“No kids for you guys?”
She places something else that resembles lasagna into the oven and turns to me. “Not yet.”
I grow quiet, not sure what else there is to say about it. I don’t want to push her on it. Usually, when you bring this stuff up, chicks chat your ear off. I keep to myself a lot besides when I’m in “Pit Master mode,” so I’m not very good talking to women. They normally don’t care for me much.
She leans against the counter across from where I stand and breaks the silence. “I have a feeling I’m going to be seeing a lot of you around here, Chevelle, so I’ll share some back story with you.”
“You do?”
Princess nods. “Mercenary did put his patch on you,” she says, staring at me thoughtfully. I’m sure too many write her off as a pretty face and not realize she’s wise beyond her years. “The club that the brothers went after beat me up badly when they stormed our compound. They did the same to Bethany as well and stole Maverick. The bastards nearly killed Blaze and succeeded in killing two of the other members.”
My eyes widen. I knew they were dangerous, but goddamn, that is way beyond what I thought they were capable of. No wonder the Oath Keepers have been all over their asses when it comes to The Pit. “Holy shit,” I whisper.
The skin around her eyes tightens as if she’s remembering everything from that time. “That’s not even everything. They hurt my father’s old club too—the one Ares is President of now. They’re with our guys now, helping. The Iron Fists club is massive, so the brothers had to sit back and wait for the perfect timing. I’m praying that they’re right and that the time for retribution is now.”
I swallow, my throat feeling dry with the sad story. “How do you deal with knowing about it all and having to stay here?”
“I deal because I couldn’t imagine my life without Viking or the brothers of this club. They’re my family, and they’re doing what they feel is right, what will keep us safe. I’d do the same thing if I had the chance to offer them that protection.”
She gestures to my leather jacket that I’ve worn since Mercenary left with the others. “You’re a part of that family now too. We may not be in the club, but these men are my brothers. You’re special enough to Mercenary for him to make you his ol’ lady, and that makes you my sister.”
“Thank you,” leaves me on a breath and she flashes me a small smile.
“Now get your sexy ass on over here. I’m going to teach you how to make my mom’s macaroni casserole. It’s the best comfort food.”
I hop off the stool and say a silent prayer that I don’t ruin more of her food.
The thunderous roars outside from various motorcycles are loud enough to feel as if the compound is shaking from a small earthquake. The Oath Keepers all ride in together as one big group and park in front of the clubhouse. The tension in the air is thick. We wait with bated breath to see if they’ll all return to us through that door. Anyone could’ve been injured or worse, killed. I may not know the other brothers like I do Mercenary, but I can only imagine how their loved ones feel, worrying about their men’s safety.
The door to the main entry flies open and one after another, massive men enter. Their presence quickly fills up the space of the bar. The room’s large but they almost make the area seem too small to fit them all at one time. Each one of them is splattered with blood, and one of the meanest looking guys of them all helps a smaller man through the door.
As soon as I find Mercenary, I jog to him. “What happened?” Thank God he’s in one piece, and I don’t think the blood he’s wearing is his as most of it’s dark from drying.
He glances at the two hobbling past us. “Exterminator’s fine. Ruger was shot in the leg, so he’s helping him.”
“Shot? Shouldn’t he be at a hospital?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, he’ll be fine.” The movement lets me catch the side of his face. A dark bruise is already forming near his temple.
“Shit, your face! Are you hurt badly?”
He pulls me into his arms, burying his face in the top of my hair. Princess did a good job of keeping me busy, but now that I have this big man in my arms, I realize just how worried I was for him. “I’m fine, I got jumped from behind. The fucker got a cheap shot in, catching me by surprise but I got the better of him.”
Releasing a breath, I pull him to me, holding his muscular frame a bit tighter. Relief fills my chest as I take in his scent. “Thank God.”
His fingers go under my chin, tipping my head up to meet his gaze. “Careful sweetie almost sounds like you care.” His voice is gravelly, still laced with a dangerous edge. His body vibrates with adrenaline, and I know he needs to release some of it with me.
My bottom lip trembles and fuck if I don’t want to kick my own ass for wearing my feelings so openly. It’s been close to two months since he first showed up at The Pit demanding my attention. Now I don’t want to think of a life without him in it. “I do care, cupcake; I’d miss kicking your ass at everything if something happened to you.”
His lips turn up at the edges into an amused smirk and then finally his mouth falls to mine. With a swift kiss, he holds me firmly against him, warming me from within. “You remembered your jacket,” he mutters when he eventually breaks free from my lips.
