Ghost was a little unconventional with stuff sometimes, but I figured it was just because we were so different. I got upset he never introduced me to his friends after we’d been seeing each other for awhile, so he started to bring Blaze around occasionally. He was a nice guy, but I always caught him staring at me like he wanted to pounce, and it made me extremely nervous to be alone with him.
Ghost would come and go as he pleased, never with a set schedule, and sometimes not talking to me for a week or two at a time. I chalked it up to him being a ‘free’ biker wanting to hang out with his friends. That was fine, considering I worked forty to fifty hours a week, and sometimes I’d take an extra Saturday shift.
Then I got pregnant, and I thought he’d be excited, wanting to spend more time with me, but it didn’t quite happen that way. In fact, it was horrible. I wish I could go back and change the day I told him about it.
He looked at me like he’d never seen me before—angry and accusing me of cheating on him. I had never cheated though. I was too busy thinking how I was falling for him and with us being together more. I would easily fall in love with him by the time the bean came along.
I’ll never forget the day he hit me, and Blaze laughed like it was the most entertaining thing he’d ever seen. I wanted to puke so badly with my nerves going crazy. I wished over and over my brother would pull up at that moment to help me, but I also knew if that happened he would probably get seriously hurt, not to mention be disappointed in me also. I could only handle so much negativity at that point in my life, so I never told my brother about it.
I had learned not too much before then, that Ghost and Blaze weren’t caring, nice guys like I had believed. It was about two weeks or so prior that I had to pick up Ghost out in the middle of nowhere.
When I arrived, he and Blaze were kicking this man over and over. Ghost’s boots and pant legs were splashed with blood, and I was scared the guy on the ground was dead. I had never seen anyone look like that in real life.
Blaze took off, and Ghost explained that the guy had raped his sister, so he deserved it. I kept my mouth shut, because I couldn’t possibly imagine the pain that his poor sister must have been in. I wondered if that’s how she was pregnant and why she wanted to get an abortion.
When I asked about it, he just chuckled and said I was gullible, that the girl I had met before wasn’t really his sister, but just a friend. He was always doing that though, changing stories or making me feel like I was remembering different than how they really were.
Now that my head’s less foggy from being away from him, I’m thinking that I was seeing things pretty clearly and he was just making me feel crazy. Now here I am lusting over yet another biker. The first time didn’t damage me enough I guess.
Huffing out a chuckle, I place a plate full of pancakes and bacon in front of Twist,
“Thanks, Sunshine.”
“No problem,” I mumble and get my own plate, overfilling it and dump a shit ton of syrup over the steaming mound. My ass will definitely get bigger after the way I’ve been eating, but I’ll be back to running after this bambino joins the world.
“That can’t happen again,” he grumbles, as my first bite of pancake hits my tongue. Why’d he have to ruin the first taste like that?
“Right,” I reply around my food. “Yeah, I agree.”
“Good, glad you seein’ shit the same way,” he finishes, and digs into his food.
I can only nod, because suddenly I feel like crying. Damn hormones. It’s not like I was dumped, but why do I feel that way? I need to start thinking of him as a friend, my brother’s friend. I had crushes on Silas’ friends growing up and fought off my urges with them, so this dude should be a piece of cake.
Yumm, him and cake.
I’m so screwed.
Chapter 3
The struggle you’re in today,
is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.
-Unknown
Twist
2 Piece gestures to one of the booths in the clubs bar. “Brother, I need to speak to you for a second.”
I grunt and take a seat across from him, ready to get whatever this is, over with.
We don’t talk a lot to each other and we don’t agree on much, so I can’t imagine what this could be about. We’ve always been that way though. We’re the type that if we get around each other too much and both speak, someone will end up getting punched.
I’ve stayed away from his sister even though it’s been killing me. Sadie and I have become friends over the past month, but I still look at her and want to fuck her every day. Any man who doesn’t has to be nutso or gay.
