by Erin Osborne
“Blade!” I hear yelled from across the yard. “You didn’t bring my girl home? What the fuck were you doing there?”
“Angel, leave the man alone. He’s just gettin’ back and wants a minute. He’ll come to you when he’s ready,” Glock tells Melody.
“Let me just give her a call and I’ll be right in,” I tell her, hoping it will calm her down enough to give me time to call Keira.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I pull up her name and listen to it ring. Instead of hearing her sweet voice, I get her voicemail. I know she’s not working at the club tonight. Maybe she’s taking a nap. I know she usually tries to lay down and relax for a little while during the day. I’ll give her an hour and then I’m calling her back.
Knowing I don’t have much time before Melody comes barreling at me again, I make my way in the clubhouse and see her and Glock sitting at a table in the corner. Guess we’re talking about my trip and why our girl isn’t home where she belongs yet.
Making a detour to the bar, Summer hands me a beer before I make my way over to them. I sit opposite of Melody and down half of my beer before I set it down, letting her know I’m ready to talk.
“How is she?” she asks, genuine concern written all over her face.
“She’s okay. Tired most days but she’s handling everythin’ like a champ,” I respond, the pride evident in my voice.
“I know she was upset the last time I talked to her. The same way I know I was hung up on, so I’m guessing you took care of that issue?”
“Angel,” Glock warns.
“Yeah, I took care of it. We got news, but I know she’s gonna want to share with you, so I’m sure she’ll be callin’ you real soon.”
“How are you gonna do that to me?” Melody asks.
“It’s not just my news to share. She’ll spill the beans when she’s ready to and not a minute sooner. You know how stubborn she is.”
“I do. I also know how she truly feels about you even if she hasn’t admitted it to herself, or you yet. You need to be careful with her and be there when she needs you,” Melody tells me. “And you have to let her push you away a little when she needs to. Keira hides her feelings behind a wall thicker than concrete. So, when she loves you and gives you her all, don’t break that trust.”
“I’m not gonna hurt her,” I tell Melody honestly. “I want her here with me. We’re goin’ to be a family and she needs to know that I’m all in when I say I want to be with her.”
“I know you are Blade. I haven’t seen you with any bimbos and I know that you’re missing her as much as I am. Please, bring her home where she belongs,” Melody begs me. “She’s never really felt like she’s belonged anywhere or that she’s had a home. Give that to her Blade.”
Learning that my kitten doesn’t feel like she belongs anywhere guts me. She does belong somewhere; right by my side. I don’t want her following behind me, I want her to be my partner in everything. Keira is someone that I can open up to and share the demons that haunt me. She’s the only one that I want to open up to completely about everything. Obviously, there’s some club things I can’t let her know, but everything else in my life is an open book to her.
Looking down at my phone, I realize that I’ve been sitting here for almost two hours shooting the shit with Glock and Melody. We’ve talked about the new house, Melody’s babbled on about baby things, and how much she wants Keira here with us all. Making my excuses, I leave the table and head to my room to call my girl. She should be up by now and I want to talk to her. I miss hearing her voice already.
Just before I get to my door, I see a club girl making her way over to me. I don’t remember seeing her before and I’m glad that I don’t want anyone else but my kitten. This girl is young, she’s got make-up caked on so thick I can tell from thirty feet away, her long hair is greasy and unkempt, and she could do with a meal or two to fatten her up. Even if I didn’t have Keira, I couldn’t bring myself to touch this girl. There’s something off about her and I can feel it in my gut.
“Hey handsome,” she purrs, trying to sound sexy. “You looking for some company?”
“No. Sorry, my girl would have my cock sittin’ in a jar if I so much as looked at another girl.”
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talkin’ to? My girl means more to me than some used up skank,” I say, getting in this girls face. “If you ever come at me like that again, I can guarantee you’ll be out of here before you can blink. We don’t play that game around here. Our women mean the world to us and we’re not gonna fuck it up for someone like you.”
“I-I’m s-s-sorry,” The girl stammers. “I didn’t mean anything.”
“You’re just lucky it was me you pulled this shit on and not one of the higher members of the club. You would already be gone. Now, run along and find a single guy to fuck with.”
I watch the girl scramble off down the hall towards the common room. Shaking my head, I think that it never ceases to amaze me how low some of the club girls will go to try to land a brother. Especially Addison and Chrissy when Skylar first started coming around. Those two were down right vicious and I hope this new girl doesn’t turn out to be the same way.
Opening my door, I pull my phone out and try to call Keira again. There’s still no answer and I’m honestly starting to get worried. I might have to put a call in to Slim to have him send one of his guys to check on my girl. If anything is wrong and I’m so far away I’m going to flip out.
“’Lo,” I hear muttered into the phone.
“Slim, you seen my girl since I left there?” I ask, sitting down on my bed.
“No. We tried callin’ her to come in to cover a shift and haven’t had a call back,” he answers, more alert then when he answered the phone.
“I’ve been tryin’ since I made it back and haven’t gotten her to answer the phone. Can you….” I don’t even have to finish my question.
