by L. Ann Marie
“What did you say?”
Fuck. “Just that we need to go.”
“Where can I learn?”
I look at her eyes, she’s not fuckin’ with me. “Everyone signs, but Prez has a class starting at the high school next month.”
“Will you teach me?”
“You don’t have to sign for me. I get sound and will look at you.”
She looks confused. I don’t want to do this now, but she isn’t going to let me out of it. “So you’re not deaf you just don’t hear well?”
Fuck. “I am deaf, but Mitch Baxter made me earpieces that amplify sound. It vibrates outside my ear so I know to look at you or when someone is coming from behind me. To me it is hearing.”
It looks like she’s trying to figure it out. “I would think it is sound to someone that has never heard it. I’d still like to learn.” She stands up.
Wow. That was easy. I stand and take our trash in, guiding her through the Club. I see her bike and tell her I’ll ride home with her. She just nods. Once she’s on her bike I go to mine and follow her out. The entire ride I’m thinking of how easy she’s been. She asked a million questions about my brothers and sisters, but nothing about being deaf. It’s a first for me. Most women either feel bad or ask questions I can’t answer. For some reason I think of my mom. I think she would have liked Eliza. I know Kate will love her. She loves anyone without a family. I back up and think almost anyone. Fuck, I forgot to ask why she was talking to Tess. I can ask her tomorrow. I shut my bike off and see something move on her porch.
“Don’t fuckin’ move,” I say pointing my gun at whoever it is. “Shine your light on the porch Eliza.” She turns her light and I see a fuckin’ Outlaw squinting at me.
“Get the fuckin’ light off me Liz.” She stands on the side of me with her gun pointed at him.
I have no clue what she says to him, but he’s pissed. I want to smile, but hold it until I know what the hell is going on. How the fuck did he get into town without being tracked? I see movement on the side of the house and aim there. “Stay on him babe.” Hyde moves close to the light and I turn my gun back to the Outlaw. Hyde signs what Eliza is saying. The prick on the porch is telling her he needs money and a place to stay. She’s telling him to fuck off or she’ll shoot him. When he doesn’t she shoots him. Hyde thinks this is funny. I walk to the pussy and pull his gun. “Call into PD.” Since HS was following him they probably already did.
Hyde checks for a pulse. “Three at the flea bag outside of town. He’s dead.” I pull my HS glasses and flip to on. I see the board and talk to Dakota. He’s sure they had something to do with the Home Show.
Eliza is standing back watching. She has no reaction to killing a man that she obviously knew. “Get a bag for a couple of nights. You aren’t staying here with three still close.”
She looks at me relieved and walks in the house. The door was unlocked. I follow her in going through the rooms she didn’t. When I know it’s clear I go back to the porch and talk to Dakota. She can go to the Club, but he doesn’t like that idea saying she doesn’t have good memories there and Outlaws will be looking for her.
Fuck. I tell him to call me if he needs me, knowing he won’t. He didn’t call me and watched me ride right up here. She’s coming home with me. Every fuckin’ time a Brother takes a woman home they don’t leave. This is not lost on me and Dakota knows this shit. I need a minute to think, but I’m not getting it now. Eliza comes out with a backpack and a smaller bag. At least she travels light.
She follows me to the Compound then into the house without a word. Maybe killing him did affect her. I get us beer and sit her at the table. “Who was he?”
“A friend of my stepfather.” She doesn’t add anything.
“How did he know where you lived?”
She looks away then back at me. “I moved into my stepbrother’s house. I took the money he had stashed and paid the house off so I always have a place to live. I used the rest of the money to buy a headstone for my friend and tried to find another, but ran out of money before she was found. I don’t have anything left to give them.”
Fuck. She’s not living large by any means and had been working until we showed up. “We’ve been here a year; you didn’t work all that time?”
“I helped at the church and went back to school. I’m never going to find my friend so I used the money I was saving. I don’t have much left.”
She knows I can check. Prez would already have this. “You went to school to be a cop?” She nods. “How much money are they looking for?”
“A hundred and fifty grand.” She has no remorse for taking the money and I can’t say I blame her.
