by River Savage
“Whatever,” he dismisses and hands Low back to her.
“Where the fuck you been? And what the fuck happened to your face?” Nix walks out, coffee in hand.
“Slept in, and got in a disagreement,” I tell him the same thing I told Hunter and Kenzie as I follow him into church with the rest of the guys. This morning is our weekly club meet. I’m only five minutes late, but judging by everyone’s mood, I may as well have been an hour.
“You have an alarm clock, asshole?” Sy takes a seat in his chair next to me putting his own two cents in. Jesus Christ, what the fuck is up everyone’s ass today? If anyone has a pass to be pissed off, it’s me,
I screwed up last night. Lost my shit at Mackenzie, then told her everything I’ve been dreaming about doing to her since she came back to me. My tight grip on keeping everything platonic is slipping. I don’t know how much more I can keep denying this.
“You have a problem, Sy?” I force all thoughts of Mackenzie out of my head and give Sy the same attitude back.
“How about you both shut the hell up so we can get this shit over with,” Nix cuts off Sy’s reply and addresses the table.
“What’s gonna piss me off this week?” He starts the meeting like he always does, going around the table and checking in on the business side of things. Brooks runs the bar Fireside, Jesse runs the club, Liquid, and Sy mans and runs the tattoo shop, Ink Me.
A couple of months back, Kelly and I put it forward to Nix and the boys our plans for opening a women’s shelter in town. With me taking over from Tiny, I wanted to change some areas. Not all cases run the same. Not all women want or need to leave town. A local women’s shelter in town will help cut down on unnecessary runs, and still keep the women safe. We were going to go ahead with or without the club’s input, but we wanted them in on it since it’s gonna take up a lot of time for both me and Kelly.
Our goal for the shelter is to provide safe accommodation with twenty-four-hour emergency support, but also community support. Along with shelter staff and volunteers, we will be able to assist women with job training and hunting, housing, medical, and legal services. The length of time a woman or family can live there will be based on their individual needs and goals. Some may come through for emergency housing, others may stay on for over six months.
The vote came through as a yes from the club and, after some back and forth, we finally secured the perfect place big enough for what we need here in town.
“How did you go on getting licenses for the shelter?” Nix asks when everyone has gone through all the usual day-to-day dramas. On top of sourcing qualified staff and volunteers, we’ve been jumping through hoops to make sure all paperwork is up to date so we can legally receive donations and government grants.
“Have everything we need, bar a name. Any suggestions?” I ask the table, hoping someone has something. This part of the business holds the least interest to me, which is why Kelly is a perfect business partner.
“Well,” Brooks speaks up. “The boys and I were thinking maybe you wanted to name it, Missy’s Place.” I hold my breath, trying not to react.
My sister.
The reason I started all of this.
“You don’t have to.” Nix takes my silence for a no, letting me off the hook. But it’s not what I want.
“I think she’d like it.” I bite the inside of my cheek until the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.
“Then it’s settled Missy’s Place it is.” Nix reaches over, slaps me on the arm, before moving on to the next topic. I miss it entirely, my mind’s too lost in the memories of Missy and what this means for me. For her.
I never thought I’d ever come to a point in my life where I’d be able to honor her name.
Until now.
It might have taken ten years, but fuck it feels good.
“You still with us?” Nix asks a while later, pulling me back. I look up and notice the boys have all left, leaving Nix and me.
“Yep.” I stand, ready to go.
“So you wanna tell me what happened to your face.” He stops my exit like I should have known he would.
Taking a seat back down, I prepare to lay it all out for him. “One of T’s boys jumped me after leaving Fireside last night.”
“How’s he look?”
“Lucky to be alive.”
He draws a breath in and slowly releases it. “This gonna come back on us?”
“Depends if he has the proof he says he has.”
“Is there a chance he has proof?”
“I don’t think so, but he seems adamant.”
“You don’t think so? Jesus, Beau. You either know or you don’t.”
