by GM Scherbert
Seeing the anger rise up from Prez I know we are in for it. “You listened to her? What the fuck, did you think it was a smart move to let a pregnant woman, my fucking pregnant woman be alone with her? You know that is not something that I would have allowed. Why the fuck was she in the backyard by herself anyways? You two were supposed to be watching her. FUCK! Clean this shit up and load her into the van and get her to the house on the Drive. The others have taken the three we found there as well. I will be there as I get the situation with Pearl worked out and we can show them the proper welcome.”
As we clean up the mess that Pearl made, and get Layla into the van I see that she is gone. Reaching for her eyes I close them quickly giving her the respect that she didn’t deserve in life. I know that Pearl should never know what she did tonight, she has been too affected by the events of the last few months and that shit will not be good for the baby.
We make our wave over to the house on the drive and get the men situated in the basement, waiting for Prez to come so we can take care of these fuckers. I look around to the men that are here waiting for the judgement that Prez sees fit to hand down. As I look towards Trip, my feet move in his directions as I speak lowly, “What’s gonna happen here, Trip? Is Prez gonna put these fucking fools down like he should have done that night?”
“Country, that is only for him to decide. It was his family that they went after, and his woman that they fucking violated. If it were me though, and that was my woman that they had done that fucking shit to, those fuckers would have their skin peeled from their bodies.”
“Yeah, I know what you’re saying. My dad used to beat on my Ma and I go crazy thinking about violence towards a woman.” Looking around to the others brothers that are in the basement, I notice that no one is paying attention to us, so I go on. “It’s why I have a hard time at The Dungeon some times. Some of those scenes are almost too much for me. When the subs are fighting tooth and nail and the Doms are really hurting them.” Shaking my head I continue on, “I don’t think I would ever be able to do that to my ol’ lady.”
“Country, its different than that and you should probably talk to Shadow about the differences. Especially if you are not seeing what happens at The Dungeon as anything more than domestic violence. It is far from that.”
Nodding my head at that, I walk away and think about what Trip has said. How I know that those women are ok with everything that happens at The Dungeon, but it still doesn’t sit well with me. Maybe he is right that I should talk with Shadow. Lost in my thoughts, I don’t notice that it takes over an hour for Prez to walk through the garage of the house on the Drive. Walking into the basement, Bull, and Trip and standing next to me as I let Prez know that the room is all set and that Tick is the only one talking.
“Tick won’t shut the fuck up about how he was not involved, he is a Devil and he would never do anything against us, that he was taken and didn’t fucking do anything to that cunts stupid kids.” As a growl leaves him I add, “His words not mine Prez.”
Seeing the rage consuming Prez, I know that I would never like to be on that receiving end of that look. He stalks toward Tick who is strapped down onto a chair in the middle of the basement. He takes the hammer to first one and then the other of Tick’s knees and then speaks. “You never should have fucked with my ol’ lady or her kids. You will never have the chance to do it again or prove yourself as anything more than the sorry fucking coward that you are.” Picking up the axe, the sound of the swing and the way the bone cracks on impact causes my stomach to lurch. Prez adds, “See you in Hell, mother fucker.”
As Prez looks around the room each brother, he nods and the smiles come to our faces. Knowing that he has given us each a chance to pay back these fuckers for what they did to not only Pearl but the girls as well. Each Devil in the basement gets a turn at blooding these stupid fucks to a pulp. As the last brother takes his turn at these two stupid fucks, we all look to Prez waiting to see what his next move will be. I know both these fuckers about to die, but it is up to Prez as to how that happens.
Prez answers the unasked question quickly after reaching out and taking a gun from Trip. “Anyone who wants to stay and help, please do so, anyone else head upstairs and have a few drinks, smoke some weed, and get a good night’s sleep so this can get cleaned up tomorrow and these bodies can be put to ground.”