“Here’s what’s happening. Four were here looking for that money. There will be more–because there always are–and we attract them. They’re like fuckin’ cockroaches to us. If they don’t get the money they’ll be looking to sell you for what they can get. Prez will put you with an HS shadow if you’re not at Security or with me.”
She stands up. “I should just go. This doesn’t have anything to do with the Princes.”
I stand pissed. “The fuck it doesn’t! You are not leaving to be caught and sold to the highest fuckin’ bidder. The MC took the Outlaws down, the Princes moved the rest out or killed them. You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for us.”
Tears run down her face. Fuck I hate fuckin’ tears. “I would know where my friend is, but the Princes saved me. I was sold.”
What?! “Sold?”
“My stepfather needed money,” she says and turns around walking to the glass door.
She was sold as a slave. Why didn’t they use the money her brother stashed? “Where was the money?”
She looks back. “In his bike. The MC killed him. He was fixing up the bike, but never finished. I found it when I was free. I thought I’d use it to get away and find Maryellen.”
“That’s why Tess called,” I say trying to piece shit together. She puts her hands up like she doesn’t know.
“She was a slave taken from a church. My mom saw her as the Outlaws were trying to sell her. She would do anything she could to stop that again and give her strong to help you be who you are meant to be. We used to call it Tess’ fairy dust.”
She’s shocked. “Your brother married a slave?”
“Yeah. It’s not like she asked to be a slave. She’s worth more to us than any amount of money so you can take that fuckin’ look right off your face.” She has room to judge here?
She shakes her head no. “I didn’t think I could be worth anything to anyone. She’s married and people love her.”
Fuckin’ hell. I walk over to her, she’s looking straight, not seeing anything but what’s in her head. She’s been alone because she doesn’t think she’s worth anything. Jesus.
I lift her chin and wipe her tears. “Your choices–looking for your friend, going to school to help women, working for good–are all things that make you worth everything. What happened to you was not a choice you made.” She closes her eyes and a single tear rolls down her cheek. I wipe it and kiss her lips. I know it’s a mistake as soon as she opens to me.
Her hands are on me and I’m gone. My dick makes every fuckin’ decision from here on out and I follow. Clothes are flying off us, but I have enough sense to grab a condom before my pants hit the floor. I hear her sounds and can’t stop. With her on the counter, my mouth is all over her tits and I can’t get enough. She pulls my hair so I can see her say ‘fuck me’ and I do. Her noise gets louder and I lay her back moving my hand for her. She arches her back and pulls me in with her legs. Fuck I’m gone. Nothing registers until I’m on top of her and feel her arms squeeze me. Jesus. What is with me and this woman? My dick has never gotten me into trouble and I have no idea why this shit is starting now. I lift myself up and hope she isn’t crying.
She has her eyes closed and a small smile on her face, score one for the dick thinking. Fuck, this is crazy. I kiss her cheek purposely staying away from her
mouth and her eyes open. “I don’t know what the fuck happens when I kiss you and have no idea if it works for you.”
She laughs and I’m so relieved I almost fall back down on her. “I think it works. When I can really think again I’ll think it works better than it ever has.”
Not wanting to know the details, I pull out and look for something to clean her up. Our clothes are every-fuckin’-where. I find my shirt and clean her then get rid of the condom. She doesn’t move. I get the rest of the clothes and put them on her stomach with our guns on top then carry her to the bedroom. She hasn’t said a word. When I lay her on the bed she hands me the guns. I drop them in the nightstand and turn back to get the clothes, but she’s already got them on the chest at the foot of the bed. She looks beautiful standing there, her expression is showing a little lost so I pull the blanket down and lift her up again. She makes a sound, but I ignore it until I’m laying beside her.
“You good?” I look from her mouth to her eyes and notice the tears. She’s blinking them back. Fuck.
“Yes. Thank you,” she says smiling.
I laugh. “Think I should be thanking you, but I’ll take it if you don’t cry.” She nods and I lean over to kiss her. She’s cute.
