by Erin Trejo
“I need to make this right Jada. I don’t know what the fuck I did, but I need to fix it. You have been off for a while now. Talk to me sweetheart.” Looking in her eyes, I see the tears pooling. It kills me inside to see her this way. It hurts me.
“I’m not off, Creed. I’m tired.” Shaking her head out of my hands, I drop them to my sides. I feel like I’m at a loss here.
“Jada, come on. Somethin’ ain’t right with you. Why won’t you talk to me?” Watching the tears spill down her cheeks, I want to take it away. I want to take all the pain away but if she doesn’t tell me what’s hurting her, how can I?
“I feel like we’ve forgotten him. I feel like I let his memory fade, Creed.” Jesus Christ, this is what’s been wrong with her? This whole thing is about Jason.
“No. No, you didn’t. We never will Jada. Don’t you understand that? He is a part of us. He always will be a part of us. We moved on with life. We didn’t forget him, or let him fade away. I’ll never let that happen. I love you too much. I love him too much.”
Jada slams into my chest wrapping her arms around my waist as she cries. Holding her against me, I didn’t realize she was hurting this much.
Chapter 11
Ryker
“Goddamn it’s like liquor heaven.” Chuckling, I drag Jersey around the liquor store with me. I came over here to help get the new locks and shit put on before we try to open.
“Don’t think about drinking right now. You have work to do.” Jersey winks at me before she walks past me. Slapping her on the ass, she yelps, before I head toward the back room. This is going to be a lucrative business when we get rolling with it. I’ve known some other clubs back in the day that ran stores like this and had great success with it. I have no doubt that Angel’s will be the same. Screwing in one of the new locks, I feel Jerseys hands come around my waist. Damn, the feeling of this girl anywhere near me makes my heart leap. She knows she does it too.
“Did you need somethin’ darlin’?” Her hand slides lower before gripping my dick through my jeans.
Twisting the screwdriver, I get harder. Trying to focus on this shit with her hands on me is not going to work much longer. Sweat pours from me in this hot backroom. Jersey’s hand stays in place stroking me gently.
“I need you Ryker.” Shudders roll over my body as I drop the screwdriver to the floor. In a flash, I have Jersey spun around and pinned against the wall. Sweat burns my eyes as it drips down from my forehead. The way she’s licking her lips right now, damn, I might explode.
“You know what you’re askin’ for, darlin’?” Licking my way up her salty neck, she moans.
“I always know what I’m asking for.” Hiking her little skirt up, I drag my fingers through all the wetness I find between her legs.
“You want me to fuck you against this wall, or over those boxes?” Yanking her hips closer to me, she better decide quickly.
“Are you being a gentleman giving me the option?” Oh my God, her fucking mouth.
“It’s customer appreciation day. Pick. One.” Growling against her, she speaks softly.
“Wall.” That’s all I needed. Yanking my jeans to the floor I lift her easily in my arms before slamming inside of her.
“Ryker!” That’s right, scream my name. No one can hear her. We’re alone here, not that I’d give a shit if the whole store was full.
“You love me?” Thrusting into her with a new force, she screams. Every time I fuck this girl it’s like the first time. She takes my breath away. I love her more every time she looks at me. When Jersey doesn’t answer, I dig my fingers into her hips. Her cries get louder the faster I pump into her.
“Answer me!” Harder and harder. Sweat flows between our bodies as she slides so perfectly against me.
“Yes! I love you!” Yeah, I knew that. I just like making her say it. It gives me a sense of peace when I hear those words leave her lips. Biting down on her neck, she clenches around me. This girl will be the death of me. She has me in such a vice like grip; I never want her to stop. Rolling my hips, I can feel her on edge. She is about to let loose all over me.
“Jersey.” Growling low into her ear does it. I know it works every time. Call me a cocky bastard, I don’t give a shit. I know how to fuck my old lady.
Jersey come, flowing like a river with me right behind her. She drops her head to my shoulder as I hold her in place.
“I think I made baby number two just then.” Jersey laughs against my neck, her breath warming my skin.
