Faithfully Devoted: Rage Ryders Templeton

by Liberty Parker

  “It’s hard,” she implies.

  “You’ve got this,” I pull out of her and turn her over by grabbing a hold of her ankles and twisting. Her body follows, and I take a pillow from the head of the bed and position it under her hips. It raises her up to the angle I desire and I slam back home. My fist grabs a hold of her hair and I hold on for a wild ride.

  “Oh fuck, you’re so much bigger this way,” she cries out. I swivel my hips to make sure I hit her sweet spot. “I’m gonna come!”

  “Not. Yet,” I bark out. She reaches under us and grabs my balls in her hand. She begins to lightly squeeze and roll them. My eyes roll in the back of my head as I lose control and come inside of her calling out her name. My release sets hers off and before I know it, we’re sprawled out on the bed trying to catch our bearings. “So damn good,” I manage to get the words out.

  “Every time,” she proclaims. I get up and go to the bathroom to grab a wet rag to clean us up. Once that chore is done, I crawl back into bed and pull her into the crook of my arm. We both fall blissfully asleep wrapped in each other.

  Lizzie

  I wake bright and early the next morning with the sun shining on my face. I stretch my arms out and notice that the place beside me is empty. Rolling over in disappointment I smile when I see a note resting on his pillow.

  Lizzie,

  You were so peacefully sleeping that I didn’t wanna wake you. I had to go out today and take care of club business. You rest, relax, and have a calm day. Last night will be ingrained in my thoughts the entirety of the day.

  See ya soon, beautiful,

  ~Justice

  He claims he doesn’t have a sweet bone in his body, but he proves that it’s a lie every time he opens his mouth. He’d get all growly and call me a liar if I was to call him out on this, so I just shrug my shoulders and secretly jump for joy inside. I only see him this way with me and it makes me melt inside to know he loves me as much as he does.

  I think back to the way he took up for me with my parents and comprehend that I need to start doing that for myself and not depend on him to do it for me with everybody. I lay in bed and ponder this for a few minutes. I want to be strong, liberated, and never allow anyone to walk all over me again. I want to be respected by his brothers and him to be thrilled to have me on his arm, just as the other men are with their women.

  I internally giggle because I know that Justice would shit his pants and have a conniption fit if I became anything like Skylar. Justice claims that Ryder needs to get a leash to keep up with her and make sure she stays where she’s supposed to. She is always on the go, but she’s so damn self-reliant and doesn’t care or worry about if Ryder is going to approve of what she’s up to.

  She’s so much damn fun to be around, that I usually forget to behave the way I’ve been trained to do. She and the girls make me strive to be free and content with who I am, not who they expect me to be. With a new plan in place, I set off to get ready to face a new day. One where I don’t ask for anyone’s counsel or guidance. One where I spread my wings and be the true me. I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t need to try and become a new me, I just need to let the girl loose who’s been buried inside of me for all of these years, begging to be set free.

  “You will never again self-discriminate against yourself,” I tell myself as I look at myself in the bedroom mirror. “You are a good and captivating person, show everyone who you really are.”

  Sixteen

  Justice

  I woke up early to my phone going off. It was a text from Kid stating that he heard from Cardozo, and he set us up a meeting first thing this morning with the key players we were asking him to speak with on our behalf. I didn’t wake up my sleeping beauty because she looked so serene in slumber. Instead, I left her a note and dressed, leaving her for the day.

  “Cardozo told me that Dominique Arcola, and his bodyguard are tremendously interested in speaking with us,” Kid informs me. “He also confirmed that Cesar Marsalis and Raydon Jiménez are insistent that they are allowed in on this meeting.”

  “This should be fun,” I retort.

  “A day at the circus sounds like more fun to me,” Ryder speaks out. Have I mentioned that Ryder has been terrified of clowns since he was a small child and went through a funhouse and one grabbed a hold of him from behind? He’s never been able to go to the circus or look at Halloween costumes without having a total freak-out.

  “I’d pay a thousand dollars to see you go,” I declare in a joking manner.

  “You can go fuck yourself, Justice.”

  “Nah, it’s not as fun as fuckin’ my Ol’ lady,” I retort.

  “I’m gonna tell her you said that,” he teases.

  “Go ahead, she appreciates my dick,” I emphasize this by grabbing my package.

  “Y’all stop fuckin’ around, we’ve got business to attend to,” Kid scolds us. And just like that, we turn around and head out the doors towards our bikes. Heading back to the house of terrors that I was at the previous night. I know I made some waves with my in-laws, but I don’t give a shit and will walk into that house like I own the damn place.

  They will learn I’m not a man to be trifled with. I may not be in an outlaw club, but we don’t take any shit either. We’ve lived and learned from our past mistakes…ones that I will not be making with my woman. She will be protected at all times, if not by me then by one of my brothers or prospects. If her family can’t get on board and help me out with this, then they need to learn to stand back and let me control her safety and happiness. A job I will take very seriously.

