Never Forever (BlackPath MC Book 1)

by Quinn, Vera

  I sit up and stretch, then get up and think of what I need to wear today. I decide on a dress and my boots. It will make the statement I need. I get my shower and morning rituals done. I study myself in the mirror. I blow out my hair and that gives it the extra body I want, then I give it a little curl. I move on to my make-up and I take extra time while not over doing it. Kelsey always tells me if I don’t feel good at least look good. I give myself the last once over and I’ll do. I opt for a soft sachet instead of perfume.

  I sit and try to get my nerves settled and I catch a glimpse of the jersey I usually sleep in. It belongs to Mason. I took it out of his room before he left the last time. I told him I would sleep in it every night and dream he was holding me in his arms. That seems like a lifetime ago. What happened to us? He cheated on you! I’m an idiot. He was probably cheating on me the whole time. What am I doing? I do not have time for this! Broken hearts are for fools. I was a fool.

  Never again. Never forever. Never forever. This will be in my head for the rest of my life. My blinders have been taken off. I am no longer that blind fool.

  I hear a knock at my door and I know it’s show time. I go over to the door and open it up and there stands the last person I would have thought would be knocking on my door.

  “Devil, I guess dad got in touch with you. Let’s go downstairs and get this over with.” I tell him and start to go into the hall but he doesn’t move. “Are we going?” I ask him but he is moving me back into my room.

  “Chief said I could talk to you first. I want to say my piece without any interruptions, then we can go. Will you let me do that, please?” He gives me a very intense look. I know I should say no, but he has me curious at what he thinks he can say to make this better.

  “Ok, Devil. I will give you that, if you give me something in return.” I never take my eyes off his so he knows he cannot intimidate me in any way.

  “What do you want little girl?” he is trying to flirt with me but I’m not stupid and will not fall for his charm in any way.

  “Actually two things now that I think about it.” I add on.

  “Give a female an inch and she thinks she owns the whole damn territory. Ok, two. When you are done it is my turn.” I guess if charm doesn’t work he turns to insults. At least they’re good natured insults.

  “Agreed. One, quit calling me girl. If you want me to marry you, don’t you think I am a woman? I am very capable and if I can make a decision like this I think I am a woman.” I look at him and he nods his head in agreeance.

  “Point well made. No more girl. If I slip up, I will only be playing or I will be apologizing.” He looks sincere but what do I know? I always believed Mason and I see how well that worked out. For some reason I believe him.

  “Ok, two, what is your birth name. I know Devil is your club name, and it is what you go by, but if I am to consider anything you have asked of me, I need to at least need to know the name your mom gave you at birth.” I know most club members consider the name the club gives them their name, but for some reason I want to know his real name. I have a need to know more about him.

  “Ok, I can give you that too. You are right, though, everyone calls me Devil. Well everyone but my mom, grandma, and sister. My name is Kylar Damien Steel.” I see the little smile he gives me when he talks about his family. He loves them. He doesn’t mind showing he loves them. Very nice. I like that. Most men try to hide their emotions. When he smiles his lips look so full and soft. What the heck? Just an observation.

  “Kylar Damien Steel. Do you get called Ky? Did they get Devil from Damien? You know like Damien in the Omen? The Devil’s spawn.” I ask flirting with him. I mean teasing him. I was only teasing him.

  “So, you do have a sense of humor. I like it. No, I do not get called Ky. Only Kylar. I got the name Devil for an entirely different reason. Though that is a good one. You and my sister are going to get along great if you like horror movies. Even though she hardly ever sees a full movie. She is too busy covering her eyes at the good parts.” He tells me, teasing me back. He really loves his sister I can tell by the way he speaks of her.

  “Ok, I have to get this out before they come to take us down stairs. Will you just keep an open mind and not jump to conclusions?” he waits for me to answer. I know I need to listen to him, but I have already made up my mind.

  “I said I would. I always keep my word. So go.” I give him the go ahead and sit on my bed to listen. He sits beside me and takes my hand. Then he turns to me and cups my face with his hand. I look in his eyes and I feel this nervousness in my stomach. He has the most beautiful brown eyes. Bedroom eyes, I think is what Kelsey calls them. Yes, I can see why women fall at his feet. His hair is a medium brown and it looks so soft with waves through it. It falls right on the bottom of his neck. Women would kill for that kind of wave in their hair. His eyes are such a deep brown, they can almost hypnotize you. I could almost get lost in them.

  “Are you with me? You look kinda dazed.” Yeah, he knows I was thinking about his sexy self. What am I doing? This is not me. Snap out of it Callie. I jerk myself away from him.

  “Alright, just tell me.” I know that came out snarky, but I need to keep my head about me. He needs to keep his hands over there and I need to stay over here.

  “Alright then, let’s get to this.” He gets up and starts to pace.

  Chapter 25

  Devil

  “Alrigh,t just tell me.” Callie says to me. She’s sounding snarky now. I caught her checking me out and looking a little too long. So I do affect her a little anyway.