“You have lost your mind.” Leaning her against the wall I pull back to look at her face.
“You know I’ve loved you from the start. First time I saw you. A girl like you is impossible to find, and yet here you are.” Tears prickle her eyes before I lean in and kiss her slowly.
“I fall for you every single day, Ryker. There isn’t a time that I don’t feel something new for you.”
Pulling out of her, I let her slide to the floor before grabbing my jeans, yanking them back up.
“I want to always be like this. I don’t want to fight. I want us to be this way forever.” Gripping her face in my hands, the tears finally fall.
“Then don’t make me change my mind about you. You are my heart, Ryker. I wouldn’t be able to live without you.” Kissing her once more, I hear someone entering in the front. Not knowing who it could be, I pull away from her.
“What the hell are you two doin’ back here?” Torch walks into the back with a smile on his face. Nasty fucker was probably out there listening the whole time.
I grab Jersey’s hand pulling her with me as I walk toward the front.
“We christened the store. We’re good now.” Jersey elbows me in the side as I laugh. I will never get used to this. I love it.
Chapter 12
Tank
I sit back and watch Bella with all the other girls. She’s so skinny and frail. I’ve asked her so many times if she’s feeling ok. She always says she is, but I don’t believe her. She’s been spending more and more time at the clubhouse than at home. I feel like she’s pulling away from me at times, but at others, I feel like she doesn’t want to let go of me. It’s a strange feeling to have seeing how I lost her once. I know no one can take her away from me again, but that feeling of dread, it still hides out in the pit of my stomach.
“She’s beautiful.” Cher wraps her arms around my waist before I hug her against me.
“She is. I just don’t know what’s goin’ on with her.” Cher snuggles into my side before she speaks.
“She’s a teenager Tank. They go through phases. She’ll grow out of it.” Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s just a phase that she’s going through.
“What’s up brother?” Creed smiles as he makes his way over to us. Shaking my head, he’s a mess these days. His spirits are high as hell. I guess getting the shop and the store has set his old grumpy ass into a good mood.
“Nothin’. What the fuck are you grinnin’ about?” Cher giggles before letting me go and walking off. She must know we are about to talk business.
“Life brother. Things are fallin’ into place Tank. I thought about it a lot. I didn’t know if we could get it there but we are. Look around us. Look at what we brought back.” Taking a step back, he stands next to me. I look around the room at everyone. It is amazing to see so many smiling faces in here.
“Yeah. It’s nice brother, but for how long? Dusts’ ain’t playin’, Creed. Rit will be comin’ back.” Creed blows out a breath and I hate to be the one to rain on his fucking parade, but it’s true.
“I know he will. We’ll be ready for it too. We need to have some down time Tank. Jada has fuckin’ lost her shit one too many times. Ryker is smilin’ but for how long, before he loses it again? We’re all some fuckin’ tickin’ time bombs around here. At any second it’s goin’ to explode. We need to keep that shit locked up for now. When Dusts’ come at us, we’ll handle them.” Maybe he’s right. Maybe we need this time. Time to recoup and be a family.
“Yeah. You�
��re right, Creed. I’ve seen some off shit lately too. Think we should hit the lake?” Creed smiles before he nods his head.
“What a better way to unwind before we start workin’ harder, yeah?” Nodding my agreeance, we both smile. He’s right. We need some time before the real work kicks in.
“Couple weeks out?” Creed looks over at me.
“Yeah. Sounds good.” Creed walks off before I make my way toward Bella. Grabbing her around the waist I kiss her cheek.
“Eww Dad!” Squirming in my grip, I let her go.
“What the hell was that for?” Rolling her eyes, I see the smile on her face.
“I love you Bella. Just wanted you to know that.” Smiling with pride, I look at my daughter. She has overcome so many obstacles and she keeps smiling. She is a role model to all of us.
“I know you do. I love you too. Are you ok?” Chuckling slightly, Bella wraps her arms around my waist. I hold her against me. Having my family is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Having Bella here has made my world complete.