“Boy Scout, go ‘round to Keira’s house and check on her. Tell her that we tried callin’ to see if she wanted to cover a shift and were gettin’ worried. Call me as soon as you see her,” Slim tells the prospect. “Call you back as soon as I hear from him.”
Hanging up, I lean back waiting for Slim to call me back. Unfortunately, there are so many possible scenarios running through my head that I can’t relax. I won’t be able to until I know that she’s okay and our babies are okay. Especially if she’s not answering for Slim or one of the girls from Vixen. That’s what’s got my head in a tail spin wondering what’s going on with her right now.
Slim: She’s good. Just wakin’ up
Me: Thanks man
It’s a good thing that the clubhouse isn’t that far from her house. I know Slim did that on purpose. Now, I can call my girl and find out when I get to see her again. I’m dead serious when I say I’m not missing out on much more of her carrying my babies. She needs to come home. Now.
Chapter Three
Keira
It’s been a few days since Blade left and I’ve been missing him. Well, I haven’t been missing his bossiness. The day he left, I fell asleep and didn’t hear my phone or anything. When he could finally get a hold of me, he chewed me a new ass because he was worried about the babies. I mean, he told me that he was worried about me, but we all know that it’s the babies he’s concerned about. I’m just the one carrying them for him. I know it sounds mean, but I just don’t know what he honestly wants from me. I’ve never been this confused about anyone in my life and then to add all the hormones running rampant from the pregnancy in, to say I’m a hot mess would be an understatement.
I can hear my phone ringing as I sit at my island daydreaming. So, I don’t bother looking at the caller i.d. before answering.
“Hello?” I ask.
“It’s about time you answer your phone you biker whore,” Jason’s voice hollers through the line. “Did you have a nice visit with that biker trash?”
“What do you w
ant, Jason?” I ask, the confusion and anger lacing my voice.
“Who the fuck do you think you are talking to like that?”
“I’m the girl that isn’t your fucking concern anymore. I’m the one that doesn’t care what the fuck you want. And, I’m the one that is hanging up now.”
“Don’t you dare hang up on me, Keira. If you do, your biker bitch will be the one to pay for it.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, getting scared for Blade.
“I got enough on your biker trash and his entire club to put them all behind bars. Not for a little bit of time either. I’m talking for a long, long time. You’re going to do exactly what I say or he’s going to be the one to pay. Then what are your babies going to do? Who’s going to help you take care of twins?”
“And what exactly is it you think I’m going to do for you?” I ask, not wanting to know what this demented man is going to ask me to do.
“It’s quite simple. You’re going to leave that biker trash and come back to me. You’ll do everything I say and you’ll make sure that your little biker doesn’t contact you ever again. And, when you have his little biker bastards, you will give them up to him and never see them again,” Jason tells me like he’s talking about the weather and not destroying my life.
“What makes you think I’m going to give my children up for you? And how do you know I’m having twins?”
“I know you will because if you don’t, I’ll kill the bastards while you watch me do it. And I know everything there is to know about you. You don’t need to know anything more than that.”
“I have to go to work in a little bit. While I’m there, I’ll contact Blade and make sure he knows never to contact me again. When I have our children, I’ll make sure that my girl comes to get them and takes them to their daddy,” I tell Jason, trying to stall for time to come up with a plan.
“I’ll be at Vixen at some point tonight. So, you better make sure you call him early. And if I find out you’re trying to double cross me, you won’t like the consequences Keira. Don’t try me on this.”
Hanging up the phone, I slump down on my bed trying to figure out what I’m going to do. If Jason knows things that are going on with me, then obviously there’s bugs and taps all over the place here. So, I’m going to have to be careful with what I do and who I contact for the time being. Which means no talking to Melody about anything serious right now. Hell, I’m better off not contacting her at all right now. She’s going to hate me, but she’ll understand once she finds out what’s going on. Now, I’m going to have to alert Slim somehow so that he can get a hold of Blade before I make the call I have to.
Going to the desk that once belonged to my favorite grandmother, I sit down and write down what’s going on. I write everything that Jason said to me on the phone and what he wants from me now. That way Slim can tell Blade the whole story and I can make a call that’s going to break my heart without truly having to stop contacting Blade. I’ll figure something out to still get a hold of him and until then, I will just leave it alone. My only hope is that he doesn’t hate me for being so weak.
Before I fold the piece of paper to put in an envelope for Slim, I decide to write Blade a personal little note. That way he knows how much I truly love him and that I would’ve been moving back with him if it weren’t for Jason.
Blade,
Even if we weren’t having twins together, I’d still be moving back to be with you. I’m willing to put my heart on the line in order to see where this thing between us goes. But, right now I have to protect the babies, you, and your brothers. So, I’m going to do the only thing I know how to and let Jason have his way. Maybe one day we can find our way back to one another. Until then, take care of our children when they’re born and make sure they know how much I truly love you all.
Please make sure that Melody knows I’m sorry for hurting her by doing what I have to do. I don’t want to hurt any of you.