  We get off our bikes once we shut them off in his driveway. I see three limos with men guarding them. I take off my helmet and place it on my seat. I turn and walk to the door and instead of waiting for the butler fucker to answer, I turn the door knob and walk right on in. I see my mother-in-law sitting in the front room. She looks at me with a warning, but I only give her a head nod and continue walking down the hallway.

  I can hear Kid, Ryder, and Malibu’s boots pounding behind me and ignore any protest they may be making. I understand them not wanting me to start any shit…but hell, I’m family now. No need to be announced or let in, right? Stands to reason from my personal view. I do, however, knock on Cardozo’s office door, not willing to push my luck too far past the point of redemption. It’s a respect thing not to walk into someone’s office space…especially when there may be something confidential. I know I didn’t show this level of respect walking into their home, but I had a point to make and I think I made it effectively.

  “Enter,” I hear called and open the door and walk in, holding it open for the guys. “I hear you made my home yours,” he asks me with his face pinched.

  “Thought we were family,” I raise my eyebrow with the statement.

  “We are, but please wait to be announced next time.” Whatever…maybe. We’ll see what sorta mood I’m in when next time comes. I look him dead in the eye but do not verbalize a response. “Gentlemen, please have a seat and let me introduce you to my guests.”

  After introductions, we get down to business. I’ve made enough copies for each one of them to have their own. Needless to say, they aren’t happy with being played by the Ozzies. When they realize that our territory has been breached they are once again, extremely displeased. There’s a code in our world, one that shouldn’t be compromised unless you’re willing, and ready for a war to break out.

  Dominique Arcola is the first one to speak out. “I am very displeased with the actions they’ve taken. I didn’t sanction any such actions and I most certainly didn’t give my consent for them to invade your territory. We’ve never had an issue with the Rage Ryders in the past and don’t wish to have one in the future.”

  “I have to agree with Dominique,” Cesar Marsalis states. “We want no beef with your club. We are just as much victims of them as you are. We will stand beside you and help you rid yourselves of these vermin.”

  “Same with my family,” R
aydon Jiménez states. “We weren’t aware that they’d be using other backers and suppliers, or we would’ve never agreed to work with them in the first place. We have our own territories that we’ve given them permission to work from, there was no need for them to come into yours.”

  “Then we’re agreed this issue needs to be resolved, immediately?” Kid questions them.

  “Yes.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Whenever you’re ready to strike.”

  “You will also have the Cardozo organization as an alliance. We are ready and willing to work with our new family.” I’m sure they are, and I can’t help the huff that comes out of me. I know this is the whole reason for mine and Lizzie’s arranged marriage, but now I know her, I love her and I’m not happy about the way she was used as a bargaining chip by her father.

  He looks at me and I can see his displeased look. Not that I give a fuck, but Kid smacks me on the back of my shoulder. This time, I look away from my father-in-law and ignore his looks and snide comments. I just want this meeting done and over with.

  They plan on getting more information for themselves and we have another meeting arranged with the families in one week’s time. When we do come together next, it will be to plan our attack on those Ozzie motherfucking Walkers. Numbers were exchanged, and I briskly walk out of the house and sit on my bike waiting for my brothers to be done.

  I couldn’t breathe in that house, in their company any longer. I had to escape, I needed to catch my bearings and clear my thoughts before I speak with Kid or even Ryder again. “You alright?” Malibu asks as he walks up next to me and lights up a smoke.

  “Let me have one of those,” I demand.

  “Thought you quit years ago?”

  “I did, but it looks like some old habits have a way of coming back and biting you in the ass.”

  “You having a hard time dealin’ with her family?”

  “You have no idea, brother,” I inform him. Her father may not be physically abusive, but he’s bringing up a lot of old wounds that I thought had already healed. And watching her mom reminds me so much of my own, they are both meek and selfish. Neither caring or wanting to save their children from the monsters they married…it’s all about them and what they are or aren’t willing to put up with. Who cares if it jeopardizes your child’s safety and emotional welfare?

  “You ever need to talk, I’m here,” he says.

  “Same,” I respond, knowing that he and Kassi have had a rough go of things since Fern was murdered. Each one of them dealing with it in their own way. It’s a push and pull relationship with them. One day they can’t keep their hands off of each other, and the next they’re making each other miserable. I can see the devastation in my brother’s eyes whenever he thinks about Fern.

  “I’m doin’ alright, brother.”

  “Just in case, I’m here.”

  “Appreciate ya.”

  Kid and Ryder come out the door and walk over to us. “You alright?”

  “I’m good,” I respond to Kid’s question.

  “Then let’s get the fuck out of the Addam’s family home. They creep me the fuck out.” I bend over laughing at his observation of the Cardozo’s. He couldn’t get any closer to the truth than he just did. Addam’s family…I’ll have to remember to use that when describing them.

  Lizzie

  Some of my packages arrived today so I begin making over our space. The bedspread is soft, but not feminine. It’s a dove grey with a rug and sheets to match. I wanted something smooth on my skin, but not something that would blind Justice and make him never want to crawl into this bed with me. I got some black accent pillows, lamps, and wall décor. One decoration I like the most is a metal hanging display of a motorcycle. I think Justice will appreciate the fact that I thought of him when purchasing things for our room.