I can’t believe it’s been a month already since she first showed up on our doorstep. 2’s been workin’ on settin’ up an apartment for her. I know it’ll be for the best, but I’m not looking forward to her not being asleep in my bed every night when I finally stumble in, lit off my ass. She’s even more perfect when she’s sleeping, and I love to lie awake and watch her.
I’ve had to drink a ton at night; if not, I hear my baby’s voice more. I have to stop remembering; it’s the only way I’ll fucking survive. Sadie’s woken me up twice, saying I scream at night. That would explain the bags she’s sporting some days, but I try to play it off. No one needs to know my shit.
Ares, my brother, knows a little, but that’s just ‘cause he knows everyone’s dirt. He’s been the Enforcer for years, so he had to find out if there were any possible threats any one of us could bring to the table. I don’t have skeletons that’ll haunt the club though, just me.
“Sup 2?”
“I need to ask a favor.”
I respond with another grunt and he continues. “I need you to take extra care of Sadie. I’m plannin’ to head up to Cali and find the motherfucker who got her knocked up. It’s time the bastard pays for poppin’ smoke on her.”
Fuck. I want to go. I want to teach this stupid fucker what it means to have a family and then to leave them. And with Sadie baby at that, she’s a fuckin’ diamond, just waiting to be snatched up. “Imma go too,” I declare.
“It’s cool, man. You do enough just makin’ sure she’s straight when I can’t.”
“Exactly. I’m with her all the fuckin’ time, brother. If anything, I wanna hurt this fuck face just as much as you.”
“You sayin’ you got feelin’s for my baby sister, Twist?” He glowers and I just wanna knock the look straight off his face. Smug fucker thinks I don’t notice how he looks at Avery and Ares both. He has no room to judge me or have opinions. I get it; that’s his family and all, but I’ll happily put him in his place.
“I ain’t sayin’ shit, ‘cause it ain’t your fuckin’ business about what I feel about who. I’m tellin’ you that she’s club property and I wanna help. I’ve been playin’ nice for too long, I feel like I’m gonna slit someone’s fuckin’ throat.”
And it’s the truth. Keeping me cooped up for too long makes my head hurt. I try to get lost by using more drugs, which Prez fuckin’ hates, but I have to chase the voice away somehow. My anxiety’s been building up lately, and I feel like I could pop at any moment. I’ve been waiting for the Nomads to hit town again so I could chill with them a little, maybe help clean some shit up if they have a job or something, and keep my demons from taking over too much.
“All right, man. I better not find out you’re fuckin’ with Sadie though. She’s hands off,” he huffs and I glare.
“Yep.”
“I need to plan the trip out a little and then we can take off in a day or two?”
“Bet.”
Two days later...
Sadie rests her hands on her hips. “I’m going with you,” she argues in the middle of the club’s parking lot as I get ready to mount my bike.
Even when she’s ticked off about something, she looks gorgeous. Fuck. Mouthy bitch needs to leave me be. It’s hard enough not giving in when she asks sweetly, but add in her little spark and all I wanna do is bend her over my bike and shove my dick deep.
I don’t need to be arguing with her, wastin’ time, I should be gone by now. 2 Piece is on his hog, ready and waiting for me already. He let Sadie in on our plan of checking out Cali this morning, and she’s been trippin’ ever since.
“You can’t be travelin’ across the country so close to havin’ a baby.” I gesture to her swollen middle. I don’t know what it is, but that little beach ball makes me want her even more. Just knowing she’s fertile and can create a life inside her after I’ve been plagued with death for so long makes my desire for her that much stronger. She’s like gravity; the more I fight, the more she pulls me in closer.
Every night she throws on her little tank top to sleep in with no bra, and I pretty much melt to the fucking floor wanting her so badly. Then in the mornings when she’s still sleeping, she’s got her ass poking out toward me, and hell if I don’t wanna, squeeze those round globes. Each day I notice something new, and it takes even more strength to keep my hands to myself.
This trip away will be good for my sanity and my cock.