Not one of the brothers move, we all turn shaking our heads at Prez, before Trip speaks. “No, Prez. We want to do this for Pearl, Iris, and Rose. She is your Ol’ lady and they are as much our family as they are yours, so we will stay and all put these fucks down.”
Each of us draw out our weapons, and aim towards the two men. Prez gives a quick nod as we let loose on these fuckers that have hurt Prez so much. Placing the guns into a bag that has been set up on the corner of the tarp we take off our boots and head upstairs to clean up.
Chapter 5
Heather
The last five years in New Orleans has really helped me to become a stronger, more independent, mother and woman. The time I spend with Sara and Ember has really helped to make me who I am, those bitches really give me a lot of support and love. They watch over Sophie when I need a little time to myself, and have even supported me in my choices about my love life, or lack thereof. The time that I have spent both with Tonya at the shop and at Club Coquin has also helped. The relief and freedom that I find through the pain is something that I cannot and have not been able to find anywhere else or through anything else.
When Ember got the call about her father getting ill, she and Vincent left quickly to return to Chicago. Both Sara and I keep in close contact with her, knowing that being back in Chicago, where Doc was would be hard for her. As Sara and I continued our lives in New Orleans, we joked about moving up North and getting our “little family” back together. Fuck that shit, I hate the snow and cold. That is until the day I got a message from Zack.
The text message was simple and it scared the ever loving shit outta me.
UNKNOWN: I am coming. You should have never ran away, you stupid cunt.
Knowing that my luck with Zak has run out, I talk with Sara about moving that same night. I tell her that I don’t care where we go, but that we need to stay off the grid and get the fuck outta here. She thinks that I am joking and when she looks at me and only sees fear in my eyes she agrees, instantly. She knows about my past and Sophie’s dad so when she guesses why I am in such a rush to get outta New Orleans I don’t lie to her. I let her know about the text and it takes her one night after me bringing it up, to come up with a plan to get us out of New Orleans.
“Heather, what do you think about moving up to Chicago? I think that I would like to go home and be able to spend some time with Irene. The tenants in my house are due out at the end of the month, so we will have a place to stay. What do you think?”
“You sure about that, Sara? I know that you want to see Irene and make these last few years up to her, but, what about Gun? I thought that you were never going to go back there and fall in with him or that MC lifestyle again?”
“Yeah, yeah I know I said that, but I think that I will be able to deal with the situation. It’s been five years for fucks sake. The end of the month is two weeks away, can we wait that long? Or do we need to get a move on sooner?”
“I think Sophie and I will take a little road trip and meet you up there in a few weeks. We need to get a move on, I don’t want Zack catching up to us.”
“Okay girl, let’s get your shit packed up and I will ship it up to my house.” Seeing the worry cross my face she doesn’t hesitate to continue, “Don’t worry I have done this shit before, it will be okay. I am not sure how he tracked you here, but we will give him the slip again. Okay?”
Trying to let the worry slip from my face, a forced smile crosses my face. “I know Sara, I just worry about Sophie and what would happen if something happened to me or if he got his hands on her.”
“No worries about that Heather, once we get to Chic
ago I will get you all set up at my place,” seeing the fear cross my eyes, she goes on, “until you find a place of your own of course. I will even put a call into the hospital and see if I can get you a job, if you want?”
Smiling towards her, “That would be great Sara. I will look around too, I don’t want to have to rely off of you for everything. That would make me feel like a burden and you know how I feel about that shit.” Turning I make my way to my bedroom and slowly stark packing up the belongs that I will need for our trip in my suitcase, and my other belongs for the move.
Making my way to both Club Coquin as well as the tattoo shop, I let the few friends that I have made know I will be leaving. That I will reach out when I can to let them know that I am okay. Having people worry about me is something that had only recently started, so I wanted to make sure that they would not be left high and dry. Each in their own way gave me a sense of calm, serenity, and peace that I didn’t think could be taken from me. Letting me be who I should be and not making me feel any less of a person for it. I came into my own skin these last years, and I am more than able to be comfortable with who I have become. But, Zack threatening to take that all away from me, just does something to the security that I have been building.