Once my tongue is in her mouth I’m fighting to control myself. Her hands pull me in, but I pull away. “Need a condom.” I get one from my pants and see her look at the nightstand. “None there, no one sleeps here.” I throw it by the pillow and get back to her lips. Fuck if it’s not good slower.
Chapter Four
Eliza
I hear people and wonder how they got by the gate. Since I hear kids laughing I guess they are friendly. Opening my eyes, I see the pillow I’m on is Darren. He is incredible. Making everything good for me when it felt like I was being swallowed up by a cyclone. I remember feeling good. It is nothing I’ve felt before so, like him, I’ll take it. The only sex I’ve ever had was never voluntary. I think I’ve missed a few things along the way. I hope all guys are like this.
“What’s the smile?” he asks scaring the shit out of me. He laughs when I jump.
I look at him embarrassed. “Wondering if sex is always like this.” Oh shit I probably shouldn’t have said that. He knows. I look away and sit up. I feel him move and don’t blame him for leaving me here. When the hell will I learn?
He turns my face. “You’ve never had a boyfriend?” He looks pissed.
I’m wondering if having a boyfriend is like this. “No.”
He really is pissed. He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “A man tries to make it good for his woman. With you, my dick calls the shots so I hope that works for you. It should always be good for both. If it’s only good for the guy, then he’s doing it wrong.” He’s not pissed, so I nod. He kisses my head and my heart speeds up. This is what a boyfriend does. “Let’s get cleaned up and I’ll get you breakfast.”
“I think whoever is here is doing that,” I tell him and he’s surprised.
He puts a thing on his ear. “Fuckin ‘rents,” he says pulling glasses out of a case. He puts them on and talks to someone about tracking LP1. That must be a coordinate or something.
He looks at me. “How long have they been here?”
“They woke me up, but I heard kids laughing and thought they must be friendly.”
He laughs. “Let’s get cleaned up and you can meet the family. Why the fuck they’re in my house is beyond me.”
I think about my clothes in the garage as I’m getting up. He takes my hand surprising me and walks to the bathroom. My bags are on the chest. He went and got them. That’s sweet.
***
Darren
I get her clean and she doesn’t say a word. I’m glad because I have no fuckin’ clue what to say to her. She was taken. Never gave herself to anyone. I want to hit someone just thinking of how that was for her. I remember Rich and how pissed he got if anyone said shit about Tess. Now I get it. While she’s putting on makeup I try to calm down waiting by the door. I do push-ups to get rid of it and stand as she comes out of the bathroom.
“Did you miss a work out?” she asks smiling.
I put my hand out for her. I’ll give her right so she knows how it should be. “We were taught to get rid of energy; sit-ups and push-ups are the way to go, and it’s good for you.” I bend and kiss her lips then move away before my dick jumps in with ideas.
She has a question in her eyes, but doesn’t ask it. I walk her out and the whole family is here. Jesus. Once she meets everyone Tess hugs her. “Eliza I’m so happy to finally meet you!” She makes my dad and mom laugh.
Dad stops her to ask what we want for breakfast. Tess answers him and Eliza is surprised. “Get used to it,” Patches tells her.
I leave her with Tess, giving Mom a kiss as I walk by, and get coffee for us. They are crazy, but they’re mine. “Why are you in my kitchen, not that I don’t appreciate the breakfast, but why here?” Prez gave them Dakota’s house.
Dad puts the spatula down. ‘Meeting at ours. Tess told Pres about Eliza. Since every-fuckin’-thing in the world is ours to take on, he jumped in.’
“Fuck!” ‘Dad I don’t need every fuckin’ Brother knowing about her past. It isn’t MC’s fuckin’ business!’
He nods. ‘Go talk to LB. Maybe you can talk some sense into them. Dakota too, the fuckin’ Brother told LB.’
I take Eliza’s coffee to her, interrupting Tess, and kiss her lips. “I’ll be back. I need to calm the fuckin’ Brothers down.”