  “Alright then, let’s get to this.” I can’t sit still anymore. I have to get up and pace. “I am here to make you mine. Forever. Not for just right now. You will be my wife and I am not giving you or anyone else a choice. We can do it the easy way with Chief’s ok, or the hard way. By the way, happy late birthday.”

  She starts to interrupt. I can see by the look on her face I have pissed her off straight out the gate. I raise my hand to calm her, she jerks away but remains quiet.

  “Ok, that is the harsh part. I know that asshole you thought you loved cheated on you. I am not him. I am not offering love, but respect and loyalty. You know how a club works and I need that. Steel is going to be retiring from being President in a year or so and I will be taking over and I need a good woman who will stand beside me. I saw for myself that you can do that. We can be good together.”

  I give her that part while pacing, then I sit beside her and I take her hand, and before she can back away, my lips are on hers. I start out slow, kissing her lips, then I take it deeper and slide my tongue over her lips until she opens for me. I entangle my tongue with hers. Tasting her and exploring slowly. When we pull apart. I look in her eyes and I see she wants more, but this is not the time.

  “Callie, I know you are the one that killed Chaz. You, not Chief. His club covered it up and I will do what I have to with that information to get you.” She tries to pull back from me and looks horrified and pissed. Then I do the only thing I can, I kiss her again. Taking my time. I can feel myself getting hard from her taste and feeling her so close to me. It feels like it has been too long since I have had a woman. Damn she feels good. I have to remember why I am here and keep my mind on the job at hand.

  Callie pulls away from and she is trying to slow her breathing. “Are you trying to blackmail me, you asshole?” she is fuming. Her eyes are a brighter blue when she is mad. She is beautiful.

  “I’m telling you I will do what I have to. I will get what I want. I would rather do this easy. We marry and have a good life. Respect and loyalty will endure a long time. Love is a fleeting emotion, as you have recently learned. Then Chief and the BlackPath MC stay clean. They have worked hard at getting their club cleaned up and to start to build a good reputation in the community. It would be a shame to take all that away. Just think about it. You will have a good life with me. I will treat you like the princess you are.” I try to think of anything I can grasp at to get my
way. I can’t read her. Usually I can read a person pretty good but not Callie.

  Before I can ask her what she is thinking there is a knock at the door and then the door opens and Chief barges in and I know our conversation is over.

  “Devil, when I said you could talk to Callie, I did not mean in her room. Who told you to come up here?” Chief ask. Of course I knew Chief didn’t mean for me to be in Callie’s room, but apparently Ty didn’t think anything about it. He told where to find her.

  “Ty told me to come up and told me where her room was. I thought you told him to let me up here. We were just talking. Getting to know each other better.” I lie to Chief. Well, partially lie. Ty did tell me to come up.

  “He’s right dad. Ky and I were just getting to know each other.” Callie grins at me. She knows what she is doing, but I guess I’ll give it to her. At least she’s covering for me, even if I don’t know what she is thinking.

  “Ok then. Come on Ky, Cross is here and ready. Callie, he wants to speak to you first. In my office. Let’s go.” The smartass thinks he’s funny. I give Callie one last look before I start out the door.

  “Well come on, Cam. Since we’re on first name basis.” I give it right back to Chief, but I see the death glare he fixes me with. Man can’t take a joke.

  Chapter 26

  Callie

  We walk down the stairs to the bar area, and I see everyone is waiting on us. Steel is sitting at a table in the corner and Devil goes to join him. Ty is talking to Trent and then I notice it.

  My brother finally got his cut. He’s a full member. I am so proud of him. He has been working a little over a year to get this and I know dad is proud of him. I go straight to him and give him a big hug and he takes me in his arms and gives it right back. Then I kiss his cheek “I am so proud of you. I go to sleep for a few hours and you become a member.” Things are happening so fast this weekend.

  “Yeah, dad called a surprise meeting a few hours ago and Woody and I both got our cuts. No more grunt work.” Ty is beside himself and I can’t blame him. This is what he’s wanted since I can remember. To ride beside dad. To not only be his son, but his brother in the club. I am proud of him for seeing being a prospect through and holding onto that dream.

  I see Woody at the other end of the bar and go down and give him a hug and congratulate him. Woody hugs me back and kisses the top of my head. I hear a growl behind me. I know it is coming from Devil, but I ignore it and go back over to my dad.

  “Cross is in my office waiting on you. Do you want me to go in there with you?” I know my dad wants to go with me but I have to do this alone.

  “No dad. I need to talk to him alone. Are we meeting in your office after this? It’ll only be Cross, You, Devil, Steel, Trent, Ty and me. Is that ok? Then we will do whatever you need, but I want to hammer this out alone first.” I know no one has any idea what I’m doing but that’s the point. I want all the details done before everyone else knows.

  “Ok. However you want it. Steel do you agree?” That’s the first time my dad has talked anywhere near nice to them.

