I scratch my jaw while I let her soak in her own rambling.
There’s a knock on my door. “We’ve got company!” I recognize Bark’s voice.
“I’m comin’,” I snap through the closed door while I zip up my jeans and put on my boots.
I grab a gray tank and pull it on before I slide my Glock into the shoulder holster and snatch up my cut from the couch where I left it earlier. I never wear it when I’m on a job. Because when you’re out killing, one needs to wear casual clothing. Hence the reason I was wearing a black hoodie without any markings. Less details for witnesses to remember.
Before I open the door, I grab her neck, place my thumb underneath her chin, and lift it up so she’s staring into my eyes. “No one will be coming after you. You’re my Old Lady. Do you know what I mean by this?”
Her cheeks pink up, making her look adorable. Even with the damn shiner she’s absolutely gorgeous to me with that elegant nose and pouty lips that don’t even need lipstick. Those plump things are strawberry color all on their own.
Anouk nods slowly. “I might know from TV what that means.”
My eyes narrow. “That TV shit paints a pretty picture, it ain’t fun and games.”
Her fucking eyes roll. “Right. Fun and games, that was exactly my thought the second I met you. Duh.”
Did she say, duh?
I’m about to comment when I hear Romeo and Bark both call my name. Guiding her out, we head toward the main room of the clubhouse. There’s a guy in a dark gray suit standing in a circle of my guys.
“The name is Bruno. I’d like to have a word about something that belongs to my boss, Lars Vorth. I’ve come to retrieve what he lost,” the asswipe tells me.
His words make me snort. “Fuck off.”
Bruno points a gun at me in one smooth move, and with that he has three guns pressing against his head. My brothers always have my back.
“I’d still like that talk.” I have to hand it to the guy, his voice doesn’t waver as he eyes my Old Lady that’s standing, or better yet, hiding behind me.
“Prez…he’s got two other guys in a car waiting outside.” I nod at the information Bark just gave me.
“Okay,” I tell the asswipe, “bring in the other two first.”
Bruno holds his palm up. “I’m grabbing my phone out of the pocket of my pants.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bark waves his gun. “Just don’t pee yourself.”
My brothers chuckle as Bruno glares at them.
“You’re the Prez?” Anouk whispers.
I don’t bother turning around. “Yeah, sweetness, you’re the Prez’s Old Lady. And nobody fucks with the Prez’s Old Lady.”
My guys don’t even flinch or raise an eyebrow in question, they know better than to react to my words. I never fucking lie. Bruno on the other hand, has an ‘I’m fucked’ look. Yeah, also no lie.
CHAPTER SIX
***Anouk***
Did he really just say that out loud? Like really loud so everyone knows I’m his Old Lady? The President’s Old Lady. Holy shit. Yesterday, when my plane landed I was expecting my mother to come pick me up, but instead it was my stepbrother. It was as if I stepped inside my own personal horror movie. One where my stepbrother dragged me to his house and played the killer that went ballistic and killed my mother, his father, and a buddy of his right in front of my eyes.
How did I get wrapped up in that? Is there ever a point in life that triggers a chain of events? For me, there is. My mind flashes back to what happened four years ago. Back to the night my mother was raped. My dad was working late. My mom and I were already turned in for the night when a man came into the house. I was in my bed and woke up to my mom’s screams. I ran to her bedroom and from the hallway behind me I heard my dad coming home. I screamed so loud when I saw my mother on the bed, a knife to her throat and a stranger on top of her.
My father ran past me and grabbed the man. There was a fight and the police got there pretty quick and took the man away. They mentioned later it might have started off as a burglary. Somehow, he was released shortly after due to a technicality. My mother was never the same again. She basically shut down, couldn’t sleep, didn’t go outside, nothing. My dad couldn’t handle it and tracked the guy down. To make a long story short, he killed him to give my mother piece of mind.
My father went to prison and just three weeks in, got in a fight and was killed. My mom, who was already off track, became numb and addicted to her prescribed pain medication. When they didn’t do the job, she switched to any other drugs she could get her hands on and found a drug dealer who could supply her needs. Every need, because she ended up marrying said drug dealer.
