Just Right (Legion of Guardians Book 3)

by Xyla Turner

  While she did that, I pulled my gun from the seat which they couldn’t see because she blocked their view.

  Lori gasped, then I said in a calm voice, “Get behind me.”

  “Viper’s don’t make those rules,” I announced. “The Pres does and I know for a fact, Razor hasn’t agreed to that shit, so don’t bull me.”

  “You got a lot of mouth for a young cub out here all alone.” The bulky guy on the end stepped forward. “Hate for you to get fucked up in front of the little lady. Don’t worry though, we’ll take care of her.”

  “Oh yeah.” The other one grunted.

  “Get on the bike,” I growled to Lori before I stepped around and starting walking towards them.

  “Apollo,” she pleaded. “Don’t.”

  “Get on the bike,” I snapped back.

  “You’re Apollo?” The tall one asked with his eyebrows pushed together.

  “Who’s asking?” I kept walking towards them.

  He pointed for his guy to back up before he said, “Ain’t fixin’ to start trouble. Just following orders. Didn’t see your patch over there. Just a fellow sergeant at arms.”

  My pace slowed and then I asked, “What’s this shit about the Viper’s making new rules?”

  “After that shit Haz started with y’all, the Pres is not happy about how that makes us look.” He nodded, then said, “Well, the club with rogue members and shit. Says there needs to be a presence.”

  “Hmm,” I didn’t comment further because I’d let Razor handle this bullshit.

  “Let’s go boys.” The supposed leader waved his hand in the air. “We’ll leave you to it.”

  After they rode off, I came back to Lori who was sitting wide-eyed on my bike.

  “What was that?” she asked.

  “Club posturing,” I replied.

  “No, what was with you going over there?” she asked with both her eyebrows up in disbelief.

  “Lori, I don’t play those fucking games. Can’t say too much to or about me before I do something to shut that shit down. What they won’t do is threaten you. I’ll fucking kill them. Every one of ‘em,” I answered.

  “Connor.” She looked at me.

  I pulled down my cut and my shirt to show her the scar on my neck and shoulder.

  “My family comes first. Every time,” I said.

  Lori threw her legs over the bike, slowly walked up to me and kissed me chastely on the lips before she whispered, “Take me home, honey.”

  “My pleasure.” I tapped her hip.

  “So, it was the Devil’s Vipers that made that claim?” Razor confirmed.

  “Yeah. Tall guy with a huge beer gut and said he was the sergeant of arms,” I informed Razor, Swag and Bronx. “He knew who I was by name.”

  “Lori was with you?” Bronx asked.

  “Yeah, that’s how they knew who I was because she called out my name.”

  “Why?” Swag asked.

  “I had the heat out and started walking towards the fuck who threatened to ‘take care of her’.” I crossed my ankles.

  “Fuck,” Razor hissed.

  “Yeah, those mother fuckers are some nasty bitches.” Swag had told us this before. “They do shit like that. They must have known about Haz and that you were the one to put him down. Surprised they didn’t retaliate.”

  “I got the feeling they weren’t in agreement with Haz and the shit he pulled. They called him a rogue,” I relayed.

  “Yeah, it’s an embarrassment.” Bronx shook his head.

  All of us were in the Guardian chambers where the club meetings were held. I knew what they were contemplating and it wasn’t an easy decision. What would it take for us to go to war with those fucks? They had already started shit with Shay and that’s how Bronx got involved, fucked with Dessy’s ex, which brought her to Manor and then the ‘rogue’ one came and was trying to pay Bronx back for the ass whooping he brought on himself. He’s the one I put down and at that moment, Guardians were deciding if this was enough to send us to war with the club even though we knew there were other rogue operatives that were on the loose. They were being watched; Swag was heading up that initiative.

  “We wait,” Razor finally said. “They backed off of you and for now, we keep watching. Because brothers, if we go to war, we need to be ready to go all the way.”

  We nodded our heads.