She nods surprised and I leave with that being an okay. I see Tess laugh and think about her fairy dust. She needs to sprinkle it on Eliza. My smile is gone when I close the door. Walking across the yards, I don’t knock, but walk right into the ‘rents’ house. Pres and Rich hug me. Dakota throws chin and Prez just watches gauging my mood. ‘Fuckin’ pissed,’ I think and VP moves away from the wall. Great. They’re all in war mode. “Not far off,” Prez says.
“Where’s Jessie?” I ask, needing another voice of reason here.
“Helping Jess. He’ll be right over,” Prez tells me.
Dakota waves, “They got me out of bed.” Fuckin’ ‘rents. They are so high maintenance it isn’t even funny.
VP laughs. “You too. This isn’t a war at the MC’s door.”
“Will be,” he says and I look at Dakota. Fuck he nods.
I look at Prez. ‘LB, I don’t want every fuckin’ Brother knowing this. She’s dealt, she’s working toward happy in her life, and I’m not letting anyone throw it back up at her.’
He watches me for a few seconds then nods. “Her past isn’t up for discussion. Those that need it, know it. This isn’t entirely about Eliza. We had a try for Jess and another for Eliza. The MC had one on Mitch and one on Tess. This isn’t going away and we need to be prepared. Baxters think it’s backed by bigger money than the Outlaws. Since they came at her for money, I have to agree. I’m not willing to chance Jess or Eliza on pride or making stupid mistakes. Together we can figure it out and fix it.”
Fuck. Dad didn’t tell me all that. “He was helping Kate with the kids before he heard it all,” Rich says.
‘Where’s Mitch now?’ I ask him.
‘My house,’ Jessie signs sitting down. Something about him being here throws me relief. ‘Dakota told me. We need to guard that.’ This is what throws me relief. I nod and sign ‘thanks’. He makes our sign from when we were kids. ‘Brothers always.’ It’s been years since I’ve seen it. I nod, signing it back.
When my other dad, Jamie, and Kevin come in, Pres starts talking. Jessie signs so I can follow. When Dakota brings up Eliza I tense. He doesn’t say anything about her past and Jessie signs ‘relax.’
I do and we plan for HS and setting more people on surveillance and tracking. With three towns it will be fuckin’ nuts. The MC has the towns and the City. I’m glad they have the people to cover them. I’m not so sure we do.
Jessie signs, ‘Marty’s a good teacher, VP says.’ I look over at him.
‘Geek isn’t letting her out of the yard and she won’t leave Aubrey when security is high,’ I tell him.
“Over feeds, like Mitch.”
He doesn’t say any more and I look at Kevin. ‘We can hook in to your classroom.’
I look at Prez. “You’ll be monitoring every fuckin’ thing we do if we give you an inch inside that building. As it is, we sweep everything when you leave,” he says to VP.
VP smiles and looks at Pres. Fuck they’re in. Dakota shakes his head no. I relax and so does Prez.
Kevin waves to me. ‘Video chat will work,’ I nod.
“Not a bad idea. It will get people up to speed and cover our new surveillance needs.”
Prez nods. “Go ahead. Video chat only. You’re not wiring a fuckin’ thing.” He’s still pissed they tried to wire the meeting room when Dad was working on it. He had a company from Connecticut come in then fired them before the job was done. Jason and Brantley finished it. Pres waves it away and finishes the meeting. I have some work to do, but I can’t do it until Monday.
When he brings up Laconia I push everything away and sit listening. Prez gets pissed at my dad, Pres, and I hold my breath. VP and Dakota tell him Prez is right and Pres calms down. I’m relieved, never knowing when it’s too much.
I’m wondering if I need to be here for this and VP says him too. “Pres’ talk’s not needed for all of us.” He gets chin from Pres and walks out.
Since he’s staying here I hope he’s not going to my house. Dakota laughs and says ‘no,’ in my head. Prez throws me chin and I leave with everyone else.
Thank God Eliza is still here. Tess laughs signing, ‘She’s not leaving Darren. It will be good.’
Great. I’m glad to get a heads up, but hate that I now have this pressure to make sure it’s right. ‘You were already making it right, now you just know it’s for good,’ she signs with a smile.
