“I like to think I am a lot like Seven James. Clearly, I have her sex appeal which certainly helps to distract men when it comes to the boardroom.” She says as she adjusts her shirt to offer a view of more cleavage. Ew. She is nothing like Seven and never would be. Does she think the only thing my wife has going for her is using her tits to distract men in the boardroom? Clearly she didn’t do much research on Seven before stepping foot into this interview. Completely unprepared. Seven would have wiped the floor with her.
“Mr. Parker, why don’t we just cut to the chase? I’ll let you fuck me if you give me a good recommendation for the job. We’ll help each other out.” She winks and my stomach turns. I stand from the chair I am sitting in to begin asking her to leave. Before I can utter a single word, I hear a door slam from the second floor of the house and footsteps coming down the hall. This chick just bought herself a corporate death sentence that is about to be handed out by my beautiful, glowing wife. The same one who should be lying in bed with our new baby. I feel like laughing, but I bite my bottom lip as Seven’s footsteps begin to come down the stairs.
Veronica’s face reddens as Seven comes into view. Her long pink robe covering her naked body. Is she really shocked that she was actually watching the interview since she couldn’t do it herself?
“You fucking whore. Get out of my house. And let me tell you… You will never work in this field again. You just signed your fuckin’ career death warrant. When I am done with you… you won’t even be able to fuckin’ sling a cup of coffee at Starbucks.” Seven is calm as she speaks. Her words are hard and clear. She makes a point without even having to yell.
I can see she is holding herself back. My Seven typically would have had a handful of this bitch’s hair by now. The amount of restraint she is showing is downright admirable. And that is why I love this woman.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding, Mrs. James-Parker. I didn’t come on to your husband. He came on to ME!” she says with her hands up. “I was just trying to answer my interview questions when he offered me the position if I slept with him!” The blonde bimbo politely pleads with my wife. I try not to laugh because I know Seven would be able to see right through that claim, even if she hadn’t been watching the entire thing.
“Are you a real blonde?” Seven asks, her hand moves to tug gently on the woman’s long hair. And I am confused as to where this is all going.
“Yes?” Veronica answers as she runs her fingers through her long blonde hair. Pulling away from Seven’s gentle grasp.
“I suspected that. Clearly what they say about blondes being dumber than dog shit is right. I watched the whole interview you fucking twat. See that laptop in the corner?” Seven stops and points at the computer. “I was watching the interview upstairs. Now take your knock off Michael Kors and your fake Prada pumps and get the fuck out of my house. Good luck with your future endeavors. I recommend Vegas strip clubs, or shitty dive bars.”
The blonde huffs and makes her way to the front door, slamming it in her wake.
“Cancel the other interview. No one is getting this job. As soon as we can find a five bedroom penthouse in Manhattan we are moving back.” she says as she stomps back up the stairs.
So much for a nice quiet life in Woodstock.
The sad thing is, I don’t even blame her. Not one fuckin’ bit at this point. I guess I should also start looking for a full time nanny.
“You aren’t going to believe this shit, dude.” I say as Chrome sets a beer down in front of me. “She just offered to fuck me for the job. Like I would actually give some whore the CEO position of a fucking Fortune 500 company for a quick roll in the hay.” I take a swig of the Sam Adams and set it back down on the counter. “With that kind of behavior, she probably has a nasty cunt too.”
“Dude, bitches put out for way less.” Chrome says. “I remember one time, I got a blowjob for a ride on the back of my bike. Bitches love bikes.” He laughs and sucks down his beer. “You should totally get one. Become an outlaw with us.”
“You should have seen Seven’s reaction.” I laugh.
“Oh, I would have fuckin’ paid money to see that shit. Did she have that giant pink fluffy robe on when she told her to fuck off?” Chrome asks with deep booming laughter.
“Yeah, she did. And she made that bitches designer clothes look like rags.” I smiled thinking about how amazing she looked. Even if she had just had a baby. Hell, I think she looks even more beautiful now.