I moved into the pool house behind the mansion they lived in. Avoiding my stepfather and his son and still being close to my mother. I could never leave her and yet she forced me to leave town a few days ago, didn’t give me a choice. In the past I tried to support her through rehab, I did everything to be there for her.
Yes, I tried numerous times to get her away from it all, even if she was married to a dealer who took his own shit, and his son was doing the exact same thing. I had to try. Only to be pushed away by my own mother, all while being ignored and punched at by her drug dealing husband and his twisted son.
If only I could have done more, but she told me to get my own life together instead of focusing on her. Telling me how she couldn’t be saved, there were too many sins on her soul, but I could run and make a clean break. My mother gave me a thick envelope with a couple of grand in it. She told me to start over in a new town and maybe open the muffin store I always wanted to run since I was five years old. I don’t know where the hell she got the money, but the panic in her eyes and voice was enough for me to know I had to get away, for her.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, she dropped me off and made me promise to never look back. Said she was sorry for screwing up my whole life, the drugs, dragging me into the mess she created yet again. She even mentioned the night she was raped, but stopped mid-sentence and just said; I’m your mother, you’re my daughter, and you’re supposed to do as you’re told. Although I was a grown woman, your mother always seems to have some kind of hold on you, no matter what age you are. Or mine had anyway.
Somehow the thought enters my mind that my mother pushed me away to swallow her guilt. Or maybe she didn’t want me to see her being dragged down even further in life. Every damn second on the plane and the days after, I wanted to go back and get her. Knowing something was wrong and different, wanting to take her away from her surroundings, start completely over. That’s exactly the reason I didn’t think twice and got on that plane when she called after three days. I should never have taken that money she gave me that day. And dammit, if I knew then what I know now, I would have…
Ronin’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “I said, who of you three idiots is the highest up in rank and who’s next in line after that?”
There are now three guys standing in front of us, surrounded by bikers.
“Tim is head of security, Bruno is his right hand.” A guy with a look on his face as if he’s about to shit himself stumbles, getting glares from the two other guys he just mentioned.
My hands are gripping Ronin’s cut and I feel him shift.
‘Yo, Tim,” Ronin snaps.
A guy in a dark blue suit automatically responds to his name and snaps his head Ronin’s way before a blast bounces off the wall and a tiny hole appears between his eyes.
“Yo, Bruno,” Ronin’s voice rings out again and the two guys in suits who are left standing both look like they know their time is up. Wide eyes, shaking hands, waiting for something to happen and not knowing what they should do.
“Who’s the guy standing next to you?” Ronin asks.
The nameless suit ping-pongs his head between Bruno and Ronin, answering before Bruno can say something. “I’m Harold.”
Another blast and Bruno hits the floor.
“Hi there, Harold. Seems like yo
u’ve just been promoted. Now run the fuck off to your boss and tell him not to fucking mess with me. I don’t owe him shit and when a fox enters a herd of sheep, he’s bound to be attacked by the owner, or the dog protecting the herd. Consider me both of those all rolled into one.”
It’s amazing how Ronin doesn’t even flinch but is like this rock in a wild sea who can handle every wave that crashes against it. One of the bikers grabs Harold by his shoulder and pushes him toward the exit.
The door closes and Ronin steps toward a guy who has his entire arms inked with black artwork. “Bark, church in an hour, set it up. I’m going to have a little chat with my Old Lady so I have her side of everything.”
“Old Lady, huh? Can you send me on an assignment where I can find me one of those? Because Crane was also sent to handle a chick and ended up claiming her.”
Bark’s eyes slide over my body, yet I don’t feel like it’s sexual. It’s more like he’s…taunting Ronin?
“My Old Lady wasn’t a job, she just happened to stumble into the shit I was handling. And keep your fucking eyes off what’s mine,” Ronin growls and takes a menacing step forward.