  “In the grand scheme of things, this was stupid but if they cross that fucking line; it’s on,” Razor continued. “Each of us have our own responsibilities and that is what we protect. Got it.”

  “Got it,” we said.

  “Adjourned.” Razor put down the gavel.

  “So, you finally claimed Lori, huh?” Bronx asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Yup. All mine.” I nodded.

  “Look at that fucking face,” Razor joked. “Looks familiar, huh?”

  He and Bronx laughed at their inside joke.

  “Swag, heard you met Vita?” I turned the attention off myself.

  He put his head down and said, “You heard I fucked that up, too?”

  The man chuckled to himself and shook his head.

  “Well, yeah. Heard you called her a biker groupie and she lost her shit,” I answered.

  Razor and Bronx burst out laughing again but at Swag.

  “Shut the fuck up.” He threw a balled-up piece of paper at Bronx. “Brother, I fucked up.”

  “I’ll say,” I laughed.

  “Wait, which one was she?” Razor asked.

  “The only one that was dancing to that Work song by Rihanna,” Swag offered.

  “Oh fuck,” Bronx whistled.

  “Damn,” Razor added.

  “You gonna fix that?” Bronx asked.

  “Man, not sure that can be fixed,” he answered.

  “Listen, if my Lori can forgive me and fuck that it took almost a goddamn year, it can be fixed. But, it’s going to take some major ass kissing on your part. That’s for sure,” I told him. “Plus, she’s friends with Lori, so birds of a feather flock together.”

  “Hope you’re right about that.” Swag rubbed his goatee. “She’s what I’m looking for. Tired of these pointless encounters.”

  We all nodded in agreement.

  “It’s coming man. It seems to be something going through the club this season,” Razor noted. “Bear is all caught up in Dessy, Lori and Apollo, I have no doubts Shiz and Dash will be next. Shit, I don’t know. If you’ve seen her, got that feeling about her, then fucking go get her.”

  “Brothers, I think I will.” He laughed. “If I come back with my balls in my hand, you’ll know why.”

  We all laughed as we made our way out of the compound to our individual homes. I was going to my home, where Lori was still wrapped in the sheets from earlier.

  “Lori, Lori,” I called.

  “In here.” She was sitting on the patio steps in one of my plaid button-down shirts.

  “What are you doing out here?” I asked as I sat down next to her.

  “Just thinking, imagining, and hoping.” She smiled. “This is a dream, right?”

  “Hell no. This is the best heaven on earth I’ve ever had.” I put my arm around her shoulder; pulling her into me. “Don’t get better than this.”

  She chuckled.

  My face was in her neck as I took little nips and licks as she giggled.

  “Thinking about our future?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” she sobered. “At one point it was all I thought about but now it’s not a thought. Now, it’s about the how.”

  “Here's the how,” I murmured before I put her on my lap. “I'm building, sweetness. You move in here, we get married, we have kids of our own to push on those swings, you work or don't. Either is fine with me and we keep building.”

  “You got it all figured out, huh?” She laughed.

  “Any objections?” I challenged.

  She shook her head. “I have none.”

  My hands started to roam all over her body and th
en I asked, “You're my date for the wedding.”

  “Oh, no,” she exclaimed. “I can't. Promised Swag I'd go with him.”

  “The fuck you're not.” My face was twisted in all manners of terror.

  “Kidding. Kidding.” She laughed.

  “Lori, there ain't much I'd go to bat against a brother for but you are one,” I said.

  “I see.” She laughed. “He's kicking himself about Vita though. She's coming to the wedding, so, we need to get him to come.”

  “I can do that. Think he's going to try to fix that,” I told her. “Told him it took me almost a year but if you'd forgive me for what I'd done, he should at least try with her.”

  “Ah, good point.” Lori smiled. “It's been almost a year.”

  My head nodded.

  “Oh, you're talking about when I was away.” She laughed. “Man, that was crazy but it was needed.”

  “Sweetness, this is a great moment but I need to know. What happened that night, is that something you do often?”