“Wouldn’t forget it for the world,” I admit softly, and he swallows.
“You make it really easy for a brother to fall for you, sassy-ass mouth and all.”
“So charming.” I roll my eyes, and his grin makes me smile in return.
“Tell me, Chevy. I want to hear you say it back.”
Rather than correct him on my name, I give in and go a little further than his statement. With my mouth still close enough for my lips to brush his, I whisper, confessing the one thing I’ve never felt for another man. “I love you, Mercenary.”
Mercs grin blooms into a full-blown, wide smile, white teeth showing and everything. He scoops me into his arms and my legs wrap around his waist to hold on. Embracing his neck, I press a quick peck on his lips, and he rasps, “I love you, Chevelle.” Then he’s walking us to the bar, joining his brothers in a shot to celebrate.
Whatever happened with the Iron Fists, it must’ve been a win for the Oath Keepers. While they celebrate together, I bask in the warmth of being wrapped in Mercenary’s arms, knowing he loves me.
With a pleased gaze in my direction, he draws everyone’s attention. “A toast! Here’s to keeping our women and club safe. The Iron Fists breathe no longer, and we breathe easier without them.”
“To our women,” Viking echoes.
“The ol’ ladies,” Nightmare joins in.
“And to us,” Saint interrupts. “Because God help anyone who attempts to take or hurt what belongs to us!” His stare locks on Sinner, and he nods his agreement.
“To kicking ass.” Odin holds up his full shot glass.
“And family,” I speak up. “With it, we have everything.” I receive soft looks from the boulders of men and prideful glances from the woman beside them.
“Yes, we do,” Mercenary mumbles in my ear. “With you, I have everything.”
If someone tells you that your car
doesn’t need that much power,
stop talking to them. You don’t need that
kind of negativity in your life.
- Pinterest Meme
Twenty years later...
“Damn it, Chevelle, get her out of the driver’s seat.” Mercenary grumbles in my direction.
Nova giggles at her father’s frustrated shout, and I smile wickedly. “Go ahead, Nova; crank her over before your daddy catches us.”
“He’s going to be so pissed. You heard him last week when he said my first car wouldn’t be a race car.”
I shrug. “Your father knows damn well that I do what I want to. Now let’s hear how she purrs.” I also remember when he swore Nova wouldn’t go to prom either, yet she went to both her junior and s
enior proms. Or how he yelled the house down about her not being allowed to date, yet she did that too. He may huff and puff, but she has him wrapped around her finger.
I know what you’re thinking, and no, we didn’t teach her how to drive in a race car. Mercenary would’ve stroked out and spanked my pussy until I couldn’t walk for a week if I had. However, with The Pit booming business wise, I had to treat my girl for her eighteenth birthday. I handed over the keys to my Chevy Nova, the car that her name originated from. Our daughter’s about to graduate next month, and she’s already been accepted into Baylor to study psychology, so she’s earned it.
“That is so not fair, Daddy! Why does Nova get a car and I don’t?” Our sixteen-year-old daughter shouts and runs to catch up with Merc as he storms in our direction.
My eyes meet Novas, excitement sparking in our matching irises. “Shit. Shelby’s with Dad. You better drive this beast, baby girl.”
With a calming breath, Nova puts the car into gear and then peels out as she slams on the gas.
Nova’s definitely my daughter, one hundred percent. She doesn’t get that lead foot from cupcake. Not that he’s given me a chance to ever race him, the bastard. I think he’s too chicken to get beat by his woman, but he swears it’s because he doesn’t want to see me lose to him. And we all know the stubborn man would never throw the race, even if it came to me. Not that I’d want him to. I’m perfectly capable of winning on my own.
“Where’s Hemi?” I ask over the rumbling engine and stereo.
“Last I saw him he was talking to some girl on his cell.”
I’m pretty certain Nova’s twin brother’s going to be hitting me up for a car next, or worse, asking Mercenary for a damn Harley.
“Who? Do you know her?”
She shrugs. “The last thing I want to overhear is his phone sex conversations.”
“Ugh, Nova! That’s my son!”
“He’s my brother, I feel the same way.” She makes a quick bleh face at me before concentrating on the road again.
Jesus, when did these kids grow up? I blinked, and they were no longer my babies but young adults.
We lasted two years before I threw the birth control out the window and demanded my stud give me a baby. The club was in a good place with possible enemies, and I had an abundance of his attention. I grew up alone nearly my entire youth. I wanted family and a lot of it.