“You get to a point in life where that one wild bitch that finally collared you is more than enough for you in bed.” Chrome says. “I could have never imagined settling down, but man… Star is more than enough for me. And when I’m on the road, she is all I fuckin’ think about anymore.”
“What’s it like? Being on the road?” I ask him. I always admired his freedom. The lifestyle he lived.
“It sucks. I’m over it all, but I can’t walk away. It doesn’t work like that.” Chrome shrugs. “The nice thing now is I have bitches under me who I can make go on the road for me most the time.”
“Speaking of your bitches, has anyone come up with anything on Vince?”
Chrome’s men had been searching for him but nothing was coming up. The guy was fuckin’ good at hiding. We could all give him that.
“Nothing yet. But we did get pings off his cell phone in Jefferson. So, he isn’t far. I’ve got guys on your property tho.” he says without thinking.
“Where the fuck have they been hiding?” I ask.
“All over. Pool house, shed, anywhere the two of you never go basically.” he laughs.
“You know, they could come inside.”
“I’ll let Ryker know. It’s been him and Judge keeping an eye on y’all.”
“What’s up with that Judge guy?” I want to know because of the interesting interaction I noticed between him and Seven at dinner. I’m not jealous, just curious. I know my wife lived a colorful life before I tamed her. Funny how it really is the other way around for Chrome and Star though.
“He’s from the city. Was in the Brooklyn chapter for a long time, but I guess he moved up this way when his Momma got sick so he could take care of her.” Chrome offers.
“Aww, a biker with a heart.” I laugh, because I know how much of a softie Chrome really is deep down. I love fucking with him.
“Don’t start, Parker. Not everyone can be stuffy office robots.”
“Hey. I didn’t pick the office life. The office life picked me!”
The back door of Chrome and Star’s house slams and we look up to a pack of bikers.
“He’s on the move,” Judge says.
“We spotted him at the motel. He must not realize you own that.” Ryker adds with an eye roll. Stupid criminals.
“Don’t let him know any of us have a connection with that hotel. You tell Mary and Louise at the desk to take down anything that may connect me or Star with the motel.” Chrome starts spouting off orders.
“Vegas, Stone, and Ace will ‘rent’ a room and stay put until I give any further instructions.” Chrome paces across the kitchen. “Ryker and Judge, get back over to Seven’s house now. She is there alone with the kids. That is fuckin’ unacceptable.” Realizing that Seven is alone in the house makes my heart skip a beat. My nerves always get the best of me. I grab my phone off the counter and make my way for the door.
“Hey, Chrome. Thanks for everything man.” I didn’t realize it, but we would be entering into a fuckin’ war zone.
“It’s just what family does, man.”
Seven
Present
I know I have no right to be pissed off, but I’m a stickler when it comes to time. Lyric told me she was going to be here almost an hour ago, which is why I told Levi he could go on his merry way to do whatever it is that him and Chrome do when they are together. Marley is going to be up from her nap any minute and Willow is attached to my tits, literally. And I can’t get up. I don’t want to be annoyed, but I am.
I pick up m
y phone and try to call Lyric. The phone rings a handful of times and goes to voicemail. I contemplate leaving a message, but I decide to send her a text instead. If she is anything like me, she is more likely to read that than pick up the phone and listen to a voicemail. God I hate those things.
Hey. Hope everything is alright. You still planning on coming over this afternoon?
I wait, and don’t get a reply. So against my better judgment, I call again. The phone rings a couple times and someone picks it up.
“Hello?” I hear Levi’s voice echo through the line. Ok so now I am even more confused.
“Why are you answering Lyric’s phone?” I ask him with a nasty attitude. My own insecurities wash over me. I think of him trading me in for the younger, non-tattooed version of myself. My mind immediately flashes the most disgusting visions of them in bed together while I am here stuck with two kids and no help. FUCK!
“Well I just found this phone on the front porch. It was laying here ringing as I walked up, so I just picked it up.” Levi answers with a clueless demeanor. Even though my mind through the worst, I know it isn’t true. He is just as confused as I am about the rogue phone.