I tighten my grip on his leather cut some more and try to pull him back. “Don’t, Ronin. Bark doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s just yanking your chain.” I find the nerve to glare at Bark. “Not a very nice thing to do to your Prez.”
Bark gives me a wink before his gaze goes to Ronin. “You know as your VP, I get to handle you know what. Get me?”
What the hell is Bark talking about?
“Yes,” Ronin snaps. “Now set up the damn thing, church in an hour.”
Ronin doesn’t wait for a reply but spins around and guides me toward his room.
CHAPTER SEVEN
***Ronin***
I flip the lock and stalk to the fridge in the corner. I place the dinner I made for myself earlier in the microwave and turn it on. When I look over my shoulder, I see Anouk rooted to the floor next to the door. I raise my eyebrow in question.
Her shoulders sag and her gaze hits the floor. “What’s going to happen now?” she asks in a timid voice.
“Now we’re gonna eat, so put that sexy ass of yours on the couch.”
She sighs in frustration. Yeah, I know it was definitely not the answer she was looking for.
I decide to make myself clear. “You’re my Old Lady, Anouk. I might not know you through and through, but from what I’ve seen, you’ve given everything to me straight. There’s no reason for me to assume you’ll be lying and you’ve clearly been through enough to know that’s the worst option. All of this means I’m not going to interrogate you or lock you up, whatever. We’re going to have dinner, talk about you mainly...I’m not used to talking about myself so you need to give me time in that department. I’ve never had a relationship or a woman longer than a quick fuck. And I can be a real asshole at times.”
The microwave beeps and I’m kinda happy I’m saved from throwing out more words. I place the cups on the table along with two forks.
“What’s that?” she questions.
I grab my stuff and lean back on the couch, flipping on the TV for some background distraction. “Pizza in a cup. Go on, dig in, it’s good. I failed the first three times I made this years ago, but I perfected it in time.”
Anouk snatches the cup from the table along with a fork. She wasn’t wearing any shoes earlier but now has a pair of my white socks on to warm her feet. Said feet are put underneath her ass, all comfy to eat and watch some TV. My heart tugs when I think about how homey this is. Right here, couch, TV, dinner, my woman next to me. That’s most definitely something I never saw for myself at any point in the future. Hell, I didn’t even think I could have feelings for a woman other than the need to fuck.
From the corner of my eye I see her holding a forkful in front of her face, sniffing before the pizza-goodness enters her mouth.
Her eyes close for a breath before they flash open and she mumbles while chewing, “Damn, that’s good.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Easy to please, huh? Wait till you taste dessert.”
Anouk groans. “You’re not one of those dirty guys who think ‘my dick in your mouth’ is a nice metaphor for dessert, right?”
Fuck. Me. That’s one damn hot vision she just flashed my mind with.
“Shit,” she mumbles. “Probably shouldn’t have said that out loud, now I’ve planted a seed in your head.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I tell her. “My cock sliding between those strawberry painted lips of yours will happen sometime soon anyway. Not that it was on my mind right this moment, but I will say that fucking your mouth is damn high on my bucket list.”
Her fork freezes midair. She bites her bottom lip, her eyes gleaming. “Fuck. Stop thinking about it, dammit.”
Her body jolts and she shoves the fork into her mouth. I need some space and some other thoughts so I place my empty cup in the sink and grab dessert along with two spoons, placing it in front of Anouk.
“What’s with you and food in cups?” She chuckles and swaps an empty one with… “Oh. My. God. That’s heaven in a cup. How? That’s…why the hell aren’t you married? Shit. That’s…never mind, this is amazing.”
I bark out my laughter before I dig into my dessert. It’s peanut butter chocolate chip cake. “It’s just easier to make this way. I’m mostly by myself when I eat so I make two cups from whatever and shove it in the microwave and eat on the couch in front of the TV.”
She shakes her head with one hell of a sexy smile on her face.
“And to answer your question, I am married.” Her face falls and I can tell she doesn’t realize what I mean. “Biker style, dammit. You’re my Old Lady, how the fuck can you forget about that.” I growl and to my surprise, her smile is a full blown, ear to ear one, that reaches my fucking heart.