“I’ll be fine, it’s just driving, not like I’m running around or anything, and you went to the last doctor appointment with me. You heard them say everything was good,” she counters, like I’d ever consider her traveling so far, only to possibly be put in danger. I don’t think so. I don’t give two shits what the nurse said when I was in the waiting room. She isn’t the doctor, and even if they did clear her, I’d still have her off her feet most of the day.
“This discussion is ‘bout your safety, and with everything you’ve let us know about him, you need to hold off until your brother gets a word in. This isn’t an argument I’m open to having, Sadie. This is club life. Do as you’re told and take your ass back inside that clubhouse.” I nod toward the door, getting frustrated. I’m not trying to be a dick, but she’s going to make me be one in order to get her to stay put.
“That’s just it; you don’t know anything about him! How are you going to find him? I couldn’t and I actually know him,” she huffs.
“Not up for debate, Sunshine. You’re staying here; and so help me, if you even think about leaving this clubhouse, I’ll carry your ass back myself,” I end on a growl.
Stubborn woman, just like her brother.
“He’ll hurt you guys, and I can’t stand thinking about it. Please, just stay,” she requests quietly, reaching out to grab my arm and my dick grows harder.
Sadie
At my plea, he thrusts his hand into my hair, yanking my face close to his, and I draw in a surprised gasp. It’s so sexy, but what the hell is he doing? My brother can see him.
“You listen real good, sugar,” he rasps, removing the toothpick from his mouth. “I’mma find this fucker who left you high and dry. You don’t worry about my safety; you trust me when I say I can hold my own. It’d be in his best interest if I didn’t find him though, ‘cause when I do finally hunt that cunt down, he’s gonna learn just what it feels like to get slapped around.”
My hand moves farther up his arm until my fingers rest over his larger ones, and I brush my nose against his gently. “Please be careful,” I mutter.
I’m used to rubbing my nose with his. I know we shouldn’t, but after that day in the kitchen, he got wasted and did it before he fell asleep. Ever since then, I ‘ve kept up the routine, and a declaration like his deserves me acknowledging how much it means to me that he’s all-in with me on this.
He doesn’t have to hunt Ghost down or stand up for me, yet he chooses to anyhow while only knowing me such a short time. He may appear rough around the edges to his brothers, but I know that deep inside, he’s a good man. He’s simply misunderstood, and while he’s willing to step out for me, I’m more than willing to discover what torments him so badly and stick around for him as well.
He nods, his nose bumping mine and my brother interrupts, “Twist?” He shouts and glares at him angrily. No doubt because we’re so close, but if Ghost does something to them, I’ll regret this moment forever if I don’t do what I feel is necessary.
Twist hollers back, “Yeah, comin’.”
I hear my brother’s bike rev and take off like he’s pissed. Twist mumbles, “I gotta go, sugar,” and I lean up on my tippy-toes, my lips meeting his before he has a chance to back out of it.
He doesn’t move for a moment, surprised, almost as if he’s unsure what he’s supposed to do. My other hand finds his cheek, and like a switch was flipped, his hand in my hair tightens, drawing my body into his as he kisses me like his life depends on it. The kiss is so commanding, purely demanding my surrender and to give it my all.
I’d like to think I’ve never been kissed by a real man before this. It reminds me of when Rhett gets fed up and kisses Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. God, that was epic and clearly this is my Scarlet moment. Every woman deserves to experience this at least once in their lifetime.
Twist doesn’t just kiss; he consumes. I respond to him as if my life depends on it, my panties getting wet right along with my heart going crazy. Eventually, he pulls away, stepping to his bike and throwing his leg over the seat. I stand, watching, winded and dazed after such promises made by his sinful tongue.
He revs his engine, then points at me. “We got shit to talk ‘bout when I get back.”
I just nod like I’m mute, ‘cause fuck if I know how to answer that. His eyes scan over every last inch of me, cataloging it to his memory. Once he seems satisfied, he nods and revs his bike again, then he’s gone in a flash.