Love Always,
Keira
I have about three hours before I have to be at Vixen. Right now, my bed is calling my name. I can still manage to get an hour and a half of sleep before getting ready to go. And, I can still be there early enough to see Slim or have someone call him to come down. There’s no way in hell I’m using my phone to contact anyone. Not until I can have someone look at it and get whatever tap he put on it off. Maybe Slim can get me a burner phone so I can talk to Blade and Melody when I’m not at home or in my car. There’s got to be a way I can still contact them without Jason knowing.
~~**~~
Pulling into the employee parking at the rear of Vixen, I take a minute to just breathe and see if I can see Slim’s bike here. I see a few bikes parked by the back door so I know at least a few of the guys are here. That’s going to make it easier for me to get Slim down here so I can give him the envelope that’s about the crush my entire world. Well, that’s what Jason will think anyway. Hopefully Slim can get Blade on board with acting like we’re never going to talk again so I can see what Jason’s plan is. Something has obviously happened to make him act the way he is and making me do whatever he wants me to do to go back to him.
Mustering up all the courage I can, I make my way into the club. Wood and Killer are the first two guys I see and I make my way over to them. Since I don’t know if there’s anything in the club that’s going to get Jason the information he wants, I need to play this smooth and be careful with what I say and do. Especially once he shows up.
“Hey guys!” I say with fake bravado.
Instantly Killer perks up, knowing that something is wrong. “Hey sweetheart. Everythin’ good?”
“Um, I need a minute and I don’t know where to go so no one hears what I have to say,” I tell them, flipping over a napkin I write ‘bug’ on it.
“Leave your purse and coat here. We can go in Slim’s office and have Boy Scout keep watch,” Wood tells me, standing up and grabbing his drink before making his way down the hall.
Killer follows me after I put my things behind the bar. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and hits a few buttons before we get to Slim’s office. Instead of putting it to his ear for a call, he makes sweeping motions from about ten feet in front of the doorway to inside the office. Once he’s done, he tells me to sit and tell them what’s going on.
“I need Slim here guys. I need to make a phone call to Blade but I want Slim to talk to him first. That way this isn’t coming out of left field and Blade knows that I have no choice in the matter. This is important guys. You know I never come to you for anything. But I can’t handle this myself.”
“Alright babe. I’ll get Slim here immediately,” Wood tells me. “I know he was already plannin’ on stoppin’ by tonight. He wanted to talk to you about somethin’ I think.”
“Great!” I mutter. “If I wasn’t already a nervous wreck, I am now.”
So many things are running through my head hearing that Slim already wanted to talk to me. I’m pretty sure I haven’t fucked anything up, so I don’t think it’s work related. That means that he wants to know what my plans are regarding the babies and Blade. I’m just beginning to wrap my head around the fact that I was going to go back to Clifton Falls. Now all of this shit is happening and I don’t know what to do.
The first tear slips out and I know that I have to get to the bathroom before I become a blubbering mess right here in front of Killer and Wood. I’ve been holding it together since I got the call from Jason. Unfortunately, it seems as though the dam is about to break and I don’t want these two men to witness my breakdown. So, I make my excuses and run to the bathroom that the dancers use. It’s the only place I know I can get some privacy.
Rushing in, I almost slam into Shy. She’s a sweet girl that is only stripping to pay her way through school. Her real name is Cheyanne and she’s extremely shy. That’s why her stage name is Shy. How she gets up there and dances every night is a mystery to me. But, the men love her and I know that a certain MC president may have a thing for her
too. But, he won’t ever say anything to anyone about it.
“You okay Keira?” Shy asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, I’m good hun. You dancing tonight or are you helping behind the bar?” I ask, since she does both.
“I’m actually doing both. When I’m not dancing I’ll be helping you out. Then I think Lexi is going to be filling in for me. Dante called in again,” Shy tells me.
“Doesn’t surprise me,” I say, feeling the tears getting closer and closer to spilling. “I’ll be out soon. Can you let the guys know please?”
“Sure. You take all the time you need and I’ll cover for you.
Shy leaves and I make my way over to the little couch against one wall of the bathroom. Instead of sitting down like I usually do, I curl up on my side and let the tears fall freely. Thoughts of not seeing my children grow and learn fill my head. Blade will take good care of them. He’s got the support of the club and the old ladies behind him to make sure he doesn’t fuck up too bad. This leads to thoughts of Blade and all the time we wasted. Instead of me being here, I could’ve spent my last few days with him and loved him the way I wanted to. I guess we’ll never know what could’ve been between us.
Before I know it, Slim is crouching in front of me. He’s wiping my tears and handing me some Kleenex to clean myself up. He gives me the time I need to compose myself before wanting to know what’s going on. Thankfully, before I left the house, I tucked the envelope in my back pocket. So, I pull it out and give it to him. For a minute all he does is look between the envelope and me. Finally, opening the envelope, Slim pulls the paper out and begins to read what I’ve written. I can see the rage simmering beneath the surface the farther into the writing he gets. This isn’t going to be good.
“What the fuck?” Slim explodes. “Is this fucker for real Keira?”