“I knew that.” Her eyes are on the last spoonful of cake. “I was just checking if you’d remembered.” She sighs and places the empty cup on the table in front of her. “You know, I’ve wanted to open up my own muffin store since the day I turned five.”
I’m done eating and turn my body on the couch to fully face her. “You have? Are you any good? I mean, after you had a taste of my cake, it’s hard to top that one.”
She rolls her eyes and shoves my shoulder. “You’ll have a taste of my heavenly goodness soon enough.”
“Damn right I will,” I snap, because I want all of it, all of her.
I reach out and take her mouth in a rough kiss. Trying to be gentle while she releases all of my restraints is damn hard. My fingers dig into her hair and fist those bright colored strands so I can guide her head and devour her mouth thoroughly. I feel her nails scrape my neck before her hand slips underneath my cut and tank. Pulling her over, she has no other choice but to straddle me.
Her lips leave mine as she protests, “I’m too heavy, you can’t…”
Anouk’s body trembles in my hands when I pinch her nipple hard and then bury my fist in those red strands as I tighten my grip.
“Ss…sorry,” she mumbles as her thumb traces my bottom lip. “It takes some getting used to when all I’ve known is nasty remarks, sneers, humiliation, and…”
“Stop,” I croak.
I can’t bear the thought of her going through these things all on her own, at any time in her life. People can joke all they want about other people but they need to fucking remember words can leave scars much more easily than any knife ever could.
Pulling her against my chest, I feel the need to hold my Old Lady. Wishing I could take away all of those scars she was never meant to have because… “You’re perfect, you know that, right? You’re made for me, and I will fucking kill anyone who ever hurts you again. I wish I could track down every goddamned single one who hurt you in the past. Fuck, I should…”
“Hush. You’re doing more than anyone ever did for me in my whole life. Let me explain how and why everything went so wrong in my life, I just discovered some domino effects
that were crucial turning points. Maybe that will help me process…voice every detail out loud instead of just thinking about everything that happened.” She takes a deep breath before she continues. “Did you know my mother cheated on my father? And that she did so for three months before she broke it off? Yeah, quite the surprise, huh? But it gets worse, because the little slip changed lives for the worse. Her excuse? She thought it was a great thrill, a way to spice up her marriage. She was tired of being just a mom and a wife, needing a rush and excitement in her boring life.” Anouk shakes her head in disgust. “I discovered this hard reality just before you and I met...it basically turned my whole life upside down. I mean…yes, it was something that happened a long time ago, but the result of it was drastic. For all of us. I was just a kid back then. The guy my mother cheated with didn’t want it to end. He couldn’t cope with the fact that my mom just shoved him out of her life. He was so angry the day she told him that he came to our house late that night and raped her. I woke up to her screams, saw how…”
“Aw, fuck, sweetness…” I croak.
She’s ripped with so much ugliness from others in her life. How fucking beautiful she is on the outside, it’s the darkness of her past that she’s keeping on the inside, eating her up.
“Throw it out, Anouk, give me all that dark shit that happened to you in your past so I can carry that shit with you. I will make fucking sure you will never have to swallow any more hurt from anyone,” I fucking vow while the anger level rises in my veins.
“The guy was arrested but released due to a technicality. My mother was a mess, wouldn’t talk, go out. She basically just shut down. My dad couldn’t take it and wanted for her to have some peace of mind so he tracked him down and killed the guy who raped his wife. My father never knew the guy had an affair with her. He was sent to prison where he was in a fight and got killed three weeks later. I never knew…my mother was forced to tell me the truth minutes before she died because my stepbrother thought it was a funny story I needed to know. He was right about that. It was horrible and insane, yet it was indeed something I needed to know. It’s like a missing piece of a puzzle. My mother shutting down after it happened, eaten up by guilt because she was to blame for bringing the guy into our house, not telling the truth at any point in time. Everything fell into place and I realized just how alone I am in a fucked up world where nothing seems to be like it really is.”
Ronin Page 3
