the room as he steps up beside us.

  Casey chuckles. “I wouldn’t say that. This woman doesn’t have apocalypse, or zombie issues for that matter, she’s smart and likes her walls. Where others choose to have a safe room in their home, she has a safe house. One that comes with movable walls and a drawbridge. Perfect to defend the life of your…I would say family, but Simone is living there by herself.”

  “Don’t fucking call her Simone. Don’t even call her Everleigh. She’s mine. My ol’lady so you better back the fuck off and only refer to her with her last name. Got it?” Sico fumes.

  I was already holding Pokey tight, but the way fury is surrounding Sico makes me hold on tighter.

  “Right. Miss Godehard. Gotcha,” Casey replies with a knowing smug smile on his face.

  It takes only two strides and one breath before Zack and Dams are each holding onto one of Sico’s arms as he leans his whole body toward Casey, ready to pounce.

  “Ms., or better yet Mrs., and you fucking know it asshole.” Sico seems to lean back as if he’s got a grip on himself so Zack and Dams let him go.

  Sico straightens and before anyone can interact, he clocks Casey straight in the jaw, making his head swoop left. />
  “Motherfucker,” Casey growls and with that has his Glock pressed between Sico’s eyes.

  “You know,” Casey starts, licking his lip to taste the blood Sico drew with his punch. “Before you stepped into this room, I would have said you didn’t deserve her. Such an intelligent and feisty woman who survived where others would crumble. Yet you…” His eyes widen a fragment before they narrow. “Ah. You don’t know. Well…that’s fairly interesting.” Casey pulls his gun back and places it back in his shoulder strap. “You’re okay, Sico. I might have underestimated you a bit, not going to apologize to you though, but I will let you know that you’ve got nothing to worry about. She wouldn’t even give me a second glance last night.”

  The tightness in Sico’s shoulders somewhat fades, as if he’s reassured by Casey’s words.

  “Believe me, I had to up my game in flirting to get a tiny smile out of that girl,” Casey adds before sidestepping Sico’s attempt to lunge at him.

  Ransom shakes his head at a laughing Casey. “You had to go there, didn’t you? Why the fuck do you always have to poke a bear, huh? I told you not to fuck with Sico’s girl, or with Sico for that matter.”

  “But it’s fun. Come on…I work with stiff pricks all damn day. They don’t curse, don’t joke, it’s boring as hell,” Casey grumbles.

  Ransom rolls his eyes before he releases a deep breath. “That was your choice, you could have been patched in instead of becoming an FBI agent full time, or hell, might have even tried both.”

  Now Casey is the one who’s shaking his head. “That would never have worked. No matter how badly I wanted it.” He shrugs a hand through his hair. “Either way, what’s done is done.”

  Casey turns his gaze to me. “Like I said, I would advise you to stay somewhere else, maybe go to Sico’s ol’lady for at least the upcoming few days.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Zack nods. “Ransom, Sico, and Pokey will stay there as well.”

  Sico takes a step toward his Prez. His voice is firm and yet respectful. “I don’t want Ransom there.”

  Oh. I’ve heard about this. Everleigh was trying to flirt with Ransom when Sico snapped and claimed her in front of everyone. I don’t blame him for not wanting him around Everleigh. It’s weird though. He treats her like crap when she’s around, and yet when she’s not there, he acts like she’s the most precious thing he owns, protecting her from anything and anyone at all times. Talk about screwed up.

  “Tough luck, Sico. I have the final say and I say we need Ransom on this too.” Zack turns to Ransom. “Not the same shit your brother just pulled. Clear?”

  Brother? I know they mention brothers when there is no blood between them but are with the club, but Casey is FBI and not a…or is he Ransom’s brother by blood? I make a mental note to ask Pokey later.

  “Fine,” Sico snaps and saunters out of the room.

  Pokey puts a hand underneath my chin. “Let’s get our stuff and head on over to our kid.”

  “I can’t wait to hold him.” I sigh, I miss him so much. And with all of this happening on our first night out together, leaving him in the care of others. Okay, that doesn’t change anything about what happened, but it does add to the guilt of me not being there for him and putting him in danger.

  Another deep sigh before I add, “And Fuzzbutt, don’t forget about her.”

  Because with all the stress she went through, I feel like Fuzzbutt is in need of some loving too.

  “Yeah. Let’s go.” Pokey gives me a knowing smile.

  Chapter 11

  ***Pokey***

  Spiky stuffs everything in the overnight bag we brought within minutes and is staring at me with a thoughtful look on her face.

  “What is it, sweetheart?” I grab our bag and step toward her.

  She shrugs her shoulders. “Can I go to Sico and maybe talk to him?”

  “Are you gonna tell him about Everleigh?” I don’t know why the hell I’m whispering because it’s just the two of us in here.

  “I don’t know. You said earlier ‘One can never live their life on what ifs’ and that line keeps haunting me. Sico is so hard to get a read on, but the guy I saw in there? Going all furious with the mentioning of her name? That kinda makes you really think about the what if…” Spiky sighs.