What are the odds we’d get pregnant with twins on the first go? I was absolutely terrified when we found out. I had no parents, so how could I be a decent mother? Especially to two crying, pooping babies at the same time? Thankfully Mercenary’s mother and father stepped in to offer advice and a compassionate ear to listen when we were feeling overwhelmed.
Being first time parents wasn’t easy by any means but loving the twins and each other was effortless. Having Mercenary around all the time to demand random sex and spoil me, definitely helped get us through the rougher times. It seemed like once we finally caught our stride with the twins, that Shelby decided to surprise us. She’s completely rotten too, every bit of the sixteen-year-old princess, but I’d have her no other way. I never had that freedom to be carefree, and I relish in seeing her so innocent and happy in life.
Hemi is another story all together. He’s so much like his father it drives me crazy some days. I thought men grew into the broodiness, but hell no, that’s not true. I have a broody-ass eighteen-year-old alpha who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Hemi seems to believe that he has a chance with any female under the age of thirty, and cupcake eggs him on without a thought. Betty, Mercenary’s mom, tells me that he was the exact same way at that age too.
And I’m in love—complete mind-blowing, soul shattering, heartwarming love with my ol’ man. If I could go back and do it all over again, would I flip him like I did? Damn right. The stubborn biker needed to know he’d met his match, and I’m pretty sure that move hooked him from the start. He’s been good to me all this time. I couldn’t ask for a better man in my life. He loves me as if every day is his last and he’s been a damn good father to our children.
With them, I’ll grow old feeling loved, knowing what it is to love, and never be alone again.
“I thought Nova wasn’t getting a race car, Daddy?” Shelby’s bottom lip trembles as she stares at me with a look like I killed a kitten.
“I had nothing to do with that.” I point toward the car as we watch the ass end lurch forward with Nova driving like a maniac. “You know your mom does whatever she thinks is right.”
Tears crest in her eyes and I swallow roughly. I don’t do so well when my girls cry—any of them. Seeing them sad makes me feel like I’ve been stabbed in the chest. “But...” she whispers, trailing off as a tear breaks free, wetting her cheek as it runs down the creamy skin.
“What, baby? What is it?” I question softly and pull her to my chest where more of her tears break free.
“Mom always drives with Nova.”
“Yeah? Why does that upset you so much?”
“Because she believes that Nova is so much like her.”
“They have a lot in common, that’s all.” I attempt to reason as she hiccups.
“Nova’s going off to college...but, I’m like mom.”
“Well, you’re all stubborn like your momma.” A chuckle breaks free, as I think of my headstrong ol’ lady.
“No, Dad,” she pulls away, meeting my gaze with a new fire burning in her irises I’ve never seen before. “I want to race.” She hisses and at that moment she’s right, she’s every bit Chevelle twenty years ago.
Sweet Jesus, I feel for the kid who falls in love with her. He’ll have his hands full. Not that it’ll happen before she’s at least thirty.
“If you’re serious, Shelby, I’ll talk it over with your mom.” I give in, not wanting her to be upset. I’d rather we know what she’s doing versus her attempting to hide it from us. I’m an asshole to nearly everyone else, but one tear from my little girl and I’m bending over backward without blinking to make her happy.
She pops up, suddenly full of pep, and pecks my cheek. “Thanks, Daddy, love you!” And miraculously the tears instantly disappear, and she runs off toward the house.
Brat...she’s spoiled like her mom! I wouldn’t change them for the world though. I’ve never loved someone so much in my life.
“Bro, you’re not going to fuck her.” My buddy Maverick chides through the phone. He’s a couple years older than me, and he recently got his patch. His dad let him start prospecting for the Oath Keepers MC back when he turned eighteen. He thinks he’s a total badass now because of it.
“I’m giving it two weeks at the most.”
“Hmm, two weeks? You want to bet on it?”
“I’ve got fifty saying I hit it.”
“All right, if it doesn’t happen by the beginning of week three, you owe me fifty bucks.”
“Done,” I state firmly, knowing I’ll wear her guard down by then.
He laughs. “You need to hurry up and come prospect for the club. The brothers would get in on this bet in a heartbeat and then you’d really lose some money.”
I snort. “Because losing money should make me want to join up even faster?”
“No, because you’d have the entire club behind you. Think of the cash you’d get if you won.”
“You have a point Mav; maybe I should talk to my dad about joining...”
Please let me know if you loved Chevelle and leave a review—even a few words, is amazing. Thank you for being a part of my world and until next time! XO- Sapphire
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Chevelle 6x9 Page 19