“I don’t fucking know. I can’t be sure. It wasn’t a planned rescue. It happened so fast. You know this already. I saw her and took her.”
He taps the table three times, thinking through our options. “Well, where is she?”
“She’s still in town. Tiny has her in one of his safe houses. She doesn’t want to leave in case he files kidnapping charges. Tiny’s dealing with it.” It’s probably not the best place to have her considering Baz is losing it, but after this, I’ll make sure I talk with Tiny.
“Well, keep an eye on it. If this fucker gets out of line again, don’t be so easy on him next time.”
“Oh, I look forward to it,” I tell him, knowing I don’t need my Prez’s permission to take this shit further. If Baz fucks up again, I won’t have a problem taking the asshole down.
“You really okay with using Missy’s name? Didn’t mean to throw that shit out there when you’re unprepared.” Nix changes the tone of the conversation, but I’m prepared.
“It’s fine. I’m good.” His brows dip a little, watching me for a reaction.
“You just seem a little wired. Everything okay at home with Mackenzie?”
Fucking wired is an understatement. I’m on fucking edge and don’t need to be sitting around fucking talking about it.
“I’m good. Look, I gotta head out to the new building with Kelly. She wants to discuss furniture shit. We done?” I stand and look down at him.
“Yeah, we’re done.” He finds his feet and follows me back out to the bar.
“You ready?” Kelly stands when she notices me.
“Yep. You bringing her?” I ask, looking down at Mia playing at her feet. I don’t have a problem if she does, but I have a feeling we’re gonna have to go shopping and, fuck, shopping with Mia where she runs around touching everything is gonna drives me nuts.
“Don’t be an ass, Beau.” She shakes her head, before digging through her bag.
“What did I say?”
“She has a name. It wouldn’t hurt for you to use it.” She pulls her keys from her bag and starts to walk out to her car.
“You’re a dick,” Jesse shouts across the clubhouse, happy for once I’m copping it and not him.
“Yeah, says the biggest dick of all.” I flip him off.
“I know I have a big dick, thanks.” His laughter can be heard all the way outside as I follow Kelly.
Jesus, I’m losing my touch. I fucking walked right into that one.
Fifteen
Mackenzie
“Please, tell me this did not actually happen?” I laugh at Kadence’s reaction as Holly relays a story involving Nix, Valentine’s Day and Viagra.
“Oh, it happened,” Kadence answers, laughing just as hard as the rest of us.
It’s a Friday evening, five nights after my tense encounter with Beau where he told me he wanted me as much as I wanted him but wouldn’t act on it.
I had planned on having a quiet night in until Beau was called into work, and he didn’t want to leave me alone, so I told him I would call Kelly over to keep me company. She showed up with alcohol, Kadence, Holly, and Bell, turning my quiet night into a girls’ night.
“So what did you do?” I take another sip of my drink, my third for the night, and I sit back in the chair I now call my own. I know it’s not really mine, but I�
�ve claimed it as my own whenever I sit down to watch TV or read a book, it’s the comfiest spot.
“We had to go to the ER. It was so embarrassing. Everyone knew.” Kadence giggles, hiding her face in her hands.
“I can’t even imagine.” I laugh along with them, picturing it all play out.
“Enough about us. We want some gossip on you.” Kelly leans forward and tops up her cocktail.
“What? I don’t have any gossip.” A warm blush creeps up my neck and four sets of eyes fall on me.
“Girl, you’re hot gossip at the moment. Don’t leave us hanging,” Kadence encourages, and I almost feel disappointed I have nothing to gossip about with them.
“I swear, I have nothing.” I shrug, those four sets of eyes, fading from excitement to suspicion.
There is no way I can tell them what has or rather hasn’t happened between Beau and me.
“You mean to tell me, you’ve been living under this roof, living in your own bubble with no interruptions, no nosey club members to cramp your style and you have nothing to share?”
“Believe me, if I had something to share, I would.” I let out a huff at my own displeasure.