  “What do you mean? I checked myself into rehab.” Her eyes widened.

  “No, before you checked yourself into rehab.” My eyes studied hers, begging for her to tell me. “Why you were in a rehabilitation center.”

  Before this she would have frozen up, but now I expected her to tell me.

  “How'd you know about that?” she murmured. “Nobody but my parents know. Did my mom tell you?”

  She tried to get up but I wouldn't let her.

  “No.” I looked at her. “We have this discussion here. You're on me because no matter what I'll protect you, Lori. I got your back. Always.”

  She nodded her head.

  “That night I felt like shit for saying that to you. Shay was ready to murder me and Kylie was about to order the hit.” I shook my head. “On top of that I was feeling like shit for saying it so I swung by to check on you. By the time I got to your place, the paramedics had you on the gurney. I followed behind you and when your parents were asleep, I snuck in to see you and saw your chart. You had cut too deep and they found you just in time.”

  My eyes were hazy as I thought about what that could have meant.

  “You were there? I swore to God I saw you there. Felt you there but I assumed it was my delusion and decided that Apollo needed to die from my mind.” Lori was full out sobbing.

  I held on like our lives depended on it, rubbing her outer thighs where most of her cuts were strategically placed.

  “Yeah, I was there. I told you to forget about me. Let me die a miserable death without you cause I didn't deserve sweetness like you.” I kissed her forehead. “I wasn't sure if you were awake or not but I was trying to get you to let me go and now I’m trying to get you to keep me forever.”

  I scoffed at the irony.

  “I watched you from afar at the facility. You looked well. Even saw you walking some old lady through the garden on a few occasions.”

  Lori laughed.

  “She’s Mrs. Washington. The facility’s Mom. Reminded me of an older version of Shay but she was white. Said whatever she wanted, that lady.”

  Tears were still running down her face.

  “Yeah, I even saw that guy giving you looks. Figured he'd be better for you than me. I damn sure didn't deserve you. But between meeting him and that party, I knew different. I'd have to at least make amends. Fuck. Something, cause if anything, you’d need a friend who would put a man down if he fucked with you. That guy wouldn't and I didn't like that. You deserve for someone to put themselves on the line for you.”

  “No.” Lori shook her head. “I don't want someone putting themselves out there for me. Not like that.”

  “Sweetness, that's how it should be. You deserve that,” I told her. “You need an outlet, come to me. Need relief, come to me. Need a break, come to me. You need a break from me, you got your girls. Those two acquired a search party for you when you went missing. Shay didn't talk to me for months until that day at the hospital. Not one word. Kylie occasionally muttered something but I got it. They didn't know where you were even though I did. I told Razor to get them to simmer down because I knew you wanted your privacy. No one knew but me and your parents.”

  Wet droplets continued to fall as her face rested in my palm. She tried to talk but it was unintelligible.

  “it's okay,” I tried to comfort her. “Psychiatrist and counselor. Are they in place?”

  “Yes.” Her head nodded.

  “Then you’re taking care of yourself.” I kissed her eyes. “You’re doing what’s needed.”

  After several more deep breaths, Lori managed to whisper, “I haven't cut in almost a year. That night was it and I haven't felt a need to since. That's the reason I went to the facility. Nobody knows that except my parents and you. I've been vague with Shay and Kylie but I always feel bad. I want to tell them but I'm not sure how they'll judge me.”

  My head nodded and then I said, “Shay is probably certified crazy but undocumented. She's admitted that she has similar tendencies like us, but she regulates them a bit more. Kylie is close behind her but the baby’s been slowing her down. I was addicted to pain medicine and Razor is the one that called me out on it. Bronx knows and others might have suspected but my point is, they're family. They know I've been to rehab before. Know what I've done in the past and what I'll do if my family is threatened. There's no how, they just won't judge you. Tell ‘em or don’t but know I got your back either way.”

  “I know,” Lori said before she kissed my lips. “I know.”