  Her words make me chuckle. “This is just the first time you’ve seen it. He’s always like that when it comes to her. Just as long as she’s not around, any woman for that matter, so he might be slipping with containing his feelings, anger, whatever. To be honest…I don’t know what the hell his problem is. Sometimes I think it’s because he’s annoyed about Everleigh being the female version of him. Or so she makes it seem. We both know that’s clearly not the case here. He claimed her on the spot when she tried for Ransom in front of him. It’s like he’s torturing himself through her. Yet I catch him looking at her with that raw intensity. Fuck…”

  “I’m gonna go talk to him.” Spikey gives me a feather light kiss before she adds. “I can’t be the one who tells him, though.”

  My head rears back. Did she just give me her blessing to be the one who tells him about Everleigh? She winks before she strolls out and heads for the room next to ours. I guess that’s the answer to my unasked question. Damn.

  She told me about Everleigh’s past as an example. To give me insight how the ol’ladies keep each other’s secret, the struggles, the pain. They have each other’s back and support each other. Just like the club does. But with some things, you hold on to that secret and respect it, but you also know when it’s time to spill because it’s needed to help and show even bigger support.

  She just handed me the decision, the trust, the option. Would I have wanted to find out about the pain she went through when she was attacked? About my son? Even if it would influence our relationship? I would have seen her vulnerable, at her worst, depending on me…again. In her point of view, getting the lesser version of the person she is? At her worst. Fuck. Yes, I would have wanted to know either way. We would have pulled through. Together.

  We would have been honest and open and threw every bit of truth about our feelings at each other and would have gotten out of that stronger. Like now. Only now is slightly different since we were robbed of the extra time and maybe everything that happened in between. But fuck, it got us to where we are either way. You can’t outrun the truth.

  Well…I guess my decision is made, isn’t it? When I step inside Sico’s room, I see him sitting on the edge of his bed, head down and his forearms leaning on his knees, one hand gripping his phone. Spiky is standing in front of him. She must have said something to have him in that position looking like a little boy getting lectured by his mom, except the mom in question is my ol’lady and she’s staring at the ceiling.

  I look up as well and I have to rein in my smile. Sico is an ass. He has a huge chandelier and dangling from it are a million thongs and other scraps of lace. With all of the different sizes and colors it looks like a damn trophy or something.

  “You really had sex with her underneath that?” Spiky points up. “Don’t you think she deserves a little better?”

  She’s got her hands on her hips. Damn. Sico is one nasty motherfucker who takes shit from no one. Especially not women. But right now? He looks like he wants to hide underneath the covers in shame. What the hell happened last night?

  “Spiky?” Her eyes find mine. “Can I have a minute with him before we head over to Austin and Fuzzbutt?”

  She looks at Sico and grimaces. Yeah, my point, sweetheart.

  “I’ll grab our bag and get a cup of coffee before we go, okay?” Spiky brushes her lips against my cheek before she steps out and closes the door behind her.

  “What the hell happened to you man? Ten or fifteen minutes ago you were all flames and war, yet here you are ready to be knocked out by a feather.” I take a step closer to the bed he’s sitting on.

  Sico raises his head and our gazes lock. The hand that’s holding his phone comes up in my direction.
r />   “I need you to Google her name and tell me the shit that will pop up. I fucking know there will be something bad. Like really fucking bad. That Casey idiot let something slip. Or better yet, it was something he didn’t say and hesitated. He flat out said I didn’t know, like the fucker knows something. The way Everleigh is…she can raise those fucking walls and put on the variety of masks she’s capable of, but I see her. I see her, man. There’s something and it’s killing me not knowing what. Yet I’m too fucking chicken to hit that search engine. And it’s not like I can go to Nerd and ask her to run a check because…”

  “They know what happened to her, Sico. And it’s not for them to tell you.” My words make his eyes narrow.

  “So everybody fucking knows, except for me? What the ever-loving-fuck man?” he growls.

  I hold my hands up in a defensive position while I take a seat on the chair in the corner. “Remember me telling you how betrayed I felt when the ol’ladies didn’t tell me shit about Spiky and my kid?”

  One chin lift gives me enough confirmation to continue.

  “It’s the same for them as it is for us. Some things are meant to stay inside the brotherhood, or in their case, sisterhood. The need to respect the person’s wishes. Spiky showed me this when she trusted me with Everleigh’s story. She made me realize it’s not hers or mine to spill.”

  Sico’s lip turns up in a snarl, his fingers dig into his knee and his other hand is crushing his phone in a tight grip. I fucking know he’s ready to flip his shit.

  “I don’t know how you’re gonna deal with this, but seeing you balance on insanity of a caveman already, it might be better to tell you so you can get your shit together. Or at least my ol’lady indicated she thought it’s time for you to know…except she can’t tell you. Now I have to share something about my side of shit first because you need to listen and not freak the fuck out, become aware of the bigger picture, you get me?”

  He throws the phone over his shoulder and spreads his arms wide. “Lay it on me, I’ll take the words from your mouth any day over googling.”