Ever since that night when Beau told me what he wanted to do to me, then told me we can’t, he has been reserved, keeping to himself and staying clear of me. It’s been tense and somewhat awkward, but I’m trying to put it behind me with hopes maybe things might change.
“So you do like him. I knew it!” Holly stands to raise her glass.
“Sit down, fool. We all knew she liked him.” Kadence rolls her eyes and turns back to me.
“So what’s the issue? He’s too moody?”
I laugh at her question only to find them all staring back at me blankly. “Beau is not moody. He’s just composed,” I defend him, watching as each of them share a look.
“Girl, the man is so moody, some days I wonder if he’s PMSing on the same cycle as me,” Kadence fires, and I can’t help but laugh along with them.
“He’s not that bad.” I shrug, not seeing Beau the way they do. He’s direct and quiet, but moody? No.
“We have bets to see how many words he can say sometimes. I think the most I’ve ever heard in one night was fifteen. Fifteen, Kenz. Fifteen.” Kelly shakes her head, disturbed by the number.
“He talks to me,” I offer, hoping to show them he’s not the moody asshole they seem to think he is.
“Yeah, ‘cause he likes you, probably wants to tie you up and spank you.” Bell’s hand slaps over her mouth just as fast as the words leave her lips.
Oh, God, did everyone know about Beau and his wants but me?
“What. Do. You. Know?” Kadence turns to face the younger woman, whose eyes are practically falling out of her head.
“Oh, God. No, nothing. I know nothing.” She shakes her head, denying it as much as a kid caught with his hand in the candy jar would.
“Bullshit. Don’t you dare hold out on us,” Kelly pushes this time.
“I can’t say. I wasn’t meant to say. Oh, I’m gonna be in so much trouble.” Bell starts rocking.
The thought of her knowing something she isn’t supposed to doesn’t sit well with me. A spark of jealousy settles in me. What does she know?
“Well, the cat’s out of the bag now. Just spill,” Kelly adds, just as eager to know.
“Shit, guys.” Bell stands and starts pacing.
“If it’s bad, you shouldn’t say.” I try to pull the conversation back, not wanting to know.
“It’s not bad, bad. Just, I was sworn to secrecy. And now I’ve gone and blabbed.”
“What if we guess?” Kadence asks, offering her a way out of her guilt.
“Yeah, okay. If you guess correctly, I’ll just nod, that way I’m not actually telling anything.” I nearly laugh at how serious Bell’s taking this.
“Let me guess. Beau is the kinky fuck who tied Lissy up, spanked the fuck out of her ass while we were in Vegas.” I spit my drink at Holly’s guess and watch all color drain from Bell’s face.
Lissy? Oh, my God. This is worse. He’s had sex with Lissy. Is he still having sex with her? Is that why he doesn’t want more from me?
“How did you know?” Bell sits, her hands moving back to her mouth. “Shit.”
“’Cause Lissy told me.” Holly shrugs, a slow smile pulling at the corners of her lips. “She didn’t swear me to secrecy, so we’re cool,” she assures Bell before turning back to me.
“Are they still?” I stop to think how to phrase it. I’ve met Lissy a couple of times in the last two months. She’s a little crazy and loud, but a nice girl. I never once suspected her and Beau had or even have a fling.
“Oh no. It was a one-time deal. You know Lissy, she’s just having fun. You have nothing to worry about. It’s all in the past.” I look at Bell, silently pleading with her to stop.
“Why, do you have a taste for kink, Mackenzie?” I fight the blush that runs over my face and offer Holly my innocent look.
If only they knew.
“I don’t have a taste for anything.” I clear my throat and push all images of a naked Beau spanking Lissy out of my head.
“I bet ya that’s why he hasn’t made his move. Innocent Mackenzie is messing him up.” Holly, oblivious to my panic, starts running through all the scenarios. Jesus, is this woman psychic?
“Beau just isn’t interested in me, guys.” I try to put out the fire they started with their questions and let them down easy. It’s not like I can tell them he wants me, but because of my past is too afraid to go there, and I was too clueless to understand any of this until I practically begged him.