  No one was around when the package was delivered that I recognized. So, when the prospect brought them to me, I had him carry them up the stairs and place them in here. I’m now standing here, hands on my hips, trying to devise a plan to get these things hung up. I’ve got the bed made, the tables on the nightstands and I know where I want each piece hung up at, but I’m too damn short to reach. I look at the hammer and nails I threw on the ground and want to pick them up and throw them in frustration.

  I wanted everything done so I could surprise Justice when he returned. I leave the room and stomp down the stairs, looking for someone, anyone to help me. Still seeing no one in the main room, I then decide to head into the media room. And when I enter, I blush from head to toe. Jackson, Dust, Riptide and Julius are all watching a porno. I’ve never seen one before and am embarrassed to be in the same space as one that’s playing out on the television.

  I’m baffled when I see a man shove his fist up some poor woman’s va-jay-jay and before I realize I am doing so, I ask the men, “Is that really possible? This is fake…please tell me this is photoshopped or some shit.”

  Riptide roars in laughter while Julius looks at me and winks. “You’ve never heard of fisting?”

  “Is that what that’s called?” I ask, pointing at the tv.

  “Yep, you should have Justice try it some time, you may enjoy it.”

  “I do not think so,” I exaggerate, and draw out each individual word. “I don’t think mine could even stretch out that far,” I advise them.

  Riptide moans and grabs his dick. “Darlin’ don’t suggest how tight your pussy is to men who are watching pornography and have no women around to take care of their needs. It’s impolite,” he enlightens me.

  “From what I understand from the single men here, there’s a strip club downtown that caters to all sort of needs, maybe you should check them out.”

  “Are you informing me that I need to go and hire a whore? Darlin’ I don’t pay for services, women beg me to let them get a piece of all this,” he drags his hands down his chest before cupping his manhood.

  “More information than what I’m needing to know,” I come back.

  “That’s more than any of us needs to know,” Jackson inputs. “Now, was there something you needed, Lizzie?”

  “Oh, um…yes, I have some things I need hung up and I can’t reach.”

  “Wall hangings?” he asks me.

  “Yes,” I answer.

  “Well, then you need a man with muscles, I’m your man…show me what you need.”

  “Thank you, Jackson.”

  “Now wait a minute, I got muscles,” Riptide bellows from behind us since we already started walking down the hallway to head up the stairs.

  “We aren’t talking about the muscles in your lower head,” Jackson teases provoking him.

  “At least mine’s something worth talking about,” Riptide clowns back.

  “You keep telling yourself that, brother.” I decide to ignore the knuckleheads and keep moving in hopes that they’ll shut up and follow my lead. Which they do, thankfully.

  When everything is on the walls, I feel as if I should pat myself on the back for a job well done. Justice is going to be happy with all of this. It’s nothing like my parents’ house, but has a little bit of each one of us shown.

  I rush around and make sure all of the boxes are broken down and grab them under my arm pit, ready to carry them down the stairs and put in the dumpster out back. As I walk through the clubhouse and out the back doors, everything around me explodes in gunfire. I hear shot after shot as I drop the boxes and run behind the building looking for a good hiding spot where I won’t get hit.

  I’ve never been curious about how a gunshot wound would feel, and I’m not going to start wondering now. As I rush around the back, I see two young men jumping the fence, I nearly stop thinking they’re here to help until I notice automatic weapons in each one of their hands. I look around frantically trying to figure out how to hide with the least amount of exposure…from both the men and guns.

  As I rush around the building, I see a little vent on the bottom part of the clubhouse. I am thankfu
l that I still have the mini flathead screwdriver in my pocket from putting together some things earlier. I start to unscrew them and when I get all four of them loose enough to pull out, I grab the panel and yank with all of my might. It flies over my head, but I don’t care if it’s in plain sight or not.

  I slide my arms above me and use them to pull my weight inside. Just as my waist breaches the seal, I feel my ankles grabbed and my body pulled back. I grab onto the sides and try to pull against my would-be attackers. I will be no one’s victim! I begin screaming and kicking my feet, but whoever it is that has a hold of me has a firm grip and I’m struggling to get loose.

  “Looks like I’ve got myself a feisty one, Marco,” I hear a young male voice imply.

  “I’ll never let you take me!” I holler as I try to pull myself back through the hole.

  “Keep struggling, I like a good tussle.” This statement fuels the fire within me and causes me to fight just that much harder. I finally manage to get my right foot free and start kicking anywhere I can. I can’t see them since my vision is blocked by the outer wall, but I’m not going to stop until I hurt him in any way I can.

  I hear a group of motorcycles and know in my soul that it’s my man and he will rescue me, and fucking put these wanna be gangsters six-feet under where they can never scare, hurt, or take anyone against their will.

  “Justice!” I begin screaming with all of my might. Continuously screaming his name, my throat begins to feel raw and abused, but I don’t stop, I keep yelling not caring in the least about the damage I’m most likely inflicting upon myself. The struggle continues on for what feels like forever before I feel the hands on me let go and I’m shoved into the underground pit that is pitch black and I can’t see anything in front of me.