“Why is Lyric’s phone on the porch?” I ask without thinking.
“I figured she dropped it on her way inside?” Levi answers. “Her car is here, so why are you calling her?”
Fear courses though my veins as I struggle to get the words out. “She isn’t here. She never showed up.” My heart hammers against my chest and my mind begins to drift. Fuck. FUCK! What happened to her?
“Her car is here and her phone is here. She can’t be far.” Levi says with a calm and rational tone. He is always the level-headed one. I wish I could be as calm as he is right now. I can hear the echo of the front door open and close and the footsteps coming up the stairs. I disconnect my phone and place it down on the bed, just staring at the door waiting for Levi to walk in. I wait, and wait. The thirty seconds it takes him to enter the room seems like thirty hours. Everything is moving in slow motion. I replay the events of the day and try to think of anything that could have been off.
Nothing. Nothing happened today. She just didn’t show up. But she did! She did show up. What the fuck could have happened to her? Where did she go? I hate all of the possibilities that could have happened.
“Yeah, on the porch. Her car is here too.” I hear Levi quietly saying through the door.
“I can hear you,” I yell in the direction of the whispers. The door slowly opens and Levi stands there with Ryker and Judge. Two people I didn’t want to see while I look like a postpartum giant bag of ass.
“Her car is here. Her phone was on the front steps, so we have no way of tracking her.” Ryker says.
“Why would you need to track her? What is going on?” I am begging for information now. Begging to be included in the loop. Do they not think I can handle this? What is the worst that could have happened?
“Seven, you need to calm down.” Levi says, trying to play off the seriousness of the situation.
“You of all people should know this is as calm as it gets, Levi Parker.” I mouth off. Judge smiles and Ryker cringes.
“I think someone snatched her.” Ryker says without trying to mask the awful reality of what was taking place. “Her car is here, her shit was dropped on the porch. There are large footprints and drag marks. Has all the symptoms of a kidnapping.” He shrugs his shoulders.
“Which means Chrome is gonna have both of our asses because if we were here like we were supposed to be, this shit wouldn’t have happened.” Judge says as he chews on the metal hoop in his bottom lip. “Whoever grabbed her waited for us to leave. They knew we were here. They aren’t stupid.” He adds.
“How could Vince grab her if he was checking into the fuckin’ motel?” Levi asks.
“You think he’s got someone workin’ with him?” Ryker replies.
“Nope, he doesn’t have a soul left in this world. He burned all those bridges and that is why his shithole of a club closed.” I add into their conversation, sick of watching these men hash out the problem like I wasn’t sitting here watching them. I unlatch Willow from my breast and move her onto my shoulder to burp after tucking my tit back in.
“Whoever did this is smart. Vince isn’t. They calculated this. We need to look at it as a set up. And I’m not naive enough to put it past Lyric to set it up herself. Remember, she is still new to this circle.” I lay Willow down in her bassinet and make my way across the room to my closet. I don’t want to think about Lyric betraying me in a way like this, but it is second nature for me when something like this actually happens. Trust no one, but family. Lyric may be blood, but she is still new to the inner circle and I won’t be naive enough to think the best of her.
“Get Paisley and Star here. I want Chrome and all the guys here too. Shit is going down and I’m not gonna sit back and watch. And Levi?” I turn to him and point in his direction. “As soon as this shit is all cleared up… we are going to Manhattan to find a new penthouse and leaving this fucking madness behind. I’m over it.” There is far more bullshit here than we ever had to deal with in Manhattan when I thought it would be the other way around.
How could I be stupid enough to let someone new into my world? Am I losing my edge? Am I becoming a different person? A more trusting person since becoming a mother? It just doesn’t add up.
The more I think of it all, the more I wonder if any of us should even be putting any effort into looking for her. I am my own worst enemy. “FUCK!” I yell at myself while I stare into the bathroom mirror. The reflection taunts me. All I can see is my sister. The visions play with my mind and I wonder if I am well on my way back into the hospital again.