Yeah, I’m a hot mess.
“Are you deaf, blind and stupid?” Kadence asks this time. “The man is so into you, I’m concerned for his own health.”
“I kissed him then kind of freaked out. Now he says we can’t go there, and I’ve tried to forget about it ever since.” This time I slap my hand over my mouth, realizing I just revealed too much.
“HA! I knew it.” Kelly stands, dances in her spot then holds her hand out. “Pay up, bitches.” She waits patiently as Kadence, Holly and Bell place ten-dollar bills in her hand.
“You made a bet?” I ask, not sure if I should be offended or laugh along with them.
“You’ll get used to them, don’t worry,” Bell offers and for reasons I can’t explain, I believe her.
Yeah, they’re crazy, brash, loud and over the top, but it’s not all there is to them. They’re kind, funny and caring. They opened their lives to accommodate me, look after me, and now in such a short time, accepted me as a friend. I’m more than lucky to have them in my life, especially when I still have no idea if Heidi is in hiding or if Chad has done something to her.
“So what was the bet, then?” I ask, wanting to know the odds.
“Well, I bet you had already fucked each other’s brains out.” Holly shrugs, before taking a sip of her drink. “You could have taken one for the team, babe.” She winks and I laugh.
“I bet you hadn’t done anything,” Kadence adds, not at all worried she lost out.
“And I bet you made it to second base.” Bell blushes a little and I want to say sorry I couldn’t take it further for her.
“And I, of course, won the bet,” Kelly says, counting her money.
“Huh.” I look at each of them, still not sure what to say.
“You’re not mad, are you?” Kadence asks, looking a little guilty.
“No, I’m just trying to figure out how I can get in on these bets.” I smile, setting her at ease. I’m not mad; I knew there were whispers about us. Who wouldn’t talk?
“Well, we have a pool for when Bell announces she’s getting married.” Holly offers.
“What? You do?” Bell shouts, not clued in on the bet.
“Yeah, I lost out already.” Holly clearly has high hopes for everyone getting it on and getting married.
“Okay, well, can I be in on that one?” I ask, trying to figure out when she and Je
sse would want to settle down. I know they just started living together, but I might have an advantage here.
“Yeah, the pool is at two hundred.” Kelly smiles, ignoring Bell’s shock.
“Okay, I bet $50 they’re engaged by Thanksgiving.” My mind goes back to the morning Jesse taught me or should I say tried to teach me how to make an omelet and I remember Jackson telling Jesse he needed to put a ring on Bell’s finger. He said soon and dropped the subject just as quick.
“Done. Locked in.”
I turn to look at Bell and watch a knowing smile spread across her face.
“What?” I question, wonder what she’s hiding.
“Nothing.” She shrugs but I caught it. She’s keeping something. I just hope it doesn’t happen until Thanksgiving.
I could do with $200.
* * *
“Ugggh.” I wake up the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon. Normally, this combination would have me rolling out of bed eager to start my day. But after the six cocktails I consumed last night, my head and my stomach are telling me otherwise.
“You awake?” The deep voice of Beau echoes around my head, causing me to flinch in pain.
“Don’t yell so loud.” I pull my pillow over my face and try to block out the daylight.
“Come on. Up you get, you’ve slept the whole day away.” I peek out the side of the pillow and check the time.
Just after twelve.
Holy crap, he’s right. I’ve slept half the day away.
“I want to die.” I groan, my stomach rolling in protest.
“I made you something to eat. You’ll feel better with something in your stomach.”
“Can’t move. Dying. Send for help.” I ignore his chuckle and force my eyes closed. Maybe if I sleep some more, I’ll wake up not feeling like death.
“I am the help.” The blanket is ripped off me and I’m thankful I’m still wearing the clothes I wore last night and not my scandalous nightgown.
“Beau,” I complain, but before I can say anymore, Beau has me up and out of bed in his arms.