Knowing that Zack wouldn’t be able to find me again, for a while at least, we left early the next day. We headed around from Florida to New York and finally heading towards Chicago with the cash that I could pull out of the bank. Switched cars frequently paid only cash for everything and lived completely off the grid for the three weeks we were in the wind. My heart will never be given away like the mistake that I had made with Zack.
Not until I was in Chicago and saw him for the first time did I know that I was in trouble and that I had been completely wrong about my heart. It was far from unbreakable.
Chapter 6
Country
These last few months have gone by in a blur. After the shit went down with Pearl, the brothers voted me and Bull in quick. Things were hairy for a bit between all the brothers and Tank, but when the brothers found out that Pearl had forgiven him, they followed suit. It has been something to watch them together. Most of the brothers in this Club are settling down and it is something that I can’t imagine happening to me. Not only because the club girls are around so why would I need anything else. I am not even thirty yet and I don’t think I could see myself being tied down to one woman, especially considering if I ever made that commitment, it would be the only I would ever make.
My runs keep my out for longer than I am home, and that’s why I haven’t been to check up on Grams in a while, I just got back from another run yesterday. I miss her and know that before heading to the Clubhouse for the wedding tonight, I will drop by and catch up with her for a bit, looking to the clock I see that its ten in the morning and Grams will be watching her shows, so I throw on my boots and Stedson walking out the door of my place and head next door.
Not even pausing to knock, I enter her house and am greeted by her sitting on the couch doing exactly what I thought she would be, watching her show with a cup of coffee. Turning her head towards me a smiles crosses her face as she greets me, “Wayne, it has been too long, get over here and give me a kiss.”
Striding towards her, I stop her before she can get herself up, bending down to wrap her up in my arms. “Grams, I have asked you not to call me that, you know how much I hate that name. It doesn’t suit me.”
“John Wayne was a great man, your parents loved the classics and thought it would suit you. I didn’t agree at the time, but look at you. You wear those boots and hat so well.”
“Ugh, Grams. How have you been? I know that mom has come to check up on you a few times, while I have been gone these last couple days. You need anything?”
“No Wayne, I am good your Ma comes to check on everyday when you are outta town. She was actually over here this morning and brought over some groceries for me. Could you go grab me a beer though? This one is empty”
“Grams, its ten in the morning-“
“So? I’m not telling you that you have to have one.” She says shoeing me into the kitchen, I end up grabbing one for her and two for me. There is no way in hell I’m gonna let my Grams drink alone.
Walking back into the living room, I hand Grams her beer and sit down on the couch with her. “Here you go Grams. There is a wedding at the Clubhouse tonight and then tomorrow when I come home, I will get to the yard and stuff. I’m gonna sit and watch with you for a little while, before I gotta get going, if that’s alright?”
“Wedding, who is getting married? Is it that lovely woman Pearl? Her and those men of hers are something. I never thought that someone could have so much love in their heart, but those three really can’t be without each other.”
I nod my head, thinking back to the few family BBQ’s that Grams has come to in the last few years. She met Pearl briefly at the one she came to with Tank and then has seen her again at one with Blaze. She brought up how odd it was that a woman could have such strong feeling for two different men. When I asked her about it when we were at the last BBQ a few months back, she only said, “When you know it’s right you just know. That woman has nothing but love in her eyes, for both of those men and even though it’s not tradition they make each other happy and that’s all that matters.”
“Are you taking a date to the BBQ, Wayne?” a smile spreads across her lips as she looks towards me.
“Nah, Grams. You know that the Clubhouse isn’t really the place to bring dates. I will probably just hang out with the brothers, and maybe talk to one of the girls there.”
“Those fucking Club whores.” Spitting the sip of soda outta my mouth at her words, my mouth is hanging wide open as she goes on. “You shouldn’t go near those girls Wayne. Those fucking sluts only want someone to call their ol’ man. You know better than that shit. We raised you better than that, didn’t we?”