  Twelve

  Nice Swag

  Lori:

  A couple of days before the wedding, I had all the girls over to my place where I made some of their favorite dishes. They all groaned and said, “Oh, this must be bad.”

  Guessing, this was my signature move, I laughed but explained to them a little more about my history of mental disorders and the cutting. Specifically, what happened that night of the major incident.

  “Now that makes more sense,” Shay nodded as she took it all in. “I was wondering why you had to go to a center but figured there was more to the story.”

  “What made you decide to tell us?” Kylie asked with a hand on her stomach and tears in her eyes.

  “Connor, uh.” I answered. “He, uh, said what you’ve both said before about sharing with those closest to you and using my resources.”

  “Right,” Shay nodded. “We’re a family. Crazy but that’s us.”

  All of us had tears in our eyes as we nodded and gave each other watery smiles. After some more explaining and telling the details they wanted about Connor, his sexual ranking and if I grew my hair out so he could pull on it, we fell asleep until their men stopped by to get them and Connor came to take me to his place.

  The next weekend was Shay’s wedding which was short, sweet and to the point. Very much Shay. Her father and mother knew not to be as vocal as Kylie’s mom because Shay had already threatened that she'd elope and send them the pictures.

  Dessy, Kylie and I were her bridesmaids. Shay said she would not pick between the two of us for her maid of honor, so she didn’t have one. Razor was Bronx’s best man, of course. It was a Guardian wedding, so everyone was in attendance and all of the members proudly wore their cuts if they weren’t in the wedding party.

  Shay argued that the groom and groomsmen were not allowed to have their cuts on, so they had the emblems sewn on the back of the suit jackets. They had to wear slacks but their boots were allowed.

  We ladies, had to dress all the way up but the wedding was short and simple. Shay and Bronx had their own vows and some insiders that we didn't know about. They both kept saying, “Just so there's no fuck ups or misunderstandings…”

  They thought it was funny so we thought it was too.

  Their wedding was a debut coming out party for Connor and myself. We were inseparable; well he wouldn't let me leave his side. He was constantly holding my hand and had me on his lap most of the time.

  One of the
busybodies cornered me in the bathroom and said, “Bout time.”

  My blood spiked from zero to a hundred until she said, “Bout time you forgave that boy. He ain't know what he was saying. I swear men are dumb as rocks.”

  My head nodded and she kept on walking. So, now the town was happy with me because I'd forgiven Connor. There I was thinking they'd call me a pushover or desperate but I guess I made him pay enough. Prime example why I shouldn't live my life to the beat of other’s drums.

  Returning to our table, I sauntered up to Connor, whose eyes were on me the entire time. He stood when I was within arm’s length and my arms wrapped around his neck as his circled around my hips.

  My lips met his and everyone started to cheer at our table. We were in our own little world and at that moment I just wanted to kiss him. Connor pulled away and said, “What was that for?”

  I smiled and said, “Fighting for us.”

  His eyes grew wide, then he pulled me into him by grasping my neck.

  “Y’all good over here?” Razor came over and patted Connor on the back.

  Connor smiled at me but said to Razor, “We’re good, now.”

  “Assuming y’all will be next.” Razor looked to me but Connor answered.

  “Fuck, yeah.”

  I laughed and kissed him on the lips.

  “Connor is on a mission.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I'm not standing in the man's way.”

  “Yeah, that wouldn’t be wise, babe.” Razor chuckled.

  "However, he will need to get through to the parents." I patted Connor on the chest. "You can't spank them into submission, like you threaten to spank me."

  We all laughed, while he nodded, recognizing that he actually couldn't bully his way into their affections.

  "You'll figure it out." Razor clapped him on the back and left us alone.

  "Where do you want our wedding?" Connor asked.

  "Right in your back yard, where you worked, day and night for the future that you want. It should be right there. Wedding, reception, everything." I smiled.

  "Fuck," he growled. "Don’t deserve you. Swear I don't but I ain't letting you go."

  "Ain't going nowhere." I kissed him just as Shay was getting ready to throw the bouquet.