“I’m just happy baby girl. I’m happy to have you and Griff. I never knew havin’ kids could make me this complete.” I don’t miss the sob that escapes her. I don’t know what’s going on with her, but I just need to hold my little girl. Bella buries her face in my chest as I hold her close. The way she’s crying rips my heart open. I know there’s something wrong, she just won’t tell me. I thought we moved past all of that, but maybe Cher was right. It’s just a phase.
“Everything ok?” Ryker steps up next to me as I nod. Bella pulls back slightly wiping at her eyes before she smiles.
“Just the person I needed to talk to. What are you, a magician?” Ryker chuckles as he looks at her. I don’t know the connection that these two have but he seems to be her new go to person.
“Thanks dad, for everything.” Leaning down, I kiss her forehead before she latches onto Ryker. I watch as the two of them walk toward the kitchen.
“What’s that about?” Jersey looks up at me with a slight concerned look in her eyes.
“Don’t know. She needed to talk. How are you doin’ darlin’?” Looking down at her, I watch her stare at her daughter. It amazes me the way the guys in this club have become such great men and fathers. Even Ryker, with his short temper, seems to have calmed at least a little with Ansley around.
“I’m ok. She hardly sleeps though unless one of us is walking her around.” Jersey smiles up at me.
“Colic. Bella had that when she was a baby. Give her to me.” Taking Ansley from Jersey I marvel at how small she is. I remember the day Bella was born. I was ecstatic. Candy was scared shitless, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I felt like a lunatic.
“Hold her like this and rock her. Works every time.” Showing Jersey, the way I used to hold Bella when she’d cry makes me happy. I love this. I love my family here.
Chapter 13
Creed
Everything is working out exactly the way I hoped it would. The girls have all calmed down significantly. The shop and liquor store are both almost ready to open.The plans to head out to the lake house for a weekend are set. Now all we have to do is sit back and enjoy. Or so I thought.
“Heather hasn’t stopped crying for hours, Creed!” Jada comes into the office crying herself. Why is she yelling at me? I just got back.
“Did you feed her?” Flipping through some papers I need to sign off on I hear her huff. I look up to find her glaring at me.
“Do you think I’m fucking stupid? Of course I fed her asshole!” Her screams, with Heather’s on top of that, are the loudest thing I’ve heard in the clubhouse for days.
Pushing up from the desk I walk over to her picking Heather up out of her arms.
“You miss your daddy darlin’?” Kissing my little girl’s forehead, she feels like she’s on fire.
“Have you checked her temperature? She’s fuckin’ hot Jada.” Pressing my lips to her cheek I look at Jada. Fire rises in her eyes. That’s never a good thing to see.
“You think I’m not a good mother, Creed? Is that what it is?” Blowing out a breath, I look around the room, looking at anything but her.
“No, I never said that. She’s hot though. Maybe she’s gettin’ sick.” Jada storms toward me taking Heather out of my arms.
“Yeah, ok Creed. Thanks for that, doctor fucking Spock.” Jada turns and storms out of the room like the little tornado she is. Blowing out a breath, I grab my phone and dial.
“Hey doc. Baby’s sick. Think you can come take a look.” Listening to the old man’s instructions, he agrees to come. I head out to the main room but I can still hear Heather crying. I know Jada’s nerves are worked up, but she needs to calm down.
“I tried to take her, but your girl went fuckin’ crazy on my ass.” Ryker slaps a hand on my shoulder as I walk toward her.
“She said she’s been cryin’ all day brother. Doc’s on his way.” Ryker passes me a beer when Jada’s eyes land on mine. She looks at the beer in my hand and back at my face before she turns on her heel and heads toward the room.
“Oh hell, Creed. I feel sorry for you.” Ryker chuckles next to me but this shit isn’t funny. I thought Jada was getting better, but she seems to be on edge still.
“Shit’s gettin’ out of control with her Ryker. I don’t know what the fuck to do.” Running my hand through my hair, he nods.
“It’s rough brother. It’ll get better. Ask Doc while he’s here.” Hell, I have thought about that also. I thought maybe she was a little depressed after Heather was born, but this shit is going too far.