I stand still, hoping he’ll decide to turn around and come back to finish what he just started.
Coming here, I expected to find strength from my brother. What I discovered instead is a hunter. A fiercely loyal, broken man, and from what I’ve heard whispered by his club brothers, I may have just let him out to look for his next kill.
The crazy part about it all is that I almost don’t care if he does kill Ghost. It strikes a spot inside, most likely because he’s my baby’s biological father, but Twist is just so… I don’t know how to explain it. He inserts himself into your life and it’s like no one else matters anymore.
I’ve learned so much about Twist these past weeks since staying with him. For example, he screams a lot when he sleeps. Silas cornered me one day asking how I was able to deal with sleeping in the same room, knowing that Twist would be up screaming later. Silas’ room is next door, and according to him, he can hear Twist through the walls.
The truth is, I don’t deal with it.
Usually, I can’t get him to wake up, so I sit and cry quietly until he calms down. It may seem weird to some, but Twist doesn’t just have bad dreams-something horrific happened to him that has rooted itself so deep that he can’t seem to escape from it. He’s haunted, for sure, but I haven’t been able to figure out why just yet.
The few times I’ve been able to break through and get him awake, he’s so fucked up, he sits and plays his guitar for hours. Twist may be a biker, but he should have been a guitar player in a band. He strums these amazing chords full of feeling and sadness; it’s pure beauty mixed with an abundance of talent.
I’ve never in my life witnessed someone able to play an instrument the way he does. He doesn’t even look at notes or anything, it’s like he pours his heart in it and a beautiful melody comes out in turn. According to my brother, it’s huge that he’s played in front of me. None of the club brothers have seen him play; they’ve just heard the music.
I asked him about the dreams the first time they happened and I was able to wake him, but he wouldn’t speak to me. He got up and went straight to the bathroom to throw up several times. That was a pretty strong answer in itself, so I’ve left him alone. I just wish I could take away whatever hurts him.
Heading back inside, I pass Prez. According to my brother, he’s the President in charge of the entire club.
“They not let you go with ‘em, sug’?”
I swear it’s like the man’s a mind reader; he always knows what’s going on. He�
��s smart, polite, and looks almost like he could be Twist’s biological older brother. I questioned Twist about it, and he confirmed they aren’t really related. He told me he only has his mom, and he won’t introduce us. I asked.
Huffing, I shake my head.
“Well, it’s probably for the best, you got to keep takin’ it easy. I doubt Twist nor your brother could deal with something happening to you or that baby.”
“They’re just stubborn. I could help them probably, and now if either of them gets injured, it’s basically my fault.”
“How do ya figure?”
“Because it’s my mess.”
“Naw, not around here. Someone does you wrong, it’s like they do us wrong. You’re family and we take care of our own.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, and he nods, kissing my forehead like my brother does. Then he heads off to his office where he basically lives while he’s here.
I guess it’s time to watch the marathon of Mob Wives I have recorded, because I know just how long that trip will take them, and it’ll be awhile until I hear from them. Watching someone else’s drama unfold will be refreshing, for a change.
Come on little one, we can check my phone for a decent crib for our new apartment, I think, and then I pat my stomach as I head to Twist’s room.
Twist
California...
Even being a seasoned rider, my ass hurts along with my back. I should really invest in a cruiser for long fuckin’ trips like this. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to California, and not much has really changed. We pull off into a small town, eventually hitting up Sadie’s house.
“I’mma go around and hit the breaker switches and give us some lights,” 2 grumbles and I nod, pulling my gloves off and stretching out my stiff legs.
Hopefully, the sales agent doesn’t stop by with any buyers while we’re here; they’d get a rude surprise if we’re here unannounced. Shit could get complicated, and I don’t want to do any time here. I’ve already been shoved in a Cali cell once—popped on a weapons charge. Probably the real reason why I dislike the state and all.
Oath Keepers MC: The Collection Page 54