“Jeeze Grams, you need to stop talking like that.” Rubbing the tears outta my eyes as I stop coughing, “I almost chocked to death. You know I would never take a girl like that as an ol’ lady. I ain’t ready to settle down Grams.”
“Why the hell not Wayne? You ain’t getting any younger and I need me some great grandbabies.”
“Grams, just drop it. You will be the first to know when I find someone ok? It wouldn’t be tonight though!”
Sitting for the next hour with Grams, I think again about her words. Me settling down is just not something that I have thought about. Grams does have a point, I am not getting any fucking younger, and if I want to give her some great grandbabies, I might have to start thinking differently about it.
Walking into the Clubhouse tonight, I know that I am happy as fuck to know that my prospecting days are done. The vote was a few weeks back and I was more than thrilled when I got my new patches. Being more than a prospect and the guys fucking little bitch, has many rewards, one of which is the fucking girls. I have tried my hand at spending time at The Dungeon, but like I told Trip those weeks back, I just had a hard time thinking about the way my dad used to treat Ma. When I get my dick wet, I just want that I don’t need or want any of that other shit. Or at least I didn’t think that I did.
Glancing around the room again, I see a woman that I have not seen in years. The woman that haunts Gun, and I can’t wait to get the story about where she has been, but as I glance at her my eyes stop on the little slice of heaven next to her. I am hard in a second looking over the curves of her body. The outfit that she is wearing is barely there. FUCK she is hot and I will fucking be buried in her tonight if I have anything to say about it.
Drawing my eyes away from her, I look towards Sara and walk over to her. They are at the bar drinking shots with Preach as I slide behind them and throw my arms around Sara in a hug. She relaxes the instant she hears my voice as I growl into her ear, “You’re back, huh? It’s nice to finally see you again. I had heard as much from some of these Motherfuckers.” Taking my arms down from around her, I look towa
rds her friend with only lust in my eyes. “Who is this lovely girl here?”
“Country, down boy,” she lets out on a giggle. Looking towards her friend, my eyes catch her blush before Sara goes on, “This is my friend Heather. It’s nice to see you too. Sorry I haven’t stopped by sooner. It’s just-“she trails off as Prez, Tank, and Pearl come into the room. All the members and hangarounds shift to look at the trio as the atmosphere changes. Everyone has been looking forward to this since the day that they all surrendered to the feelings that they have. I know that the life they lead is not traditional, but it works for them and I couldn’t be prouder to call them brothers, or her a sister.
As I settle back with another beer, I can’t help myself from staring at Heather. She is so fucking gorgeous and the curves of her body would feel like heaven beneath me. I see her talking to a few of the brothers and the anger inside of me is off the charts. Why the fuck should I be feeling jealousy I just met this girl, but I can’t stop. When I see one of the prospects talking to her, I move towards them quickly before grabbing him roughly by the shoulder, jerking him up and off of the chair he was occupying, and letting him know that she is outta his league and needs to move the fuck on.
This draws a small laugh from Heather as she looks from me around the room, and when she meets my eyes after trailing them over my body, giving me the eye fucking of the century, I see nothing except lust. Pulling her up outta her seat, I crush my lips to hers and the electricity exchanged is off the wall. We are lost in that kiss for long minutes, before I pull back and see the blue of her eyes sparking with fire. I glance down to her lips and see the sides curl up into a smile that is dazzling.
As that same prospect walks past he stops and tries to talk with her, again, which I put to a stop quickly. Heather only laughs as I grab the prospect up by his shoulders, telling him, “Fuck off Prospect. If you come near her again, I will fucking hurt you.” Straightening up I lean into her again and am engulfed with pears as I growl into her ear, “What’s so funny honey? If you were a man I would lay my hands on you for disrespecting me and laughing at me like that!”