I throw a couple pills into my mouth and pray the mixture of psych drugs help me get through the rest of the day.
“Seven?” I hear a man’s voice come from outside the bathroom door. “You in there?” Chrome asks.
“Yeah, come in.” I say and unlock the door. I don’t feel up to facing anyone yet. I need to get all these thoughts out. Deal with one thing before having to deal with my family and whatever plan they are cooking up.
“What’s on your mind suga’?” Chrome asks.
“I think it’s a set up. I think Lyric and the fact that she found me is a set up.” I admit against my better judgment. I run my hand along the sink and pick up the towel next to me to scrub at small spot of toothpaste. “I think she was a plant. I think someone cooked this all up as a money scheme.”
“Why do you think that, Seven?” He asks.
“Because I trust nobody anymore.” I admit.
“You don’t think she is your sister?” Chrome questions. The air in the room is thick, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
“No, I don’t. I think it was all a set up.” I say, wondering if I actually believe what I am saying or if I am just trying to convince myself. I don’t want to believe that something bad could really be happening again because that would mean all the shit I’ve put out into the world is finally starting to come back full circle. For years I told myself karma was all bullshit. Excuses people make to scare themselves into being fake motherfuckers. Hiding their real feelings and worrying about what would come back to bite them in the ass. Maybe it is real? Maybe I am the one who was scared all along.
“I think that’s bullshit, Seven.” Chrome interrupts my thoughts. “In fact, I’m going to say it’s bullshi, and you know it.” He is cocky and I love when Chrome mouths off like this. But he never does it towards me. Now I kind of want to stab him in the eye with my toothbrush.
“She is your sister. You can tell just by looking at the girl. I think you are worried and scared to admit you give a shit about her. I think you are scared to give a shit about anything in general anymore. You walk on eggshells. You act like a fuckin’ alien. You aren’t Seven. You are a shell of Seven. You are a quarter of the woman you were when I met you.”
His words cut me deep. But deep down I know he is right.
And every last word is true. I am not who I was when we met. I am not who I was when I met Levi either. I got old and soft. I lost my edge and have been drifting through life worrying about what other people might think. Since when does Seven James give a flying fuck about what other people think?
“Seven, get your shit together.” Chrome yells. “People fuckin’ depend on that tough as nails bitch. We need you. Lyric needs you. Your kids need you. But not this fake front of a Seven we have all been getting. We need the fuckin’ REAL YOU!”
“I FUCKIN’ GET IT!” I snap. I can hear footsteps in my bedroom and I already know there is an audience, but for the first time, in a long time… I just don’t care. I don’t give a flying fuck about who is listening to my conversation this time around.
“So get it together, Seven!”
“I’m fuckin’ trying, Chrome! I’m fuckin’ trying!” Instead of the tears that would normally come around this time, my body is slowly filled with rage. Absolute fucking rage. I am mad that people don’t look at me the same. I am mad that someone fuckin’ kidnapped my sister. I am mad that I am not in control of my life. I am mad that I have to depend on other people to help me. I am mad at life. I am just fucking mad in general.
“I’M MAD!” I yell, and it feels so good to get out.
“Let it out, Seven. Let it all out! You’ve been holding it in too long!” He yells back at me.
“I’m mad that someone snatched her! I am mad that I give a shit about her when I don’t know anything about her. I am mad that my life is in a tailspin out of control and I can’t do anything about it. I am mad that sleazy women try and fuck my husband because I’m a fat cow! I’m mad that I have to even think about filling MY JOB! It’s MINE! I’m mad. I’m just fucking mad! And my god, it feels good to finally say out loud.” I go on.
“I’m sick of pretending I am someone I am not! I am Seven Fuckin’ James and I am not going to roll over and let some shitbag kidnap my sister and get away with it.”
“That’s the Seven I know.” Chrome says as he pats me on the back. “Now put on some makeup and get your ass downstairs.” He stands from his perch on the toilet seat and walks out of the bathroom without looking back at me.
His (Hers #5) Page 11