“I might do that.” Passing him the beer back I head toward the room. I can hear Jada all the way out in the fucking hallway.
“Please Heather. Just stop fucking crying!” Jesus, this girl has lost it. I shove through to door to find Jada walking and crying. Heading straight for her, I take Heather when I hear a knock on the door.
“Yeah!” Tank steps in motioning for Heather. I look at Jada and back at him, but he just nods.
“She’s fine in here!” Jada snaps as I pass Heather off to Tank.
“Thanks, Tank.”
“Just hold your woman.” Nodding at Jada, he turns to leave the room. My attention snaps back to Jada as she cries harder in the corner. My heart breaks for her. I don’t know what’s going on inside of that beautiful mind of hers. Stepping up next to her, I wrap my arms around her.
“Everything’s ok Jada.” Whispering into her hair she tightens her grip around me.
“It’s not Creed. It’s not ok. I’m a horrible mother. I yelled at her.” Jada sobs harder into my chest. I want to lose it with her. She’s tired, worn out. I can’t blame her either.
“It is ok. I left you with more than you could handle. I’m sorry sweetheart. I need to be a better husband, a better man.” I feel like a piece of shit for not helping her more.
“You’re a good man Creed. I just get overwhelmed. I’m sorry.” Kissing her head, I need to ask. I just hope she doesn’t lose her shit on me.
“Doc’s comin’ to check Heather. You want to talk to him?” Jada tenses up in my arms as I wait for the storm. She wants to lose it; I can feel it in her.
“Yeah. I do.”
Chapter 14
Ryker
Holy hell, that clubhouse has turned into a shit storm of hormonal females. I never knew having that many in one place could set off so much craziness.
“What the fuck you hidin’ out here for?” Torch walks in smoking a cigarette. I thought working on the bikes would take my mind off things.
“You been inside?” He nods his head as he blows out a ring of smoke. “That’s what the fuck I’m hidin’ from.” Torch chuckles before he drops down on the stool next to me.
“Can I ask you somethin’ brother?” Torch never has asked for permission. The son of a bitch always spoke his mind. This shit is either important, or personal.
“You know you can.” Picking the wrench up I tighten a few bolts.
“You ev
er dream about your own death?” Stopping what I’m doing, I glance over at the crazy fuck. He looks dead serious which makes me change my whole attitude.
“I’ve dreamt a lot of shit. Death, life, all of it. What’s goin’ on Torch?” Pulling my own cigarette out and lighting it up, I sit back leaning against the wall.
“I’ve been dreamin’ about my sister. The one I told you about. She’s gone brother. I know she’s dead. It’s always dark and full of fuckin’ smoke. She always stands there telling me to come with her. Come be free, Travis. That’s all I hear.” Glancing over at him, I know how those dreams can haunt you. It’s scary as hell being lost inside yourself.
“Travis huh?” Torch chuckles before he smiles at me.
“Yeah. Haven’t been called that since I was a kid. She started callin’ me Torch when I would light shit up. That was my thing back then. The dreams just fuck with me; you know?” Nodding my head, I know all too well.
“I hear you brother. Lost inside your mind isn’t a place you want to be. I know that shit first hand.” Picking up my beer I take a pull from the bottle before he speaks again.
“Crazy thing is. I see myself die Ryker. I go in a fuckin’ blaze of gun fire. It’s like my subconscious is tryin’ to prepare me for that shit. I’m ready though. Is that some shit or what?” A slight chuckle escapes him before I look over shaking my head.
“Nope. I’ve had that too. Maybe it’s just the demons we fuckin’ hide from everyday makin’ it hard to sleep.” Torch nods before grabbing his own beer.
“Probably right. You ready to hit the lake?” Changing the subject is his thing. He doesn’t like to dwell on things too much, and I can’t blame him on this.
“Yeah brother! I just worry about the Dusts’ when we come back. I’m ready for that shit. Just waitin’ on the go ahead from Creed.” Torch laughs as he stands up.