  “That’s fine with me. What about you, son? You have any objections?” Steel ask Devil.

  “No, no objections.” Devil agrees

  I turn and walk towards dad’s office but Ty stops me and pulls me in for a hug and whispers in my ear, “Don’t do anything you are not comfortable with. We will fight until the last man for you. You remember that going in there. You will always be my baby sister and no one will take you from us against your will.”

  I feel tears behind my eyes, but I know I have to be strong. That is the sweetest thing Ty has said to me in a long time and just knowing Ty has my back comforts me. “Thank you, bubba. I love you too.” I only have called Ty and Tommy bubba. It is a word I cherish. Both have been the most amazing brothers to me. Then I pull out of his arms and walk the rest of the way into dad’s office to have one of the most important talks of my life. My life as an adult starts now. I shut the door on the people waiting on answers from me and make the hardest decision of my life.

  Chapter 27

  Callie

  I opened the door and stepped back out by the bar and summoned the people who have been waiting on my answer into the room. They enter one by one. Mr. Cross has moved over to a chair by the window. He is only there to answer any legal questions, and to take the papers we are about to sign.

  Dad takes his seat behind his desk. Steel, Uncle Trent, and Ty sit on the long sofa, and I have Devil sit beside me in the two other chairs in front of dad. I try to relax but I am full of tension. I don’t know how these people are going to react so I know I just have to spit it out.

  “Thank you all for being here. I know this is all under strained circumstances, but I am just going to put this out there. I will agree to marry Devil under a few conditions.” I look between dad and Devil and they have opposite expressions.

  Dad looks like I just broke his heart and Devil looks like he just has gotten his way. He is soon to find out, only at a price. “Dad, I am doing this of my own free will. No one is coercing me. I do not feel pressured. I want the information and I want revenge for Tommy. This is my choice, and I hope I am not disappointing you.”

  I look at my dad’s eyes and they are full of anguish and regret, but they also have love for me and understanding. That I can accept. Please hear me all the way out before anyone interrupts.” I see Ty and Uncle Trent chomping at the bit wanting to say something. “These conditions are exact and I have had Mr. Cross draw up a pre-nuptial agreement laying them out, so they are legal and binding.”

  Steel and Devil both look like they just got their favorite toy taken away from them. They thought they were going to get everything they wanted, but it’s not happening. “The conditions are, first if you in any way misrepresent anything to me our marriage will be annulled or I will go to court and air your dirty laundry to get away from you. Annulled not divorce, on the grounds of fraud and misrepresentation. Second, I keep everything I go into our marriage with. All my funds and personal property. They remain mine solely. Third, we are married here within a week. Texas is a community property state. Fourth, if you put my life in jeopardy or I am harmed, my dad and Ty get everything of mine, plus your third of Steel Enterprises, Inc., whatever that might be worth. I understand it is sizeable.

  Last but certainly not least, you will support me, provide for me and not be unreasonable with me while we are married. I know some are not as important as others, but I have my reasons. Ok gentlemen, you have the floor.” I know my demands are outrageous but I will see how much Devil is willing to bend.

  “That is outrageous! You know the life we lead. Your life can be put in jeopardy any day.” Steel stands up with his hand on his hips looking completely pissed.

  “Do you really expect me to agree to all of those demands?” Devil asks with contempt in his voice.

  “Baby girl I am proud of you. You know how to cut a man off at his knees.” Uncle Trent says while trying to keep from laughing.

  “This is a negotiation and I have given you my demands. Give me your counter offer, but Devil, this will be finished within the hour, or I walk out that door and I don’t look back. Mr. Cross will draw up any amendments and get them back this evening. You are paying him very nicely for working on a Sunday. He will file everything and keep copies, dad will get copies, as will you, and I. So it’s your floor and make it good.” I knew what their reaction would be, that’s the reason I didn’t let them know what I am most concerned with. They will find out soon enough.

  “Baby girl, I think you have found your niche as a negotiator. I am proud of you.” Dad puts in. I learned this from him so he should feel proud.

  “Ok, to save us some time what is it exactly you want. I won’t give you part of the family business. It is not that you are going to be harmed on my watch, but I won’t do that to my dad and brother. You are going to be my wife. Tell me. Be reasonable.” Devil is not used to having to bargain to get his women a
nd it shows. He isn’t happy with this little meeting, but I am not going to be falling at his feet.

  “Fair enough. I keep the annulment option, keeping my property, you support me, and we get married within a week. I’ll drop the company deal, but if you cheat on me during our marriage, you will pay me fifty thousand dollars and give me a non-contested divorce. Regardless. My last offer.”

  I know Devil is going to take it. He is too anxious. From what Mr. Cross found out about his finances, fifty thousand is a third of his worth, besides the family company.

  “And if you cheat on me?” he asks and then looks at the clock.

  “Do you want to continue to negotiate?” I know he is running out of time so I don’t think he will take the chance.

  Devil looks into my eyes as if he’s trying to read my mind but I try to keep my face expressionless.